Sarris: Joey Votto and Trevor Bauer on both sides of a single pitch


By Eno Sarris 1h ago 5

Every​ moment in​ baseball contains​ multitudes. Perhaps because of​ the pace, and​ the amount of​ time​ allowed between​ each moment​​ of action, the thought put into every action is immense. That depth of thought includes research, iteration, adjustment, re-iteration, and ever-changing strategy — on both sides of the ball.

When Trevor Bauer threw Joey Votto a slider this July, it was just one pitch in a matchup, and yet it was so much more. At the All-Star game, both the hitter and pitcher were in the building, so it made sense to ask them both about it, and to try to get a glimpse of some of that vastness behind every pitch that’s ever been thrown in a baseball game.

The pitch itself may not look like the nastiest slider you’ve ever seen.

But that’s because of the angle of the camera.

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“On sliders, video doesn’t do it justice the angle of the camera is in line with the way it’s moving,” Bauer told me. “The slider follows that line, and it doesn’t look like it’s moving much.”

He told the story of Kenley Jansen striking out Paul Goldschmidt in the playoffs on a cutter that looked like it was always headed way outside the zone from behind the pitcher. From the hitter’s viewpoint, though, the pitch was nasty.
Still not the perfect angle; maybe there isn’t a perfect angle for stepping in the box. Because Votto had watched Bauer’s slider before.

“I saw it on video, but there’s a difference between seeing it live and seeing it on the video,” Votto pointed out. “I read it as a ball initially and it was right down the middle.”

They key to that distinction, as you can tell from the video, is the horizontal movement of the pitch. Votto thought it would be a straight slider that didn’t come back to the zone, and it came so far into the zone that it made the king of the strike zone look foolish. Bauer admitted that it’s probable that the hitter watched video of a slider that didn’t have the same movement his slider had that day.

“Against the Reds, that was my best my slider had been all year,” Bauer said. “It had two more inches of lateral movement than it averaged all year — it averaged ten inches that game.”

It’s been a journey for Bauer’s slider. Bauer targeted Corey Kluber’s version of the pitch as a personal offseason acquisition, and loved his offseason results, but then saw a less exciting version early in the season. Watch as the horizontal movement on the pitch has gradually improved over the course of the season, to the point where he now has more movement than Kluber does, on average.
Bauer is acutely aware of this graph and its peaks and valleys.

“I collect a lot of data on myself,” he said. “I was looking for a 7/0 — seven lateral, zero vertical — pitch, and early in the season it wasn’t that, and I was frustrated because early in the offseason it was. Early in spring it was, too, when I compared trackman numbers between me and Kluber, he averaged a slight bit more lateral movement than I did, but I was throwing some that were comparable to his sideways slider. I got into the first month of the season, and it wasn’t moving the same way, and I didn’t know why.”

Before he could throw that plus frisbee to Votto, Bauer had to go back to the video. He uses high-speed Edgertronic video to analyze the relationship of his grip and mechanics to the outcomes, and it was during one session with the video that he noticed something about his thumb.

“I had the ball pinched, and my thumb was on the ball up front and there was no way for the ball to come out of my hand right,” the pitcher explained. “I moved my thumb under the ball instead in front of it, and now there’s an easy way for the ball to come out the right way — my fingers are on the side of it and the ball comes out with much more of a polar axis. Since then, the pitch has almost doubled in lateral movement, and it’s just been a matter of maintaining that feel for how it’s coming out of my hand.”

Thanks to Pitching Ninja, we might be able to see the role of that thumb in providing a lateral escape for the ball. Bauer has moved that thumb back and the ball slips out sideways — the righty had his best horizontal slider movement of the year in his excellent start last night, and Friedman got a couple good angles on his main breaking balls.

To some extent, this new slider is a victory for Bauer’s ability to tunnel his pitches better. His best two combinations, as judged by the ratio of the two pitches’ movement at the batter’s decision point to their movement at the plate, are pitches paired with sliders. That has been a huge part of his success this year.

Now Bauer has a pitch that reads a bit like his curveball out of the hand, but has eight to ten fewer inches of vertical movement and five inches more horizontal movement than his yakker. Even when the slider is correctly identified, the hitter is so used to seeing half a foot less horizontal movement from his breaking balls that they’re likely to misjudge the pitch laterally. Just as Votto did on the pitch in question.

It’s a testament to the work Bauer has put in on improving his arsenal. And that’s the main thing Votto stepped away from the plate with after taking a called strike three on that slider.

“He’s gotten better, you can tell he’s worked hard,” Votto said. “His stuff is sharp.”

More on Bauer:

Meisel’s Musings: Trevor Bauer’s leaderboard awareness, Jason Kipnis’ chair, and the Indians’ emergency catcher

Zack Meisel Aug 7, 2018 9

It’s​ clear that​ Trevor Bauer​ knows how to navigate​ FanGraphs’ statistical leaderboards.​ The instant a reporter​ mentioned​ to the​ right-hander that​​ he leads the majors in innings pitched, Bauer interjected.

“And WAR.”

“What?” the reporter replied, caught off-guard by Bauer’s comment.

“And WAR,” Bauer repeated.

Bauer did pass Chris Sale to claim sole possession atop the sport’s WAR rankings for pitchers. He leads all hurlers in innings, too, and his 2.25 ERA ranks fourth in the majors.

“I hope to lead in innings pitched per start and overall innings pitched by year’s end,” Bauer said.

And WAR, one would assume.

Here are a handful of thoughts and observations on the Indians.

1. Mr. 200: Bauer reached the 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career, as he tallied 11 punchouts against the Twins on Monday. Bauer tossed the baseball from No. 200 into the dugout to save. But will he actually get his hands on the keepsake?

“I’m just hoping I get it,” Bauer said. “It took me years to actually get my first-hit ball after some teammates lost it and I discovered it in the bottom of a drawer two years later.”

Roberto Pérez didn’t see who snagged the baseball when Bauer threw it into the dugout, but he has a sneaking suspicion about what might happen with it.

“I wasn’t paying attention to those things,” Pérez said. “I’ve got so much to care about — calling the game, blocking balls, all of Trevor’s shaking (off pitches). Carrasco probably has it. (Bauer) is probably going to get it, but they’re going to give him a hard time. He likes to mess with people, so they’re probably going to do the same thing to him.

“That’s karma.”

Bauer set 200 strikeouts as a goal for this season, after finishing with 196 last year. Well, he’s at 206 with nearly two months remaining on the regular-season schedule. He’s the 11th Tribe pitcher to reach that milestone, and the second-fastest to do it in a season, behind Corey Kluber in 2017.

As for Bauer’s propensity to shake off his catcher, Pérez joked that the battery mates should invest in some Bluetooth headsets to save time.

2. Cy Young consideration: It’s cliché for a pitcher to say he wants to “give the team a chance to win,” but Bauer has literally done that in each of his 24 starts this season. Consider the number of earned runs he has surrendered in those outings.

0: six times
1: five times
2: seven times
3: three times
4: three times
5+: nope

Bauer noted after his start last week in Minneapolis that the Twins were exhibiting patience at the plate, waiting to slap at a two-strike breaking ball. So, he took it upon himself to pepper the plate with fastballs Monday. The result? Three harmless hits allowed across six scoreless innings.

He also unleashed a bevy of changeups on Twins hitters.

“That’s not what they’re looking for,” Bauer said. “The nice thing about being able to throw everything is hitters can’t hit everything. So, you find out what they’re looking for and you throw something else.”

Bauer devoted much of his offseason to crafting his new slider, which has joined his 12-to-6 curveball as a second sterling strikeout pitch. But when he initiated that process days after the Indians were booted from the postseason, he also designed plans for a new changeup, modeled after the one Stephen Strasburg flings. He prioritized the refinement of the slider over the winter, but the changeup has quietly worked its way into his repertoire, and it proved particularly effective Monday.

“He looked like he was angered that he didn’t strike us out very much last week,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said.


