DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cleveland Indians 2019 season

This tweet might be from last year or the year before... Nope from today.

It would be nice if Carrasco could keep the ball in the park. He seems to give up 2-3 bombs every time he pitches. After that last HR, the next hitter just missed, hitting one to the wall.

Have another brewski Vogelbach.

Hammy Call!

Santana gives Indians late advantage over M's

https://www.mlb.com/news/carlos-santana-fifth-home-run-sparks-win


CLEVELAND -- Before the start of the series against the Mariners on Friday, Indians manager Terry Francona called a brief team meeting, addressing the adversity the club will have to overcome due to some recent injuries.

The message was clear: “This is our time to shine or we can feel sorry for ourselves and lose.”

“If I don’t believe in them, how the heck are they supposed to?” Francona said on Friday. “Our job is to believe we can win tonight’s game by one run. … Keep it in smaller segments and it sort of makes it a little easier.”

And that’s exactly what the Indians have done. After winning in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth on Friday, the Tribe pulled out another one-run victory against Seattle on Saturday when Carlos Santana delivered the go-ahead two-run blast to center field, giving his team the 5-4 lead that it would not relinquish.

“It’s been fun the last two nights,” said Francisco Lindor, who hit a solo homer in the third. “We battled with a lot of different injuries throughout the season. It seems like nobody is hitting right now except Santana and [Tyler] Naquin and we’re still finding ways to win. And that’s what it’s all about: find ways to win, find ways to help each other out, count on each other and try to get the W.”

Mr. Reliable delivers again
The team has been able to count on Santana’s bat all season, as the 33-year-old leads the team in RBIs (19), average (.321) and .OPS (.938). Through his first 30 games of the year (106 at-bats), Santana’s average exit velocity is 95.1 mph, which is 6.2 mph harder than his average last season and he ranks in the top two percent of the league with a 56.1 hard-hit percentage.

“It’s 100 at-bats but I do know his ground-ball rate has increased, his popup rate has decreased,” Francona said. “His hard contact is probably the same as it’s always been. He’s just using more of the field, so now he’s hitting more pitches.”

With two outs, a runner on second and the Indians trailing by one in the bottom of the eighth, Santana launched his fifth homer of the year, and fourth in the last five games. In 12 at-bats with two outs and runners in scoring position, Santana is now hitting .500 (6-for-12) with one homer and nine RBIs.

“He’s been very patient, which he always has, but he’s driving the baseball, taking hits the other way,” Lindor said. "I’m learning, learning from him. … He’s teaching all of us how to play the game.”

Carrasco’s strange afternoon
With the Indians calling on Cody Anderson -- who isn’t fully stretched out just yet -- to make his first Major League start since Sept. 24, 2016, on Sunday after missing the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, Carlos Carrasco gave the Indians exactly what they needed Saturday, tossing 7 2/3 innings on 94 pitches.

“I think it was something that was really important just to get deep into the game and keep it close,” Carrasco said. “Then I got out of the game, I talked to the guys, my teammates, 'We're going to win this game, let's play hard.' That's what happened. Santana came with the homer and two runs.”

Despite the length of his outing and his nine strikeouts, Carrasco gave up seven hits, including four solo homers -- a career high.

“His pitch [count] was almost absurdly low,” Francona said. “The hits he gave up were solo homers, kind of a weird outing. … I thought he actually early was dominant. About the fifth, sixth inning the velocity crept down a little bit, but I thought he was still effective. He just, every mistake he made he paid for.”

Fun with Edwin
In the sixth, Lindor made a diving play up the middle to rob Edwin Encarnacion of a single. The original ruling on the field was that the former Indian was safe (later overturned), but as the umpires took a second look, Lindor, Santana and Encarnacion enjoyed a little reunion at first.

“I was like, ‘Bro, you knew I was gonna one-hop the ball. Everybody knows I’m one-hopping the baseball,’” Lindor said. “And [Encarnacion] was like, ‘Man…’ I can’t tell you what he said. But it’s all fun. I wish I could give him hits, but I won’t give him hits. I’m helping my team.”

