After a great start, Bradley has gone 1-11 in his last 3 games. It doesn't take long for MLB pitchers to find holes in a guy's swing. Frenchy mentioned his inability to lay off high cheese, and it appears pitchers have realized it. They say when a hitter comes up and has success, big league pitching has a way of adjusting to him and then his first job - if he wants to stay - is to adjust to their adjustment. Bradley has to learn the strike zone, and to stay in that zone.
I Watch the Indians everytime they are on but I'm a Giants fan in Ohio and appreciate watching my team every chance I get, I am as shocked as many that the Giants continue to have MLB's best record, I hope they can keep it up, I attribute their winning to veteran leadership in the clubhouse, players like Posey, Crawford and Belt who have all won multiple World Series Titles, any thoughts on the Giants? Like I said I watch and root for the Indians also ...
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Mostly what I think of when I think of the Giants is from the very little bit I used to get to see of guys like Mays, McCovey, and Marichal when I was a kid. Back before interleague play, I only ever saw them on an occasional Game of the Week, the All Star game, and I recall (vaguely) watching them in the '62 World Series as a pretty young kid. Here in Cleveland, we also got to hear a lot of radio broadcasts of spring training games between the Indians and the Giants back when the Indians trained in Tucson. I do wish I had Buster Posey on my fantasy team to plug in at C and/or 1B, plus I just added Tyler Rogers to my bullpen.
I have been a been a Giants fan since I was young and watching (Rarley) Mays, McCovey and Marichal
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
No excuses for two of the guys that are supposed to be anchors of the bullpen to walk 4 Pirates and give up two 3-run bombs. I mentioned to a buddy of mine that this season could get ugly once we get through this "easier" part of the schedule if we don't get Bieber and Plesac back pretty quickly. Now I'm thinking it might be sooner.
I got in on Cedric Mullins, Amed Rosario, and Harold Ramirez early on. They’ve been putting up good stats, especially Mullins. Rosario’s been really good fantasy wise the two weeks. Ramirez is a good spot starter.
I agree we are being beld together by strings right now. It could start going downhill really soon. Except for Civale, its been bullpen games way too much lately.
Here are two Walk-Off Thoughts after a 4-0 win over the Chicago Cubs brought Cleveland's record to 40-30, two games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central.
Aaron Civale joins group of starting pitcher with injury concerns The injury bug has seemingly given Cleveland the proverbial middle finger lately, with several key pieces to the roster going down one after another, particularly in the rotation. So it's almost fitting that as Aaron Civale began shaking his hand in frustration in the fifth inning of Monday night's game against the Chicago Cubs, it was an issue with his middle finger causing the trouble.
Civale was forced from the game after 4.2 scoreless innings, another strong showing in what has been a solid 2021 season for him. But the much larger — and concerning for Cleveland — storyline at the moment isn't Civale's resurgent season, or that a myriad of alterations over the winter have garnered the desired results; it's whether Civale will miss time and if so, how much?
Cleveland is racing to gather as much information as possible before determining the next steps, both for Civale and the rotation. According to manager Terry Francona, the team will have Civale meet with Dr. Thomas Graham, a hand specialist, as soon as possible. At first, it appeared as though it might have been a more straightforward injury, but the team will have to wait to find out more details.
"I thought maybe it was a blister or a broken fingernail or something," Francona said on a Zoom call after the game. "But he said the tip of his finger was bothering him. So we didn't mess around with that, we just got him out of there."
That was a sure thing as soon as Civale began shaking his hand after his final pitch. Cleveland can ill afford to lose him from the rotation, though that is now out of the team's collective hands. Cleveland began the season with three established veterans — or at least three pitchers with a certain level of major league experience — in the starting rotation, leaving two spots up to a group of younger starters jockeying between the majors and Triple-A. Zach Plesac (finger) went down. As did ace Shane Bieber (shoulder). Civale was the lone stable pitcher in the rotation. Stability is now a luxury Cleveland does not have.
"You know what, man, it's tough, bro," said Josh Naylor, who homered in Monday's 4-0 win over the Cubs. "It's tough. Especially not having Biebs or Ple here either, it's tough potentially losing him. I'm not really sure what the details are about his injury, but I pray for him. I hope he's OK. It was sad to see. I really didn't know how to react. I was like 'Damn, man. Civ of all people.' He's having such an incredible season and doing so well. Definitely feel bad for him."
Looking at Cleveland's pitching options should Aaron Civale miss time Without Bieber and Plesac, Civale missing time leaves Cleveland without much flexibility. Eli Morgan will start Tuesday's game before the much needed off day on Wednesday. J.C. Mejia, Cal Quantrill and Sam Hentges, in that order, have the potential to now slot into a regular five-day routine, partly out of performance and being lengthened out, partly out of sheer necessity and the lack of other options. Quantrill and Hentges both tossed five scoreless innings, and Mejia was effective in his previous outing after a disastrous first inning. But what about the fifth spot?