3. In case of emergency: When Yan Gomes exited the game Friday because of right knee tendinitis, a couple of teammates approached Erik González in the dugout. Pérez replaced Gomes, but if Pérez were to suffer an injury …

“I can do it, but I’ve never done it before,” González told The Athletic. “I’ve played all positions, but never catcher. But I’d try.”

Cleveland Indians 2018: Reliever Cody Allen visits DMan's World
By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cody Allen has been a superb closer, on balance, for the Cleveland Indians since his first full season in the role (2014). He has amassed 24, 34, 32, 30 and 21 saves in those five regular seasons.

In 15 career postseason games, he owns seven saves alongside a 0.47 ERA (19 1/3 innings, one earned run).



Allen's 2018 has been spotty, not up to his standards, but he still is 21-of-24 in save opportunities and has struck out 53 in 47 1/3 innings.

Allen, regardless whether he is going well or struggling, always is available to reporters. And he typically has interesting things to say. Allen, the Tribe's all-time leader with 143 saves, recently visited DMan's World:

DMan's World: Here comes a quiz. Answers have been researched.

Cody Allen: Fire away.

DW: July 20, 2012 --

CA: Major-league debut. Against the Baltimore Orioles in Cleveland.

DW: Correct. When did you enter/for whom?

CA: Top of fourth, for Derek Lowe. Man on first, none out.

DW: Correct. First batter faced/result?

CA: Matt Wieters, walk.

DW: Correct. Second batter faced/result?

CA: Wilson Betemit, walk.

DW: Correct. Not the way you dreamed it.

CA: I hear you. I was nervous, of course, but I had Wieters 0-2 and lost him. I think I went full on Betemit, too.

DW: Correct.

CA: So now I've got the bases loaded and nobody out in my debut, and they're already taking it to us (Orioles led, 8-1). Our pitching coach, Scott Radinsky, came out and calmed me down a little bit.

DW: I take it you can finish the appearance.

CA: Third batter was Chris Davis. Ground ball to first, force at second, run scored. Fourth batter was Mark Reynolds. Struck him out swinging. Fifth batter was Ryan Flaherty. Grounder to right side (second base).


DW: Goodness. Your memory is ridiculous.

CA: I'm not the only one who can recall details from his debut.

DW: All factors considered, not a bad inning for you. No runs charged to you.

CA: I also remember Derek Lowe facing Jim Thome to open the fourth. I was warming up and thinking, 'Imagine if my first batter would have been Jim Thome?'

DW: Thome, as I know you know, homered. After Adam Jones walked, you entered. Is it the most nervous you ever have been on a ball field?

CA: Probably. It was one of the few times when the game sped up on me. Another one that stands out is the ALDS clincher in Boston in 2016 (Game 3). I was fighting my mechanics but got through it.

DW: So you were more nervous for MLB debut and ALDS 2016 clincher than for any of your four appearances in the 2016 World Series vs. the Cubs?

CA: Yeah. The World Series was exciting, but I knew I needed to stay calm in order to get the job done. Competitive instincts took over.

DW: Wildest moment you ever have witnessed on a ball field, any level?

CA: Rajai Davis' two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 7 in the '16 World Series.

DW: Davis tied the score, 6-6, against Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. You were in the dugout, having retired the side in order in the top of the inning and awaiting a return to the mound in the ninth. Describe what you saw/heard.



CA: I was sitting on the bench, watching through the guys who were standing. I could see Rajai was battling even if I couldn't see everything clear as day. I saw Chapman go through his delivery, then I lost the ball and I couldn't see Rajai. I heard what sounded like a loud click. I heard somebody in the dugout -- I think it was Kip (Jason Kipnis) -- say, 'Uh-oh!' Everybody jumped. I was looking, trying to find the ball. I saw it right as it hit the camera. Everybody went crazy.

DW: The Indians lost, 8-7, in 10 innings. You worked two scoreless innings in Game 7 and finished the Series with six scoreless over the four appearances. How often do you flash back to the 2016 World Series?

CA: A few times a year. You think about the 'What if's?' but also about how well we played in that postseason. As painful as it is to know we lost the Series -- and it is painful, believe me -- it is fun to remember the ride we were on to get there.

DW: Do you own any memorabilia from that World Series?

CA: Game 3 ball, when I got the save. A World Series bat signed by the team. From the postseason, in general, a wooden case from a bottle of champagne that we received after winning the division. I had the team sign it during the World Series. It's probably my favorite item in my office.


DW: Best baseball advice/from whom, and best life advice/from whom?

CA: I can tie the two together with something my dad (Craig) told me. It's basically this: 'You're not as good as your best day, but you're not as bad as your worst. Forget about what happened yesterday -- good or bad -- and focus on trying to win that particular day. Don't hold onto your best days or worst days. Stay in the middle, stay consistent, and go compete.'

DW: Describe the Indians bullpen during games.

CA: It's pretty loose, we keep it light -- until it's time to compete. You can see, as the game takes shape, guys get locked in. You don't mess with someone when he begins to get ready.

DW: As a youngster, what was your dream job when grown up?

CA: Professional baseball player.

DW: In those dreams, were you a starter or reliever?

CA: Starter.

DW: You were a starter in college. How did the transition to reliever happen?

CA: I didn't really have a choice. When I signed, they said, 'We have a spot for you in the bullpen at short-season Mahoning Valley.' I wasn't a high pick or anything (16th round in 2010), so the only thing I could do was pitch where and when they told me to pitch. I needed to do it to the best of my ability and let them make the decisions.



DW: When I say, '2011 Mahoning Valley Scrappers,' what comes to mind immediately?

CA: Where it all began; the start of my pro career. Fun times. We had an unbelievable coaching staff. Dave Wallace was our manager and Greg Hibbard was our pitching coach. Those two guys, in particular, were instrumental in helping me develop.

DW: As of August 2018, you are not an exclusive closer. Your thoughts?

CA: It is not my job to figure out where I am of most value to this club. It is my job to go pitch, to get outs, when and where I am asked.

DW: How do you deal with criticism that accompanies down turns?

CA: You need to understand: This game, the game at the big-league level, is either hard or it's really hard. It's never easy. And it's a humbling game. If you do think it's easy, that's when you get crushed. This game will beat you down on occasion. For a pitcher, there will be times when getting outs seems like a monumental task. So you grind through the hard times.

When it's not going well, I don't sit here and just think, 'I'll be fine, I'll be fine.' After each outing, I'm going through what needs to improve. No matter what, though, I'm not going to panic.

DW: Am I correct that you don't have much of a presence on social media?



CA: I have an Instagram account.

DW: So you adeptly avoid the trolls.

CA: I wouldn't put it that way. Honestly, it comes down to wanting to enjoy my privacy. You only get so much time with your family during the season....Do I want to spend it on my phone or with my family? The least amount of distractions I can have, the better.

DW: With the exception of your debut, was there ever a time in the early years when you got on the mound, looked at the batter and said, 'I can't believe I'm facing this player'?

CA: Two occurrences come to mind immediately: The first time I faced Miguel Cabrera and the first time I faced Derek Jeter.

DW: Results?

CA: I struck out Miggy and gave up a single to Jeter.

DW: There you go again with your sharp-as-a-tack memory.

CA: We played the Yankees here in August 2012. Jeter led off the seventh with an infield single on an 0-2 or 1-2 pitch, then Nick Swisher homered. Broke a tie. My first runs allowed in the big leagues, and my first loss in the big leagues.

(Jeter's hit occurred on a 1-2 pitch.)

DW: By the next spring, Swisher had joined the Indians. Did you talk to him about the homer?

CA: Absolutely. I used to hear these stories in the minor leagues of how the veteran hitters would set up pitchers with their body language toward certain pitches. They'd bait you into throwing something you otherwise would not have thrown. In the Swisher AB, I threw him a heater away and he took it, but he kind of dived out there while he took it. As a result, I was like, 'He's setting me up. He wants me to think he's looking for the heater out there, so that means he wants me to come in with a breaking pitch. So I said, 'We're going to stay with the heater away.' Well, he didn't miss it. In spring training, I asked what he was thinking. He laughed and said, 'You tried to sneak a piece of cheese past a rat, and I was ready.'


