Footwedge;1722410 wrote:Yeah...where are all the laughing clowns now when I thought we should trade Kipnis for a solid reliever? Shaw was horrible in September, horrible in March and down right pitiful in April.

At first I wanted to be mad at Shaw...but then I realized, if the offense wasn't shit, he wouldn't even have been out there. They are ranked 26th in runs scored and averaging 3.2 runs per game. The pitching only looks bad because they have the almost impossible task of having to hold the other team to 1 or 2 runs per game to win. The pitching staff ranks from the middle to the top of the league depending on the stat.

And KC and Detroit are both in the top 5 in runs scored, double what the Tribe scores.

This team had trouble scoring runs on a consistent basis (great at occasional outbursts) last season, it is not hard to see how having brought back essentially the same team that they are struggling again this year.

This team keeps getting crippled by poor management decisions on the few times they spend money. It happened with Hafner, it has now happened with Brohio/Bourn. Our big ticket items are continually albatrosses that handcuff this teams ability to improve beyond the margins. Shaponettie does not understand how to effectively use FA, and it is cutting the team off at the knees.

MLB is just swimming in money and the Dolans are still shopping at Big Lots at the time when we should be making a push because with a difference maker or 2 in the line-up with the pitching we have we could be real contenders.

They need to bring Lindor up for a spark at this point even though we are 2 weeks into the season, but the "team control" mantra that runs this organization like an iron fist won't allow it.

I just hope someone realizes mid summer when there are 10,000 people at the newly renovated park on a night summer night/weekend day that it is not the fans fault no one is coming to the games, and they brought it on themselves by trotting this shit sandwich out there on a yearly basis when we are close and they could be doing something about it.

On pace to win 48. :RpS_sneaky:

Looks like Shaw has been demoted, which is nice.

Salazar also looked sharp. From what I was able to watch, he seemed to mix in a 2-seamer and change-up a lot more than before. Helps he threw so many strikes, as well.

Even Hagadone looked good. Perez and Ramirez were leading the way offensively.

Perez is a solid back-up. Glad we have him.

I still wish Ramirez was in the 2-hole. Just makes things happen when he reaches base (and yes, he has sucked to start the year, but he hit .300 last year after 2nd call-up).

Not sure who Tito has pegged as the 8th inning man going forward, but not using Shaw today probably means it isnt him.

Laley23;1722472 wrote:Looks like Shaw has been demoted, which is nice.

Salazar also looked sharp. From what I was able to watch, he seemed to mix in a 2-seamer and change-up a lot more than before. Helps he threw so many strikes, as well.

Could he have just been sent down to make room for Salazar?. They needed this win today, but still only scored 4 runs.

Glory Days;1722483 wrote:Could he have just been sent down to make room for Salazar?. They needed this win today, but still only scored 4 runs.

I mean, he could have been...but he wasnt. Not sure if you are asking if he was or not, but he was not the player sent down. Austin Adams was the player sent to Columbus.

Let's see if House can cut down that ERA a little bit today.

Go Tribe!

Footwedge;1722416 wrote:This team is hitting 220. So far, I'm very wrong on the team's ability to score runs. And your buddy Kipnis is one of the reasons why this team is so bad right now. Sure would like to have one of your "dime a dozen" relief pitchers for the 8th inning.

Pretty early to be so down on the team... Wait till 40-50 games before you judge it.

HitsRus;1722541 wrote:Pretty early to be so down on the team... Wait till 40-50 games before you judge it.

Are you inferring small sample size? LOL. Not gonna bring up your Manziel comments regarding small sample size. Last year the tribe's small sample size boxed them into a hole early in the season and they came up a game or 2 short.

I still think the team will rally because they have a great starting 5. But they need relief help and they need to start hitting lefties every once in awhile. I would peddle Kipnis ASAP before his trade value becomes worthless. The future DP combo is Ramirez and Lindor. Both incredibly young, can play better defense than Kipnis, and both switch hit, limiting the left handed pitching Achilles heal.

I'd be just fine with cutting TJ House anytime now.

House has given up 4 earned runs in four innings to slash his ERA down to 16.88.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12697672/the-impact-mlb-soaring-payrolls

The Dolan's have no business owning an MLB team right now.

The sport is just swimming in money, and there is exactly zero reason we should $20-30 million dollars behind in payroll to similar small/mid market teams like Cincy, Milwaukee, KC and Minnesota.

To know that the Dolan's keep short changing the fans of this city to put the money in their grubby pockets disgusts me. The money they insist of putting in their pocket instead of spending could buy at least 1-2 more bats that would make this team infinitely more watchable.

I knew they were cheap, but this ESPN article with opening day payrolls is downright alarming about just how stingy they really are.

If there are any Dolan Family apologists left this should hopefully put them on notice as they are a pox on the city of Cleveland.

Footwedge;1722547 wrote:Are you inferring small sample size? LOL. Not gonna bring up your Manziel comments regarding small sample size. Last year the tribe's small sample size boxed them into a hole early in the season and they came up a game or 2 short.

I still think the team will rally because they have a great starting 5. But they need relief help and they need to start hitting lefties every once in awhile. I would peddle Kipnis ASAP before his trade value becomes worthless. The future DP combo is Ramirez and Lindor. Both incredibly young, can play better defense than Kipnis, and both switch hit, limiting the left handed pitching Achilles heal.

Inferring???? LOL....there's probably not a team in MLB that won't go thru a 4-7 stretch in any given season and everything is magnified especially in the first 3 weeks. No GM panics and pulls the plug on his team after 11 games or makes major adjustments based on the first 11 games of the season. That's not inference, that's a fact. The team has been hard hit by injuries early, but baseball is a marathon, and the Tribe won't be the only ones over the course of the season.

