Re: Articles
2071The good news for the dolanites is that there will be more room for them to move down at the ball park and freeload to watch some boring baseball.
Re: Articles
2072http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/p ... ings120817
I was perusing this current lead MLB story on ESPN.com by Jayson Stark about the playoff chances and possible insane schedule with the extra wild card team this season. If I read correctly he writes that "86" is believed to be the magic number of wins to make the wild card in the American League, and says the Red Sox can get there by going 25-15 over the next 40 games:
What it will take
Coolstandings estimates it will take 90 wins for a team to qualify as the second wild card in the National League, but only 86 in the American League. So here are the records the clubs deemed to have at least a 5 percent chance would need to rack up the rest of the way:
American League:
• Orioles: 22-22
• Rays: 22-22
• Tigers: 23-21
• Athletics: 24-21
• Angels: 24-19
• Red Sox: 25-15
National League:
• Braves: 22-22
• Cardinals: 26-18
• Pirates: 25-19
• Giants 26-18
• Diamondbacks: 31-13
One thing we know about projections is that they come with no money-back guarantees. But it's interesting to note that, while it seems implausible now that the Red Sox could climb over all those teams, you know what the Cardinals' record was last year in their final 40 games? An identical 25-15. So, ya never know.
The thing is, I show Boston to have a current record of 58-61.
Going 25-15 would get them to 83 wins only, correct? And only have played 159 games?
Am I missing something in his Boston bean count?
I was perusing this current lead MLB story on ESPN.com by Jayson Stark about the playoff chances and possible insane schedule with the extra wild card team this season. If I read correctly he writes that "86" is believed to be the magic number of wins to make the wild card in the American League, and says the Red Sox can get there by going 25-15 over the next 40 games:
What it will take
Coolstandings estimates it will take 90 wins for a team to qualify as the second wild card in the National League, but only 86 in the American League. So here are the records the clubs deemed to have at least a 5 percent chance would need to rack up the rest of the way:
American League:
• Orioles: 22-22
• Rays: 22-22
• Tigers: 23-21
• Athletics: 24-21
• Angels: 24-19
• Red Sox: 25-15
National League:
• Braves: 22-22
• Cardinals: 26-18
• Pirates: 25-19
• Giants 26-18
• Diamondbacks: 31-13
One thing we know about projections is that they come with no money-back guarantees. But it's interesting to note that, while it seems implausible now that the Red Sox could climb over all those teams, you know what the Cardinals' record was last year in their final 40 games? An identical 25-15. So, ya never know.
The thing is, I show Boston to have a current record of 58-61.
Going 25-15 would get them to 83 wins only, correct? And only have played 159 games?
Am I missing something in his Boston bean count?
Re: Articles
2073Jim Ingraham: Manny Acta's words speak volumes
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012
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5
By Jim Ingraham
JIngraham@News-Herald.com
@jitribeinsider
Click to enlarge
As this Indians season continues to circle the drain, and as the vultures begin to circle the team, it seems to be producing a certain uncomfortable edginess that could lead events down any one of a number of dark alleys.
It led to Manager Manny Acta on Wednesday making perhaps his most extraordinary statement since becoming manager of the team 2½ years ago.
He basically called out the front office, or made a pre-emptive PR strike against speculation, if not outright fact, that his job is hanging in the balance of what happens the rest of this inglorious Indians season.
Maybe that wasn't his intent, but it was such an out-of-character comment by Acta, that it almost begs some dot connecting.
A pitching coach has already lost his job because of this season.
Is Acta concerned he could be next?
Whatever it is, something seemed to be going on Wednesday in Anaheim, when reporters asked Acta what needs to be done to improve the team next year.
"It's no secret," he said. "We're going to need to improve our offense. We're going to have to find a solution in left field, we're going to have to find a solution at first base and we're going to have to find a solution at DH. That's pretty obvious.
"And the third-base situation is not determined, either. Lonnie (Chisenhall) has a broken arm. The guys that are here right now are fine and doing what they can, but we expect more."
