Cleveland Sports Forum

From a fantasy baseball site:

Leonys Martin went 1 for 3 with a 2-run homer Tuesday and overall has had a scorching spring going 8-16 with 2 home runs.

Martin, who missed the end of last season following a life-threatening bacterial infection must be the feel-good story of the spring so far and could end up being the top outfielder on the Cleveland roster.

Martin has never quite put it together as a professional, although his .255/.323/.425 line was his most impressive yet. 2018 saw a drastic increase his hard hit % (25.3% to 37.9%) one potential reason why he has a career .170 ISO and had 29 extra base hits in just 84 games.

Martin has also stolen 20 bases 3 times in his career and despite him turning 31 today, he faces virtually no road blocks to starting time for Cleveland and could easily provide 15 homers and steals apiece.

night game today.

Nice to see Hanley come through with a base hit to drive in a run.

Watching him run the bases, I barely recognized the guy - he is actually in shape. He had blown up pretty good in Boston.

Hopefully it means he means business since this is likely his last shot.

I thought the same thing. Couldn’t believe how he looked. And nice line drive the opposite way.

Heard some interesting things from Andre Knott earlier today that I didn’t know.

One, when Boston cut him he got a couple offers to play, but he decided to take rest of the year off to get healthy. He’d been battling some ailments that were affecting his play.

Then he went to play winter ball to show teams he still wanted to play. He happened to be on same team as Roberto Perez. Tribe brass was keeping an eye on Perez to see if he was swinging bat better, and noticed how good Hanley looked, and that’s why they signed him.

He just may end up a steal.

Lots of good work by relievers last night.

Edwards struck out all 3 he faced
Clippard struck out 2 of the 3 he faces
Goody, Cole and Pounders with shutout innings.
Only O. Perez was touched for a run

Maybe the bullpen will work out? I assume Clippard is a given for one spot. Edwards and Wilson have good shots. 3 lefties: Hand, Perez and Olson are sure things.

Yesterday's minor leaguers in action include some who are marginal major leaguers so I'll post it here today

CLE MAJ Bradley, Bobby PR-1B 2 0 0 0 .000
CLE MAJ Chang, Yu SS 1 0 1 1 .400 2B (3) could he be opening day SS?
CLE MAJ Clement, Ernie 2B 3 0 1 0 .412 SB (1) Francona is very pleased with him
CLE MAJ Johnson, Daniel RF 2 0 0 0 .125
CLE MAJ Mercado, Oscar LF-CF 2 2 2 1 .421 HR (2), SB (1) Has done nothing to dispel his chances for roster spot

Martin leading off in center; Kipnis hitting second at 2nd. And that's the entire effective lineup today.
The rest:

Always like your best hitter hitting third, today Roberto Perez in that role then the big power bat Luplow cleanup; Thompson in RF; Barnes in CF; Flaherty 1B; Chang 3B; Moroff SS.

Little trivia from the D-Backs. There was an Al Luplow played for the Tribe back in the 60s.

PS - he is a distant uncle apparently.

Of course!! AL Luplow played for the Indians about 62-64. From my memory bank: He was from Zilwaukee Michigan. He and Ty Cline were rookie outfielders the same season. He was not very good and was gone by the 1965 season when a trio of rookies surged to Cleveland: Vic Davalillo, Max Alvis and the unsuccessful Tony Martinez.

Martin led off with a hit; he's been unstoppable. The miserable J. Luplow [who makes great uncle Al look an All Star] was safe on an error and Klay Thompson's brother left them both stranded.
Second inning we loaded the bases on a Barnes HBP, Flaherty and Moroff walks; Martin and Kipnis left them loaded.

Grienke leaves after 2 and we quickly the score: Perez and Luplow walk and Thompson doubles them both in.

tied 2-2 ; no Cimber just allowed a homer and it's 3-2 in the bottom of the 5th,.

Meanwhile Luplow continues to make his case for the Clippers, hitless in 2 with a walk, now "hitting" .063. Which is admittedly 063 points better than Joyce; we haven't seen him for a few days.

Joyce got a shot later in the game and added a couple more at bats to his hitless streak. Perhaps his 2018 was no fluke

Our prospects in action Thursday:

CLE MAJ Chang, Yu 3B 3 0 0 0 .333
CLE MAJ Clement, Ernie 2B 1 1 0 0 .389 BB (1) [he rarely walks but he's certainly having an impressive spring]
CLE MAJ Haase, Eric C 1 0 0 0 .333
CLE MAJ Johnson, Daniel RF 1 0 1 1 .176 BB (3)
CLE MAJ Mercado, Oscar CF 2 1 1 0 .429 [great spring continues]

another night game today. Jefry Rodriguez is starting. Carrasco and Kluber are still not pitching in real games.
Indians lineup is a littler better today with 2 Ramirezes, Martin, Kipnis, Santana and Bauers.

Naquin who's been given the chance to claim RF is outplaying only Luplow and Joyce. hitting 150/150/400. among things he did much better his rookie year than since was draw walks; one about every 10 plate appearance; since then in regular seasons it's been 8 in 220 appearances. Has cut down the strikeouts some however; his K pct was a bit over 30% in 2016; about 24% since. 25% this spring. All in all he's quite a dud.