DW: Word(s) association -- Tribe shortstop Francisco Lindor?

CA: Captain. Stud.

DW: Tribe third baseman Jose Ramirez?

CA: Same words that I use for Lindor. Add great for both.

DW: Tribe manager Terry Francona?

CA: Consistent.

DW: Tribe bench coach Brad Mills?

CA: Gamer.

DW: Tribe righty Corey Kluber?

CA: Competitor. Nasty.

DW: Tribe righty Trevor Bauer?

CA: Same as Kluber. I'll say this: Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer are probably the most competitive sons-of-guns I've ever watched on a baseball field.

DW: Wow. High praise.

CA: It's deserved.

DW: How much have you enjoyed watching Bauer grow into an ace-caliber pitcher?

CA: It's obviously been great. Hats off to him, because he's matured a lot. He was so young when we got him, and he's gone through the growing pains. Trevor not only has helped this organization with how well he's performed, he's helped with some of his methods. He's very intelligent, and I really think the organization has learned from him. He's broken some of the old adages about how a pitcher is supposed to prepare and pitch. Pitchers in this organization have more information available to them in part because of Trevor.

Bauer doesn't back down from a challenge. Ever. He doesn't back down from anything or anyone. He competes his tail off every time he takes the mound. Even the games that aren't necessarily going well for him, he doesn't take the foot off the gas. Those are the guys you want on your team. Those guys are winners.



DW: Describe Fox SportsTime Ohio Indians beat reporter Andre Knott in 20 words or fewer.

CA: (Chuckle) I don't need 20. Terrible -- and I mean terrible -- dress code. Thinks he's cool.

DW: Smartest person you've met?

CA: Former teammate Frank Herrmann.

DW: The Herrmannator, reliever from Harvard. You were teammates in 2012.

CA: Great dude.

DW: Favorite Northeast Ohio eatery/preferred order?

CA: Barrio. The obvious order: Make your own tacos.

DW: What is one sport or game you couldn't play if you tried?

CA: Evidently, golf -- because I have tried.

DW: Are seams on an MLB 2018 ball lower than those in 2012?

CA: I would say they basically are the same.

DW: Favorite piece of sports memorabilia you own?

CA: Mariano Rivera signed jersey.

The making of the Cleveland Indians’ Rotation of Domination

Zack Meisel 2h ago 4

CINCINNATI​ — When​ Mike Clevinger​ strolls past the bathroom​ stall in the​ visitors clubhouse at​ Great​ American Ball​ Park, his​​ brain sketches an outline of his once-reeling body.

His knees dig into the tile floor. His head hovers above the toilet bowl. His hair dangles from the sides of his navy cap.

Clevinger made his major-league debut at this venue two years ago. He wandered around Joe Nuxhall Way before an Indians employee directed him to the entrance. He darted for the wrong bullpen before Mike Napoli ushered him to the proper warmup area. And, less than an hour before first pitch, Clevinger hunched over and spewed every last drop of substance from his body, jeopardizing his attendance at his pregame treatment session.

Clevinger no longer vomits before his starts — well, aside from a brief bout with a stomach bug last month in Detroit. He’s made strides in many other areas since that mid-May evening in 2016, too.

The journey hasn’t been seamless. The Indians were stationed in Cincinnati in August 2014 when they completed their trade for Clevinger, then a scuffling right-hander navigating his way back from Tommy John surgery.

These things take time. None of the Indians’ four core starting pitchers — each acquired in separate trades over a five-year span — traveled a direct path, but each lane has converged at the same intersection. And now the club boasts four of the American League’s top nine hurlers, in terms of fWAR (and four of the top 14, by ERA).

The rotation is the franchise’s foundation, the logic behind the Indians serving as either a trendy preseason pick or an obvious one during Terry Francona’s tenure in Cleveland. It’s the reason the team has weathered storms in the bullpen and the outfield this season, the reason those in the clubhouse and those in the fourth-floor offices at Progressive Field maintain confidence in the club’s chances this October and beyond.

The organization crafted the blueprint nearly a decade ago. It required some shrewd talent swaps, some fortune and plenty of player development. There have been hurdles along the way. Danny Salazar’s right arm hasn’t provided as much mileage as the team would have hoped. Cody Anderson turned heads in 2015 and promptly vanished in the Arizona desert.

But as some names have changed, other pitchers have blossomed. Trevor Bauer’s ascent equipped the Indians with a second Cy Young Award candidate before a comebacker clanged off his right leg over the weekend. Clevinger has followed through on his aspirations of graduating to a workhorse role this year.

“Usually, teams that are really good have somebody at the top of the rotation that can lead them a long way,” Josh Tomlin said. “We, fortunately, have four of those guys right now.”

It takes patience to construct such a stable. For many starting pitchers, the path isn’t linear. It follows detours to the bullpen, the minors or another roster. But when the timing works, it can produce a force that no opposing club wants to encounter.

Corey Kluber: still an ace. (David Maxwell/Getty Images)
July 31, 2010
To Cleveland: Corey Kluber
To San Diego: Ryan Ludwick
To St. Louis: Jake Westbrook, Nick Greenwood

At the start of the season, Bauer and Clevinger made a pact: They would monitor Corey Kluber’s workload and attempt to keep pace. They figured he’d wind up near the 220-inning mark, his average over the past four seasons. (He’s headed straight for that number.) Bauer and Clevinger aren’t far behind, though Bauer’s stress fracture has sidelined him from the workhorse derby.

Executives in the Indians’ front office will admit they didn’t anticipate acquiring a Cy Young Award winner when they shipped Westbrook to St. Louis in 2010. They couldn’t locate his name on any of the Padres’ top prospects lists. They appreciated his gaudy strikeout totals, but also noticed his less alluring hit and walk rates.

The club assigned two scouts to watch Kluber’s outings with Class AA San Antonio before it agreed to the three-team exchange. Even when Kluber joined the Indians, he suffered through some rough patches. He posted a 5.56 ERA for Class AAA Columbus in 2011.

Three years — and endless instruction, dedication, mechanical refinement and boosted confidence — later, Kluber captured his first piece of hardware. Now, he’s a three-time All-Star, the captain of one of the league’s most formidable staffs, and he could crash the field of Cy Young finalists for the fourth time in five years.

When Kluber emerged on the big-league scene in 2013, Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez anchored the Indians’ rotation. It didn’t take long for him to supplant them as the headlining act.

“The guy at the top, how he goes about his business on a daily basis, it sets the tone for the other starters,” Tomlin said. “I’ve been in there and watched it and been a part of it. When it’s his day to pitch, you’re getting the very best of Corey Kluber, and guys around him gravitate toward that. Every fifth day, he’s ready. He has his routine. He knows how he’s going to feel. He knows how he’s going to go out there and compete and he’s able to make in-game adjustments quickly. Guys see that. They watch that.

“You can obviously go look at it and say, ‘I want to pitch like him.’ Of course, everybody does. But what a lot of people don’t understand is it’s the things he does prior to that start — it’s mirrored every fifth day. Every day, it’s the same thing. He knows how his body is going to feel that fifth day. Guys notice that. They start to get in a better routine, better preparation, and once you do that, you’re set up for success. A bunch of guys follow him. And rightfully so. They should.

“You come from different backgrounds and you try to learn different things, but the one thing that stays constant is you have that horse at the very top that keeps everything going. That’s the truth.”
Dec. 11, 2012
To Cleveland: Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers, Bryan Shaw, Drew Stubbs
To Cincinnati: Shin-Soo Choo, Jason Donald
To Arizona: Didi Gregorius, Tony Sipp, Lars Anderson

Burrito in hand, Bauer was sitting at Chipotle when his agent buzzed his phone. He stepped outside and chatted for a few minutes before he returned to the table.