Then the Indians went out and in their error-filled, P.T. Barnum 8-4 loss to the Angels, played the kind of game that made you think, "This is how teams play when a manager is about to get fired."
I don't think Acta will get fired. I don't think he should get fired. I do think a lot of people think he should. Perhaps some of those people are Indians employees. Perhaps Acta knows that. Perhaps that's why he said what he said.
Let's read between the lines of what he said. If you do that, here's what I read: "Are you kidding me? Win with this lineup? Look at these guys!"
When a manager comes out and says four of the nine positions in the starting lineup need to be fixed — and he's willing to identify those positions by name — that's about as blunt an indictment of the roster he's been given as a manager can make.
Most managers, when asked that question, would respond with something far more generic. Something like this: "Well, obviously, we need to improve offensively, in any way we can," — and let it go at that.
Acta didn't. Acta went way beyond that.
Why?
It almost seemed like those words were directed at General Manager Chris Antonetti. If so, that wasn't necessary because Acta and Antonetti have undoubtedly covered this ground before in their private conversations. Antonetti already knows what this team needs. But maybe Acta was trying to make a point to Antonetti by saying it publicly, to turn up the heat a little on the GM.
Or were those words directed more at ownership, on behalf of Antonetti, who is forced to construct a roster every year on a shoestring budget? Let's be honest. When you say you need to replace four of the nine position starters in the lineup, what you're really saying is, "If we want to compete, we've got to start spending some money around here."
Or were those words meant for the fans, who in situations such as these tend to support the knee-jerk reaction of firing the manager because, well, it's all his fault.
Is this Acta's way of saying to the fans, "My fault? Name me one manager anywhere who could win with this roster."
In reality, Acta's comments are probably the result of a little bit of all that — plus a whole lot of frustration. It's late in the year, the season is going down the drain, and there is no help on the way.
Maybe Acta just decided it was a good time to remind everyone — his bosses and the fans — that this isn't just a flawed roster, it's a fatally flawed roster.
It's certainly not a roster with which, if a manager didn't win he deserves to be fired because of it.
Baseball isn't always fair.
Managers get fired after seasons like this, because of rosters like this. It's not fair, but it happens. Acta knows that. So why not remind everyone that four of the nine spots in your lineup are ghosts?
On the other hand, Acta does have one more year left on his contract — but so what?
So did Eric Wedge.
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012
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5
By Jim Ingraham
JIngraham@News-Herald.com
@jitribeinsider
Click to enlarge
As this Indians season continues to circle the drain, and as the vultures begin to circle the team, it seems to be producing a certain uncomfortable edginess that could lead events down any one of a number of dark alleys.
It led to Manager Manny Acta on Wednesday making perhaps his most extraordinary statement since becoming manager of the team 2½ years ago.
He basically called out the front office, or made a pre-emptive PR strike against speculation, if not outright fact, that his job is hanging in the balance of what happens the rest of this inglorious Indians season.
Maybe that wasn't his intent, but it was such an out-of-character comment by Acta, that it almost begs some dot connecting.
A pitching coach has already lost his job because of this season.
Is Acta concerned he could be next?
Whatever it is, something seemed to be going on Wednesday in Anaheim, when reporters asked Acta what needs to be done to improve the team next year.
"It's no secret," he said. "We're going to need to improve our offense. We're going to have to find a solution in left field, we're going to have to find a solution at first base and we're going to have to find a solution at DH. That's pretty obvious.
"And the third-base situation is not determined, either. Lonnie (Chisenhall) has a broken arm. The guys that are here right now are fine and doing what they can, but we expect more."
Then the Indians went out and in their error-filled, P.T. Barnum 8-4 loss to the Angels, played the kind of game that made you think, "This is how teams play when a manager is about to get fired."
I don't think Acta will get fired. I don't think he should get fired. I do think a lot of people think he should. Perhaps some of those people are Indians employees. Perhaps Acta knows that. Perhaps that's why he said what he said.
Let's read between the lines of what he said. If you do that, here's what I read: "Are you kidding me? Win with this lineup? Look at these guys!"
