Tribe All Star break ...Idle chat.

• HitsRus

  

  The team is idle...but Indians talk need not be as we anxiously await Laley opening the second half of the season and posting the Twins series which starts Friday.
  
  
  Things of note:
  
  He used to be a dead spot in the batting order....but since returning from Columbus a month ago, Lonnie Chisenhall is batting .279 with 3 HRs and 14 RBI's in 21 games. Most of us have expressed our satisfaction with Drew Stubbs production out of the 9 hole, especially with his speed and defense....well, I'll take that kind of production from Chiz out of the 8 hole anyday. Moreover, Chiz can flash some leather on occasion...making a great backhanded catch of a foul pop out in the stands yesterday.
  
  
  Now you can catch the Tribe's "top prospect" in action nearby....SS Francisco Lindor has been promoted from high 'A' Carolina to the AA Akron Aeros.
  
  Justin Masterson's next start has been pushed back to Sunday against the Twins in case he throws in the All star game. The Tribe will start the second half with Scott Kazmir followed by Corey Kluber Friday and Saturdayrespectively.
  
  Beat the Bums...Of the Tribe's remaining games...only 19 are against teams above .500.
  
  Nick! we need you. Nick Swisher's attitude and enthusiasm has been contagious, and his influence on the younger players cannot be overstated. But Swish's productiion has been mediocre...9 HRs and 31 RBi's. A big second half by him would be huge.
• wes_mantooth

  

  The Matt Garza talk is really heating up as well as the druby rumors
• ohiobucks1

  

  I would love to trade Druby for Garza if garza resigns for a reasonable 4-5 year deal.
• wes_mantooth

  

  The other thing I hear is that the cubs want a shitload for Garza.
• ohiobucks1

  

  wes_mantooth;1473098 wrote:The other thing I hear is that the cubs want a shitload for Garza.

  Fuck that. I'd give them Carrasco max as part of the deal. I'd offer carrasco, phelps, and laporta for garza too lol
  
  Trade Lindor for Matt Harvey
• Glory Days

  

  ohiobucks1;1473101 wrote:Fuck that. I'd give them Carrasco max as part of the deal. I'd offer carrasco, phelps, and laporta for garza too lol
  

  Come on now, only the indians are dumb enough to fall for that. I can see it now, the cubs would accept that trade, and during the offseaon, trade them back to the indians for top prospects and the tribe front office would be none the wiser.
• Footwedge

  Tribe has had a lot of people play above their station. Just wonderful.
  
  People that have exceeded expectations.
  
  Stubbs. But 249 average is still not earth shattering.
  Kipnis. Not a believer that he's a 300 hitter....yet
  Aviles...great season so far.
  Raburn, wayyyy above expectations and he needs to play a lot more in the second half. Reynolds needs to replace him picking splinters out of his ass.
  Lonny. yes it looks like the time time is a charm for him. I still wouldn't play him against lefties. I would play Raburn at third.
  
  Lived up to expectations:
  
  Santana and the rock solid Micheal Brantley.
  Bourn...just about as advertised.
  
  Below expectations.
  
  Cabrera and Reynolds.
  
  
  Pitching is hard to put a handle on. The staff ranks about fourth from the bottom but leads to league in shutouts...go figure. Ubaldo has been a pleasant surprise, although his ERA is still below average
  
  
  Hope springs eternal with Kluber, Kazmir and even Salazar. McCallister was rock solid before he got hurt.
  
  The bullpen has shown signs of snapping out of it. Obviously, they must pitch better in the second half.
  
  Yes the tribe schedule is very easy the second half...especially in September. The bad news is that the Tigers also will enjoy a schedule loaded wih squibbs..especially in September too.
• HitsRus

  

  Pitching is hard to put a handle on. The staff ranks about fourth from the bottom but leads to league in shutouts...go figure. Ubaldo has been a pleasant surprise, although his ERA is still below average

  It seems we get some gems....and then someone gets hammered and can't make the 5th inning. Ubaldo is a wild card. His game seems to hinge on a thread...whether he can control the movement on his pitches enough to throw strikes. More good than bad, he HAS been a pleasant surprise.
  
