Series #17 Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Indians May 23, 24, 25, and 26

[Steve_424]

We couldnt trade Kipnis in the off-season so do you expect us to be able to trade him now? Martin is a plus defender CF, but only a platoon guy, what could we get value wise back? Perez is a dime a dozen left handed relief pitcher. He isn't nearly as valuable as the arms out in San Fran from the left side.

My point is this, how would this do anything to help us now and in the long run when the value of these guys isn't very good? What would we tell the clubhouse if we start trading away guys, that we are giving up on the season?

None of them would be moved until July, and you wouldn't get much back.

 

[CBBI]

My point is this, how would this do anything to help us now and in the long run when the value of these guys isn't very good? What would we tell the clubhouse if we start trading away guys, that we are giving up on the season?

They wouldn’t need to tell the clubhouse anything they wouldn’t already know.

If they're below .500 at the deadline and sitting 15 games out of the division and 5+ games out of the WC, guys are going to be moved. That’s life.

As far as benefits, it’s simple really. You want to remove guys from the team with two months to go who clearly will not be here next season in favor of guys who will.

It becomes prepping as best you can for 2020.

 

[sportscoach]

They wouldn’t need to tell the clubhouse anything they wouldn’t already know.

If they're below .500 at the deadline and sitting 15 games out of the division and 5+ games out of the WC, guys are going to be moved. That’s life.

As far as benefits, it’s simple really. You want to remove guys from the team with two months to go who clearly will not be here next season in favor of guys who will.

It becomes prepping as best you can for 2020.

I am not saying that logic is wrong, I just feel we need to make moves now to buy rather than just wait back and see what happens. We didn't go get the bat in the off season to replace Brantley and if we continue to play .500 ball we will lose even more attendance since everyone will start chanting "Dolan is cheap" again since we didn't go out and make the moves in the off season. I just feel we still have time to get the shipped righted and fixed and going out getting a EE, Eaton, etc would I think give us that morale booster this team needs.

Also I am hoping we get some good starts and hits against Boston, we badly need it. We will be a better roster in 2020 in my mind without a doubt right now, but I personally don't want to give up on 19 especially since if we lose even more attendance, we won't do anything again outside of trade veterans in 2020 which just won't bring anyone back to the stands.

 

[CBBI]

I am not saying that logic is wrong, I just feel we need to make moves now to buy rather than just wait back and see what happens. We didn't go get the bat in the off season to replace Brantley and if we continue to play .500 ball we will lose even more attendance since everyone will start chanting "Dolan is cheap" again since we didn't go out and make the moves in the off season. I just feel we still have time to get the shipped righted and fixed and going out getting a EE, Eaton, etc would I think give us that morale booster this team needs.

Also I am hoping we get some good starts and hits against Boston, we badly need it. We will be a better roster in 2020 in my mind without a doubt right now, but I personally don't want to give up on 19 especially since if we lose even more attendance, we won't do anything again outside of trade veterans in 2020 which just won't bring anyone back to the stands.

Couple things.

1. I don’t think anyone is suggesting the Indians should sell right now. The guys they’d be moving aren’t going to have any more or less value if they move them today or if they move them in late July.

If the Indians do sell it will be in mid-late July once they’ve firmly played their way out of the race. If they turn it around in June and are leading the wild card or within a few games of the Twins, then sure. The strategy could change.

2. Fuck attendance and fuck the fans. I like you buddy, but this attendance argument is awfully naive and pretty much useless.

The fans ain’t coming this year. The Indians could trade for Mike Trout and the fans just ain’t coming. Blame whatever you want to blame, be it anger at ownership, economics, population erosion, the Browns existing and being good, the city not being big enough for three franchises. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, but the facts are the fans aren’t going to fill the building no matter how good the team is and this year the team isn’t very good.

 

[The Oi]

Couple things.

1. I don’t think anyone is suggesting the Indians should sell right now. The guys they’d be moving aren’t going to have any more or less value if they move them today or if they move them in late July.

If the Indians do sell it will be in mid-late July once they’ve firmly played their way out of the race. If they turn it around in June and are leading the wild card or within a few games of the Twins, then sure. The strategy could change.

2. Fuck attendance and fuck the fans. I like you buddy, but this attendance argument is awfully naive and pretty much useless.

The fans ain’t coming this year. The Indians could trade for Mike Trout and the fans just ain’t coming. Blame whatever you want to blame, be it anger at ownership, economics, population erosion, the Browns existing and being good, the city not being big enough for three franchises. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, but the facts are the fans aren’t going to fill the building no matter how good the team is and this year the team isn’t very good.

The good thing is, the fans support the team quite well. They just choose to do it from home where they’ve provided the first and third best ratings in the league in ‘17 and ‘18 respectively. Very positive.

 

[CBBI]

The good thing is, the fans support the team quite well. They just choose to do it from home where they’ve provided the first and third best ratings in the league in ‘17 and ‘18 respectively. Very positive.

Sure.

