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Don't look now but we are only 4.5 games behind the Tigers!
Wildcard standings after the 9/10 games
Texas -2.5
Tampa ---
Baltimore 1.5
Cleveland 1.5
New York 3
Kansas City 4
Am I perfect? No
Am I trying to be a better person?
Also no
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Quote:
Don't look now but we are only 4.5 games behind the Tigers!
Wildcard standings after the 9/10 games
Texas -2.5
Tampa ---
Baltimore 1.5
Cleveland 1.5
New York 3
Kansas City 4
The fact that we are so close to the Tigers after they owned us all year long is just astonishing to me. It would be funny if we somehow managed to win the division after playing so poorly against them this year.
I like where we're at. I really like where we're at with regards to the Wild Card.
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.
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Ubaldo was excellent last night. Gotta take my hat off to Tito and Mickey Callaway for what they have done with this staff. Nothing short of amazing.
That's good coaching, good teaching, and unbelievable patience.
I still think 4.5 of Detroit at this point is still kind of a pipe dream but on the flip side, I would lulz all the way to the 2nd round if Detroit blew it after destroying us all year.
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Ubaldo has been amazing the past 3 months. Even when he was struggling to get to 6IP, he was keeping the team in games. And now, he's figuring things out again on keeping his pitch count in control.
Mickey has been an absolute marvel.
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It's amazing considering his start to the season. I went to the game in April against Boston when he gave up 7 runs in 1 inning of work. He couldn't even throw a strike. I thought Belcher was great 2 years ago, but Callaway has been fantastic. Ubaldo is pitching like he did a few years back when he went 13-1 in the first half. He's on some tear.
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and it seems to affect everyone on the staff. Masterson, Ubaldo, Kazmir, Kluber, Salazar.
Carrasco has been his kryptonite so far. Maybe an offseason with the Mick and he can come around?
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What a run!
Yeah, this is been crazy! Texas and Tampa have also been hot too, nobody wants to drop a game.
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Let's go Tribe! I love this team's unwillingness to ever give up. I actually like our starting pitching about just about anyone in the playoffs. Ubaldo has turned his career completely around in the 2nd half of this season, He is pitching as well as just about anyone. We have Masterson back. He will probably be in the bullpen for now, but that's a huge weapon to bring into a game late. Kluber has been very good. Salazar has been spectacular at times. I loved his stuff even when other were asking "who?". Tomlin has been outstanding in limited duty. Kazmir should match up well against the bottom of another team's rotation. Ditto for McAllister. I really like our pitching. They give us a chance to win in almost every game. Add in incredibly timely hitting .... and maybe this team is a team of destiny. OK, so not many stranger things have happened ..... but there are probably one or two stranger things somewhere in history.  
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.
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I like the pitching a lot. This lineup has some of the worst cold streaks I've ever seen, but hopefully they can avoid that from here on out.
I'm worried about playing up at Target Field because we have not done well there since they put that place up. I'm happy to hear that Mauer has been put away for the year though.
This guy we face tonight threw a 2 hit CG last time we faced him. He's not been good since.
4 big ones left. Anyone else feel dirty rooting for NYY the last few nights? Wow they're horrible too.
I also heard the hosts on 92.3 just now talking about the situation if Cleveland, Tampa, and Texas all finish tied. It's incredibly complicated, stupid, and I hope it doesn't happen.
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Congrats to the Tribe on this run down the stretch but damn... could Texas just a lose a game or two because I doubt the Tribe is going to win out...
yebat' Putin
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I bet the Rangers' fans are saying the same thing about the Tribe.
Am I perfect? No
Am I trying to be a better person?
Also no
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Please do not let Perez close when it counts anymore. He's lost it mentality. No longer reliable.
As an aside, I think he is literally gaining weight from game to game. Wow.
Go Tribe.
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Well, he definitely didn't have it tonight ... or last night.
Geesh. Not the time for him to implode.
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.
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Joe Smith comes through to get the save. Tampa Bay and Texas also won tonight, so the status quo remains in stasis ...... except our magic number shrinks by 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.
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Quote:
Well, he definitely didn't have it tonight ... or last night.
Geesh. Not the time for him to implode.
Didn't have it tonight or the other night? Are you serious? He's been imploding for nearly two months! Since August 3rd he's given up 17 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings with an era of 7.52.
The guy has completely lost it. We cannot afford to put him back out there. He's a disaster, you don't let him work through this. He would not even be on my post season roster if we get there.
