ESPN, Ray Rice, The Ravens and more: While We’re Waiting…
September 22, 2014Week 3 Winners and Losers
September 22, 2014I know I know: The Cleveland Browns should have won. But hey, look on the bright side, their baseball counterparts, the Cleveland Indians, will enter the last week of the regular season within striking distance of the playoffs. You can tell me that it is a long shot, but with the three games—plus three outs—to play with the Kansas City Royals, the Tribe can play themselves into a weekend of massive importance.
Let me get this out there right off the jump: After taking two of three in Minnesota, the 81-74 Indians sit three-and-a-half games back, but four games in the loss column to both the Oakland Athletics (85-70) and the Royals (84-70). The Seattle Mariners are a game and a half back at 83-72. Its there in front of them. They will need a little help, but this is doable, my people.
“We were at the same place last year,” said catcher Yan Gomes. “We’ve got to come out and win these ballgames. It’s going to be pretty close. I know we’ve got experience in this kind of ballgame. We’ve just got to keep fighting.”
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“We were at the same place last year. We’ve got to come out and win these ballgames. It’s going to be pretty close. We’ve just got to keep fighting.”
— Yan Gomes
The game was playing out exactly how the Indians wanted it to. Trevor Bauer had pitched into the seventh, giving up just two hits, both solo homers, while striking out six. The offense had pulled him ahead in the top of the sixth on Michael Brantley’s 20th homer of the season (more of him later). Michael Bourn’s sac fly in the seventh stretched the lead to 4-2. Bauer gave up back to back hits in the seventh and gave way to Scott Atchison, who struck out Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki. With the left-handed hitting Oswaldo Arcia, a .410 hitter against the Tribe this year, due up, The Tito Shuffle continued as Francona replaced Atch with Marc Rzepczynski, who has been so good since the break. I had zero problem with the move there. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for the skipper and Arcia singled in a run to inch the Twins closer.
Francona emerged from the dugout…again…and called for…wait for it….Zach McAllister. Wait, what? As in career starter Zach McAllister who has been the long man since the September 1 roster expansion? A night earlier, C.C. Lee had left the game with some arm tightness. Bryan Shaw had pitched two innings in Thursday night’s extra inning win over Houston and was thought to be unavailable. Again, I thought it was worth the shot. Z Mac has been throwing 97 MPH gas since his return and has decent command. The move worked as Aaron Hicks popped out to end the threat.
I have no clue what was wrong with keeping McAllister out there with Shaw probably needing the rest, but you know Tito. He rides with the guys he trusts the most, no matter how tired their arms may be. So enter Shaw. Jordan Schafer, a left-handed batter, singled to start the inning. Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire did the Indians a gigantic favor by calling on Danny Santana to bunt. You all know how I feel about bunting (#buntingisforlosers) and with Shaw’s arm hanging like a noodle thanks to overuse, giving the Indians a free out was welcome. Santana’s bunt went back to the box. Shaw fielded and fired wildly towards second. Jose Ramirez made an unbelievable scoop and save, forcing Schafer at second and at the time, I thought saving the Indians season. Unfortunately, we would hear from Jose’s glove later on, and not a good way.
Santana would steal second, but a Brian Dozier foul out brought Joe Mauer to the plate with the tying run in scoring position. Francona allowed Shaw to pitch (and around) Mauer before eventually giving him an intentional pass. Kennys Vargas, a switch hitting young power bat, was next. Knowing he hits over .100 points less from the right side with just one homer, Francona made yet another pitching change, calling on Nick Hagadone. Hags came out firing and made Vargas look silly with an inning ending strikeout.
Francona makes no apologies from his love of relievers. This weekend, he eclipsed the AL record for most relief appearances in a season. Over the last three weeks of the season with the Indians having such little margin for error, Tito is managing seemingly every game like it is an elimination contest, which for the most part, it is. Plus, the Tribe plays so many close games because of the porous offense that it causes extra appearances from the core guys like Atchison, Shaw, Rzepczynski, Cody Allen, etc.
Nevertheless, the Indians had a one run lead and their closer Allen ready. A Suzuki one out double was followed by an Arcia single, which put runners on the corners with one out for Hicks. Cody needed a double play or a K. Hicks obliged, sending a sharply hit ground ball to Ramirez’s left. Jose stumbled and didn’t field the ball cleanly. He was fortunate to regain his ground and quickly toss to second to get Arcia, but the tying run scored. It was a double play that HAS TO be turned, especially in a game of this magnitude.