When a manager comes out and says four of the nine positions in the starting lineup need to be fixed — and he's willing to identify those positions by name — that's about as blunt an indictment of the roster he's been given as a manager can make.
Most managers, when asked that question, would respond with something far more generic. Something like this: "Well, obviously, we need to improve offensively, in any way we can," — and let it go at that.
Acta didn't. Acta went way beyond that.
Why?
It almost seemed like those words were directed at General Manager Chris Antonetti. If so, that wasn't necessary because Acta and Antonetti have undoubtedly covered this ground before in their private conversations. Antonetti already knows what this team needs. But maybe Acta was trying to make a point to Antonetti by saying it publicly, to turn up the heat a little on the GM.
Or were those words directed more at ownership, on behalf of Antonetti, who is forced to construct a roster every year on a shoestring budget? Let's be honest. When you say you need to replace four of the nine position starters in the lineup, what you're really saying is, "If we want to compete, we've got to start spending some money around here."
Or were those words meant for the fans, who in situations such as these tend to support the knee-jerk reaction of firing the manager because, well, it's all his fault.
Is this Acta's way of saying to the fans, "My fault? Name me one manager anywhere who could win with this roster."
In reality, Acta's comments are probably the result of a little bit of all that — plus a whole lot of frustration. It's late in the year, the season is going down the drain, and there is no help on the way.
Maybe Acta just decided it was a good time to remind everyone — his bosses and the fans — that this isn't just a flawed roster, it's a fatally flawed roster.
It's certainly not a roster with which, if a manager didn't win he deserves to be fired because of it.
Baseball isn't always fair.
Managers get fired after seasons like this, because of rosters like this. It's not fair, but it happens. Acta knows that. So why not remind everyone that four of the nine spots in your lineup are ghosts?
On the other hand, Acta does have one more year left on his contract — but so what?
So did Eric Wedge.
Re: Articles
2075If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'
In the wake of San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera's 50-game suspension for using testosterone, and BALCO co-founder Victor Conte's assertion perhaps 50% of major leaguers might be doping, the question is: How many — and which — ballplayers are using?
One American League manager, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, said it would not surprise him if he learned seven or eight of his players were using performance-enhancing drugs.
COLUMN: Melky Cabrera latest to attack our innocence
PHOTOS: Notable MLB suspensions for PED use
"The mentality to do whatever is possible to try to succeed exists throughout society," Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro said. "In any free-market system, the greater the reward, the higher the propensity for violation. It happens on Wall Street, right?''
Cabrera, second in the NL with a .346 batting average, was in line for a hefty free-agent contract this winter before his suspension.
"Some of the people that are most understanding of the stuff that has gone on are the guys who played in the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s," MLB vice president Tony La Russa said. "How many times do you hear, 'If that stuff had been here, I would have used it, too'?
"When you compete, you want to be as good as you possibly can be, and that includes finding every edge that makes you better. You've had guys scuffing balls and corking bats, too. You have to balance all that with sportsmanship and fair play.''
Said Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall: "I think there's an extreme pressure to perform, and they're very competitive by nature anyways, so some athletes look for any advantage they can get. It doesn't make them bad guys, but it's not fair for those following the rules.''
Conte told USA TODAY Sports that there's a huge loophole in MLB's testing program, that players can take testosterone at night, and the next day still register lower than the required 4-1 ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone. MLB's lab uses the sophisticated and expensive IRMS and CIR testing only if the T/E ratio is higher than 4-1.
Gary Wadler, former chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, said it's almost impossible for testosterone use to go undetected if more expensive CIR or IRMS tests are used. MLB normally uses them only if a testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio is higher than 4/1; it would cost about $1.5 million for use in all of the tests.
"The T/E ratio has its problems," Wadler said. " You can hide behind a T/E ratio. Lawyers are adept at creating reasonable doubt in those cases. The CIR tests take care of that. This isn't a matter of science, but economics."
