^^^^well here's the problem, we bitch and moan about cheap Daddy Dolan not spending on free agents, and then when he does and they don't pan out, we bitch and moan because they're hamstrung with their contracts.

HitsRus;1685299 wrote:^^^^well here's the problem, we bitch and moan about cheap Daddy Dolan not spending on free agents, and then when he does and they don't pan out, we bitch and moan because they're hamstrung with their contracts.

Most of the free agents we get have some type of baggage that they come with. (injury and/or age are the most common)

Tigers trade Suarez and Crawford for Alfredo Simon (Reds)

HitsRus;1685299 wrote:^^^^well here's the problem, we bitch and moan about cheap Daddy Dolan not spending on free agents, and then when he does and they don't pan out, we bitch and moan because they're hamstrung with their contracts.

I was being diplomatic. I think they could easily add $15 million from where the payroll is at now and have it barely cut into the Dolan family fun fund.

Some how all of major league baseball is awash in money other than Cleveland. I have just given up complaining about the payroll because it does no good. In true Cleveland fashion we had to get stuck with the owner who bought the team as a means of supporting himself financially as opposed to using it like a playtoy like every other millionaire owner that buys a professional sports franchise.

IggyPride00;1685298 wrote:Too bad Swisher and Bourn are eating up so much payroll.

I see the Padres today picked up Kemp for a reasonable price, and got the Dodgers to kick in enough money that he is ostensibly a 5/75 guy for the Padres now financially.

That is the kind of deal the Tribe should have been looking to make but can't because of Brohio and Bourn.

The fact that the Dodgers are willing to pay Matt Kemp 32 million dollars to play AGAINST them in division....tells me all I need to know about the state of Matt Kemp's game. He is a shell of his former self.

He is a shell of his former self.

They had outfield surplus and he was the only tradeable piece do to bad contracts. There was more to it than thinking he was finished.

Besides. his "shell of his former self" would have immediately been the second best hitter on this team. He just turned 30, and in today's market $15 million a year for a players 30-34 seasons for a guy at Kemp's level is tough to come by.

TBone14;1685339 wrote:He is a shell of his former self.

I like it when people say things that don't leave any doubt they're talking out of their ass.

Over the second half of last year but really starting towards the end of June, Kemp was the 2nd best hitter in baseball by WRC+. He trailed only Buster Posey.

In no way, shape, or form, does that make him a shell.


http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2014&month=31&season1=2014&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,d

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=5631&position=OF&season=2014

IggyPride00;1685346 wrote:They had outfield surplus and he was the only tradeable piece do to bad contracts. There was more to it than thinking he was finished.

Besides. his "shell of his former self" would have immediately been the second best hitter on this team. He just turned 30, and in today's market $15 million a year for a players 30-34 seasons for a guy at Kemp's level is tough to come by.

I looked his numbers up.

I stand corrected. He had a much better season last year than I thought. He hit 25 HR and knocked in 80 something while hitting .270.

I was thinking of 2013 where he hit 6 HR and had 33 RBI.

I was thinking of 2013

lhslep134;1685353 wrote:I like it when people say things that don't leave any doubt they're talking out of their ass.

Over the second half of last year but really starting towards the end of June, Kemp was the 2nd best hitter in baseball by WRC+. He trailed only Buster Posey.

In no way, shape, or form, does that make him a shell.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2014&month=31&season1=2014&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,d

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=5631&position=OF&season=2014

See my post above. You guys are right. I thought he was terrible last season. He wasn't...pretty good in fact. He had a down year in 2013. He played about half the year and was on pace for about 12 home runs.

Yeah Kemp was terrible when he had those multiple injuries.

When healthy though, he is damn good.

The question becomes, is the risk of injury high enough to stay away from?

In true Cleveland fashion we had to get stuck with the owner who bought the team as a means of supporting himself financially as opposed to using it like a playtoy like every other millionaire owner that buys a professional sports franchise.

I'm sure there are other owners who use their clubs as "play toys", but there is nothing unreasonable about expecting the team to operate within its revenue stream and stand alone. Dolan does not use the Indians to "support himself financially"...but he does expect the team to support itself. In his defense, his organization has put a contender and a winning team on the field for 2 years now... and the fans have not supported the team in numbers appropriate for their record. Having less than 10,000 fans in the seats is pretty pathetic.....and long gone are the days when you can blame the economic downturn for poor attendance. The Indians have kept ticket prices stable and have brought down the cost of concessions at the games. The latest stadium renovations are cutting edge. If fans don't show up, it is no longer on the owner.

