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2024 Season | Series #7 | A's @ Guardians | April 19-21, 2024

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thestatman said:
Don't agree with this at all. I doubt Straw makes that play tonight. As soon as the ball was hit he turned his back and raced toward the wall the way Mays did on Vic Wertz' ball in the 54 Series. I never saw Straw make a play like that.
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disagree with this...
 
As bullish as I am on the Cavs Im patiently proud of the Guardians
 
Its all about capitalizing on your window and the Taxi Cabs are squandering their once in an aeon shot
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Yeah, I noticed that, but at least it was 92-93 in the first couple of innings. Maybe as the season progresses he'll build up some arm strength and be able to sustain the velo through the middle innings.

He did a great job of getting to two strikes with breaking balls and then freezing them with the fastball at the knees for the punchout. Bieber likes to do that.
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It will be an ongoing issue for sure. I’m hoping that like Carrasco, he builds on these starts and we see can see him maintain velocity and control deeper into starts as the season goes on.
 
Only the Braves and D backs have scored more runs than Cleveland.
 
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Alabuckeye said:
Florial is dangerously close to being a productive hitter
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I'd say his 137 OPS+ suggests he is being a very productive hitter. Hopefully he keeps it up.
 
CATS44 said:
Freeman can definitely out slug Straw.

And he has adapted to centerfield very well.

But he isn't Straw out three. Tyler made a very tough play tonight, but Straw would have made it without leaving his feet.

I've seen three plays in center that weren't made that Straw would have made...two by Freeman, one by Laureano.
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But from Freeman to Straw, it hasn't been enough of a drop off defensively... Baseball reference likes Freemans CF play... Plus his OPS+ is over 100, something Straw only did when we got him...
 
thestatman said:
Don't agree with this at all. I doubt Straw makes that play tonight. As soon as the ball was hit he turned his back and raced toward the wall the way Mays did on Vic Wertz' ball in the 54 Series. I never saw Straw make a play like that.
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Straw would have made the play look more routine... He's still a better fielder than Freeman out there...

That being stated, Freeman is doing very well out there and with the fact he's got a better bat than Straw, he may keep the position long term...
 
Nothing I've said is a knock on Freeman, who I am very high on, and have been for years. But he is not equal to Straw defensively, nor should he be expected to be.

Its kind of like saying that a healthy Bieber was not equal to Kluber.

Nor is it saying that I'd prefer playing Straw. Far from it. The FO finally did something with Freeman that I've been advocating they should do clear back to a young Yu Chang...try some of their MIF prospects, esp the ones who hit RH, in the outfield. Most young shortstops, if given proper instruction and reps, can handle CF.

The HOF is full of OFs who began as MIFs.
 
CATS44 said:
Nothing I've said is a knock on Freeman, who I am very high on, and have been for years. But he is not equal to Straw defensively, nor should he be expected to be.

Its kind of like saying that a healthy Bieber was not equal to Kluber.

Nor is it saying that I'd prefer playing Straw. Far from it. The FO finally did something with Freeman that I've been advocating they should do clear back to a young Yu Chang...try some of their MIF prospects, esp the ones who hit RH, in the outfield. Most young shortstops, if given proper instruction and reps, can handle CF.

The HOF is full of OFs who began as MIFs.
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Nope, Freeman isn't Straw in CF. Few actually are, but Straw is the worst offensive OFer I can ever recall and these guys are required to play on both sides of the ball. This team is so much better without him on the roster and Freeman in CF.

I always wondered why Rocchio wasn't given the opportunity to play CF? Maybe he just isn't fast enough. Tena is another one that could probably be a damn good CFer based on his physical abilities. Seems like they didn't follow through with thier strategy very well when it came to converting MIFers to other positions. A couple like Freeman and Arias have moved around, but the rest seem locked in place. Then again they don't usually convert them until they get to Cleveland.
 
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