2018 Spring Training Thread

[thestatman]

Paul Hoynes wrote a huge article today in the PD on Tyler Naquin finally giving him some love. Unfortunately it was riddled with falsehoods.

He spoke of Naquin starting game 7 of the World Series and subsequently Tito sendig him to triple A the following spring. After the faux pas in the first inning in game 6, Tito benched him in game 7...and threw him under the bus in the press. He said the World Series was "too big a stage" for Naquin.

Hoynes then spoke of Naquin hitting a curveball off a lefty for a home run on Saturday. Well we all know that cannot be true because the know it alls will tell you he can't hit lefties and if he ever makes it, it will be as a platoon player. Then he spoke of Naquin hitting a double off the wall on a fast ball. That could not have happened either. We all know Naquin can't hit a fast ball. He hit 298 last season in triple A despite fighting numerous injuries. Every one of his hits were off curve balls, didn't ya know?

 

[thestatman]

Not a fan of the tribe signing all these washed up relievers at all. The Indians do not need to waste the money or the time on people that won't crack this unreal pitching staff. With that being said. I am intrigued by what I saw fromm Preston Claiborne Sunday. Not only did he strike out the side, he looked like Andrew Miller from the right side. He throws an assortment of pitches, changing speeds remarkably well. On that day he painted corners. Last year he was a triple A relief pitcher logging a sub 2 ERA. Keep in mind though ERA is a meaningless statistic.

 

[Huber.]

Not a fan of the tribe signing all these washed up relievers at all. The Indians do not need to waste the money or the time on people that won't crack this unreal pitching staff. With that being said. I am intrigued by what I saw fromm Preston Claiborne Sunday. Not only did he strike out the side, he looked like Andrew Miller from the right side. He throws an assortment of pitches, changing speeds remarkably well. On that day he painted corners. Last year he was a triple A relief pitcher logging a sub 2 ERA. Keep in mind though ERA is a meaningless statistic.

Reminds me of the time @PIP threw a sub 1.85 ERA with the 1997 Nation Window White Sox

 

[PIP]

Reminds me of the time @PIP threw a sub 1.85 ERA with the 1997 Nation Window White Sox

Window Nation. Also was 1.63 and did so from centerfield.

Honestly I thought it was just long toss...

 

[Real Deal]

Bradley just ripped a 400 foot double

 

[sportscoach]

@thestatman your posts end up making me agree with AZ_ which is an issue, just saying. We don’t like each other at all so if we agree on something that’s an issue.

Naquin in his rookie season struggled down the stretch and did have a bad game in the playoffs. Also we had Brantley back, a heavy LH outfield so that left him on the outside looking in. The injuries he had last season effected him and allowed Zimmer (who was having a good year at AAA) got the call up.

This season he will be on the outside looking again probably at the end of the day depending on when Brantley comes back. I would honestly say it will be next season that will be a make or break season for Naquin in his career. He needs to focus on this season getting healthy and working on his game so that way in 19 with Chisenhall and Brantley leaving in free agency, he has the chance to really shine once again.

 

[Real Deal]

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Even year healthy Kipnis would be such a huge lift to the lineup and make this team the best in the AL

 

[sportscoach]

@AZ_ @BimboColesHair

What do you guys think of Hill? He has had good minor league numbers and we will likely see some of him this offseason. Do you think he could be in the future bullpen plans like in 19 when we lose a few guys?

 

[Green Demon]

6-6 after Kipnis just hit another HR, not a bad start to the spring for him.

 

[Real Deal]

Kipnis returning to form will have me happier than a kid on Christmas.

 

[Lee]

just got my tickets for spring training. My Mom is in town, so it will be my son, my Mom and me. Cant really beat spring training, so fun.

 

[thestatman]

@thestatman your posts end up making me agree with AZ_ which is an issue, just saying. We don’t like each other at all so if we agree on something that’s an issue.

Naquin in his rookie season struggled down the stretch and did have a bad game in the playoffs. Also we had Brantley back, a heavy LH outfield so that left him on the outside looking in. The injuries he had last season effected him and allowed Zimmer (who was having a good year at AAA) got the call up.

