2017 ALDS | Indians vs Yankees

[3 Ball...GOT IT]

The Kluber injury talk was pure bullshit conjured up by ignorant local radio hosts who decided to start covering the team within the last 2 weeks.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Agree completely. On the other hand I see Kipnis and Brantley as luxury pieces on this team now, and I hope they trade Kip, and am indifferent as to whether they pick up Brantley’s option. We have talented young guys that deserve to be every day players that can’t as long as those two are around.

You have to pickup Brantley's option.

The reward far outweighs the cost. You aren't finding a guy for 11 million who can do what he does, cause those guys are getting 20+ a year. The fact that the shoulder wasn't a problem this year is a big plus for me. I think its a no-brainer to pick up that option.

And, whether we like it or not, Kipnis will be the Opening Day 2B IMO, barring an injury like this year. Jose will be back at 3B, and I don't think Gio is on the team after this season. I think Diaz goes to a corner OF spot to take over the role of Jackson too, and kind of acts as the old Ramirez super utility man role.

We do have young kids who are ready or knocking on the door, but we also have Miller, Allen, and Brantley for just 1 more year, so I think we see a big push this off season.

 

[Soar]

The Kluber injury talk was pure bullshit conjured up by ignorant local radio hosts who decided to start covering the team within the last 2 weeks.

Meh idk.

Francona pretty much confirmed sonething was up postgame

 

[Chris]

All of sports laughing at us. Again.

Too much. Going on sports media blackout as usual.

Thanks Indians. Going to have to earn my confidence in your post season abilities back.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Tito gets some blame to me. Here's my reasoning:

To me, Tito played not to lose as opposed to playing to win by having Kluber start Game 2 so he could get normal rest in a potential Game 5.

IMO, there was no need to start Bauer on short rest when we had 6 SP on the roster. I'm not advocating starting Tomlin and Bauer didn't allow an ER in the game, but IMO, Clev or Salazar could've gotten us through a few IP before going to the pen. With the off day following, it wouldn't have been a problem.

Game 3, Tito blows through his entire bench (minus E-Gon) at once and our worst hitter still hits in the inning.

Gio somehow gets 3 PA in a winner-take-all game? I mean hell, I'd have trusted Gomes over Gio in that situation.

Having your 2nd best SP only pitch once is disappointing.

It just seems like Tito over-thought the series.

However, ultimately, you're right, it came down to the players.

1-4 hitters: 9-79, 31 K

3-4 hitters: 3-39, 17 K

Hit .171 for the series. Minus the HR, we hit .145.

That's not on Tito.

I really don't think he played not to lose. I think he played to sweep and give them no chance, because he knows a 5 game series is weird, and wanted it over ASAP, and pegged that as his best avenue to a sweep. It put Bauer in a relatively favorable match-up vs their #2, and Kluber vs their #4.

I don't think he ever expected Kluber would have to pitch a game 5, and honestly, he shouldn't have.

This is all on the players. I know Tito will take blame, and protect his guys, but this was all on the players, especially the position players in game 3. That's the game that will haunt them all winter I think...not game 4 or 5.

 

[Triple-S]

All of sports laughing at us. Again.

Too much. Going on sports media blackout as usual.

Thanks Indians. Going to have to earn my confidence in your post season abilities back.

fuck'em.

seriously why do we even care about these group of elitist fuckwits any more? They don't like coming here...they're all more concerned with jacking each other off and going to whatever major market they can go to.

fuck'em. let them think whatever.

 

[Triple-S]

Winning a title didn't suddenly make the media fall in love with this city, guys.

They still shit on it and still helped push Kyrie out of town. They tried to do the same with LeBron. They'll pick and choose narratives.

This is more of a fun thing for us fans really. The respect from them won't ever be earned. Not in this era.

 

[BooyaCS]

Here was my problem with this series. Some of it you can blame on Tito.

Kipnis,
Brantley and both of Gio/Erik Gonzalaz had no business being on the roster for this series. It messed with the Chemistry of the lineup. I think taking Austin Jackson out of the 2 hole was part of the issue. Lindor and JRam were trying to cover for Kip not being able to hit. In return they started pressing way too hard.

Also putting Clevinger in the bullpen was a bad idea. He isn't a good pitcher out of the pen and he should have been either the 4th starter or not on the post season roster. Tomlin is the better pitcher out of the pen.

Out of necessity I would have had Almonte on the Roster (instead of brantley if Bradley Zimmer wasn't injured there you go) in addition I would have had Yandy over Kip then added in another pitcher inplace of 1 of E Gon or Gio.

With putting Brantley and Kip on the roster (Kip played the last 11 games and Brantley missed quite a bit of time especially during August and September).

Only out of Loyalty were Kip and Brantley on the post season roster. I don't think they should have.