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Quote:
What a run!
i was about to blame Prp for bringing the site back online before we clinched a spot. we didn't lose a game with it down.
#gmstrong
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The guy has completely lost it. We cannot afford to put him back out there. He's a disaster, you don't let him work through this. He would not even be on my post season roster if we get there.
+1
Even knowing we ended up winning, I still want to fight him.
I get what Tito was trying to do, put him out there in a 5-run game and test his confidence. Holy Toledo that failed.
No only is he off the postseason roster, I don't pitch him for any reason the rest of this series.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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Quote:
Quote:
The guy has completely lost it. We cannot afford to put him back out there. He's a disaster, you don't let him work through this. He would not even be on my post season roster if we get there.
+1
Even knowing we ended up winning, I still want to fight him.
I get what Tito was trying to do, put him out there in a 5-run game and test his confidence. Holy Toledo that failed.
No only is he off the postseason roster, I don't pitch him for any reason the rest of this series.
Exactly. He had a shot a redemption tonight. Failed miserably. Perez is saying postgame, he no longer wants to hurt the team. He's lost it mentally. This has been blatantly obvious to anyone who has watched the Tribe for the past couple of months.
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I don't blame Tito for putting him out there tonight. 6-1 lead, good opportunity to get the guy back on track. That was on Perez.
If Tito puts him out there again, that's on Tito.
Can't go to him anymore. You can't trust him. Throw out stupid baseball history and loyalty or you'll be watching the playoffs.
I think it should be Joe Smith, which hurts, because he's so good in the 8th.
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I bet the Rangers' fans are saying the same thing about the Tribe.
And Rays fans ....
More adventures in closing with Perez. Who do we make the closer if we we can't rely on CP? Because we obviously can't.
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Maybe Masterson has the makeup to handle that role? If not, maybe he can handle the 8th and Smith can close?
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.
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I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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jc...
Pitching Perez in non-save situations has always resulted in disaster. Manny never seemed to get it and apparently TIto doesn't either.
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jc...
Pitching Perez in non-save situations has always resulted in disaster. Manny never seemed to get it and apparently TIto doesn't either.
Pitching Perez in any situation at this point is a disaster. Masterson or closer by committee should be closing from here on out. Send Perez home to the couch with a bag of Ruffles as a parting gift.
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i think if masterson can start, then put him in the starter role again and move salazar to closer, he's got more of a closer skill set anyways,
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
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Win it for John 
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/ar...le&c_id=cle
Heck with that. Win it for me dammit!
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.
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Quote:
i think if masterson can start, then put him in the starter role again and move salazar to closer, he's got more of a closer skill set anyways,
I don't think Masterson has enough time to stretch out in order to go back to full starter mode.
I would prefer keeping Masterson & Salazar available for more IP though. I prefer the approach of having Masterson be ready on days when Salazar starts.
Salazar goes 4-5IP, then in comes Masterson to finish them off. That's the type of pitching that could drive teams crazy.
#gmstrong
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Quote:
Quote:
i think if masterson can start, then put him in the starter role again and move salazar to closer, he's got more of a closer skill set anyways,
I don't think Masterson has enough time to stretch out in order to go back to full starter mode.
I would prefer keeping Masterson & Salazar available for more IP though. I prefer the approach of having Masterson be ready on days when Salazar starts.
Salazar goes 4-5IP, then in comes Masterson to finish them off. That's the type of pitching that could drive teams crazy.
I think that if we are going to move Perez out of the closer role. then we should put Masterson into that 8th inning role, and put Smith into the closer's role. I think that's our best chance to win games.
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.
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What about going a little old school and letting Smith go 8 and 9?
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What about going a little old school and letting Smith go 8 and 9?
The big problem is that you couldn't throw him 2 or 3 days in a row doing that.
Terry Pluto's take on the situation:
Cleveland Indians need to consider Justin Masterson as the closer, with Joe Smith as Plan B: Terry Pluto | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf...#incart_m-rpt-2
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What a time to have no closer.
Actually, the Indians do have a closer -- maybe.
And while they haven't talked about it, the Tribe knew that it might come to this -- that Chris Perez could collapse at the end of the season.
After his latest disaster in the 6-5 Tribe win at Minnesota on Thursday, Perez has an ERA of 7.52 since August 1. He's been hit hard for weeks.
The odds are now that Tribe fans have seen the last of Perez, because there is no time for reclamation projects in the heat of a playoff race.
