The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

No matter what I say, if I say my gut/without evidence I get told I am always wrong since there is nothing to back it up, but all young players are without evidence until they actually play, so no matter what I say from here on out since I personally feel they will be, I will be wrong and incorrect.

I feel more ABs Luplow gets against RH pitchers the better he will get. In the minors he hit about .300 against RH pitchers and some seasons better against RHP than LHP so he will right the ship more ABs he gets that way.

Mercado looks like he has figured out himself as a hitter and since he has modified his swings a couple seasons back, looks like a solid everyday hitter. His fielding will get better as well the more he plays out there so the mistakes he made so far will be gone next season, since you have to remember he hasn't logged a ton of innings out there.

I say without a doubt since that is how I feel about this crew we have in the OF going forward. Baseball is a lot of analyzing the numbers nowadays, but sometimes guys are also just baseball players and will get it right. Cleveland wasn't the only team trying to get guys like Luplow and we tried to trade for Luplow last season like we did with Mercado, if I am reading all of the rumors and comments made by people correctly. We have a plus OF defensively, all can run well, so all we need is production at the plate from them, which I think will happen with more ABs and experience.

I haven't once brought up anything about your thoughts on these players' performance moving forward. Holy straw man.

I've only brought up your claim that Luplow is as fast as Mercado and Zimmer.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

It’s next to impossible to have a high volume poster on ignore in the Indians section because it makes the dialogue so difficult to follow

 

[The Oi]

Worst section on the board.

Also, the one I post in the least.

Coincidence?

 

[sportscoach]

I haven't once brought up anything about your thoughts on these players' performance moving forward. Holy straw man.

I've only brought up your claim that Luplow is as fast as Mercado and Zimmer.

Naw I have been told before you cannot only say what your gut instincts about a player are since there is nothing to back it (aka AZ_). I feel like the group will be good, and I will leave that at that since its my gut instinct about the group and nothing on paper saying they are/will be.

He really isnt that far off those guys at all, but this is an irrelevant argument since its really getting away from the point I was trying to make of the fact we have a really good potential OF in 2020 athletically, defensively etc, just waiting to see if they can put the hitting together as a unit.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Naw I have been told before you cannot only say what your gut instincts about a player are since there is nothing to back it (aka AZ_). I feel like the group will be good, and I will leave that at that since its my gut instinct about the group and nothing on paper saying they are/will be.

He really isnt that far off those guys at all, but this is an irrelevant argument since its really getting away from the point I was trying to make of the fact we have a really good potential OF in 2020 athletically, defensively etc, just waiting to see if they can put the hitting together as a unit.

Stop playing the victim and pre-emptively shutting down your discussion.

If you want to talk about the potential of our young OF, go for it.

I would, however, recommend reaching for anything that's actually able to be discussed rather than "It's my gut." That doesn't exactly open the topic to discussion, which is the point of a forum.

I think, athletically and defensively, we have some really good guys. We just don't have the bats. I wanted us to pick up a veteran bat for the OF, and let the young talent sort itself into the remaining two spots. Right now, it looks like Mercado has shown up and deserves to be out there everyday. I'm interested to see how Martin, Zimmer, Allen, Luplow and Bauers sort themselves out. I'm excited for Daniel Johnson to eventually get a shot. I want to see if Bobby Bradley can fill the gaping hole at DH. Naquin can go sell sporting goods. I'm done with him.

 

[sportscoach]

Stop playing the victim and pre-emptively shutting down your discussion.

If you want to talk about the potential of our young OF, go for it.

I would, however, recommend reaching for anything that's actually able to be discussed rather than "It's my gut." That doesn't exactly open the topic to discussion, which is the point of a forum.

I think, athletically and defensively, we have some really good guys. We just don't have the bats. I wanted us to pick up a veteran bat for the OF, and let the young talent sort itself into the remaining two spots. Right now, it looks like Mercado has shown up and deserves to be out there everyday. I'm interested to see how Martin, Zimmer, Allen, Luplow and Bauers sort themselves out. I'm excited for Daniel Johnson to eventually get a shot. I want to see if Bobby Bradley can fill the gaping hole at DH. Naquin can go sell sporting goods. I'm done with him.

This is the 2020 thread, so Martin won't be around and I feel with the experience guys will gain this season, their bats will be better next season. Hard to do anything but educated guesses for players going forward. I mean I kept asking about Plesac in the minor league thread and all the guys who "know" in that thread said he was a nobody. None of us predicting the future knows how a player will be, so I just feel that these guys will put together a strong second half this season and the experience will allow them to grow this season.

I mean all of them put up at least decent minor league numbers, Luplow actually overall put up the best number of the group if you would go look at them. That doesn't always translate to the pros, so we have to see if we will ever see that high slugging percentage and OBP% from Luplow actually make it to the pros or not. He was known for taking walks in the minors and so far he hasn't been as much but I am pretty sure leads the team in pitches per plate appearance P/PA at 4.46.

