Cleveland Sports Forum

Zimmer has routinely fallen into big slumps in the minors, too. and he's likely always going to K a ton. His defense, speed and his good times I think will work out to make a solid big leaguer, but it's not a cinch.

In the meantime, perhaps a little time in Columbus to prepare for the stretch drive might not hurt.
Can you think of and OF now with the Clippers who you can think we can substitute for him, Hillbilly?

While Nolan Jones has been red hot at the plate bringing his average up to 291 and his OPS to 864, he continues to botch things in the filed. Error count is now up to 15, his fielding pct at 851.

Early returns on the Joe Smith deal:

Samad Taylor 4-16 OPs 600 while he enjoys beautiful Bluefield WV
Thomas Pannone ERA in his first two starts for New Hampshire 7.20 He's allowed 5 homeruns! after giving up the same total in his 14 starts with Akron [and of course none in his time in Lynchburg when he racked up 27 2/3 innings with no earned runs.]


And life's no better for Ryder Ryan now with the Mets organization, in a Columbia SC. 13.50 ERA in his first two innings.

These kids obviously miss the good life in Northeast Ohio.

civ ollilavad wrote:Can you think of and OF now with the Clippers who you can think we can substitute for him, Hillbilly?

Well, funny enough, Zimmer is striking out at a pace that earned Naquin a trip back down to AAA. I think they should be given a chance to learn and grow from it, yeah. But if they aren't going to give Naquin that chance will they Zimmer? Down the strech in a pennant race?

I think there is a a chance you may see a platoon of Chiz and Jackson in CF once everyone gets back.

Have to be aware of the Aug 31 playoff roster freeze.

Francona said yesterday before game that once everybody is back you can expect to see Chiz get games in OF including CF and even at 1st and 3rd base to spell guys.

With Bruce around now, only makes sense. Good call.

I dunno, seems a foregone conclusion to me that Santana is gone after this year. So makes sense for the future as well.

Francona throws Cleveland Indians a party before Friday's game against Royals

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

phoynes@cleveland.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Better baseball through pop-a-shot and a DJ? Hey, on the last leg of a four-city, 11-day trip, anything is worth a shot.

Indians players were told to report to Kauffman Stadium on Friday later than usual after playing a day-night doubleheader Thursday at Target Field in Minneapolis. When they did, they found a DJ spinning tunes and a pop-a-shot basketball machine set up at the end of the clubhouse for a team tournament.

It was manager Terry Francona and the organization's way of saying thanks for the team's effort to date.

The Indians, in a stretch of playing 23 games in 23 days, are 6-2 on this trip against the Rays, Red Sox and Twins. Friday night they opened a three-game series at The K with a chance to put some serious distance between themselves and the second-place Royals in the AL Central.

"It's our way of showing them that we acknowledge the fact that they out there playing so much and we care," said Francona, whose team owned a 5 1/2-game lead in the division headed into the series. "There's not much else we can do. So we had a late arrival and let them have a little bit of fun ... knowing that the game is the most important thing and that's where you want your energy.

"But in the meantime, I don't think it hurts to have a little bit of fun. I just thought it was better than showing up and going out on the field to take BP and dragging.''

So far the leader in the pop-a-shot tournament is Danny Salazar. A cash prize awaits the winner. Francona was surprised that Salazar was such a good shot, but added, "I think Trevor (Bauer) is going to keep playing until he wins."

Still, there is a risk. What if the Indians don't play well in this series? The critics could say Francona was being too easy on his players.

"That's where the trust comes in," said Francona. "I told Corey Kluber, 'Hey, I don't want to be getting in the way.' He said, 'I get it. I love it.' That's where the relationships come into play. It's not a big deal. It's just our way of showing we appreciate and we care."

Rookie Bradley Zimmer at 6-5 could pretty much dunk on the pop-a-shot machine. He said he hasn't done it yet, and might be just setting his teammates up.

