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Recap: Reporter Zack Meisel discussed the Indians’ postseason hopes and more

Zack Meisel


I think the Indians should talk trade with Toronto. Toronto is all hitting and weak pitching and Cleveland is the opposite. Thoughts.
2

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:17pm

@Kevin S. And much of that hitting fits the pre-arbitration profile the Indians covet. Makes sense to me.
4

Kevin S.
Sep 25, 4:25pm

Bieber who they won’t keep could be the start with Bichette coming the other way. Build from there


Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:29pm

@Kevin S. Okay, well that's just not happening
11

Kevin S.
Sep 25, 4:33pm

It’s the start of the trade. Bichette has Tatis stats. Bieber is at optimum value right now. He will never be higher. You get Bichette, Biggio and a player for Lindor and you have a balanced team. They will never win with imbalance and there are no offensive saviours on the farm. Even Lindors trade could turn out disappointing.


Brad V.
Sep 25, 4:34pm

@Kevin S. Bieber, the 25 year-old Cy Young, with 4 years of club control beyond this year, is already on the block?! lol
5


Kevin S.
Sep 25, 4:37pm

And it is a team that will never win as configured. There is no offence. Lindor will be gone. Santana is done. Will they pay Ramirez and Hernandez. Obviously Bieber is a stud. But they won’t win with an unbalanced team.

Linda S.
Sep 25, 4:38pm

Absolutely not!!!


Patrick T.
Sep 25, 4:49pm

No way, Kevin S!


Kevin S.
Sep 25, 4:54pm

Next year outside of Ramirez and maybe Reyes there is not one offensive player who would start for a contending team. Certainly not in Minnesota or Chicago




Cody K.Sep 25, 4:03pm

Hello, with arod not being able to buy the Mets and the dolans looking to sell hopefully can you see arod buying the tribe?
1
Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:11pm

@Cody K. I'll shoot J-Lo a text and get back to you
18

Linda S.
Sep 25, 4:15pm




Hi Zack, which team do you think the Indians have the best shot against in the first round? The worst?
3

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:04pm

@Ben C. It seems as though they'll match up against either the Twins, White Sox, Yankees or A's. I'd say the White Sox and A's would be their ideal choices. If they're hosting the Yankees, I wonder if that's preferable to going to Minnesota. The Yankees haven't seen Bieber or Plesac. One key is, it's probably preferable to be in the 2/7-3/6 side of the bracket, otherwise you're likely tasked with going through both the Yankees and Rays before you get to the ALCS.
5

Ben C.
Sep 25, 4:08pm

@Zack Meisel Thanks Zack! I’d love them to avoid the Twins at all costs.
1



Brian R.
Sep 25, 4:05pm

Why do you think Frankie Lindor struggle so much in the clutch? Have you observed anything about his personality over the years to suggest he would be afraid of the moment? It's become incredibly frustrating
1
Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:15pm

@Brian R. It's the opposite; he wants those moments. It's a tough thing to evaluate because of the sample size and the fact that every situation is different. But it's hard to ignore that it's gone on for two years. .172/.296/.310 this year in 71 PAs. .202/.295/.312 last year in 133 PAs. Early on this year, I chalked it up to the team being so desperate for offense that he just put way too much pressure on himself to deliver. Regardless, they're going to need that to turn around by next week.
6
Matt W.
Sep 25, 4:00pm

Will the radio broadcasters go on the road for the playoffs?
2

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:09pm

@matt W. I was under the impression broadcasters were continuing their regular season routines during the playoffs, but just to double check, I sent out a bat signal. Will update here if I hear back before the end of the chat.
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:11pm

Confirmed: Staying in CLE
4
Matt W.
Sep 25, 4:05pm

Why can't this Indians team consistently score runs? It's a great line up on paper.


Kevin S.
Sep 25, 4:12pm

It’s not a great lineup. Santana is in decline and every player after Reyes should be a backup player not a starter. Exception is Perez whose defensive value and handling pitchers makes him a starter regardless of average. Trade with Toronto who have many good batters we’ll under 30. Several under 25.
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:17pm

@matt W. Well, the bottom 4/9ths of the lineup has been rather horrendous. The top 5/9ths looks good on paper, but at least two of those five have been ice cold at all times. And they don't hit for enough power to make up for that. They're 27th in the majors in slugging, so it usually requires a bunch of hits strung together to produce a multi-run inning (a la the 7th last night), and that's tough to do when only a couple guys are in a groove at a time.
4
Matthew C.
Sep 25, 4:54pm

Not a question, just a fun thing: After the Rockies and Diamondbacks play their doubleheader today, Cleveland will be the only team who has not played a 7-inning game this season.
4

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:57pm

@Matthew C. [checks forecast] Phew. We're clear. They did play that double header in late July before the 7-inning rule was instituted.