“He did what he could with it,” Allen said. “It was a well-struck ball and he laid out for it. It was unfortunate the way everything turned out, but it was still a good play.”
I respect Cody for sticking up for his shortstop, especially considering he gave up two hits that put them in that position. But Baby J Ram has got to make that play. On to extra innings we went and the Indians found themselves essentially down to Kyle Crockett and a bunch of guys they don’t want to use. Crockett gave up back to back singles to Santana and Dozier and then intentionally walked Mauer to set up the force at any base. He got Vargas to whiff but then Francona once again came out to make a pitching change, one which I still don’t get, calling on fly ball pitcher Josh Tomlin, when a ground ball or a strikeout was what was needed. Plouffe got Tomlin with a line drive single to center which ended the game and at the time, I thought the Tribe’s season.
But this team never seems to run out of lives, or great starting pitchers. T.J. House entered the game as a crafty lefty who has been on an incredible three-start run where he pitched at least seven innings, allowed one run or less, while striking out 20 without a walk. T.J. wasn’t his sharp self and gave the team a five and fly but left with a 7-2 lead. The 10-hit attack was led by Gomes who went 3-4 with four RBIs and his 20th homer of the season. Yan’s bomb gave the Tribe three-20 HR players for the first time in seven years. He once again asserted himself as one of the best all around catchers in the league. Gomes has been so good that he can be inserted as a DH and it actually improves the sport immensely. With Roberto Perez as his caddy, the Indians have their catching duo for the foreseeable future.
McAllister came on and was fantastic in a two innings of scoreless work. He struck out five of the seven batters he faced. Dare I say we may have found a future role for Z Mac? Hagadone, Lee, and Rzepczynski closed the 7-3 win out and the Tribe moved on to another must-win Sunday. More good news: Corey Kluber was making the start.
While the city was engulfed in the Browns late-game collapse, Kluber was dominating the dojo like Kramer finding his katra against the kids. You remember the last time we saw Corey, he was killing the Astros, striking out two in each of his seven innings in a 4-2 win. So what did he do for an encore? Oh, he just continued his two-K-per-inning streak. This amazing feat ended in the seventh after 13 consecutive two-K innings. Sunday afternoon he went eight innings and departed with 14 strikeouts and one walk while giivng up two earned runs.
Said Bourn who had a big day with three hits and three runs scored about his ace: “He kept them off-balance. He worked both sides of the plate and that’s always a plus. He’s fun to watch and fun to play behind. He’s pitching with confidence, but he’s also calm while he’s pitching.”
The offense finally gave him some breathing room with a three run fifth followed by a two-run sixth which was more than enough as the Indians took the series finale 7-2. A special thank you should go out to Ron Gardenhire for trotting out Trevor May and Anthony Swarzak as the starters in those final two games. It was exactly what the slumbering Tribe offense needed.
Meanwhile, Kluber became the first pitcher in a decade with back to back 14 strikeout performances, something only eight other pitchers in he last 100 years have done. “When the year’s over,” Kluber said, “that’s stuff that you’ll take a second to look at and appreciate. But, right now, it’s not important. The important thing right now is that we got the win. That’s what we need to keep going.”
Quick Notes:
*I love Francona the ego-manager/clubhouse leader about as much as I have ever loved any manager or coach I have seen in this town in my 38 years, but his in-game moves continue to baffle me. Like giving Chris Gimenez a start at first base in a must-win game. Or starting J.B. Shuck regularly this late in the season when you can’t afford to give up outs. Or making so many mid-game changes to that he is left with playing Gimenez at third base in extra innings. You know G-Man, the journeyman catcher who has played a grand total of THREE of his 1190 career innings at third. Or stubbornly sticking with the ice cold Jason Kipnis in the five hole for about a month too long. Or continuing to trust Ryan Raburn as if he were equal to Michael Brantley. Or running his core bullpen guys into the ground with overuse. But again, with all of that said, the guy should be in the discussion for manager of the year for having this particular group playing for the playoffs with one week to play.
*Brantley is an absolute beast. A year ago after the 2013 season, I put Brantley number one in my Indians power rankings. Take a look at the comments. The tweets I received told me I was out of my mind. Fast forward to now, is there any doubt who the Indians best position player is? With one week left to play, Brantley has 20 homers, 22 steals, 40 doubles, 97 RBIs and is just seven hits short of 200. Did I mention he’s hitting .325/.384/.506 and has just one error and 12 outfield assists? This just in: He’s good.
