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The 2020 Cleveland Indians

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Mancini and Givens would make a ton of sense, and Rosenthal even directly linked the Indians to Givens last summer. The organization’s surplus of impressive talent at the lower levels would particularly appeal to Baltimore considering where they are at in their rebuild.
I don’t think it should take any impressive talent to land Mancini and Givens

If it takes more than a couple career minor leaguers, I’d pass.
 
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I don’t think it should take any impressive talent to land Mancini and Givens

If it takes more than a couple career minor leaguers, I’d pass.

Who would you give up for those two?
 
One thing I came across when enthralled with a vibrant debate on speed, is that Delino DeShields actually has historically outpaced Billy Hamilton in sprint speed.

Given the move to 26 players on the roster, I'm curious if the Indians plan to use DeShields as the designated runner in close/late situations to provide them a competitive advantage on the basepaths.

Deploying him as a utility player who can play all three OF spots, but similar to how the Royals have used Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore in recent years. Given the extra man, the Indians finally have an opportunity to use this as an advantage, especially with players like Santana, Perez, Santana, Bauers and even Luplow (though no slouch athletically) seeing regular at-bats.
 
One thing I came across when enthralled with a vibrant debate on speed, is that Delino DeShields actually has historically outpaced Billy Hamilton in sprint speed.

Given the move to 26 players on the roster, I'm curious if the Indians plan to use DeShields as the designated runner in close/late situations to provide them a competitive advantage on the basepaths.

Deploying him as a utility player who can play all three OF spots, but similar to how the Royals have used Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore in recent years. Given the extra man, the Indians finally have an opportunity to use this as an advantage, especially with players like Santana, Perez, Santana, Bauers and even Luplow (though no slouch athletically) seeing regular at-bats.

I personally feel Allen and DeShields will platoon with each other to start the season. Allen doesn’t hit lefties well while DeShields doesn’t hit Righties well.

Though a serious question in a sense. Should Allen scrap hitting from the right side altogether? He hasn’t really ever hit well from the right side. I know it’s nice having a switch hitter, but since he doesn’t hit well from that side, would it be better to focus just hitting from one side?
 
One thing I came across when enthralled with a vibrant debate on speed, is that Delino DeShields actually has historically outpaced Billy Hamilton in sprint speed.

Given the move to 26 players on the roster, I'm curious if the Indians plan to use DeShields as the designated runner in close/late situations to provide them a competitive advantage on the basepaths.

Deploying him as a utility player who can play all three OF spots, but similar to how the Royals have used Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore in recent years. Given the extra man, the Indians finally have an opportunity to use this as an advantage, especially with players like Santana, Perez, Santana, Bauers and even Luplow (though no slouch athletically) seeing regular at-bats.

That spot was designed for an extra bullpen arm with the three batter minimum rule coming.
 
That spot was designed for an extra bullpen arm with the three batter minimum rule coming.
That doesn't make any sense. With the new rule, fewer relievers should be used.
 
That doesn't make any sense. With the new rule, fewer relievers should be used.
The guys that were formerly specialists are going to need more rest if they're facing at least 3 guys a night instead of one. They changed the maximum number of pitchers from 12 to 13.
 
The guys that were formerly specialists are going to need more rest if they're facing at least 3 guys a night instead of one. They changed the maximum number of pitchers from 12 to 13.
That's not true. There was no limit previously.

There were numerous times in previous seasons where the Indians carried 13 pitchers.
 
That's not true. There was no limit previously.

There were numerous times in previous seasons where the Indians carried 13 pitchers.
They originally were proposing 12 but changed it to 13.
 
They originally were proposing 12 but changed it to 13.
But there was never a maximum before. They simply decided on 13, which many teams were already carrying on their 25 man roster.
 
Baseball strategy continues to change & adapt over time.
The way bullpens were used in 2019 differed from usage in 1999 and that was different than bullpen usage in 1979 & so forth.