In the wake of San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera's 50-game suspension for using testosterone, and BALCO co-founder Victor Conte's assertion perhaps 50% of major leaguers might be doping, the question is: How many — and which — ballplayers are using?
One American League manager, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, said it would not surprise him if he learned seven or eight of his players were using performance-enhancing drugs.
COLUMN: Melky Cabrera latest to attack our innocence
PHOTOS: Notable MLB suspensions for PED use
"The mentality to do whatever is possible to try to succeed exists throughout society," Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro said. "In any free-market system, the greater the reward, the higher the propensity for violation. It happens on Wall Street, right?''
Cabrera, second in the NL with a .346 batting average, was in line for a hefty free-agent contract this winter before his suspension.
"Some of the people that are most understanding of the stuff that has gone on are the guys who played in the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s," MLB vice president Tony La Russa said. "How many times do you hear, 'If that stuff had been here, I would have used it, too'?
"When you compete, you want to be as good as you possibly can be, and that includes finding every edge that makes you better. You've had guys scuffing balls and corking bats, too. You have to balance all that with sportsmanship and fair play.''
Said Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall: "I think there's an extreme pressure to perform, and they're very competitive by nature anyways, so some athletes look for any advantage they can get. It doesn't make them bad guys, but it's not fair for those following the rules.''
Conte told USA TODAY Sports that there's a huge loophole in MLB's testing program, that players can take testosterone at night, and the next day still register lower than the required 4-1 ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone. MLB's lab uses the sophisticated and expensive IRMS and CIR testing only if the T/E ratio is higher than 4-1.
Gary Wadler, former chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, said it's almost impossible for testosterone use to go undetected if more expensive CIR or IRMS tests are used. MLB normally uses them only if a testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio is higher than 4/1; it would cost about $1.5 million for use in all of the tests.
"The T/E ratio has its problems," Wadler said. " You can hide behind a T/E ratio. Lawyers are adept at creating reasonable doubt in those cases. The CIR tests take care of that. This isn't a matter of science, but economics."
Re: Articles
2076Sweet!
I'll go first Gaylord.
No secret here! I'm definitely on Manny Acta's side.
It's about time that someone stood up and said what some of us have been thinking for years now. Glad to see that Manny won't be going down without a fight. Finally someone speaks without a forked tongue. The problems have been obvious for months now. Hopefully, now the burden is on the owner, the front office, and the scouting department.
I'll go first Gaylord.
No secret here! I'm definitely on Manny Acta's side.
It's about time that someone stood up and said what some of us have been thinking for years now. Glad to see that Manny won't be going down without a fight. Finally someone speaks without a forked tongue. The problems have been obvious for months now. Hopefully, now the burden is on the owner, the front office, and the scouting department.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Articles
2077I don't think what Acta said is any big deal. You'd have to be pretty dense not to notice that those positions did not pan out this year. That does not mean it was a mistake to try the solutions they did.
He did NOT say that, and that would have been entirely different.
OK, Casey Kotchman hit WAY worse than he did last year. That could not have been predicted. Hafner tanked again, good riddance to him. Grady, well, that was a huge mistake - but not a money one. Both those guys made significant money.
So I think this writer speculated his way into an article. Made his paycheck for another day.
All GMs talk about what they need to upgrade for next season when the season is over. Well, the season is over for the Cleveland Indians. Time to think about upgrades. Whether Antonetti or Acta says it, doesn't matter. The players in those positions let the team down. Move on.
He did NOT say that, and that would have been entirely different.
OK, Casey Kotchman hit WAY worse than he did last year. That could not have been predicted. Hafner tanked again, good riddance to him. Grady, well, that was a huge mistake - but not a money one. Both those guys made significant money.
So I think this writer speculated his way into an article. Made his paycheck for another day.
All GMs talk about what they need to upgrade for next season when the season is over. Well, the season is over for the Cleveland Indians. Time to think about upgrades. Whether Antonetti or Acta says it, doesn't matter. The players in those positions let the team down. Move on.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
2078I note the significance of two Tribe scribes, Jim Ingraham and Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal, both coming out with articles directly and and nearly directly calling the complicitors in The Shapiro Regime to task within the same 24 hours. Ridenour tasked Shapiro with responsibility given the car he gave Antonetti to drive. Ingraham just writes that the problem is upstairs and not much Acta's fault.