Michael J.
Sep 25, 3:52pm

Why do you think they left Roberto Perez in to run in the top of the 10th on Tuesday? It seems like the benefit to having 3 catchers on the roster is the ability to pinch run/pinch hit if the situation calls for it. I get that he wasn't even the tying run, but I'd still rather see a fresh Mercado out there on 2nd than Bebo after he's already caught 9 innings.
3




Brian R.
Sep 25, 4:03pm

@Michael J. If it was a 1-run game then Sandy definitely would have replaced him
1




Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:05pm

@Michael J. I believe I asked the same question out loud when the inning started. Never got a chance to ask Sandy about it because of the madness that ensued afterward. My guess is he didn't want to burn a player who he might have used as a pinch-hitter.

Ryan L.
Sep 25, 4:07pm

Three unrelated questions:

(1) Any chance the team picks up Brad Hand's or Carlos Santana's option and/or resigns Cesar Hernandez?

(2) What is Tito's role the rest of the season?

(3) Did the team have an idea Clev might break down before trading him? That trade is looking pretty good, right now, particularly if Quantrill becomes a starter. (Will he become a starter on this team?)
1




Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:25pm

@Ryan L. 1) No to Santana's option, though that doesn't necessarily mean his CLE tenure will end. They could exercise Hand's option and flip him like they did Kluber. I'd be surprised if Hernandez returned, but I really don't have any idea what the free-agent market will look like, so I wouldn't say 0%.

2) As this very moment, cheerleader. He's in the team's bubble just in case (and so he can still interact with everyone even if not in the dugout), and he said he's trying to get back to full strength to help out, but they're taking it day by day. He won't manage this weekend.

3) There's always a bit of fear about his delivery because it's so unorthodox and violent, but I don't think they knew he would specifically injure himself a few weeks later, no. They do want to see Quantrill as a starter and Quantrill would prefer to start if given the choice.
3
Jessica G.
Sep 25, 4:07pm

What kind of contract is Santana expected to get next year and is there mutual interest in making something work for him to stay?
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:32pm

@jessica G. Tough to know what free agency will look like this winter. It seems like every team will cry poor (shhh, don't mention the massive deal the league and Turner Sports announced yesterday). Santana has always talked about wanting to play in Cleveland until he's 90, so maybe he'd be willing to work something out on the team's terms... if the team will have him back. They could also turn to Josh Naylor, Bobby Bradley or Jake Bauers.
1

Jessica G.
Sep 25, 4:39pm

Thanks. I sure hope they figure something out. He's getting up there but with the likelihood of Lindor and Hand being gone next year and a fairly young roster, Los would give them some solid vet leadership.
2



Kelly M.
Sep 25, 4:05pm

Not that he’d receive any votes, but is Sandy Alomar eligible for the Manager of the Year Award as an acting manager?
2

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:41pm

@Kelly M. Based on conversations with other writers, I *think* he's eligible, but I don't have a definitive answer. It's a good question, and one Manager of the Year voters are going to need to solve in the next couple days.
1
Brian W.
Sep 25, 4:15pm

Name 1 under the radar hitter and pitcher that needs to step up for the team to make a deep run.


Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:47pm

@Brian W. These aren't under any radar, but for hitter: They need at least one of Reyes, Santana or Naquin to catch fire. For pitcher: They need Karinchak to pull a 2016 Miller/Allen.
2
Brian W.
Sep 25, 4:16pm

Any updates on how players fared at Eastlake?
2

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:49pm

@Brian W. Difficult to assess fairly, just because they were playing fake games and there wasn't anything at stake and we weren't allowed there so we can only go by whatever vague reports are provided. The 12 players included on the taxi squad can at least reveal (in some instances) which players the team thinks could help them right away.

Brian W.
Sep 25, 4:17pm

If Cesar Hernandez would take the exact same contract he had this year would the Indians offer it to him?
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:50pm

@Brian W. Ask me again in six weeks. This winter is really difficult to predict, from a league-wide lens.
1
Alex J.
Sep 25, 4:19pm

Who do you think starts in the outfield for the first round? I would go with Luplow, Mercado, Naquin/Naylor
1




Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:52pm

@alex J. It seems like DeShields is their guy in CF. You'll see Luplow against lefties and Naquin and Naylor against righties. There's still an opening in LF against lefties.


Alex J.
Sep 25, 4:57pm

Do you think platooning our outfielders so frequently is what has contributed to their lack of production?





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 5:06pm

@alex J. It's taken time for some guys to get going (Luplow has been much better in September), and it's tough when we're evaluating small sample sizes and the team is trying to mix and match to find the right combinations. Like, Daniel Johnson received 12 at-bats. We shouldn't be drawing any conclusions about him yet. Oscar Mercado has had a rough year, but it's a tiny sample in the grand scheme.

Brett N.
Sep 25, 4:57pm

What is the case for Hedges being on the roster ahead of Zimmer? Zimmer obviously did not hit much, but his stats are comparable to the other outfielders on the roster. But he is valuable as a late inning defender, pinch runner... or even as a guy who has a non zero chance to hit one out. Carrying 3 catchers just seems pointless.