*Kipnis sat out two of this weekend’s games with a sore hamstring. He was the DH in Sunday’s win and went 2-5. It has been a season to forget for Jason and it was good to see the Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes say what we have been preaching for months; Kipnis came to Goodyear out of shape and it directly affected his play and possibly his oblique injury that had him on the DL for a month in late April. Here is the excerpt from the full piece:
Kipnis wasn’t in the best of shape when he came to camp this spring. He started slowly at the plate, as he usually does, before tearing his right oblique at the end of April. It took him a month to recover and he’s been running in place ever since.
When this season ends, Kipnis will limp into the winter with a sore right hamstring.
Did all that come from not being in top condition on Feb. 10? Probably not, but it’s a good bet that Kipnis will work hard this winter to do everything he can to avoid another season like 2014.
By the way, Jason’s replacement Handsome Mike Aviles delivered a key two-out, two-run single in Saturday night’s 7-3 win.
*Do not forget Monday night’s action at Progressive Field starts at 6 PM with the completion of the suspended game from August 31 with the Indians leading 4-2 in the bottom of the 10th with Crockett on the mound for the Indians. The Tribe is three outs away from being three back in the Wild Card with six to play. Like last year, it is going to take the Indians most likely winning out to give them a shot. They can gain two games in one night on KC with three outs and a win in the scheduled game.
Take a look at the remaining schedules of the four teams battling for the two spots:
Indians – Kansas City (4), Tampa Bay (3)
Royals – at Cleveland (4), at Chicago White Sox (4)
Seattle – at Toronto (4), LA Angels (3)
Oakland – LA Angels (3), at Texas (4)
*Pitching matchups for the rest of this week for the Indians look like this:
Monday LH Danny Duffy vs. Carlos Carrasco – a battle of hard-throwing studs.
Tuesday RH Yordano Ventura vs. Danny Salazar – see my comment above.
Wednesday LH Jason Vargas vs. Trevor Bauer – Vargas has lost five of his last six starts.
Friday RH Chris Archer vs. T.J. House – Archer was once traded by the Tribe as part of a deal for Mark DeRosa.
Saturday RH Alex Colome vs. Corey Kluber – Mismatch. No excuses in this one.
Sunday RH Alex Cobb vs. Carlos Carrasco – Does Alex Cobb really have to end the Tribe’s season again?
45 Comments
“The thing is, while the won the series, the loss on Friday night is still sticking in my craw. That loss felt like the death blow. And it was one of a handful of defeats over the past month that we will look back at if this team falls short.”
While watching the Browns game, my buddy kept updating me on the Indians score. The paragraph above is why I kept responding with “I don’t care.” Yes, I’m rooting for them to duplicate last year’s feat, but I’m also doing my damnedest not to get my hopes up.
I’m really looking forward to tonight’s game, which should have extra fans like me who were given tonight’s tickets as part of the D-Backs’ rainout makeup options. I’m hoping for a nice-sized crowd, but geez does it feel like a sucker punch waiting to happen…
They need to sweep KC. Hard stop.
The losses in the first 2.5 mos where we had heinous defense. Those.
Either Detroit series the past month and Friday will definitely stick with fans if they lose. Hopefully they can get in.
As my father put it last night, win any two of those games and the Indians would have had packed crowds all month.
So, all hypotheticals considered, given that rotation going down this last week…
IF we make it in to the wild card game, we start either Salazar or Bauer, I’d lean Salazar. Then, we can whip back around to Kluber to start the Division Series if we win, going Kluber-Carrasco-House-Salazar.
LOL. Sorry to always be the attendance cynic, but what have the Indians shown in the last ten+ years that would make you think that we’d pack the house for a month of baseball? We entered the month 3.5 out and never got over 23K. Average was probably more like 12K. I don’t think 1.5 GB really would have made any serious difference.
They would be within a game of first and in the WC slot. I think that after last year people would buy into that. What they don’t buy into is just falling short. It’s like there’s a “prove it” mentality that exists out there before people will shell out their cash – and FWIW, I share that mentality.
Last year on Sept 24, the Indians were in the WC slot. They got 21k. The next night, with the bonus of all the stuff they do for fan appreciation night or whatever they call it on the last day of the season, they got 30k. A nice number, but no packed house.
