2021 Spring Training Thread

[sportscoach]

I’ll probably take some shit for this, but I’m not exactly outraged that they got haircuts and ate inside of a restaurant. Yes, they broke the protocol agreement they signed, but it’s quite extreme that they aren’t allowed to get a haircut or eat inside of a restaurant considering where we are now with COVID compared to when the protocols were put in place last season.

It's one of those things, that I agree with you that they should be able to go and do regular everyday things like that, but at the same time, there are rules in place and until they are lifted, they have to go by them. So they have to face some type of fine/consequence even though that morally feels wrong in a way. Until the vaccine is available to everyone and the positive covids are way down, they have to deal with the rules.

 

[Kevalier]

It's one of those things, that I agree with you that they should be able to go and do regular everyday things like that, but at the same time, there are rules in place and until they are lifted, they have to go by them. So they have to face some type of fine/consequence even though that morally feels wrong in a way. Until the vaccine is available to everyone and the positive covids are way down, they have to deal with the rules.

I agree with all of this. It has to be frustrating for them, but I imagine the protocols will look very different by the summer. Or, at least I hope that’s the case.

 

[xmasbuck]

maybe they just want to get traded to San Diego

 

[Criznit]

A very good question.

If you go solely by ST, esp the first few weeks, Bradley is kicking it one way, and Bauers is kicking it the other.

Meanwhile, both Naylor and Johnson have done fine.

Surprisingly, Johnson has not played CF yet.

But six at bats is hardly a compelling sample size.

I don't think I have seen Nolan Jones line up anywhere but 3rd either...

 

[Real Deal]

Plutko serving BP right now

 

[Criznit]

Plutko getting hammered...

Link to listen: https://www.mlb.com/indians/video/live-indians-spring-training-2560

 

[petes999]

Plutko serving BP right now

What else is new ... I would have cut him last year (and kept Oviedo). Yet, now he is our longman for those games that get out of control.

 

[petes999]

It's one of those things, that I agree with you that they should be able to go and do regular everyday things like that, but at the same time, there are rules in place and until they are lifted, they have to go by them. So they have to face some type of fine/consequence even though that morally feels wrong in a way. Until the vaccine is available to everyone and the positive covids are way down, they have to deal with the rules.

The issue is that they knew the rules from last year and saw Plesac and Clevinger punished for it. Now, they are going to have to sit for several days for the incubation period before they are allowed back to the team. And, this is the 2nd time that Reyes broke protocols for ST (4th of July party). As it is spring training, they won't miss much for 2nd week. However, "the vets get to do anything" attitude hurts the culture that Tito want of coming in to prepare to compete.

Also, MLB may want to come at this harder because the mayors did that letter saying to delay ST for this reason. I was against the delay because MLB teams should be able to come in and camp out in their complex and not affect the outer community. And, it is not like the players are not being feed well at the hotel restaurant or not able to ask the clubhouse attendant for tacos (or anything else) after the game. They even have barbers that go around to cut hair too, I am sure.

This is an issue rules that need to be followed that a team can't willy-nilly apply or not in order to get a full season in. The real issue is MLB wants to limit the number of outside contacts that players have so that the risk of COVID coming into a camp is kept to a minimum.

Now with the vaccine, the numbers will come down. Yet, the numbers affected are still high due to increase testing from last July (but coming down the most for the most vulnerable group as they get their shots).

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

No speculation needed. Civale was 100% tipping his pitches last year, was very noticeable to some in the org...

Any reason they didn't do anything about it?

That would definitely explain his ERA doubling in the second "half".

If you take out Civale's last six starts of 2020 where his ERA was 6.62 (assuming he was tipping his pitches) then in the first sixteen starts of his career he pitched 87.2 innings giving up 81 hits striking out 90 with an ERA of 2.98. Not a bad start.

 

[sportscoach]

Hedges to the rescue for the offense! Lol

 

[Criznit]

Bradley misses a couple shots at catching fire.. Zimmer is playing his way back into CF/4th OFer consideration. Marabel is now a 1B.

 

[CATS44]

Things I do not understand...

With 1B looking like a nothingburger, and the refusal to play Naylor there, why isn't Chang (a natural infielder, for cripes sake) getting a look there? He isn't gonna play second, third, or short on this team.

With so many players needing to be evaluated by the end of the month, why are fillers like Marabell and Kreiger taking at bats away from the others?

If Gimenez is looked at as the starting SS, either to start the season or by May, and CF such a question mark, why isn't ARosa getting work out there?

 

[WhoAzcue]

Things I do not understand...

With 1B looking like a nothingburger, and the refusal to play Naylor there, why isn't Chang (a natural infielder, for cripes sake) getting a look there? He isn't gonna play second, third, or short on this team.

With so many players needing to be evaluated by the end of the month, why are fillers like Marabell and Kreiger taking at bats away from the others?

If Gimenez is looked at as the starting SS, either to start the season or by May, and CF such a question mark, why isn't ARosa getting work out there?

When Mike Freeman was used to START games in left field last summer, it tells me that there might be a lot less thought put into this stuff than we think.

 

[CATS44]

There is one thing about this team that I am very worried about.

Its something that can't be measured, so most fans don't give a rats backside. But I believe in it strongly.

Veteran leadership, clubhouse presence, however you want to label it.

Outside of Bieber for the pitching staff, we have none.

No Matt Williams. No Jason Giambi. No Mike Napoli.

Guys who were looked up to, and even intimidated by. A teammate simply didn't screw up around those guys. The manager didn't have to say anything.

I read a story about Matt Williams first day of spring training with the Indians. While Albert Belle got most of the attention, Kenny Lofton was also a pain in the butt, and thought he ran the clubhouse.

Anyway, after workouts, Lofton entered the clubhouse and turned on the music...loud. The first thing Williams did was turn it off. Never said a word, but the message was sent.

If we had a Williams or Giambi or Napoli on this team, we wouldn't have anybody breaking Covid rules.

This team is too young to go successfully thru a 162 game season, unless somebody on the team steps up and takes charge in a positive way.

 

[Gson]

There is one thing about this team that I am very worried about.

Its something that can't be measured, so most fans don't give a rats backside. But I believe in it strongly.

Veteran leadership, clubhouse presence, however you want to label it.

Outside of Bieber for the pitching staff, we have none.

No Matt Williams. No Jason Giambi. No Mike Napoli.

Guys who were looked up to, and even intimidated by. A teammate simply didn't screw up around those guys. The manager didn't have to say anything.

I read a story about Matt Williams first day of spring training with the Indians. While Albert Belle got most of the attention, Kenny Lofton was also a pain in the butt, and thought he ran the clubhouse.

Anyway, after workouts, Lofton entered the clubhouse and turned on the music...loud. The first thing Williams did was turn it off. Never said a word, but the message was sent.

If we had a Williams or Giambi or Napoli on this team, we wouldn't have anybody breaking Covid rules.

This team is too young to go successfully thru a 162 game season, unless somebody on the team steps up and takes charge in a positive way.

Veteran leadership or any leadership is essential for a club to meld/blend into the force a team can become.. That leadership can be revealed in many ways.. usually by someone who has been there before.. and knows what is needed and when it's needed..

We'll see..