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 5:07pm

@brett N. I would think (and I can't say for sure because I'm shocked they've kept three catchers this long) they'd drop a catcher and add someone like Zimmer or Johnson that they could use strategically.
1
Brad V.
Sep 25, 4:20pm

What are the chances we see a Scott Moss audition out of the bullpen in the Pittsburgh series? OP is really the only reliable lefty out of the pen (aside from Hand)...





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:54pm

@Brad V. That's where I thought they might try out Hentges, but it seems like it's too late to give someone an audition for a postseason role. This weekend is wide open. My guess is there will be a bullpen day Sunday. Not sure if they'll add any newcomers to the mix. (It's incredible they're still carrying three catchers.)
1
Brian R.
Sep 25, 4:25pm

With Clase suspended, what is he spending his time doing?
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:54pm

@Brian R. Throwing. Long walks on the beach. More throwing.

Brad V.
Sep 25, 4:30pm

Was a Nolan Jones promotion this year ever seriously considered?
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 5:00pm

@Brad V. When I asked about it a few weeks ago, it didn't sound like it. He's now in AZ with a bunch of other prospects at the team's training camp.

Zack Meisel

1
Dan J.
Sep 25, 4:48pm

My friend Tony has been debating me all week in regards to him wanting the Indians to play the Yankees in the first round. Can you please explain to him why Oakland, Tampa or even the twins is a better match up for the tribe in the first round?

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:59pm

@Dan J. You sure your friend's name isn't Ken Carman? To be completely honest, a three-game series is effectively a coin flip. The Yankees have significant pitching questions. They've lost four of five since their long winning streak. I will say, in my mind, it's preferable to be on the side of the bracket with the Astros and the 2/3 seeds than potentially have to get through both the Yankees and Rays to reach the ALCS.
1
Elizabeth A.
Sep 25, 4:13pm

Will the team try Franmil in the outfield again next spring training?


Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:37pm

@Elizabeth A. I would certainly think so. Seems like a waste not to.
1
Matthew C.
Sep 25, 4:14pm

I know they're going to slash payroll because of reasons, but do you think they'll really decline Hand's modest $10m option? He's been incredibly effective this year. If they picked it up could they really not find someone willing to trade for him?
1

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:39pm

@Matthew C. I'd think they would *try* to find a taker for him so they can get something in return

Dominic A.
Sep 25, 4:09pm

Hey Zack, I’ve been intrigued by the hype around big hurler Sam Hentges. From what I’ve heard he can throw 100mph from the left side. Why aren’t the Indians all over him right now and do you think we can see him in the playoffs?

Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:33pm

@Dominic A. Here's what I wrote in a piece that went up about an hour ago: I thought the Indians might experiment with 24-year-old Sam Hentges in such a role. He’s a towering lefty with a fastball that now can reach the upper 90s. Hentges is part of the Indians’ 40-player pool from which they’ll draw their 28-man playoff roster, but if he hasn’t made an appearance yet, it sure doesn’t seem as though that’s in the cards.
1

Dominic A.
Sep 25, 4:35pm

I will most definitey read that. Thanks!




Edward C.
Sep 25, 4:00pm

Any word on Brady Aiken/his status/future?





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:08pm

@Edward C. Nothing since Spring Training 1.0, in which he had reported to camp but wasn't on any specific ramp-up plan. Will try to get an update in the near future.
1

Edward C.
Sep 25, 4:14pm

@Zack Meisel thanks. know it's a weird season but his situation was weird to begin with!




William F.
Sep 25, 4:07pm

Is there a seed/ matchup in the first round of the playoffs that is looking most likely for the Tribe ??





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:26pm

@William F. They'll either be the 2, 4, 5 or 7. Tough to say what's likely because the Indians get the luxury of hosting the Pirates while the Twins/White Sox are facing two teams (Cubs, Reds) that have plenty to play for.
1
Erik N.
Sep 25, 4:08pm

Do you think Carlos Santana stays in the cleanup spot for postseason? he has been struggling mightily and Ramirez will never see a pitch if so
1




BILLY C.
Sep 25, 4:18pm

I wish Franmill would have hit his way into that spot. I'm also worried about people just pitching around him to the .170 Santana





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:33pm

@Erik N. Yeah, I don't think they'll make any changes to that order this late in the year.

Zack Meisel
23h ago

The question about whether Alomar is eligible for Manager of the Year votes: According to the BBWAA, typically whomever is receiving the official W/L on their record is the one eligible for votes, which would be Francona.
1
Dan J.
Sep 25, 4:10pm

What do you see Tristen McKenzie’s role being this postseason out of the pen? You think they might try to use him similar to how Miller was used or is that too much ask of him?





