• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Your 2018 Cleveland Indians

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Tribe being completely disrespected by the national media as usual. Might as well just fast forward to Astros v. Sox ALCS
 
Tribe being completely disrespected by the national media as usual. Might as well just fast forward to Astros v. Sox ALCS

We’ve underperformed all year, I’m not surprised at all. Boston is probably best team in baseball, Houston is defending champs.

I can’t get a read for this team. Our starting pitching is dominate. Bullpen very shaky. If we want to go far in the playoffs, we need Lindor and JRam to step up. They had combined 4 hits last year in the ALDS, that’s why we got sent home early. JRam has struggled this month, he was batting .305 to start Sept and he’s at .274 now.

Can we make a run at the World Series? Absolutely. But we need those two to show up, Kluber to not get shelled this year, Bauer to catch up to speed and the bullpen to dominate like 16’.
 
Shane Bieber just capped off his rookie season.

2.8 fWAR, 1 rWAR, 2nd lowest FIP out of all starters 23 or younger who pitched 100+ innings this year, 5.1 K/BB ratio.

Had terrific peripherals, but suffered a bit of bad luck (.356 BABIP is not sustainable). For someone touted as a soft-tosser, command and control pitcher with little to no projection left when he was drafted, he has turned into one of the better young starters in all of baseball. Indians continue to develop starting pitchers better than anyone else in baseball.
 
Shane Bieber just capped off his rookie season.

2.8 fWAR, 1 rWAR, 2nd lowest FIP out of all starters 23 or younger who pitched 100+ innings this year, 5.1 K/BB ratio.

Had terrific peripherals, but suffered a bit of bad luck (.356 BABIP is not sustainable). For someone touted as a soft-tosser, command and control pitcher with little to no projection left when he was drafted, he has turned into one of the better young starters in all of baseball. Indians continue to develop starting pitchers better than anyone else in baseball.

Pray for health, because the starting five next year gives you a chance to win every single time out.

Kluber
Bauer
Carrassco
Clevenger
Bieber

Whew...

Not a ton of depth behind them, with the exception of Plutko. Honestly, being able to get Tomlin to Columbus would be an ideal situation as well.
 
We’ve underperformed all year, I’m not surprised at all. Boston is probably best team in baseball, Houston is defending champs.

I can’t get a read for this team. Our starting pitching is dominate. Bullpen very shaky. If we want to go far in the playoffs, we need Lindor and JRam to step up. They had combined 4 hits last year in the ALDS, that’s why we got sent home early. JRam has struggled this month, he was batting .305 to start Sept and he’s at .274 now.

Can we make a run at the World Series? Absolutely. But we need those two to show up, Kluber to not get shelled this year, Bauer to catch up to speed and the bullpen to dominate like 16’.

I honestly think Boston was just the luckiest team in baseball. They are very very good, but I'd put them on par with us solidly behind Houston, and possibly New York, too.

Their offense is based around a few guys just like our's, they have bullpen questions, and a key starter that might not be 100% back in rhythm yet.
 
Is there a chance the Indians shop any of their starters in the offseason considering McKenzie is probably not too far away from the big leagues?

Not saying they should and I doubt they will, we saw the giant step down from Plutko, but it could potentially be an option to add an impactful OF bat should Brantley and Chisenhall walk.
 
Not a ton of depth behind them, with the exception of Plutko. Honestly, being able to get Tomlin to Columbus would be an ideal situation as well.
What's everybody's read on Salazar moving forward? Is he simply too unreliable to grant much thought? Should we expect to turn him into a bullpen piece for less wear and tear and to fill some holes?

I think he's only got 1 year left on his contract, that will be an interesting situation to monitor.
 
What's everybody's read on Salazar moving forward? Is he simply too unreliable to grant much thought? Should we expect to turn him into a bullpen piece for less wear and tear and to fill some holes?

I think he's only got 1 year left on his contract, that will be an interesting situation to monitor.

If its me, I'm moving him to the pen.

I think the Indians would have the same belief, but we'll see how healthy he is as we get into the off-season.

Think his stuff would play up in a short-term relief role. He could be deadly.
 
If its me, I'm moving him to the pen.

I think the Indians would have the same belief, but we'll see how healthy he is as we get into the off-season.

Think his stuff would play up in a short-term relief role. He could be deadly.
Would help solve some of the bullpen question marks going into next year.
 
Pray for health, because the starting five next year gives you a chance to win every single time out.

Kluber
Bauer
Carrassco
Clevenger
Bieber

Whew...

Not a ton of depth behind them, with the exception of Plutko. Honestly, being able to get Tomlin to Columbus would be an ideal situation as well.

When your projected #5 starter in 2019 was 31st among all starters in baseball in fWAR for 2018...

0w5UAMX.gif
 
Pray for health, because the starting five next year gives you a chance to win every single time out.

Kluber
Bauer
Carrassco
Clevenger
Bieber

Whew...

Not a ton of depth behind them, with the exception of Plutko. Honestly, being able to get Tomlin to Columbus would be an ideal situation as well.

I am not sure of the market for Tomlin, but I think he would have a major league offer somewhere and could have better opportunities off of this ball club, but we shall see as the market unfolds. I am sure he will get at least a minor league invite with plenty of incentives in the offseason from the Indians in the minimum.

If I remember correctly, Plutko is out of options next season so that is something to look at since he may have some value as well.

Still that starting 5 is scary. I think McKenzie will have some random starts next season, and I would be surprised if we didn't invite a few reclaim projects.

If its me, I'm moving him to the pen.

I think the Indians would have the same belief, but we'll see how healthy he is as we get into the off-season.

Think his stuff would play up in a short-term relief role. He could be deadly.

I feel Salazar should be in the pen, but we shall see when the season starts. Do you see anything outside of the pen for Anderson since he should be able to pitch next season at some point?
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top