Tribe Newbies Power Big Win

• HitsRus

  

  Matt LaPorta drove in 5 runs and Austin Kearns and Choo added three more apiece as the Tribe pummelled the Angels 15-5.
  
  
  Marte, Marson, Brantley, Rodriguez and Hernandez also had multiple hit games.
  
  Carrasco gave up 5 runs in 3+ innings of work...the lone negative of the day.
  
  Russell Branyan will open the season on the 15 day DL.....waste of money?
  
  http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100328&content_id=8975392&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle
• hoops23

  

  Manny Acta has been playing his starting line up the last few games to get these guys into an early rhythm. I really like what he's done.
  
  The best thing from the spring for me is Fausto Carmona. He is throwing strikes and his stuff is looking filthy again.
• BR1986FB

  HitsRus wrote:.
  
  .....waste of money?

  And a roster spot.
• Mulva

  

  I don't think Acta is a good manager, but I'm a fan of playing the starting line up the last few days. It's the antithesis of Wedge, whose teams started slowly out of the gate every year and didn't look ready to play until May or June.
• HitsRus

  

  ^^^Idon't know...I'm going to reserve judgement on Acta and at least give him a chance before I start ripping on him. In actuality, I've liked what I've seen. Not only in how the team is performing, but I like the fact that he's emphasizing to our pitchers about getting ahead in the count. It's hard to correlate spring training stats to what will happen when things begin to count, but I'm impressed so far.
  
  Personally, I think Wedge got stale...the players need to see and hear things from a different source. Acta may just be the guy.....I don't know...ask me in June.
• Lovejoy1984

  

  Did you guys know the third base coach, Steve Smith, is on Amazing Race this season?
• Laley23

  

  I will give Acta a year. He has yet to have ML talent at his disposal.
• detectivegibbles

  Laley23 wrote: I will give Acta a year. He has yet to have ML talent at his disposal.

  Does he have it this year?
  
  Go tribe!
• Laley23

  

  ^^^No, but when he manages my team it doesnt matter, he better not fuck up!
• hoops23

  

  He's got more talent now than he has ever had.. Still not enough to win the division, but the Tribe is only missing a few pieces here and there to be solid contenders for the "weaker" central division.
• Swamp Fox

  Spring training usually means very little as far as the regular season goes. The fact that the Indians are using primarily regular season starters against teams that may not be doing the same thing proves very little other than the Tribe can beat other team's down the liners. Rhythym only counts if it is achieved against the teams you will have to beat when the real deal kicks off. After all, the Tigers are doing pretty well also.
• royal_k

  

  I don't know how you can say whether or not you like a manager in one spring training. I've liked what I've seen so far, especially from the pitching standpoint. And he's got more talent this year....a lot more.
• hoops23

  

  Swamp Fox wrote: Spring training usually means very little as far as the regular season goes. The fact that the Indians are using primarily regular season starters against teams that may not be doing the same thing proves very little other than the Tribe can beat other team's down the liners. Rhythym only counts if it is achieved against the teams you will have to beat when the real deal kicks off. After all, the Tigers are doing pretty well also.

  It doesn't matter if it's spring training. Fausto Carmona throwing strikes and staying within himself and keeping control of his pitches has nothing to do with the hitters he's facing.
  
  You can get a good eye for pitching in spring training. Especially if it's from a guy who struggled ALL of last year.
  
  We know the offense will be there.
• Swamp Fox

  I would agree with LTrain about the pitching observations he has made. I just don't think that the Spring training season is very reliable as a portent of good things to come during the regular season. I would add however, that it would be nice if the Tribe pitching actually is better and they have a nice year. It would be good for their fans and good for the city. Being a Tiger fan, I guess I'm just a little jaundiced concerning impressive pre-seasons that evaporate in Tiger Town around July and August.
• HitsRus

  

  ^^^^...and that's another aspect of managing that we'll not know until it happens. Wedge was usually pretty good in getting his guys to play better in the 2nd half.....His problem was always the slow starts and in retrospect, players not reaching their potential.
• just_a_swimmer

  

  I haven't been able to catch many spring training games. The team not being in Florida has really messed me up. I can never find them on or they are not showing them but anyway I have been reading these threads and checking up a bit with. I am moderately excited and ready to watch baseball. Looking forward to opening day.