Figured I would take a shot at a series thread as no one has had much luck lately.

Big time Wild Card implications with this series and the trade deadline is only 3 days away.

I really expect the Tribe to stand pat.

HitsRus;1639695 wrote:I really expect the Tribe to stand pat.

I mostly agree, however if we lose the first 2 games of the series and suddenly find ourselves 5.5 back of the only wild card slot (since the Angels have locked in one of them essentially) behind 6-7 teams it is very possible we could be a seller on the 31st.

No help is coming, but I could see us moving guys at the last minute if it looks like the wild card is going to be a lost cause.

Wednesday: Kluber vs Felix. Must see TV there. Game could be over in 90 minutes. Felix has gone now 12 or 13 straight starts with at least 7 IP and less than 2 runs allowed. Pretty amazing run he is on.

EDIT: It is 13 starts. It was May 12th the last time Felix didn't complete 7 innings and allowed more than 2 runs. That game he went 6.2 and allowed 4 runs. That was his worst start of the year. Otherwise, he has allowed 3 earned runs just twice. 19 out of 22 starts have been 2 earned runs or less.

I think Druby gets dealt, and quite possibly Masterson (even though we take 2 out of 3 vs. the M's).

IggyPride00;1639693 wrote:Figured I would take a shot at a series thread as no one has had much luck lately.

Big time Wild Card implications with this series and the trade deadline is only 3 days away.

GFY Iggy. I went 5 series before a loss.

Go Tribe.

I really think we can make a big push towards the wild card if Masterson can come back to form. Kluber is lights out. Bauer is coming on string and Salazar looks like he's going to put it together. I really think we see Lindor being called up in the next few weeks and could give us a huge spark similar to drubs back in 07. I'd love to go get bat at the trade deadline. Especially with the way Santana has been swinging they could make a serious push but IMO it all depends on Masterson

GOONx19;1639770 wrote:GFY Iggy. I went 5 series before a loss.

Reps

GOONx19;1639771 wrote:Go Tribe.

This.

I think there is still a good shot and potential for a run, maddening as it sometimes appears.

As far as trade rumors, the only thing I've seen that has any substance was that the Angels were interested in Aviles.

I cannot see any market value in Masterson...if the Tribe has given up on him or given up on trying to sign him, they may be able get a low level prospect on someone willing to take a flyer. Dubious at best, and with little value.

Cabrerra could be dealt to a team with a serious need for a veteran shortstop...LOL ...that would be the Tigers.

Who else has market value that the tribe would want to dump? Bourn? Swisher? Murphy?

Trading Santana might be an interesting thought.

Tribe is a full 4 games out of the wild card position and need to leap frog 4 or 5 teams. The eastern division is finally flexing their high payroll muscle.

I don't see a repeat of last year's amazing September run. The starting pitching is just not strong enough. Would deal Cabrera for a bag of peanuts at this point and let FL have a shot in getting his feet wet.

Nick Swisher continues his quest of ducking under the Mendoza line. Hard to believe that kind of performance from a lifetime 251 hitter averaging 26 homers.

Wednesday: Kluber vs Felix.

yeah, I'll be there.Gonna have to get a beer early...the 7th inning will be here before you know it

If the Tribe is going to be a "buyer" berfore the trade deadline, they must be keeping it pretty close to theri vest because the Tribe is knowhere to be found when it comes to possible acquisitions. The Tribe does have willingness to move Masterson, but there will be no time to 'showcase' him before the trade deadline. There is some interest in Toronto for Druby Cabrerra , but what the BJs would be willing to part with, and would the Tribe want to help a team they are chasing for a wild card spot are drawbacks. There apparently is no worries about Jose Ramirez or Francisco Lindor manning the position in the event of a trade.

HitsRus;1639966 wrote:yeah, I'll be there.Gonna have to get a beer early...the 7th inning will be here before you know it

With those two, you might want to show up 2 hours before the game, so you have time for 2 or 3, if you so desire.

Druby certainly not helping himself as far as showcasing for future employers... he looks like crap.

