paul hoynes‏Verified account @hoynsie 2 hours ago
Indians did make Francisco Lindor a 'substantial' extension offer, but cannot confirm if it was in $100 million range.

paul hoynes‏Verified account @hoynsie 2 hours ago
There are no active talks between the Indians and Francisco Lindor (or any other players on the roster) concerning extensions.

And rule number three is that there are no recessions in baseball.”

Hmm, not sure I agree with that one. Isn't this the offseason where Edwin, Trumbo etc went a long time without signing then signed for way less than they had planned on?

So maybe there aren't recessions but there are fluxuations and this offseason was unarguably one of those.

League Park‏ @LeagueParkCle
First game in concrete/steel League Park was today in 1910.

Ty Cobb rounds 1st as @Indians (Naps) fall to @tigers 5-0

We have Lindor for FIVE more seasons, counting this one. If we win a championship or two by then, I won't be all that sad if he wants to leave then.

From 3 years ago:

League Park reopens to a historic appreciation, beautiful restoration and hopeful future

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ss ... histo.html

Ken "Hammer" Schultz, "Constable" Dan Bing and "Hot Sauce" David Young

From League Park photo album - Now those were some awesome nicknames.

Today's nicknames are so boring and unimaginative:

K-Rod, A-Ram, Dice-K, Man-Ram ????

The really cool stuff, colorful and imaginative:

"Joltin' Joe", Sultan of Swat," "Charlie Hustle," "Hammerin' Hank," "Stan the Man," "Shoeless Joe," "Rapid Robert," "The Iron Horse," "Mr. October", "Splendid Splinter," "Crime Dog", "Donnie Baseball", "Mad Hungarian", "Oil Can", "Crushin Russian", "Big Donkey", "Coco", "Big Unit", "Big Hurt", "Big Puma", "The Freak", "Flyin' Hawaiian", and the list goes on and on and on.

Everyone knows the name behind the nick name.

Kipnis has been activated and is in lineup tonight, batting 6th. Top 5 stays the same.

Yandy was optioned to Columbus to make room.

Thought this was an interesting quote about Kluber, and it fits into the argument about the value of WINS as a stat.

"It's the Corey we love," said Gomes. "Even though he seemed like he was scuffling in his first couple of outings, he was still pitching (well). In his last start against Detroit he was pitching with a big lead. He doesn't want to exert himself and do too much on his own. He had the lead and went with it."

And this fits into what I have thought about this issue. Corey pitches harder/more focused when the game is lower scoring or closer. Why kill yourself with a big lead - it's a long season.

Therefore the elevates wins as a stat and somewhat devalues ERA etc. as stats. Sabermetrics would argue this, but Gomes states the human element in being a competitor.

Happy Birthday, Omar!

Jim Thome has been hired by MLB Network to be an on air analyst.

We let two 2016 regulars go as free agents, Rajai and Nap, and neither is starting off on fire in 2017.

Davis 214/265/372 1 steal
Napoli 150/236/300 3 homers

Take your child to work day!

That's cool!

Although reaching .200 doesn't sound like much, Gomes has been doing well at the plate for the past week or more. He's had hits in each of his last 6 starts, 7-15 with 2 doubles and a couple walks and only 1 strikeout. For that brief period his line is .467/.600/.529. And he keeps gunning down base runners.