^ nice.

They kept me interested till football season....happy about that. They are not even in the same league as Detroit, so they better upgrade. That blockbuster deal is going to be a bust.....that guy just doesn't have "it". fausto 2.0

wes_mantooth;916318 wrote:^ nice.

They kept me interested till football season....happy about that. They are not even in the same league as Detroit, so they better upgrade. That blockbuster deal is going to be a bust.....that guy just doesn't have "it". fausto 2.0

+1 and BRF coming through like a BOSS ! :thumbup:

wes_mantooth;916318 wrote:They are not even in the same league as Detroit, so they better upgrade.

Detroit and their offensive core of Miguel Cabrera, Alex Avila and... Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta. Fuck.

They're lucky Fister has pitched his ass off, because outside of Verlander he's about all they've got in terms of a starting rotation.

I was also thinking this....

more than likely, Grady is gone. So you know damn well that whoever he signs with...he will have a career year. Probably bat .300, hit 25 hrs and win a gold glove again....it is the cleveland curse.

Grady continues to have issues with his bone bruise behind the knee... I'm thinking they pick up the option on Carmona and decline the option on Grady and try to get him cheaper. On one hand they really need him to become the old Grady, at least defensively.... and to play 120+ games a year. On the other hand,, do they really want to spend $9 million on his oft injured body.

I have also heard that people want Thome back....never happen. No way will Dolan eat Hafners salary just because Thome is supposedly a better leader. The year in review presser that Antonetti held today...he claimed that the payroll will be up "significantly". Lets hope so....we need a couple big splashes

The Indians are the stupidest team in the league if they pick up Carmona's option. $7 million? That's 1/7 of the team's total payroll for a back end starter. He was 3rd in the league in losses and 2nd in earned runs allowed this season. 5.25+ era 3 of the last 4 years.

Kiss his ass goodbye and move on.

wes_mantooth;916514 wrote:I have also heard that people want Thome back....never happen. No way will Dolan eat Hafners salary just because Thome is supposedly a better leader. The year in review presser that Antonetti held today...he claimed that the payroll will be up "significantly". Lets hope so....we need a couple big splashes

Saying it and actually doing is completely different....I hope the damn payroll is up because we have a 3 year window to win and the front office better not piss it away.

Haven't gone through the whole thread, so not sure if it has been discussed.

How long do they stick with Acta after next year without a drastic improvement in performance?

Not including that torid 6 week stretch where they were 30-15, the team is 119-160 over the past 2 years. That is only a .440 winning %, and that is not heading in the right direction.

I worry that the 30-15 start bought him a ton of good will that is going to obscure the fact that outside of those 6 weeks he has essentially been a total failure with both teams he's managed so far.

Without seriously pushing for or making the playoffs next year, can he really be brought back again to keep managing this team?

Pretty sure they just extended his contract yesterday our today....so they must like his style

IggyPride00;916608 wrote:Without seriously pushing for or making the playoffs next year, can he really be brought back again to keep managing this team?

Eric Wedge wasn't fired after 2006 even though they won 15 fewer games than in 2005. He wasn't fired after 2008 either, even though they won 15 fewer games than in 2007. And those were teams that were supposed to be legitimate contenders.

Being too loyal to "his guys" is/was one of Shapiro's biggest issues. Who knows if Antoinetti is the same way, but I'd say he's safe through at least 2013 since he was just extended through then unless the team completely tanks next year (like 95+ losses tanks).

I've never thought Acta was a very good manager though. I was completely against hiring him at the time it happened. I know the final record is all that matters, but 50-67 after the hot start is not so good.

but 50-67 after the hot start is not so good.

That was the point of my post.

50-67 is a .420 winning %.

His 69-93 record from the prior season is a .420 winning %.

Basically, outside of 6 great weeks over a 2 year period the guy has a piss poor record as manager.

Although, Ubaldo is living off a great 2 months still from one season, so I guess it is not out of the realm of possibility that Acta will be able to do the same thing because of the start of the season.

Acta just got an extension through 2013.

How long do they stick with Acta after next year without a drastic improvement in performance?

For starters, I think this year WAS drastic improvement...aand when you consider that he did it with a lot of smoke and mirrors amidst a plethora of injuries, I'd say he did a damn good job. ( I was not a big Acta supporter before this year.) He is getting some consideration for 'manager of the year'...I'm not sure what more you could have expected from him this year.

The Indians are the stupidest team in the league if they pick up Carmona's option. $7 million?

I've lost confidence in Carmona becoming the pitcher we had all hoped after his big season, but what do you expect to find out there in the free agent market for $ 7million, that is anything better than a 'back end'(3-4-5) starter? I suppose you could do the Tribe's perrennial "recycle project" and hope to catch some lightening in a bottle. We've traded our two best prospects...so AAA help that could actually be better than Carmona is remote. Depending on the health of Josh Tomlin...I'd have to say that Fausto is the #3 guy on this staff. $7 Mill/year for a # 3? ehhhh...you could do worse.

OQB;916558 wrote:Saying it and actually doing is completely different....I hope the damn payroll is up because we have a 3 year window to win and the front office better not piss it away.

Im using this quote to prove a point to our resident idiot, trolldo.

