Cleveland Sports Forum

Definitely adding Joe Smith was an under the radar nice move last year. That's what they should be looking at.

The bullpen market BOOMED this offseason and I don't think the Indians anticipated that. (Few did)

Antonetti today says it is not the time of year for trades. So dont' expect any moves until mid summer I guess. Other than scouring waiver wires.

Or maybe accelerating/changing some minor league development patterns for more short term issues.

Bieber and Civale are the top pitching prospects in the upper levels and both seem most likely to remain as starters. I think that the young possibly power [or semi-power] arms working in the bullpen are Jordan Milbrath and Mitch Brown. Mitch is finally exhibiting good command in his return to Akron. Mitch has 17K and 4BB in his 14 1/3 innings and a 0.68 ERA. At the same level last year he also started well and finished with an ERA of 6.33 and 39 walks in 48 innings. Milbrath has notched 11 strikeouts in 16 innings between Akron and Columbus, doesn't sound like that much power.

Cookie with a CG win, 6-2! We Reay needed that!

A friend just told me we won before I knew we had started! 14 K and an RBI for Carrasco. Zimmer returned.
Naquin single and homer and 3rbi is hitting 329 Glad I was wrong about him.
I hope I'm wrong that Kipnis looks terrible 181/258/266 1 homer! 0 steals! No power no speed How about Gonzalez getting starts at 2nd??

Thanks Cookie for bailing out the bullpen!

Naquin needs to be re-looked at in CF - when the time comes Zimmer must have tons of options left.

Kudos to HB for his Naquin pimp

Well, unfortunately, the reason Naquin ended up back in AAA last year following his very good rookie campaign was because his defense in CF is sub par. That is why Zimmer is with the team despite his bat being sub par so far, too.

Both Brantley and Chisenhall are free agents at seasons end. I doubt either will be back. Brantley will probably demand too much money, assuming he stays healthy all year this year and puts up his normal numbers. And Chisenhall just has not been able to stay healthy either. Hard for a team like Cleveland to invest a lot of money in either of those two with their injury history.

I have thought for some time now our future OF will be Naquin in LF, Allen in CF, and Zimmer in RF. ... Mostly due to Zimmer having a better arm than Allen, and also to save Zimmer from himself. He stays in CF he's eventually going to kill himself running through walls with his kamikazi style. But if Zimmer's bat doesn't come along with experience, and I must say I have been underwhelmed so far this year, he may find himself on the bubble. Not sure he will be the bat we want in RF.

You guys can call me kooky but if you give me the choice of the two prospects long term in CF, I will take Allen any day of the week. I'd choose Allen over Naquin too. I've been a huge supporter of Allen since his first year in our system. He will be a prototypical CF'er and lead off hitter. Kind of guy that isn't easy to find. Poor mans Lofton.

TRIR noted in today's MLB, offense is no longer a ruled by guys trying to get on base. Everybody wants the long ball.
HRs , launch angles and Ks.

Allen has no power.

Tough to give a spot to punch and judy hitters in today's game.

A lot of guys feel like you have to have one or the other. Power or speed. Our buddy, Civ, for example, prescribes to this.

Me, I'll take the OBP guys any day of the week.

Especially if they also have power or speed to go with it.

But even if they don't.

Seagull, aren't you the same guy who was here complaining that we were hitting too many solo homers the other day?

And now you're complaining about guys who get on base a lot?

You just like to complain, evidently. Making no sense.

I like the OBP way to play baseball more than today's game.

Unfortunately, I don't have anything to do with the way the game is played.

I bitched about the solo HRs because today it seems players are just concerned with their stats. Swing for the fences.

Bullpens today have flame throwers that overpower P&J hitters. Fouling off pitches has become a lost art like bunting. Shifts make putting the ball in play more difficult. Might as well swing for the fences.

So, if your team is constantly trying to hit the long ball, the guy at the plate should be capable of the long ball.

I just don't think an OF of Naquin in LF, Allen in CF, and Zimmer in RF works in the 21st century. I recall the "Pony Outfield" of something like 1967 with Tommy Harper, Jose Cardenal and Yours Truly. Didn't work out then. I love speed and defense more than power hitting, but don't think your trio will lead a team to the World Series even behind a super IF like we have.

I guess I'm old fashioned. Managers nowadays are putting power hitters at the 2nd spot in lineup. I hate it.

To me, you put guys who get on base at the top of the order. Preferably guys with speed. Preferably a guy at 2nd who can bunt and hit behind runners. But mainly guys who get on base. Then you put your power hitters in the middle of lineup to drive them in.

It makes no sense to put a great power hitter at 2nd, especially if you are an NL team with a pitcher hitting 9th or an AL team with a weak bottom of the order. You are wasting his talents most at bats.

Mike Trout hit .306 last year with 33 home runs but only had 72 RBI. They are wasting his talents batting him 2nd. Get a couple good on base guys and hit them at the top ahead of him.

You know last year there were 41 hitters in MLB that had over 30 homers, but only 24 guys who had 100 RBI?

There was one hitter who had 41 homers yet only 80 RBI

There were 22 hitters who had over 30 homers last year but less than 100 RBI.

That used to be unheard of.

And some of these guys were lucky to get twice as many RBI as homers.

Schwarber had 30 HR and 59 RBI.

Gallo 41 and 80

Moustakas and Morrison both had 38 and 85

Donaldson 33 and 78

Thames 31 and 63

Duda 30 and 64

Schebler 30 and 67

Odor 30 and 75

Myers 30 and 74

Souza 30 and 78

This trend is just terrible, IMO.

Give me a couple good OBP guys for the top of my order any time.

Hate to say it but I used to love to watch the Red Sox and Yankees lineups of early 2000's. The way they would work pitchers to death, work walks, get on base, and drive them home. Loved the way those teams played. The opposing teams starter would be real lucky to get into the 6th inning.

Naquin and Zimmer, assuming they develop as hoped, are both 20+ HR guys. With speed. What do you need?

Springer was only power hitter in Astros OF last year.

I don't think the Cubs had a single legit power hitter in their '16 OF.

The 2015 Royals leading home run hitters in their OF were Cain with 16 and Gordon with 13.

Naquin and Zimmer are both more than capable.

Assuming Zimmer develops, which I'm beginning to wonder.