tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post1614399259022152236..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: A Lazy Sunday After Giving ThanksPaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-78818266823828037062008-12-02T21:20:00.000-05:002008-12-02T21:20:00.000-05:00Class of '95...that's pretty wild.Class of '95...that's pretty wild.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-47821538254995506222008-12-02T11:08:00.000-05:002008-12-02T11:08:00.000-05:00I didn't know you were an Iggy alum, Paul? What y...I didn't know you were an Iggy alum, Paul? What year? I'm '97.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801782543541822390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-90668946653964765352008-12-01T21:56:00.000-05:002008-12-01T21:56:00.000-05:00Yes, Terry's Talkin' this week was not one of his ...Yes, Terry's Talkin' this week was not one of his finer submissions - no thanks on Sanchez and I think (hope) he was talking about Brantley in 2010 and not 2009 perhaps sitting at the top of the lineup. <BR/><BR/>Extolling his virtues was more of a way to differentiate what he does (think outside the box, have facts and original thought in his pieces) to what gets trotted out by the rest of the "traditional" media.<BR/><BR/>Gotta say that Adam nailed it on Shoppach, though I see where A.G.B is coming from. I think one thing that gets lost in a lot of the Show Pack love is that Victor is 16 months older than Kelly. Sure, Victor's body has had more recent wear and tear, but we're not talking about replacing a 35-year-old catcher with a 22-year-old wunderkind.<BR/><BR/>I'd throw LaPorta into the mix of 1B/DH as insurance against Hafner/Vic/Garko falling flat on their face in 2009. Maybe I'm overly bullish on LaPorta this early, but that's what he was purported to be when he was acquired - a nearly-ready-for-MLB impact bat.<BR/><BR/>As for the alma maters, it was quite a weekend as Chris Wright's dunk on Marquette (who is in BIG trouble in the Big East if they can't defend the UD guards on the perimeter with no inside presence to speak of) should become a YouTube classic as I think 3 dunks were executed by UD players in my 4 years there...and now that.<BR/><BR/>Nice little win for the 'Cats too as my admiration for what they do grows as I grow older. No longer is the accomplishment of winning a State Championship just something achieved by guys I didn't hang out with that got me a day off (and the team won 4 state titles all of my 4 years there) every year. Now that I have cousins and nieces/nephews that compete in high school sports, there is a much greater appreciation.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, any good feelings were erased by a 9 1/2 hour drive yesterday from Milwaukee that usually takes about 7 hours, thanks to driving right along with the path of the snowstorm that canceled 50+ flights at O'Hare.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-81229635527386904512008-11-30T21:42:00.000-05:002008-11-30T21:42:00.000-05:00Maybe I was getting a little irrational with my Sh...Maybe I was getting a little irrational with my Shoppach love. I failed to realize just how far back the depth in the organization goes for Catcher and I can certainly understand the thinking that trading him now would be ideal after his breakout season and the current state of Catching in Major League Baseball.<BR/><BR/>But when I think about the Indians without Kelly Shoppach, this is the only thing I can think about:<BR/><BR/>- I trust Victor Martinez will bounce back in '09.<BR/>- I trust that Victor Martinez AND Travis Hafner will bounce back in '09 a lot less.<BR/>-And I don't trust at all that Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko will all bounce back in '09.<BR/><BR/>When I look at that trio, I break out in cold sweats. And sometimes the only way I can sleep at night is by reminding myself that Kelly Shoppach is still there. So if Victor can't get healthy and begins a downturn, we can just turn to Kelly. If Hafner continues to hit .188 for the rest of his career and can't hit the ball farther than 200 feet, we can move Victor to DH and start Kelly at Catcher. If Garko can't cut it as a Major League firstbaseman, then we can move Victor to first and again, turn to Kelly.<BR/><BR/>So, I can understand wanting to strike while the iron is hot, but that Martinez-Hafner-Garko trio just worries me.The A.G.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06756562199306261964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-62271284275927752612008-11-30T14:58:00.000-05:002008-11-30T14:58:00.000-05:00I'm firmly not on the Freddy Sanchez bandwagon. W...I'm firmly not on the Freddy Sanchez bandwagon. Whenever someone brings up the name of a guy whose numbers I'm not really familiar with, I go over to fangraphs.com and look at the players graphs to get a sense of where they stand and what direction they are headed in. If you like Sanchez, go look at his graphs....I'll just say the trends aren't good.