Is there no 'golden boy' in the Tribe system?

rusty - you are definitely more optimistic than I am on this one.

I will say this, I am impressed with the "no quit" attitude of this team.

Also, I think the development of Tomlin AND Carrasco are huge for this team. I guess I could include Masterson as well.

Masterson has exceeded my expectations. He just needs some runs.

rusty - you are definitely more optimistic than I am on this one.

Everyone knows it is all about the pitching. The pitching has been unbelievable and will keep us in the race as long as injuries stay away.

At the same time i think it is a waste of time to think about acquiring a big time hitter. Not going to happen. The cost would be too high and no team is going to trade you anyone that good without one of White, Pomeranz, Kipinis, Chisenhall, Santana, Choo, Masterson, or Carrasco. Don't want to give any of those players up when you can just over pay a FA in the offseason.

The question now is how long they allow Carmona to stink up the rotation.

Jhonny and Victor are both in the top 10 in the AL batting race.

As long as we are being a bit critical, I will feel better when Hafner replaces Santana as the # 4 hitter, at least when Pronk strikes out, he swings the bat.

Carrasco had his run of shutouts, too He's looking like a good exchange for Lee.

Jhonny and Victor are both in the top 10 in the AL batting race.

If only Hafner had the requisite # of PA's ... my Bold Prediction still looks halfway decent.

Indians will close June in first place. Nice ride by a gritty team. What a far cry from the last few years!!! The infield looks very solid when you add LaPorta and Kipnis. OF IF we can sign Choo is decent but we need a corner OF in a bad way.

Starting pitching is coming together. Tomlin, Carasco and Masterson are young and solid. White and Pomeranz have a clear path to the 2012 rotation. MacAlister, Huff, Barnes and Gomez are a very good group of AAA starters and younger high upside guys in minors below them.

Bullpen is simply one of baseballs best and kids like Hagadone, Judy, Bryson and Putnum will make it even better.

I'd like to see us package R. Perez and MacAlister for a good OF bat. I'd keep Huff and Barnes because lefty's just develop later. Cut Durbin, Cabrera, Hannigan, Kears, Huermann. Bring up Kipnis, Cerrera, Putnum, Donald and trade guy.....

28 and counting: Josh Tomlin has made 28 appearances in his big-league career. They've all been starts, they've all been for the Indians and they've all lasted at least five innings.
No. 28, tying Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka, came Tuesday when Tomlin pitched seven innings against Arizona.
Acta appreciates that as a manager because he knows what to expect.
"He gave us seven innings on 88 pitches Tuesday," said Acta. "He gives us that almost every time. He gives up home runs, but that's because he throws strikes.
"It's beautiful when the umpire keeps raising his hand [for a first-pitch strike] all the time. It's just beautiful.
"He's just a little cowboy throwing 88 mph and mixing it up. You don't need to have that rocket arm. ... It's good to see that."
The cowboy reference is a nod toward Tomlin's off-season home in Whitehouse, Texas.
"This kid isn't afraid of anything," said Acta. "He made his debut against the Yankees last year when everyone was following Alex Rodriguez to see when he was going to hit 600 homers. He went seven innings for the win like it was nothing.
"Plus he's like Livan Hernandez and Pedro Martinez and some of those guys who can read what a hitter is going to do by the way they move their feet, how they check a swing. ... It's a sixth sense."

Sure, but can he hit?

The other hope is new hitting coach Bruce Fields can fix Sizemore.
Sizemore and Hafner were advocates for fired hitting coach Jon Nunnally. That's the scary part. Nunnally helped Hafner, but lately nothing has helped Sizemore.

Took a look at AL pitching leaders, to see where our guys fit in.

Tomlin is No. 8 in WHIP and would be an All Star but for the HR's. He's No. 31 of 53 in ERA.

Masterson's 2.98 is 11th which is proof of how little offense there is in baseball this year. His WHIP is terrible, 1.32 (ranks 36th) which is proof that he does a great job rescuing himself from trouble, but suggests that there's a thin margin between success and failure.

Carrasco for the season is right in the middle of the pack with his 3.58 ERA, No. 26. WHIP 1.16 is 14th.

Talbot has not pitched enough innings to be rated.

Only 2 of the 53 have ERA over 5, another sign of the return of quality pitching and/or the lack of quality hitting. You Know Who holds the No. 53 spot by a wide margin at 5.89. WHIP of 1.44 is No. 44, which evidences --- as we all know -- that he is very efficient at converting men on base into runs scored. Delete his 4-10 record and we're comfortably in first place.

The stats show we have none of the best starters, but 3 who are comfortable average or better. And then of course in the past month Carrasco is up there among the very best.

ChrisPerez54 Chris Perez

@hoynsie I read your tweets and it's like u want us to do bad and lose so you can write a column that bashes us. Why don't you stay neutral?
3 hours ago

About time someone goes after Hoynes, Ocker, and Ingraham.