"I think this is a great idea," said Zimmer. "We're coming off a doubleheader, a lot of games in a row. I know when I woke up today I was dragging a little bit. Then you just come in here and it gets you fired up all over again."

Testing, testing:

Third baseman Jose Ramirez missed his second straight start Friday after he was hit in the right wrist in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader.


Francona, however, was encouraged because Ramirez came to Kauffman Stadium early on Friday and was able to take batting practice from both sides of the plate.

"He's doing good," said Francona. "He took BP from both sides. He threw. He politicked to get in the lineup (Friday night). I just felt because he's played so much, let's let him cool down. And if he still feels good, we'll play him on Saturday.

"I'd say all in all we dodged a pretty big bullet. He's in a pretty good place."


Ramirez, with his right forearm in the sleeve to keep the swelling down, shot a round in the pop-a-shot tournament.

Remember him?

Josh Tomlin, who has been on the disabled list since July 31 with a strained left hamstring, threw a bullpen session on Friday and was scheduled to throw a simulated game on Monday.

Tomlin, who hasn't pitched since July 30, is expected to miss six weeks with the hamstring injury.

Chisenhall update:

Lonnie Chisenhall (right calf) went 0-2 with an RBI on Thursday for Class AAA Columbus. He started in left field.

"Lonnie is doing really well," said Francona. "He's played three games. He seems to be moving really well. His at-bats have been pretty good.

"He just needs some repetition. Talking to some of the scouts who've seen him, they said if we really needed him he could play for us.''

Chisenhall strained his right calf on July 9.

Strikeouts are us:

The Indians streak of striking out 10 or more batters ended at 13 straight games when they struck out nine Twins in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader.

It is the longest streak, according to Elias Sports Bureau, in baseball history. Tribe pitchers have recorded 10 or more strikeouts in 70 games this season. It's two shy of the franchise record set in 2014 and seven shy of the MLB record of 77 set by the 2016 Dodgers.

Touching story about a long-time fan. Too many pics and a video to bring it over here:

The Old Man and the Seat: Why a Cleveland Indians fan continues to buy a season ticket for his late wife

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ss ... iver_index

The Indians are a more convincing contender than they were a year ago -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin
Updated on August 19, 2017 at 5:31 PM Posted on August 19, 2017 at 4:47 PM

By Bud Shaw, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - On the night Terry Francona ordered in a DJ and Pop-a-Shot to the visiting clubhouse, the Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 10-1.

Moral of the story: baseball seasons are grinds; the best managers show their smarts beyond mastering the double switch.

Moral of the story Part II: Whatever it is - a surprise stress relaxer like a Pop-a-Shot team tournament, a players' only meeting, a group hug -- the chances it will be hailed as instantly effective are greater if Corey Kluber also happens to be pitching that night.

The month of August is the latest "Survivor" test for the Indians because of away games against division rivals (Kansas City and Minnesota) and series with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Halfway through the month - the day after a doubleheader as part of a 11-game trip -- was the perfect time for the Indians to exhale, at least in pre-game.

"It's our way of showing them that we acknowledge the fact that they out there playing so much and we care," said Francona told reporters. "There's not much else we can do. So we had a late arrival and let them have a little bit of fun."

Friday was the 120th game of the season. That win over KC improved the Indians record to 67-53 - only three games off the 2016 pace -- and stretched the division lead to 61/2 games.

A year ago, the Indians led by seven on their way to a comfortable separation (eight games) at the finish line. Their lead didn't drop below six games from Sept. 7 to the end.

This team is better than that team.


While these Indians may not win 94 games, they will reach the postseason with better starting pitching and the potential for a better lineup with Jay Bruce joining Edwin Encarnacion (and provided Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley are themselves come October.)

Francona seems to understand the dynamic is slightly different than 2016. That Indians team ran on the adrenalin rush that comes with proving doubters wrong. They don't have that this time around. Based on the records alone, they'd have to be underdogs to Houston but even that comes with a caveat. The Indians are 5-1 against the Astros.

