We should wind up with 3 guys with 15 wins or more.. Last time was in 07 with 19 each for Sabathia and "Roberto Hernandez" and 15 for Paul Byrd

I have been checking back for updated Jose Ramirez stats to see how much he's climbed on AL SLG and OPS rankings. He was No. 12 in both before today's game. His numbers are now in:

OPS is now 916 and SLG but they're still not posting his slugging average which I can figure out myself if I have to:
At Bats now 513 Total Bases were 270 coming in and he added 14 so he's at 284. That puts his SLG at 554. I see that MLB.COM has done it for me and JRam's leaped to No. 5 behind Judge, Altuve, Smoak and Gallo, 16 points from the lead.
The OPS is also Now No. 5 behind Altuve, Judge, Smoak and Springer, but the two are far ahead of the field.

I would guess Altuve is odds on favorite for MVP? Judge fading. Jose could be runner up. Smoak's Blue Jays aren't going anywhere and his position as a 1B works against him. Can't see Ramirez any worse than third. Thank you JoeZ for discovering his greatness in Winter ball when he looked like no more than a utility infielder to the rest of the world.

Twins now 9 games back and whatever the magic number may be, the Indians are dead certain to win the Central.
Let's see the Yankees take care of Sale [which no team besides Cleveland been able to do]. Sox currently trail us by 3.
Houston won, so besides now being sentimental favorites are ahead of us by 3.

I hate sentimental favoritism

Updated on September 4, 2017 at 12:08 PM Posted on September 4, 2017 at 12:07 PM


phoynes@cleveland.com

CHICAGO -- Manager Terry Francona said center fielder Bradley Zimmer is in MLB's concussion protocol program. Zimmer left Saturday's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park after making a diving effort to catch Bryan Holaday's double in the fourth inning.

He has not played since then, but manager Terry Francona seemed confident Zimmer would return in a couple of days.

This is the deepest Indians team I can remember. Injuries do not make much difference in how the team performs.
Next man up.
No weaknesses.

Go Tribe!

Our big stars are the two enthusiastic young men who either man the left side of the infield, or up the middle, depending on where Jose is for the day. Those two are wonderful talents to build a team around. Outfield is mix and match but Tito knows how to do the mixing and the talents equal major league average at least. EE is a major talent with tons of homers and walks. Santana is a step behind him but solid. Catchers are outstanding defensively and have been hitting in the clutch as well as anyone for the past five weeks. if that leaves out Kipnis, he's a pretty talented weak link!
Starting pitching is led by the best in the league, followed up by an unsurpassed No. 2 with some good arms maybe four more men deep.
I am worried about the wear and tear on Allen and Shaw; and hope they get light loads in September. Miller's return in top form will seal the pen as Grade A, too. And the bullpen depth with Goody, Olson, Otero, perhaps Breslow is solid, too.
Which means: you're right, solid in all phases of the game: speed, power, on-base ability, defense, starting pitching, bullpen and the best manager in the game.
Which means: they're a cinch for the playoffs where anything can happen, and they're solid enough to win it all, if maybe this time the breaks go our way for a change at the end.

Our friends in New York gave us some more breathing space over the Red Sox and Kluber a wider advantage over Sale.

3 1/2 ahead of Boston. 3 behind Houston. Twins aren't relevant any longer.

Kluber ERA 2.56 Sale 2.85
Kluber WHIP 0.90 Sale 0.94
Kluber Avg against .194 Sale .201
Sale 15 wins Kluber 14 wins
K/IP Sale 1.42 Kluber 1.32
Win Pct Kluber 778 Sale 682
K/BB Sale 7.30 Liber 6.73

Conclusion: they're both really good pitchers.
But Kershaw beats them both:
ERA 1.95 WHIP 0.86 Avg vs. .193
of course he has the advantage of pitching to only 8 hitters in a 9 man lineup most starts

And the Sox are helping us again tonight, as Porcello laid another egg.
5.1 innings, 10 hits, 7 runs
Jays lead 7-2, bottom of 6th.

Salazar returns tonight. Not sure if he's now our No. 3 or No. 4 starter; and Nos. 5 6 and 7 have done pretty well too lately.

Heard he's only pitching a couple innings.

So this is going to be a bullpen committee game for the most part. And with rosters stuffed with relievers now (with things wrapped up) it's logical.

Well, he is scheduled to throw like 50 or 55 pitches is what I heard.

Who knows which Salazar will show up so who knows how many innings that will be. Could be 2 could be 4.

So I guess this is his alternative to a minor league rehab game, since only Lynchburg and Mahoning Valley are still at work.

Interested in seeing whether Naquin gets a cup of coffee call up now that the Clippers season is over. Especially with Zimmer out with concussion.

If he doesn't get called up now we know there is something else going on behind the scenes we're not privy to yet.

Reranking by espn of the 30 major league teams I read yesterday shows that the Dodgers remain No. 1 but no longer get unanimous support from their panel of experts; Indians rated 2nd with the only non-Dodger votes for Best in Baseball.