Season Opener!!!
- Thread starter MAJOR MARTY
- Start date
Looks like the play here, Colon and Sabathia showed up to camp at about the same weight as a yugo, so I don't look for Bartolo to go far early on this season.
Will try the slight home dog vs. a tribe team that packs much less punch than previous editions.
Will try the slight home dog vs. a tribe team that packs much less punch than previous editions.
Last edited:
Interesting Read on Cleveland
Interesting Read on Cleveland
Interesting read on the Indians. I don't hate this team by any means, but this is gonna be a long, long year for them. I don't think Colon and Sabathia being out of shape helps their cause either...
Gonzalez will be missed the most by Indians
Alomar was outstanding, but Gutierrez is a strong replacement. Who will replace slugger as key run-producer for Tribe?
By Terry Pluto
The Indians will miss Juan Gonzalez more than Robbie Alomar.
That's while admitting Alomar might be the best all-around player that I've ever watched in a Tribe uniform.
But I also think Ricky Gutierrez will do a decent job at second base, hit about .280 and be a very savvy veteran. He ain't Robbie, but he's no Bip Roberts, either.
As General Manager Mark Shapiro said: ``Gutierrez at second is a non-issue. He can play.''
The Indians might have dropped from a Mercedes to a Honda Accord, but they still have a pretty nice set of wheels at second base.
But no one replaces Gonzalez in the middle of the lineup.
Matt Lawton takes over for Gonzalez in right field, but he's probably the team's best leadoff man. And if Manager Charlie Manuel keeps him in that spot, he'll be a vast upgrade over Kenny Lofton, who led off a year ago.
But who bats fourth?
Jim Thome.
Too many strikeouts.
Every time I say this, I have a friend who reminds me that a strikeout isn't the worst thing. At least it's better than hitting into a double play.
But the best cleanup hitters know how to make contact, how to tap a grounder to the second baseman or a fly ball to the outfield to drive in a runner from third.
Do you realize that Gonzalez led the American League with 16 sacrifice flies, or that he hit .571 with the bases loaded? He didn't drive in those 140 runs in 140 games by accident.
Manny Ramirez did much the same thing for the Indians, before bolting for Boston last year. In the last four years, Tribe cleanup hitters have averaged 143 RBI. Thome's 124 RBI were a career high last year. Until then, his best was 108. Thome had only three sacrifice flies last year, and had 185 strikeouts compared to 94 for Gonzalez.
Right now, it appears Travis Fryman will bat behind Thome, who could end up walking (and striking out) even more than usual, especially if Fryman starts the season slowly.
The other day, Shapiro told me that he's worried about scoring runs, and he should be.
Team speed a worry
Shapiro also expressed concern about the lack of team speed.
Heading into this weekend's final exhibition games, the Tribe's leading base stealer was Omar Vizquel -- with three. Russell Branyan, Alex Escobar and Bruce Aven had two each.
Doesn't exactly inspire you to chant: go, go, go! When the Indians are on base. A year ago, their 79 steals were the third fewest in the AL, and 46 of those belonged to the now-departed Alomar and Lofton.
Among the players returning, Lawton had 29 steals last year. Then comes Vizquel with 13. Milton Bradley is gifted athletically with speed, but he has to prove: A) He can consistently reach base; B) He can steal bases.
Neither of those things are a given.
Somehow, the Indians are going to have to figure out how to score without hitting a lot of homers, or stealing a lot of bases. Any suggestions?
Talkin' Tribe . . .
? Lawton has hit the ball hard all spring (.338), but he has shown little interest in stealing bases. Is that because he's slowing down, or perhaps because -- like some veterans -- he sees no reason to wear his legs out with sliding in exhibition games? The Indians now will find out.
? The Tribe brass had a meeting with Bradley, telling the young outfielder: ``We don't care if you hit .275, just keep hustling and focused. But if you don't hustle, we could send you back to the minors.'' Bradley is known for his fits of temper. He doesn't turn 24 until April 15, so the Indians believe he will continue to mature.
? The huge sigh of relief came from Shapiro, as Mark Wohlers finally had a couple of good outings. Wohlers has the arm, he just needs to keep his control and confidence.
? The best player in camp? Vizquel, who has been hitting close to .400 all spring and playing a dynamite shortstop. ``Omar has a lot of pride and he wasn't happy with how he played last year,'' said Shapiro. ``I think he's out to prove that he's still a terrific player.''
? Chuck Finley also finished camp strong. Shapiro said he had some advisers urging him to deal the veteran lefty, ``But I just thought Finley would come back and do a good job for us. He's a key guy, and we need him to pitch like he did (in 2000 when he was 16-11).''
? This is the healthiest and most energetic Manuel has been since being named manager three years ago. ``He's the Charlie Manuel that we thought we hired,'' said Shapiro.
? He didn't make the team, but Earl Snyder had an impressive camp (.348, 3 HR in 23 at-bats). He's the 25-year-old first baseman obtained from the Mets in the Alomar deal, and he'll start the year at Class AAA Buffalo. Snyder has hit 45 homers over the last two years playing in Class A and Class AA.
? Don't know if this means anything, but Brady Anderson went into the weekend with a .203 average. He batted only .202 for Baltimore last season.