The standings aside, they look like the toughest out in the American League. Last year's experience is part of the reason.

Another: Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar where last year there was Kluber.

The Astros, for one, might consider stealing the Pop-a-Shot idea. They are an unhappy 75-47 if there can actually be such a condition with a 13-game division lead. They are 4-6 in their last 10 after finishing the final week of July at .500.
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A second Houston player - Josh Reddick this time - said the team was "down in the dumps" over the failure to make a move at the trade deadline.

That was an affirmation of pitcher Dallas Keuchel's assessment when he said "disappointment is an understatement."

Meanwhile, the Indians have the third-best record in the AL. Jay Bruce is sporting a softball league batting average (.406 as of Friday) since joining the roster. Andrew Miller is off the disabled list, and each night's starting pitcher seems to live in fear of being the one that interrupts all the fun.

This week brought a few reminders that baseball seasons are delicate pursuits.

Jose Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Kluber tweaked his ankle. Both departed games early.

It's a long season. They'll both be needed for the fun and games to stretch into late October.

Indians jerseys for next weekend

http://fox8.com/2017/08/09/cleveland-in ... s-weekend/

Total eclipse of the Tribe: How the Cleveland Indians have fared in games played during solar eclipses

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Major celestial events probably have very little influence upon the outcome of a Major League Baseball game.

Probably.

But Indians fans might be interested to know that Cleveland has played baseball on days when a solar eclipse has been visible from the United States on 14 occasions since 1908, and has collected a 10-7 record in those contests (including three doubleheaders).

Even more interesting is the Tribe’s 3-0 record against Boston (tonight’s opponent) in games played on eclipse days, including a doubleheader sweep in 1948 and a win against a Red Sox team featuring Babe Ruth in 1918.

While the Indians have not tasted victory on an eclipse day since a sunny southern California Sunday in 1990, many of the club’s brightest stars have shined through the years during eclipse games.

Here’s a look back at all of Cleveland’s eclipse day scores, and a note or two from behind the box scores:

https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.s ... iver_index

THEY SHOULD PASS OUT FLAT GLOBES AS SOUVENIERS.


Just as quickly as he was traded, the Pawtucket Red Sox announced on Wednesday a night to honor new Boston Celtic Kyrie Irving. LeBron James’ former running mate in Cleveland was dealt to Boston on Tuesday, and 24 hours later the PawSox had a promotion in place to welcome their newest hoops star.
Any fan who shows up wearing green or Celtics gear to Thursday’s game gains free entry, but the tickets must be picked up at the team box office at McCoy Stadium.

And in a Willy Wonka-esque twist, one fan will receive a lucky green ticket and a bounty of corresponding prizes. The ticket, which will be marked with a green shamrock, will get the winner 11 free flex tickets for next year, as well as 11 hats, 11 hot dogs and 11 autographed PawSox baseballs.
“We know how popular the Boston Celtics are throughout the area,” PawSox executive vice president and general manager Dan Rea said, “and we hope that our fans will enjoy an evening that trumpets Kyrie Irving’s arrival.”

There will also be a pre-game dunk tank available for fans to show off their arm strength. Who will be in that dunk tank? A Cavaliers fan wearing a LeBron James jersey, of course. And, as a counterbalance to all the conditions that get fans in free, there are also a few things provisions to look out for that might make your ticket more costly. Is your name LeBron, Draymond, Steph, Lonzo or Kevin? That’ll cost you. Fans with those names will pay double in admission.

As far as promotions go, this one is all net.

Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/business ... MpoGILv.99

This is from Rolling Stone mag. I never knew they had sports articles!

What You Need to Know About MLB Players Weekend


If you're a baseball lover, you might already feel the buzz. This coming weekend, August 25th-27th, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players' Association are holding the inaugural "Players Weekend" with all 30 teams participating.



