SportsNation Blog Archives
Cleveland Indians
The trade deadline has passed, and big names keep being announced as the dust clears. Perhaps the biggest name moved was Indians C/1B Victor Martinez (to the Red Sox), but the White Sox also made a splash with the acquisition of Jake Peavy. Both players strengthen their respective new teams, but are they all that's left?
Rob Neyer can't tell you that; he's not a psychic, people. But the man's full of analysis over what definitely did happen.
Sean (New Haven)
Can you discuss Masterson in Cleveland? Immediately into the rotation, Stretch in AAA or will he remain in the bullpen until Spring? What's his outlook in that park? I love his stuff.
Rob Neyer
I love his stuff, too. But he's got a 1.63 K/BB ratio as a starter in the majors, and that's more of what the Indians don't need. Not saying he can't improve, but he's far from a sure thing as a starter.
Seth (Portland, ME)
Who will catch Wakefield when he returns now that V-Mart is here? Tek usually hasn't usually and right now Kottaras does right now, will V-Mart be able to catch the knuckleball?
Keith Law
I think probably not, but 1) as I mentioned earlier, Kid '66 is still on the DL, 2) September and the bigger rosters are just a few weeks away, 3) Martinez figures to play a lot of first base, and 4) Wakefield doesn't figure to pitch a lot in October. Problem solved!individual players, like the Alvarez over Posey/Smoak decision. Full transcript.
- SportsNation didn't see Clay Buchholz as a top-flight starter.
- In your bog-standard deadline deal, SN would rather get the star than the prospect.
- Before Boston's skid was panic-worthy, SN saw the Yankees as tops in the East.
- User dmcd1396 proposes Adrian Gonzalez as an alternate trade target for Boston.
- Groups: BOSTON RED SOX | theredsoxnation | Cleveland Indians Fans worldwide
“this is a waste for the Sox. Victor Martinez an aging catching who is a DH in waiting. Victor is considered a sub-standard catcher as far a game management goes. He does have a good bat but you can find a DH anywhere. Giving up Buchholtz for Martinez would really be a stupid move on the Sox part
” -- ed0057
“I think Martinez would fit perfectly on the Red Sox because with Tek getting older and power production down, Martinez could add more production and depth to the lineup and if he were to do well with the red sox then maybe they could sign him to a long-term deal.
” -- yungzak
“If the Red Sox land Martinez, then what happens to Varitek? He's the team captain and he'll be sitting on the bench. You can't DH him, then you have to put David Ortiz at 1B and we all know how well he fields.
” -- tybae40
Well, that was fast.
“This is a smart move by the Phillies. They find themselves searching for another arm to improve their rotation and solidify themselves as a NL powerhouse, and with Lee they accomplish both. It is true, Lee is not Doc Holliday, but as a supplemental talent, Lee will provide the shot in the arm necessary. In getting Cliff Lee, they gave up less and get a year and a half of upper-tier talent.
” -- staticfish
“The problem is not Shapiro or Wedge. It's Larry Dolan who isn't willing to be a buyer in the market. At least Dan Gilbert gets it that you have to spend money to get a winner. Until we get an owner that realizes that, the Indians will still look to recapture the "lightning in a bottle" method of getting guys before they turn into stars and locking them into longer term deals.
” -- jwindle1975
“This will make the Phillies extremely dangerous, but you have to question having that many finesse pitchers in your rotation. They almost completely rely on the umpire's strike zone. If the ump isn't giving them the corner strikes, they lose almost all effectiveness.
” -- tybae40
J.P. Ricciardi has another day or two to decide if he wants to keep his ace or be flush with prospects, but for its part, SportsNation isn't sure if the Jays' general manager is Austin Powers or Mike McDermott at the table (come to think of it, among Hollywood card players, John Turturro might be a better fit for the Ricciardi role).
Voters ranked Ricciardi a tepid No. 19 in their GM Power Rankings. That's not Omar Minaya territory or anything quite so disastrous, but it's way down the ladder from the affection SportsNation showed Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. at No. 6. And Amaro is very much in the high-stakes game of dealing for a stud pitcher at the deadline.
