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2017-18 Cleveland Indians Offseason

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As has been mentioned, Buster Olney has been doing his "Top 10" series for the past week or so. Today, he released his Top 10 teams.

Buster Olney said:
Here are the top 10 teams, based on the input of evaluators, with help from ESPN researchers Mark Simon, Paul Hembekides and Sarah Langs. It’s subject to change before the start of spring training, of course, with so many veteran free agents still unsigned.

1. Cleveland Indians
It’s important to remember a couple things about the Indians:

(1) When the regular season ended, before anybody knew that Corey Kluber would pitch hurt against the Yankees, Cleveland was regarded as the favorite to roll through the postseason, after compiling a 22-game win streak that stretched over the better part of a month.

(2) Among all contending teams, the Indians again appear to have the easiest road into the playoffs because most of their division is rebuilding -- the Tigers, the White Sox and the Royals.

So while it’s true the Indians lost really important bullpen pieces in Bryan Shawand Joe Smith and solid hitters in Carlos Santana and Jay Bruce, Cleveland is still the safest bet to get to October -- with Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Miller, et al. It’s a great team in a division that may be noncompetitive. The Indians have been relatively quiet this winter so far, but they’re still in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder or super utility man -- Eduardo Nunez might be the perfect fit -- and a right-handed reliever.

From Sarah Langs of ESPN Stats & Information: The Indians generated 33.3 WAR from their pitchers in 2017 -- the second-highest total from any pitching staff ever (2011 Phillies, 37.3).

The rest of the Top 10:
2. Dodgers
3. Astros
4. Nationals
5. Yankees
6. Cubs
7. Red Sox
8. Cardinals
9. Angels
10. Diamondbacks
 
As has been mentioned, Buster Olney has been doing his "Top 10" series for the past week or so. Today, he released his Top 10 teams.



The rest of the Top 10:
2. Dodgers
3. Astros
4. Nationals
5. Yankees
6. Cubs
7. Red Sox
8. Cardinals
9. Angels
10. Diamondbacks
I favorited this so I can come back here when they win the World Series and point out just how right you were.
 
I think Nunez playing OF is less than ideal, but he's certainly someone I'd be interested in.
 
I just have no idea how Olney can put the Indians at #1 after losing what they've lost.

I'd say top 5 easily, but #1? It's semantics anyways, but still, I disagree with him. I think we are very lucky to play in this shithole of a division though. Gives us a higher margin of error. Did it ever come out how Kluber was hurt or do we just know he WAS hurt against NY? The whole team underperformed that series, pretty much, but if Kluber had been in the same stratosphere of what he was in the regular season we'd still have won.
 
I think Nunez playing OF is less than ideal, but he's certainly someone I'd be interested in.

I can’t imagine that he would slide so far below market value that he would fit the Tribe’s price range for a utility player, but who knows in this bizarre offseason.
 
Nunez playing third at a budget rate while Kipnis is dealt for pen assets would be a solid move.

Improves the defense, offense, puts another switch hitter in the middle of the lineup.

CF - Bradley Zimmer (L)
SS - Frankie Lindor (S)
2B - Jose Ramirez (S)
DH - Edwin Encarnacion
LF - Michael Brantley (L)/Yandy
3B - Eduardo Nunez (S)
1B - Yonder Alonso (L)
RF - Lonnie Chisenhall/Guyer (L)
C - Roberto Perez/Gomes

Gonzalez as the utility man.


That lineup is death to RHP and can absolutely hang in vs. LHP by inserting Guyer and Yandy into the lineup.
 
Nunez was KILLING it for the Red Sox before he got hurt.
 
I'll panic if we're five games under at the deadline. The AL Central is so ass that we could win 86 games and probably win it. Just get to the playoffs and be healthy. Anything can happen.
 
Tribe avoids arbitration with Salazar on a 1-yr, $5 million contract per Bastian.
 
I just have no idea how Olney can put the Indians at #1 after losing what they've lost.

I'd say top 5 easily, but #1? It's semantics anyways, but still, I disagree with him. I think we are very lucky to play in this shithole of a division though. Gives us a higher margin of error. Did it ever come out how Kluber was hurt or do we just know he WAS hurt against NY? The whole team underperformed that series, pretty much, but if Kluber had been in the same stratosphere of what he was in the regular season we'd still have won.
completely disagree with Olney...Indians are significantly weaker than last year so far...while Yanks and Astros have gotten better
 
completely disagree with Olney...Indians are significantly weaker than last year so far...while Yanks and Astros have gotten better

I still think we're better than NY, but obviously that doesn't mean shit on paper as proven last year.

I'd put LA and Houston ahead. NY right behind us probably. That is a team I do not want to face. Hopefully they have chemistry issues and all those roided out assholes blow up the locker room. Or something
 
Any word on whether or not MLB is ditching the bullshit juiced baseballs from last year?

@BimboColesHair . @AZ_
You really want to see Lindor and Ramirez' power evaporate like that, huh? With the loss of Santana the Tribe needs those juiced baseballs now more than ever.
 
You really want to see Lindor and Ramirez' power evaporate like that, huh? With the loss of Santana the Tribe needs those juiced baseballs now more than ever.
I'll take it if it means a Judge or Stanton pop up isn't a HR.
 
I'll take it if it means a Judge or Stanton pop up isn't a HR.
Stanton and Judge are two of the strongest, if not the strongest, hitters in baseball- they are going to smash 40-50 regardless of if the baseballs are juiced or not. The juiced baseballs have done far, far, far, far, far more for the power of the Jason Kipnises, Jose Ramirezes, Francisco Lindors, Lonnie Chisenhalls and Yonder Alonsos than it has for Stanton and Judge. Going away from them now would hurt this Indians team more than it would hurt a Yankees team that plays in probably the most lefty-handed hitter friendly park in the game. And an FYI, the juiced balls have been in play since the 2nd half of 2015- thats when power first spiked. Since then players have adjusted, started hitting more balls in the air and we are where we are. Again, cut out the juiced baseballs and Aaron Judge, Gio Stanton and the fat catcher will still get theres, but the SSs and 2Bs wacking 30 dingers a year will be the ones seeing their power #s take the real hit. And seeing how the Tribe's lineup is built around those types, well, you are basically asking to neuter the Tribe.
 

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