  Reynolds seems to be a tease. Early on, I was berating the Tribe for only giving him one year contract and not getting an option. The way he's hit the last 6 weeks, I'm not sure it'll matter. We need more production out of him and Swisher.I'm not sure Rayburn is really that much of a surprise....until last year, he was a pretty highly regarded player...this year probably is more the norm for him....and yeah, I agree he needs more AB's, especially if Reynolds continues to be a Punch and Judy hitter.
• vball10set

  Wouldn't be surprised if Santana's part of a trade package...love Swisher, regardless of what others say...Kluber has taken the "ace" role away from Masterson, at least for the time being...bullpen will be a strength again in the second half...GO TRIBE!!!
• HitsRus

  

  Wouldn't be surprised if Santana's part of a trade package

  With the emergence of Gomes, it is a possibility, considering Carlos is pretty average defensively, and is not V-Mart with the bat. Don't get me wrong...I'm not down on him, but he's not untouchable.
• ohiobucks1

  

  Do not dare get rid of Santana. At WORST put him at DH and rotate him around. We are not going to get near enough value for him. I think next year he'll be a .290 30/100 guy
• ohiobucks1

  

  not to mention that he's currently at .275 11/48
• vball10set

  ohiobucks1;1473158 wrote:Do not dare get rid of Santana. At WORST put him at DH and rotate him around. We are not going to get near enough value for him. I think next year he'll be a .290 30/100 guy

  I agree, I'm just saying that I woudn't be surprised.
• Crimson streak

  

  ohiobucks1;1473159 wrote:not to mention that he's currently at .275 11/48

  
  And an obp near near .385
• Dan Gilbert

  

  Cleveland locked Santana up with a contract last season until 2016 with an team option of 2017 (very reasonable contract). He isn't going anywhere.
• vball10set

  Dan Gilbert;1473205 wrote:Cleveland locked Santana up with a contract last season until 2016 with an team option of 2017 (very reasonable contract). He isn't going anywhere.

  Still wouldn't be surprised.
• HitsRus

  

  ^^^^I agree with that. (oops...meant for Gilbert)
• Dan Gilbert

  

  vball10set;1473208 wrote:Still wouldn't be surprised.

  I would be surprised.
  
  The Indians, as of late, haven't made any trades involving dealing our players that have surprised me. We knew Lee and CC were going to be traded, no surprise there. Now, we can argue if the trades were poor (Brantley is the only one that has truly produced, Carrasco still has the jury out due to his TJ surgery).
  
  But to trade a player that is still increasing his productivity, has a reasonable long term contract will not happen right now.
• burt07

  I don't know about all this trade talk, I learned on All Bets Are Off yesterday that if the Indians stay consistent and take it one game at a time, they can take the division.
• TBone14

  

  HitsRus;1473079 wrote:The team is idle...but Indians talk need not be as we anxiously await Laley opening the second half of the season and posting the Twins series which starts Friday.
  
  
  Things of note:
  
  He used to be a dead spot in the batting order....but since returning from Columbus a month ago, Lonnie Chisenhall is batting .279 with 3 HRs and 14 RBI's in 21 games. Most of us have expressed our satisfaction with Drew Stubbs production out of the 9 hole, especially with his speed and defense....well, I'll take that kind of production from Chiz out of the 8 hole anyday. Moreover, Chiz can flash some leather on occasion...making a great backhanded catch of a foul pop out in the stands yesterday.
  
  
  Now you can catch the Tribe's "top prospect" in action nearby....SS Francisco Lindor has been promoted from high 'A' Carolina to the AA Akron Aeros.
  
  Justin Masterson's next start has been pushed back to Sunday against the Twins in case he throws in the All star game. The Tribe will start the second half with Scott Kazmir followed by Corey Kluber Friday and Saturdayrespectively.
  
  Beat the Bums...Of the Tribe's remaining games...only 19 are against teams above .500.
  
  Nick! we need you. Nick Swisher's attitude and enthusiasm has been contagious, and his influence on the younger players cannot be overstated. But Swish's productiion has been mediocre...9 HRs and 31 RBi's. A big second half by him would be huge.

  Footwedge;1473134 wrote:Tribe has had a lot of people play above their station. Just wonderful.
  
  People that have exceeded expectations.
  
