Belcher reports that Chapman was clocked at up to 102 and fanned the side.

Now 4--0 in the top of the 7th. Atchison with a shutout inning. Now Allen.

Rosenhaus discovers that the two good rate plays by our SS last inning were actually made by Erik Gonzalez, not Francisco Lindor. Oops.

Belcher says Cody Allen has everything you want in closer.

6:51pm, still can't get the TV version on the MLB site. Maybe later.

I can watch yesterday's (or Wednesday's) though, so that will do for now. The wife is even more excited. I guess she can multitask rug-hooking and watching the Tribe on the tube. I can multitask watching the tribe and surfing the internet.

Only 3 games into ST but 0 runs allowed by Tribe pitching looks good anytime.

I think last season the Tribe was either 1st or 2nd in shutouts. Kazmir and Ubaldo might not be missed.

Keep an eye on Erik Gonzalez this year. He was impressive this winter. His only weakness was his K's/W's ratio. Otherwise, he was a solid performer. Lindor/Ramirez/Gonzalez provide solid depth at ss/2b/3b.

The rotation and the bullpen is the strength of this team Sea.

I'm confident in our defense, with or without Carlos Santana at third base. I saw him play in about 20 games this winter and I'll have to say that he did look very good for not playing the position for all those years. I'll be really surprised if Carlos doesn't start at third base on opening day.

I was hoping to see Cruz as an Indian this year to provide some power to the lineup and protection for Carlos. The offense is the only reason I'm holding out on predicting another 90 win season.

Something tells me we will be revisiting the above post.

Offense should be fine. Pitching is due for a large letdown after having just about everything but Pestano and Perez go right last year.

Rusty - but if someone had said Pestano and Perez would melt down last year, we would have kissed the bullpen and season good by. I think the bullpen will be good.

As for the starters, there sure is room for doubt. Then again, we all thought they would suck last year.

So it comes down to the question of if they just had an "up" year, or if a guy named Callaway had something to do with the improvement of Kluber, McCallister, etc. IF so, room for optimism.

I actually think a return to norm (just their norm, nothing fancy) for Swisher, Bourn, Cabrera and having Gomes for the whole year behind the plate provides room for optimism there - especially if Santana can play 3B. I do like the low risk addition of David Murphy as well.

Every year the same thing happens. The area that is considered a strength is not and another area surprises. Add in that last years team was fairly healthy.

I dunno joez, personally I consider Bourn's, Swisher's AND Cabrera's seasons to have been compromised by injuries that lingered, although they played in September.

And we had Masterson out during the most crucial time. Add in Pestano (oops, I didn't mention the WBC did I?)

Tribe pitching ---0 walks today

It does seem reasonably logical to assume as TFIR does that veteran hitters will return to their norm. The only worry is that Bourn and Swisher's norms are no longer achievable as they move through their 30's.

As for Asdrubal, what's the spring training report on whether he showed up in shape this year? Hitless in his first few games is irrelevant but disappointing.

The only worry is that Bourn and Swisher's norms are no longer achievable as they move through their 30's.

A reasonable point. That said, to me Swisher puts up the types of numbers during his career that are reasonably replicable. They are not, and never were, that gaudy.

Bourn the same. And he is still young enough. I see a bounce back there.

PS - I also think Swisher had a lot of attention put on him last year, his first with the team. I think he will be more comfortable this year.

I do think, civ, that in the next couple years your point becomes very powerful. Just not this particular year IMO.

I do think, civ, that in the next couple years your point becomes very powerful. Just not this particular year IMO.

By that time their contracts might be right where they should be for average MLB players.