3 Ball...GOT IT
#CediSZN
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Just from this interview today pre-game, pretty much sounds like Kip in CF as at least a platoon vs righties is a lock for the playoffs.
Thats about where I am at & agree with potential swap outs.New ALDS prediction
14 hitters
C: Gomes, Perez
IF: Santana, Ramirez, Lindor, Diaz, Urshela
OF: Bruce, Kipnis, Chisenhall, Jackson, Guyer, Allen
DH: Encarnation
11 pitchers
SP: Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger
RP: Allen, Miller, Shaw, Smith, Olson, Otero, Goody
Left out
IF: Gonzalez
OF: Brantley, Almonte, Naquin
P: Tomlin, Salazar, McAlister, Breslow
If Brantley is somehow able to make it back in the final week of the season, I'm dropping Diaz off the roster, moving Kipnis back to 2nd base and starting Ramirez at 3B with Urshela as the backup infielder.
I still cannot see Tomlin being left off the roster. I have him on the roster over Goody at the end of the day.
Tomlin is like Salazar to me. If he doesn't make it as the No. 4 starter, then I just don't see a place for him at all. I personally don't see the need for a long reliever in the playoffs.
If the Indians can't get through a playoff game using 8 pitchers (1 starter + 7 relievers), then they probably don't deserve to win that game anyway.
If they end up having some marathon 12+ inning game in the first three games of a series, then I imagine Clevinger would just come in and pitch 3-4 innings anyway and Kluber would pitch the next game on short rest.
Thats about where I am at & agree with potential swap outs.
I think you roll with that until the WS.
Once that happens, drop Diaz & insert Salazar into the bullpen. He can either be a spot starter or give you 3 outs of fastball hell. Id even consider dropping Guyer as well. Only because we will have potentially 3 games where Santana will likely slide to the OF for Edwin to get some reps at 1B just to keep his bat in the lineup.
Luckily our flexibility with Kipnis, Santana, & Jose can help us in a pinch. I would just hate to hurt any chemistry or regress significantly from a defensive perspective.
I still cannot see Tomlin being left off the roster. I have him on the roster over Goody at the end of the day.
New ALDS prediction
14 hitters
C: Gomes, Perez
IF: Santana, Ramirez, Lindor, Diaz, Urshela
OF: Bruce, Kipnis, Chisenhall, Jackson, Guyer, Allen
DH: Encarnation
11 pitchers
SP: Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger
RP: Allen, Miller, Shaw, Smith, Olson, Otero, Goody
You've literally said this incessantly for almost a month with nothing ever backing it up.
I am not the only one who agrees and it's like choose between a guy who has been pitching well who is a veteran and a guy who has been pitching well who isn't a veteran. Take your pick since that is the only argument between the last choices making this roster..
Essentially guys like Tomlin, Otero, McAllister are all solid veterans pitchers with good numbers and likely long men in the playoffs
While guys like Clev and Goody have had solid seasons, but lack experience in some ways. Clev has been solid since he came up and Goody is the same way.
I am going with Clev, Tomlin and Otero for the last three spots in the bullpen. That is no different than saying Goody will get a spot since you cannot backup either guy getting the spot since everyone has good numbers. Francona is the decider and Francona is fond of Tomlin so that may be why he gets the spot over Goody. If you say that isn't a good argument then you don't understand the coach. So don't get after me for not backing my statement up when you cannot backup Goody really over anyone else.
Here's one that will send you for a loop. What if Francona is ALSO fond of Nick Goody?