Mandy Bell covers the Indians for MLB.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MandyBell02.

The Reds released OF (DH) Matt Kemp yesterday. He's on the DL, recovering from a broken rib. Kemp, 34, had 21 HR, 85 RBI, a .290 BA, and a .818 OPS last year. He'd be cheap, because the Reds are on the hook for his 2019 salary. The Indians need a RH bat, so I hope they're considering him.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kempma01.shtml

Is it etched in stone somewhere that Indians' pitchers have to give up a first inning bomb? Good grief, down 2-0 before we even come to the plate.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...2q_aTdibLvyCpVT

Took Grandkids to Cincinnati Reds game Yesterday I hope the Giants play in Cleveland next year I don't like much about Cincinnati ...

There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball. Here are the Indians' offensive (in a literal sense) ranks.

Batting average: 30th
On-base %: 25th
Slugging %: 29th
wRC+: 30th
Home runs: 27th
Strikeout rate: 27th

Keep in mind, pitchers bat for half of the league's teams.

https://twitter.com/ZackMeisel/status/1125931339423846400

Oh no...

Rain on the way. Getting close with Tribe leading 2-0 in only the top of the third.

Looks pretty heavy. Maybe 30 minutes away. Maybe 45.

Alright!!!!!!

Bottom of he 5th Tribe winning still 2-0.

Come on rain!!!!

I like this Jordan Luplow. He's good ... today.

BTW, if you're old enough to remember Jordan's uncle, Al Luplow, playing RF for the Indians, you're old. Me, for instance, I remember.

5-0 Tribe. end of 5th. Official game if it rains out now.

What?

The official scorer must have gone schizo during the game. Or maybe it's me?

Roberto Perez hit a ball that should have been a double play that the Sox dropped. No outs.

They ruled it an at-bat but no hit. Perez safe at first.

I think that's correct when a batter reaches on an error. (at-bat but zero hit: 0-for-1)

But now I see Perez went 2-2 in the game.

That's significant because it's the first time Perez has batted his weight since junior high school.

He's currently batting .227.

(He weighs 225 lbs)



(OK I lied he hit his weight in 2014 & 2015)

I'd say proud.

There's some great people in Cleveland.

Hey, that "14 year-old Carson" is quite a trooper.

Very cool! Bravo!

I would try Naquin in the two or three hole for a while ..

Where's Zimmer?

Rehab, IIRC

I really look forward to seeing Mercado. He's not a finished power hitter yet, but he seems to put the bat on the ball, and we need that right about now.

After not being able to hit a beachball with a tennis racket for most of the season, the Indians hit 5 HRs today and run-ruled the White Sox 9-0. At the quarter-pole for the season (give or take), they are 22-19, which projects to 87-88 wins for the season. If they can stay above water until they get healthy, they should still have a good shot at winning the division. Beyond that, who knows?

So, are you confident? Liked your beach ball thing. They seem kinda dumb at the plate at times. Hope Mercado helps!

I wouldn't say I'm confident, but I'm somewhat optimistic, because after all the injuries and hitting slumps this year, they are pretty much where they were the previous 3 seasons at this point. Reports are that Clevinger will be back much sooner than originally thought - maybe as soon as June 1, and the guy they called up from Triple A, Jefry Rodriguez, has been very impressive. Just gotta get Lindor and Ramirez hitting like they can, and we should be okay.

I can't get too excited about Mercado right now.

He's old enough to prove he belongs in the majors (24 years-old)

I think it seems reasonable to put him at a less than 50% chance of making it. Maybe ~ 25%.

I'd be thrilled if he puts up these numbers in 2019:

At bats......250 or better
Strike outs...60 or less
Batting average .250 or better
Stolen bases...15
Homers.........10



If he stays healthy and hits .250, he'll get more than 250 at bats.

deleted

Remember Vern Fuller?



2nd baseman, kinda threw like girl. (a 1960s girl)

In 1968, his slugging% was lower than his on base%.

Isn't that impossible?

slugging% = total bases/at bats
on base% = hits + walks + hit-by-pitches/at bats

In 1968, he almost hit a homer in 244 ABs. (but didn't)