Sorry guys, just noticed I posted this in wrong folder. Meant to put it in Minor Matters. I have to get back in the swing of things here.

5 All Stars and a winning pct of about 550, due to large gaps in other parts of the team: CF and RF and the bullpen and 2B. It's a team full of Grade A, Grade B and Grade F players. We need a bunch more "major league average" players like Casey Blake epitomized to be championship contenders. I thought that might be the level Kipnis settled in at, but he hasn't been able to reach that high. Gomes might be the only steady C+ on the team.

I'd put Naquin at that level though and with the potential to go higher.

Our record would be soooo much better with even a league average bullpen - we all know that.

This will get addressed but it's frustrating in the meantime. I get the feeling I am watching the Cavs at times - the regular season = exhibition season this year.

Naquin started out very solidly this year, but since his return from the DL he has plummeted offensively. He has talent and I'm not quite qiving up on him, but his lack of walks really hurts him. Tito doesn't have a track record of being a Naquin fan so I think he's probably getting his last chance right now.

March-May 75-9-25-10 3 doubles 2 homers 3 walks 21 strikeouts 333/359/427
June-July 60-6-10-5 2 doubles 2 walks 15 strikeouts 167/194/200

Indians recalled RHP Adam Plutko from Triple-A Columbus.

He'll replace the injured Josh Tomlin (hamstring) on the active roster. Plutko holds a 4.66 ERA and 25/9 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 innings with the Indians this season. He's primarily been used as a starter, but he'll pitch in relief this time around.

Sorry if Tomlin is injured but him being the designated mop up man might have cost us last nights game.

Like Seagull says...….mystery injuries.

Tom Withers @twithersAP
Indians OF Lonnie Chisenhall to miss at least 2 months with calf strain.


Ryan Lewis @RyanLewisABJ
28 minutes ago
Lonnie Chisenhall's second opinion confirmed a grade 3 strain in his calf. He's expected to miss 8-to-10 weeks.

Let's see, 10 weeks takes us to the last week of the regular season. And then he won't have any time to get ready for the playoffs. And he's not under contract beyond this year. So, we can conclude that we have seen the last of Lonnie in a Cleveland uniform.

Maybe the last of Tomlin also. Those mystery injuries could last for a long time.

I suggest they wait a few weeks before they get a second opinion on Josh. Then he can go out on a minor league rehab assignment which I think can up to 30 days and that could get us to the end of August when the rosters open up so we can add him back but never have to use him. Looked it up: yes 30 days.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network hears that the Orioles are willing to trade Manny Machado to the Yankees if pitching prospect Justus Sheffield is part of the return.

Sheffield entered the 2018 season as a consensus top-50 prospect in all of baseball and he has registered excellent numbers this year between Double-A and Triple-A, so the Yankees probably aren't going to give him up for a rental -- even a rental of Machado's stature. But this report is at least notable for the fact that the O's are willing to engage the Yankees in trade negotiations.

Other teams involved in the Machado sweepstakes include the Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Braves, Cubs, and Red Sox.

Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
4 hours ago
Source: In Manny Machado trade talks, #Orioles have asked that #Indians include one of the organization’s top young pitchers, Triston McKenzie or Shane Bieber, who has a 3.47 ERA in six @MLB starts and is currently on the 25-man roster. @MLBNetwork


Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
3 hours ago
While #Indians have discussed Manny Machado with #Orioles, their primary focus is addressing the bullpen. #Marlins among their potential trading partners on relievers. @MLBNetwork @MLB

Tyler Olsen has been activated. To make room they released Mark Rzysi ... Rzinzk .... Scrabble.

If I were the Orioles I would be very happy to get Bieber or Sheffield or McKenzie. But I see no logic for trading any of them.

Let's hope they can score 19 over the next 4 nights