There may have been more articles, I just saw those two rare ones questioning the front office on the same day.
I think there is some fire behind the growing smoke.
There may have been more articles, I just saw those two rare ones questioning the front office on the same day.
I think there is some fire behind the growing smoke.
Re: Articles
2079gaylord perry wrote:Thought you guys would be interested in this. Let the discussion begin!!!
Let's put it this way: if Acta is the only one fired, that would be an injustice. The big decisions this offseason--the decision to cap the payroll where it is, and the decision to use all of our preciously small amount of discretionary funds on people who one way or another couldn't play (Lowe, Kotchman, Sizemore)--weren't his to make.
This version of the rebuild failed, much more dramatically and decisively than the 2002-03 rebuild, which underachieved in the end but at least gave us two big winning seasons in the meantime. That sort of failure demands a price be paid.
Having said that, the Indians have what is probably the worst pitching staff in the major leagues. The lineup deficiencies can't explain how that's the case.
Re: Articles
2080The only change that will make a difference in the short, medium and long range is a change in ownership.
Re: Articles
2081I do want to point out that some of the biggest failures this year were from guys MAKING money. Ubaldo and Hafner.
They also shelled out $5 million for nothing in Grady. And Derek Lowe as well.
(Also, Asdrubal has come to earth after last season. As did Santana AND Masterson.)
Those are personnel decisions, not money decisions.
They also shelled out $5 million for nothing in Grady. And Derek Lowe as well.
(Also, Asdrubal has come to earth after last season. As did Santana AND Masterson.)
Those are personnel decisions, not money decisions.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
2082I suppose one could argue that Lowe pitched like a $15 million dollar player for 1/3 of a season.
Re: Articles
2083This is nuts:
Some posters will write anything to avoid placing blame where it needs to be placed on the ownership who hire the front office which basically has been the same since Hank Peters. They obviously dont want to spend the money for a makeover which would be bringing someone in from the outside who would do a thorough inspection of the whole operation. What is needed is a new top down approach which must start with an ownership change which they dont want because the Dolans are making money.
TFIR wrote:I don't think what Acta said is any big deal. You'd have to be pretty dense not to notice that those positions did not pan out this year. THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT WAS A MISTAKE TO TRY THE SOLUTIONS THEY DID.
He did NOT say that, and that would have been entirely different.
OK, Casey Kotchman hit WAY worse than he did last year. That could not have been predicted. Hafner tanked again, good riddance to him. Grady, well, that was a huge mistake - but not a money one. Both those guys made significant money.
So I think this writer speculated his way into an article. Made his paycheck for another day.
All GMs talk about what they need to upgrade for next season when the season is over. Well, the season is over for the Cleveland Indians. Time to think about upgrades. Whether Antonetti or Acta says it, doesn't matter. The players in those positions let the team down. Move on.
Some posters will write anything to avoid placing blame where it needs to be placed on the ownership who hire the front office which basically has been the same since Hank Peters. They obviously dont want to spend the money for a makeover which would be bringing someone in from the outside who would do a thorough inspection of the whole operation. What is needed is a new top down approach which must start with an ownership change which they dont want because the Dolans are making money.
Re: Articles
2084Perhaps ironic that Mark Shapiro had the above comment about Wall Street cheating that Seagull shared yesterday, and now this story becomes public today:seagull wrote:If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'
In the wake of San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera's 50-game suspension for using testosterone, and BALCO co-founder Victor Conte's assertion perhaps 50% of major leaguers might be doping, the question is: How many — and which — ballplayers are using?
"The mentality to do whatever is possible to try to succeed exists throughout society," Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro said. "In any free-market system, the greater the reward, the higher the propensity for violation. It happens on Wall Street, right?''