Perhaps it's a bluff designed to make Ricciardi nervous, but the Phillies seemed to have turned their attention to Indians ace Cliff Lee after finding the price for Roy Halladay prohibitive. Voters in Pennsylvania remain convinced the Phillies will land either Lee or Halladay, but the rest of the country isn't so sure a deal will get done. Not that many outside Red Sox Nation are convinced the Phillies can't win without a big addition.
Edit: We knew Amaro was a big SportsNation blog fan, but that was an impressive turnaround. We post; he reportedly trades. We feel heady with power).
- 54 percent of voters think Phillies are NL favorites with Halladay.
- 43 percent of voters think Phillies are NL favorites with Lee.
- 21 percent of voters think Phillies are NL favorites without either.
- A Phillies fan, blogger Anthony_Fani hears the talk about keeping the farm system stocked and can't help but think of names like Tyler Green, Brandon Duckworth and Adam Eaton. With a core already in place, he says it's time to stick to winning now.
- Groups: Die Hard Phillies Phans | Displaced Philly Fans | Cleveland Indians Fans
“If the contenders lowball Shapiro, Lee will finish the season in Cleveland. They should have learned their lesson last year. Sabathia's price tag should have included Mat Gamel. The Brewers got away with sending a mediocre LHP with no future in Jackson, damaged goods in Bryson, and two guys that were at least a season away from being big league talent. The Indians will (should) walk away from anyone trying to get Lee at a discount. The worst case scenario is that they deal him at deadline time next year.
” -- Ghostsof1948
“I don't understand alot of this talk...the only reason we would trade Lee is because we won't pay him after next year....if he is looking for Sabathia or even Zambrano money i think we should get the most that we can for him...i would hold out like Toronto for the best players teams have! We hold all the cards, lee is signed through next year, so we are in no pressure mode.
” -- robytooj
“if were (the phillies) so worried about not getting rid of drabek then why dont we have him in our rotation already? I mean if were so worried about not dealing him then why aren't we using him since our pitching hasn't been great this year and everyone keeps landing on the dl. i say put him in the deal and lets get hallady who we all know will dominate
” -- mblakes03
We should be careful what we wish for. Running through National League reviews and predictions, we lamented the lack of sports on the day after the All-Star Game. But how could we be so foolish as to think Brett Favre wouldn't sniff out the opportunity and announce that he is definitely, positively, beyond a shadow of a doubt ... going to tell the Vikings whether or not he's coming back ... at some point between now and the start of the team's training camp. Whew, glad we've got that on the record.
Games not involving Favre's mind resume on baseball diamonds Thursday, but we're taking a look back at the American League before we get there. And compared to the projected runaways in the NL, the division races on this side of the ledger look like they could keep us entertained well into the fall.
American League Team MVP
Red Sox: Jason Bay
Yankees: Mark Teixeira
Angels: Torii Hunter
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
Rangers: Ian Kinsler
Rays: Evan Longoria
Mariners: Ichiro
White Sox: Jermaine Dye
Twins: Joe Mauer
Blue Jays: Roy Halladay
Orioles: Adam Jones
Athletics: Matt Holliday
Royals: Mark Teahan (Offensive MVP)
Indians: Grady Sizemore (Least Valuable Player)
SportsNation is clear on two things when it comes to tonight's All-Star Game in St. Louis. First, the American League is going to win. And second, a good chunk of the 'Nation isn't happy about it.
Just like political elections (only with much younger combatants, except in the cases of Jamie Moyer and Tim Wakefield), the All-Star Game brings out the regional divisisions in all of us. From sea to shining sea, there are distinct bands of support for the American League and National League. And just like the elections, there are some familiar swing states.
Florida: With both the Marlins and Rays, the state is up for grabs. But barring a recount, the AL holds a 53-47 edge, perhaps thanks to AL East retirees.
California: The A's and Angels never stood a chance against the longstanding order of the Dodgers, Giants and Padres (sound familiar in the Golden State?). The National League holds a commanding 65-35 lead for the hearts and minds of Californians.
Ohio: What should be a battlegrouind between the Reds in the south and the Indians in the north is surprisingly one-sided, 62-38, in favor the American League.
