Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

[Steve_424]

Question for the more knowledgeable;

What makes someone projected to close? Like, Hunter Wood seemingly has incredible stuff. But he seems like someone that’s pigeons into middle relief?

I was just browsing, and it doesn’t seem like as people come up, anyone is really groomed to be a closer so this is more intrigue than wondering specifically about Wood.

I'd say a top closer will:

- have good velocity/movement on pitches
- have at least two plus pitches in his arsenal
- be effective against both RH and LH
- have good control (walks are a killer)
- have good composure/a short memory

I haven't seen enough of Wood to form a good opinion of him, but closers can certainly come out of nowhere. I mean, Brad Hand was DFA by Miami just 3 years ago.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Let's do a rundown of what the rest of the month looks like for the Tribe, Twins, Rays and Athletics (teams currently over .500 in bold):

Cleveland Indians (71-47, 0 GB in Central, 2.5 games ahead for WC1, 4 games ahead for WC2):
3 games vs. BOS
4 games at NYY
3 games at NYM
3 games vs. KC
3 games at DET
3 games at TB

Minnesota Twins (71-47, 0 GB in Central, 2.5 games ahead for WC1, 4 games ahead for WC2):
2 games at MIL
4 games at TEX
3 games vs. CWS
3 games vs. DET
3 games at CWS
3 games at DET

Tampa Bay Rays (69-50, 2.5 GB for WC1, 1.5 games ahead for WC2):
3 games at SD
3 games vs. DET
3 games vs. SEA
4 games at BAL
3 games at HOU
3 games vs. CLE

Oakland Athletics (67-51, 4 GB for WC1, 1.5 GB for WC2):
2 games at SF
4 games vs. HOU
3 games vs. NYY
2 games vs. SF
4 games at KC
3 games at NYY

 

[JDailey23]

Indians have a brutal end of month

 

[AZ_]

Indians have a brutal end of month

Their opponents have a brutal end of month.

 

[Urban]

Red Sox: 12-17 since the ASB

Yankees: one of the best teams in baseball

Mets: 21-7 since ASB, one of hottest teams in baseball. But we all know wins vs weak schedules don't count the same. Or does that only apply to the Indians?

Royals: trash

Tigers: more trash

Rays: good team

 

[Juice is Loose]

Just saw this stat on ESPN. Perez and Plawecki have saved the Tribe 10 runs with pitch framing. Plawecki has the highest strike rate of all catchers.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

To be clear, I wasn't trying to make any kind of negative point with my schedule post. Just illustrating that there could still be a lot of jockeying for the division and two wild card spots before the end of the month.

 

[aldamon]

Just saw this stat on ESPN. Perez and Plawecki have saved the Tribe 10 runs with pitch framing. Plawecki has the highest strike rate of all catchers.

What will happen to catcher value with roboumps calling strikes? This obviously no longer applies to Perez, but I don't know how many times I've heard "he can't hit, but he frames pitches at an elite rate."

 

[Mr. Orange]

Dolans need to offer Frankie 10 years $250MM extension. I just can't imagine anyone turning down a quarter billion.

 

[AZ_]

Dolans need to offer Frankie 10 years $250MM extension. I just can't imagine anyone turning down a quarter billion.

Only $25M a year?

Lol.

Not realistic.

 

[sportscoach]

Dolans need to offer Frankie 10 years $250MM extension. I just can't imagine anyone turning down a quarter billion.

Not when the market is 10 year 300 million. I mean it is a difference of 50 million. If we could get Lindor for 20 mil we would have already!

 

[Arketebel]

What will happen to catcher value with roboumps calling strikes? This obviously no longer applies to Perez, but I don't know how many times I've heard "he can't hit, but he frames pitches at an elite rate."

I imagine that league wide hitting stats for catchers will increase with the loss of a defensive metric, but I'm guessing they will still be below 2B. Game management, stolen base runs saved, and blocking will still be required defensive skills for catchers, so most of today's catchers would still be in the same position on the depth chart.

 

[Arketebel]

Dolans need to offer Frankie 10 years $250MM extension. I just can't imagine anyone turning down a quarter billion.

I expect him to move on and will be pleasantly surprised if he remains an Indian.

I don't know what else to think about, "Enjoy him."

 

[Urban]

Tough April. 20 games against the Twins, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and A's

 

[TopGun]

First two weeks of the season spent playing in Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota? Awesome.