Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Don't underestimate the dominance of Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, and some of the good from Shaw. We don't have any of that 2016 bullpen 1-2 punch. Yeah it's cool saying just get in, but our current pitching isn't magical. Andrew Miller could spawn in the 5th and get the starter out of trouble, then shut out the 6th. We are who we are right now, the 6th best team in the AL.

I don't think we're even discussing what a valuable playoff roster looks like--just where we stand.

You're right--our pen is certainly nowhere near that bullpen and in the playoffs, the bullpen does tend to play up. I guess the only advantage is I feel our pen is deeper. If a starter implodes early, we probably have 8 guys who are playing ahead of Otero, who we were still using in relevant situations in 2016.

If we can get Franmil back on track, I absolutely love our lineup. I think it blows the 2016 lineup away. But, just like we didn't know if we'd ever get good Jose back, we have to remain skeptical that we get the good Franimal back until we see it.

 

[Real Deal]

I don't think we're even discussing what a valuable playoff roster looks like--just where we stand.

You're right--our pen is certainly nowhere near that bullpen and in the playoffs, the bullpen does tend to play up. I guess the only advantage is I feel our pen is deeper. If a starter implodes early, we probably have 8 guys who are playing ahead of Otero, who we were still using in relevant situations in 2016.

If we can get Franmil back on track, I absolutely love our lineup. I think it blows the 2016 lineup away. But, just like we didn't know if we'd ever get good Jose back, we have to remain skeptical that we get the good Franimal back until we see it.

Gotta get Franimal back and we gotta get Brad Hand right again. Those are 2 key parts to our playoff run in my opinion. The bullpen is as good as Hand takes them. He's supposed to be the 4-5 out horse. If Hand gets right, Cookie takes some charge, then we have at least 8 outs in 2 dominant relievers.

Lindor improving his shitty ABs, being the leader he is
Franmil returning to form
Hand getting right
Cookie emerging

Those will be my storylines to end the season

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Gotta get Franimal back and we gotta get Brad Hand right again. Those are 2 key parts to our playoff run in my opinion. The bullpen is as good as Hand takes them. He's supposed to be the 4-5 out horse. If Hand gets right, Cookie takes some charge, then we have at least 8 outs in 2 dominant relievers.

Lindor improving his shitty ABs, being the leader he is
Franmil returning to form
Hand getting right
Cookie emerging

Those will be my storylines to end the season

And, from a pessimistic point of view, you have to count on none of our other players falling apart. Even though they've been good for a LONG period of time, you never know if Kipnis or Jose is ready to turn back into a pumpkin.

 

[Kevalier]

Don't underestimate the dominance of Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, and some of the good from Shaw. We don't have any of that 2016 bullpen 1-2 punch. Yeah it's cool saying just get in, but our current pitching isn't magical. Andrew Miller could spawn in the 5th and get the starter out of trouble, then shut out the 6th. We are who we are right now, the 6th best team in the AL.

There is a potential equation that would lead to us having a 2016 type pen, but there are a lot of big question marks involved. If Hand gets back on track, Cookie is able to handle a multi inning, high leverage role and possibly even adding Karinchak to the mix, then this pen could be lights out when you also include guys like Goody, Wittgren, Perez and Clippard.

 

[Derek]

And, from a pessimistic point of view, you have to count on none of our other players falling apart. Even though they've been good for a LONG period of time, you never know if Kipnis or Jose is ready to turn back into a pumpkin.

I think you could also say this about almost any player on any contender

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think you could also say this about almost any player on any contender

That's true, but not all of them have had extended periods of playing like a pumpkin. Both Jose and Kipnis have.

My personal opinion is that this is normal, healthy Kipnis. This is balanced Jose. We shouldn't see the bad versions of either player for the rest of the season barring injury.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Speaking of sucking the fun out of stuff, I met this girl I met online Friday night.

Before someone goes screaming this is off topic, I was wearing an Indians shirt when we hooked up.

... really?

You're better than this.

 

[Lee]

But nobody looks as good when they’re not playing shit teams.

Houston just went 2-5 against Oakland and the White Sox before playing the Tigers. The Yankees split with the Indians and just got swept by Oakland. The Twins just lost 2 of 3 to the White Sox.

Holy overreaction to sweep.

The Indians have their best record after 128 games since 1999. Sucks they’re in a playoff dog fight but they’ve had a hell of a season despite dealing with horrible injury circumstances all year long.

To add, our 2nd best player was in a huge slump. If nothing else I feel next year we are set up for a major run. I would really like to keep Puig which I know is almost imposible, but his presence in the outfield and lineup really is a difference changer, maybe a healthy Zimmer can be that difference too?

