Tribe All Star Break roundtable..............

• Footwedge

  Tiger2003;826836 wrote:Why?

  Maybe because the kids are better? Do you enjoy watching 2 starters with ERA's over 6? I don't. Or a number 5 hitter that can barely hit his weight?
• Footwedge

  TBone14;827055 wrote:If you would have told me on March 30th that we could fast forward to the All-Star break and the Tribe would be half a game out of first and 7 games up on the Twins, I would have done it in a heartbeat.
  
  Now given the start and the lead they had accumulated, it has been rather disappointing the last month and a half. Still, a lot of positives going forward. No matter what happens down the stretch, this season is something that can be built on. Maybe they will fall apart, but maybe not. Either way, I don't see this as the opportunity trade prospects and make a big move prior to the deadline. If you do that, you have to be thinking that this is a team ready to make a run at a pennant, which I don't think they are there yet.
  
  The good news: The Tribe are done with the Rays and Yankees and just have a 3 game set vs the Red Sox left. They still play the Tigers 15 times and end the season with 3 vs them. A ton of games vs the stuggling Royals left and a 5 game series vs the Mariners who will continue to slide. I'm not sure if they have another trip out west, but if they do it is only one more time. The schedule sets up well. We said we had to survive the brutal stretch we just finished and I would say we did. Half a game out and a favorable schedule ahead. I'm just along for the ride.

  
  I don't think our schedule is all that favorable. Too many games left with Boston and in particular, Texas.
• Laley23

  

  Dont we only have 1 series with Boston still?
• Crimson streak

  

  Laley23;827418 wrote:Dont we only have 1 series with Boston still?

  
  Yes 3 games at fenway
• Mulva

  

  Laley23;827278 wrote:What about the Melkman or BJ Upton?

  
  Wouldn't want anything to do with Upton at this point. He's a right-handed Sizemore (one who hasn't entirely lost his ability as a threat on the basepaths). .325 OBP is pretty meh, and he's striking out in 30% of his ABs (5th in the league in Ks). Grady actually has more extra base hits on the season. I'm not that desperate for speed and moderate power.
  
  Melky is an interesting thought. Doubt we'd be able to re-sign him after this season if he keeps putting up numbers, but if the team is legitimately interested in making a push for the division this year (which they'd be crazy not to be, it could actually drum up some interest aka revenue heading into next season) then he's a guy I'd consider. Definitely rather have him out there then Sizemore at this point.
• Laley23

  

  Mulva;827423 wrote:Wouldn't want anything to do with Upton at this point. He's a right-handed Sizemore (one who hasn't entirely lost his ability as a threat on the basepaths). .325 OBP is pretty meh, and he's striking out in 30% of his ABs (5th in the league in Ks). Grady actually has more extra base hits on the season. I'm not that desperate for speed and moderate power.
  
  Melky is an interesting thought. Doubt we'd be able to re-sign him after this season if he keeps putting up numbers, but if the team is legitimately interested in making a push for the division this year (which they'd be crazy not to be, it could actually drum up some interest aka revenue heading into next season) then he's a guy I'd consider. Definitely rather have him out there then Sizemore at this point.

  
  I tend to agree. But Upton will end up close to 30 HRs, Grady will be lucky to hit 20. I do like the speed though, cause this team is SORELY lacking it.
  
  I wouldnt give up much of anything for him, but I would be willing to see what kind of deal we could do. He wont ever hit for a high average, but I think his power is coming around recently. Hit like 5 HRs in the last week before AS Break...of course that could also just be his retarded ass in a hot streak.
• Footwedge

  Crimson streak;827420 wrote:Yes 3 games at fenway

  Tribe has 4 games at Boston and 6 games at Texas. That does not bode well at all.
• Hb31187

  

  Uptons one of my favorite players, would def make a few trips up to Cleveland to watch him if he landed there
• grodt

  

  like_that;827360 wrote:ESPN Insider article that discussed 5 possible trades in the AL. Here is the Tribe:
  
  Cleveland Indians trade Nick Weglarz to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Hiroki Kuroda and $2 million
  
  His record looks ugly thanks to the sixth-worst run support in baseball, but Kuroda has put up another solid season, with a 3.06 ERA, 3.66 xFIP and strikeout-to-walk rate of nearly 3-to-1. The 36-year-old's pinpoint control (just over two walks allowed per nine innings for his career) bodes well for his succeeding outside Dodger Stadium, even if he's not top-of-the-rotation material. He doesn't have to be for the Tribe, who have innings concerns with young pitchers like Carlos Carrasco and regression concerns with unlikely success stories like Josh Tomlin, and mostly need a veteran who can offer 12 to 15 starts of slightly above-average performance. Kuroda's making $12 million this year, so the Indians could benefit from the Dodgers sending some cash back.
  
  The 23-year-old Weglarz has struggled with injuries the past two seasons, and his defense is shaky. But he's also a legitimate on-base threat with power, something the Dodgers sorely need. James Loney isn't much better than replacement level and existing prospects like Jerry Sands and Trayvon Robinson are talented, but not sure things. Adding another candidate for the future first base or left field job would be a coup for a team that probably won't do anything more exciting than this for the rest of this season … on the field anyway.

