On that subject of pitcher contracts (Kazmir and Ubaldo), I guess we can count it a victory that Masterson TURNED DOWN 3 years for $45 mill?

TFIR wrote:On that subject of pitcher contracts (Kazmir and Ubaldo), I guess we can count it a victory that Masterson TURNED DOWN 3 years for $45 mill?

I'll bet he regrets not signing that one now.

Hope they pulled that offer off the table.

Justin Masterson

last 11 starts: 49 innings, 7.16 ERA, 1.96 WHIP

last 3 starts: 9 innings, 13.00 ERA, 3.33 WHIP

Time to shut him down. His knee or something is obviously bothering him and he is killing the team.

I can stop worrying about McAllister lingering in Columbus; he'll be up for Masterson.

Agreed, he is clearly injured - DL him please!

Jordan Bastian ‏@MLBastian 7m

CLE's Carlos Carrasco 2013-14: 2-0, 1.57 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 3.73 K:BB in 46 relief IP;

0-7, 8.18 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, 1.91 K:BB in 55 IP as starter.

Tito - use this guy more please. No need to overwork the other guys when Carrasco has nothing but pitch (generally well by any measure) well out of the bullpen.

Masterson to DL. Lowe DFA'd (and please no need to bring him back again).
Hagadone up (until time for McAllister to start in Masty's place). Roberto Perez up as backup catcher.

Although Tanaka is the hands down winner of the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year, I never think it's quite fair to include Japanese Major League vets as eligible; although he is only 25 so not a mid-career guy who came over.

Of the "real rookies" Bauer rates 2nd best: Ventura on KC is 6-7 3.07 and deserves the honor. He's averaged just over 6 innings per start. Jake Odorizzi with Tampa is 4-8 4.10 and Bauer 3-4 4.23. Bauer is about a year younger and Trevor averages exactly 6 innings per start to Odorizzi's 5 1/3.

Of course that's not counting relievers like the Yankees' Betances who was picked as an All Star.

I never think it's quite fair to include Japanese Major League vets as eligible

I think the problem is that MLB has no desire to indicate in any way whatsoever that any other league might be as good as MLB. Not allowing these imports to count as rookies would be stating that the other leagues are as good as MLB.

How do the best professional Japanese teams compare to the best AAA teams? (I don't actually know; what do the rest of you think?)

Brief. Could the Indians hitting be any more disappointing? Aside from Brantley, it has just been one disappointing performance after another.

I think I read today that Asdrubal is 2 for 48 on the season with 2 outs and RISP.

I think you could close your eyes & swing and do that.

You could name almost every starting hitter and they have underachieved so far. Kipnis and Santana. Swisher. Perhaps they are most disappointing.

Obviously Chisenhall has overachieved. Murphy has been streaky but overall about what we expected. Cabrera has been no worse than last year, which doesn't amount to much. Gomes has been every bit as good as we had reason to anticipate.

Well, I personally had higher expectations for Murphy and Cabrera. Gomes, yes, if he continues to do what he does, that works. Probably going to be his norm.

So for me, only Chisenhall and Brantley have exceeded.

It's a pretty mediocre start, but there is still plenty of time to be sure.