I really don't have anything against Mariano winning the MVP either. If anyone deserves to bow out gracefully, with class and style, Rivera would be the man.

Chen Lee and Chun Chen were my breakout pitcher and breakout position player back in 2011. It's possible that Chun Chen may get a September call.

I don't have anything against Rivera, but I'm glad he's going to be history.

This was one team that really brought the best out of Rivera. I'm glad he'll be history also. I'll bet there are a lot of teams out there that will think so also.

It would be nice to have had a battery of Chun Chen and Chen Lee but the former has become a 1st baseman and is hitting less than 250 and power is way down since he reached AA. I don't think he will be getting to Cleveland. Aguillar has more of a chance to be a 1st base option, but he's a year behind. Keep an eye on 19 year old Nellie Rodriguez who's hitting very well at Mahoning Valley

Small crowd today...

Wow, is that the Ohio flag or the Cuba flag?

I was part of some very small crowds there, but that is ridiculous.

For years and years attendance was abysmal. It's a wonder the team wasn't moved.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/cleiatte.shtml

I saw that line on Rodriguez yesterday. Fella worth keeping an eye on. We are really weak, dismally so, when in comes to the corners, infield and outfield.

The glad-hander had the hat trick in the K department and dropped a throw.

Guess he had a good time over the AS break.

husker wrote:I don't have anything against Rivera, but I'm glad he's going to be history.

Mariano Rivera is, and was, the real deal as a baseball player.

I''ll applaud his entrance into Cooperstown. Even though he is and was a Yankee.

Disappointing loss last night. Chiz and Cabrera contributed to the Twins runs that tied the game, and ruined an excellent start by Kazmir. Plus, the Tigers lost, so we could have moved to only .5 games back.

In a meeting with pitching coach Mickey Callaway before Mauer came to bat, Smith was told to pitch around Mauer.

"But when I got ahead of him 1-2, I changed my approach," said Smith. "I went for the punch out. I wanted to put a slider down and in, but I left it middle in."

Mauer was 0-for-1 against Smith coming into the at-bat. Francona said he gave no thought to intentionally walking Mauer.

"The question I have is why would you walk Mauer?" said Francona. "Then you've got first and third and the guy on third can fly. So how can you defend that? They can do a lot of things.

"If you hold Mauer at first, you've got a hole open on the right side. I just think you're asking for trouble there."

After Mauer's single, Justin Morneau followed with a double, but Smith got out of the inning.

Team needs to start hitting. Kluber pitching great again.

Jason Kipnis crushes a 2-run HR to LF to give Tribe 2-0 lead in 6th