Tribe signs ex ChiSox pitcher Gavin Floyd to a one year deal. Floyd is coming off Tommy John in 2012...missed 2013, and had nine starts (2-2.... 2.63 ERA)with the Braves last year.

Deal is for $4 million guaranteed with another possible $6 million of incentives.

No mention of an option, but full terms of the deal have not been disclosed yet.

I hope they got an option year...I hate these 1 year deals where they rehab a guy and then they leave.

Chris Antonetti talked of the preliminary starting rotation today...and pencilled Floyd in the 3rd spot.

Here's how Chris sees it shaping up.....
#1 Kluber
#2 Carrasco
#3 Floyd
#4 Bauer
#5 Battle between Salazar, House, McCallister, Tomlin

HitsRus;1686830 wrote:Chris Antonetti talked of the preliminary starting rotation today...and pencilled Floyd in the 3rd spot.

Here's how Chris sees it shaping up.....
#1 Kluber
#2 Carrasco
#3 Floyd
#4 Bauer
#5 Battle between Salazar, House, McCallister, Tomlin

Interesting... Carrasco started soo bad last year. Wonder how he rebounds after a good ending.

iclfan2;1687036 wrote:Interesting... Carrasco started soo bad last year. Wonder how he rebounds after a good ending.

Heard Francona talking about Carrasco and he said Carrasco's bullpen stint did him a world of good. Before, he'd see starts as more of a "big picture" type of thing where now, after having to work shorter stints, he has a more compartmentalized "one inning at a time" approach. He used to put all of the weight on his shoulders thinking "I gotta go 7 innings" where now, after seeing the support he has at the back end, he realizes the pen has his back and he can pitch one inning at a time.

BR1986FB;1687040 wrote:Heard Francona talking about Carrasco and he said Carrasco's bullpen stint did him a world of good. Before, he'd see starts as more of a "big picture" type of thing where now, after having to work shorter stints, he has a more compartmentalized "one inning at a time" approach. He used to put all of the weight on his shoulders thinking "I gotta go 7 innings" where now, after seeing the support he has at the back end, he realizes the pen has his back and he can pitch one inning at a time.

Yeah I read similar reports, really encouraging stuff to hear.

^^^^bullpen coach, Kevin Cash.....now the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays

I do find it interesting that Carrasco moves to the front of the pack based on a few very good months....and somewhat surprised that Bauer has a lock on a spot, while Salazar is back in the pack fighting for the #5 spot.

Zac McCallister is out of options so he'll be making the club one way or another unless the Tribe sees fit to use him for trade bait.

Not excited about Gavin Floyd and not sold on him as the #3. Again, worth a shot as a flier. Maybe we can get a Kazmir type season out of him but he hasn't posted an ERA under 4 since 2008.

I'm fine with giving him a shot but he will probably have a short hook...especially with Bauer, Salazar, House, Tolmin and McAllister fighting for two spots.

Wouldn't have hated Michael Morse at $4M for 2 years. Oh well.

Apparently, no option attained.

HitsRus;1687084 wrote:^^^^bullpen coach, Kevin Cash.....now the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays

I do find it interesting that Carrasco moves to the front of the pack based on a few very good months....and somewhat surprised that Bauer has a lock on a spot, while Salazar is back in the pack fighting for the #5 spot.

Zac McCallister is out of options so he'll be making the club one way or another unless the Tribe sees fit to use him for trade bait.

Have heard/read that the Tribe wasn't thrilled with how Salazar showed up to camp last year and wasn't ready to go for OD, so they likely don't want him to feel comfortable that he has a spot locked down and have the same problem as last year

Progressive field renovations in full swing(pun intended)... Sweet.
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/progressive-field/

HitsRus;1687982 wrote:Progressive field renovations in full swing(pun intended)... Sweet.
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/progressive-field/

Given the favorable weather we've had, they may be a bit ahead of schedule

Yeah , but the worst of winter is ahead ....

not that I will be back at The Jake any time soon to see a game, but it sorta disappoints me that they are building more off the field stuff. maybe I am in the minority, when I come to the ballpark, its to watch the game. not to hang out in a "social area". its like they are throwing in the towel because they know no one will come to the games to watch the team.