Wisconsin: It hasn't taken Wisconsin long to adapt to life in the National League. In fact, at 82 percent support, it's the NL's biggest stronghold in the country.
Next week in chat: James Carville and Mary Matalin on the wild-card races! (not really).
- Have you switched league alleigances in your life? Vote on All-Star Game issues.
- Voters don't think the All-Star Game should decide home-field advantage.
- 'Nation agrees with Roy Halladay over Zack Greinke for American League.
- Chat: Ask Joe Morgan about the National League's golden years at 1 p.m. ET.
“Thanks Bud Selig for making baseball to make no sense whatsover compared to other sports. If you win 105 games in the regular season , then your team should be rewarded for having home field advantage in the World Series. What a Joke!!!! You did a good job in dividing up the leagues and having a wild card, but you can change this crap.
” -- bondsbay
“I'm glad that Maddon decided against Greinke, considering Greinke has about as good of a chance at mattering in the postseason as I do. Halladay is going to win Home Field for the American League, then get traded to the Phils . . .clutch
” -- nslynch713
As the saying goes, the more things change, the more the Cubs struggle to find .500. At least, that's how we learned it. And by "we," we mean anyone born since 1909.
With the baseball season pausing for its official midpoint at the All-Star Game and its less official one in the firing of the Nationals manager, consider how SportsNation sized up the field after the first week of the season.
1. Florida Marlins
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Toronto Blue Jays
At least the Nationals were properly slotted at No. 30. Congrats on getting that gig, Jim Riggleman. Now the Cubs, Marlins and Braves are fighting for wild-card relevancy, hoping a division leader stumbles, and the Blue Jays are listening to offers for Roy Halladay.
- A Mariners fan, blogger Dawgman0387 gets a little excited about the team's winning record at the break and starts throwing out terms like "World Series run." But hey, with a top three like Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, maybe he's on to something.
- Things aren't quite as rosy for the Reds. SportsNation blogger xubugg pleads for more "patients" at the plate. We're guessing that's supposed to be "patience," but when it comes to Dusty Baker's lineup experiments, you never know.
- We're all a little worse off having an All-Star Game without "Kung Fu Panda," but a Giants blogger upset that the so-nicknamed Pablo Sandoval won't be in St. Louis takes out his frutrations on the frauds that he feels are the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Love the Mariners, Wakamatsu, Fedex, Ichiro, Branyan, Griffey Jr., Aardsma, Branyan, "Gutierez", and everyone who has helped turn this year's team into an entertaining winning club.
” -- J.Bertelli
“[Jim Tracy] took the Rockies from double-digit games under .500 to Wild Card contenders. Not to mention the fact that the Rockies have the best record in baseball over the span that Tracy has been manager. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, expected the Rockies to be in the position they are now. Thus, Tracy definitely deserves to be National League Manager Of The Year, so far, and it's not really that close.
” -- JTRMS45
That Joe Mauer cuts such a dashing figure that we had to get to the AL Central after yesterday's AL West incursion. Bonus points if you can guess what comes tomorrow.
Anyway, few questions have divided the 'Nation quite like the fate of the AL Central. All right, so people outside Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City and Minneapolis-St. Paul aren't necessarily passionately divided on the question, but they are divided nonetheless.
As a division, it's sort of like picking a checkout aisle at the grocery store on the night before Thanksgiving.
In the days before the season began, the Indians, Tigers, Twins and White Sox were all getting roughly the same amount of support to win the division. And by April 20, Royals supporters were flying high, so to speak, to make it a five-way race.
- Mauer and Morneau rank at the top of SportsNation's MVP ballot | Your ballot?
- Cast your votes on each AL Central team at the midway point.
- More midseason reviews: AL East | AL West | NL West | NL Central | NL East
- Groups: American League Central | Cleveland Indians Fans worldwide | Tiger Den
“I agree that the sox need another arm, not just to compete for the division, but for the playoffs also. Id cut contreras out of the rotation entirely in the post season. 4 man w/ whoever KW can find to plug that 4th hole.
