No truth to the rumor that Jose, recently, asked for some extra "juice" with his breakfast and got just what he needed.

I hope this posts correctly, here is our outfield for the past 30 days:

AB RUNS HITS HR RBI WK KO SB AVG OBP SLG
Luplow 80 14 22 3 14 13 21 0 0.275 0.383 0.463 0.846
Allen 80 14 23 2 14 4 15 2 0.288 0.36 0.488 0.848
Naquiin 101 18 33 7 19 5 20 1 0.327 0.358 0.644 1.002
Bauer 106 13 30 3 13 7 27 0 0.283 0.33 0.425 0.755
Mercado 121 13 32 4 16 8 24 3 0.264 0.313 0.438 0.751
AVG 97.6 14.4 28 3.8 15.2 7.4 21.4 1.2 0.2874 0.3488 0.4916 0.8404

Not too shabby. Also, not a bad defensive outfield. I think I pass on Frazier!

RATS, I hate formatting!

Frazier would also be a DH candidate - could occasionally play OF sorta like a JD Martinez type. Do remember that he is a RH bat. That's huge on this team. A right handed bat who can hit for power and average would fit really well with all the lefties here.

Of course I don't think that will happen though. Doubt Yankees are in play.

Also great point about the speed and defense in the current makeup of the outfield.

Can't be emphasized enough that you have to build around your strengths. Our strength is starting pitching so a strong defense with speed all over the diamond compliments that starting pitching.

Salazar looked fantastic for four innings yesterday.

Great! His rehab time is just about up; does he replace Plutko in the rotation or take a spot toward the back end of the bullpen?

I’m glad the Indians acquired some young relief help. Wood looks like he has potential. I was hoping for something more dynamic but if nothing else develops at least we got some help.

So in 7 minor league seasons Hunter Wood has a 3.28 ERA. He's allowed 415 hits in 532 innings, with 551 K's. And a WHIP of 1.096.

Not bad.

In parts of 3 major league seasons he has a 3.20 ERA. Has allowed 68 hits in 70+ innings, with 66 K.

He has to be better than Cole. Maybe Otero too unless he comes back pitching better than when he left.

It should improve our depth, but not give us a lock down guy at the back end to help Hand that I was hoping for.

Indians and Tampa have made a lot of trades in the last 24 months:

July 3, 2019
Traded international bonus slot money to the Tampa Bay Rays. Received Andrew Velazquez.

July 28, 2019
Traded Ruben Cardenas (minors) and international bonus slot money to the Tampa Bay Rays. Received Christian Arroyo and Hunter Wood.

March 27, 2018
Sold Rob Refsnyder to the Tampa Bay Rays.

July 24, 2018
Selected Johnny Field off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.

November 19, 2018
Traded Gionti Turner (minors) to the Tampa Bay Rays. Received Chih-Wei Hu.

December 13, 2018

As part of a 3-team trade, traded Cole Sulser (minors) and Yandy Diaz to the Tampa Bay Rays and Edwin Encarnacion and 2019 competitive balance pick to the Seattle Mariners. Received Jake Bauers from the Tampa Bay Rays and Carlos Santana and cash from the Seattle Mariners. In addition, the Tampa Bay Rays sent cash to the Seattle Mariners.

Indians must like the Tampa system. So far, I would say Tampa is doing better than Cleveland just based on Yandy.

Francona and Rays manager, Cash, are very close friends. That may help grease the skids.

Yandy was just placed on the IL again recently. That’s his second trip this year, and 3rd time he will miss a chunk of time due to injury this year. (Still has 14 homers) Who knows, maybe all those muscles will keep getting strained and we won’t miss him as much as we thought.

latest Yandy injury is a foot contusion after fouling a ball off his foot; can't blame that one on the big muscles

Can’t blame his wrist injury on it either. I wasn’t trying to make a scientific statement. But 3 injuries in a season is a bit odd. Let me just say if he turns out to be another Chisenhall I would feel better.

I do wonder why some guys tend to get strains and pulls a lot more often than others.

I’m sure a lot of it is genes.

My wife took a medication when she was young that weakened her bones and teeth. We were vacationing one time and she had a fall. I saw the whole thing and looked totally innocent. I’ve seen a lot worse on ball fields and outside of bars. Yet she ended up with a broken leg. Another time a puppy of ours accidentally tripped her up, and she ended up with a broken leg and torn ACL. She popped her own knee back into socket. And she was playing handball once and took a dive, broke her fall with her hand and ended up with a broken wrist. And tore her other ACL playing a different time. (She has since given up sports)

None of these you would have guessed would have resulted in injury if you saw them. So there may be other factors as well for some athletes.

Indians players has had a ton of strained calves in recent years. Is there a workout that team trainers have them doing that stresses that muscle more than other teams? Do their pregame stretches neglect that area?

Just thinking out loud ... Errr ... on a keyboard.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Indians are among the teams looking at Justin Smoak of the Blue Jays.

Smoak is hitting just .215 this season, but he owns a .357 on-base percentage with 18 homers over 86 games. The impending free agent could be a useful bat for multiple contenders.

(Well, we know the Blue Jay front office and the Indians are very well acquainted.)

I don't want Smoak unless he plays second, we have Santana Bauers and Bradley!

I agree, Lou. Don't make a move simply for the sake of making a move. If it isn't a guy who makes us obviously better why bother.