The “prove it” BS is just an excuse to kick the can a little bit farther out of the Indians’ reach.
Disagree. I’m just not that interested in going to games for the prices that are currently charged, particularly when it includes bringing my family. (I’ve repeated this many times previously here in greater detail.) That said, if it’s a game that is going to have playoff-like atmosphere, I think it’s worth more to me and I’ll pay to go. But it’s got to be that level – it can’t be ye ol’ “well, IF we win six straight and IF three other teams go 2-4…” to qualify.
That said, whenever I’m offered free or discounted tickets, I go. The same is true of many others I know – my brother was looking for tickets last time he was in town to take a few of his kids and I found $13 seats for him. They weren’t great seats but at least he could afford to get his kids in the door. Usually, though, that’s not the case. If going to a game is going to cost a premium, it needs to be a premium game.
I have no problem with the “it costs more than I think it’s worth” thinking, even though the Indians have some of the cheapest tickets in all of pro sports.
But if you don’t think tonight’s 9.1 games (and the two after) are going to be played like its the playoffs from both sides, you are sadly mistaken.
“But it’s got to be that level – it can’t be ye ol’ “well, IF we win six straight and IF three other teams go 2-4…””
Right, it always has to be just a bit better than they’re already doing. Just a couple more wins, and 15k will magically become 40k. And then Lucy tees up the football.
Kluber is a beast he’s in the running for Cy Young now after back to back 14 K wins. The rotation holds the most promise for next season. Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Salazar & House. I’d like to see a veteran SP added. I’d also like to see the same thing that was done for Carrasco to be done for McAllister. And finally, one last plea to the GMs of the Indians: go get a legitimate right handed power hitting outfielder, please! Oh and talk to Victor Martinez, you have nothing to lose. Bye.
Are you suggesting that Kluber wasn’t in the Cy Young running before the last two starts? I’m still not sure he’s the favorite, but he’s been in the top three for a few months.
The Indians have left their fans at the altar to many times and unfortunately those same fans still think of the first wife which was the teams of the ’90s. Deal with it. And while your at it maybe if you decide to finally spend after only selling a TV network do better then Swisher and Bourn. Oh and for the last time this team is boring, it has 0.5 personality. Brantley your best hitter leads by example and Kluber’s personality is that of a robot. All of these things factor in along with the Browns having some very limited success and the Cleveland Cavaliers about to start camp. Sorry that’s just how it goes.
He was last in the lead group. He’s since moved up. Clear it up?
I’m going tonight, I’ll let you know how it feels out there. 🙂
I also think people underestimate the impact going to games which are empty has in general. When you’re at a game with 30K you have a better time and will be more willing to part with your money to do it again. It feeds on itself, which is why those sellouts kept coming in the 90s. You can’t recapture that, but I do think the renovations will help out a lot.
Against my better judgment, I’ll respond.
“The Indians have left their fans at the altar to many times”
Not sure what this means. It’s intentionally vague, and, besides, the Indians usually turn their good teams into playoff teams.
“those same fans still think of the first wife which was the teams of the ’90s”
Absolutely agree this is an issue. Way too many fans think the rest of the division rolling over before Opening Day is normal. Unfortunately we’re not going to see any more five year stretches where just one other team total in the ALC goes over .500.
“Deal with it”
Don’t get the contentiousness, but the Indians have been dealing with it.
“if you decide to finally spend after only selling a TV network”
The Indians spend when they expect to contend – they were middle of the pack in 2008 and 2009.
“do better then Swisher and Bourn”
Hindsight is always 20-20, and despite those contracts, the Indians have managed to win a few over the last almost two years.
“Oh and for the last time this team is boring, it has 0.5 personality”
Kicking the can just out of reach again. They can’t just win, they have be exciting.
“Sorry that’s just how it goes.”
We know. There’s a few that have always said that no matter what the Indians do, Browns camp will be more exciting for the locals. But there’s always a few on the other side who say that just a few more Indians wins can swing that the other way. I don’t know how they believe what’s coming out of their mouths.
I’m not disagreeing. But I think that actually supports my point – two more wins at this point in the season aren’t going to turn 15K to 40K. It is what it is.
Yes, the atmosphere does depend on how many people show up. Back in 2005, I went to a few of those games the last week. The low 20ks against Tampa felt like any midsummer Tribe game. The sellouts against Chicago felt like playoff games.