Zack Meisel
Sep 25, 4:34pm

@Dan J. Too much. He's barely pitched in two years and has never pitched in relief, so don't expect him to pitch in back-to-back-to-back games or anything like that. They can use him for 2-3 innings at a time every so often. They also might still need him as a starter if they make a run.
1
Eric C.

From Hoynes

Indians hitters take some notable slumps into the final game of the season: Tyler Naquin is 2-for-33; Carlos Santana is 14-for-98 (.143) in his last 27 games; Franmil Reyes is 11-for-74 (.149) in his last 22 games, Roberto Perez has one extra base hit in his last 16 games, Oscar Mercado is 0-for-27 and Francisco Lindor is 1-for-10.

Lindor with another baserunning mistake too.

His head is not where it usually is this season. Certainly can speculate as to why.

The 16-team playoff bracket
The matchups: Here's what the first round of the expanded playoffs will look like:
Best-of-three series, higher seed is home team

AMERICAN LEAGUE
No. 1 Rays vs. No. 8 Blue Jays
No. 2 A's vs. No. 7 White Sox
No. 3 Twins vs. No. 6 Astros
No. 4 Indians vs. No. 5 Yankees

NATIONAL LEAGUE
No. 1 Dodgers vs. No. 8 Brewers
No. 2 Braves vs. No. 7 Reds
No. 3 Cubs vs. No. 6 Marlins
No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 Cardinals

And yes, same home field for all 3 games this season.

I do think there's a reason the Yankees had a losing record on the road. Their team is built for their home field.

What to expect when the Indians and Yankees clash in Cleveland
By Zack Meisel and Lindsey Adler 6h ago 32
CLEVELAND — They returned sometime in the last week or so, hundreds of midges, fluttering aimlessly toward the ceiling lights in the press box.

It’s almost as if they could sense the Yankees were coming.

All it required was a final regular-season weekend full of seeding swaps and planning nightmares. The Indians shifted to the fourth seed from the seventh seed on Sunday, thanks to some late-inning magic against the lowly Pirates. If not for a Blue Jays loss to the Orioles, the Yankees would have tumbled to the eighth seed.

Now, the Indians and Yankees will tangle in Cleveland for a best-of-three opening series. And just in case anyone has forgotten about these teams’ 2007 October clash, know that the midges — I believe these are technically mayflies — have returned, just in time.

Aside from the potential presence of pesky insects, Lindsey, what grabs your attention about this series?

Adler: What is this, Hitchcock?

The first thing that jumps out to me about this series is the pitching. Gerrit Cole versus Shane Bieber in Game 1 is the good stuff. Or, at least, it could be the good stuff. Cole has really settled in, and we saw him step it up big time in most of his postseason outings last year.

On offense, the Yankees have been very boom or bust over the last month, though mostly bust as they head into this series. They’ve struggled against most pitchers they’ve faced, and none of them have been named Shane Bieber.

On the flip side, we sometimes hear about how a guy had a terrible batting practice and then went 4-for-4 later that night. Maybe the Yankees’ month of September was one long batting practice, and Cleveland doesn’t know what it has barreling toward it.

I feel like the Indians made a late push for second in the AL Central, and after trading Mike Clevinger? Can you explain how the Indians got here?

Meisel: Well, if you believe in an offense sandbagging it until the playoffs, let me introduce you to the Indians lineup. They ranked 23rd in batting average and 26th in slugging percentage, and they made more outs on the bases than any other team. And that’s all while boasting perhaps the AL MVP in José Ramírez. (Yeah, yeah, save your heated LeMahieu and Voit takes for the comments section, Yankees fans.)

The Indians have adopted a retool-on-the-fly-so-we-never-have-to-fully-rebuild-like-the-Tigers-or-Orioles strategy. You may have noticed they have traded Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber and now Clevinger all in the last 14 months. As a result, they’re young. They’re prone to offensive outages. But they can still pitch.

The renowned pitching factory has kept them afloat. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake is plenty familiar with it. He played an instrumental role in the development of Bieber, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale and others. (For what it’s worth, Blake’s initial take on this matchup: “That’s 2020 for you.”)

Perhaps that will arm the Yankees with an advantage this week. Then again, the Yankees seem difficult to handicap. They won 10 in a row. Then they lost six of eight to end the season. What’s the deal with these guys?

Adler: I would love to know what the deal is, honestly. They had major issues with every part of their roster for a while at the start of September. Now it just seems to be — for the most part — the offense and the defense?

LeMahieu and Voit have carried them for most of the season offensively. Gio Urshela (hi, Mr. Lindor) and Clint Frazier have had good seasons as well. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton came off the injured list about two weeks ago and basically just jumped back into games because what were they gonna do, build back up taking intrasquad at-bats? So, they’re not even close to themselves at the moment. Gleyber Torres is having a quiet season, along with Aaron Hicks.