If Civale does miss time, it could force Triston McKenzie to, once again, make the trip up I-71 to Cleveland sooner than expected. McKenzie and Logan Allen would be the primary contenders, but Allen recently dealt with elbow soreness, which shut him down for a few weeks, according to president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. Allen has returned to action but hasn't yet been stretched out.
McKenzie was optioned to Triple-A earlier this season and recalled much earlier than intended after Plesac's injury. McKenzie pitched well his first few times out and was seemingly on the verge of grabbing hold of a rotation spot until the wheels fell off in his last outing, in which he walked four of the first six batters he faced and had to be pulled.
Somehow, some way, Cleveland might have to dig deeper into its depth. But as Francona has mentioned before, the franchise won't take a "Why us?" approach.
"That's not the way we operate," Francona said. "I don't think that's productive. I think we'll spend our energy trying to figure out. That's going to be hard enough. So rather than feel sorry for ourselves, we'll just try to figure it out the best we can."
As Francona wrapped up with reporters after Monday night's game, he added, "We're gonna go start figuring it out right now."
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Tribe pulls out another win with kids pitching and a triple A lineup. Kudos to them. They deserve to be praised.
I'm not sure the 'triple A lineup' is fair or accurate. Aside from Bradley, everyone in the lineup and backups have ML experience, albeit with other organizations. Many haven't been starters, but they've been major leaguers. It'll be interesting who gets benched when Reyes comes off the DL. Zimmer is the weakest offensive link, but he's also the only true CF on the team. So do you bench his defense or Harold Ramirez's offense. Or Naylor, who makes some bone-headed plays, but he can hit and plays with passion.
1. #GMstrong 2. "I'm just trying to be the best Nick I can be." ~ Nick Chubb 3. Forgive me Elf, I didn’t have faith. ~ Tulsa 4. ClemenZa #1
Indians have yet to designate a starter for Sunday's game vs the Twins. Speculation on the morning show (92.3 The Fan) is that the "mystery starter" will be either Bartolo Colon, Charles Nagy, or Tom Candiotti. I would go with Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia.
Indians have yet to designate a starter for Sunday's game vs the Twins. Speculation on the morning show (92.3 The Fan) is that the "mystery starter" will be either Bartolo Colon, Charles Nagy, or Tom Candiotti. I would go with Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia.
Indians have yet to designate a starter for Sunday's game vs the Twins. Speculation on the morning show (92.3 The Fan) is that the "mystery starter" will be either Bartolo Colon, Charles Nagy, or Tom Candiotti. I would go with Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia.
I’m hoping it’s the Candyman and his knuckleball.
I did hear that Bartolo is still pitching in the Mexican League. His fastball only touches 91-92 now, a mere shadow of his old 100+ mph self ...
Indians have yet to designate a starter for Sunday's game vs the Twins. Speculation on the morning show (92.3 The Fan) is that the "mystery starter" will be either Bartolo Colon, Charles Nagy, or Tom Candiotti. I would go with Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia.
I’m hoping it’s the Candyman and his knuckleball.
I did hear that Bartolo is still pitching in the Mexican League. His fastball only touches 91-92 now, a mere shadow of his old 100+ mph self ...
Yes! The positive with Bartolo is the Tribe could use his power in the lineup in National League parks.
If I’m the Indians I’m DFA Bradley Zimmer and bringing up Daniel Johnson. Good OF, can’t be any worse at the plate than Zimmer. If not Johnson, Oscar Mercado gets the call!!! Zimmer sucks at the plate, his D does not outweigh his struggles at the plate.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Well, the team is probably out right now. I respect Francona as a manager, but see no way he can put together a winning team out of the pieces he has left right now.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I like Mercado in CF better than Harold Ramirez, but I sure hope he can find his 2019 form at the plate. Mercado and Zimmer platooning in CF make the whole outfield a lot better, IMO. Ramirez, I would guess, will be in RF. His bat has been a nice surprise.
Muggy night at the ballpark. The spicy chicken sandwich at The Fat Rooster is quite spicy.
Eli Morgan gets his first win as Major Leaguer and Ernie bangs two hits.
Nice win. Go Tribe!
Bally Sports Cleveland @BallySportsCLE José Ramírez homered and drove in five, Eli Morgan got his first win, Eddie Rosario extended his hitting streak to 14 games, and the @Indians scored a season-high 13 runs on a season-high 19 hits. #OurCLE
Well, the team is probably out right now. I respect Francona as a manager, but see no way he can put together a winning team out of the pieces he has left right now.
Probably so.
But, baseball is a game where the clear favorite can lose a lot easier then in other sports. Superior force doesn't always carry the day.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.