I really think with guys being healthy, and a couple free agent pick ups that this team can have a legitimate shot for the AL Central next year. Assuming health, and the Tribe not picking up Sizemore's option they have these guys as their core for next year:
Asdrubal Cabrera - Break out year. Will be interesting to see if this was a career year, or the start of a trend. Either way, he has shown when healthy he is one of the top SS in the bigs.
Shin-Soo Choo - when healthy, a .300 hitter with 20 HR power and a cannon in RF.
Carlos Santana - Displayed more power than I thought he would hit for, but a worse average. I think he will figure it out more with experience and get his BA above .275 for most of his career.
Michael Brantley - A versatile offensive player that can hit in multiple spots. I like him and think he will be a good player, however I wouldn't be shocked if he would be part of a trade to bring in a CF or power bat.
Jason Kipnis - A great athlete that should be at the top of this line-up for awhile. I expect him to become at least average defensively, if not better.
Lonnie Chisenhall - Didn't produce like many expected, but he is still very young. Needs to improve defensively, which I think would help him relax and produce better at the plate. Too much talent not to figure it out.
Travis Hafner - For half the season, he will be one of the top DH's in the game. You know he won't be healthy all year, so there needs to be someone on the roster ready to step in when he goes down.


These are the guys I would go after in free agency:
Aramis Ramirez - This one probably has no chance, but IF the tribe front office is serious about contending and adding to the payroll, this guy would look great in the middle of our line-up. He has said he wants to stay with the Cubs, but the Cubs may be looking at a rebuild. He is 33 and wants a 3 year deal. He may have to be moved to 1B or DH to prolong his career, and wants to play for a team w/ a chance to win, all options in Cleveland.
Michael Cuddyer - Can play a corner OF spot, or 1B. I would look at him as a 1B for this team. Has been a .277/20HR/80RBI guy the last 3 years. He will be 32, but should have 3 or 4 years left in him. The Twins offered him a 2 year, $16million extension during the season. I don't think a 3 year deal for 8 or 9 million per for him would be a bad deal.
Outfielders worth targeting: Jason Kubel, Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, David Dejesus, Ryan Ludwick, Grady Sizemore(restructured deal)
Trade: I'd also explore what it would take to get either both or one of James Shields and BJ Upton from the Rays.

Pitching: I think they will pick up Carmona's option and hope they get the good Fausto next year. Masterson, Jimenez, Carmona has the potential to be a very good 1-3 (it also could implode). There are some OK pitchers available in free agency and I'd expect the Tribe to add one. Bullpens are unpredictable, but at the very least the Tribe's is set up for success again next year.

Francona is out in Boston would have loved to bring him in

I think the Cuddyer thing is a real possibility....

Cuddyer would be a damn good pick up

From the sounds of watching ABAO yesterday, Bruce had Shapiro, Antonetti, and Acta all on talking to them about next year.... the way they were talking, Sizemore will be back with the tribe along with Carmona. Bruce made a good point though, for the 7 million your going to pay him, there isn't much else out there. Antonetti did sound like there will be some trades made, and guys being picked up.

HitsRus;916741 wrote:I've lost confidence in Carmona becoming the pitcher we had all hoped after his big season, but what do you expect to find out there in the free agent market for $ 7million, that is anything better than a 'back end'(3-4-5) starter?

A #3 starter is not back end, and I think you are underestimating how much $7 million is.

That would make him one of the 5 highest-paid players on 22 of 30 MLB teams, and the highest paid player on several of them according to ESPN's salary/payroll figures. Why should a #4 (being extremely generous) or #5 starter be one of the 5 highest paid guys on your team? That's absurd.

^^^I respect your opinion, however I would bet that a lot of teams would love to pay him $7 million. The guy does have stuff that could make him a front end pitcher, and that potential alone makes him worth the risk, even if you slot him at #4...this year. Unlike other guys who you would normally slot at 4or 5...he could suddenly turn unbeatable. I say that with my eyes open, having witnessed 4 mediocre years in a row. While that is true, it is not like he has lost any velocity or movement, and as long as that is still there, the potential for a huge year exists.

Fausto is a pain in the ass, but I am ok with picking up his option. Grady needs to go though, that money can be used for better things

I am not necessarily opposed to declining both options, provided the money is used in a productive way.

HitsRus;917460 wrote:^^^I respect your opinion, however I would bet that a lot of teams would love to pay him $7 million. The guy does have stuff that could make him a front end pitcher, and that potential alone makes him worth the risk, even if you slot him at #4...this year. Unlike other guys who you would normally slot at 4or 5...he could suddenly turn unbeatable. I say that with my eyes open, having witnessed 4 mediocre years in a row. While that is true, it is not like he has lost any velocity or movement, and as long as that is still there, the potential for a huge year exists.

Exactly, and at least with Carmona we know what we have...rather than going out and picking someone up that we have to learn more about etc... Who knows, 2007 Fausto could show up and then everyone will be so happy that we picked his option up.


Being a GM in professional sports you make tons of decisions....you try to limit the bad ones, but you are going to have bad decisions it's just the nature of the job. This is the offseason that we can't have any bad decisions though because it's not just next year on the line, it's 2-3 years.