Putting in a MAXIMUM number for pitchers on the roster & installing the 3-batter/ end of inning rule goes to changing the strategy of constantly changing the pitcher.

I am fine with that. I am actually looking forward to seeing how teams & managers adjust.. I believe a number of different ideas will be tried (to various levels of success & total failure).

I suspect Tito will still employ a LOGGY / ROOGY role when there are 2 outs in an inning & a key matchup at the plate..
Success - inning ends & new pitcher the next inning
Failure - the inning is extended to another batter & possible match nightmare..
 
What is interesting about this section is the average level of knowledge of the average poster seems higher than any other section. Just look at this fun debate over Zimmer and getting to 3 WAR, debating on at bats, plate appearances, etc.

This section is known for being the toughest to post in because everyone is passionate about their opinion, but it is fun to watch such a high level debate even if its completely being done sarcastically from all sides.

Something to think about before you guys run off other posters of less knowledge, we are all Indians fans here and we need more of the fun debates and less of the insults...so continue on Zimmer and his upcoming 4 WAR season. Zimmer is about to make Mike Trout jealous.
 
@Huber.

Baseball has never set a minimum or maximum for any position, teams though would carry what made sense via the era of the game. Modern game carried more pitchers than previous era’s.

Most teams setup with at least 12 pitchers and at least 12 position players then the last one is usually a float between guys with options. Francona liked to always have 13 pitchers, while many National league teams always like to keep an extra bat for pinch hitting. (Bobby Cox at times would have a person, that is essentially what he did was just pinch hit in a sense if I recall right).

Now with the 26 man roster, Francona can keep his 13 pitchers but now he can keep 13 position guys as well. 5 starters, 8 bullpen guys.

For the 13 positions players, the locks will likely be

Santana, Hernandez, Lindor, Ramirez, Perez, Leon, Mercado, Luplow, DeShields, Reyes,

So that leaves 3 guys for the last spot, Arroyo is out of options and is a solid defender, so he likely has the utility spot in the INF. OF been discussed, so likely 2 guys get kept there. But don’t count out Freeman and Velazquez since both guys can play in the INF and OF. Velazquez actually by stats, his best position is CF and he is a switch hitter. Chang is an option for the INF, but I think they want him to have everyday ABs. I don’t see Bradley starting the roster out of spring unless he greatly improve his contact rate and walk rate plus Reyes being at least an average OF.
 
What is interesting about this section is the average level of knowledge of the average poster seems higher than any other section. Just look at this fun debate over Zimmer and getting to 3 WAR, debating on at bats, plate appearances, etc.

This section is known for being the toughest to post in because everyone is passionate about their opinion, but it is fun to watch such a high level debate even if its completely being done sarcastically from all sides.

Something to think about before you guys run off other posters of less knowledge, we are all Indians fans here and we need more of the fun debates and less of the insults...so continue on Zimmer and his upcoming 4 WAR season. Zimmer is about to make Mike Trout jealous.

This board is better at staying up with Indians news than MLB.com is at times and we don’t have the ability to interview people. I need to win the lotto so I could hire everyone to cover Cleveland sports since we would be the best group to cover since we all have varying opinions and ideas but the knowledge is great in here.

Yes Lee I would have a job for you as well. I would pay ya to talk and write about the AZL teams of the Indians since you are already out in Arizona lol

Sincerely though I wish we could get our own talk show in a lot of ways. We would have the best rating of any for Cleveland Sports lol
 
This board is better at staying up with Indians news than MLB.com is at times and we don’t have the ability to interview people. I need to win the lotto so I could hire everyone to cover Cleveland sports since we would be the best group to cover since we all have varying opinions and ideas but the knowledge is great in here.

Yes Lee I would have a job for you as well. I would pay ya to talk and write about the AZL teams of the Indians since you are already out in Arizona lol

Sincerely though I wish we could get our own talk show in a lot of ways. We would have the best rating of any for Cleveland Sports lol
The board could do a podcast?
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
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