By the way, I may be drinking the rose colored kool aid, but I still think Melky does the job in RF.

Ok, the guy hit .285 - 17 - 85 with standard numbers last season in 620 at bats (not a typo). On base % was .324 and slugging .423. Only 74 strikeouts in all those at bats!

Very simple explanation so far this year - no spring training. He was one of those veteran players who held out foolishly (in retrospect) - it was rampant this winter!

He is only 33 years old - not ancient - and guys like him don't forget how to hit. He needed the at bats he missed earlier - and got them in AAA.

In July he's now making up for lost time - tearing it up in July at .400

Lastly the guy is a switch hitter. Get this:

As a right handed batter vs lefties he has hit .278 with a .740 OPS in freaking 1760 at bats

As a left handed batter vs. righties he has hit .289 with a ..757 OPS in freaking 4578 at bats!!

This guy is a hitter, period. Both sides. Great pickup.

I think it is time to give Brantley some time off. His swing seems to be missing its pop, no line drive shots, just dribblers. His average has slid from a solid .316 to under .300. His defense seems a bit suspect in Left. I would try to sit him for 3 or 4 games to see if that changes

FYI, Mercado is immediately rated No. 14 Indians prospect. Capel is meanwhile immediately rated Cards No. 10 prospect.

The other kid projects well,too, but he's far far from the majors.

Torres was traded from the Indians to the Cardinals on Tuesday along with Conner Capel in exchange for Oscar Mercado.
A 6-foot-4, 18-year-old outfielder with plus raw power, Torres was hitting .273/.351/.424 with four home runs and three steals in 111 plate appearances in the AZL prior to the trade. His 60.5 percent pull rate hints at that batting average not being sustainable in the upper levels, but he has plenty of time to refine his approach. If he maxes out, he could be a prototypical right fielder

[That said, we have a couple other kids really banging the ball around in Arizona who also are outfielders]

Uncle Dennis wrote:I think it is time to give Brantley some time off. His swing seems to be missing its pop, no line drive shots, just dribblers. His average has slid from a solid .316 to under .300. His defense seems a bit suspect in Left. I would try to sit him for 3 or 4 games to see if that changes

Yes, agree! Our lack of (quality) depth in the outfield has likely led to using him way more then they had hoped for.

Everyone goes through ups and downs, even Brantley, but I do agree he could use more days off.

TFIR wrote:

Uncle Dennis wrote:I think it is time to give Brantley some time off. His swing seems to be missing its pop, no line drive shots, just dribblers. His average has slid from a solid .316 to under .300. His defense seems a bit suspect in Left. I would try to sit him for 3 or 4 games to see if that changes

Yes, agree! Our lack of (quality) depth in the outfield has likely led to using him way more then they had hoped for.

Everyone goes through ups and downs, even Brantley, but I do agree he could use more days off.

BTW, as recently as last year Melky played some LF. So before the Naquin injury perhaps days with Melky in left and Naquin in RF would have worked.

Totally agree Brantley isn’t himself. Usually when this happens his dad flies in and helps him correct his swing. Unfortunately we’ve been on the road. I don’t think he’s tired this soon after all star break but a mental health day couldn’t hurt.

Looking long-term, Brantley may have to move to 1st base; that was a projection back when he was still in the minors. Both he and Miller will be cheaper free agents this winter than we could have expected.

Of course a dominating finish and postseason would change things big time but as of right now it wouldn’t shock me if Miller or Allen would accept a 1 year prove it deal for next year.

Martin has been added to roster and Allen shipped back to Columbus.

After Greg had 3 hits yesterday. But of course we and he knew this was coming. He certainly remains a solid prospect for next year and beyond. If Martin is only going to play against RH pitchers, Allen could replace Davis next year, or play RF. Someday they'll need to get an OF with homerun power but Ramirez and Lindor make that less necessary than most teams

Greg was playing good last night too.

Day game but no tv.

From Jordan Bastian ... wait for the sneaky bomb at the end ...

Carlos Carrasco ends with 10 strikeouts and zero walks. He is tied with CC Sabathia, Sam McDowell and Sonny Siebert for the 2nd-most games in Indians history with 10+ strikeouts and no walks with three. Corey Kluber ranks first with 10.

THE INDIANS ARE POISED TO CONTROL AUGUST

The Indians spent July shoring up their bullpen with Brad Hand and Adam Cimber. Then they scooped up Leonys Martín on Deadline Day to deepen their outfield. But we’ve heard from several teams that they might have been the team that came closest to shocking the world this week.

Multiple sources told The Athletic that the Indians were in deep conversations with Washington about Bryce Harper before the Nationals pulled back the FOR SALE sign. And while there’s almost no scenario where the Indians can revisit that option as a waiver deal, they’ll still be shopping for another bat. Luckily for them, they’re better positioned to make an impact move in August than any club in their league.

So why is that? Because they’re the American League’s waiver-deal gatekeepers. Of all the AL contenders, they’ll get first dibs on every AL player who passes through waivers this month – because they don’t just have a worse record than the Red Sox, Yankees and Astros. They also have a worse record than even the Mariners or A’s. And claiming priority goes in reverse order of the standings.

“There’s so much strategy to (making deals in) August,” said one AL executive. “And they’re in position where their strategy is going to govern how August goes for the rest of the American League.”

I was surprised to read that McDowell ever had a walk-free game.

Ken Rosenthal:

The Kipnis solution

The Cleveland Indians might never have acquired center fielder Leonys Martin from the Detroit Tigers if they had succeeded in their attempt to obtain second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Los Angeles Angels.

The Boston Red Sox landed the four-time All-Star instead, but the Indians’ plan if they had acquired Kinsler, Manny Machado or any other infielder was to move second baseman Jason Kipnis to the outfield, sources said.

Kipnis, who has played only 16 career games in the outfield — 11 in center last regular season and five more during the postseason — was fully aware of the possibility. The Indians had talked to him about it several weeks ago in advance of their pursuit of Machado, sources said.

“I’ll do whatever helps the team most,” Kipnis said, according to one club official. “All I care about is winning the World Series. Whatever helps us do that, I’m all for.”

All I care about is winning the World Series. Whatever helps us do that, I’m all for.”

how about accepting his outright release so Ramirez moves to 2nd and Yandy takes over at 3rd? Of course Jason would then no longer be part of "us"