? PREDICTION FROM SHAPIRO: ``We will win the Central Division. After that, who knows? A year ago, (Seattle GM) Pat Gillick was saying his team would win 82 games, and look what they did
Interesting Read on Cleveland
Interesting read on the Indians. I don't hate this team by any means, but this is gonna be a long, long year for them. I don't think Colon and Sabathia being out of shape helps their cause either...
Gonzalez will be missed the most by Indians
Alomar was outstanding, but Gutierrez is a strong replacement. Who will replace slugger as key run-producer for Tribe?
By Terry Pluto
The Indians will miss Juan Gonzalez more than Robbie Alomar.
That's while admitting Alomar might be the best all-around player that I've ever watched in a Tribe uniform.
But I also think Ricky Gutierrez will do a decent job at second base, hit about .280 and be a very savvy veteran. He ain't Robbie, but he's no Bip Roberts, either.
As General Manager Mark Shapiro said: ``Gutierrez at second is a non-issue. He can play.''
The Indians might have dropped from a Mercedes to a Honda Accord, but they still have a pretty nice set of wheels at second base.
But no one replaces Gonzalez in the middle of the lineup.
Matt Lawton takes over for Gonzalez in right field, but he's probably the team's best leadoff man. And if Manager Charlie Manuel keeps him in that spot, he'll be a vast upgrade over Kenny Lofton, who led off a year ago.
But who bats fourth?
Jim Thome.
Too many strikeouts.
Every time I say this, I have a friend who reminds me that a strikeout isn't the worst thing. At least it's better than hitting into a double play.
But the best cleanup hitters know how to make contact, how to tap a grounder to the second baseman or a fly ball to the outfield to drive in a runner from third.
Do you realize that Gonzalez led the American League with 16 sacrifice flies, or that he hit .571 with the bases loaded? He didn't drive in those 140 runs in 140 games by accident.
Manny Ramirez did much the same thing for the Indians, before bolting for Boston last year. In the last four years, Tribe cleanup hitters have averaged 143 RBI. Thome's 124 RBI were a career high last year. Until then, his best was 108. Thome had only three sacrifice flies last year, and had 185 strikeouts compared to 94 for Gonzalez.
Right now, it appears Travis Fryman will bat behind Thome, who could end up walking (and striking out) even more than usual, especially if Fryman starts the season slowly.
The other day, Shapiro told me that he's worried about scoring runs, and he should be.
Team speed a worry
Shapiro also expressed concern about the lack of team speed.
Heading into this weekend's final exhibition games, the Tribe's leading base stealer was Omar Vizquel -- with three. Russell Branyan, Alex Escobar and Bruce Aven had two each.
Doesn't exactly inspire you to chant: go, go, go! When the Indians are on base. A year ago, their 79 steals were the third fewest in the AL, and 46 of those belonged to the now-departed Alomar and Lofton.
Among the players returning, Lawton had 29 steals last year. Then comes Vizquel with 13. Milton Bradley is gifted athletically with speed, but he has to prove: A) He can consistently reach base; B) He can steal bases.
Neither of those things are a given.
Somehow, the Indians are going to have to figure out how to score without hitting a lot of homers, or stealing a lot of bases. Any suggestions?
Talkin' Tribe . . .
? Lawton has hit the ball hard all spring (.338), but he has shown little interest in stealing bases. Is that because he's slowing down, or perhaps because -- like some veterans -- he sees no reason to wear his legs out with sliding in exhibition games? The Indians now will find out.
? The Tribe brass had a meeting with Bradley, telling the young outfielder: ``We don't care if you hit .275, just keep hustling and focused. But if you don't hustle, we could send you back to the minors.'' Bradley is known for his fits of temper. He doesn't turn 24 until April 15, so the Indians believe he will continue to mature.
? The huge sigh of relief came from Shapiro, as Mark Wohlers finally had a couple of good outings. Wohlers has the arm, he just needs to keep his control and confidence.
? The best player in camp? Vizquel, who has been hitting close to .400 all spring and playing a dynamite shortstop. ``Omar has a lot of pride and he wasn't happy with how he played last year,'' said Shapiro. ``I think he's out to prove that he's still a terrific player.''
? Chuck Finley also finished camp strong. Shapiro said he had some advisers urging him to deal the veteran lefty, ``But I just thought Finley would come back and do a good job for us. He's a key guy, and we need him to pitch like he did (in 2000 when he was 16-11).''
? This is the healthiest and most energetic Manuel has been since being named manager three years ago. ``He's the Charlie Manuel that we thought we hired,'' said Shapiro.
? He didn't make the team, but Earl Snyder had an impressive camp (.348, 3 HR in 23 at-bats). He's the 25-year-old first baseman obtained from the Mets in the Alomar deal, and he'll start the year at Class AAA Buffalo. Snyder has hit 45 homers over the last two years playing in Class A and Class AA.
? Don't know if this means anything, but Brady Anderson went into the weekend with a .203 average. He batted only .202 for Baltimore last season.
? PREDICTION FROM SHAPIRO: ``We will win the Central Division. After that, who knows? A year ago, (Seattle GM) Pat Gillick was saying his team would win 82 games, and look what they did