tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post5039303239674400086..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: State of the TribePaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-30106320391225195332007-10-28T14:31:00.000-04:002007-10-28T14:31:00.000-04:00Frank's talent is mercurial to be sure, but in add...Frank's talent is mercurial to be sure, but in addition to his D, I think he plays for two reasons. (1) I hate to be the guy that says it, but Grady's bound to DL himself with those dives one of these seasons. When he does, you want Guti on the roster, and you want him tuned up. I can't think of a team in baseball with better depth in center field. (2) Power: Even if Franklin simply holds the course, he's an honest threat for 30 homers. No other non-Sizemore outfielder on this roster can do that.<BR/><BR/>I think the second-half Casey Blake is what we can expect next year. Casey, God bless him, is on the verge of his decline phase. He's a league-average hitter with a lot of versatility. (Won't it be great NOT to hear that word all winter?) We'll use him the same way we did in 2007, I guess, but the best-case scenario is that Star Tribe: The Next Generation leaves him nothing to do.<BR/><BR/>Regarding C.C., I think the point has been made that back-to-back playoff appearances are far and away the most important goal for this organization: That boosts revenue in '09 and '10, when we'll need it most. We're more likely to make the post-season with C.C. than without. That seems like the end of the story to me.<BR/><BR/>RE: The rest of the rotation, I think you give Lee the first crack, but he gets 5 or 6 weeks at most. PS, God help the International League next spring: Miller, Sowers, Laffey, Lofgren, Smith, possibly Nottingham. Lots of luck, <I>Altoona Curve.</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-23345766443340924382007-10-26T17:17:00.000-04:002007-10-26T17:17:00.000-04:00People have been clamoring for a big bat since 200...People have been clamoring for a big bat since 2005 and we've been winning ever since without it.Voltairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258794828672578619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-53429161897720045352007-10-26T15:35:00.000-04:002007-10-26T15:35:00.000-04:00I wish I could get rid of that spam stuff that kee...I wish I could get rid of that spam stuff that keeps showing up.<BR/><BR/>Anyways, Heartbreaking is great. I read that a few years back. One book I finished recently which was superbly written was "The Tender Bar" by J.R. Moehringer.<BR/><BR/>I'll check out "Kavalier and Clay" and add those others to my list, which is suddenly very imposing. Spring Training doesn't start for a while though.<BR/><BR/>I still don't see the D-Rays moving Crawford as they'd rather move Dukes or the other OF they have instead of dealing Crawford.<BR/><BR/>Remember that Barfield (who I don't think they'll give up on) can spend a whole year in Buffalo if he loses the 2B derby.<BR/><BR/>Pluto did make a decent argument for the LF bat, but I'm not sure you have to give up Peralta to get it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Shapiro deal some of the players in positions of depth to upgrade LF, I just don't see that BIG bat that everyone seems convinced we need.<BR/><BR/>The D-Backs, with their glut of young OF and Young and Byrnes locked in would be an interesting partner as the Tribe could part with some young pitchers to upgrade the offense. Remember that Josh Byrnes and Shapiro worked under John Hart in the late '90s.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-24203195320218920372007-10-26T14:22:00.000-04:002007-10-26T14:22:00.000-04:00pluto's idea on his podcast yesterday was shipping...pluto's idea on his podcast yesterday was shipping out peralta and lee for a LF bat and starting asdrubal barfield at SS/2B. not a bad one, but i don't see it happening. his point of view was that you remain the same from an offensive perspective, but add get better IF defense. and thats assumgin barfield doesn't hit, which i hope he does. i bet westbrook disagrees about peralta's highest value being at SS.<BR/><BR/>Heartbreaking Work is outstanding, absolutely loved the book.Cy Slapnickahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10109399114263980881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-86258240311623319992007-10-26T14:18:00.000-04:002007-10-26T14:18:00.000-04:00Pt Great ListDefinitely move Catcher in the rye at...Pt Great List<BR/><BR/>Definitely move Catcher in the rye at slaughterhouse up to the front two of my favs. It would be advisable to include catch 22 as a follow up to Slaughterhouse and you can book-end that with a farewell to arms the absurdity of war always makes for good reading. If I may be so bold as to recomend a couple of contemporary novels that judging by your list you might enjoy. They are the following:<BR/><BR/>"Heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers and "Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon these two would be good in conjunction with Catcher in the Rye.