As for Gary Sánchez, he had 23 hits in 156 at-bats this year. Ten of them were home runs, so manager Aaron Boone sees him as always having the potential to go deep. Typing out 23 hits in 156 at-bats feels wild, though.

The current issue seems to be that they can get runners on but can’t drive them in. At least not without a home run. I, too, believe that home runs win postseason games — especially ones against someone like Bieber who isn’t going to give you many chances to string hits together (91.1 percent left on base?!) — but the Yankees offense has been exposed quite a bit this week without many home runs.

I know that Blake was a big part of the Cleveland pitching factory, but how closely did he work with the top guys the Yankees can expect to see this week?


Indians ace Shane Bieber won the AL’s pitching “Triple Crown” this season, leading the league with eight wins, 122 strikeouts and a 1.63 ERA. (David Richard / USA Today)
Meisel: Quite a bit. He actually coached Bieber when Bieber spent a summer in the Cape Cod League. He was throwing in the upper 80s at the time with average secondary stuff. You know, exactly the recipe for someone to claim the Cy Young Award five years later.

He worked with Plesac, who would start a decisive Game 3 if necessary, Civale and Triston McKenzie, the wunderkind who will pitch out of the bullpen for this series. Blake texted with McKenzie after he made his big-league debut last month.

Blake could negate the challenges teams are facing with scouting non-division opponents. How weird is it that the Yankees and Indians haven’t battled since August 2019? Teams outside the AL Central haven’t seen this cyborg version of Bieber or the vastly improved Plesac. But maybe Blake’s knowledge will lessen that divide.

It sure doesn’t hurt to have Cole oppose him, either. I’m pretty sure the Cleveland hitters who faced him during the 2018 ALDS will have some chilling flashbacks before Tuesday night. Who else will the Yankees lean on, pitching-wise?

Adler: Expect to see Masahiro Tanaka in Game 2. They have yet to announce who would start Game 3, but it seems to be between J.A. Happ and rookie Deivi García. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery doesn’t seem to know how he’ll be used in the postseason, but he’s struggled a lot this year.

James Paxton is still down with a forearm flexor injury, so he’s not an option.

The bullpen was supposed to be great again this year but it just isn’t. Tommy Kahnle needed Tommy John surgery at the start of the year, and Adam Ottavino is having an inconsistent-at-best, pretty dang rough few weeks. Chad Green has been inconsistent, Aroldis Chapman has been mostly effective — but he didn’t even pitch 12 full innings in the regular season — and Zack Britton is the one true bright spot. If they need long relief, Jonathan Loaisiga can be a pretty nasty weapon.

I am curious how they’ll approach the pitching plan this series. In a five-game series, they need length from their starters. But I think in this series, they can afford to be a bit more aggressive if things go south for Cole or Tanaka. I don’t think they should let it get to a third game. (I say that like it’s easy.)

So is it really just the pitching that got Cleveland to this point? Don’t they need to score some runs even if their starter throws a shutout? Is it just Ramírez? Like, if the Yankees are coming in here with the weaker pitching staff, how worried should they be about the Indians offense?

Meisel: Scoring runs? In this economy? The Indians were held to two runs or fewer in 25 of their 60 games. But! Only once in their last eight games.

Carlos Santana, that guy who started in the All-Star Game and participated in the Home Run Derby last year? He finished the season with a .199/.349/.350 slash line, which actually looks a lot better than it did a week ago. Franmil Reyes, who seemed destined to launch 40-some baseballs into orbit if this were a normal season, contributed a rather quiet .794 OPS with nine homers. (His rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” on the other hand, is anything but quiet or pedestrian.) Francisco Lindor could use a productive October to wash away his unspectacular season, especially if it was his last in an Indians uniform. Cleveland has received next to nothing at the plate from its outfield or the catching position.

So, that all leaves them with the following formula for the postseason: Pitch like crazy and deliver a timely hit here and there. It worked in 2016. But 2020, in so, so many ways, is its own animal.

Adler: That’s the Yankees’ formula, too. I feel like I learned very little from the regular season (a thought I have undoubtedly expressed too many times already), and I’m just going to wait and see how they match up here.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the Indians completely shut down the Yankees with their pitching. It wouldn’t shock me if the Yankees won on a couple of timely hits. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Yankees were the first to light up Bieber. It wouldn’t surprise me if the comatose Indians offense chased out Cole early.

The fun thing is, these teams haven’t seen each other yet. Against what felt like long odds early in the pandemic and early in the season, they’re on to the postseason.

Meisel: All of these best-of-three matchups seem like coin flips given what we know about baseball and small samples. And with these two Jekyll-and-Hyde clubs in a super-short series, attempting to predict the outcome is a futile effort. The Yankees could sweep. The Indians could sweep. Either team could emerge victorious in three games. Everyone could succumb to swarms of midges. Everything’s on the table.

obviously:

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Could the American League Player of the Month award that Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramírez received Monday be a precursor of more prestigious honors to come?