So who closes?
While I think Joe Smith can do it, the most intriguing possibility is Justin Masterson.
Never forget that Masterson not only was a reliever when he came to the big leagues in Boston, but his manager was Terry Francona. Yes, it's the same Francona who is now trying to pick a closer for the biggest three games of the regular season.
Masterson has pitched very little in relief since 2009, when he was traded by Boston to the Tribe in the Victor Martinez deal. He made one relief appearance for the Tribe in 2009 and 2011, and worked out of the pen five times in 2010.
Masterson made the 2013 All-Star team as a starter for the Tribe. But he suffered an oblique injury in early September -- and it appeared he might be out for the rest of the regular season.
But he pitched the ninth inning of Wednesday's 7-2 victory over the White Sox. It looked like more than finding an inning for Masterson to return to game shape. It was a backup plan for Perez being tested.
While Masterson has been a reliever, he was never a closer in the minors or majors. But he has the strong arm and confidence that could help him pitch these clutch innings this weekend -- and perhaps in the playoffs. Because his arm has been trained as a starter since 2009, it's doubtful Masterson can pitch two or three days in a row.
Smith is a viable option. I received an email from a fan this morning that read, "Smith makes me nervous."
Right now, everything makes Tribe fans nervous with the a playoff berth so close -- and the race so tight.
But since August 1, Smith has pitched 23 2/3 innings. Guess how many earned runs that Smith has allowed?
Two. That's right, two in his last 23 2/3 innings.
While Smith is a right-hander with a side-armed motion that usually has troubles against lefties, guess what lefties are batting against him?
It's .227.
Last season, it was .218.
In the last three years, Smith's ERAs have been 2.32, 2.96 and 2.01.
He does have his only three career Major League saves this season.
When it comes to a closer, Perez is done with the Tribe.
And the door should be open to Masterson and Smith -- in that order.
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.
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honestly, Joe Smith doesn't have the greatest splits to do that. I'd rather go with Allen/Shaw and leave him there if we attempted that.
Masterson may not be stretched out to go a full starter role, but I also think it's fairly hurtful to only let him go 1IP. With Kluber (not long off DL), Kazmir (IP big increase after injuries), and McAllister (not exactly an innings eater since he's been back) all potentially short start guys (not to mention Salazar), we will get more value and leverage out of making Masterson our "long reliever"
it's more of a true role though as we put him in high leverage long relief rather than the typical low leverage long relief those guys get during the season.
more IP, more value.
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Smith's delivery makes me afraid he'd be more likely than others to hang a pitch over the plate.
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Smith's delivery makes me afraid he'd be more likely than others to hang a pitch over the plate.
Smith's HR/9 is only 0.73 though (about average for a RP). And, that is up from the past couple years.
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What's the Indians playoff rotation? Jimenez, Masterson, Kazmir, and Kluber? If not one of those guys then Salazar? If Masterson, Kluber, or Salazar are not in the rotation then one of them needs to be closing. They all have pretty good strikeout rates which is crucial in a relief role.
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What's the Indians playoff rotation? Jimenez, Masterson, Kazmir, and Kluber? If not one of those guys then Salazar? If Masterson, Kluber, or Salazar are not in the rotation then one of them needs to be closing. They all have pretty good strikeout rates which is crucial in a relief role.
If Salazar isn't in the rotation, I think he should be a relief guy that can bridge you from inning 5-7 or 6-8. I don't know if I want him closing.
I like the idea of Masterson especially if he can't start, but doesn't he walk guys a lot when that slider isn't working? It was nasty the other night, but he's still a better option than Perez.
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I don't know if I want [Salazar] closing.
Why wouldn't you want Salazar closing? He has the best stuff on the team and strikes everyone out. He could be Adam Wainwright circa 2006.
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I'm a better option than Perez right now.  And I can't throw faster than 60 MPH. I'm really hoping Tito isn't going to be stubborn on this Perez subject. The "he's been my closer all year and he's my guy" BS. I'm worried.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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I don't know if I want [Salazar] closing.
Why wouldn't you want Salazar closing? He has the best stuff on the team and strikes everyone out. He could be Adam Wainwright circa 2006.
Experience, and the fact that he gives up the long ball.
I won't argue about his stuff, it's incredible.
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Who cares about experience? If he strikes everyone out it doesn't matter. Good pitchers pitch good. Experience doesn't really matter.
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