Zimmer I think for this season may end up taking a back seat and just work on returning to form in due time. He still had some issues with his bat when he was up in the pros anyways. Getting him back 100% healthy is the most important thing. We don't lack hitting from the left side this season, so let's see how he looks in minor league rehab, but everything one needs tools wise is their for him.

Bauers I think presses a little much right now, so if he doesn't exactly get hot/get better here soon, we may have to switch him and Bradley for awhile to get his swing right in the minors. His power and potential are there, and if you look at it, he is on pace for like 30 something extra base hits in 450 ABs which he had 33 in 323 last year with the rays. He is still young, (Only 23) but needs to focus a lot better on good contact with the ball. Hence why I said in due time he could get 20+ HRs since he still needs to work on somethings with his approach and swing and if he gets that corrected, he will be the 50+ extra base hit per season kind of guy.

Allen just put together two nice games in a row, lets see if that helps him relax at the plate. Confidence is key at the end of the day and after the rough start, it felt like he was lacking that with his swing. He has shown flashes of being a good hitter, he just needs to put it all together as well. He just needs to keep things simple and make good contact on the ball since his speed and whatnot will help him get on base. He doesn't have the power potential of the other guys, so he needs to be the best of the crew taking pitches and bat control.

Naquin actually was one of the better hitter before he got hurt, batting .289 against RHPs. He seems like he will always end up being a platoon guy, but Luplow could end up being a platoon against LHPs so on paper that would work out well. He actually was looking good this season overall, lets though see if he can get past the fact he can never stay healthy.

With everyone but Luplow and Mercado being left handed next season, Naquin, Johnson, Zimmer, Bauers, while Allen cannot seem to hit lefties either, it likely those 5 will compete for the last 2-3 spots on the roster. I think via the competition, will help the guys develop more and will end up with the best 4-5 guys in the OF. I mean I am not against bringing in a veteran OF on a minor league deal, but I feel we kind of have to let the guys work it out and push each other. Why spend the money on an OF free agent, when the talent is there, they just have to put it together.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/2020/

Most of the top free agents will end up being more pitchers and positions we don't need overall. When it comes to INF prospects, we only have Mathias and Chang who could hit the pros right now, when it comes to OF, everyone of those guys has some major league experience under their belts outside of Johnson, and with little cash to spend, if we go veteran 2nd or 3rd base over OF.

 

[Urban]

I kept asking about Plesac in the minor league thread and all the guys who "know" in that thread said he was a nobody.

Literally one person said he wasn't worth talking about when you grouped him in with 2 nobody bullpen arms. But feel free to exaggerate that it was 'everybody vs. you', as always. That hasn't gotten old

 

[sportscoach]

Literally one person said he wasn't worth talking about when you grouped him in with 2 nobody bullpen arms. But feel free to exaggerate that it was 'everybody vs. you', as always. That hasn't gotten old

There has been plenty of times in the minor league thread I have asked about a player and got nothing at all from anyone about a player. I am curious about them so I ask peeps who know better than me since I ask for their knowledge. Also I was asking about the guys who got off to a hot start at AA, since Plesac, Tully etc all got off to hot starts. Also I asked about Speer and Josh D. Smith (who was later added to the MLB team). I also asked about Pantoja and Monasterio as well. I mean I ask about players since I am curious about them is all and I am sure some of the lurkers in the section like to know about ball players as well. I mean I asked about Jean Carlos Mejia from when he was added to the 40 man roster and no one would tell me crap. So why should I always be nice about it, when I am asking questions about players in the minor league thread who are playing well in the minors? Isn't that what the thread is about?

I don't think any of those guys are worth talking about. If they work their way to a spot start some day, we'll just pray like we do every time Merritt/Plutko/Anderson take the mound.

That was the quote I got about Plesac, Josh Smith and Speer after the 4th time asking about guys down there in 3ish plus weeks. So my apologies if I am not 100% nice about my statements but I ask about players who are doing well for my curiousity and anyone else who could be curious as well. Go through the thread if you want to, I asked about Plesac on April 17th, 25th and a couple other times after that. I would be a better poster at times if I just honestly got questions like that responded to with an answer.

I have been posting about plesac for awhile in the minor league thread, way before anyone else was since just about the start of the season.

 

[Urban]

There has been plenty of times in the minor league thread I have asked about a player and got nothing at all from anyone about a player. I am curious about them so I ask peeps who know better than me since I ask for their knowledge. Also I was asking about the guys who got off to a hot start at AA, since Plesac, Tully etc all got off to hot starts. Also I asked about Speer and Josh D. Smith (who was later added to the MLB team). I also asked about Pantoja and Monasterio as well. I mean I ask about players since I am curious about them is all and I am sure some of the lurkers in the section like to know about ball players as well. I mean I asked about Jean Carlos Mejia from when he was added to the 40 man roster and no one would tell me crap. So why should I always be nice about it, when I am asking questions about players in the minor league thread who are playing well in the minors? Isn't that what the thread is about?