Ramírez picked up his second career monthly award after batting .366 with 19 extra-base hits and 24 RBI in September. He previously earned the honor in July 2018.

Ramírez caught fire in the final few weeks of the regular season, posting a 1.294 OPS and 10 home runs, while scoring 18 times in the season’s final month. His last 11 hits of the season were extra-base hits, including seven doubles and four home runs.

The blistering finish capped an all-around impressive season for Ramírez that should garner him serious consideration for the AL Most Valuable Player of the year award, as well. According to FanGraphs.com, Ramírez ended the regular season leading all MLB players in fWAR (3.4), a statistic that measures a player’s total contribution to his team versus a replacement-level player.

Ramírez ranked among Major League Baseball leaders in September for home runs (10, T1st), OBP (.453, 1st), SLG (.841, 1st), OPS (1.294, 1st), total bases (69, T1st), doubles (9, T1st), AVG. (.366, 2nd), and RBI (24, 4th).

Teammate Shane Bieber ranks third among all players in MLB with a 3.2 fWAR while Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman is sandwiched between the two (3.3 fWAR). The next closest player in the AL is Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon with a 2.8 fWAR.

Indians acting manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said Ramírez has the ability to make contact in many areas of the strike zone, and that makes him an effective hitter from both sides of the plate.

“His bat to ball ability on both sides is pretty comparable,” Alomar said. “He hits righties good and he also hits lefties, so he controls the zone and doesn’t go out of the zone that much. The thing about Jose, he recognizes the strike zone so he doesn’t chase that much and makes him dangerous.”

Ramírez launched his team-leading 17th home run of the season in the 10th inning on Sept. 22 against the White Sox to give the Tribe a walk-off, playoff clinching victory. He became the second player in MLB history to hit a walk-off three-run homer (or grand slam) while trailing to clinch a playoff berth for his team. The other was San Francisco’s Bobby Thomson with the “Shot Heard 'Round the World” in 1951, according to STATS, LLC.

Teammate Francisco Lindor is no stranger to being on a hot streak at the plate. He said when a hitter is going as good as Ramírez in the last month, he feels unbeatable.

You feel like, anything they can throw, you’re gonna hit it and you’re gonna hit it hard, Lindor said.

Ramírez is seeing pitches early and recognizing pitch types, which Lindor said is the most important step.

“Right now, he’s not skipping any of them,” Lindor said. “He feels extremely good. I’m sure he feels extremely happy. If I were him, I’d be feeling good.”

Catcher Roberto Pérez says Ramírez is confidence personified.

“He always walks around like he’s the best,” Pérez said. “Whether he’s going around and messing with people, with his teammates. The way he walks, the way he carries himself, he’s special, man. He’s a warrior.”

Pérez said he admires the courage Ramírez displays, regardless of his opposition.

“He doesn’t care who’s on the mound, he’s always trying to get good at-bats, hustling, he gets a base hit and tries to make it into a double,” Pérez said. “It’s fun being around him.”

The switch-hitter batted .230 with 6 doubles, one triple five home runs and 18 RBI from July 24 to Aug. 24. After July 25 he slashed .358/.447/.792 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 28 RBI.

Pérez said Ramírez got hot at exactly the right moment for the Indians.

“He’s the guy that when we needed him the most, he was there for us,” Pérez said. “I’ve been playing for more than five years with him, and it seems like every year he gets better.”

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José Ramírez 2020 AL Rank Total
fWAR 1st 3.4
SLG % 3rd .607
RUNS T1st 45
RBI 3rd 46
Total bases 2nd 133
Home runs T3rd 17
OPS T2nd .993
Steals 5th 10

Yankees-Cleveland really is that interesting. It's not just the matchup between Shane Bieber (who made $230,815 this year and is going to win the Cy Young unanimously) and Gerrit Cole (who made $810,000 per start this year and was very good, especially in September). Greatness abounds. Ramirez should win the AL MVP -- and he might be the second-most-talented player on the left side of the infield, with Francisco Lindor manning shortstop. The right side of the Yankees' infield balances the ledger rather nicely, with second baseman DJ LeMahieu, the AL batting champ, and Luke Voit, the league's home run king.

Both bullpens are deep. The Cleveland rotation, with Bieber, Carlos Carrasco and Zach Plesac, is a nice counterbalance to a Yankees lineup that is clearly stronger, especially in the outfield. Four Yankees numbers are of concern: 11-18 and 10-17. The first is their record on the road. The Yankees were dreadful away from the Bronx this year. The second is their record against teams .500 or better. Against Boston and Baltimore, the dregs of the AL East, New York went 16-4. Against all other teams: 17-23.

Lloyd: Sandy Alomar’s big chance is finally here as Indians face postseason


By Jason Lloyd 3h ago 8
Twelve things I think I think about the Indians heading into what is sure to be a wild MLB postseason …

1. Sandy Alomar finally has the opportunity he has always craved. October will be his chance to prove he is worthy of being an MLB manager. It’s perplexing why Alomar, 54, has never gotten the opportunity. With the Indians announcing that Terry Francona will not return during these playoffs, this is Alomar’s team the rest of the way.