“What’d he have to say?” one friend inquired.

“Oh, I just got traded,” Bauer replied, nonchalantly.

He preferred to fixate on his meal rather than the life-altering news. So he’d have to report to a foreign spring training complex. Big deal. He’d still be in Arizona. He still had two months of the offseason to enjoy. And he still had a burrito to savor.

Once he joined the Indians that spring, however, Bauer quickly realized how desperately he needed a change of scenery to launch his career in the desired direction.

“My first experience here,” he told The Athletic, “I was like, ‘Wow, I needed to get out of there. It’s a refresher. This is a much better fit.’ ”

For years, Bauer offered glimpses of greatness. He talked a big game. He preached about future awards he would collect, sky-high standards he would exceed. He backed it all up this season, with a 2.22 ERA, a 2.38 FIP and career-best walk, strikeout, hit and home run rates. He pocketed the baseball he tossed to record his 200th strikeout of the season, the first time he has reached the milestone.

It’s the long-awaited result of a mastering of the delivery he revamped in 2013. It’s a byproduct of a self-crafted slider and changeup, a pair of pitches he developed over the winter and has unleashed on hapless hitters all summer. It’s the consequence of enhanced knowledge of how to attack hitters and how to astutely respond to their adjustments.

The guy once saddled with the reputation of being uncoachable and undesirable as a teammate has forged a friendship with Clevinger, exchanged jokes with José Ramírez and, with Carlos Carrasco, created mini baseballs depicting each of the players in the clubhouse. And now, the Indians are reaping the rewards for exhibiting patience.

That’s not to say Bauer, Francona and Mickey Callaway didn’t have their squabbles over the years. But that seems to be in the past. And so, too, is the skepticism surrounding Bauer’s atypical warmup routines and training habits.

“This has been a positive environment, especially this year, now that I’m encouraged to talk to teammates and interact in that way,” Bauer said. “It’s been very fulfilling for me. And, hopefully, I’ve been a positive influence on the rest of the guys in some way. It’s been gratifying watching that.

“It’s cool to see other guys having that type of success. I can sit there and wear Clevinger out for having a better slider than him or throwing harder than him or whatever. But there’s a healthy respect there, because I know on any given day, he’s going to go out and completely dominate. And hopefully he realizes the same thing in return. When there’s that healthy respect, you can help each other and help breed success.

“So, in that way, that the timelines have worked out the way they have has been very nice. I don’t think it would be nearly as good of an environment if I was just the ace of a staff and there was a huge gap. I would enjoy trying to help other guys, but, like — sitting in the dugout, watching (Carrasco) punch out 10 or 11 in Minnesota the day after I punched out three, I was sitting there, seething. Like, ‘I should be doing that.’ So, it’s been helpful for me.”

It took some time, but Carlos Carrasco has developed into a steady rotation force. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
July 29, 2009
To Cleveland: Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Jason Donald, Lou Marson
To Philadelphia: Cliff Lee, Ben Francisco

The Indians dealt Lee to the Phillies nearly a decade ago and, for a few years now, Carrasco has been the lone remaining big-leaguer. But even he toiled on the brink of irrelevance.

Indians front-office members stress that the key to player development is to allow a player’s career to unfold on his time, not the franchise’s time. Carrasco’s tale fits that mantra.

He debuted for the Indians in 2009, but didn’t find his footing as a big-league starter until 2014. He persevered through elbow surgery, a host of demotions to Class AAA and even a stint in the bullpen four years ago, a three-month stretch that salvaged his career. His work in the bullpen convinced Callaway and Kevin Cash he was ready for a return to the rotation, complete with a redefined, more aggressive approach. The two coaches talked Francona into the idea, and Carrasco rewarded their decision by recording a 1.30 ERA over 10 starts to wrap up the 2014 campaign.

Since, he has blossomed into one of the league’s most effective starters. He finished fourth in the Cy Young balloting last year.

Consider Carrasco’s consistency over the past four seasons:

Strikeouts per nine innings:
2015: 10.6
2016: 9.2
2017: 10.2
2018: 10.2

ERA:
2015: 3.63
2016: 3.32
2017: 3.29
2018: 3.50

Opponent batting average:
2015: .226
2016: .238
2017: .233
2018: .243

Carrasco might be the most easygoing member of the Indians’ roster and, a few years ago, Kluber encouraged him to maintain that attitude on his start days. Carrasco said the simple bit of advice has made a significant difference.

Marson, Donald and Knapp quickly disappeared from the Indians’ plans. But Carrasco’s evolution, while delayed, has validated the front office’s choice to deal a Cy Young winner to Philadelphia.

Mike Clevinger might hit that 200-inning goal after all. (Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
Aug. 7, 2014
To Cleveland: Mike Clevinger
To Los Angeles: Vinnie Pestano

Clevinger ranks among the AL leaders in ERA, FIP, WAR and innings. And yet, Bauer can recall a few instances this season in which his pal has expressed frustration or displeasure with how his season has progressed.

“It’s like, ‘Take a step back and look where you’re at, man,’ ” Bauer said. “ ‘I’ve been there. I’ve had the same feelings you have.’ But that speaks to the mindset and competition that’s on this staff.”

When Clevinger gains perspective, he harkens back to the grueling days spent recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2013. When he eventually returned to the mound, it didn’t immediately click. He pondered other career paths in biology and wildlife control.

The Indians rescued him, though, at the recommendation of a scout intrigued by Clevinger’s strikeout rate and slider. He offered plenty of promise, the club thought. He just needed some mechanical tweaks. Mike Chernoff noted that a team never truly knows what it’s receiving when dealing for a prospect, but the Indians identified some encouraging signs with Clevinger. And the cost — the last gasps of Pestano’s big-league career — certainly wasn’t prohibitive.

Clevinger knew his arm was composed of major-league material. He just had to learn the art of pitching.

“There’s a lot of figuring out to do with sequencing and hitters and all that good stuff,” Clevinger said. “It’s just getting comfortable with being out there, being me, being in front of these people, being on camera and knowing you’re on the same level as the guys you grew up watching.”

In an effort to aid his mechanics and avoid mid-inning meltdowns, Clevinger studied ways to improve his posture and body awareness last winter. He practiced breathing techniques to allow him to relax during tense moments on the mound. He vowed to log 200 innings, to mold himself into an indispensable piece of the starting staff.

Mission accomplished.

“It’s fun to see a guy mature right in front of you,” Tomlin said, “a guy that maybe just thought he could go out there and roll out of bed and throw 95 mph and get guys out and understand that it took a little bit of that maturation process and figuring out the in-game adjustments. And he’s watching Kluber, Carrasco and Bauer go out there and compete and he goes off of that. He talks to guys on the bench and tries to figure it out.”

Five years ago, Carrasco was challenging the Indians’ faith. Kluber was just emerging on the major-league scene. Bauer was busy rewriting neuromuscular programming (as he would put it). Even two years ago, Clevinger was an unknown commodity, stuck in the fetal position on the bathroom floor of the visitors clubhouse.

“We were all traded,” Clevinger said. “(Carrasco) got jump-started by getting put in the pen. I had to play the gypsy role until I got comfortable and found my own mechanics. Bauer has been on another planet his whole career and has put it together. There’s been a lot of work done by each one of us and by the Indians’ organization.

“I think the stars aligned for us.”

Dang, will we ever get a break. Or guess I should say, not get something broke.

-

Trevor Bauer may not pitch again this year

By Craig CalcaterraAug 17, 2018, 11:38 AM EDT

Three days ago The Indians placed starter Trevor Bauer on the 10-day disabled list due to a stress fracture in his right fibula, suffered when he took a line drive off of his right ankle in a game last Saturday.

There was no timetable announced at the time, but today there are signs that the Tribe may have to do without him for the remainder of the year, with Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer writing last night that “the remainder of [Bauer’s] regular season, and perhaps the postseason, could be in jeopardy.” That was not attributed to anyone, and when that happens its often because someone is preparing to deliver some bad news at some point but isn’t quite ready to yet.

