Well Tribal folks, this is it.
I am going to go back on what I said yesterday(even after a 3-1 win over the O's yesterday). I am going to say that 'It's over' may be what I am saying sooner rather than later. This time next week we will know if the season is going to be put on ice for the Cleveland Indians. 3 major things will have happened by this time next week. First, the trade deadline is next Tuesday. Second, we will have just wrapped up a series with the Tigers(starts tonight at 7:05, Fister vs. Jimenez). Third, we will see if Grady Sizemore has another rehab setback, one more and he is done for the year.
Let me start off with the obvious baseball facts, there are A LOT of games to go. The Indians can get just as hot, as they are cold right now. They still have many games against the Tigers, so as long as Detroit leads the division, the Tribe can catch up on them. However, the Tribe are ice cold at the wrong time(right before the deadline), which means most teams are calling about Tribe players, and the Tribe is in the middle ground as far as to pull the trigger on any deals. I promise that before the year is done, the Tribe will get hot, I am talking winning 7 or 8 out of 10 games, and that may happen more than once. The reason for that is that to do it, not much is required, back to back good starts by Masterson and Jimenez, and an uptick in the offense. However, even with A hot streak, what is the point? Will the Indians have the players to pull a run together the way the Tigers did last season to win this division? Because that is what it is going to take. Do the Indians have the players to beat the Tigers head-to-head. That's a question you will get answered this week.
I don't like reading articles about Johnny Damon discussing how life in Florida was paradise, he thinks he would be the first shoe to drop if the Indians throw in the towel, and maybe retirement will happen for him. If this team was actually in a pennant race, why in the world is that article being posted, and why is Damon even wasting his time answering it? That to me sounds like a leader in the clubhouse facing reality, not only of his age/abilities, but also of the mood of the rest of the locker room. If the players are thinking that, then it will really show against Detroit this week, because the Tigers smell blood in the water, they are used to making a push this time of year, and ALL of their starters want to be there for a playoff run, so they will be playing their hardest. What will the Indians mindset be after a tough road trip and losing 3 of 4 at home to an Orioles team that is also contending for the Wild Card?
If the players are quitting, I don't blame them. First of all, Shelley Duncan thinks they got the team currently that can get them to the playoffs. That's bologna. You don't have a LF that can play a full game, a DH who can't play every day, and a platoon at 3rd base. You have plenty of areas to improve, and I have discussed this plenty already. So last season management made moves to help, and the players responded until injuries in August just decimated this team. Well look at the White Sox and Tigers, the divisional competition, they have made moves that will help them, and the Indians are not only doing nothing thus far, but the only rumors are them as sellers.
Tigers have acquired SP Anibal Sanchez and UT Omar Infante. They gave up a lot to get him including their #1 pick from two years ago SP Jacob Turner who is in AAA for them. However, their rotation is now Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, Sanchez, Scherzer, and Porcello. For playoff purposes this is a solid rotation, and Infante isn't a guy to be overlooked. He fills the role that Placido Polanco, Brandon Inge, and Wilson Betimit held down during the prior postseason runs since Jim Leyland took over. The Tigers have a very basic formula for winning, and this trade sets them up to kick it into gear, and head towards the World Series just like in previous seasons.
The White Sox acquired Brett Myers from the Astros. They have a roster that LAST season was supposed to get them into the playoffs. Well, it didn't happen due to injury and poor play. So they traded their closer in the off-season, got a little younger and then hmmmm...Jake Peavy is pitching really good, and is healthy. Adam Dunn is back to the guy we thought we would have had last season, well lets replace Sergio Santos since we gave him up not thinking we would contend this year, and they did with Brett Myers. They needed a 3B, and beat out the Indians to acquire Kevin Youkilis, who has played wonderfully for them too. The White Sox, looked at the standings, and took on some low risk veterans at positions of need, and are making their move. With Jake Peavy, you always have a shot in the playoffs once you get in.
The Indians were in first for April and May of the season, they acquired Johnny Damon and Esmil Rogers during that time. Rogers has helped out, and Damon is more of a locker room guy than an everyday starter at this point, but they aren't really key contributors right now. Damon is hitting near .221 on a platoon basis. The Indians kept Grady Sizemore hoping he could add pop to the offense, but may not see the field all season. Roberto Hernandez will be back, but it isn't as big a help as previously expected, because you are getting drop-offs from Tomlin and Masterson this year. Remove yourself thinking as a fan, you see the team is sputtering, the Tigers and White Sox are locked and loaded for a World Series run, almost every move you made thus far has failed, do you keep buying?
Now you see why these are the only rumors associated with the Indians. Giants are inquiring about Chris Perez. Several teams are looking at Shin Soo Choo. The Indians are sellers right now. Do not expect any Jimenez like signings this time around, I am betting you see Grimmace and Damon being shopped(if anybody wants them), then you can get a heavy dose of LaPorta the rest of the year. Expect Derek Lowe to be shopped(not that his value is super high), and then McAlister keeps his spot(he is awesome right now) when Hernandez debuts.
I am not a quitter on any of my teams, I am Cleveland fan DANNIT! To be a Tribe fan you have to be loyal because they really don't offer a lot to even have a bandwagon to jump on. I still think the window is VERY close to being open for the Indians. IF they are buyers, make a deal for a guy like Jimenez who is under club control a few more seasons, if they are sellers, trade veterans with playoff experience like Grimmace, Damon, Duncan, Lowe, and Lopez. Yes their value isn't a lot, but you get a prospect or cash, and use them to keep rebuilding the farm and save up to pay Choo as much as he wants. If you trade Choo or Perez, unless you get a top prospect from another team(and really even if you do), you just pushed back the window of contention a few more years.
I am not for any trade that makes this team worse for next season. That means, I am ok if they trade those guys, but I am not ok with trading Perez or Choo. I am actually ok if they trade Pestano, I don't want them too, but he may be the bullpen guys may be the most valuable and replaceable pieces we got. If you traded Pestano, for a high class prospect who is either a LF or 1B, is that a bad trade? Especially if you traded Grimmace/Damon and gave that player some MLB time? Maybe, but I think Perez is set where he is, I think Joe Smith could slide into Pestano's spot. Heck, the way Rogers is pitching he may be a solid 7th inning guy too.
Why would you trade Choo or Perez and push back the championship window? You shouldn't! Next season the team is getting even better with starting pitching, Masterson, Jimenez, Hernandez, McAlister, Tomlin/Carrasco/Gomez! We didn't trade Cliff Lee for Lou Marson! Get some hitting and don't sell next season because you want Wandy Rodriguez.
We shall see what happens, but I think we get bad results from the Tigers series, or Grady's next attempt to run, then the Indians should be sellers. Not a full scale selling though, sell guys who fill needs, and get somebody who can hit in the 4th spot in the off-season. I like Santana, but if he can't hit over .240, he is a 6th hitter, not a 3-5 guy. Pronk's $13 mil is off the books after this season, go after somebody who can hit and stay on the field as a DH! Billy Butler would be magical, but the Royals won't trade him to us.
Biggest Week of the season, and maybe next season starting tonight. Go Tribe!
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