  Stubbs. But 249 average is still not earth shattering.
  Kipnis. Not a believer that he's a 300 hitter....yet
  Aviles...great season so far.
  Raburn, wayyyy above expectations and he needs to play a lot more in the second half. Reynolds needs to replace him picking splinters out of his ass.
  Lonny. yes it looks like the time time is a charm for him. I still wouldn't play him against lefties. I would play Raburn at third.
  
  Lived up to expectations:
  
  Santana and the rock solid Micheal Brantley.
  Bourn...just about as advertised.
  
  Below expectations.
  
  Cabrera and Reynolds.
  
  
  Pitching is hard to put a handle on. The staff ranks about fourth from the bottom but leads to league in shutouts...go figure. Ubaldo has been a pleasant surprise, although his ERA is still below average
  
  
  Hope springs eternal with Kluber, Kazmir and even Salazar. McCallister was rock solid before he got hurt.
  
  The bullpen has shown signs of snapping out of it. Obviously, they must pitch better in the second half.
  
  Yes the tribe schedule is very easy the second half...especially in September. The bad news is that the Tigers also will enjoy a schedule loaded wih squibbs..especially in September too.

  Good posts. Yes, the Tigers schedule is really easy as well and they end with 3 in Miami so we will need to have the lead after game 159 because the Tigers will take atleast 2...if not all 3 vs them.
  
  If you could have told me in April that you could fast forward to the All-Star break and be 1.5 games behind the Tigers and have 51 wins...I think we all would have done so. And we are actually trending in the right direction unlike past seasons. The only thing I have been disappointed in is how we have played vs Detroit. It seems like the guys press way to much vs Detroit. It almost looks like they want to beat them too bad...and they don't play as loose as normal.
  
  No matter what, it is fun to be going into August in the hunt. Should be exciting.
• like_that

  

  TBone14;1473251 wrote:Good posts. Yes, the Tigers schedule is really easy as well and they end with 3 in Miami so we will need to have the lead after game 159 because the Tigers will take atleast 2...if not all 3 vs them.
  
  If you could have told me in April that you could fast forward to the All-Star break and be 1.5 games behind the Tigers and have 51 wins...I think we all would have done so. And we are actually trending in the right direction unlike past seasons. The only thing I have been disappointed in is how we have played vs Detroit. It seems like the guys press way to much vs Detroit. It almost looks like they want to beat them too bad...and they don't play as loose as normal.
  
  No matter what, it is fun to be going into August in the hunt. Should be exciting.

  The Indians last 20 games are against KC/Chi/Hou/Min. I think that is just about the same as detroit's last 20 games. The key time period will be from Aug 26- sep 4. Detroit plays the A's/Tribe/Red sox.
• HitsRus

  

  ....and when you look at the "19 games against teams above .500"....8 of them are against Detroit. The Tribe MUST win at least half of those to have any realistic shot at the division.
• vball10set

  Dan Gilbert;1473212 wrote:I would be surprised.
  
  The Indians, as of late, haven't made any trades involving dealing our players that have surprised me. We knew Lee and CC were going to be traded, no surprise there. Now, we can argue if the trades were poor (Brantley is the only one that has truly produced, Carrasco still has the jury out due to his TJ surgery).
  
  But to trade a player that is still increasing his productivity, has a reasonable long term contract will not happen right now.

  It's easy to say that now, hindsight and all. I'm sure you're prolly right, but as soon as you something "won't happen"....well, you know.
• Dan Gilbert

  

  burt07;1473244 wrote:I don't know about all this trade talk, I learned on All Bets Are Off yesterday that if the Indians stay consistent and take it one game at a time, they can take the division.

  I agree that if the team stays the same, barring any major injury to the squad, that the Indians can take the division.
  
  I wouldn't mind adding another arm if the price is right but no major trade is needed. That's what happens when you actually sign guys in the off season like Bourn, Swisher and even Reynolds if he can get clicking again.
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  One thing that has impressed me, which is evident in a Francona team, is our ability to manufacture runs without relying on the long ball. If I am correct, I believe we have the 5th most runs scored in the major leagues. We're in the top 10 in homeruns, but we're like 9-10 I believe. Francona believes in stealing bases, putting pressure on the defense, and I absolutely love the product this team is putting out unlike in the recent past.