I will echo those compliments. Who would have guessed this little 5-9 180 pound "utility infielder" would be our cleanup hitter, home run basher and great clutch player.

He and Lindor make a marvelous pair of "children" to lead this team for many years.

I was very impressed with Clevinger today: I don't think he's ever come into a game as reliever with men on base; he got out of that; he survived a jam and a controversy about a balk the next inning.

Someday he will replace Tomlin in the rotation. He has far better arsenal of pitches and seems to know how to use them. Josh deserves a bit more rope I guess although I;ve never been a fan, he deserves it for the good work he's done, and we're not in a life and death race at present. We know he will not be a starter in the playoffs.

I just want to see Salazar get back in gear. If not Clevinger will have to step into the playoff rotation.

Lou / Civ,

No secret that Jose rapidly became one of my favorite Indian ballplayers when I watched him cruise through winter ball as a 19 and 20 year old.

In 2013, he was selected as a "reinforcement" player for two different teams during the Dominican playoffs in which he ended up representing the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean World Series in Mexico.

Youngest Player in the Dominican Playoffs as well as the Caribbean World Series!

He was selected to the series all-star team as a second baseman.

He homered in game 10 which helped the Dominican to reach the finals.

The final game against Mexico went 18 innings. As he had been doing in the previous games, he was leading off again in the championship game. He had 9 official trips to the plate (2-7 with a pair of walks)

All Around nice game for Jose;

1st inning out leading off with a drag bunt
3rd inning grounded out batting in Abraham Almonte who was on third
6th inning flied out to left
8th inning flied out to left
10th inning singled advancing go ahead run to 2nd with no outs. DR did not score
12th inning singled advanced to second on a walk to Hanley Ramirez with one out but was stranded
14th inning walked leading off the inning advanced to second on a walk with no outs and forced out at third by Hanley Ramirez
17th inning walked intentionally with a runner on second and 2 out

Started at 2nd base and had 4 assists no errors
Switch to shortstop in the 8th and had 4 more assists and no errors
Switched to 2nd in the 18th no assists no errors

Overall For The Series Averaged .297

All-Star team
Name Position
Francisco Peña (DOM) Catcher
Donell Linares (DOM) First baseman
José Ramírez (DOM) Second baseman
Mario Lisson (VEN) Third baseman
Miguel Tejada (DOM) Shortstop
Marlon Byrd (MEX) Outfielder
Doug Clark (MEX) Outfielder
Ricardo Nanita (DOM) Outfielder
Bárbaro Cañizares (MEX) Designated hitter
Luis Mendoza (MEX) Right-handed starting pitcher
Efraim Nieves (PUR) Left-handed starting pitcher
David Reyes (MEX) Relief pitcher
Saúl Rivera (VEN) Closer
Awards
Luis Mendoza (MEX) Most Valuable Player
Audo Vicente (DOM) Manager

I guess once Shapiro left the Indians wised up and decided they needed Ramirez!

Jose, and a couple of other guys having career years, must have a supply of clean piss.

Knuckleheads Almonte and Byrd couldn't pass the piss test but you don't go from a guy that had trouble hitting the ball over the infielder's heads a year ago to a guy with over 30 doubles who's hitting HRs and rockets off the wall.

Maybe he ain't on the juice, but I find it hard to believe.

it has been noted many places that homeruns are up dramatically all across the majors this year. Besides little Jose, Kipnis long balls have shot way up, Santana and Napoli are far over last year totals, it's everywhere. Something's up.

There are many ways to cheat. In my opinion, Grilli was using hair oil on the ball. Everytime a new ball was put into play he seemed to dose it pretty good.

Man there is little drama when Miller comes in. 3 quick easy outs.

Miller struck out the side on 13 pitches. 11 were strikes.

The 'something's up" could very well be more tightly wound/lively ball aiding home runs all over.

Miller is freakishly amazing. What better toy for Tito at the trade deadline than that?

Wow

Love a 1-0 game. Carrasco was in fine form. Miller was terrific. No one hates Santana this year, do they?

Hillbilly wrote:Man there is little drama when Miller comes in. 3 quick easy outs.

Make him our closer!

My guess is Francona will gradually begin using him more in the 9th and Cody more in the 8th, but not make a sharp break away from Allen

I thought at the time they acquired Miller they said they were going to use them as the game dictated and that nobody was officially the closer? Maybe I missed something since then? I know Allen told Tito at the time he would pitch whenever. No ego, whatever is best for team.

I just kind of assumed if there were a game where there was some tough righties that came up in the 8th that they would use Allen then and Miller in 9th, and vice versa.

The blown save Allen had against the ChiSox, Eaton is a lefty hitter. Under normal circumstances Tito would have brought in Miller in that spot. Bases loaded, Allen struggling, lefty batting. But Miller had pitched 2 innings day before and was unavailable that game.

I dunno, let's see how it shakes out. I hope they use them late in games as the opposing lineup dictates. I know the players aren't held up on labels like "closer". And tip of the cap to Allen for that.