” -- weinertime
“Do you think the Tribe would take the same deal for Lee that SD wanted to take for Peavy? Richard and Poreda plus 2 pitching prospects to be named later? Richard has some good stuff (as is evident by how good he is the first time through the order, he just needs some fine tuning and I don't think he'll solve it this season) and Poreda has a lot of potential. Plus, Cleveland could use all the young talented arms they could get.
” -- morganator316
“I tried to keep the faith in Ordonez as long as possible but he just cont. to look bad......... real bad! I wonder how long Leyland is going to rotate Kelly and Thomas in and out of AAA Toledo before settling on one to head down the stretch. I guess anything can happen IF and or WHEN they make a more final decision on Mags.
” -- KaneBowman
“I've tried to remain positive, but I can't hold back anymore. It's time for Dayton Moore to go. Schoddy trades, head scratcher draft strategy, horrible free agent contracts (this off season), and now the cream of the crop TPJ still on the team. Hernandez is no great shakes, but he is a completely better ball player then TPJ. Fire DM now.
” -- BairdHater1
“I am thrilled with Joe Crede. The teams of the past would strand 7 or 8 singles per game but this guy every 15 or so at bats hits a canon shot over the fence and that puts runs on the board. Plus just the routine plays he makes is such an upgrade over Brian Buscher. He is not our problem. Our problem is getting Nick Punto out of the starting lineup. Freddy Sanchez would be great. Punto still has great value as a utility player as his defense is superb at multiple positions. And give him credit he does draw some walks but his bat is horrible.
” -- miraclemauer
When it comes to All-Star selections, Keith Law thinks fans failed like a 24-year-old in Rookie Ball with poor plate discipline (too early on a Monday for sabermetric humor?). Then again, SportsNation's occasionally cantankerous guru thinks managers and players didn't fare much better in picking the reserves and pitchers. But until Law is established as baseball's supreme overlord, we're stuck with the current system.
There are 23 first-time All-Stars this year, including Yadier Molina, the first of the Molina brothers to make an appearance (leaving them just 18 Grand Slam titles and two Super Bowl titles shy of the Williams sisters and Manning brothers). The rookies also run the gamut, from 42-year-old Tim Wakefield to 21-year-old Justin Upton, who was born the year before Wakefield was drafted by the Pirates.
And if that doesn't make you feel old, consider that Tim Wakefield debuted for the Pirates in 1992 on a team that also included pitcher Dennis Lamp, who was born six years before Kevin Bacon.
- SportsNation can't pick if it should be allowed to pick the All-Star starters
- No surprise that AL is the overwhelming early All-Star Game favorite
“pedroia is a great player but based on how he has played this season, he doesn't deserve to start in the all-star game. aaron hill should be starting and kinsler should be the reserve. josh hamilton shouldn't be up there either. adam lind has played phenomenal this season and should at least be a reserve in the outfield. i also think that jered weaver should be there over wakefield. i mean wake is up there in wins, but only because he the sox give him great run support. just look at his numbers, he's pitched mediocre this season.
” -- bkzwhitestrican
“It's an All-Star game, not a best first half stats game. The fans want to see Jeter becase he's the most famous shortstop and a sure Hall of Famer. Fine. They want to see Pedroia because he's the MVP, you silly people. What's wrong with that? They voted for Hamilton because he was THE story of last year's game. Makes sense. The game is for the fans, and they want to see who they want to see. You Fantasy guys just go play your imaginary All-Star game with your make-believe players...
” -- Captaincompliance
We get that it's nice for fans of the Nationals and Pirates to see their team's jersey at the All-Star Game. But instead of actually using a roster spot on someone from one of those teams, even with the addition of yet another roster spot, we have a simple suggestion
Let fans vote to see which actual All Star who would otherwise have been snubbed should wear that team's jersey during the game. Everyone wins. The best players make the game, and for at least one night every year, Pirates fans get to see what it's like to cheer for a real star in the second half of the season.
Not buying it? We're just ahead of our time. In the meantime, Freddy Sanchez or Zach Duke will probably represent the Pirates in St. Louis, but we're asking you to size up which players most deserve to start.
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