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Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

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I'm starting to want Luplow and Mercado in the lineup every night. Gives us bats that are at least alive in two OF spots. Do you start them in the corners, with Martin in CF?

If you want to buy at the deadline, you find the best bat you can to replace Martin.

If you want to sell, you move Martin and let Zimmer/Allen play CF

I'm also ready for the Bobby Bradley experiment at the major league level. I'm about done with Jake Bauers.
Finally! Someone else is done with Jake Bauers and his -0.7 WAR and career -0.2, he's not good at this level. He could be one day since he's only 23, but there's no use for him right now.

Luplow earned the everyday nod. Along with Mercado, and I'll even throw Zimmer in at CF and make Martin the utility plug and play veteran of the OF. Send Bauers down, call up Zimmer when it's time. Send Haase down, call up Bradley.

(Didn't know Haase was sent down) but let the Bobby Bradley show get started. We need the offense.
 
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Pre LeBron they were about a 20 win team because Dan Gilbert is completely inept without generational talent.

See here we go....it's ok to badmouth Gilbert or Haslam, but say something about the Dolan's and it's the worst take in sports, blah blah blah. It's not like Dan Gilbert opened the wallet to buy a draft pick which landed Kyrie Irving. Or just took on salary to get first round picks from the Rockets and Bucks. Now, just because Chris Grant is a bozo and drafted Dion Waiters, Anthony Bennett, Tyler Zeller, and Sergey Karasav with those picks, does not suddenly mean that Dan is completely inept. Is he a crazy hothead? Yes from what we hear. But "completely inept" as an owner? I think you need to have a long think here.
 
See here we go....it's ok to badmouth Gilbert or Haslam, but say something about the Dolan's and it's the worst take in sports, blah blah blah. It's not like Dan Gilbert opened the wallet to buy a draft pick which landed Kyrie Irving. Or just took on salary to get first round picks from the Rockets and Bucks. Now, just because Chris Grant is a bozo and drafted Dion Waiters, Anthony Bennett, Tyler Zeller, and Sergey Karasav with those picks, does not suddenly mean that Dan is completely inept. Is he a crazy hothead? Yes from what we hear. But "completely inept" as an owner? I think you need to have a long think here.

Someone else posting a shitty take doesn't improve your shitty take.

Dan Gilbert has also proven to be very poor at running a franchise. It's great that he's willing to spend--but so far, that's the only thing that he's done well. He's let a dynasty fall apart, he ran off executives, he has a history of meddling. There are plenty of things Gilbert has done poorly.

Completely inept at making basketball decisions? I'd agree. Completely inept at running a franchise? I'd disagree--just because of his wallet.

Now... does this sound like a 2019 Cleveland Indians discussion? Maybe that's why we choose to ignore b00bie's post rather than pick at it the way you chose to.
 
Someone else posting a shitty take doesn't improve your shitty take.

Dan Gilbert has also proven to be very poor at running a franchise. It's great that he's willing to spend--but so far, that's the only thing that he's done well. He's let a dynasty fall apart, he ran off executives, he has a history of meddling. There are plenty of things Gilbert has done poorly.

Completely inept at making basketball decisions? I'd agree. Completely inept at running a franchise? I'd disagree--just because of his wallet.

Now... does this sound like a 2019 Cleveland Indians discussion? Maybe that's why we choose to ignore b00bie's post rather than pick at it the way you chose to.

Gilbert has had one chance at a rebuild, and while it wasn't successful on it's own, he did acquire enough assets to bring LeBron back and to win a championship. He also has 5 Finals appearances in his tenure compared to 1 WS appearance for the Dolan's. Let's see how the next few years go for Dan. Sounds like he nailed his coaching hire.
 
See here we go....it's ok to badmouth Gilbert or Haslam, but say something about the Dolan's and it's the worst take in sports, blah blah blah. It's not like Dan Gilbert opened the wallet to buy a draft pick which landed Kyrie Irving. Or just took on salary to get first round picks from the Rockets and Bucks. Now, just because Chris Grant is a bozo and drafted Dion Waiters, Anthony Bennett, Tyler Zeller, and Sergey Karasav with those picks, does not suddenly mean that Dan is completely inept. Is he a crazy hothead? Yes from what we hear. But "completely inept" as an owner? I think you need to have a long think here.

Blame whoever you want to blame, but Gilbert has been an owner for 5 seasons without LeBron James and the Cavs records in those seasons is 119-278.
 
