Pitching

[BMAN]

Im not arguing your point at all - games are expensive. I usually only go with my wife. No kids yet so I can’t even imagine all those extra costs.

However, there are creative ways to save on parking. You can drive and park at a local bar/restaurant that has ample free parking and Uber from there (Ohio City/Lakewood can usually get you there for around $20-$25 round trip depending on surges but you get dropped off right at the stadium and don’t have to walk as far as you would if you parked in a $20 lot. To avoid surges I Uber down early and wait out the rush after the game at a restaurant). Great Lakes Brewery has a free shuttle from Ohio City. There are RTA rapid stations where you can park and for $5 round trip you get to tower city which is a short walkway from Progressive Field (this saves money if your group is 3 people or less). There are also bike share stations around the city. There’s one in Ohio City near the west side market (where you can park) and then it’s an easy (and beautiful) ride over the Lorain-Carnegie bridge right to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario where there’s another bike docking station. The bike rental is per minute so it only costs a few bucks.

I’m a west sider so those are the examples I’m most familiar with but I’m sure they’re applicable in other areas too.

For east side it’s kind of tricky, but I could always just drive to Beachwood/Shaker and take the rapid from there.

 

[Criznit]

For east side it’s kind of tricky, but I could always just drive to Beachwood/Shaker and take the rapid from there.

Eastside was always messier for me as well, but living in Lakewood and then Brook Park, getting to the stadium without a car was pretty easy. If you can handle public transportation that is.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Driving in from the suburbs, my favorite way to catch the game was to park in Ohio City, and then either take that Great Lakes shuttle for a dollar, or just walk across the bridge.

The other great spot is parking North, over by Noble Beast or Masthead (or any other brewery/restaurant of your choice) then walking over.

The fact that parking is expensive, and that it's a pain in the butt to get a family from the suburbs into downtown for the game, not to mention expenses at the ballpark, plus the time spent (and late nights for school nights) isn't something anyone should feel bad about. It's a reality that baseball needs to deal with.

Ideally, as ride shares start to take over the car culture in the US, the requirement to waste so much of our cities on parking structures diminishes. This makes the entire city more walkable and enjoyable, more productive, and more approachable.

But hey, it's not like that's going to happen quickly.

 

[jup]

Karinchak should become a little less obvious

First he "stickeys" his thumb.

Reaching into his glove to apply to thumb

Applying to his thumb

Thumb is done. Now he goes to "stickey" his fingers.

Reaching into his glove again.

Applying to his fingers

Now reaching for the ball

 

[CDAV45]

I didn't see a goddamn thing!

 

[jup]

I didn't see a goddamn thing!

Well played. @CDAV45

 

[CDAV45]

Well played. @CDAV45

Thank you sir! He should have an extra, identical glove in case they have to crawl through the ceiling and replace the confiscated one. Would be silly to have to use someone else's glove.

 

[jup]

Thank you sir! He should have an extra, identical glove in case they have to crawl through the ceiling and replace the confiscated one. Would be silly to have to use someone else's glove.

He should use his head and at least use a black glove!!!

Not the sharpest tool in the shed you could say

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

It's called hiding in plain view.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

A few notes stolen mostly from Hoynes' column today...

Tribe starters have a 2.52 ERA through eight games.

According to my math, Indians' starters have an ERA of 7.87 in the first inning (7 earned runs in 8 innings). After the first inning the starters' combined ERA is 1.47. If these guys ever figure out how to get through the first inning unscathed we could really have something. But 2.45 is still pretty damn good especially since they're averaging almost 6.5 innings per start.

Logan Allen talked about how he is so "amped up" at the start of the game he struggles with his command early. He's given up 3 runs in the first two innings and no runs in innings 3-5. He's thrown over 25 pitches in the first inning of both his starts which limited him to five innings. This is his first season in a big league rotation. If (hopefully when) he learns to keep his emotions in check at the start of games his ERA should go even lower and his innings pitched higher. But even now you can't complain about 3 earned runs in 10 innings from a rookie #4 starter.

Starting pitchers shouldn't average two K's per inning, but Bieber is almost there after his first two starts. Seven walks in 12.1 innings is very uncharacteristic but I assume he'll fix that immediately. The amazing thing is how well Plesac, Civale, and Allen have pitched so far.

Other than Wittgren and Stephan the bullpen has been lights out; one earned run in 15.1 innings with 22 K's.

The Indians pitchers have a chance to have a good series in Chicago. Tim Anderson and Eloy Jimenez are out with injuries. The rest of the White Sox hitters have a combined batting average of .213 if you take out rookie phenom Yermin "The Vermin" Mercedes, who is hitting .536. OK, he's not called "The Vermin" - I just made that up.

In their last game, which they lost 4-3 to the Royals, Mercedes walked three times and went 0-for-1. The Royals just pitched around him and held the Sox to three runs in 10 innings. The Indians' staff might be wise to take the same approach, at least until this guy cools off.

Obviously guys like Abreu, Robert, Moncada, and Eaton could get going at any time, but they're not hitting much now so I think this is a good time to play the Sox.

 

[bob2the2nd]

so @jup what percentage of pictures would you say use sticky? just watching a game it seems like every pitcher does this (or some form of it).

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

After eight games the bullpen has pitched 20 innings; third fewest in the majors. If the starters keep this up the bullpen should be very effective since the better relievers can pitch a higher percentage of bullpen innings and Tito can match up his relievers better with most or all of them available almost every game.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

MAGA James aside...

I'm extremely impressed how the Indians have seemingly replaced Clevinger, Bauer and Cookie with younger and, in some cases, better pitchers.

If Triston McKenzie is even a decent 5th starter this year, they have come out ahead in these trades and have further cemented themselves as a top tier baseball organization when it comes to development.

And how about the 'horrible salary dump' Kluber trade now?

 

[Kevalier]

As remarkable as this bullpen is now, the ceiling will be even higher when Nick Sandlin and Sam Hentges get called up this season. Sandlin, Karinchak and Clase... Look out.

 

[sportscoach]

As remarkable as this bullpen is now, the ceiling will be even higher when Nick Sandlin and Sam Hentges get called up this season. Sandlin, Karinchak and Clase... Look out.

You are forgetting about Nelson in there as well. Our arms have a ton of potential and it's likely Stephan will get stretched out some next spring like they will do with Quantrill as well.

We have a good problem next season since we have to figure out what to do with all the arms...