<BR/><BR/>So if we do pick up Byrd then do we trade someone like cliff Lee for someone like Carl Crawford? I know they think they are set in house with left but i think crawford would be an excellent long term fit and if Adam Miller stays healthy and Sowere rights the ship we still will have plenty of depth with laffey and others.<BR/><BR/>You know I have to say watching the breakfast cereal make that catch made me believe in such a thing as fate. Having said that I love Shoppach and here is hoping they get something valuable for Marte.<BR/><BR/>Also don't give up on Barfield I have a feeling that he is going to be special.KonstrucktaTribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525965632642358024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-85452789635915740672007-10-26T13:35:00.000-04:002007-10-26T13:35:00.000-04:00B-moron,I've heard Shapiro say a number of times t...B-moron,<BR/>I've heard Shapiro say a number of times that Peralta's highest value in the lineup right now is as a SS and probably wants the Barfield/Marte thing to shake out before moving Jhonny to 3B in 2009, which I think will happen if Marte doesn't assert himself.<BR/><BR/>K-Tribe,<BR/>The list that I have: <BR/>Moby Dick<BR/>Adventures of Huckleberry Finn<BR/>The Scarlett Letter<BR/>The Grapes of Wrath<BR/>The Great Gatsby<BR/>Slaughterhouse-Five<BR/>To Kill a Mockingbird<BR/>The Catcher in the Rye<BR/>A Farwell to Arms<BR/>The Sound and the Fury<BR/>Farenheit 451<BR/>The Invisible Man<BR/><BR/>Since I’ve already worn my copies of Huck Finn and Mockingbird thin with multiple readings, I’m starting with the Catcher in the Rye, then moving on to Gatsby to start.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-48168535831362365862007-10-26T12:41:00.000-04:002007-10-26T12:41:00.000-04:00PTThanks alot for the DiaTribe it really enhanced ...PT<BR/><BR/>Thanks alot for the DiaTribe it really enhanced the Indians run for me. By the way what is your great american novel list....top 10?KonstrucktaTribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525965632642358024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-40268551851477028472007-10-26T10:43:00.000-04:002007-10-26T10:43:00.000-04:00i'm a little disappointed that there isn't even co...i'm a little disappointed that there isn't even consideration to putting Peralta at 3rd, we could improve our infield and not lose any numbers in the lineup...granted it leaves Marte out...but has he earned his way in?Baltimoranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08224994781147499885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-6375173184947730442007-10-26T10:30:00.000-04:002007-10-26T10:30:00.000-04:00No problems, Pat. I'm glad the pain has died down ...No problems, Pat. I'm glad the pain has died down enough that we can all laugh again.<BR/><BR/>What's Koplove's contract status, by the way? ;-)Voltairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258794828672578619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-40100283110487152162007-10-25T22:22:00.000-04:002007-10-25T22:22:00.000-04:00François-Marie,I am the LAST to be sold on Frank, ...François-Marie,<BR/>I am the LAST to be sold on Frank, but I think you give him the job and let him sit at the bottom of the order to work his way through his Pedro Cerrano stage.<BR/><BR/>I think your vision of Blake is dead-on. Same as this year, he'll be the one that takes over for the struggling youngster (Gutz, Marte, etc.) and quietly be solid.<BR/><BR/>I'll try not to kill you on the "Cop-Love" stuff. We all said some pretty crazy stuff in the heat of the moment. I think I once suggested Jake going to Buffalo for good...seriously.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-7677573017409009552007-10-25T22:18:00.000-04:002007-10-25T22:18:00.000-04:00Oh, and let me guess - some comment, by me, contai...Oh, and let me guess - some comment, by me, containing the words "Koplove", "bullpen", and "savior" is going to be dragged out for all to see. ;-)Voltairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258794828672578619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-25073127930434378702007-10-25T22:16:00.000-04:002007-10-25T22:16:00.000-04:00Don't get me wrong - I love Franklin Gutierrez. I ...Don't get me wrong - I love Franklin Gutierrez. I want to see him succeed. But I'm not convinced that we should unquestionably hand him the RF job. I think there's a decent chance that we see a repeat of Blake's role next year - shifting positions (in this case 3B to RF) to replace the struggling youngster.<BR/><BR/>Why am I cautious about Frank? A .266 BA and a .318 OBP. He's always been a high K guy, even in the minors.<BR/><BR/>Why do I also think that I am an idiot? Incredible speed, incredible defense, and a career minors OBP of .347.Voltairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258794828672578619noreply@blogger.com