The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[Mott the Hoople]

yes

Remember the rumors about Lindor to the Dodgers last winter? Some of those rumors expanded the deal to include Clevinger.

 

[Derek]

I agree, at this point in the year the Indians are playing as one of the top teams in the AL and that is with horrible production from hitters 6-9 and losing our 2nd and 4th best pitcher for 2 starts because they were idiots. If we start to see any production from the back of the lineup and Lindor keeps getting back on track, we have an average lineup with an above average 1-5 hitters, with a top 3 pitching staff and bullpen.
With how the playoffs are set up, 3,5,7,7. I like our depth at pitching to help get through the first 2 rounds. Depending on any moves we make we can get buy with a 3 man rotation with maybe one start with a 4 in the first 2 rounds. That’s huge advantage for us.

With our pitching depth, why would we want to throw anybody on short-rest?

In my opinion, you keep Bieber on his regular rest (maybe Clev, too if he returns to 2019 form) and piece in whoever your other guys are around him.

Using a typical ALDS/ALCS schedule as an example since we don't know the 2020 schedule in terms of days off:
Game 1: Bieber
Game 2: Clevinger
OFF
Game 3: Carrasco
Game 4: Civale
OFF
Game 5: Bieber
OFF
Game 1: Clevinger
Game 2: Carrasco
OFF
Game 3: Bieber
Game 4: Civale
Game 5: Clevinger
OFF
Game 6: Carrasco
Game 7: Bieber

 

[Lee]

Does this rumor happen if he doesn't leave the hotel?

Hotel or not, it was never if we trade Clevinger, its when. We have yet to pay a big contract to a pitcher, and with Bieber and Civale locked up for long term, no way we extend a 32 year old Clevinger on a 30 mill+ contract.

 

[Lee]

With our pitching depth, why would we want to throw anybody on short-rest?

In my opinion, you keep Bieber on his regular rest (maybe Clev, too if he returns to 2019 form) and piece in whoever your other guys are around him.

Using a typical ALDS/ALCS schedule as an example since we don't know the 2020 schedule in terms of days off:
Game 1: Bieber
Game 2: Clevinger
OFF
Game 3: Carrasco
Game 4: Civale
OFF
Game 5: Bieber
OFF
Game 1: Clevinger
Game 2: Carrasco
OFF
Game 3: Bieber
Game 4: Civale
Game 5: Clevinger
OFF
Game 6: Carrasco
Game 7: Bieber

With 3 bad outings in a row, I am not sure Corrasco is a starting pitcher come playoff time.

 

[Otsego Mar]

With 3 bad outings in a row, I am not sure Corrasco is a starting pitcher come playoff time.

The thing that disappointed me the most was his body language during his last presser. He seemed mentally defeated/upset.

 

[Derek]

Hotel or not, it was never if we trade Clevinger, its when. We have yet to pay a big contract to a pitcher, and with Bieber and Civale locked up for long term, no way we extend a 32 year old Clevinger on a 30 mill+ contract.

An extension for Clevinger wouldn't be as much as you think.

Carlos Martinez was in a similar position with 3+ years of service with an AS appearance under his belt when he signed a 5 year $51M extension in 2017 at age-25.

What's likely is that either Clev hasn't been open to extension talks, or the Indians aren't interested in extending him beyond his arbitration years given his injury history and the fact that he'll be 32 by the time he's done with arbitration years. I'd say the latter is the most likely scenario.

 

[Derek]

With 3 bad outings in a row, I am not sure Corrasco is a starting pitcher come playoff time.

That was simply a hypothetical with zero thought put into who the listed pitchers were outside of Bieber and Clevinger. You could easily substitute Plesac or McKenzie or even Jefry Rodriguez if you really wanted to.

I just wanted to give a visual representation of what I was talking about regarding keeping Bieber (and maybe Clev) on their regular schedule while piecing in two other starters around them.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

With our pitching depth, why would we want to throw anybody on short-rest?

In my opinion, you keep Bieber on his regular rest (maybe Clev, too if he returns to 2019 form) and piece in whoever your other guys are around him.

Using a typical ALDS/ALCS schedule as an example since we don't know the 2020 schedule in terms of days off:
Game 1: Bieber
Game 2: Clevinger
OFF
Game 3: Carrasco
Game 4: Civale
OFF
Game 5: Bieber
OFF
Game 1: Clevinger
Game 2: Carrasco
OFF
Game 3: Bieber
Game 4: Civale
Game 5: Clevinger
OFF
Game 6: Carrasco
Game 7: Bieber

I am not saying we would. This year there is an extra playoff round with all teams playing in the wildcard game. Depending how quick they move from the first round to the second round and if there are any days off. If we win the first round in 2 we might be able to get through the 1st two rounds with 3 pitchers.

Game 1 Bieber
Game 2 Clevinger
Game 3 - Lets say we win the first 2 (day off)
Day Off
Game 1: # 3 starter
Game 2: Bieber
OFF
Game 3: Clevinger
Game 4: # 3 starter
OFF
Game 5: Bieber
OFF

 

[CATS44]

Lets win the division first...lol.

But regarding the playoffs, it seems as if there aren't gonna be many, if any travel days..so less opportunity to juggle rotations.

That will favor teams with rotation depth, as opposed to teams that have stellar FORs, but not much more.

 

[LL3]

Prognosticating a bit as to the Monday trade deadline --
Clev stays
Plesac stays
Tribe acquires Bradley Jr or Pillar from Red Sox -- PTBNL and a case of Stadium Mustard involved.
I would not be surprised if we acquired some minor leaguers for other minor leaguers.

 

[TFIR]

Regarding Carrasco.

Perhaps he really wanted to give it a go as a starter this season but he isn't strong enough - perhaps stamina wise - to get it done.

So he gave it a try - but if this hypothetical is true - he'd be a helluva bullpen weapon.

 

[LL3]

Prognosticating a bit as to the Monday trade deadline --
Clev stays
Plesac stays
Tribe acquires Bradley Jr or Pillar from Red Sox -- PTBNL and a case of Stadium Mustard involved.
I would not be surprised if we acquired some minor leaguers for other minor leaguers.

For conversation sake -- anyone down for JD Davis for Plesac based deal?

 

[sportscoach]

Regarding Carrasco.

Perhaps he really wanted to give it a go as a starter this season but he isn't strong enough - perhaps stamina wise - to get it done.

So he gave it a try - but if this hypothetical is true - he'd be a helluva bullpen weapon.

Hence why i suggested an opener mix with Plutko (he struggles second time through the lineup). Keeping both guys pitching.

I dont think Carrasco is 100%. His command is not back and actually I think coming out of the pen will just get him to focus on throwing strikes

 

[CATS44]

I hope we never see Plutko pitching in anything but a mop up role as long as we have five or six SPs ahead of him.

Checking back on Carrascos last two starts, his velocity did drop on both his heaters as the games wore on...but its too soon to write him off as a starter.

 

[sportscoach]

I hope we never see Plutko pitching in anything but a mop up role as long as we have five or six SPs ahead of him.

Checking back on Carrascos last two starts, his velocity did drop on both his heaters as the games wore on...but its too soon to write him off as a starter.

He doesn't have his endurance right now, so why not put the two guys who are having trouble going 2ish times through the lineup together. They have different styles, but both guys work hard and want to be out there, so why is that a bad idea?