The Indians are not going to be challenged in the AL Central for the rest of the season but not having Bauer would really hurt their chances to make some noise in the postseason. Indeed, Bauer has been among the game’s best starters this season, owning a 2.22 ERA with a 214/56 K/BB ratio in 166 innings.

Every year Baseball America polls managers, scouts and executives to identify the best players in a variety of categories. Here are the results for 2018.
If he isn't in the Top3 of any other categories, JRam should have been No. 4 on most offensive categories.
AMERICAN LEAGUE

Best Hitter
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Jose Altuve, Astros

Best Power
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees
2. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees
3. Mike Trout, Angels

Best Bunter
1. Dee Gordon, Mariners
2. Brett Gardner, Yankees
3. Delino DeShields Jr., Rangers

Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Jose Ramirez, Indians

Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. Jose Altuve, Astros
2. Jean Segura, Mariners
3. Andrelton Simmons, Angels

Best Baserunner
1. Dee Gordon, Mariners
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Jose Altuve, Astros

Fastest Baserunner
1. Dee Gordon, Mariners
2. Byron Buxton, Twins
3. Delino DeShields Jr., Rangers

Most Exciting Player
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Jose Altuve, Astros

Best Pitcher
1. Chris Sale, Red Sox
2. Corey Kluber, Indians
3. Justin Verlander, Astros

Best Fastball
1. Chris Sale, Red Sox
2. Luis Severino, Yankees
3. Aroldis Chapman, Yankees

Best Curveball
1. Corey Kluber, Indians
2. Charlie Morton, Astros
3. Blake Snell, Rays

Best Slider
1. Chris Sale, Red Sox
2. Trevor Bauer, Indians
3. Luis Severino, Yankees

Best Changeup
1. Chris Devenski, Astros
2. Chris Sale, Red Sox
3. Fernando Rodney, Twins

Best Control
1. Corey Kluber, Indians
2. Justin Verlander, Astros
3. Chris Sale, Red Sox

Best Pickoff Move
1. Marco Gonzales, Mariners
2. James Shields, White Sox
3. Dallas Keuchel, Astros

Best Reliever
1. Edwin Diaz, Mariners
2. Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox
3. Aroldis Chapman, Yankees

Best Defensive C
1. Martin Maldonado, Angels
2. Salvador Perez, Royals
3. Mike Zunino, Mariners

Best Defensive 1B
1. Mitch Moreland, Red Sox
2. Matt Olson, Athletics
3. Justin Smoak, Blue Jays

Best Defensive 2B
1. Jose Altuve, Astros
2. Ian Kinsler, Angels
3. Whit Merrifield, Royals

Best Defensive 3B
1. Matt Chapman, Athletics
2. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
3. Kyle Seager, Mariners

Best Defensive SS
1. Andrelton Simmons, Angels
2. Francisco Lindor, Indians
3. Jose Iglesias, Tigers

Best Infield Arm
1. Matt Chapman, Athletics
2. Carlos Correa, Astros
3. Manny Machado, Orioles

Best Defensive OF
1. Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Mike Trout, Angels

Best Outfield Arm
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees
2. Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
3. Aaron Hicks, Yankees

Best Manager
1. Terry Francona, Indians AS ALWAYS
2. A.J. Hinch, Astros
3. Alex Cora, Red Sox

Hillbilly wrote:Dang, will we ever get a break. Or guess I should say, not get something broke.

I am not buying any doomsday timelines until something concrete comes out. Especially considering it's that animal Bauer we are talking about.

Trevor Bauer may not pitch again this year

Although that's the last thing I wanted to hear, remember how in 2016 after both Sslazar and Carrasco went down, Hoynes wrote that the Indians' chances were shot and they just missed winning it all anyway. Not likely to repeat but its not over until it's over.

speaking of Salazar...……………..?????

Yandy Díaz and the need for more of Cinderella’s ‘perfect swing’

Zack Meisel

CINCINNATI​ — His​ hair slicked​ back and his biceps​ begging to burst​ through the sleeves​ of​ his dark​ gray dress​​ shirt, Yandy Díaz repeated the final two words of the reporter’s question.

“Perfect swing.”

That’s an apt way to describe his RBI rocket to left-center, a deafening double that jump-started the Indians’ seven-run sixth inning on Monday night. Díaz displayed a jovial spirit as he slipped on his jeans — they had zippers on each thigh and each shin — and his golden-toed shoes.

As Yan Gomes walked through the visitor’s clubhouse after the game, he spotted the sparkly shoes and shouted, “Hey, Cinderella!”

When the clock strikes midnight, Díaz returns to Class AAA, an overqualified, herculean slugger socking single and double after single and double off helpless, minor-league hurlers. Díaz has amassed 1,216 plate appearances for Columbus the past three seasons. His slash line in those trips to the batter’s box: .322/.419/.436.

This isn’t a guy who needs seasoning. After all, Terry Francona referred to him on Monday as “such an advanced hitter, polished hitter.”

And that’s made the situation a bit vexing for Díaz, who bruises the baseball every time his Sequoia-like arms take a mighty hack. In 20 plate appearances with the Indians since the All-Star break, he has collected 11 hits.

“At the beginning, it was hard,” Díaz said through team interpreter Will Clements. “Maybe you feel a little frustrated and you might not have the motivation to play baseball. But, as the days go on and time keeps passing, I’ve learned to keep a positive mindset about it and just take it day by day. And my time will come.”

Maybe this will be the time he sticks on the roster. Maybe this will be the time the Indians accommodate him, instead of waiting for an injury to pave the 27-year-old a more convenient path to the majors. Díaz’s latest promotion came in the wake of Edwin Encarnacion’s trip to the disabled list. Should Encarnacion return before Sept. 1 roster expansion, perhaps Díaz will return to Columbus.

He shouldn’t, though. He’s one of the Indians’ top hitters in the non-switch-hitting-All-Star division.

But his defense!

In a vacuum, there would be a few options here.

1. Play Díaz at third, shift José Ramírez to second and boot Jason Kipnis to the outfield.

Yeah, but: Chris Antonetti consulted Kipnis about the possibility of relocating to center had the team acquired an infielder before the trade deadline. With Leonys Martín battling a bacterial infection, center field now belongs to Rajai Davis and Greg Allen. If the Indians wanted to pull off the Díaz/Ramírez/Kipnis shift, they could have already done so.

2. Play Díaz in the outfield — if Melky Cabrera can do it, who can’t?

Yeah, but: Francona shot down this suggestion pretty quickly last month. Díaz made a brief cameo in left field last season. It was like taking a kid driving for the first time, only to watch them carve up a family’s front lawn as the family sits in the driveway and stares in horror (speaking from experience as the driver here). But the Indians own an insurmountable lead in the AL Central. Even if it ultimately flopped, isn’t this a time for experimentation?

Really, the Indians could have had a head start on this in spring training. They stationed Díaz at third base, even though there were no potential openings at third, first or designated hitter. So, Díaz was destined to waste away at Class AAA unless an injury surfaced. And, barring an offseason trade, the same obstacles will block Díaz’s path next year, too.
3. Move Díaz around the field — just get the guy regular at-bats.

Yeah, but: This could work over the next six weeks, but it becomes a bit trickier in October. Díaz could spot Yonder Alonso at first base against left-handed pitching; Alonso owns a .645 OPS against southpaws this season. He could moonlight at third base, should Francona ever want to rest Ramírez, Lindor or Kipnis.

Any imperfect lineup could benefit from Díaz’s bat and patience. The bottom section of the Indians’ order could certainly use a jolt. Each time the Indians summon Díaz, they plug him into the middle of the lineup, anyway.

“He’s a guy that, at some point,” Francona said, “is probably going to hit in the middle of our lineup. It might not be this year, but he’s a polished hitter and he’s going to get better.”