2. Let’s assume for a moment this isn’t it for Francona and he will be back in Cleveland next year after a brutal couple of years battling health issues. If Alomar can successfully guide the Indians on a deep playoff run, he’ll surely rise to the top of the list of managerial candidates this winter. The Red Sox and Tigers already have openings. The Mets and Rockies might before long, too. (Alomar, incidentally, interviewed with the Red Sox in 2011 before former GM Ben Cherington chose Bobby Valentine in what became a one-year disaster.)

3. As the number of minorities in baseball’s leadership roles stagnates, Alomar’s name hasn’t surfaced as a viable candidate in years. There are currently two Black managers in baseball (Dave Roberts and Dusty Baker) and four Latinos. Alomar’s fluency in English and Spanish should theoretically be a hit in diverse baseball clubhouses, although those who know him well say Alomar doesn’t go easy on anyone.

4. “He’s not a manager for Latin players. He’s a manager for everybody,” said one former baseball official who knows Alomar well. “He was tougher on Latin guys than the Americans. Oh shit, he was tough.”

5. Alomar has a deep understanding of the game and is rooted in his beliefs. Most importantly, he’s fearless.

6. “He’s sharp. The more you could pile on him, the more he likes it,” the former executive said. “I know one thing: If someone is talking to me as a GM looking for a manager, he’s a guy I’d interview right away.”

7. It’s rare for someone Alomar’s age to suddenly get his first managerial gig, but it wouldn’t be unprecedented. Joe Maddon was 51 when the Rays hired him in 2005 and enjoyed great success. Brian Snitker was 61 when he managed his first season for the Braves in 2017. Both Maddon and Snitker spent their lives around the game and rewarded the clubs that finally gave them a chance. Alomar could be next. October will go a long way in determining his fate.

8. I didn’t like the timing of the Mike Clevinger trade but wrote a few weeks ago that the Cleveland front office has earned the benefit of the doubt on these matters. One of the concerns the Indians had was Clevinger’s durability. Sure enough, he’s battling an elbow injury on the eve of the playoffs. The Padres remain hopeful he could pitch in their wild-card series against the Cardinals, but how effective will he be?

9. The move to leadoff has done little to spark Francisco Lindor, who batted .213 out of the top spot in the order over the final few weeks. Part of it might just be lousy luck. Lindor’s BABIP is .218 out of the leadoff spot. It was .292 last year and is .278 for his career. The Indians, and Lindor, are bound to get lucky at some point, right? Right?

10. Any sort of home-field advantage is significantly reduced this year with no fans at the games, but keep in mind that the Yankees went 22-8 at home this year and 11-18 on the road.

11. This series makes me feel like a couple of home runs could be the difference between winning and losing. Despite all their thump, the Yankees have sort of devolved into home-run-or-nothing of late, and the Indians, well, we all know how tough it is for them to score runs. One well-timed blast from Lindor or José Ramírez or Franmil Reyes could be pivotal.

12. Regardless of regular-season numbers, Masahiro Tanaka is to be feared in the postseason (remember his seven scoreless innings in 2017?). That’s what makes Game 1 so critical. If this series gets to a Game 3, I like the Indians’ odds of advancing. Give me Cleveland in three.

Shane Bieber’s rise from soft-tossing strike-thrower to Indians playoff ace

Zack Meisel Sep 28, 2020 9
CLEVELAND — Long before he blossomed into the AL’s top Cy Young Award candidate, before he developed into the Indians’ ace and an All-Star Game MVP and before he walked on at UC Santa Barbara, Shane Bieber was a 10-year-old pitcher for Ben Siff’s ASD Bulldogs. He was an unassuming kid with a gap-toothed smile and chestnut bangs that stuck out beneath the bill of his baseball cap.

And even then, Bieber consistently threw strikes.

Siff, a longtime pitching coach in San Clemente, Calif., maintains a spreadsheet containing all of his players’ statistics over the years. Bieber, who credits Siff with helping to launch his career, logged 212 2/3 innings, a 2.04 ERA and a pedestrian strikeout rate of 7.8 per nine innings during his eight years with the program.

“He was always our best pitcher,” Siff said, “but he was never our hardest thrower.”

That has been a common refrain throughout Bieber’s ascent. He was never the most gifted or most imposing, lacking the sort of velocity that lured droves of scouts to his games. But he was always solid, reliable and bound to toss strikes.

So, no, Siff never foresaw Bieber evolving into the hurler who just completed one of the most proficient 60-game stretches in the sport’s history. Bieber will soon claim his first Cy Young Award. He’ll receive consideration on some MVP ballots. And on Tuesday, he’ll take the hill for Game 1 of the Indians’ opening-round postseason series against the Yankees.