But the issue there is the fact that those fans staying home and watching on TV aren’t spending money on tickets, parking, concessions, programs, souvenirs, merchandise, the kind of money that (in theory) gets invested back into the team at trade deadlines and in the offseason.

The television ratings were great the last couple of years, but the Indians also aren’t up for a new TV contract until 2023 and they’re almost certainly going to experience a downturn both in on-field product and TV ratings before then (it’s already happening), so how valuable will the great TV ratings of 17 and 18 actually be for them when it comes to signing a new TV deal in 2023?

 

[sportscoach]

Couple things.

1. I don’t think anyone is suggesting the Indians should sell right now. The guys they’d be moving aren’t going to have any more or less value if they move them today or if they move them in late July.

If the Indians do sell it will be in mid-late July once they’ve firmly played their way out of the race. If they turn it around in June and are leading the wild card or within a few games of the Twins, then sure. The strategy could change.

2. Fuck attendance and fuck the fans. I like you buddy, but this attendance argument is awfully naive and pretty much useless.

The fans ain’t coming this year. The Indians could trade for Mike Trout and the fans just ain’t coming. Blame whatever you want to blame, be it anger at ownership, economics, population erosion, the Browns existing and being good, the city not being big enough for three franchises. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, but the facts are the fans aren’t going to fill the building no matter how good the team is and this year the team isn’t very good.

The fans issue is part of the reason why we didn't sign anyone in a sense, so its not 100% naive cause of that. Sadly I cannot disagree with that statement about the fans not coming out regardless of what the FO does from here on out, but it still doesn't mean the FO should just throw in the towel.

Though on paper this team can easily make the playoff if everyone lives to their potential hence why I want to buy now and get some guys in here. Like Bimbo stated the other day, EE has kind of been one of Jose's mentors in a sense, so going and bringing him back and putting his power in the lineup by himself will I think help the offense. Then getting a veteran bat like Eaton to be like our leadoff/two hole guy, would at least make our offense better in the end and both guys are going to be cut by their teams in a sense next season anyways (both have team option years), so if the prices won't hurt us in the end, then lets just go for it.

The FO made the decision of not trading Bauer/Kluber, resigning Carrasco to a long term deal, who any of those three could have netted us some solid hitting prospects right now, and we would have likely had a better team overall in hindsight, but now the FO has to finish the off season plan and use that contingency fund for this season and follow through with their decision made.

This is a second half team (every single season under Francona they are better in the second half by a large margin), and I think getting Clev back in June will help overall with the team, but I feel even getting EE back right now, would put a moral booster in this roster that they need, Twins won't continue playing this well and Carrasco and Bauer won't continue pitching this poorly.This is what I feel we need to do right now, but oh wellz

 

[The Oi]

Sure.

But the issue there is the fact that those fans staying home and watching on TV aren’t spending money on tickets, parking, concessions, programs, souvenirs, merchandise, the kind of money that (in theory) gets invested back into the team at trade deadlines and in the offseason.

The television ratings were great the last couple of years, but the Indians also aren’t up for a new TV contract until 2023 and they’re almost certainly going to experience a downturn both in on-field product and TV ratings before then (it’s already happening), so how valuable will the great TV ratings of 17 and 18 actually be for them when it comes to signing a new TV deal in 2023?

No doubt. But its better than zero interest in the team at all.

 

[MVD]

We just have too many young guys who should still be in Triple A. Bauers,Allen, and Freeman shouldn't even be up here. Luplow has been decent. Tampa Bay also has the best starting pitching in baseball by far so far this season, but we are just hard to watch right now.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

We just have too many young guys who should still be in Triple A. Bauers,Allen, and Freeman shouldn't even be up here. Luplow has been decent. Tampa Bay also has the best starting pitching in baseball by far so far this season, but we are just hard to watch right now.

Dude... Mike Freeman is a 31 year old journeyman. He's not some prospect who got called up too early.

 

[MVD]

Dude... Mike Freeman is a 31 year old journeyman. He's not some prospect who got called up too early.

Point is he shouldn't even be up here taking AB away. 6/30 with a .200 BA. Don't really have any other options in Columbus right now. Bradley is hitting good, but Santana plays every day almost everyday at 1B. I would have kept Brantley. Guy has been consistent at the plate and in the OF when healthy and good in the club house. Better then watching Mercado and Martin collide over a easy fly ball in the OF. Overall point is we have a lack of offensive talent.

 

[BMAN]

Now we’re giving Mercado shit? K

 

[Lee]

Now we’re giving Mercado shit? K

He hasn't shown this much promise in the minors, is he really this good? Do some blossom later like this? I know 24 isn't late, but I am just a numbers guy, don't know baseball as well as some of you and just curious your guys thoughts.

 

[MVD]

Now we’re giving Mercado shit? K

Guess you missed that play in the OF. Never said anything about his hitting. I'd rather see him in the lineup over Bauers.

 

[BMAN]

Guess you missed that play in the OF. Never said anything about his hitting. I'd rather see him in the lineup over Bauers.

I did. I love Brantley but he was never great in the outfield. One botched play and now he sucks on defense?