But it's more than just a celebration of the national pastime. The first Players Weekend also marks a chance for baseball fans to get to know their hometown players a little better, as well as a chance for players to showcase some of their personal style, and speak to fans about their love for the game.

"We're really in the heart of a transition to a next generation of players," says Chris Marinak, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of league economics and strategy. "Right now there's a lot of young guys just starting the game that are making an impact, and others that are going to be future Hall of Famers."

Marinak says that even after last year's retirement of Boston Red Sox giant David Ortiz, and fairly recent retirements of other legends like New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter, the game is growing. It's all thanks to a bumper crop of new and exciting players, as well as the game's diversity and mixed styles of play. Marinak points to young players like Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, who at age 24 is already a five-time All-Star and one-time National League MVP. Then there's Aaron Judge of the Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers wunderkind Cody Bellinger, two rookies who are reshaping the game – and sports headlines – each day.

But Players Weekend isn't only about highlighting perennial all-stars and tomorrow's marquee names. Equally celebrated are the hometown fan favorites, from starting pitchers and lesser known relievers, to MVP-caliber sluggers on down to the multi-positional utility man and the trusty platoon player. Marinak says that each one has a story.

"We wanted a way to accelerate the process of fans getting to know them," he explains. "We have 800 players in the Major Leagues and each one of them has a unique story that fans, at every local level, can make a connection with."

What you'll see when you tune in to watch baseball this Friday, Saturday and Sunday are regularly scheduled games, while teams continue to be locked into the late August rally onto winning divisions and playoff spots. But each team will be a wearing a special edition Majestic Athletic brand Players Weekend jersey, an alternate pullover shirt cast in a brighter version of team colors, with a little bit of personal touch.

On each player's right sleeve will be a special Players Weekend patch with the words "Thank You" and a space in which players will write in the name of a person critical to their personal development.

Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins 25-year-old outfielder, says that without a doubt "Mom" will be written on his jersey's Thank You patch. Yelich tells Rolling Stone that his family has been the greatest influence on his path in baseball – and throughout life.

"Family's been big for me ever since I started playing," Yelich says. "And I think that's going to be something a lot of players will have on their shirt, a name of a parent or family member." Yelich also shared an anecdote about his very early days at the plate.

"I almost quit playing baseball when I was six or seven because I was scared of the ball," he admits. Yelich, who grew up and played little league baseball in Thousand Oaks, California, said that as a young tot he wouldn't step close to the plate or take swings. But eventually his parents' encouragement, and certain incentives, took over.

"My parents kept pushing, and one time they offered me five bucks if I would hit the ball," Yelich says. By the next game, thanks to his parents' persistence, he swung and got his first little league hit. "It traveled only a few inches off the bat. But after that one [plate appearance], I wasn't afraid of the ball anymore."
Related


"I like to think we owe something to all the people who live in Western New York," says CEO Chris Koch

Just like Yelich, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco says he had the same kind of encouragement from his family at a very young age, starting the game at age 4 in his native Venezuela.

"It was my mother – an amazing, incredible woman – who took me my first time to the baseball field, because she wanted me to play baseball and learn to enjoy and love the game." Along with seeing him off to practice and watching his every game, Carrasco said his mother would "catch me in the bullpen" Carrasco, who started pitching at age 11, would warm up and prepare to pitch with his mom as his catcher.

Carrasco also mentions too that it was a coach that got him pitching in the first place. He said that a friend of his father, named Luis Montero (no relation to Venezuelan Toronto Blue Jays catcher Miguel Montero), was the one who spotted Carrasco's strength and poise as a third baseman.

"[Montero] saw me throw to first base and said during a game, 'OK, we're gonna do this now,' pointing to the pitching mound." According to Carrasco, during that scratch debut he threw a 75 mph pitch. By the age of 16 – with lots of "coaching, running and lifting," fostered by Montero – Carrasco said he could throw controlled pitches in the 90 mph range.

