Quote: The good, but disappointing thing is that Detroit also lost, so we maintain our 1 game hold on 1st place ... but we could have moved to a 2 game lead.
The "good" thing is that you are in the mediocre Central.
sorry I missed this post earlier.
1. we are in one mediocre central. you are in the other. 2. you would be in 1st place if you went 5-1 instead of 1-5 against us. but, you didn't.
Quote: Carmona is 1-7 with a 7.41 ERA versus Minnesota in 10 starts since the start of 2008, and posted a similar 1-7 mark and 8.20 ERA in his last nine outings overall before landing on the DL.
Am I perfect? No Am I trying to be a better person? Also no
In your mind, what would be the most intriguing World Series match-up for you?
Jerry Crasnick (1:29 PM)
John, I guess the Phillies vs. the Red Sox or Yankees would be a great matchup. Personally speaking, I would get an awfully big kick out of seeing the Indians and Pirates in the World Series. I'm not kidding -- how much fun would that be?
Quote: Jerry Crasnick wants a Cleveland vs. Pitt WS.
Quote:
John (Virginia)
In your mind, what would be the most intriguing World Series match-up for you?
Jerry Crasnick (1:29 PM)
John, I guess the Phillies vs. the Red Sox or Yankees would be a great matchup. Personally speaking, I would get an awfully big kick out of seeing the Indians and Pirates in the World Series. I'm not kidding -- how much fun would that be?
Indians/Pirates? Sounds like there's got to be a Bear in there somewhere...
the Bear makes sense for the Indian side, but not the Pirate side (who takes a Bear out to sea?). how about a Hawk (Pirates could train it to scout for islands, boats, etc)?
anyways, CBS Sports is on the improbable bandwagon
The Weekend Buzz while you were celebrating National Ice Cream Day on Sunday with a jumbo milkshake for lunch (or, if you're in the Midwest, maybe a double-dip of Blue Moon). ...
1. Look what the cat dragged in: Only 136 miles of freeway asphalt and maybe a few hundred yards of World Series hunger pains separate the cities of Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
On a hot July weekend made for swimming and frozen desserts, a Midsummer Night's dream has the Pirates and Indians meeting in ... late October?
Andrew McCutchen (center) and the Pirates deserve a pat on the back for their solid play in the first half. (Getty Images) "That would be great," Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was saying during a conversation at the All-Star Game the other day. "Quick travel, too."
"That would be something, wouldn't it?" Pirates starter Kevin Correia said.
Sure would. And while Boston's checkbook and Philadelphia's pitching remain favored to knock this dream silly when the reality of the autumn chill sets in, how fun was it to look at the standings over the weekend and see the Indians in first and the Pirates tied for first?
Off to its best start since 2007, Cleveland has been in or tied for first place for 92 days this season. The Pirates, riding 18 consecutive losing seasons, are off to their best start since 1997.
Maybe most dangerous for NL Central rivals Milwaukee, St. Louis and Cincinnati is that the longer the Pirates stay north of .500, the more fervently they'll believe.
"It's been a great, great experience," McCutchen says. "I feel like we started spring training feeling like we were seeing what we could do. Then, we did what we said we were going to do and then, after that, I feel like we started believing. Three things changed in our attitude.
"Now, we know we can win. It's not we feel we can win, or we hope we can win."
Correia pitched for San Diego's surprise 90-win team last summer, and he definitely sees the parallels.
"Pittsburgh is a better offensive team," Correia said. "We haven't lived up to how well we can hit yet. But our pitching staff and bullpen has done an unbelievable job, compared to years past. In my experience, that's how you win games. The rotation keeps you in games, then the bullpen takes over.
"That's how we did it in San Diego last year, and all of a sudden the young guys were realizing they can play and they can win."
Likewise, the Indians, who led their division by seven games on May 23, are arriving ahead of schedule.
"The way it's set up, it's going to be a dogfight," closer Chris Perez said. "Because every team in the division knows each other so well, and it's going to come down to execution. A rookie might put you over the top, or an error to lose a game might [sink] you."
Who knows whether this will last, but it sure is enjoyable checking the scoreboard each night.
"I go first to the Pittsburgh game, and then Cleveland," Commissioner Bud Selig admitted to a group from the Baseball Writers Assn. of America in Phoenix the other day. "I'm enjoying those two situations very much."
So are lots of other folks.
A Cleveland-Pittsburgh World Series?
"If you had that call, you're Nostradamus," Perez said. "I'm not going to go out on that limb -- on their side."
Great answer.
"Cleveland and Pittsburgh have baseball players, too," Perez said. "You forget about that with all of the Yankees and Red Sox stuff."
Looks liek Carmona is back to flirting with disaster.
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, at least he got out of what could have been horrible with only giving up 1.
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.
At this stage of the game, I don't think I could have asked for much more from Carmona. Let's just see Perez close this out and take the day/nite sweep.
The Indians have a 4-2 lead going into the 9th with a man on 1st.
How weird would it be if they scored the man that's on right now, and win the second game by the same score as they did the day portion of the doubleheader?
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.
Really damn fine to have a Twin killing in a twin bill.
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.