Francona described some of Díaz’s outs as “missiles to the outfield.” In five minor-league seasons, he has racked up more walks than strikeouts. His eight-pitch duel with Homer Bailey on Monday highlighted his most rewarding attributes.

He fouled off two fastballs and two sliders, worked the count full, and then smacked an 88-mph slider to the outfield gap. It was his only at-bat of the night, and he delivered one of those 109.3-mph “missiles,” the hardest-hit ball in play of the game.

A few minutes later, he scored on a Michael Brantley double. When he returned to the dugout, his teammates praised his hitting prowess.

“(They) were saying, ‘Wow, that sounded like a beautiful line drive coming off your bat,’ ” Díaz said. “ ‘It really sounded great.’ ”

A perfect swing indeed.

43.4 — The percentage of curves and sliders Shane Bieber utilized in his most recent outing, his third-highest rate of breaking balls in any start this year

Bieber has allowed just two runs during his past two starts, scattering 10 hits and striking out 15 in 12 1/3 innings, but perhaps the most impressive part of the past two outings is how he used two attack methods to net results.

All seven of Bieber’s strikeouts on Aug. 5 came via his fastball, the pitch he most frequently went to with two strikes to put away Angels hitters. After the game, The Athletic asked if his usage was a strategic part of the game plan.

“I didn’t have that good a feel for my breaking stuff today,” Bieber responded.” Once (catcher Roberto Pérez) and I kind of realized that, we were able to try to move my fastball around, especially late in the counts, and try to make good pitches down in the zone and up in the zone when I need to.”

Bieber’s pitch chart from that outing confirms the righty’s inability to command his breaking balls, leaving several noncompetitive pitches above the strike zone and tossing several more in a very hittable position.
Bieber’s most recent effort against the White Sox, however, led to much different results. The 23-year-old went to his curve and slider far more often, using them to help generate his second-highest whiff rate (35.8 percent), second-lowest average exit velocity (84.5 mph) and lowest expected weighted on-base average of any big-league start this season.

Given his curve and slider have led to the highest whiff rates and lowest average exit velocities of all of his pitches, it’s no surprise that using them more frequently helped to generate such positive results.

Of course, it’s easier to rely on them when you’re able to command them. In that start, Bieber kept the breakers down and out of the zone to help induce a higher chase rate.
“(The previous outing) was one of those starts where I wasn’t throwing my offspeed for strikes and didn’t have a great feel for it,” Bieber said Monday. “But when that happens, you’ve got to try to keep everything the same or as similar as I can, use the fastball, try to throw everything as hard as I can and really just repeat it as much as I can. I didn’t really look that far into it.”

And when it often turns out to be an anomaly, it’s easy to attribute it to an off day, not a larger, more alarming issue. The righty, after all, has typically commanded his breaking ball well throughout the minors, so it’s easier for him to accept the outings that do not feature perfect control as an outlier.

As for demonstrating that elite control, in his most recent start, Bieber featured his highest edge percentage of the season. Edge percentage essentially measures the rate of pitches that hit the corners and fringe portions of the zone — the edge around the invisible box that sits above home plate.

While that isn’t the only way to measure a pitcher’s ability to command, avoiding the middle of the plate while utilizing two good framing catchers in Pérez and Yan Gomes provides a good baseline.
More than anything, the fact that the rookie managed to succeed in various ways in his past two starts was impressive. Pitchers frequently have to battle through outings without a great feel for breaking pitches or less than stellar command. Young hurlers, in particular, that are able to get results when things aren’t ideal are even more admirable. While that might reflect brightly on Bieber’s potential, he doesn’t see it as anything other than his typical expectations.

“I think it’s good feedback that I was able to compete without very good stuff at all, but that’s just the game,” Bieber said. “You don’t really have a choice if you’re going to compete, no matter what your stuff is. That’s part of the job. It’s nice to have good feedback, but every outing is going to be different and this game is crazy, you’ve got to go out there and compete.”

Pregame minutiae: Bauer & Tito
Prior to Friday’s game against the Orioles, Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer met with reporters to discuss the latest with his injury (stress fracture in right fibula). The Indians announced that he will need 4–to-6 weeks of recovery before a return to games. Manager Terry Francona also held court to go over a variety of topics. Here are the highlights from those Q&As.

(Bauer rolls through locker room with his leg propped up on a medical scooter. After he parked it at his locker, he met with media.)

Q: Have you tricked out your scooter yet?

Bauer: “Not yet. I’ll add some twin turbos on the back of it. Soup it up some.”

Q: This goes without saying, but how tough was it to receive the news that you had to go on the DL?

Bauer: “I was furious. I’ve pretty much felt the same way since.”

Q: Have you come up with any plans for how to try to expedite the healing process?

Bauer: “There’s a lot of stuff we’re trying. Unfortunately, all the good stuff is illegal, so I’ve got to stick with the legal stuff.”

Q: What’s the timetable for your return?

Bauer: “Anywhere between tomorrow and never. We’ll find out. You’re going to get a very different answer if you ask me that question and if you ask the medical staff that question, so probably should defer to doctors on that.”

Q: Are you hopeful that you’ll return this season?

Bauer: “Yeah.”

Q: What has your activity been for the past few days?

Bauer: “I threw my weighted balls two days ago. I threw long-toss yesterday. I did long-toss and some pull-downs today and spun some pitches.”

Q: Is there anyone you can consult who has dealt with something similar, on ways to keep your weight off your feet, but still keep the arm in shape?

Bauer: “I don’t know. I don’t know anybody, really. I’m sure I could talk to guys here, but that knowledge is shared between them and the training staff I’m sure. But, I have a pretty good feel for the important parts of my delivery, my arm strength and health and whatnot. I already have my five-day program scheduled out. I’ve got a velo day coming up in two days. I’ll try to get some max intent work in. Whatever. It’s a complicated progress that doesn’t need explaining, but yeah, I’ve already got my plan set up.”

Q: Are you able to use this time to reflect on your season and identify things to work on?

Bauer: “No, I’m just pissed off. I’m in a constant state of being pissed off right now. So, the more I sit back and think about how good my season’s going, the more pissed off I get, because now I’m not pitching. And that’s what I should be doing. I’m sure there’s plenty of people out there that are happy about the fact that they get to ignore that I’m one of the best pitchers in the league for another year. They don’t have to face that reality. There’s definitely one guy over at Fangraphs who’s probably happy that I’ve gone away for now. But, they’ll have to deal with it at some point.”

Q: Was the stress fracture not found on the initial tests?

Bauer: “The X-rays came back and everything looked really clean. And then when we did further testing, that’s when they found it.”

Q: Will you just do the long-toss as often as it’s tolerable?

Bauer: “Yeah, so, you’ll never be able to get the intensity up as high off your knees, because all the energy that’s generated from the lower half that gets transferred to the upper half through the shoulder-hip separation isn’t there. So, no matter how intense you try to throw, just with your upper half you can never get the speeds and the torque and stuff like that. So, in lieu of that, I just increase volume on a day to day basis. I try to maintain throwing fitness, throwing shape, so that when I come back, you can cut some of that volume out and ramp the intensity up and be in a good spot. So, yeah, it’s something I can do every day, something I plan on doing every day, because the overall stress is way less relative to what I’ve been experiencing the whole season.”

Q: How long do you have to be in the walking boot?

Bauer: “690 days.”

(laughter)

Bauer: “Quite a while.”

Q: Have you been able to reallocate the time you would normally spend with physical work to do research or other non-physical work?

Bauer: “I’ve spent a lot of time doing rehab. Probably more time than is recommended. Editing some All-Star footage. I put together a video for that. Hopefully that’s out in a couple days. Business planning. Stuff like that. Off-field interests.”

Q: You mentioned the negative, but have there been positive messages from fans and others in the past few days?

Bauer: “Oh yeah, a ton of positive stuff. Majority positive, so thank you for everyone who’s reached on that on Twitter on Instagram via text messages, stuff like that. I appreciate all that. And for the people who dislike me and hope that I go away, hopefully your life is a little bit better for the next couple weeks.”