<BR/><BR/>A.G.B...I don't think you're going to find too many people who aren't big fans of Shoppach. Maybe a few who feel his high K% isn't really sustainable, but that's about it. The problem is simply where he fits with this team. Victor Martinez is the heart and soul of the team, the Indians have a fair amount of money committed to him, and there's no real reason to think his injury problems last year are suggestive of what's to come. Shoppach, meanwhile, is not that much younger than Victor and is about to start getting more expensive as he enters his arbitration years. The Indians probably can't commit too much capital to what is only a part-time, if not true backup, position. This is even more apparent when you recognize that the catching position is probably the deepest position in the farm system. Wyatt Toregas and Chris Gimenez can probably be better than average ML-backup catchers right now. And Carlos Santana, who isn't too far away, is arguably the Indians top prospect.<BR/><BR/>If Shoppach isn't part of the long-term future of the team (if he is, the Indians should sign him to a 3-4 year contract now), the time to trade him is sooner rather than later. As he gets closer to free agency and more expensive his value as a trade commodity goes down. And while Shoppach's probably a safe bet to be a better than average offensive catcher (especially in terms of power), it is less than certain he can repeat what he did last year.<BR/><BR/>Count me in the trade Shoppach now camp...but get something very good in return.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801782543541822390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-37328753230646452042008-11-30T13:55:00.000-05:002008-11-30T13:55:00.000-05:00I was with you completely on your plans with the o...I was with you completely on your plans with the off-season until #3.<BR/><BR/>I am one of those in the minority who think that Mr. Show-Pack is damn near untradeble at this point in time. The man plays one of the most premium positions in the game and proved that he can be a Top Ten Catcher in baseball, I believe. When someone combines superb defense at an important position and an impressive power bat and knowledge for the game, I just don't think you should trade him for a #3 or #4 starter.<BR/><BR/>I would rather have Jeremy Sowers or Dave Huff holding down the #5 spot, than have a quickly-aging Victor Martinez behind the plate with no one behind him in case his knees give out and he has to move to DH or 1B. Even assuming that Victor holds up: Kelly will find his way into the line-up, some way, some how.<BR/><BR/>Oh.. and St. Iggy would not have held up as well if they had to go up against those Twinsburg Tigers in the 3rd Round.<BR/><BR/>I know, local pride can make people say from pretty outlandish things.The A.G.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06756562199306261964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-46109665755628504872008-11-30T12:11:00.000-05:002008-11-30T12:11:00.000-05:00Newsflash to college basketball sportswriters ever...Newsflash to college basketball sportswriters everywhere: If a team cannot sink perimeter shots, and has 0.5 post players, they're probably not #15. It's going to be a rough season for my Bradley Center boys at MU.<BR/><BR/>Can't say I agree with a thing out of Pluto's mouth this week, Paul.<BR/><BR/>Freddy Sanchez? Terry sees a career .300 hitter; I see an aging player who has suffered a worrying drop in walks and power and slowly declining defense. Factor in the Indians' apparently obligatory 50-point OPS hit when they pick up an NL player, and I'd rather give up cash in free agency than talent in trade if a Sanchez-grade player is the target -- particularly since we're not going to fleece Huntington.<BR/><BR/>It irritates me that Pluto thinks Brantley is here to bump Grady down in the order. I'm okay with that move ... if Brantley's OBP is higher. Unless and until we're leading off with somebody who gets on base more often than Grady, batting Grady anywhere other than first will be a net loss for the offense. Fewer ABs for our best hitter, fewer RBI opportunities for the middle of the order. It's just that simple.<BR/><BR/>I'd rather have Wood than Hoffman. There's no good reason for that. I just want to see some blankety-blank-blank actual fastballs from this bleepin' bullpen. I'm sick of 88 mph.<BR/><BR/>Had fun watching the D-1 game last night. That famed alma mater gracing every shrine within your heart today, PC?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12645578572957938828noreply@blogger.com