2021 Season | Series #37 | Indians @ Twins | Aug. 16-18, 2021

[sportscoach]

Hammy is friends with Owen Miller's family, so I wouldn't expect him to be objective. Just like he constantly fawns over the Royals organization, while his son was a scout for them.

Regardless, Miller has had way better ABs of late and his numbers are improving...Now is it to where it needs to be? No not all... But sometimes you take the positive step forward and just keep going with it.

 

[CDAV45]

I understand it's hard to be positive regarding Owen because of the upcoming players behind him. If he figures out his hitting approach in the MLB, he fits somewhere.

Which of those "upcoming players" outperformed Owen at the level they are currently at? The grass isn't always greener.

 

[sportscoach]

In regards to the "newcomers" or "underperformers" how much of a major league sample do you (we) actually require?

100 games? 200 games? 300 games? Is Jake Bauers complete run in Cleveland about right or too much or?

I'd say about 1000 ABs with consistent time included is usually where you know if a player is gonna succeed in the bigs when it comes to hitting. If they have been hitting like .300 at AAA, then what is there to learn there? You then need to see them in the bigs for awhile to see if it translates.

 

[Derek]

It’s crazy how quickly people turn on the prospects they were begging to see.

The transition from the minors to the majors is rarely seamless. Even Mike Trout slashed just .220/.281/.390 across 135 PA in 40 games the first year he got called up.

 

[xmasbuck]

It’s crazy how quickly people turn on the prospects they were begging to see.

The transition from the minors to the majors is rarely seamless. Even Mike Trout slashed just .220/.281/.390 across 135 PA in 40 games the first year he got called up.

maybe owen can do that next season

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Another game where the Indians minor leaguers (Clement, Miller, Chang, Young, Garza) put up a good fight but come up short. Plesac sucked. He has a 5.40 ERA since coming back from a self-inflicted injury. In the middle of the season he had to shut it down for several weeks and then start all over.

Josie was awesome in the 9th with the single that he stretched into a double, then good baserunning got him to third where he could score on the wild pitch. Too bad it was a wasted effort.

Nice game by Straw with two walks, a double, and several good catches plus the game saver in the 10th.

The Twins committed eight errors in three games and couldn't stop the Tribe from stealing a base anytime they wanted to, but still won 2 of 3. Too much Jorge Polanco.

10 walks by Twins pitchers today plus two Twins errors and seven hits by the Indians was only good for 7 runs in 11 innings. Clement was 0-for-5 with 3 K's in his worst game so far, at least at the dish. I love his glove, though.

No Nelson Cruz, Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, or Jose Berrios. The Twins are still beating the Tribe, though.

After this series we could use a day off.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

To wrap up this series, it was the little things that caused the Indians to lose two extra-inning games. On Friday they allowed Polanco to score from first base on a single due to a) getting caught by surprise that he would try to score, and b) a relay throw in the dirt from second base by Amed. On Sunday they gave up a run on a pickoff attempt by Plesac that was off-target but still should have been caught by Miller. The runner went to second on the error and scored on a single.

Both games would have been one-run wins in 9 innings if not for the Indians giving away a run early.

Plesac thinks his pickoff move is so good that he tries to pick every runner off first even if it's a catcher taking a short lead.

I've never seen a more patient hitter than Myles Straw. He took 47 pitches during the three games while swinging at 25. However, those 25 swings resulted in two hits. He was 2-for-13 with two walks.

The most discouraging aspect of this series was the failure of the young infielders to have any impact whatsoever. Clement, Miller, Gimenez, and Chang combined to go 4-for-29 with three walks. I keep hoping one of them gets going and shows evidence he deserves to be in the plans for next season but I'm not seeing it from any of them. Clement might be the exception - he's making some great defensive plays and hitting .233. The other three are hitting .188, .176. and .152. At least Clement might be a utility infielder.

The best thing about the series was Eli Morgan throwing six shutout innings on three hits, and only one was a line drive. Also the fact that Clase has not allowed a run in 13 straight appearances. His line is 13.1 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 14 K's. Karinchak pitched two scoreless innings, retiring six of seven batters he faced. Bradley Zimmer went 3-for-9 with two walks and another long home run.

Gotta look for the bright spots. Clase is back on track and is incorporating more sliders into his mix, which has helped considerably. Karinchak could be getting there, and Zimmer's strong second half continues. His OPS by month for June/July/Aug is .696, .739, .818. Morgan is making a case for being a viable starter in the future.

The Indians miss Bobby Bradley, Harold Ramirez, and Josh Naylor. Their first basemen were 2-for-12 this series. It looks like Harold could be back soon.

 

[CATS44]

We know you do love fWAR.

Yes, I like fWAR.

It takes everything into consideration...offensive production, defense, and baserunning. It measures the total impact a player makes on the field in comparison to every other player in MLB.

It is by no means perfect. My particular beef is that it tends to underestimate the value of relievers, esp middle relievers. And it underestimates the value of a DH in the middle of the order. Example: How can a DH have a negative defensive value when he never plays the field?

But it is the best all around measurement available to the public we have.

 

[CATS44]

It is hard to evaluate our young MIFs, because they get moved around the field so much, and the most likely isn't allowed to play every day.

Its also hard to evaluate them when Chang is playing instead of one of them.

Miller is playing first base, although nobody sees him as a viable 1B. At most he is an emergency replacement there.

 

[CDAV45]

It is hard to evaluate our young MIFs, because they get moved around the field so much, and the most likely isn't allowed to play every day.

Its also hard to evaluate them when Chang is playing instead of one of them.

Miller is playing first base, although nobody sees him as a viable 1B. At most he is an emergency replacement there.

Who would you replace Chang with? After Miller, Gimenez, and Clement nobody else is close since Freeman went down with a shoulder injury.

I'd argue that this is why an organization should not drown itself is a particular position/skill set other than pitching of course. Miller is playing 1B because this organization doesn't have one outside of Bradley who is injured and questionable himself.

They don't have any legitimate, power hitting corner OFers either.

Alas, I do have faith in Chernoff and Antonetti so I believe there will be a couple of needs addressed. It's just frustrating to watch the current situation. Truth be told, it's probably more frustrating for the FO.