Indians manager Terry Francona

Q: What can you tell us about Bauer’s timetable for return?

Francona: “Back to game activity in 4-to-6 weeks. Part of that, I think we mentioned that the other day, is trying to [put Bauer in a tough spot]. The last thing we’d ever want is somebody asking Trevor every day why he’s not pitching. We know Trevor is not going to shortchange anybody. He’s going to keep his arm in shape. He’s going to do everything he can. That thing is going to heal when it wants to. We also have an obligation to, you know, talking to our trainers today, not let Trevor hurt himself, even if he’s willing to or put himself out there. We kind of have an obligation to keep an eye on guys. We’ll just do what the medical people tell us to do.”

Q: We saw him throwing long-toss from his knees before the game…

Francona: “He threw [from a distance of] 100 [feet] yesterday from his knees. I’m telling you, his arm will be fine.”

Q: Does it help that he has such a regimented throwing program?

Francona: “He’s willing to do it. … I think in about 10 days I think he can throw standing, and then in another 10 days, it’s probably close to the mound work. My guess is his arm is going to feel pretty good.”

Q: Will you guys have to keep Trevor in check?

Francona: “The medical people will tell him what he can do.”

Q: He won’t be going out at midnight to throw, will he?

Francona: (laughs) “He might be.”

Q: What’s the latest on Edwin Encarnacion?

Francona: “He has no symptoms in his bicep, mild symptoms in his hand. He’s doing cage work. Hopefully he’ll resume normal BP by Sunday, Monday in the next week coming up. The potential for him to be activated when his day is up [Tuesday] is probably questionable.”

Q: When Sept. 1 roster expansion is only a couple weeks away, can that play into the decision on whether to activate a player who is rehabbing right now?

Francona: “If it’s coming down where it’s a day or two, I think sometimes it makes some common sense not to send somebody down or something. When guys work hard, they deserve to be back — we’ll bring them back.”

Q: Will Encarnacion need a Minor League rehab?

Francona: “I don’t think so. I mean, if he’s told us he’s need to. I mean, he doesn’t even like Spring Training.”

Q: You mentioned on the road that there will be days when you feel it’s more beneficial for Andrew Miller to work with pitching coach Carl Willis on the side than get into games. Can you provide any more specifics on the reasoning?

Francona: “Some days, I think they feel like it’s more beneficial to work on mechanics and something like that, in a situation where it’s non competitive. We’ve kind of bought into that program because of how important Andrew is. There will be some days he’s not available because of that. It just doesn’t make sense for us to announce it.”

Q: Have you seen improvement from outing to outing from Miller?

Francona: “I believe so, yes.”

Q: What did you think of how Brad Hand worked through that ninth inning on Wednesday in Cincinnati?

Francona: “I thought what he did so well was he also held maybe the best basestealer in the game. He held him in check and then executed pitches. It’s one thing — anybody can slide step — but he executed pitches on top of it. That was a fun [game]. That was one of those games where your stomach is in your throat, but you think you’re going to figure out a way to win. You’re not sure how. And then you watch it unfold, it ended up being a fun game.”

Q: What did you think of the two innings Cody Allen logged before that?

Francona: “When he’s thrown his breaking ball — like a lead breaking ball — it seems like everything kind of relaxes for him. And off of that, then comes the fastball. I just think he was executing more pitches than he didn’t. And he competes so well, which helps him, too.”

Q: What have you thought of what you’ve seen within Greg Allen’s at-bats since he’s come back up?

Francona: “I think he’s doing a better job of laying off of balls out of the zone. Just about every young hitter in the game chases down offspeed. He’s doing a better job of either laying off, not swinging. Or, if he does, [he’s] fouling it with two strikes and kind of earning a pitch up in the zone and doing something with it.”

Q: Now that you’re out of the National League environment, will you take a more extended look at Yandy Diaz?

Francona: “Yeah. He’ll definitely — he’ll at least DH. And then, depending on if we want to rest somebody or DH somebody else, he could play the field, too, for sure.”

Q: Is first base an option for Diaz?

Francona: “Yeah, sure.”

Q: Did you get a chance to go see Leonys Martin at the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday?

Francona: “Yeah, Millsie and I went yesterday. There was a room full of guys over there, which is kind of nice. He was sitting up in a chair. He looked really good. And he wanted everybody to know he appreciates all the thoughts and everything. I thought he looked really good. It was really uplifting to see him like that. There was a room full [of players]. He was sitting up, there were no tubes. He looked really good. Guys are young and strong. From all accounts, he wasn’t looking very good not too long ago. He looked really good.”

Q: What’s Lonnie Chisenhall doing?

Francona: “Lonnie is doing some ground-based running. Most of it is with the alterG. He’s doing all the other throwing, hitting. He’s not yet progressed to full speed. He doesn’t have symptoms, but he’s working up as he does ground-based running.”

[Other injury updates]

Francona: “[Nick] Goody is in Arizona. He’s going to throw a sim game here this upcoming week. Naquin is actually on the [stationary] bike already. I [was really surprised] when I went in there and saw him. He’s doing really well. [Cody Anderson], in the not-too-distant future, he’ll be thinking about some rehab games. Maybe in the next couple of weeks.”

Q: How much are you looking forward to seeing Jim Thome honored before Saturday’s game?

Francona: “It was really fun in Chicago watching, but it will be more fun being that he’s here in Cleveland, hearing what he has to say about some of his memories about Cleveland. I just think he’s so impressive on so many different fronts. He’s Jim when you sit and talk to him one on one, and he’s the same with everybody. But, when he gets in front of that crowd, it just amazes how respectful and how easy it is to be so proud of him and for him. You’re watching his daughter sing the anthem and just watching him glow. He’s a really good ambassador for the game.”

Q: Will you wear your socks high in honor of Thome?

Francoona: “I think everybody is doing that maybe before the game. I’d be willing to look stupid for 10 minutes for him.”

— JB

Query about Salazar did remind me that the routine updates on injury recovery, including Naquin and Cody Anderson and as if we really cared a bit Josh Tomlin have not mentioned Salazar's name in months. He'll be a free agent this winter and it seems pretty doubtful he'll be pulling in big bucks; in fact he may be settling for a minor league or split contract. Who would sign up for anything long-term?

No one. In fact, he will be lucky to even get a major league deal - more like a minor league one.

IF I were the Tribe, I would offer him a one year deal for just a million or 2. Assuming medical reports are ok, and nobody should know his medical status better then they do.

Oh, and I would be sure he was ok with possible bullpen duty. Full or part time.

Cleveland Indians: Talkin' starters, free agents, Yandy Diaz -- Terry Pluto
Updated Aug 18, 8:07 AM; Posted Aug 18, 8:05 AM

Now it's Adam Plutko's turn to step into the Tribe's starting rotation. (Chuck Crow / Plain Dealer)

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By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealerterrypluto2003@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE NEW STARTERS

Losing Trevor Bauer to a stress fracture of the right fibula is a significant injury. The All-Star pitcher was hit in the leg with a line drive last week. The Indians still aren't sure if he'll be back this season.


The durable Bauer (12-6, 2.22 ERA) will make a major effort to return.

Adam Plutko takes Bauer's spot in the rotation, meaning two of the Tribe's five starters are now rookies. And that's not a reason to panic.

Plutko has filled in a few times this season, and he has a 4-2 record with a 4.75 ERA. While the ERA is a bit high, the 26-year-old right-hander has the makings of a solid starter.

Plutko is 7-3 with a 1.70 ERA at Class AAA this season.

The other rookie is Shane Bieber, who is 6-2 with a 4.37 ERA. He has better pure stuff than Plutko. Like Plutko, Bieber's ERA is somewhat high and doesn't reflect how well he has pitched.

Most teams would be overjoyed to have two young starters like Plutko and Bieber at the bottom of their rotation. The Indians' rotation has a 3.33 ERA. In the American League, only Houston (3.06 ERA) is better.

The Indians have endured the loss of Danny Salazar, the 2016 All-Star who had shoulder surgery and hasn't pitched at all this season. Josh Tomlin opened as the fifth starter and had a dreadful season (0-5, 6.98 ERA). He pulled a hamstring and is now pitching at Class AAA Columbus on a rehabilitation assignment.

The rotation remains strong with Corey Kluber (15-6, 2.68 ERA), Carlos Carrasco (14-6, 3.50 ERA) and Mike Clevinger (8-7, 3.38 ERA) still healthy.



The ascension of Plutko and Bieber is a tribute to scouting and the Tribe's farm system. Both were highly successful college pitchers, but neither was considered an elite prospect.

In 2013, Plutko led UCLA to the College World Series, where he was named the MVP. He finished that season with a 10-3 record and a 2.25 ERA.

But Plutko averaged only 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings. His average fastball was about 90 mph. He had a slight stress fracture in his right shoulder. Teams backed away. He dropped into the 11th round, where the Tribe grabbed him with the 321st pick. He signed for $300,000 and worked his way up to the majors.

Bieber went from being a walk-on at California-Santa Barbara to leading that school to its first-ever College World Series. Bieber had a 12-4 record and 2.74 ERA in his final college season. In 135 innings, he walked only 16 compared to 109 strikeouts. In three post-season starts, Bieber had a 1.48 ERA.

But the story was the same when the draft came. Just as scouts were underwhelmed with Plutko's 90 mph fastball, Bieber didn't throw much harder. Despite a spectacular college career, Bieber dropped into the fourth round - and the Tribe took him with the 122nd pick in the 2016 draft.



Yonder Alonso is having a better year than Carlos Santana.

ABOUT ALONSO vs. SANTANA

The Indians did try to re-sign Carlos Santana. I heard they offered him a multi-year deal worth about $13 million annually. Santana checked out the free agent market and hit the $60 million jackpot for three years. That contract came from the Philadelphia Phillies, who wildly out-bid everyone else.

The Indians were not about to give the 32-year-old Santana the same $60 million deal they handed to Edwin Encarnacion before the 2017 season.

With the Phillies, Santana is batting .215 (.745 OPS) with 17 HR and 67 RBI. The Phillies insist they are pleased with Santana, appreciating his .349 on-base percentage. But they must have expected more for that kind of investment.

Once Santana was gone, the Indians signed Yonder Alonso to a 2-year, $16 million deal. It was a bit of a gamble. Alonso hit 28 HR in 2017, by far his career-high. The most he'd ever hit in any season before that was nine.

Alonso had changed his swing to more of an uppercut. He did that at 29 in 2017. So was the new power a fluke, or real? The Indians believed it was real and installed Alonso at first base.

He entered the weekend batting .249 (.757 OPS) with 20 HR and 70 RBI. He's having a better year than Santana.


It has turned out to be a wise move.

ABOUT FREE AGENTS

Besides Santana, the Indians decided to let some other free agents leave after 2017. Here's how they have performed:

1. Joe Smith signed a 2-year, $15 million deal with Houston. The right-handed reliever spent a month on the disabled list, but overall has performed well: 4-1, 3.58 ERA.

2. Bryan Shaw signed a 3-year, $27 million deal with Colorado. He is 4-5 with a 6.31 ERA. He also spent some time on the disabled list. Since the All-Star break, Shaw has an 2.16 ERA in 8 1/3 innings. In general, it has been a very rocky year for the righty reliever.

3. Jay Bruce signed a 3-year, $39 million deal with the Mets. He is batting .212 with three HR and 17 RBI. He has played only 62 games and been out since June 19 with a hip injury.

4. Austin Jackson signed a 2-year, $6 million deal with San Francisco. He was traded to Texas on July 11. He was released by the Rangers three days later. He signed with the Mets. Jackson is batting .281 (.718 OPS) with two HR and 22 RBI in 76 games this season.

5. Boone Logan signed a $2.1 million deal with Milwaukee. He had a 5.91 ERA in 16 games and was released on June 24.

6. Kyle Crockett signed a minor-league deal with Cincinnati. He had a 5.75 ERA in 9 1/3 innings with the Reds. He has a 3.38 ERA for Cincinnati's Class AAA Louisville team.



The Indians have to figure out a way to get more at bats for Yandy Diaz.
ABOUT YANDY DIAZ

1. Some fans have asked about Diaz playing the outfield. Diaz was a second baseman in Cuba. He played mostly third in the minors for the Tribe. This season in Class AAA, Diaz played 73 games at third base, 12 at first. The Indians feel comfortable about his defense at either spot.

2. In 2017, the Tribe tried to make Diaz into an outfielder. He played only three games there, and it wasn't pretty. He played 30 games in the outfield in Class AAA in 2017, and he had problems.

3. The Indians could platoon Diaz with Alonso at first base for the rest of this season. A lefty hitter, Alonso is batting .230 (.645 OPS) vs. lefties. A year ago, it was .181 (.679 OPS) vs. lefties. Diaz is a right-handed hitter who hits about everyone well.

4. Now, it's up to manager Terry Francona to find a spot for Diaz to play at least a few times a week. For now, he can be the DH as Edwin Encarnacion is out with a bicep injury.

5. Diaz entered the weekend batting .524 (11-for-21) with the Tribe. Since the 2017 All-Star break, he's a .348 hitter (39-for-112) in limited big-league duty. After batting .319 (.848 OPS) in 1,235 Class AAA plate appearances, it makes little sense for the 27-year-old Diaz to spend any more time in Columbus. Francona recently told the media: "At some point, he is going to hit in the middle of the lineup."


6. Francona shot down the idea of moving second baseman Jason Kipnis to the outfield, opening up third base for Diaz. Jose Ramirez would switch from third to second base under that plan: "We're going to keep (Kipnis) right where he is."

7. In some ways, Diaz is facing the same roadblock as Jesus Aguilar. The Indians put Aguilar on waivers before the 2017 spring training. He was out of minor-league options. The first baseman/DH had Carlos Santana and Edwin Encarnacion in front of him. He showed far more power in the minors than Diaz. But Diaz is a pure hitter who is big league ready.

8. At the age of 28, Aguilar has become an All-Star with Milwaukee. He entered the weekend batting .280 (.950 OPS) with 29 HR and 87 RBI. When it comes to Diaz, the Indians know they have to find a way to keep him. That probably will lead to more Kipnis trade rumors in the off-season.

ABOUT THE INDIANS

1. If the Indians reach down to Class AAA Columbus for a reliever, it could be Jon Edwards. He is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA, 38 strikeouts and only six walks in 26 innings. The 30-year-old was signed as a minor-league free agent before the season.

2. In 2015, Edwards pitched 25 innings for Texas and San Diego with a 4.32 ERA out of the bullpen. He missed the next two seasons (2016-17) because of injuries. He is healthy now and on the Tribe's radar.


3. While there is much talk in the media and among fans about the Tribe adding an outfielder, the performance of Melky Cabrera has taken away some of the urgency. He was with the Tribe early this season, batting only .207.

4. The Indians brought Cabrera back to Cleveland after the All-Star break. Since then, he's hitting .311 (.822 OPS) with three HR and nine RBI. The 34-year-old Cabrera is a veteran switch-hitter with a .285 (.752 OPS) career average.

5. The Indians believe if Cabrera continues to hit well while playing right field, they can live with Greg Allen and Rajai Davis splitting the duties in center.

6. The Indians are excited about the recovery of Leonys Martin from a life-threatening bacterial infection. He is out of intensive care and making real progress. But it's very doubtful the center fielder will be well enough to play this season.

7. Brandon Guyer has come out of a first-half funk. Since the All-Star break, Guyer is batting .289 (.904 OPS) with three HR and nine RBI in 40 plate appearances. The Indians are desperate for Guyer, Cabrera and another outfielder to be productive.