Tag: all star game

Upcoming Schedule Is Tribe’s Friend

The Cleveland Indians starting rotation took another blow yesterday when it was announced that Carlos Carrasco, one of baseball’s best starting pitchers over the past four seasons, has a blood disorder and will be out indefinitely.

First of all, let’s all hope the illness is not serious and Carrasco will make a full recovery.

His absence gets added to fellow starters Corey Kluber (broken arm) and Mike Clevinger (shoulder/back muscle issue), and turns the strength of the team into a mess.

The only starters now remaining from the beginning of the season are Trevor Bauer and Shane Bieber, who might be the Tribe’s best starting pitcher this year with a 3.57 ERA in 13 appearances.

However, Carrasco’s not being with the team doesn’t change our stance on the future of the 2019 season for the Cleveland Indians.

As of today, while it is true the Tribe is 10.5 games out of the lead in the AL Central, they are only two games out of the second wild card spot.

Until they mathematically fall further behind any chance of a post-season spot, we have a problem giving up on a season.

Can you imagine how excited an Indians’ fan in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s would have been had the Tribe been a game out of a playoff spot in early June?

If you were around then, you are probably like us and think cashing in the season at this point is simply ludicrous.

We guess fans have gotten spoiled since Jacobs Field/Progressive Field opened up 25 years ago.

After this weekend’s series against the Yankees, here is who the Tribe plays until the All Star break on July 8th:

June 11th and 12th:  Cincinnati (28-32)
June 14th-16th:  Detroit (23-35)
June 17th-20th:  Texas (31-28)
June 21st-23rd:  Detroit again
June 24th-26th:  Kansas City (19-42)
June 28th-30th:  Baltimore (19-42)
July 2nd-4th:  Kansas City again
July 6th and 7th:  Cincinnati again

As you can see, Texas is the only above .500 team Cleveland will play over a four week stretch, and only the Reds are close to the break even mark.

Yes, we know the Indians have struggled against some bad teams (KC and Miami most notably) this season, but wouldn’t you bank on making up some ground in the standings before the Midsummer Classic?

Even after the break, there are five games the rest of July with Minnesota and Houston, but the balance of the schedule is more of the Tigers, Royals, and Blue Jays.

We haven’t changed our mind about dealing Trevor Bauer either.  As we said a few days ago, a deal like that could save the 2019 season, if you can acquire some hitting.

The pitching could be good enough with Bieber and the hopefully soon return of Clevinger, and maybe the Tribe caught some lightning in a bottle with Zack Plesac.

Another good thing about the upcoming schedule is four off days between now the the All Star Game, which could minimize the need for a fifth starter.

We understand the Indians have had issues with some of the bottom teams in the league this year, but if they can start playing a little better, getting a little more offense, they have a good opportunity to make up some ground.

Soon, the schedule will be the Indians’ friend.  That’s a good enough reason to not start looking toward 2020.

MW

Manny Acta’s Imaginary Job Interview

When Manny Acta was hired as the skipper of the Cleveland Indians, both GM Chris Antonetti and team president Mark Shapiro were very impressed with the way he knew a lot about the organization.  He did his homework.

Here is how we imagine the interview wrapped up:

Shapiro:  Congratulations, Manny.  You are the next manager of the Cleveland Indians.

Antonetti:  We do have some things we want to discuss as to how we run things here before we make the announcement.

Acta:  What do you mean?

Antonetti:  Well, things like we have total control over the roster.  You can make out the lineup, but we get total control over who is on the 25 man squad.

Acta:  You mean to open the season?  No problem.  I get to make suggestions right?

Shapiro (laughing):  Oh yeah, we’ll listen to you, but no, we get to have total control of the roster for the entire season.

Antonetti:  And we have to talk about how we speak to the public.  You have to use words like “process” and phrases like “in our situation”.

Shapiro (laughing again):  You can’t use “grinding” anymore.  Wedgie used it so much that people are sick of it.  They make fun of him now.

Acta:  OK?

Antonetti:  We like to use platoons too.  We think instead of getting one good player, you can use two limited ones and get the same production.  Can you like with that?

Acta (thinking about not getting the job):  Sure, no problem.

Shapiro:  That’s good.  You know, we had Showalter and Farrell in the organization and they kept telling us different things we did wrong.  We told them we had to be in charge for the process to work.

Antonetti:  Good one, Mark!  You used “process”.

Acta:  Well, what if a guy who makes the opening day roster starts out struggling, how long do we stay with him?

Antonetti:  We are very patient.  I’d say we have to wait until around the All-Star game before we can be sure the guy can’t hit.  We don’t want to give away someone who can play.

Shapiro:  Like Phillips.  I told Wedge that was going to bite us in the rear end.  We won’t make that mistake again.  By the way, Manny, you said “what if”.  I like that.  I think we can do something with that phrase.

Acta:  Ok, I think.  Does the ownership plan to invest if we are contending?

Antonetti:  We tell the public that, but we’re in this to make money.  If we win great, but the owners want to recoup the cash they put up when they bought it.  Old man Jacobs really snookered them.

Shapiro (sternly):  Chris! We’re not supposed to talk about that.  We’ll spend a little, but when a player starts creeping up on free agency, we have to think about moving them.  Remember, I’m good at that, I stole three good players for Colon.  Damn, we should’ve kept Phillips!

Acta:  I think I’m fine with that.  I’m not a real fiery guy, is that ok with you?

Antonetti:  No problem.  Hey Mark, remember when Manuel got thrown out of a couple of games early in his first year?  We had to talk to him about calming down.  It doesn’t present the right corporate image.

Acta:  Corporate?  This is baseball, I’m a little confused.

Shapiro:  This is the new age, Manny.  Heck, if we could make Polo shirts part of our uniform, we would.  You’ll see in a few years, every team will operate like we do.  We’re on the cutting edge.

Acta: I hope so.  I’m your man, let’s do this.

MW