“It’s like a dream, honestly,” Siff said. “It happened so fast.”

Matt Blake first watched Bieber pitch in the Cape Cod League in 2015. Months before he joined the Indians’ player-development team, Blake was the pitching coach for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Bieber was a college sophomore who possessed a fastball that chugged along at 88-91 mph, a “loose” slider that “wasn’t super sharp” and a change-up that hardly resembles the one he throws now, which tails away from left-handed hitters.

“He didn’t have anything that was a true put-away pitch,” said Blake, now the Yankees’ pitching coach.

That was the scouting report on Bieber before he arrived in Santa Barbara, too. He racked up strikeouts because teenage hitters wouldn’t offer at his precisely located two-strike fastball on the outside corner. He outwitted, not overpowered, his opposition. And that paved his way to the big leagues, but it also prevented anyone from tagging him with Cy Young-type expectations.

The Indians are careful never to place a ceiling on any of their prospects. They have data-based projections on every player, but they understand that those simply provide a framework, not a guarantee. Bieber’s rise to prominence proves why.

“He’s the perfect example,” Blake said. “You never know what a guy is going to be.”

As Bieber began his climb through the Indians’ farm system, the organization identified a series of tweaks that would aid his cause: tightening his delivery, adding some strength, boosting the spin on his pitches, sharpening his breaking balls. In his first full professional season, Bieber posted a 2.86 ERA at three different levels. He surrendered more than a hit per inning, but he issued only 10 walks in 173 frames.

Even as Bieber breezed through Double A, Blake offered suggestions, such as refining his change-up to better equip him against lefties. It’s one thing to conquer a hitter at Canal Park; it’s another to strike out a major-league All-Star at Progressive Field.

Bieber always welcomed the advice, whether from one of his rotation mates, a coach or a front office operative. That’s a trait the Indians seek when scouting amateur players. As Blake defined it: “Do they have a willingness to grow and learn and adapt?”

“If they have attributed what you can build on and they have the mindset to do it, the sky is the limit,” Blake said. “He was always really good about filtering the information and not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”

When members of the Cleveland rotation unveiled the “King of the Hill” crown last year — bestowed upon the starter with the best performance in each series — Bieber was typically tasked with crowning the winner and awkwardly posing alongside them for a photo. He opened last season as Cleveland’s No. 5 starter and played the role of little brother to Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger, who lightheartedly teased Bieber about throwing in the 80s upon his arrival in the big leagues. They also guided him through his rookie campaign.

And now, the 25-year-old Bieber is the ace. Clevinger and Bauer are gone. Bieber is now the guy the other starters try to mimic. Not long after Bieber debuted his new cutter this summer, Clevinger unleashed one of his own.

Bieber now throws in the mid-90s. He wields perhaps the league’s most lethal curveball, which induces frequent fruitless swings even when it plunges into the dirt a few feet in front of home plate. He mixes in that tailing change-up, a slider or the cutter when he determines a hitter is too comfortable.

“He’s a case study in a strike-thrower who adds some power and has a knack for the game and understanding hitters,” Blake said. “It’s put all together, and it’s hard to believe this is what you’re getting, but at the same time, it’s like, ‘It kind of makes sense.’ It’s like the 99th-percentile outcome that you’re normally not going to get.”

Even though he’s three time zones away, Siff doesn’t miss a Bieber start. He texts him before each outing about a topic specific to that game. When Bieber faced Pittsburgh earlier this season, Siff researched the world’s most feared pirates, and the two toasted to the fact that Blackbeard wouldn’t be stepping into the batter’s box that evening. Other times, Siff sends a poem. The style and tone of the message depend on Bieber’s recent results.

They’re superstitious; if a poem preceded an eight-inning masterpiece, Siff will send another poem five days later. This year, there hasn’t been much deviating because Bieber hasn’t encountered a single speed bump.

In fact, Siff can’t recall a time Bieber has ever struggled. Blake can’t, either. A couple starts here and there, sure. Maybe his mechanics get out of whack, or he loses the feel for a certain pitch. But a prolonged stretch?

“Nope,” Siff said. “I’ve never seen it.”

Blake commended Bieber’s adaptability, how he can make adjustments during a start and hang around long enough to rectify whatever was ailing him. That explains how, even when Bieber has lacked ideal command or labored through certain innings this season, he has still churned out one gem after another.

He became the ninth different pitcher to capture MLB’s pitching triple crown (wins, strikeouts, ERA) and was the first to do so in 14 years. The first six to accomplish the feat — Grover Alexander, Walter Johnson, Dazzy Vance, Lefty Grove, Hal Newhouser and Sandy Koufax — are all Hall of Famers. That’s not the sort of company anyone would have predicted he’d keep.

“That’s what keeps me going and keeps me driven,” Bieber said. “Just trying to prove people wrong and continue the uphill climb.”