Most bizarre 3 hour rain delay ever. Never more than a light sprinkle, skies never looked all that bad, didn’t see any lightning or thunder.
 
Gilbert has had one chance at a rebuild, and while it wasn't successful on it's own, he did acquire enough assets to bring LeBron back and to win a championship. He also has 5 Finals appearances in his tenure compared to 1 WS appearance for the Dolan's. Let's see how the next few years go for Dan. Sounds like he nailed his coaching hire.

It goes like this, Cavs, have the best owner when it comes to spending, worst owner when it comes to giving his FO control of the decisions. Browns for awhile had the worst owner of the three since Lerner didnt care if they won or lost it felt like and he was just owning the team to own it. Haslem comes in and wants to win, but meddled too much, but has backed off for the moment. Dolan has actually put together a very good FO and from that they have one of the best organizations in pro sports when it comes to how everyone works together, his issue is, he isn't as rich as the other two and baseball isn't the first love of Cleveland so his overall pocket book is smaller in the sport that has no true cap on spending. So it goes like this, If you gave Dolan, Gilbert's pocket book, the Indians would be the best organization in baseball in theory.

I think what they really want to say is, Dolan hasn't been as cheap since the younger Dolan took the reigns, plus letting Francona and FO dictate things a lot more.I mean they have been putting out a very good team every single season for a fair amount of years. Cleveland is a team hurt by the fact baseball doesnt have a cap.
 
Sounds like Plesac will be starting for the Indians on Tuesday
 
Do we really need a refresher course on how overmatched Greg Allen is at this level?
 
It goes like this, Cavs, have the best owner when it comes to spending, worst owner when it comes to giving his FO control of the decisions. Browns for awhile had the worst owner of the three since Lerner didnt care if they won or lost it felt like and he was just owning the team to own it. Haslem comes in and wants to win, but meddled too much, but has backed off for the moment. Dolan has actually put together a very good FO and from that they have one of the best organizations in pro sports when it comes to how everyone works together, his issue is, he isn't as rich as the other two and baseball isn't the first love of Cleveland so his overall pocket book is smaller in the sport that has no true cap on spending. So it goes like this, If you gave Dolan, Gilbert's pocket book, the Indians would be the best organization in baseball in theory.

I think what they really want to say is, Dolan hasn't been as cheap since the younger Dolan took the reigns, plus letting Francona and FO dictate things a lot more.I mean they have been putting out a very good team every single season for a fair amount of years. Cleveland is a team hurt by the fact baseball doesnt have a cap.

Yep I agree with this. I do wish more fans would go to Indians games.
 
Sad part is I asked about Smith (April 25th) and Plesac (April 17 and a couple other times) and got completely ignored about them by all the guys who are the experts in our minor league system. I like to ask because I am curious about them and so far my curiosity was on the money at least with those guys.

Do we really need a refresher course on how overmatched Greg Allen is at this level?

Well they aren't messing around anymore waiting on players if those guys are getting called up right now. Allen will be up until Naquin gets here, so this may be his last chance this season to stay on the big league club this season especially since Mercado is up as well (one of them is going back down when Naquin gets back). I also wouldn't be afraid to send Bauers down to AAA for a moment either if the struggles continue, though something tells me Francona wants to let him work out his struggles but when only a couple guys are hitting we cannot wait for guys to start hitting.

I think its time we go get Adam Eaton and also EE back in Cleveland. If we cannot get another bullpen then so be it since its not really that big of an issue this season especially since guys like Perez have settled down and have been strong of late plus we likely will have Karinchak, Sandlin and Goody (He's been better of late and I feel will get stronger as the season goes along) ready in the second half of the season.
 
Here's what we're dealing with right now pretty much two months into the season:

Jose Ramirez: .199 BA, 4 HR, .299 OBP, .301 SLG, .600 OPS, 0.1 WAR, 12 SB
Bad luck or not, he's giving us literally nothing right now when this offense needs him to be at a near MVP level. He is also fielding at a career worst rate right now. He needs to figure it out, quick, or this team is screwed.

Jason Kipnis: .222 BA, 2 HR, .300 OBP, .333 SLG, .633 OPS, -0.2 WAR, 4 SB
He's got that little on-base in consecutive game streak going right now, but he's not giving us dick either. Anybody with a negative WAR at the big-league level this far into the season is absolutely useless. Needs to be better. At least get that OPS up around .700 where it has been the past two seasons. I would say call up Chang, but he's only got a .451 OPS at Columbus. He's not ready.

