tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post3563081149883229589..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: Infield MaintenancePaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-22919345956941226122008-08-25T23:22:00.000-04:002008-08-25T23:22:00.000-04:00Sizemore goes 30/30!!!And the Indians are threaten...Sizemore goes 30/30!!!<BR/><BR/>And the Indians are threatening to climb outa the cellar!KonstrucktaTribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525965632642358024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-24952086960918444622008-08-24T11:24:00.000-04:002008-08-24T11:24:00.000-04:00"A very good Web site for fans is The DiaTribe at ..."A very good Web site for fans is The DiaTribe at clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com and <B>Paul Cousineau</B> does a nice job of comparing <B>Jeremy Sowers</B> and Huff."<BR/><BR/>Directly from Terry Pluto. Not bad at all!R.M. Jenningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00598904864402266767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-31991918250396056912008-08-24T08:02:00.000-04:002008-08-24T08:02:00.000-04:00shoutout from terry pluto today, nice work pcshoutout from terry pluto today, nice work pcBaltimoranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08224994781147499885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-62482112789855852302008-08-23T15:54:00.000-04:002008-08-23T15:54:00.000-04:00Okay, let's just talk 2009 and see what happens. F...Okay, let's just talk 2009 and see what happens. First thing I look at is Victor. You've got two significant unknowns in 2009: One, Hafner, and two, Garko. If either or both of those players is unproductive, our best bet is Victor, who plays a respectable catcher, first base, and hits enough to be a good part-time option at DH. All of which of course assumes that Victor himself is healthy.<BR/><BR/>So let's assume that Victor's not getting traded this off-season. And it follows that you don't move Shoppach unless you're overwhelmed -- not with potential holes at first base and DH. If Victor's services are required elsewhere, even a fraction of the time, Shoppach is just too darn useful.<BR/><BR/>Why does this matter? Because if we're not dealing a catcher -- and I believe we can't -- there's only one position player on the roster that a) we'd be willing to move, b) somebody else would want, and c) would be valuable enough that the players obtained could fill multiple holes. That's Jhonny.<BR/><BR/>Signed to a shockingly affordable deal, young, healthy, and hitting as well as he ever has, we could get multiple major-league ready players in return for Peralta -- meaning, potentially, a second baseman (allowing Asdrubal to slide over to short), a right-fielder (allowing us to keep the most productive of FranChooTierrez in reserve and flip who's left), or a starter (leaving Sowers, Laffey, Reyes, Jackson, and Huff with only 1-2 slots to fill, as opposed to 2-3).<BR/><BR/>I don't see the Indians signing Blake, for all the reasons Paul mentions, and because he might be (gulp) a Type A free agent -- and what with our fast approaching bottom-ten finish, this could be a banner year for the Tribe in the draft. I hate the idea of trading Jhonny, who seems finally to have figured it out, but then he's done this to us before. You could convince me we'd be selling high.<BR/><BR/>There's your "creative solution," Paul. And for what it's worth, I don't attach much significance to Shapiro's not mentioning Marte or Barfield. He speaks precisely, but he also makes sure not to speculate; there's a lot that could happen between now and Goodyear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-9818901773711501012008-08-22T23:12:00.000-04:002008-08-22T23:12:00.000-04:00I think that Blake will be (gulp) out of our price...I think that Blake will be (gulp) out of our price range...or at least he should be as soon as an offer that contains that 2nd guaranteed year hits his agent's fax machine.<BR/><BR/>Looking at the list again, I think we're looking at some creativity if Hudson or Grudz (neither of whom I would mind) get too many years or too many dollars.<BR/>What does "creativity" mean? <BR/>Who knows?<BR/><BR/>I just can't see this team going into 2009 with Marte or Barfield in the lineup, based on comments made by Shapiro (outside of the aforementioned interview) and the fact that the internal options don't figure to be ready prior to the All-Star Break, and that's assuming that a guy like Hodges absolutely mashes in Columbus...which I just don't see.<BR/><BR/>BTW, "WangBanger" is gaining some steam.