I think it's quite probable for the rotation to get a tweak, by sending House down, and keeping Salazar on varsity, based on House's exceptionally poor two starts. But that is hardly major adjustments.
As for Kipnis, I wouldn't be surprised to see him traded at some point whether he hits good or bad....but what we get in return will vary on his performance. He's hitting .244...if he goes 2 for 3 his next game, he's hitting .270. Kip is pretty young himself, and was an All Star....I don't think his value will go to zero, even if he continues to hit .244.

Geezus Iggy...maybe you should read the whole article bnefore jumping the Dolan's shit.

"What that does to Hal Steinbrenner," Zimbalist says, "is to say: 'You'd better stop playing that game your father played. You've got to be more frugal.' If you're the Yankees, you've learned that you don't want to get involved in another 10-year deal for A-Rod, or an eight-year deal for Mark Teixeira, or a seven-year deal for CC Sabathia. ... The teams with high payrolls, that are paying players on those long-term contracts, end up in trouble -- because they end up paying 40-year-olds $25 million."

First off, consider this: Of the six teams that still have payrolls under $90 million, four of them -- the Pirates, Indians, A's and Rays -- have played in the postseason just in the past two years. But meanwhile, at the other end of the scale ...
Of the nine teams with the highest payrolls last year, five missed the playoffs. Three of them finished last. And of the 12 teams with the biggest payrolls, only two (the Giants and Nationals) even won a postseason game. Just one (guess who) won a series

Consider also that the Tribe has locked up it's best players thru 2017 and beyond.

HitsRus;1722589 wrote:Geezus Iggy...maybe you should read the whole article bnefore jumping the Dolan's shit.

Consider also that the Tribe has locked up it's best players thru 2017 and beyond.

I know its probably just me, but calling the 1 game wild card play in game the postseason is a bit of a stretch.

HitsRus;1722589 wrote:Geezus Iggy...maybe you should read the whole article bnefore jumping the Dolan's shit..

I read the whole article, and don't see what difference it makes, as none of those teams have made a WS in the past 2 years.

This team is close right now, and spending an extra $20 million to get to the mid market average would give us the extra bats we need to get beyond the play in game.

Locking up this core group is nothing to get excited about. Last time we did that was the organization stagnated because they fell back on the "core group is locked up" mentality as the league passed us by.

Money doesn't equal winning, but when you are as close as the Tribe has theoretically been for a few years with good pitching and a HOF manager it could be the difference between sitting home and playing in October.

You of all people should know that, but the Dolan's seem to have bamboozled you. That or you've been listening to too much of Baghdad Bobby D over the past few years.

Either way, to have had such a poor offense last season and done little to nothing to improve it this year is malpractice by Shaponetti, especially when the rest of the division (mid market teams especially) is spending money and passing you by.

Glory Days;1722592 wrote:I know its probably just me, but calling the 1 game wild card play in game the postseason is a bit of a stretch.

Many reps to you.

IggyPride00;1722558 wrote:I'd be just fine with cutting TJ House anytime now.

If we are going to have someone throwing beach balls to the other team, lets at least have her do it.

IggyPride00;1722594 wrote:I read the whole article, and don't see what difference it makes, as none of those teams have made a WS in the past 2 years.

This team is close right now, and spending an extra $20 million to get to the mid market average would give us the extra bats we need to get beyond the play in game.

Locking up this core group is nothing to get excited about. Last time we did that was the organization stagnated because they fell back on the "core group is locked up" mentality as the league passed us by.

Money doesn't equal winning, but when you are as close as the Tribe has theoretically been for a few years with good pitching and a HOF manager it could be the difference between sitting home and playing in October.

You of all people should know that, but the Dolan's seem to have bamboozled you. That or you've been listening to too much of Baghdad Bobby D over the past few years.

Either way, to have had such a poor offense last season and done little to nothing to improve it this year is malpractice by Shaponetti, especially when the rest of the division (mid market teams especially) is spending money and passing you by.

Wait, wait,wait....let me see if I got this straight.....

The Tribe was able to obtain the services of a HOF manager because the owner is a tightwad, and the team President and General Manager are shitty.
In fact, they are so bad that they locked up a bunch of players to long term, team friendly contracts...these "core players" who are "nothing to get excited about" were key to the team having one of the best records in MLB in the past two years. Is that what you are selling here, Skippy?

HitsRus;1722609 wrote:Wait, wait,wait....let me see if I got this straight.....

The Tribe was able to obtain the services of a HOF manager because the owner is a tightwad, and the team President and General Manager are shitty.
In fact, they are so bad that they locked up a bunch of players to long term, team friendly contracts...these "core players" who are "nothing to get excited about" were key to the team having one of the best records in MLB in the past two years. Is that what you are selling here, Skippy?

Tito was damaged goods at the time because the league thought he had a booze problem, we lucked into him.

You can defend Shaponetti till the cows come home but there is no excuse for essentially standing pat last off-season when we were "close".

You might be happy with continual failure and 1st round exits, but at some point you have to push your chips to the center and make a move and really go all in.

That is all in trying to win, not pushing all the money in the Dolan's pockets.

You really don't think an extra $25 million wouldn't make a world of difference with this team? If Milwaukee, Minnesota and KC can afford those kinds of payrolls so can the Dolans.

We were told for years upon years of dumping our best players that they would spend when we were close to winning, well it looks like that was one enormous lie. It is part of the reason the Dolan's are often lucky to get 10,000 at the ball park even though the team is winning. The fan base knows they are a bunch of shysters.

even though the team is winning.

The team is winning, it's best players locked up for years, HOF manager.

sounds pretty good to me.....maybe the Browns oughta try that formula.