Jake Bauers: .217 BA, 5 HR, .303 OBP, .344 SLG, .647 OPS, -0.7 WAR
He somehow has a higher OPS than Ramirez and Kipnis, but Bauers really isn't bringing shit for us either and he's pretty lousy out in the field. If your DH has a -0.7 WAR, you're in trouble. Bring up Bradley and send this dud down to Columbus to see if he can figure it out.

Kevin Plawecki: .151 BA, 1 HR, .250 OBP, .302 SLG, .552 OPS, -0.1 WAR
Guy has been trash in four of his five years in the majors. When Navarro gets a few more reps in at Columbus, I'd bring him up and give him a shot at being the backup.

Greg Allen: .105 BA, .167 OBP, .158 SLG, .325 OPS, -0.4 WAR
Constantly overmatched and only useful as a pinch runner right now. Not worth a roster spot.

Leonys Martin: .220 BA, 6 HR, .303 OBP, .363 SLG, .666 OPS, 0.2 WAR
Batting average isn't sexy, but Leonys hasn't been too bad this year. Has a higher slugging percentage than Ramirez, Kipnis, and Bauers and plays a pretty good outfield. He's not one of our problems right now.

Mike Freeman: .222 BA, .405 OBP, .665 OPS, -0.1 WAR
Hasn't been completely useless as a utility guy due to a few timely hits and a nice walk rate, but if we can upgrade him at some point, then I'd be down to do so. Freeman getting at-bats in any meaningful games down the stretch is scary. At least he's better than Stamets?

Jordan Luplow: .247 BA, 6 HR, .306 OBP, .519 SLG, .825 OPS, 0.2 WAR
Has resurged in a big way since his callup. Has a 1.28 OPS against lefties (that's very, very good), but has been a complete dud against righties (.353 OPS). Limited sample size, I know, but I think those numbers should even out. Needs to be getting everyday at-bats so we can really see what we have with him.

Oscar Mercado: .261 BA, .346 OBP, .391 SLG, .737 OPS
Figures he got hurt pretty much right when he got called up, but he's been swinging a pretty good stick too in limited time. Another guy that should be in the lineup pretty much everyday as soon as he's healthy so we can see what we've got.

Tyler Naquin: .278 BA, 1 HR, .316 OBP, .378 SLG, .694 OPS, -0.1 WAR
Hasn't been great, but hasn't been terrible either. Most of his advanced metrics kind of suck and I would expect him to regress back down a bit more with regular playtime, but when he's healthy, we pretty much have to give him at least semi-regular at-bats if he's going to be getting on base almost 32% of the time.

Roberto Perez: .226 BA, 6 HR, .331 OBP, .415 SLG, .746 OPS, 1.1 WAR
Quietly has been our third best regular hitter this season. Take that for what you want about the state of the team, but he's been pretty damn good thus far and is doing well calling games too. Regular at-bats seem to let him get into a grove. Second highest WAR on the team for position guys behind only Santana (Lindor would most likely be ahead of him too if he would have been healthy from the jump).

Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana
Both have been completely fine (Santana has been far better than I expected him to be) and are definitely our two most consistent bats right now. Nothing bad to say about either of them.

So honestly, outside of Lindor, Santana, Perez, and maaybe Luplow and Martin, we really have zero consistency from any of our hitters. Ramirez and Kipnis have been terrible and Bauers isn't giving us anything either.

Here's what I'd do with the lineup (assuming everybody is healthy):

1B - Carlos Santana
3B - Jose Ramirez
SS - Francisco Lindor
LF - Jordan Luplow
C - Roberto Perez
DH - Bobby Bradley
CF - Leonys Martin
RF - Oscar Mercado
2B - Jason Kipnis

Send Bauers to Triple-A so he can keep getting regular at-bats. Bradley has got a .926 OPS down in Columbus - time to give him a shot.

Four man bench of Freeman, Plawecki (for now), Naquin, and some other throw-in that won't play very much (Stamets, Haase, whoever).

I don't have faith in Kipnis ever getting back to all-star caliber production, but we really need Jose to start resembling a starting third basemen, or this is all moot anyways. We won't be doing anything if he's going to hover around a .600 OPS all year. It needs to be .850, minimum.

Sucks that neither of the CarGo or Hanley lottery tickets worked out.
 

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