Not surprising, the Thank You patch of the Indians starter will read "Mi Familia," or "My Family," in Spanish.

"Little league was a great experience for me," Carrasco adds. "I was fortunate to have good people and family look after me in baseball."

What's in a Nickname?

One of the other things that has been buzzing about Players Weekend is the nicknames. Each player was asked by Major League Baseball to select a nickname to be worn during Players Weekend games on the back of their shirt.

Some players have, of course, opted for what may pass as fairly standard stuff. There's Cubs' star Kris "KB" Bryant, Andrew "Cutch" McCutchen, and Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun, who will wear the nickname "Ocho" because he also wears Number 8. Yelich, who has spent his entire Major League career with the Marlins, goes by "Yeli," which he will wear this weekend.

But some nicknames are more creative than others. A few of the best are the product of wordplay such as "Knapp Time," to be worn by Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp, or those of Marlins pitcher Wei-Yin "Weigh-In" Chen, and Dodgers closer Kenley "Kenleyfornia" Jansen.

Wearing nicknames instead of surnames on jerseys isn't entirely new in sports. Nor it just a legacy of the long-defunct XFL football league, or today's roller derby. Paul Lukas, a well-known writer on all sartorial matters in sports, has catalogued on ESPN's Uni Watch blog that nicknamed jerseys were somewhat prevalent in 1970s pro basketball and baseball. Additionally, the NBA toyed with nicknames a few years ago, letting LeBron James be "King James" while Kevin Garnett went as "The Big Ticket."

Many of the nicknames you will see this weekend are derived from players' actual names, or even a little bit of good old-fashioned sports bravado. But some come from the great stories that just happen during a 162-game baseball season. Carrasco, when asked about his nickname, mentions a 2011 away game as his inspiration.

"I won a close 1-0 game against the Yankees, and we were coming onto the plane back to Cleveland," he explains. "One of the flight attendants put on my seat about 10 cookies and said, 'That's for you, since you won the game!'"

Thereafter, Carrasco said that Indians closer Chris Pérez kept calling him "Cookie" the entire flight home – and it stuck. "Everyone suddenly forgot my name, and it was Cookie, Cookie, Cookie!" Carrasco said. "So now if someone says Cookie, they know it's me, Carlos Carrasco."

As as result of that 2011 flight, "Cookie" is the moniker which will be sewn onto Carrasco's Players Weekend jersey. So, if you hear Cleveland fans cheering "Cookie, Cookie, Cookie!" throughout the remainder of the season, you'll know why. Carrasco's Players Weekend jersey only makes it official.

Indians, MLB 'Not Exactly Aligned' In Efforts to Get Rid of Chief Wahoo Logo


Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan says that the team "will come to some understanding" in efforts to either get rid of or limit the controversial Chief Wahoo logo.

Dolan admits that his franchise and Major League Baseball don't see eye to eye on the subject.

“We’re not exactly aligned on its future,” Dolan told WAKR-AM. “But we will come to some understanding sometime relatively soon, meaning before the start of the 2018 season and maybe sooner than that.”

MLB has had discussions with the Indians in hopes that the franchise move away from the logo, with features a smiling Native American. The logo has been used in some capacity for the franchise since the 1947 season and is still prevalent on the team's baseball caps and on its uniforms.

The logo created controversy during last season's American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, when a Canadian judge ruled the “Chief Wahoo” mascot did not illegally discriminate against indigenous people under Canadian law.

The ruling allowed the Indians to keep the uniforms that displayed the logo while the team played in Toronto.

Dolan said that the team is trying to "find the right balance" on the logo issue and are empathetic to fans who are offended by it.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the national scene,” Dolan said. “We may live in a little bit of a bubble in terms of how we see Chief Wahoo and if you didn’t grow up here with it and you don’t have that emotional attachment and you look at it more objectively, you can see reason why some might offended by it. And the commissioner is feeling that pressure."