Cleveland Sports Forum

Salazar tipping pitches?

CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) - At some point, the Cleveland Indians are going to need the final two starters in their rotation to work deep into a game.

Following Carlos Carrasco’s 5.2 inning, four run performance on Sunday, Danny Salazar (0-3) was unable to make it out of the fifth on Tuesday, as the Kansas City Royals topped the Tribe at Progressive Field, 8-2.

“This is tough,” Salazar said. “This is not easy. Everybody from every team that’s up here, if he’s here, he is good. You just have to learn those little things and keep your head up.”

Salazar allowed five runs, four earned in 4.1 innings, walking two and striking out six. He threw 89 pitches, 52 for strikes.

Unfortunately, Tuesday’s sub par start continues a recent trend for the starter. In his last three outings, the 24-year-old has logged 12.2 innings, allowing 19 hits, 15 runs, 14 earned, walking seven and striking out 19.

His ERA has ballooned to 7.85. The rough stretch has him questioning if he might be tipping his pitches.

“Maybe, I’m doing something obvious,” Salazar said. “With my change-up sometimes, I open up my glove too much… Sometimes, when I’m going to throw my fastball, I just try to open my glove too to try to confuse (the hitter). But sometimes, I just forget.”

Despite that, Salazar’s outing got off to a great start. He carried a no-hitter through the first three innings, walking two but limiting any damage.

But after yielding two singles to start the fourth inning, Salazar served up a three-run, two-out bomb to Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, his third of the season, to give Kansas City a 3-1 lead. The blast came on a high change-up by Salazar.

“Maybe he was ready for that pitch,” Salazar said. “That was a mistake… I should have thrown a fastball outside… not back-to-back change-ups.”

The Royals would add a run on a Jarrod Dyson bunt single, after Alcides Escobar advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Yan Gomes, his sixth error of the season.

A Billy Butler RBI double off the wall in center knocked Salazar out of the game in the fifth.

“It’s growing pains,” Nick Swisher said of Salazar’s performance. “This is his first real go-round. We have the utmost trust in him. He’s got plus stuff. When he figures it out, it’s going to be a lot of fun on this side. He’s a young cat. He’s going to figure it out.”

“Every pitcher has to make adjustments as you go through the order. That’s why some guys are starters and some guys are relievers,” manager Terry Francona added. “Danny has the weapons to go through the lineup multiple times. It’s just more executing pitches.”

The Royals added a run in the seventh off Indians reliever C.C. Lee on an Eric Hosmer RBI double. Hosmer finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored.

Alex Gordon added a two-run double off Scott Atchison in the ninth.

Salazar’s counterpart, James Shields (2-2), lived up to his “Big Game James” nickname, surrendering two runs, one earned, on six hits in six frames. The righty walked one and struck out nine en route to the win.

“Unfortunately, he’s pretty much the same every time you see him,” Francona said. “That’s why he’s one of the best.”

Michael Bourn finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Gomes (2-for-4) added an RBI double in the sixth. Swisher and Michael Brantley also contributed two hits a piece.

Kansas City improved to 10-9 and remains perfect when scoring four runs or more this season. Cleveland fell to 9-11.

“It hasn’t exactly been the start that we wanted as a team, but it’s still early in the season, and we’re going to keep grinding,” Swisher said. “I know that.”

Notes: The Indians announced a paid attendance of 8,848. Several must have come dressed as green seats… The Tribe had their 42 inning streak of not allowing an opposing home run snapped by Moustakas in the fourth. It was the first homer the Indians surrendered since Ian Kinsler hit a three run dinger off Salazar on April 17… Bourn has recorded a hit in three straight games… Swisher is 5-for-11 in his last three games.

A story I couldn't find to post by Manaloff at Cleveland.com didn't attribute the problems to tipping off pitches but to throwing too many fast balls and not enough good breaking balls or offspeed pitches. Needs to work on all this, in AAA I hope

civ ollilavad wrote:A story I couldn't find to post by Manaloff at Cleveland.com didn't attribute the problems to tipping off pitches but to throwing too many fast balls and not enough good breaking balls or offspeed pitches. Needs to work on all this, in AAA I hope

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ss ... ity_1.html

Thanks for posting that.

For some reason, I can find some PD stories on my I-Phone App and others on my computer but not all on both. Must be using the wrong direction for one or the other or both.