But I don’t think an extra 20k-ish people figuring out how important these games are should be the determinant in how important they actually are.
Maybe, but it seems like these attendance debates always go the same way: if this little thing was tweaked (more wins, warmer weather, spending on free agents, etc.) then attendance wouldn’t be an issue. In most cases, you can find some historical example of when one or more of those tweaks actually did happen and at best they only had a minor impact on attendance. Of course, when haters like me and Steve do point to those historical examples, the debate usually shifts to something like, “well yeah, but this other thing was working against them and if only they had (consistent winning, big name stars, cheap bleacher seats, etc.) THEN attendance wouldn’t be an issue”. And around and around it goes until you have a list of twelve things that will fix things and woo our dedicated fan base.
And speaking of historical examples, that 2005 TBR series is one I often cite. BUT IT WAS DURING THE WORK/SCHOOL WEEK!
Could be. But we have seen the attendance start to spike whenever there’s been a big series, and – it has seemed, and I know we’ve gone back and forth on these stats – there’s this huge letdown. And yes, it is ALL of those things, and the longer this drags the more each one matters. Most of all it’s winning, obviously, but price is a huge factor and so are recognizable names and so is consistency and so is comfort. And yes, someone points to a different one each time because each one IS a factor. Like I said, what the Indians are trying to do is smart. Make going to a game an event (similar but done differently due to the nature of it to a Cavs’ game) with a lot of stuff going on and stuff to do and at competitive prices to other things people would be going to. As that starts to fill some seats (and others are gone) it will become more and more a place to go and better atmosphere. If they can also keep competing, the place will fill. Otherwise? Nope.
Being left at the altar refers to Indians speak which is echoed by you saying The Indians spend when they expect to contend that’s not how it works. Nobody can “expect” to contend because as we all know baseball is a unique sport. Many many different things can happen. You need to be proactive not reactive and certainly not minimally reactive such has been the case with the Cleveland Indians.
Swisher was a horrible signing that was nothing but a PR stunt with the hopes that the guy would produce enough on the field that it would pay off. It hasn’t happened other then one month a year ago this time. Bourn on the other hand, well maybe there was a reason he was still a FA when the Indians signed him huh? But I excuse this one because I thought it was a nice signing. Oops, guess I was wrong. I can be wrong I’m not the GM of a small market team. Chris Antonetti on the other hand couldn’t afford to be wrong and he was!
As far as the team being boring goes this contribute to the lack of excitement and interest in the team. There isn’t one guy who grabs a baseball fans attention unless they are into stats and know the game. Enter Brantley and Kluber. I’m guessing next season these two if they keep it up with garner more attention locally and nationally but only if the team does well. Kipnis was supposed to be the guy who got attention but unfortunately whether it’s do to injury or something else it never happened. Pittsburgh is a small market but they have players who are exciting. McCutcheon is an MVP but how about Polanco or what about Josh Harrison? And if you need further proof about excitement then look no further then across the street to Quickens Loan Arena where a team that was the dregs of the NBA the past four years now needs a lottery to sell tickets. Of course 90% of this goes to LBJ but Gilbert & Griffin deserve 10% credit because they seized an opportunity and are taking advantage of it. When is the last time the Cleveland Indians could say that? Not since Gateway. That unfortunately was a long time ago.
I agree it really is unfortunate that people/fans don’t pay more attention but that’s how it goes there’s no point in constantly regurgitating it. The players and manager deserve credit/support because as I stated last week I think their FO let them down. But I think this FO whether it was Shapiro or now Antonetti has let this team down for years. It’s a large part why I and I think many others just won’t go in on the Indians. They have talked the talk way to many times w/o walking the walk. I mean the FO, owners. I honestly believe they have done a disservice to Francona and his players.
This helps explain some of my feelings about the Indians: https://waitingfornextyear.com/2014/09/cleveland-indians-browns-cavs-espn-ultimate-team-standings/
Very timely as far as I’m concerned for the Indians: https://waitingfornextyear.com/2014/09/cleveland-indians-browns-cavs-espn-ultimate-team-standings/
“But we have seen the attendance start to spike whenever there’s been a big series”
Like the sub 15k crowds against the Tigers?
I agree with your pops.