 

[Lee]

... really?

You're better than this.

Honestly where have you been? That is my humor too a tee, kind my point how I think the section should be. 80% talking Indians, 20% making jokes to have fun, 0% bullying or piling on others. One of the best things the Cavs sections had were running inside jokes and quite frankly some are hilarious. In this section there are so few posters only piling on and negative posts make the section difficult to read, the occasional joke is sometimes a nice break.

 

[Derek]

That's true, but not all of them have had extended periods of playing like a pumpkin. Both Jose and Kipnis have.

My personal opinion is that this is normal, healthy Kipnis. This is balanced Jose. We shouldn't see the bad versions of either player for the rest of the season barring injury.

While we're more reliant on Jose than most other teams are on their guys:

The Astros have Correa (who's heading for the IL again) who has missed nearly a full season worth of games over the last 3 years and was awful last year. Plus, a few other guys who are having career years and could come back down to Earth.

The Yankees have Urshela and LeMahieu playing out of their minds, with Judge and Sanchez prone to long slumps.

The Twins have Kepler, Polanco, and Garver in career years. Plus, Sano has fallen apart for prolonged stretches.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Honestly where have you been? That is my humor too a tee, kind my point how I think the section should be. 80% talking Indians, 20% making jokes to have fun, 0% bullying or piling on others. One of the best things the Cavs sections had were running inside jokes and quite frankly some are hilarious. In this section there are so few posters only piling on and negative posts make the section difficult to read, the occasional joke is sometimes a nice break.

Maybe you didn't see it but there were multiple pages of EAYOR content removed from this section yesterday that basically were first paragraph EAYOR shit, then one sentence at the end saying something loosely baseball-related like "The Tribe better win this game"

It was our brand new mod's first time having to deal with this shit, and it's definitely still a sore spot.

Your post just seemed to exactly mirror that.

I'm guessing you had no idea about any of this though. <3

 

[Lee]

Maybe you didn't see it but there were multiple pages of EAYOR content removed from this section yesterday that basically were first paragraph EAYOR shit, then one sentence at the end saying something loosely baseball-related like "The Tribe better win this game"

It was our brand new mod's first time having to deal with this shit, and it's definitely still a sore spot.

Your post just seemed to exactly mirror that.

I'm guessing you had no idea about any of this though. <3

I didn't, was just trying to lighten the mood. This is supposed to be fun. I get we are frustrated that we worked our ass off as a team to tie the Twins only to lose 7 of the next 10, but we are fighters and we should get back.

On topic, any chance the stretch out Corasco? With Kluber struggling with another minor injury I really feel we need one of the two to get healthy. That is a pretty obvious statement though.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I didn't, was just trying to lighten the mood. This is supposed to be fun. I get we are frustrated that we worked our ass off as a team to tie the Twins only to lose 7 of the next 10, but we are fighters and we should get back.

On topic, any chance the stretch out Corasco? With Kluber struggling with another minor injury I really feel we need one of the two to get healthy. That is a pretty obvious statement though.

I'd love to have full-strength Cookie starting for this team this season.

I don't think it's in the cards.

Bieber, Clev, Plesac, Civale, Plutko is likely your rotation for the rest of the year, unless we turn the fifth starter into an opener role.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I didn't, was just trying to lighten the mood. This is supposed to be fun. I get we are frustrated that we worked our ass off as a team to tie the Twins only to lose 7 of the next 10, but we are fighters and we should get back.

You're right, and I don't intent to moderate this forum as if only very serious, in-depth discussions are permitted. It was just that I had a lighter trigger finger given what went on yesterday.

My goal is to try to help us all figure out where there's a happy medium. Or median, if you prefer. The etymology is rather complicated on that one.

 

[Lee]

You're right, and I don't intent to moderate this forum as if only very serious, in-depth discussions are permitted. It was just that I had a lighter trigger finger given what went on yesterday.

My goal is to try to help us all figure out where there's a happy medium. Or median, if you prefer. The etymology is rather complicated on that one.

I was working and missed yesturday, i only read the aftermath and really just want the Indians section to be fun. We have some really knowledgeable people that have taught me a ton, some probably need to lighten up when someone wants to make jokes, this is a message board. But we also have some great fans in the section that might want to take a step back and instead of attacking the super knowledgeable fans, they chose to learn. Baseball has changed a to Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth never debated the merits of baseball on a message board, this forum is new to sports too.

So basically those that teach, spread your knowledge, those that are huge fans, bring your passion, and those like me, yes there will be the occasion dick and fart jokes. I am a fan that refuses to grow up the whole way, and quite frankly none of us should, we are all fans of a kid's game.