I find some by just using google. If an article is in the paper, I search for the author's name and type a sentence from it. That is often quicker than looking at cleveland.com.

Hey JOE and KEN - Look who's available!


Report: Multiple teams interested in Manny Ramirez
Marcus Hartman
FOX Sports Ohio

APR 18, 2014 2:57p ET


The former Indian last played in a major league game in 2011 at the age of 39 for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Indians got a big lift from 42-year-old Jason Giambi last season as they made a run to the postseason. Could they turn to another member of the 40-plus club this season for a boost?

It might be a far-flung idea, but Manny Ramirez is reportedly looking to make another run at continuing his pro baseball career. Per MLBTradeRumors.com, "multiple teams" are interested in ManRam.

Ramirez is reportedly open to playing in Japan or signing a minor league deal with an MLB team. He said he hopes to play a similar role as veterans Raul Ibanez or Giambi.

The former Indian last played in a major league game in 2011 at the age of 39 for the Tampa Bay Rays. That lasted only five games before he retired rather than face a suspension for violating the league's PED use policy.

In an interview with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports in March, he admitted using banned substances and said he has learned from his mistakes.

"In your life, you're going to mature," Ramirez said. "Sometimes you've got to fall and get up to know who you really are. That's what happened to me. I fell. I got up. Now I know what I really want in life."

The enigmatic slugger first came up with the Tribe, for whom he hit .313 with 236 homers and 804 RBIs in eight seasons from 1993-2000. He is ninth all-time in both slugging (.585) and OPS (.996) while his 555 career home runs are 14th.

Giambi played in 71 games for the Indians last year, and though he hit only .183 for the season, he smacked nine home runs and with 31 runs driven. He mixed in a handful of clutch hits and played a major role in building strong chemistry in the clubhouse as the team won 92 games.

The Cleveland Indians' faith in closer John Axford is paying off: Zack Meisel's musings

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The best (or, at least, the most entertaining) part about small baseball crowds is the amplified spotlight placed upon hecklers. In a mostly empty ballpark, their voices echo and spread to the ears of everyone in the building.

Most of what is shouted isn't suitable for print, of course. Some fans seem to think Nick Swisher will respond to an "O-H" scream with an "I-O" while he's in the batter's box or preparing for a ground ball at first base.

Here are five observations following the Indians' 5-3 win against the Royals, which came before 9,311 fans, some of whom triggered widespread laughs with comical insults and commentary.

1. No question: When the Indians signed John Axford over the winter, they immediately granted him the closer role. To this point, the right-hander has been about as dependable as the team could have hoped.

Axford has converted eight of his nine save opportunities, with the only misstep coming in Chicago on April 13, when he offered Alexei Ramirez a belt-high fastball. The shortstop sent it into the left-field seats for a walk-off home run.

"He's starting to, like [Wednesday], he stuck some fastballs," said manager Terry Francona. "Like really stuck them, right where he wanted to throw them. When he does that, that makes that breaking ball so effective. He's got a few more walks to this point than he wants, but not lately. He's starting to really stick that fastball, which is good."

2. April showers: Strong starts aren't essential to some players, but Axford needed one. He lost his gig as Milwaukee's ninth-inning man last season after he surrendered nine runs on nine hits -- including four homers -- in his first three appearances. His ERA never dipped back below 8.00 in April and when he served up four runs (three earned) on May 1, it jumped back up to 10.32.

The Indians took a risk when they handed Axford the job without first watching him during spring training. Thus far, it has paid dividends. He has rewarded their confidence in him. Each spotless inning allows Axford to put his 2013 campaign further behind him.

3. April flowers: A sluggish start would have opened Pandora's box, with inquiries about whether Axford ever should've been given the role without a competition or whether Cody Allen, who has tossed 9 2/3 scoreless innings this season, deserved the gig.

Instead, the back end of the Tribe bullpen has anchored the team. Cleveland relievers have stranded a major league-best 91.4 percent (32 of 35) of inherited runners. Those hurlers have done so early and often, as the Indians' starting pitchers have struggled to pitch deep into games.

4. Plan of attack: On Wednesday, Francona was finally able to deploy his relievers in the ideal manner. He mixed and matched with his four most reliable relievers -- Marc Rzepczynski, Bryan Shaw, Allen and Axford -- to seal off the final 2 2/3 frames.