A friend asked (before the all star break) would you trade Kip? I said yes because you put JRam at 2nd and Yandy at third.

You can get by with 1 player in the line up that is useless (Gomes/Perez) but you can't have 3 or 4 (Brantley, Kip, Gomes/Perez and Gio all bad at the plate).

This is why I think we struggled. We had Kip in the 2 hole when during the streak we had Austin Jackson and we were rolling with major chemistry and it looked like we were having fun. Then Kip and Brantley come back and I believe it screwed up everything with Lindor and JRam.

Then we had 1 less pitcher than I would have liked and Kluber wasn't himself.

 

[godfather]

Yeah, I'm sorry, I don't blame Tito at all. We can question some of his decisions, no managers is perfect.

This is ALL on the players. Let's recap shall we. Kluber in game 2 can't even make it to three innings! We rally to win, and that itself was a miracle.

Kluber in 2 starts can't make it through 4 innings! WTF?!

Lindor and Ramirez, our two best players, were 4 for 38. They were both dreadful.

EE got hurt.

Defense that was great all year, awful this series. Costly errors at the WRONG time that hurt us.

If I told all those things happen before the series started, you'd tell me we got swept.

We went 5 games. Some of it on sheer luck, some of it on great performances, still.

Bauer was lights fucking out in game 1. I expected he'd be good, didn't expect that good.

Game 2 was a miracle. From there on, we were fucking awful. Couldn't score one fucking run after Carrasco pitches a gem!

I think I'm going to chalk it up to them just gagging to be honest.

They showed moments of themselves, and other moments like they forget how to walk, let alone play the game they've played all year long.

Just a great season that ended terribly bad.

 

[godfather]

Just so damn frustrating because it will be difficult to be this good again. This was a great team and unlike in basketball in which the better team wins playoffs series a great majority of the time, baseball teams just have to be hot at the right time. The Indians deserved better than this.

Additionally, this Yankees team was better than its record and was a better team than Boston yet we got to play the Yankees and the Astros got Boston.

This is why I kinda hate baseball, yet, love it too. Hate/love thing, given almost anyone, literally, can win it. Unlike all the other sports. Even football to some degree. I still think the best teams usually win in that sport, too. But obviously basketball is almost purely chalk winners.

It's frustrating because I can't remember the last time having a Cleveland team that was TRULY great, and just flat out dominant. Hell, it might have been since the '95 Indians. But, that team, went against another Goliath, maybe the best pitching staff ever.

So, you at the end of the day could at least tip your hat, knowing you just collided against another all-time great team that year, even though losing always sucks.

This team, was special. They had it ALL. Great and deep fucking starting pitching. So deep, we could go 6 deep. Every fucking arm you could ask for in the bullpen.

Great defensively. A potent offense. Versatility, on the bases. A deep bench. Hell, such a deep team, where we question who makes it, who doesn't, because this team was THAT loaded.

And in just 5 games into the post season, when we're at least anticipating it being a long run. Maybe not going how we like, but long run at least.

Like that, it's over.

Hard to really swallow that.

 

[Stark]

I'm so sad. I honestly think this was our year and we wasted it cchoking to those fuckers from the Bronx.

 

[Triple-S]

I'm so sad. I honestly think this was our year and we wasted it cchoking to those fuckers from the Bronx.

This shit happens sometimes.

I've seen it happen with Ohio State, and the Cavs before.

It hurts. You had a great regular season and then...bam...you lose and the whole thing falls a part. It'll happen again. With who? I don't know. But we'll have some sort of fun championship run.

 

[sportscoach]

I'm so sad. I honestly think this was our year and we wasted it cchoking to those fuckers from the Bronx.

We also have 18 were we literally have the same roster so we have to win it next season otherwise the window will close on us a bit.

 

[aldamon]

KLUBER KLOBBERED

Kluber was one of baseball's most consistent pitchers all season, winning 18 games and leading the AL with a 2.25 ERA.

However, October was cruel to the right-hander. He allowed nine runs, including four homers, over 6 1/3 innings in two postseason starts, hardly what he or the Indians expected.

Kluber overcame a back issue earlier this season and it flared up this fall.

"He's fighting a lot," Francona said. "I think you also have to respect the fact that guy wants to go out there and he's our horse. And sometimes it doesn't work."

http://www.espn.com/mlb/game?gameId=371011105

 

[NorthCoastBias]

They're a resilient group of guys who will bounce back. Just such a fucking shame the season had to end this way. Hopefully that doesn't deter fans from showing up next season.

I'm not taking for granted the fact this team has a chance to win the division and make the postseason three straight years, which hasn't been done in close to two decades ('97, '98, '99). Not saying the posters here have no right to vent because obviously this is incredibly frustrating. Just know that we're in a really good stretch.