Tribe roster shaping up..... Michael Bourn will miss at least opening series...placed on DL with hamstring injury. Nyger Morgan, Elliot Johnson, and Lonnie Chisenhall have made the team. Bauer optioned to AAA. Tomlin and Carrasco battling for #5 spot in the rotation.

HitsRus;1596029 wrote:Tribe roster shaping up..... Michael Bourn will miss at least opening series...placed on DL with hamstring injury. Nyger Morgan, Elliot Johnson, and Lonnie Chisenhall have made the team. Bauer optioned to AAA. Tomlin and Carrasco battling for #5 spot in the rotation.

The Bourn injury is to the same hammy he had trouble with last year they were saying on the radio today. That doesn't seem like a positive development as I was hoping he'd be past some of the nagging stuff this year.

This is also put up or hit the road time for Chis as far as I'm concerned. Not surprised he made the main roster even though he still has an option left.

He has bashed the ball at AAA the past 2 years, so sending him back down if he gets off to a slow start for some reason seems like a losing cause. He needs to show he can be the guy of the future, or they need to move on and bring someone in who can. Some guys really are just AAAA players, and it is on Chis to show he's more than that this season.

This is also put up or hit the road time for Chis as far as I'm concerned

...for everybody concerned. Chiz had a great spring, he needs to carry that on thru the year.

HitsRus;1596145 wrote:...for everybody concerned. Chiz had a great spring, he needs to carry that on thru the year.

Deja Vu

His ticks will annoy the shit out of me if he ever appears in studio...

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10666814/ozzie-guillen-eric-wedge-dallas-braden-join-baseball-tonight-crew

Indians manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Carlos Santana will be the club's third baseman.

Francona also said that it will not be a platoon situation with Lonnie Chisenhall, so it appears that Santana will get most of the playing time there, at least initially. He'll also serve as the backup catcher to Yan Gomes, who only figures to gain more momentum in fantasy leagues with this news. Chisenhall will likely start at third base when Santana catchers, but will otherwise receives at-bats as the designated hitter or as a pinch-hitter.

We'll see about Santana on 3B....look for him to be tested and often by every team until he proves he can handle the position with the best of them. I'm a bit skeptical.

HitsRus;1596431 wrote:We'll see about Santana on 3B....look for him to be tested and often by every team until he proves he can handle the position with the best of them. I'm a bit skeptical.

I believe he was a 3rd baseman when he was first in the dodgers minor league system. I think he will do ok

Tribe bullpen to me is the biggest concern. Too many new faces who had bad years the previous season. Not crazy about Murphy but I'm happy that Stubbs is gone. Maybe Raburn will have a banner year.

Vegas has the tribe over under win total at 81 games. Obviously Vegas thinks the tribe has regressed significantly from last year.

This coming December 27 will be quite a remembrance day for Cleveland sports futility. Unless the Indians shock the world, that date will bring to reality a full half century of no championships for the city.

Crimson streak;1596434 wrote:I believe he was a 3rd baseman when he was first in the dodgers minor league system. I think he will do ok

Eh he was moved around a bunch of different positions because he wasn't good enough at any of them and they wanted his bat in the lineup. It's not like he grew up a third baseman and made a sudden change to catcher. At least that's what I read before this season.

lhslep134;1596437 wrote:Eh he was moved around a bunch of different positions because he wasn't good enough at any of them and they wanted his bat in the lineup. It's not like he grew up a third baseman and made a sudden change to catcher. At least that's what I read before this season.

Gotcha. It was off the top of my head and I couldn't remember I just remember it's not his first time playing 3rd

Pretty cool. Tom Hamilton's son's first spring training at bat. They show Tom, he gets a bit teary:
;



http://mlb.mlb.com/fancave/blog.jsp?content=article&content_id=70052658&partnerId=th_twitter#fbid=rd645ovUA_N

Yeah....I saw that. Great stuff. Proud Papa.

Crimson streak;1596443 wrote:Gotcha. It was off the top of my head and I couldn't remember I just remember it's not his first time playing 3rd

That being said, I agree with you I think he'll be OK. Above all, I trust Francona to make the right moves re: Chiz and Santana.

