Cleveland Sports Forum

Did anyone else see that Yu Chang BOMB to right center field yesterday? Not even pulled. Nothing cheap about that.

And Leonys goes 3 for 3 - face it, he is a large key to this "outfield". Was having a nice season until disaster hit him last season.

With respect to Jose Ramirez, I've been following him since his 2012-2013 season, his first in the Dominican winter ball league. Jose Ramirez is not a 30 home run power hitter. I was shocked with his 2017 & 2018 seasons, especially 2018 when he hit 39 homers. In my opinion, he is pretending to be something he is not, a power hitter.

I don't know if Jose is putting undo pressure on himself thinking he has to carry the team on his shoulders or not. I don't know if he's being ask to be that go-to power guy. I don't know if he thinks he has to compete with Lindor. But, the last month of the 2018 season and the playoff games against Houston was something I kind of expected might happen. Guessing, I would say that Jose Ramirez just lost that magic power touch. Was he exhausted? Guessing, probably. Mentally and physically.

Jose's winter ball and minor league seasons/stats, indicate that he is an exceptional hitter. Jose is an excellent line drive hitter with gap power. He has very good plate discipline. Power is not his forte. Never was until 2017 & 2018.

If there was one particular player that I would have likened Ramirez to, it would have been Jose Altuve, not Bryce Harper. In my opinion, Ramirez should go back to what got him here in the first place. I'd rather see Ramirez put up Altuve like numbers, not Bryce Harper numbers.

joez wrote:With respect to Jose Ramirez, I've been following him since his 2012-2013 season, his first in the Dominican winter ball league. Jose Ramirez is not a 30 home run power hitter. I was shocked with his 2017 & 2018 seasons, especially 2018 when he hit 39 homers. In my opinion, he is pretending to be something he is not, a power hitter.

I don't know if Jose is putting undo pressure on himself thinking he has to carry the team on his shoulders or not. I don't know if he's being ask to be that go-to power guy. I don't know if he thinks he has to compete with Lindor. But, the last month of the 2018 season and the playoff games against Houston was something I kind of expected might happen. Guessing, I would say that Jose Ramirez just lost that magic power touch. Was he exhausted? Guessing, probably. Mentally and physically.

Jose's winter ball and minor league seasons/stats, indicate that he is an exceptional hitter. Jose is an excellent line drive hitter with gap power. He has very good plate discipline. Power is not his forte. Never was until 2017 & 2018.

If there was one particular player that I would have likened Ramirez to, it would have been Jose Altuve, not Bryce Harper. In my opinion, Ramirez should go back to what got him here in the first place. I'd rather see Ramirez put up Altuve like numbers, not Bryce Harper numbers.

I think that's an excellent post joez - I do think fatigue AND perhaps getting homer happy were quite possibly the issue for him last year. And I thought similarly of Lindor.

I do think Jose has learned to hit for more power but experience should teach him to do that in a more situational way. Hope he gets back to just being a good hitter with pop on occasion - but I do think 25-30 homers with all kinds of extra base hits and walks makes him a stud like Altuve.

Glad to see Kipnis back in the lineup. He's a perfect 4-4 this spring. With such an uncertain OF I'm putting a lot of the offensive success on Jason's return to old form.

I note too the not so impressive start of Jordan Luplow, 1-10, with 6 strikeouts. Bauer is now bumping him from LF. Allen will be not less than a platoon RF and or CF, but as a witch hitter he can be out there most everyday. I am pleased with how well Allen has shown up in the big leagues; he always had major league speed and defense. You scored right on him, Hillbilly.
We gave up a very impressive young pitcher Tahnaj Thomas to get Luplow [not to mention Erik Gonzalez who is lot more talented that Mas Moroff]. That could be a very bad deal over the long term.

Hanley starting today.

I know I am higher on him than I probably have logical reason to be, but to me this guy has always been able to swing a bat but his head and his injuries always got in the way.

He is definitely not too old to still hit. And that's all we need him to do. And he's right handed which would make it an even better fit.

Wil Cordero redux!

Checking his stats, Cordero came to Cleveland when he was only 27;went away came back at age 29 and in his final two seasons had OPS under 700. Did a lot better the next couple years after he went to the NL.

How about Dave Winfield redux? Well maybe not quite, he was 43! when he dropped in on the Indians in 1995
brady Anderson was 38 when he ended his career miserably with the Tribe in 2002

3 innings work by Bieber, 1 run on 2 hits, 4 K. Otero a run in an inning.
I was inaccurate at citing Luplow as 1-10; he was 1-11 coming in to today. Now he's 1=13. He has not struck out all day and only left two on base. I think we're going to really like this kid.
Another nice performance for Greg Allen, a hit and hit by a pitch. On Base Pct now over 500. As a switch hitter there's no reason why he can't play everyday. Except all the OF starters are likely to be lefties: Naquin, Martin and Bauers. He could in a sense platoon with Henley with Bauers and Santana switching their spots when Ramirez is out of lineup.

Another stinko day with the bats.

Could be a lot of those this year.

Lineup today includes a handful of regulars: Martin, Kipnis and Santana at the top.
The rest is so well stocked with weak bats that Roberto Perez is hitting fifth.
Lots of guys who either will be playing for or should be playing for the Clippers: Barnes and Thompson, Joyce, Moroff and Flaherty.
Don't think I recalled that Yonder Alonso wound up with the WhiteSox he's their 1B with 2 homers this spring.

Listening to Tribe game today and I found it odd that Plutko went 3+2/3 innings to start this game.

Great to see Leonys go deep. This kid is still young, covers ground, and they may have something here in CF.

Matt Joyce keeps the streak alive, now 0-12. But Kipnis ends his, now 5-6. Roberto and Max each with a hit.

YANDY DIAZ
DH, TAMPA BAY RAYS

Yandy Diaz hit his first spring homer Tuesday off the Twins' Trevor Hildenberger. Diaz has the exit velocity, and the Rays are hopeful they'll be able to do something about his proclivity for groundballs.

Don't much about Hildenberger but any Yandy HR is worth noting. IF he can develop 15 HR power he could be a very good offensive player. Ae 300 average should be within reasonable expectations for him