Cleveland played four and a half month stretch of .500 ball even as the following was happening...
Dany's Baez blew several leads in games. We lost 4 out of 4 to the yankees even though we led in three of the games, Swept three games by the Rockies who played us in their home, when they had the best home record in either league and the worst away record at the same time!
Three close losses to a Dodgers team that had trouble scoring runs all season.
The problem is the "foundation" of the team, Bradley, Lawton, and Gerut, were all injured and we don't know how any of them will fare this year.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Why do some people just refuse to acknowledge this? Perhaps this is my Blake/Martinez obsession, Alex, but I just cannot understand why people refuse to acknowledge this fact.Cleveland played four and a half month stretch of .500 ball even as the following was happening...
What does this fact prove? I don't understand the point you are making.
Are you saying that despite having Baez blow a bunch of games and despite playing in Colorado, Cleveland did okay for 4 months? Are you implying the Tribe was better than a .500 team?
If so, to me, it's coulda, shoulda, woulda type justification. I kind of expect the Tribe to do better this year--maybe even +.500. But this is not because they are rid of Baez or because they don't play in Colorado. The reason I expect them to improve is because the young guys are a little more experienced this year. They are stronger at second than they were last year and I think the pitching will be okay (not great, but okay).
I think Baez is going to do just fine in Tampa Bay. I also think Wright is going to do just fine in Atlanta (maybe not as a starter). I think both of these guys were mishandled by Tribe brass. But I still think the Tribe will be fairly competitive this year.
What I am saying is that they were a 500 team for the balance of the season last year - they should only improve and should be able to play 500 ball for the whole year this year.....
RotoTribe, I guess I'm saying two things here. One is during one stretch, not only were we playing five hundred ball, but we had leads as late as the sixth inning in over half of our losses! That really does mean something.
The second is if Mr. Thome had realized the future did not have to revolve around seeking the biggest contract, Thome probably would have helped us during that 4.5 month stretch immeasureably and really sent a shockwave through the division at just how competitive we could be.
Actually am glad the first baseman of the Phillies is where he is at....would have loved to have him on this team, but the contract would have caused more problems then his play would have solved.....
The question remains if this team is going to be good enough to play 500 ball....
Position wise, the Tribe is as good or better than last year at every position. I think we can expect improvement at second base (maybe not fielding wise, but hitting wise) because Belliard is a bondfide major league hitter. At first base, Hafner and Broussard should improve with experience.
I don't have big expectations for Gerut or Ludiwick. I think they are injured worse than is being let on. Therefore, I think they may start in extended Spring Training. So, who is left? Lawton and Escobar, if healthy should be competant. I think a surprise (if Ludwick and Gerut are hurt) is Adam Piatt. Piatt was considered a stud by the A's a couple of years ago. I think he may be the surprise of the Spring.
On the other hand, if Gerut and Ludwick are able to play, then hitting wise, it's a decent team.
Pitching is the question, of course. I think there are three competant starters. D'Amico may surprise as a number four or five. I think the pitching should be as good as last year, with better relief because Baez is gone. I think Baez would have been okay last year as a starter. I think that's where he should have been used.
Baez as a starter would have been a big mistake. Not enough secondary pitches, and not an ability to go deep into a game.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But at 10 million a year Thome probably does not upset the salary structure. It's once Thome got into the 12-14 million a year that he messed up the sound payroll sructure needed to compete.Originally posted by The Crank:
Actually am glad the first baseman of the Phillies is where he is at....would have loved to have him on this team, but the contract would have caused more problems then his play would have solved.....
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 16, 2004 02:11 AM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wow, I hope you are right.Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
Position wise, the Tribe is as good or better than last year at every position.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So was Casey Blake, but just not good enough offensively for a corner position, although it's possible with one year under his belt he could improve.Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
I think we can expect improvement at second base (maybe not fielding wise, but hitting wise) because Belliard is a bondfide major league hitter.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Or will the temptation to "platoon" them result in good results but not as an actual regular first baseman.Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
At first base, Hafner and Broussard should improve with experience.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gosh I hope you are wrong. Why can't the off-season be the "on-season" for healing and getting ready for spring training?Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
I don't have big expectations for Gerut or Ludwick. I think they are injured worse than is being let on.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">An edgy, roto-world prediction if ever there was one.Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
Therefore, I think they may start in extended Spring Training. So, who is left? Lawton and Escobar, if healthy should be competant. I think a surprise (if Ludwick and Gerut are hurt) is Adam Piatt. Piatt was considered a stud by the A's a couple of years ago. I think he may be the surprise of the Spring.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hope springs eternal.Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
On the other hand, if Gerut and Ludwick are able to play, then hitting wise, it's a decent team.
<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Even if Baez was a pitch short, he still seemed quite able to put up a 4.5 ERA and usually make it to the 5th or 6th inning when he was a starter a couple of years ago, certainly those are capable numbers for a 4th or 5th starter.Originally posted by The RotoTribe:
Pitching is the question, of course. I think there are three competant starters. D'Amico may surprise as a number four or five. I think the pitching should be as good as last year, with better relief because Baez is gone. I think Baez would have been okay last year as a starter. I think that's where he should have been used.
This D'Amico is not the highly touted one, is that correct?
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