You just backtracked from "I ask questions, no one answers them" from "I asked the 'experts' about Plesac, all of them say he's a nobody". Which is an extreme exaggeration or blatant lie.

In the instance of Plesac, he kind of came out of no where and I don't think he was on most people's radar. He had 4 impressive starts for Akron last year, but 3 of them happened around this time before going back to Lynchburg for the rest of the summer. And he was fine there but nothing that would catch anyone's eye really.

 

[sportscoach]

You just backtracked from "I ask questions, no one answers them" from "I asked the 'experts' about Plesac, all of them say he's a nobody". Which is an extreme exaggeration or blatant lie.

In the instance of Plesac, he kind of came out of no where and I don't think he was on most people's radar. He had 4 impressive starts for Akron last year, but 3 of them happened around this time before going back to Lynchburg for the rest of the summer. And he was fine there but nothing that would catch anyone's eye really.

If you read the quote I edited in, that was the only response I ever got about any of them really outside of Morgan who I knew about/was high on, but I figured if someone didnt, then they needed to know about him. I kept asking and I got nothing but that quote I gave you there. I also asked about Smith and nothing as well. Go look through the thread and you would see I asked over and over and no response at all. IT is a two way street, I ask about guys if they are going well, all one needs to do is just respond, he is this this and this and this is his ceiling. Is that too hard to ask for in thread about our minor league players? If you think I am lying, go read the thread yourself. Thats all I am asking for when I ask questions like that.

I know he wasn't on anyones radar hence why I asked about him since I knew very little about him outside of he was related to Dan Plesac and from what the info from in season scouts said about his rise, was the fact his velocity is up this season plus he has the 3 decent off speed pitches. He knows how to pitch with solid command and he is another year removed from tommy john surgery which is the reason why we got him in the 12th round of the draft. Kind of reminds me of Clev in a sense, a guy who was considered a solid prospect who had tommy john at a bad time and lost a fair amount of his stock.

 

[Urban]

So everyone ignored your question but simultaneously told you Plesac was a nobody? Got it.

This is dumb, I'm moving on.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

@sportscoach You're coming across like you're entitled to a breakdown of any player you ask about.

Whenever b00bie, bimbo or the like gives us some details on a prospect, it's a nice gift.

 

[sportscoach]

@sportscoach You're coming across like you're entitled to a breakdown of any player you ask about.

Whenever b00bie, bimbo or the like gives us some details on a prospect, it's a nice gift.

I have asked for less than 10 players, all of who are playing well in the minors that are unknowns to me. I check the minor league stats almost daily and I know a fair amount of players via the scouting reports and stats. I can tell you the 40 man roster, columbus's roster and Akron's roster off the top of my head. I just don't get to actually watch a lot of them (mostly cause I no longer live in ohio) so I asked about guys performing well so I can get to know that player.

For small markets to succeed they have to draft and sign well and I like to ask about the guys under the radar/no one knows anything about who are performing that I have no clue anything about them, cause the scouting reports are few and far between. I mean most of our roster is comprised of guys drafted in the 4th round or later. Kluber never was a top prospect, neither really was anyone else outside of Carrasco in our starting rotation and he wasn't even the top prospect in the trade, it was Knapp who never even made it to the big leagues. We all get the Lindors of the world, but what makes a team successful especially in the small market is finding the underrated guys. I like to ask about guys performing well in the minors to see if they have any potential going forward, that is all I am doing.

I am not entitled to anything, just feels like anytime I ask a legitimate question, its ignored or shot down, when it takes a few minutes at most to answer. Then when i say a conversational statement, the smallest details which have nothing to do with what I was actually pointing out get nitpicked. I am here cause I want to talk about the team and the players who could be on the team.

 

[sportscoach]

Okay back to a legitimate topic, @Urban @Out of the Rafters at the Q

Ramirez staying at 3rd going forward? Do you guys feel comfortable with the in-house replacements for Kipnis/3B next season?

Personally I feel JRam should play at 3rd mostly because 2nd base I feel is easier to replace the production for. Next years free agent market is thin, plus we really only have Mathias and Chang who could make the roster as the everyday 2B/3B next season in the minors, and even then Chang has lost this season overall, so we don't know if that has set him back or not.

 

[AZ_]

@Urban @Out of the Rafters at the Q Back to business

Crunchy or creamy JIF?

Should a balk count if the pitcher fakes a throw to second base as they do 1st and 3rd?

Personally I think these warrant discussion and we get back on more legitimate topics.