This season he will be on the outside looking again probably at the end of the day depending on when Brantley comes back. I would honestly say it will be next season that will be a make or break season for Naquin in his career. He needs to focus on this season getting healthy and working on his game so that way in 19 with Chisenhall and Brantley leaving in free agency, he has the chance to really shine once again.

I agree with a lot of what you say here. However, you don't mention one thing about Tito putting Almonte on the team last season ahead of Naquin, who is far and away the better player, in every aspect. So I ask you point blank. Why die Francona throw this kid under the bus when he was healthy? He was healthy enough to get close to 300 at bats at triple A.

Yes, Tyler had injuries sidelining him for about 5 weeks. It doesn't excuse the perceived hall of fame manager blackballing him the way he did. Again...third in ROY voting. Lead the team in slugging percentage by a whopping 45 points. Led the team in on base percentage. Third in batting average, and third on the team in home runs per plate appearances. All that on a team that was second in the league in run scoring.I would thnik that those kind of numbers would warrant a return to the big league team over a PED using cheater who batted 230 last season.

 

[thestatman]

Kipnis and Richie Schaeffer continue to shine early on in s.t. I hope Kipnis proves me wrong this year. I readily admit that I wanted him moved. My fear is that Yandy will get Tyler Naquined this year. Not good. Speaking of Diaz, Peter Gammons on ESPN was asked who was most likely to bust out and be a huge offensive weapon this season. Of all the players to choose from. he picked Diaz.

Still can't for the life of me figure out why Tito had both no hit utility guys, Gio and Gonzo. on the post season roster over a guy who was a huge cog in the wheel in August and September. So dumb. Not very smart having double A Greg Allen on the team either when Naquin was available.

 

[sportscoach]

I agree with a lot of what you say here. However, you don't mention one thing about Tito putting Almonte on the team last season ahead of Naquin, who is far and away the better player, in every aspect. So I ask you point blank. Why die Francona throw this kid under the bus when he was healthy? He was healthy enough to get close to 300 at bats at triple A.

Yes, Tyler had injuries sidelining him for about 5 weeks. It doesn't excuse the perceived hall of fame manager blackballing him the way he did. Again...third in ROY voting. Lead the team in slugging percentage by a whopping 45 points. Led the team in on base percentage. Third in batting average, and third on the team in home runs per plate appearances. All that on a team that was second in the league in run scoring.I would thnik that those kind of numbers would warrant a return to the big league team over a PED using cheater who batted 230 last season.

Almonte only played 69 games last season, so it is not like he was really a huge factor overall. The main reason why Almonte got the bench spot over Naquin is the fact Francona wanted Naquin to develop more in the minors and when the injuries did happen to Naquin, Francona kept him in the minors to make sure he got healthy. Also with a heavy left handed lineup, Almonte's ability to hit from either side of the plate, allowed lineup flexibility that Naquin could not give him. Almonte also had better career CF numbers than Naquin did his rookie season.

Naquin did have a good rookie season, but the league did adjust to him late in the season and he didn't show he could adjust back. Look at the final two months of the season and you will see this numbers wise. Naquin was only going to play where he was going to get everday at bats as well, so when injuries happened on the pro team and Naquin wasn't ready Zimmer got the spot and played well and kept the spot.

So essentially to sum up what I am saying, Almonte got the spot because he is a bench player and they wanted Naquin to stay developing his bat and his glove with everyday play since you cannot put him on the team over Brantley, Chisenhall etc he got sent to the minors. Secondly since he wasn't healthy, Zimmer, who I said had to meet certain numbers and whatnot, was hitting those numbers in the minors and got called up instead of Naquin. Hence why we didn't really see Naquin last season.

Naquin isn't a guy that we will see this season because of the heavy left handed lineup, but in 19, he will have a roster spot he can earn once again out of camp. He needs to get healthy and stronger, to show that he wasn't a one year wonder.