Bauer really struggling, could be an early exit.

After Kipnis and Brantley look like shit...Santana gives it a ride but comes up short....Tribe down 5-2 going to the 9th.

I forgot how much I hated Rodney...what a goof.

Pathetic...smh

I keep wanting to blame the offense for not scoring. but they have scored the 6th most runs in the MLB somehow. Then I see the pitching staff has given up the 8th most runs in the MLB and that answers all my questions.

Glory Days;1640101 wrote:I keep wanting to blame the offense for not scoring. but they have scored the 6th most runs in the MLB somehow. Then I see the pitching staff has given up the 8th most runs in the MLB and that answers all my questions.

Boom or bust.

This Tribe team is the absolute kings of being offensively inept for like 3-4 games in a row and then dropping like a 14 spot out of nowhere.

We need 4 runs a game, not 2 runs for 3 games and 10 in the 4th. It's 16 either way, but it makes winning consistently difficult.

Shaponetti needs to be working the phones and sell anyone he can that can bring anything in return.

We are 11.5 games behind the Angels for the 1 wild card slot so that's out.

We are 5 back of the second wild card (Chicago is now only 5.5 back), so we are in a group of 7 teams competing for 1 spot.

5 games isn't a ton in theory, but when you have to leap frog 6-7 teams it is far more daunting as the odds of everyone playing shitty at once so you can make up ground are not good.

Last year we were in a group of 3 teams competing for 2 spots. Those were much better odds than what we face now.

Honestly I don't even know what this team needs because it seems like outside of Kluber/Brantley we have a roster full of "just a guy" type players. We have some "good" players in Kipnis/Chis/Gomes, but there is no real impact guys that other teams worry about.

The guys I mentioned would be great role player/glue guys on a contending team, but we count on them to be the center pieces and it just isn't enough.

Standing pat last off-season while the rest of the league got better around you tells me that the front office either greatly over-values their own guys (thinking they needed no outside help) or the Dolan's are just so clueless with the purse strings that we are eternally doomed as long as they are here.

I detest the Dolan's and know their cheapness played a factor in the off-season, but I actually think that Shaponetti thinks much more highly of what the "core" is capable of than they really are.

They figured that we were in the playoffs last year, and that they would naturally improve for this year and that there was no need to bring in outside help. It was just backwards thinking from the get go, and it has thrown a wrench into what wasn't exactly a monster window to begin with.

The same kind of thinking occurred after the 2007 run...the team stood pat thinking that the core guys were going to get better.. Let's face it...Bourn is not on the field half the time, Kipnis has been mediocre and Swisher is not earning his $$$. Chiz was hot early but is not now, Santana sucked early but is startiing to come out of it.

HitsRus;1639971 wrote:If the Tribe is going to be a "buyer" berfore the trade deadline, they must be keeping it pretty close to theri vest because the Tribe is knowhere to be found when it comes to possible acquisitions. The Tribe does have willingness to move Masterson, but there will be no time to 'showcase' him before the trade deadline. There is some interest in Toronto for Druby Cabrerra , but what the BJs would be willing to part with, and would the Tribe want to help a team they are chasing for a wild card spot are drawbacks. There apparently is no worries about Jose Ramirez or Francisco Lindor manning the position in the event of a trade.

If the Tribe is going to be buyers, it won't be for a player who can make an immediate impact. They could dump Masty or Ass-Cab for prospects that can soon be major league ready who they can control for multiple years, IF they are ;ucky enough to get anything of value for them. That seems to be this front offices' M.O.

Francona's view on being a buyer. He's got a pretty realistic view of the situation. http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2014/07/29/indians-notes-francona-talks-trading-deadlline/

The bottom line is selling the future or anything for that matter to find someone to put the team over the top is silly. What will put the team in the playoffs is the performance of the current roster.

Obviously A. Cab isn't part of the future and it doesn't look like Masterson is as of now. I don't know what the Giants are offering but it can't be enough to turn this team into a pennant champion contender.

It's about the guys on the roster right now. It has to be or no trade deal will really matter.