Carrying it further, you win any of those MANY pissed away games during the first month + of the season, and we’re a pumped up fan base ready for playoffs. I remember raising hell at the time, and the usual condescending baseball snobs said, “Relax, it’s only a game. It’s a long season, etc.” Well pick any three of those April games because they sure matter.
It seems like King Felix v. Kluber *should* be an exciting Cy Young debate. I know that Hernandez has the track record…but, Kluber is really right there with him in ability and results.
“Being left at the altar refers to Indians speak which is echoed by you saying The Indians spend when they expect to contend”
I have no idea how you though this was a reply. You don’t clarify it at all.
“that’s not how it works”
Big market talk. Unfortunately for quite a few franchise, they have to go through peaks and valleys, and time their biggest spending with their biggest expectations.
“with the hopes that the guy would produce enough on the field that it would pay off”
Umm, yes? Isn’t this how every FA signing works? You hope that guys you pay eight figures to turn in 3+ WAR, you know, just like Swisher did last year.
“Bourn on the other hand, well maybe there was a reason he was still a FA when the Indians signed him huh”
If you just want to play the 20-20 hindsight game, then go have your fun, I won’t stop you. But he was a FA because he was tied to a first round draft pick.
“Chris Antonetti on the other hand couldn’t afford to be wrong”
Right, because it might lead to 70 something win seasons. Oh wait.
I understand what boring means, thanks anyway. I’m not saying they are exciting, I’m saying it’s just another ridiculous ladder rung the Indians are forced to climb.
If MLB fans nationwide are more excited for Polanco and his 86 OPS+ than Brantley, I must be watching the wrong game.
And the Cavs comparison is ridiculous, and you know that.
Has anyone said April games don’t matter? I see this complaint gaining steam, and yet I’ve never seen anyone argue that April games don’t matter.
The relax bit has more to do with going through an entire season stressed out about the past doesn’t do anything to help.
That Clevelanders don’t like the Indians? That’s the whole conversation. Why. We’re way past anything that article brings up.
Have a nice day!
Have a nice day!!
Kluber deserves to be there obviously and his last two outings give him the spotlight. Felix hasn’t been going deep, as far as pitch count goes, which is surprising for Seattle who is battling for their playoff lives. I just think, whether people like it or not, Felix is more established and has a track record. The fact his team is also doing well benefits him. The Indians are doing well also but I don’t think it’s perceived to be as well as the Mariners regardless of actual standings. But more important then that is the fact that this is the first time Kluber has done what he’s doing. Is it real or is it Memorex? He wasn’t highly touted he has shown a positive progression but lets all be honest who saw this season coming for Kluber? I think he’ll come up short for Cy Young. The good news is there’s always next year.
TD, you got grief for putting Brantley #1 last year because you said it was based on the 2013 performance. However, it is awesome that you called your shot for 2014 and he delivered.
Gotta give it to the Tribe, I gave up on 2014 in August. I just didn’t see them being able to get to 90 wins. Thankfully, they kept plugging away and we won’t have to get to 90 to get to the Wild Card.
Huge series now against KC. A sweep and it’s anyone’s guess at the WC. A 3-1 series win and we need a little help, but M`s and A`s have been scuffling. It’s fun heart wrenching baseball. Gotta love the drama of baseball games where you live and die on every pitch.
I totally agree on the “track record v. one year results” idea. It’s not necessarily fair (given that the Cy Young award should pertain to this season – it’s not a lifetime achievement award), but I understand it. Even that said, King Felix wins on many of the “stats” – WAR, FIP, ERA+. Kluber is right with him, but I think Hernandez is *slightly* better. Selfishly, lack of a Cy Young win should marginally help trying to sign Kluber long-term, given that it would be a HUGE bullet-point on his resume.
Agreed especially on the signability of Kluber. Plus, lets be honest, it would be an absolute PR nightmare for the Indians if they lost a third Cy Young winner. So lets use our Cleveland sports logic and hope Kluber finishes second!
It would be more impressive had he said Brantley would be the best player obtained from Milwaukee for CC. (Poking the bear)
Agreed, 2013 Michael Brantley was painfully mediocre.
Put Brantley on the Pirates and change his name to “McCutchen” and he’s magically an MVP candidate. Their stats are really similar (even taking into account the fact that Brantley has played 12 more games) this year.
You are “spot on” once again today. I personally think that whoever takes the 2nd WC is going to also win the Cy Young just because I think it’ll be the tiebreaker for many voters (and yes, I don’t think it will be KC).
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/ays.gif