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-64529472854013645792008-08-22T21:57:00.000-04:002008-08-22T21:57:00.000-04:00Joshua....screw ESPN and screw China..who cares if...Joshua....screw ESPN and screw China..who cares if they like our way of playing baseball....stinkin commies...when I saw Wang standing at home plate waiting to get WangBanged it reminded me of that picture of the Chinese dissident standing in front of that tank...same results...no more baseball in the Olympics but by god we still get to watch trampoline...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-62934874804717648832008-08-22T17:55:00.000-04:002008-08-22T17:55:00.000-04:00Cy, I am very jealous...I got a bootleg of a show ...Cy, I am very jealous...I got a bootleg of a show from his solo tour and it is freaking awesome.<BR/><BR/>I can't believe out best options is Kasey...I know that it is actually true, I just can't seem to fathom it.Rockdawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15392724225649893240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-80101740177495834522008-08-22T15:30:00.000-04:002008-08-22T15:30:00.000-04:00Troops,Just wanted to mention I just added Paul's ...Troops,<BR/>Just wanted to mention I just added Paul's 8/21 edition of "Smoke Signals" via The Cleveland Fan Live over on the right hand column, above the DiaTube. Check it!t-bonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557582144953901789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-54220838049463277892008-08-22T14:33:00.000-04:002008-08-22T14:33:00.000-04:00it seems kind of obvious from the available FA cho...it seems kind of obvious from the available FA choices and the lack of organizational depth that we are going to have to either a.) suck it up & have Marte suck at 3rd to start the season (the FAs are too expensive; no depth with exp.; Morgan Ensberg? no thanks) or b.) move Jhonny to 3rd, Astrocab to SS and plug in Carroll/Barfield at 2nd (like we can actually afford Hudson or would want Durham/Kent/Grudz or the rest of those hacks). in scenario a.) barfield goes to Columbus; in scenario b.) Marte gets DFA'd. <BR/><BR/>i'm pessimistic that Shappy will actually do his usual Trot Nixon/Roberto Hernandez routine (Ensberg or Loretta or something equally bad).<BR/><BR/>basically, we're F'ed again.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02583587849068250395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-73694030822628987692008-08-22T13:15:00.000-04:002008-08-22T13:15:00.000-04:00I met Grudzielanek's mom on a flight and she was ...I met Grudzielanek's mom on a flight and she was a very nice woman and awesome baseball fan. He gets my vote.<BR/><BR/>Btw, if any of you get the chance to see Eddie Vedder's solo tour, I highly recommend. Saw him last night in Chicago and it felt like seeing an episode of StoryTellers live.Cy Slapnickahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10109399114263980881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-37037695943504783962008-08-22T13:05:00.000-04:002008-08-22T13:05:00.000-04:00ESPN apparently is blaming The WangBanger for the ...ESPN apparently is blaming <B>The WangBanger</B> for the USA not capturing the gold in Beijing. <I>(see current <A HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/index" REL="nofollow">ESPN baseball home page</A>)</I><BR/><BR/>Add <A HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3548447" REL="nofollow">according to Keith Law</A>, LaPorta screwed MLB in its attempts to gain popularity in China by blowing over a certain Chinese catcher and earning the recently adopted nickname above.<BR/><BR/>Three cheers to ESPN for a total lack of Olympic Baseball coverage until in came time to rag on team USA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-56979400419866911262008-08-22T09:39:00.000-04:002008-08-22T09:39:00.000-04:00if only all recycling were so productive and predi...if only all recycling were so productive and predictable...REhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803860060922533055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-19809104830038079252008-08-22T01:38:00.000-04:002008-08-22T01:38:00.000-04:00then we trade him again halfway through the season...then we trade him again halfway through the season for another pair of youngsters.Bresci has a possehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04218301899024420993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-22542152015570665892008-08-21T23:44:00.000-04:002008-08-21T23:44:00.000-04:00and therefore Blake is back?seriously, depending o...and therefore Blake is back?<BR/><BR/>seriously, depending on cost, he looks as good as alternative place-holdersREhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803860060922533055noreply@blogger.com