Re: GameTime!™

12651
The Indians (89-70) have now won 12 of 14 to improve to 18-6 in September. Cleveland also has posted a 21-win improvement from a season ago, marking the second-largest year-to-year jump in victories in franchise history. Excluding strike-shortened seasons, the club record is a 24-win jump from 1985 to '86.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

12656
I kinda agree with Civ. It's pretty late to develop a closer and all that does is mess up the continuity we currently have throughout the bullpen. I would gamble and maintain the status quo.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

12659
Perez would have to be a throw in or part of a package.

Known clubhouse lawyer and hot head since St Louis dumped him. Now he is known as a dope head and has almost single handed destroyed the Indians season. Remember the key "Detroit" 2 home runs in the 9th ?

Teams will pick him up on the waiver line but I do not think they will trade for him.

Re: GameTime!™

12660
MINNEAPOLIS --

The last thing the Indians need right now is controversy. Cleveland closer Chris Perez knows this as much as anyone inside the clubhouse, considering what is at stake and the fact that only three games remain guaranteed on the schedule.

In the aftermath of Thursday's 6-5 victory over the Twins -- a win nearly derailed by a disastrous ninth inning from Perez -- the embattled closer stopped by the office of manager Terry Francona. With one of the American League's two Wild Cards within reach for Cleveland, Francona might be forced to make a change with the closer's role.

Perez let his manager know ahead of time that he understands.


"You never make decisions five minutes after a game," Francona said. "He popped his head in here after the game and was actually really good about it. He was like, 'Hey, I don't want to cost us games, because I'm not locating.' We'll figure it out."

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"We're not a team made of one person," Francona said. "We'll figure it out."

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti is in Minnesota with the team, so he will undoubtedly meet with Francona to consider their options for the ninth inning. Cleveland's setup men include Smith and Allen, and its hottest hand is Shaw. There is also an intriguing option in sinkerballer Justin Masterson, who is the team's No. 1 starter but is currently filling a relief role in his comeback from an oblique injury.

With fans still exiting the ballpark, Francona was not about to announce any decisions.

"We need to settle down and kind of think it through," he said. "Five or 10 minutes after the game is not the time."
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller