Absolutely. I hadn’t seen that so good news.

When evaluating the weapons that the Indians have at their disposal in 2019, the starting rotation is the obvious choice. Although the team lost Mike Clevinger (upper back strain) and had rough outings from Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco over the weekend, the Tribe still entered Thursday leading all starting staffs in strikeouts per nine innings (11.55). But because the star-studded rotation absorbs most of the attention, there has been much less focus on a reliever who has served as the Indians’ secret weapon through the first few weeks of the season.

The Indians entered Spring Training this year with no certainties in their bullpen other than Brad Hand, but Adam Cimber has had a stellar start to his 2019 season. In nine appearances, the righty has given up two hits, struck out six batters and has been charged with just one run on a two-run homer off Oliver Perez on Monday. Entering the week, he owned the second-lowest barrel rate of all qualified pitchers who have thrown at least 200 pitches, according to Statcast, dating back to the start of the 2018 season (1.8 percent). He's stayed in the top 4 percent of the league in exit velocity since last season (84.7 mph in 2018; 82.4 mph in '19) and was in the top 1 percent in xSLG (.166), wOBA (.080) and xwOBA (.137) entering Tuesday.

“I think he’s excelled,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He got a chance to pitch full innings and he’s taken advantage of it.”

good. we needed him.

So I checked in former setup man par excellance Bryan Shaw. He had a terrible 2018 for the Rockies. Better this year but he's not striking guys out:

10 1/3 innings 5 hits 1 run ERA 0.87 5 walks 3 strikeouts I suppose that means he's relying on offspeed stuff more?

Is everyone bad the first year they leave Cleveland? Andrew Miller is not doing well for the Cardinals.

6 2/3 innings 9 hits 7 runs 5 earned 3 homeruns! 5 walks, 2 hit batters 8 strikeouts WHIP unsightly 2.10
For that he's getting paid 11,000,000 this year and 11500000 next and no worse than a $2.5M buyout in 2021.
Good guy, hope he comes back to form

No some guys do well after they leave:

Cody Allen's allowed 1 run on 1 hit in 6 1/3 innings walked 2 fanned 7. 4 saves. 11 homers allowed last year; none in the early going this season

Will poor Mike Freeman see his Indians career end after 3 games or will they let him hang around as utility guy and send Moroff down? Latter is apparently a somewhat better fielder but with no offensive skills

civ ollilavad wrote:No some guys do well after they leave:

Cody Allen's allowed 1 run on 1 hit in 6 1/3 innings walked 2 fanned 7. 4 saves. 11 homers allowed last year; none in the early going this season

Very happy for Cody - I think he will be just fine.

As for Miller, the jury is still out as to whether his mechanics will allow him to be fully healthy and effective again.

Carlos Santana sworn in as U.S. citizen today!! (Hanley was already previously sworn in)

Long road to become a naturalized citizen.

Every high school student in the country should be required to pass the same tests.

Oh, snap!

-

CLEVELAND -- After 74 days of battling through injuries, Francisco Lindor is back.

The Indians announced Saturday afternoon that the All-Star shortstop has been activated off the 10-day injured list prior to the team’s doubleheader against the Braves. In a corresponding move, the Tribe designated designated hitter Hanley Ramirez for assignment.

If you’re a guy who is strictly a DH and eats up a roster spot with no help defensively then you darn well better hit better than .184. Especially on a Tito team that has most of roster ate up with relievers.

I was afraid this wouldn’t work out. Hoping for best but doubted it. But it was worth a shot. Didn’t cost much.

Well I'm a little surprised but it makes sense. I prefer not having a designated DH and letting position players shift over for semi-off days.
So someone else gets the day in Cleveland as 26th man.
it won't be reliever Nick Goody who pitched and pitched very badly last night. Or Jefry Rodriguez, for the same reason. Hu is available. So is Jon Edwards, probably the most likely choice
They could give Eric Haase a day in Cleveland to DH one game. Or force us to look at Jordan Luplow again. Or more interesting for Mercado to get one day in Cleveland to play a little. [and maybe stay on and return Greg Allen to the Cliippers]

Bye bye Hanley - I agree he was worth a shot but he had to hit and he didn't.

I will say this, in retrospect he DID have a key hit or 2 for us at least. We move on and hope guys like Bauers and Naquin show us something.

And yes would love to see Mercado get a shot now too.