Quote: gotta at least split the next 2, but it'd be awfully nice to shut the door on the Twins now with the trade deadline coming up.
+1
It's nice to be playing at .500 considering the Tribe had an awful June but they have to start winning every series (or at least most of them). Splitting with Baltimore wasn't good, even if it was on the road. And we can't split with the Tiwns too. Going 4-4 on an 8-game road trip against two bad teams isn't good for a contending team. I'll take 5-3 with a grand smile.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
The Indians need to play .500 on the road, win every series at home and most importantly, they need to not lose a series to the teams that are chasing them.. if they do that they will win the division.
if we get to August 9th in 1st place, then I think we'll take the division. The schedule from there on out is much easier than the schedule to that point (both in teams and in days off)
Just curious on everyone's thoughts on what would it take to get Beltran? The Mets are willing to pick up his salary, that's what scrolled across the bottom line last night, and ESPN insider says they only want major league ready prospects. Would a deal sending C. Phelps, Z. McCallister, and J. Judy get it done.
Lineup with Beltran:
1. M Brantley 2. A Cabrera 3. T Hafner 4. C Beltran 5. C Santana 6. M LaPorta 7. L Chisenhall 8. L Valbuena or Kipnis 9. E Carrera
I love the carrera, brantley at the 9 - 1 spots. And who cares if it is a rental, maybe we will go to the playoffs and he resigns with us. Without picking up Sizemore and Carmona options for next season that would pay Beltrans new contract.
I believe that if you want Beltran and you are hoping to have the Mets pay the bulk of his remaining salary, then you'll need to give up at least one of our top four prospects: White, Pomeranz, Kipnis, or Chisenhall along with the guys you mentioned.
As a 2-month rental, Beltran is a decent option. But I don't see the Indians giving up on young, cheap major league ready talent though. The report I read had the Indians willing to pay the money for Beltran to keep their prospects. So, we'll see...
The Indians should have some extra cash to handle a high-priced player. And with Grady out again, they need someone in the OF (plus, with Choo out it's even harder).
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
The Indians have been pretty successful at identifying players who will become solid (or better) Major league level players. I suspect that they would apply the same criteria they use in identifying players to add to their Minor leagues to determine who they would move.
I would not give up one of our top 4 prospects to get a 2 month rental type. I would rather continue to build the team on a solid base. The only way I would make a "give up the future" move is if I thought that the Indians could win it all this year, and that the one player involved was THE difference. With Sizemore and possibly Carmona coming off of next year's books, they can add some quality talent that can contribute next year in free agency. I expect that White will be on the Major League team this year. and could very well be joined by Pomeranz next season at some point. Chisenhall will be the starting 3B for the Indians next year, and Kipnis could find his way up as well. He's his .300 every year prior to this year. He is hitting .287 at Columbus this year, and appears to be developing some power as well.
The more I think about it, I better get more than 2 months if I give up any of those guys.
I would rather go after a guy like Michael Morse of the Nationals. He'd cost a lot in prospects too ....... but he's hitting .307, has 16 HR, 50 RBI, 40 Runs, and is a corner infielder. Terry Pluto brought his name up in one of his columns. The guy is 29, and is signed through 2014. he could be a long term piece of the puzzle. I'd rather give up pieces for him than for a guy who will be gone after the season ends.
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'd like Melky Cabrera, if only to have another Cabrera. Actually, I've always liked him as a ballplayer. A friend of mine said I was nuts a few years back when I said I'd trade Sizemore to the Yanks for two guys named Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano. I think I still would ...
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.
Not that it would bother me that much normally, but I have Masterson on a fantasy team. And he really deserved that win, he looked fantastic in the 2 innings I saw.
Oh well...back to the first place tie we go. Why the hell didn't Manny put in Brantley, and why the hell was Valbuena playing on the freaking warning track? Twice??
Brantley was sick, I believe. At any rate, hafner has to be playing every day. They need to put santana hitting 6th or 7th. This guy is so frustrating to watch. Always trying to hit the home run. Maybe give Laporta a shot at cleanup or 5th. At least he hit the ball hard tonight.
Hopefully by next week, we will have a right handed bat to hit in the middle of the order. This team just has too many flaws to get on a real roll.
And that may be why we don't make a huge move right now.
If we still feel that the pitching staff (as a whole) is a year away, and we feel that we cannot win without Choo and lacking a right handed power bat, then we may ride this year out, make a couple of moves in free agency, and see how far the team comes by this time next year.
It sucks to think about us "not making a move to win it all", but if the front office feels that we need 3 or 4 moves to win it all, and that those moves would devestate our Minor League teams, then maybe it's better to stand pat for 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 agree. Guys like Pomeranz, Kipinis, White would be off limits. Even if we made the playoffs, we would be heavy underdogs, assuming the other 3 teams would be the red sox, yankees, and rangers. Besides the phillies, those are your best teams in baseball.
It's frustrating as hell. They play so bad at times, that I'm thinking the bottom could fall out at any time. They win a couple in a row, and you think they have turned the corner. But then they play a game like tonight.
They are hanging in there. But one hot streak by detroit or chi-town, and the season will be lost.
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