Lol - that's because you were bored, and people were looking at their watches.

Carrasco struggled this evening. Gave up 3 earned in 5 innings and taken out.

Mercado with a 2 out rbi single for our only run so far. (Jose with lead off double)

Kipnis just led off 6th with double. Hopefully we get him in too.

3-1 bad guys, btm of 6

Bring back the O's.

Carrasco has been far too erratic this season. As have been Bauer and the pre-fracture Kluber. With our sketchy offense we cannot afford anything less than the best from our starting rotation.

civ ollilavad wrote:Carrasco has been far too erratic this season. As have been Bauer and the pre-fracture Kluber. With our sketchy offense we cannot afford anything less than the best from our starting rotation.

Big picture civ, to me (and this is only me), this is shaping up as the beginning of a mini rebuild. Boston, Houston and even NY are so freaking good (and Antonetti knows it, whether he is saying it or not) that the others are outside looking in. Us too.

Our only shot is winning the Central and getting incredibly lucky in the playoffs. Pretty miniscule.

Sort through players (dump CarGo) and find out what kids/outfielders are keepers. Look into the market on some of our stars who will not be staying on. (Lindor, Bauer especially). We are fortunate they would bring back a large haul to start another run.

Other side of the coin. I do not think that there will be any sell off this year. This is the last year to go for it. I think the FO has some money stowed away for some improvements at the trade deadline.

Obviously if they can make the playoffs then Bauer, Bieber and some help could beat anyone !

Why would you break it up now ?

TIFR posits a logical perspective; it has been a really surprisingly look period of success for this smaller market team. Although there was some slippage early in the millennium, they have been playing a playoff caliber for most of the past quarter century [it is amazing to realize that it's 24 years since the great 1995 World Series club]

We've rebuilt successfully before with smart trades for prospects a couple levels away. Would be disappointing to unload to reload but probably smart choice

Rusty's not wrong either! One more go at it and then recharge. I'll accept both sides of the coin!

But you CAN do both sides of the coin. You see where you are at the trade deadline indeed. Go from there.

But if we are out of the Central race then (and I think the wildcard is basically impossible with TB, NY and Boston in the East) you have to look at maximizing the value of the assets you have for long term gain.

Teams that hold on too long pass their opportunity to do that.

I agree with rusty2 that if we are in it at the deadline, they do have the means to aid the push. And our starting pitchers might all get on a roll....But if not....

Just read up and down the rosters of Houston and Boston. Go ahead, do it. They are loaded beyond comprehension and Houston especially has very young talent - Brantley is the old guy in his early 30s. Adding him to that lineup is absurd.

Oscar Mercado is in the Indians' lineup Tuesday against the Athletics.
Mercado has now started four straight games while bouncing around the Indians' outfield

This is what we are talking about! A good, long look for Mercado please.

Yes, he made a bonehead play in LF, but we have to know what we have. And he shows promise! And let him play all 3 outfield positions.

Remember when we stumbled onto the fact that Chisenhall actually was a very GOOD right fielder? (Oh yeah, 56 injuries ago but I digress)

Oh, and Mercado is right handed. Duh.

When Naquin returns or Allen is brought back CarGo goes and we have all youngish guys in the OF who may work out. Or may not.

What the heck happened to Bauer. took him 109 pitches to get through 5 wobbly innings.

YUK!

And 123 through 6 mediocre innings! Bauer in a rut.

Look, the guy had 2.21 ERA last season and that probably was a bit crazy. So some regression was expected, but this is more than expected. I still expect him to rebound of course and end up around 3.00 which would still be outstanding.

I thought he'd be prime Cy Young contender this year and lead the rotation. We really needed that with the injuries. Not getting it.