Cleveland Sports Forum

I hope LOUFLA, TAMPA STEVE, and families are OK!

J.R. wrote:I hope LOUFLA, TAMPA STEVE, and families are OK!

Stay safe fellas!

Costly win tonight though. Zimmer broke a bone in his hand diving into 1st base.

Jordan Bastian‏ @MLBastian 25 minutes ago
More info on Zimmer from Indians: Fractured 4th metacarpal of left hand. Will see Dr. Thomas Graham some time this week.

Oh no! I could tell his hand was hurting bad after that slide, and he looked kinda dazed, too. That's not his throwing hand, at least, but can he bat effectively? I mean if and when he returns, hopefully in time for the postseason.

I'm no doctor but this can't be good. He gone.

Again kids, go in feet first. And just run through 1st base. I can't imagine it's much quicker any way.

After every win the last several days I have enjoyed reading over Twitter. Just some amazing stats and fun facts.

Like ... it is September 10th and the Indians have 11 wins this month.

We have outscored our opponents now 121 to 32.

We've had 88 extra base hits last 18 games, and 37 homers. Slash line of ... .309/.387/.568

Pitching staff has a 1.78 ERA and has allowed a slash line of .... .205/.254/.291 ... Rotation has an ERA of 1.94 ... Bullpen: 1.42

Head over feet: Should MLB players stop sliding head-first into bases in order to reduce injuries?

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sliding into bases is a necessary part of baseball, but it presents a risk nearly every time a player takes the plunge.

On Sunday, Cleveland Indians rookie Bradley Zimmer was injured in the seventh inning as he dove head-first into first base trying to avoid the tag of Baltimore's Chris Davis.

Zimmer suffered a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left hand. He will be evaluated by specialist Dr. Thomas Graham this week, according to the club.

Zimmer's injury ignited a fierce debate on social media after the game about the benefits and risks of sliding head first versus sliding feet first into a base, and whether or not a player should ever slide into first base.

In Zimmer's case, running through the base was not an option if he wanted to reach safely. Davis had the ball ahead of him, and Zimmer's dive -- however violent and scary the result -- was his only path to a base hit.

But does the reward to sliding head first outweigh the risk of injury? Take the poll below and let us know your thoughts. Then defend your take in the comments.

(Poll results show 100% against sliding head first)

(notice the name. Twitter has not allowed them extra characters so they are running out of space. They started out Cleveland Indians, then started adding a W for every win to Windians)

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WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWin‏ @Indians
Updated MLB standings:
Dodgers 92-51
Nationals 88-55 (4GB)
Ya boys 87-56 (5GB) (this is us)
Astros 86-57 (6GB)

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So we are now 1 game ahead of Houston for best A.L. record and home field in playoffs. 1 game behind Nationals and 5 games behind L.A. for best record and home field in a possible World Series berth. Although the way we played on road last October and so far this year I'm not sure we want it.

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WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWin‏Verified account @Indians
Starters during the streak: 16-0, 1.94 ERA
Starters since the All-Star break: 2.91 ERA (lowest in MLB)

http://atmlb.com/2vPRKrb

Zimmer going to miss rest of season with that broken hand.

Dang. Must be a bad fracture. But are they saying he's out for post season , too?

I saw a tweet from Jeff Passan at Yahoo Sports that said he's expected to miss rest of season. I have seen SPECULATION that he might make it back for playoffs, at least to be a late inning defensive replacement. But I don't think anybody knows anything yet. Might learn more from Tito's pregame gaggle or on the pregame show or during game tonight.

Too bad about Zimmer but if we've learned anything this season, contributions are coming from all over the lineup.

He can and will be replaced.

Next man up.

I really hope they give Naquin another shot in a platoon with Jackson. They could even bring Jackson in as a late inning defensive replacement. But we might see more of Allen too.

Allen getting start tonight.

You'd think when/if Brantley gets back then Chiz goes back to CF.