Aug 18, 11:55 AM EDT
Hall of Famer Murray settles insider-trading case
By MARCY GORDON
AP Business Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Eddie Murray made big money in baseball with his powerful swing from both sides of the plate.
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, he had some illicit help after leaving the game.
The Hall of Fame slugger has agreed to pay $358,151 to settle federal civil charges of profiting in stock trades by using confidential information passed to him by a former teammate.
The SEC on Friday also announced related charges against James Mazzo, former CEO of Advanced Medical Optics, and businessman David Parker. The SEC said Mazzo provided illegal tips about a planned acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics by Abbott Laboratories in January 2009.
Mazzo passed the information to Murray's former teammate, Doug DeCinces, who tipped off Murray and Parker, the SEC alleges in a civil lawsuit. DeCinces settled the SEC's charges a year ago by agreeing to pay $2.5 million.
Murray, who retired in 1997 with more than 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing but agreed to refrain from future violations of securities laws.
The SEC is still pursuing its cases against Mazzo and Parker.
Mazzo is now president of Abbott Medical Optics Inc. Through his attorney, Mazzo said he "flatly and unequivocally denies the SEC's allegations."
The attorney, Richard Marmaro, said in a statement: "We are confident that an independent, objective fact-finder will fully exonerate Mr. Mazzo after a fair evaluation of all of the evidence."
Murray's lawyer, Michael Proctor, noted that his client didn't admit wrongdoing in the settlement. Murray "has settled this to put the case to an end and get on with his life," Proctor said.
An attorney for Parker declined to comment.
The amount Murray is paying consists of:
- $117,657 as a civil penalty.
- $235,314 in restitution - the sum of his alleged illegal profits.
- $5,180 in interest.
Murray, 56, who lives in Santa Clarita, Calif., was a switch-hitting first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles from 1977-88. After DeCinces left the Orioles, he and Murray maintained a close friendship, according to the SEC.
The agency said that Mazzo, 55, and DeCinces also were close friends and lived in the same exclusive community in Laguna Beach, Calif.
"It is truly disappointing when role models, particularly those who have achieved so much in their professional careers, give in to the temptation of easy money," Daniel Hawke, chief of the SEC enforcement division's market abuse unit, said in a statement.
The SEC said that weeks before an announcement of Abbott's acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics, Mazzo told DeCinces about the deal. As CEO of Advanced Medical Optics, Mazzo knew about it. DeCinces then bought 90,700 shares of AMO through several brokerage accounts, according to the SEC.
DeCinces, in turn, passed the information to at least five people, including Parker and Murray, the SEC says, and they all bought AMO stock.
The merger agreement was announced on Jan. 12, 2009. Abbott agreed to pay $22 a share for AMO. That day, the stock closed at $21.50 a share - a 143 percent jump from $8.85 a share the day before.
DeCinces sold his shares for a profit of about $1.38 million, the SEC said. And it said the five people DeCinces tipped off made a total of $2.4 million in alleged illegal profits.
The Orioles declined to comment Friday.
Though salaries for top players during his day were not what they are now, Murray signed several free-agent contracts in the 1990s and made tens of millions in the game. He protected his privacy and had a reputation for being surly with reporters, but Murray was an unquestioned clubhouse leader who was respected by teammates and opponents alike.
A durable star nicknamed "Steady Eddie," he also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians and Anaheim Angels in a 21-year major league career. Murray finished with 504 homers and 3,255 hits, making him one of only four players to reach both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.
Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Rafael Palmeiro are the others.
Murray, an eight-time All-Star and the 1977 AL Rookie of the Year, played in two World Series with Baltimore and one with Cleveland. He helped the Orioles win a championship in 1983 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first try 20 years later.
Re: Articles
2085Pluto impresses with Tribe pitching:
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With 38 games (on Sunday) left in the MLB season, we start today's thoughts by talkin' ...
About the Indians' pitching ...
1. When Manny Acta spoke of the Tribe's needs in 2013, he told the PD's Paul Hoynes: "We're going to have to find a solution in left field. We're going to have to find a solution at first base and we're going to have to find a solution at DH ... and the third base situation is not determined either. Lonnie [Chisenhall] has a broken arm."
