Sporting news graded the Indians  offseason as a “D” ... tied for the worse grade in all of MLB with   the Red Sox and Rockies who also ‘earned “D”

“Indians

Key acquisitions: RP Emmanuel Clase

Grade: D

Money or "no money," Cleveland owes its fans more than a World Series appearance in 2016 and regression ever since. A better-than-expected 2019 season should mean that the window remains open at least a little bit in the AL Central and for another run at the World Series. Luckily, Shane Bieber looks like he could be Cleveland's next ace, and the pitching largely held up in 2019. That should be the case for 2020, and we should be talking Indians challenging the Twins for the central.

Instead, there's Francisco Lindor trade talk, Corey Kluber actually was traded to Texas (for not much) and the team looks like it's going to be average offensively once again in 2020. (We'll see whether a full season of Franmil Reyes can help that.) Cleveland fans deserve more, Terry Francona deserves more. Just another fruitless offseason for the Indians.”

^^^^^ Interesting to read that from a writer with neutral perspective. Pretty much sums up how many of us feel. 

posted by BRF

^^^^^ Interesting to read that from a writer with neutral perspective. Pretty much sums up how many of us feel. 

Just like with the Browns going into the coming season, I have little to no optimism for the Tribe, or any Cleveland team for that matter. Hope to be pleasantly surprised by the Browns & Tribe but the Cavs are a lost cause.

Ugggh....hearing he's out until May

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/mike-clevinger-knee-surgery-indians.html

Great start ...  Clevinger out with knee surgery... return is TBD.

Domingo Santana is officially signed.

Great, just great. 🤦‍♂️

Not a good way to start things off.

I hope that Clev being out does not lead to slow start, and being a seller at the trading deadline, because no Lindor would suck as fans

The interesting thing is looking at even with Kluber, Bauer being gone, and Clev out to start the year, they have decent options for early 4/5 man rotations 

Awful

posted by Verbal Kint

I hope that Clev being out does not lead to slow start, and being a seller at the trading deadline, because no Lindor would suck as fans

The interesting thing is looking at even with Kluber, Bauer being gone, and Clev out to start the year, they have decent options for early 4/5 man rotations 

Fortunately, Starting pitching is an area where we have some  depth. It would be nice if we could count on some hitting to overcome Clev’s loss..... D Santana’s signing helps, but one injury and we could be looking at a pretty mediocre offense. 

Baskin & Phelps (Les Levine was on with Phelps today) were talking about this new rule where a pitcher has to face at least 3 batters in an inning. They had Paul Byrd on with them and were discussing some of the scenarios, one of which I don't think Byrd had considered. They mentioned If a lefty were facing a lefty-righty-lefty in an inning that if the lefty hitter lead off with a double, the pitcher might intentionally walk the righty to get to the third hitter so he could satisfy the 3 batter rule. They also mentioned that these managers would have to get creative with their lineups, not stacking a bunch of left or right handed hitters together. Also discussed that the bullpens may be completely different where you may see setup men earlier in the game (6th inning, etc). Will be interesting to see how this new rule unfolds.

It certainly will be interesting and I kinda like it. 
 

I know I’ve carped about this before, but it just grinds me when you have a reliever making, say, 40 appearances and have pitched 36 2/3 innings..........and making $3 million.

posted by BRF

It certainly will be interesting and I kinda like it. 
 

I know I’ve carped about this before, but it just grinds me when you have a reliever making, say, 40 appearances and have pitched 36 2/3 innings..........and making $3 million.

Not to mention an inning taking an hour because of 3 pitching changes.

When they were talking about this on 92.3 they were discussing the two relievers that can bring it over 100 mph for the Tribe. They said when they throw at that speed the righty/lefty theory can almost be thrown out the window and how that Aroldis Chapman doesn't really care about which he faces because he just overpowers them.

I get what you're saying about specialists getting paid. You and I are old(er) school where it was common to see starters get 20+ complete games back in the 70's. They pay these starters so much now that they have to count pitches. innings, etc.

The best thing MLB has done in 10+ years is the 3 batter minimum. Teams hate it, but as fans we should all love it. The late inning swaps were brutal.

I did hear the rule states they can’t exit the game. Won’t be an issue usually, but could see a pitcher getting an out or 2, then heading to LF for a new relief pitcher to finish the inning (probably more in NL with the double switches etc). Then both have satisfied the “rule” and can exit the game.

I also don’t see how a partial tear of a meniscus would have him out till May? I’ve heard of people recovering from meniscus tears in under 3 weeks. 

posted by Laley23

The best thing MLB has done in 10+ years is the 3 batter minimum. Teams hate it, but as fans we should all love it. The late inning swaps were brutal.

I did hear the rule states they can’t exit the game. Won’t be an issue usually, but could see a pitcher getting an out or 2, then heading to LF for a new relief pitcher to finish the inning (probably more in NL with the double switches etc). Then both have satisfied the “rule” and can exit the game.

I think there is a minimum for innings pitched and AB for a player to be considered a "dual" player

I would have preferred if the new rule would NOT apply in the ninth innings/ extra innings.... or if that  you could only change pitchers back to back only once during a game.

USA Today came out with an article of the top 100 names you need to know in MLB for 2020... new players that could make an impact.

You had to scroll down to #97 to find an Indian....(Nolan Jones 3B) :(     
So much for rebuilding while trying to contend.... they need to figure out what they want to do instead of going about it half assed.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/02/14/mlb-top-100-names-you-need-know-for-2020/4723364002/

posted by BR1986FB

Baskin & Phelps (Les Levine was on with Phelps today) were talking about this new rule where a pitcher has to face at least 3 batters in an inning. They had Paul Byrd on with them and were discussing some of the scenarios, one of which I don't think Byrd had considered. They mentioned If a lefty were facing a lefty-righty-lefty in an inning that if the lefty hitter lead off with a double, the pitcher might intentionally walk the righty to get to the third hitter so he could satisfy the 3 batter rule. They also mentioned that these managers would have to get creative with their lineups, not stacking a bunch of left or right handed hitters together. Also discussed that the bullpens may be completely different where you may see setup men earlier in the game (6th inning, etc). Will be interesting to see how this new rule unfolds.

Or maybe the first pitcher tweaked something or has a blister after the leadoff double and injury forces a pitching change

posted by Al Bundy

Or maybe the first pitcher tweaked something or has a blister after the leadoff double and injury forces a pitching change

I could definitely see that happening.

posted by Al Bundy

Or maybe the first pitcher tweaked something or has a blister after the leadoff double and injury forces a pitching change

I think they changed pitchers DL to 15 day to prevent this.

posted by Verbal Kint

I think they changed pitchers DL to 15 day to prevent this.

I'm not talking about a real injury where you need to go on DL. Just maybe a situation where they want to pull a pitcher to be safe, and then they can change pitchers

posted by Al Bundy

I'm not talking about a real injury where you need to go on DL. Just maybe a situation where they want to pull a pitcher to be safe, and then they can change pitchers

Thought I read where if they leave game due to injury it is a short DL stint to follow.

posted by Al Bundy

I'm not talking about a real injury where you need to go on DL. Just maybe a situation where they want to pull a pitcher to be safe, and then they can change pitchers

They already put a rule in for that not to be allowed

Tony Fernandez passed away, hit that HR against Balt in the playoffs

posted by Verbal Kint

They already put a rule in for that not to be allowed

Everything that I have read says that umpires can waive the 3 batter rule if the pitcher becomes injured or ill.