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2020 Series #5 - Tribe @ ChiSox - Aug 7-9

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Nice series win in the windy.. too bad for the 45 minute delay and all the weird it caused with seeing and hitting and pitching. Onto the northsiders.. but at Progressive.. Another good performance by the pitching.. and just enough hitting..

oh.. and good slide by the angry hamster.. Thoughts?
 
Great come-from-behind win. We see very few of those. Four scoreless innings by the pen and a great close-out by Ollie.
 
5th career save.

He had a one-out save last year in September against the Twins. One with Washington in 2017 and two with Seattle in 2013.
Yeah, I was gonna say.

No way someone is a relief pitcher for 18 years and doesn't get a save.
 
Yeah, I was gonna say.

No way someone is a relief pitcher for 18 years and doesn't get a save.

Your point is still made, but... He’s only been a relief pitcher for the last 8 seasons.

I remember driving to Pittsburgh and watching him start against the Cubs around 2005. I’m pretty sure I still have the Ollie Bobblehead they gave out that night too.
 
The only complaint I have is the juxtaposition of Mercado and Zimmer.

Batting Deshields, a contact hitter, for Reyes, was the right move, even if it didn't work.

Same with the bunt.

Same with using Maton in a non save situation against the meat of the order, instead of Hand

Same with bringing in Ollie.

We still haven't given a game away. We've given up only one true unearned run this season. (I don't count those extra innings runners at second)

Pitching, pitching, pitching, and defense. Its still a winning combination.
 
The only complaint I have is the juxtaposition of Mercado and Zimmer.

Batting Deshields, a contact hitter, for Reyes, was the right move, even if it didn't work.

Same with the bunt.

Same with using Maton in a non save situation against the meat of the order, instead of Hand

Same with bringing in Ollie.

We still haven't given a game away. We've given up only one true unearned run this season. (I don't count those extra innings runners at second)

Pitching, pitching, pitching, and defense. Its still a winning combination.
DeShields pinch ran for Franmil after his double in the 8th.

I typically don't like that move, especially with two outs. You not only are taking Franmil's bat out of the lineup in a tied game, but you also take DeShields out of the field because you just put him in for the DH.
 
DeShields pinch ran for Franmil after his double in the 8th.

I typically don't like that move, especially with two outs. You not only are taking Franmil's bat out of the lineup in a tied game, but you also take DeShields out of the field because you just put him in for the DH.
I tend to agree since there were two outs. They were bascially betting that Domingo was going to get a hit and DeShields would score from second on a hit that Reyes would have to be held at third. Those are pretty small odds. But it worked out.
 
Still the right move. No question our chances of scoring on a base hit with two outs was better with Deshields.

Given the way the game was going, it was almost bound to be won or lost with small ball and Deshields is an improvement in that category. Looking ahead, the next at bat would come in extra innings.

As for defense, Mercado was still on the bench.
 
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The issue I had with pinch-running DeShields in that situation is that if Domingo manages a hit, there's a good chance it's for extra bases.

In his career, 38.5% of his hits have been for extra bases. You don't need much speed to score from 2nd on an XBH. Plus, it's not like Reyes is incapable of scoring from 2nd on a single.

Also, it made DeShields unavailable as a defensive sub, which meant Domingo playing RF in some high-leverage situations.
 
Indians catchers are now 3-for-55. We're basically playing with eight hitters and giving up a free out every three innings. We're like a National League team where the pitcher bats, only we put our pitcher in the #8 position. They need Berto back. He's not a good hitter but he draws some walks and can hit over .200 with a 20 home runs. Our catchers have two RBI's, one on a bases loaded walk.

If the rules allowed you to put the DH anywhere I would be tempted to DH for the catcher and let our pitchers bat. Just kidding, we don't want to risk any of those guys getting hit by a pitch or pulling a hammy.
Still the right move. No question our chances of scoring on a base hit with two outs was better with Deshields.

Given the way the game was going, it was almost bound to be won or lost with small ball and Deshields is an improvement in that category. Looking ahead, the next at bat would come in extra innings.

As for defense, Mercado was still on the bench.
There's an argument for both sides. Reyes has eight hits in his last six games and had doubled and lined out in previous at-bats. You want his bat in the lineup in extra innings over DeShields. Domingo Santana is hitting .188 so his chances of a base hit were not great. And it's not like you were improving the outfield defense late in a tie game since DeShields was going in as a DH.

Since Domingo made the third out I would say it was not the best move. But luckily DeShields came up with a fast man on third and less than two out so it worked out in the end.
 
Indians catchers are now 3-for-55. We're basically playing with eight hitters and giving up a free out every three innings. We're like a National League team where the pitcher bats, only we put our pitcher in the #8 position. They need Berto back. He's not a good hitter but he draws some walks and can hit over .200 with a 20 home runs. Our catchers have two RBI's, one on a bases loaded walk.

If the rules allowed you to put the DH anywhere I would be tempted to DH for the catcher and let our pitchers bat. Just kidding, we don't want to risk any of those guys getting hit by a pitch or pulling a hammy.

There's an argument for both sides. Reyes has eight hits in his last six games and had doubled and lined out in previous at-bats. You want his bat in the lineup in extra innings over DeShields. Domingo Santana is hitting .188 so his chances of a base hit were not great. And it's not like you were improving the outfield defense late in a tie game since DeShields was going in as a DH.

Since Domingo made the third out I would say it was not the best move. But luckily DeShields came up with a fast man on third and less than two out so it worked out in the end.

Speaking of the need for Berto, on word on him?
 
5th career save.

He had a one-out save last year in September against the Twins. One with Washington in 2017 and two with Seattle in 2013.

Oops. Just piggy backing off what the announcer said.
 
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Speaking of the need for Berto, on word on him?
The last report stated by Andre Nott was that Berto was feeling better and throwing pain free. It's with an abundance of caution that he hasn't returned.. then again, the Indians FO knows that if Berto had his way, he'd play through just about ANY pain.. Better to have him healthy than dinged for the entirety of what the 2020 season is/will be...
 
The last report stated by Andre Nott was that Berto was feeling better and throwing pain free. It's with an abundance of caution that he hasn't returned.. then again, the Indians FO knows that if Berto had his way, he'd play through just about ANY pain.. Better to have him healthy than dinged for the entirety of what the 2020 season is/will be...

When is he eligible to return?
 
@Lee

He hasn’t played since July 28, so he’s eligible to return already
 
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