2. The Tribe manager is right. But what the Indians need more than anything in 2013 is starting pitching. The situation is so bleak that barring a major collapse or injury, Roberto Hernandez will be back in 2013. They are expected to pick up his $6 million option for next season. How many games has Hernandez pitched in 2012? One. Last year as Fausto Carmona, he was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA. In the previous four years, his ERAs have been 5.44, 6.32, 3.77, and 5.25.
3. So this is not exactly like waiting for Bob Lemon or even an aging Orel Hershiser to come back. Few believe he will ever be the Fausto Carmona of 2007 (19-8, 3.06), but they hope he can be the pitcher of 2010 (13-14, 3.77) -- only now under his legal name.
4. This is not picking on Hernandez. It is about a rotation with an ERA of 5.15. As Jonathan Knight tweeted me, only Zach McAllister (3.46 ERA) has an ERA under 4.50 among the nine guys to start games for the Tribe this season. McAllister leads the AL in unearned runs, so I'd argue that his ERA is a bit deceiving because he has failed to stop the bleeding a few times when the defense has opened a wound.
5. But OK, we'll put McAllister in the 2013 rotation. I like him and see him making major progress. Justin Masterson is a legitimate middle-of-the-rotation starter. Then what?
6. Before answering (as if there is one), let's just point out the starters are 12th in AL ERA. That stinks, especially for a team with limited offense which counted upon pitching to be the great eraser. Instead, the collapse of the starters led to the 11-game losing streak and the fall from .500. It has put Acta's job on the line, and led to the dismissal of pitching coach Scott Radinsky.
7. When the Indians have had good or at least respectable starting pitching, it's reflected in the standings. The 2007 Tribe won 96 games with the lowest ERA (4.19) of any AL starting staff. In the last four years, they've been 4.43 and higher. The best they've ranked in the last four years is 10th in 2011, when the team was 80-82.
8. No pitcher has won more than 13 games since Cliff Lee in 2008. From 2005-08, the Indians had these four in their rotation: C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook, Lee and Hernandez. Only Hernandez remains. The other three left because of contract issues, and have pitched well.
9. The Tribe traded its two top pitching prospects (Alex White and Drew Pomeranz) for Ubaldo Jimenez. Pomeranz is 1-7 with a 5.04 ERA, White is 2-6 with 5.83 ERA for the Rockies. Would they have pitched better here had they remained? Who knows? Jimenez was a good pitcher in Colorado (46-32, 3.24 ERA from 2008-10), but not here.
10. The Indians have a $5.75 million option on Jimenez for 2013. They will pick it up. They will search for a new pitching coach who may be able to help. Jimenez is 2-7 with a 7.16 ERA in his last 10 starts, 13-16 with a 5.45 ERA since coming to the Tribe on July 31, 2011.
11. There's always Jeanmar Gomez (6-3, 2.92 ERA at Columbus). Yes, he was 4-7, 5.32 in the rotation early this season. But the 24-year-old righty is 16-9 with a 2.79 ERA in Class AAA over the last two years, so I'm not sure how much is gained leaving him in Columbus.
12. That leaves Corey Kluber (11-7, 3.59 ERA at Columbus) as a possibility. He has been hit hard in his brief Tribe trial, but also has a 92-95 mph fastball and some decent breaking pitches. A year ago, the Indians thought Scott Barnes was a viable alternative. They converted the lefty to the bullpen, and that didn't work when he came to Cleveland. Maybe work him as a starter next season.
12. David Huff? He's 5-6 with a 5.34 ERA for the Clippers. Josh Tomlin may have surgery. He's out with arm problems. Kevin Slowey has been injured for months at Columbus. When it comes to "Now what?" for the rotation, I don't have many answers. But if it doesn't change for the better, then nothing will for the Tribe.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With 38 games (on Sunday) left in the MLB season, we start today's thoughts by talkin' ...
About the Indians' pitching ...