  
  This is the kind of trade I could get behind. I'm much more in favor of a mid-level trade ala Kenny Lofton for Max Ramirez that gives us a piece that will help but doesn't mortgage the future either. I'd be down for Francour or Ludwick if they could be had for the right price.
  
  I'm not that worried about Fausto. He's the 4th starter now after they re-work the rotation after the break so I'm willing to give him some more time to sort his stuff out. Unlike Talbot, Fausto has shown flashes of dominance and he could still have it. I don't think Talbot is very long for this rotation. I'd imagine Gomez or McAllister will take his place before the end of July.
• Sonofanump

  royal_k;827276 wrote:When I said make a trade for a RH bat, I didn't mean we should trade away any of our high prospects.

  
  Agree, they should target a team trying to dump salary for anything in return.
• BR1986FB

  WooHoo !!! Talbot to the DL ! Gomez will be brought up to take his place.
• hoops23

  

  BR1986FB;829119 wrote:WooHoo !!! Talbot to the DL ! Gomez will be brought up to take his place.

  
  Carrera was brought up in his place in the short term and will be sent down by Sunday to make room for Gomez I believe..
• BR1986FB

  hoops23;829180 wrote:Carrera was brought up in his place in the short term and will be sent down by Sunday to make room for Gomez I believe..

  
  Should've mentioned that. I think they optioned Gomez to AA so he could stay on his start schedule or something so he wouldn't miss a beat when he was called up.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Sonofanump;827569 wrote:Agree, they should target a team trying to dump salary for anything in return.

  
  Haha...so the tribe would take on salary? #dolan
• dazedconfused

  

  BR1986FB;829119 wrote:WooHoo !!! Talbot to the DL ! Gomez will be brought up to take his place.

  
  is that the "you've been sucking ass lately and we'll make up any sort of ailment to get you the hell out of here" dl stint?
• BR1986FB

  dazedconfused;829186 wrote:is that the "you've been sucking ass lately and we'll make up any sort of ailment to get you the hell out of here" dl stint?

  
  Probably. I think I hear Carmona coming down with the sniffles.
• BR1986FB

  On WKNR today they mentioned a few pitchers that the Tribe might be able to pick up for A level prospects or PTBNL....Bruce Chen, Brett Myers and Hiroki Kuroda
• Crimson streak

  

  I would take any of those 3. They would be a solid 4th-5 th starter for the long run.
• Laley23

  

  Thank God. I would also like any of those 3, preferably Kuroda.
• Mulva

  

  Kuroda is the only one of them I would want. Myers would be like trading for Scott Elarton, and Chen can be good for stretches, but then he goes months at a time where he looks like he's never pitched before.
• hoops23

  

  I think a guy like Jeff Francoeur would be a nice addition to the offense as well. Especially because I don't think Choo will be much help the rest of this season.
• lhslep134

  

  BR1986FB;829181 wrote:Should've mentioned that. I think they optioned Gomez to AA so he could stay on his start schedule or something so he wouldn't miss a beat when he was called up.

  
  He's starting at Mahoning Valley (my hometown team).
  
  In other news, Bryson Myles (our 6th round pick) has been doing sweet at Mahoning Valley. Normally I wouldn't bring this up. but the last Scrapper to catch my eye was Lonnie Chisenhall and he's the truth, so I really think Myles could be destined for big things in about 3 or 4 years. Very similar skillset to Carl Crawford imo (obviously a TON rawer).
• Heretic

  

  Mulva;829530 wrote:Kuroda is the only one of them I would want. Myers would be like trading for Scott Elarton, and Chen can be good for stretches, but then he goes months at a time where he looks like he's never pitched before.

  
  The thing I'd wonder about Myers is if a change of scenery would do him good. There's two ways of looking at it, both of which have validity. 1. Last year was a big fluke and he's reverted to form this year. 2. Playing on easily the worst team in baseball this year is taking a toll on him, leading to his blah stats.
  
  On one hand, his 2010 season did have his best ERA, while his WHIP and opponents' batting average were near his best. On the other hand, for a guy in his early 30s (where you'd think he'd be around his prime years), he is suffering a huge dropoff in performance.
  
  I might look at him as a viable pick-up for a team who needs one extra starter if he comes cheaply enough.
• BR1986FB

  Heretic;830015 wrote: I might look at him as a viable pick-up for a team who needs one extra starter if he comes cheaply enough.

  
  And these are the guys the Tribe is likely to go after...guys that they only have to give up A level talent for like the three pitchers I mentioned and the Willingham kid from Oakland. Guys like Francoeur and Pence are a pipe dream because their teams will require too much in return like a Kipnis or Pomeranz.
• Wooball

  

  BR1986FB;830029 wrote:And these are the guys the Tribe is likely to go after...guys that they only have to give up A level talent for like the three pitchers I mentioned and the Willingham kid from Oakland. Guys like Francoeur and Pence are a pipe dream because their teams will require too much in return like a Kipnis or Pomeranz.

  
  Pence I would say yes would definitely require the Tribe to part with Kipnis or Pomeranz. I'm sure the Astros would start out asking for both. Francoeur I would think could be had with keeping your top prospects.