Footwedge;1596436 wrote:
This coming December 27 will be quite a remembrance day for Cleveland sports futility. Unless the Indians shock the world, that date will bring to reality a full half century of no championships for the city.

I remember little BRF huddled around the transistor radio listening to Frank Ryan connecting with Gary Collins 3 times with 2 Lou Groza field goals "to boot".

Catching up here. Busy busy lately.

1. I think Santana will be fine at 3rd. If Miggy could play it serviceably at 300+ bills before he tried to slim down...Santana will be just fine. This is a huge boost to our lineup of Gomes continues to progress at the plate. We haven't gotten production from 3rd base since....Casey Blake??? And before that...what....Matt Williams? I am looking forward to this.

2. Very happy for Hammy. I know a lot of the old guard will swear by the Herb Score's and Marty Brennenman's but having grown up on Tom Hamilton's calls....he is my favorite of all time and that was a very cool moment for him.

3. Can we just play some real baseball already? Despite a lot of the negativity around the lack of resignings, not locking up Masterson...etc...I think they are going to be a solid bunch. Tomlin was our 3 a couple of years ago. If he can be close to that form...he will be a solid #5. Expecting Kluber and McAllister to continue to blossom this year.

I am starting to get excited.

TBone14;1596480 wrote: 1. I think Santana will be fine at 3rd. If Miggy could play it serviceably at 300+ bills before he tried to slim down

He didn't play it serviceably though. Last year he was one of the worst defensive players in the league and well below replacement level.

I'm not saying Santana won't be fine, I'm saying you absolutely cannot use Miggy in your reasoning.


http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=25,a

Miguel 6th worst among all fielders and 2nd worst among 3B (somehow, Freese was worse).

lhslep134;1596544 wrote:He didn't play it serviceably though. Last year he was one of the worst defensive players in the league and well below replacement level.

I'm not saying Santana won't be fine, I'm saying you absolutely cannot use Miggy in your reasoning.

Unless of course, he hits like Miggy!

In that case, he can pitch for all I care lol

Laley23;1596545 wrote:Unless of course, he hits like Miggy!

In that case, he can pitch for all I care lol

I tend to agree, but that's because Detroit losing had more to do with having 2 defensive black holes (Fielder being the other), and both players substantially affecting the offense when it came to speed/baserunning.

I think the Tigers are much better off this year for moving one black hole to replace another, and having a competent third baseman. I don't know if they'll be better record or postseason advancement wise, but in terms of simply getting Miggy out of third and getting Prince out of there I think it's an upgrade.

agree with all of the above. efense was the Tiger's Achilles heal....remember they had Peralta at SS for most of the year too.

I'm starting to get goosebumps thinking of Opening Day. I'm very excited for this season

Tribe will start the season in Oakland with Masterson, Kluber and McCallister in the first series. Danny Salazaar (who pitched the last game of the season at Progressive Field) will be on the hill for the Tribe's Home Opener 8 days from now.....Carlos Carrasco will go Saturday..and Maasterson will complete the home opening series on Sunday.

Tribe will start the season in Oakland with Masterson, Kluber and McCallister in the first series. Danny Salazaar (who pitched the last game of the season at Progressive Field) will be on the hill for the Tribe's Home Opener 8 days from now.....Carlos Carrasco will go Saturday..and Maasterson will complete the home opening series on Sunday.


Carlos Carrasco 'won' the last spot in the rotation (mainly due to the fact that he was out of options and Tomlin had 3 left). Aaron Harang who was let go the other day has signed with the pitching depleted Atlanta Braves....whe will probably be the #3 guy in their rotation. I'm a little disappointed that they didn't keep Harang, who pitched well this spring. They could have kept him as the #5 starter, started Carrasco initially in the pen, and optioned Tomlin down to AAA. You need maybe 8 or 9 starters over the course of a season, and it's never a bad idea to stockpile pitching.

lhslep134;1596632 wrote:I'm starting to get goosebumps thinking of Opening Day. I'm very excited for this season

I am too. This rotation has the potential to be very very good. It will interesting to see if they will reach that potential

Kittys said to be signing Miggy to a 10 year deal worth about $300 mill.....crazy.