1. When Manny Acta spoke of the Tribe's needs in 2013, he told the PD's Paul Hoynes: "We're going to have to find a solution in left field. We're going to have to find a solution at first base and we're going to have to find a solution at DH ... and the third base situation is not determined either. Lonnie [Chisenhall] has a broken arm."
2. The Tribe manager is right. But what the Indians need more than anything in 2013 is starting pitching. The situation is so bleak that barring a major collapse or injury, Roberto Hernandez will be back in 2013. They are expected to pick up his $6 million option for next season. How many games has Hernandez pitched in 2012? One. Last year as Fausto Carmona, he was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA. In the previous four years, his ERAs have been 5.44, 6.32, 3.77, and 5.25.
3. So this is not exactly like waiting for Bob Lemon or even an aging Orel Hershiser to come back. Few believe he will ever be the Fausto Carmona of 2007 (19-8, 3.06), but they hope he can be the pitcher of 2010 (13-14, 3.77) -- only now under his legal name.
4. This is not picking on Hernandez. It is about a rotation with an ERA of 5.15. As Jonathan Knight tweeted me, only Zach McAllister (3.46 ERA) has an ERA under 4.50 among the nine guys to start games for the Tribe this season. McAllister leads the AL in unearned runs, so I'd argue that his ERA is a bit deceiving because he has failed to stop the bleeding a few times when the defense has opened a wound.
5. But OK, we'll put McAllister in the 2013 rotation. I like him and see him making major progress. Justin Masterson is a legitimate middle-of-the-rotation starter. Then what?
6. Before answering (as if there is one), let's just point out the starters are 12th in AL ERA. That stinks, especially for a team with limited offense which counted upon pitching to be the great eraser. Instead, the collapse of the starters led to the 11-game losing streak and the fall from .500. It has put Acta's job on the line, and led to the dismissal of pitching coach Scott Radinsky.
7. When the Indians have had good or at least respectable starting pitching, it's reflected in the standings. The 2007 Tribe won 96 games with the lowest ERA (4.19) of any AL starting staff. In the last four years, they've been 4.43 and higher. The best they've ranked in the last four years is 10th in 2011, when the team was 80-82.
8. No pitcher has won more than 13 games since Cliff Lee in 2008. From 2005-08, the Indians had these four in their rotation: C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook, Lee and Hernandez. Only Hernandez remains. The other three left because of contract issues, and have pitched well.
9. The Tribe traded its two top pitching prospects (Alex White and Drew Pomeranz) for Ubaldo Jimenez. Pomeranz is 1-7 with a 5.04 ERA, White is 2-6 with 5.83 ERA for the Rockies. Would they have pitched better here had they remained? Who knows? Jimenez was a good pitcher in Colorado (46-32, 3.24 ERA from 2008-10), but not here.
10. The Indians have a $5.75 million option on Jimenez for 2013. They will pick it up. They will search for a new pitching coach who may be able to help. Jimenez is 2-7 with a 7.16 ERA in his last 10 starts, 13-16 with a 5.45 ERA since coming to the Tribe on July 31, 2011.
11. There's always Jeanmar Gomez (6-3, 2.92 ERA at Columbus). Yes, he was 4-7, 5.32 in the rotation early this season. But the 24-year-old righty is 16-9 with a 2.79 ERA in Class AAA over the last two years, so I'm not sure how much is gained leaving him in Columbus.
12. That leaves Corey Kluber (11-7, 3.59 ERA at Columbus) as a possibility. He has been hit hard in his brief Tribe trial, but also has a 92-95 mph fastball and some decent breaking pitches. A year ago, the Indians thought Scott Barnes was a viable alternative. They converted the lefty to the bullpen, and that didn't work when he came to Cleveland. Maybe work him as a starter next season.
12. David Huff? He's 5-6 with a 5.34 ERA for the Clippers. Josh Tomlin may have surgery. He's out with arm problems. Kevin Slowey has been injured for months at Columbus. When it comes to "Now what?" for the rotation, I don't have many answers. But if it doesn't change for the better, then nothing will for the Tribe.