2020 Wild Card Series - Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

[KilgoreTrout]

Yeah, the Indians' pitchers were getting squeezed and that non-strike call to Urshela was egregious. After starting with fastballs Karinchak threw his first curve and it broke so much the umpire totally missed the call. It was a strike above the knees and the three-dimensional graphic showed the entire ball was well within the zone. The announcers just stared at it speechlessly. I think somebody mumbled something like, "He got a break there". It was embarrassing and it may have cost the Indians four runs. (By the way, I love that three-dimensional graphic. Wish they had it every game).

However, give the Yankees credit. For the second straight night they refused to chase pitches out of the zone. You can't expect to win any game allowing 12 walks in 9 innings. It seemed to me the Indians' pitchers were intimidated. Hoynes wrote that by the fourth inning it looked like Carrasco was "scared out of the strike zone". It's just as likely the misplay by DeShields broke his composure, but as a veteran he should have been able to just concede the run and get three outs.

If the Indians pitchers had been more aggressive and challenged the hitters with more pitches in the zone I don't know what would have happened. But the end result was 21 earned runs in two games so I don't know how it could have been worse.

No reason to chase pitches out of the strike zone, if the strike zone is the size of a pubic hair. Just wait for the optimal pitch - the only one that would be called a strike...

 

[bigfoot5415]

The robot strike zone will never happen. The league and the networks want to maintain some control over outcomes, so they can help big-market teams advance. The smaller strike zones for big-market teams is no accident. It’s also an incentive for players to go to big-market teams, where they will have more favorable strike calls, and thus better stats (pitchers AND bitters).

Well this is fuckinf depressing.

Move Hand. Put Classe in his spot.
Decline Los unless he can be relegated to a bench role on a smaller deal. You have to give Bradley a year long look.
Move Lindor for as much as you can.
Resign Hernandez.

That should clear up a ton. I look hard at paying a ton for Bauer for a short deal. If you really think the three guys above are replaceable, add more gas to the pitching staff for a short time.

 

[Peachtree]

There are three big moves I hope they make this offseason:

• Trade Lindor and Hand to the highest bidders
• Re-sign Hernandez
• Sign a two year, $24 million deal with Brantley to play OF, 1B, DH

Other than that, play the youngsters and let the deadweight take a walk.

 

[bob2the2nd]

After the hit they took finically this year I doubt anyone would object from the players union and owners. I actually prefer this over the Wildcard play in game.

i love the short series.

If i was MLB i would split the difference between this year and previous years. 3 division winners get in, then the next best 3 teams get in. Top 2 records get a bye. The other 4 do a short series match up, the winner of the 3rd division gets home field, playing the worst of the "rest".

 

[chuck0609]

There are three big moves I hope they make this offseason:

• Trade Lindor and Hand to the highest bidders
• Re-sign Hernandez
• Sign a two year, $24 million deal with Brantley to play OF, 1B, DH

Other than that, play the youngsters and let the deadweight take a walk.

fuck Brad Hand. That POS cost them a chance to get through this series.

 

[bob2the2nd]

fuck Brad Hand. That POS cost them a chance to get through this series.

unlike say, lindor or santana who absolutely sucked it up.

 

[chuck0609]

Lindor was 1-for-8 in the series with one walk. He finished the season, and probably his time in Cleveland, with 2 hits in his last 21 at-bats.

Santana was 0-for-8 with a walk and 3 strikeouts. Reyes 0-for-7 with two walks and struck out five times. The Yankees totally abused those guys. You can't win when your 4 and 5 hitters fail to get a base hit and strike out 8 times in two games.

Naquin was 1-for-8 with 4 strikeouts. His single came in the 9th inning with the Indians down 12-2.

At least we finally got some production out of left field. Naylor and Luplow were stellar. Something to build on, hopefully. Hernandez, Hosey, and especially Naylor had a great two games and gave the Indians a chance in game two.

Too bad Hand choked. It would have been fun to see what Plesac could do tonight in an elimination or advance game.

At least the Twins got smoked and have now lost 18 playoff games in a row. But we're right behind them with 10. It's getting so you don't expect a win.

Lindor has one foot out the door. Grant him his wish and push him the rest of the way out. He was mediocre this year. Santana was downright horrendous- a clean up hitter??? Please.
I was happy with Reyes. He had a great year to build off- he just had a tough time in the playoffs.
F**k Brad Hand. I never want to see him in an Indiana uniform again.

 

[chuck0609]

unlike say, lindor or santana who absolutely sucked it up.

Them too. You’re right.

 

[chuck0609]

It is an absolute fking travesty Bradley wasn't even given a chance this year. But hey Santana drew some walks out of the 4 hole for a week or so this year.

People defended Santana all season long. He wasn’t even a major league hitter this year. Putrid production- and he was the clean up batter.

 

[DerekG123]

I'm not up on the financial situation. Is there any chance that they sign anyone in the lineup who can produce? Even if guys are traded. Example, Lindor is traded and Santana walks but they sign Didi Gregorius to a 2 or 3 year deal.

Last year I was so disappointed and baffled that they traded Kluber for not much salary but didn't reallocate that money back into the lineup.

 

[daddywags]

Money is going to be hard to come by for free agents this winter IMO. With lost money this year added to uncertainty about what next season will look like - full season? full stadium capacity allowed? etc., there may be some surpring short term bargains to be had. It has been an unusual season to say the least, but I think the offseason will be unusual as well. Things won't go back to normal until they put a full, normal, season behind them.

 

[bob2the2nd]

Money is going to be hard to come by for free agents this winter IMO. With lost money this year added to uncertainty about what next season will look like - full season? full stadium capacity allowed? etc., there may be some surpring short term bargains to be had. It has been an unusual season to say the least, but I think the offseason will be unusual as well. Things won't go back to normal until they put a full, normal, season behind them.

To add to this, I imagine that most contracts this offseason are going to be some for of 1+1, with a player option. Except for maybe the really big teams, most contracts being thrown around I imagine are going to be significantly less than they would have been without COVID. I am guessing in the 20-40% off range.

 

[FrontPageNews]

There are three big moves I hope they make this offseason:

• Trade Lindor and Hand to the highest bidders
• Re-sign Hernandez
• Sign a two year, $24 million deal with Brantley to play OF, 1B, DH

Other than that, play the youngsters and let the deadweight take a walk.

brantley is getting more than that

 

[FrontPageNews]

My prediction. Indians sign lindor to a massive deal. Like 350M. Gets everyone excited and traded him to the Yankees,red Sox’s,angles or Dodgers mid season.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Have any of the pitchers or fielders talked about their chokes? I mean, they have to be as stunned as ANYONE about it, right? Maybe they felt like they were having a stroke at the time?

Like Hand, for instance:

“I really don’t KNOW what happened. First, I fell a rumbling in my bowels, and then I, all-of-a-sudden had loose stools down my leg, which made it very hard to concentrate on pitching and fielding. So then I walked a guy. Then I gave up a hit. Then I totally botched an easy grounder. Then I got a couple of out. Then I botched another grounder, which lost us the game for good. Like I said - it’s very hard to pitch when your own feces are running down your pant-leg. But you know what? I got lucky A LOT, this year. I’m not really that good. I’m an imposter. I would totally understand if fans wanted me shipped as far away from Cleveland as possible.”

Something like THAT, is what I would expect from any player with self-awareness.