Justin Masterson permitted the skipper to do so, as he pitched into the seventh inning. Francona admitted that the righty could have proceeded on the mound, but he determined that calling for Rzepczynski to face left-handed-hitting Eric Hosmer was the proper move. The southpaw struck out Hosmer and then hit the showers.

5. Tip top: Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis continue to dig themselves out of their early-season funks. The trio combined for six hits in 13 at-bats on Wednesday. Over the last three games, the three have tallied 15 hits in 39 at-bats (.385 average).

Bourn has boosted his batting average to .258 with seven hits in his last four games, including five in his last two. Both he and Swisher have at least one hit in each of the Indians' last four games.

Cleveland Indians at 11-11 offer hope because they aren't even close to their best: Terry Pluto



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are a .500 team. How can that be?

Three members of the starting rotation have yet to win a game. That includes Justin Masterson, who has a 4.50 ERA and is trying to find his fastball this season. Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco are a combined 0-5 with a 7.55 ERA.

But the Indians are still 11-11.

OK, there's Corey Kluber.

"Now that was fun to watch," said Manager Terry Francona after the Tribe's 5-1 home victory over Kansas City on Thursday. Kluber made it feel like the 1960s. Give him 11 strikeouts, no walks. Give him a complete game with 75 of 101 pitches being strikes. Give Kluber only six walks all season, compared to 30 strikeouts!

Game time? A sweet 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Now that felt like old-time baseball.



Here's a suggestion

As the Tribe heads to the West Coast, their rotation has a 4.81 ERA, 12th in the American League. That begs for something to be done.

The Indians are reluctant to make two moves that seem obvious:

1. Carrasco goes to the bullpen. He has started 10 games since 2013 with an 0-6 record and 8.42 ERA. We're talking 76 hits in 49 innings. It's not working.

2. Carrasco has had success in limited bullpen time. He also gives Francona someone who can help in long relief. To send Carrasco to the minors, he'd have to clear waivers. Teams would claim him. Why? Because he has been effective in relief.

3. To help the rotation, the Tribe can send a reliever to Class AAA. That won't be easy as everyone has pitched well. C.C. Lee is the likely candidate. Then call up Trevor Bauer or Josh Tomlin. Bauer has allowed only two runs in 18 2/3 innings at Columbus. He threw six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) in a start against San Diego.

For the Indians to contend in the Central, the starting pitching must improve. They can't have Carrasco and Salazar both a mess in the rotation. It will wear out the bullpen.

Here's a problem

OK, I can start with Carlos Santana's .137 average -- as the cleanup hitter. Or first baseman Nick Swisher having more errors (3) than homers (2). Only three regulars (David Murphy, Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes) are batting above .244.

But in the name of Travis Fryman and Omar Vizquel, will someone please catch the ball?

Given their iffy offense and rocky rotation, it's amazing the Tribe is 11-11 while leading the American League in errors!

Thursday, Swisher permitted a ground ball to get past him for an unearned run simply because he didn't put his glove down.

Francona needs tell his first baseman, "Pay attention out there." All three of his errors are on very routine plays.

Jason Kipnis has three errors at second. The third basemen have four errors, and only one belongs to Santana. Gomes is second in the league in throwing out runners attempting to steal (43 percent), but has six errors and three passed balls -- again, leading the league.

There's a stat called defensive efficiency, which includes range and other factors besides errors. In the American League, only the lame Houston Astros are worse.

This is one area where become mediocre would be a vast improvement -- and that certainly can be done.

MURPHY-3.JPGDavid Murphy returns to the dugout after driving in two runs with a double in Thursday's victory. He has 17 RBI in 20 games.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Here's hope

This is a month where it seems so many things have gone so wrong in almost every area of the team except the bullpen. But the Indians are 11-11.

At the start of the season, no one knew if John Axford could regain his form as a closer. The free agent pickup is 8-of-9 in saves. Batters are only 2-of-18 with runners on base.


David Murphy had a huge question mark next to his name after hitting .220 last season for Texas, followed by a springtime .204 when it's easy to hit .300 in the Arizona desert.

Murphy is batting .290 with 17 RBI. Michael Brantley rolls along, hitting .296 with 19 RBI.

Zach McAllister and Kluber are combined 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA.

The Indians are receiving production from Lonnie Chisenhall (a shocking .432 average) along with the entire bullpen. While it ends with Axford, consider that Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Josh Outman, Marc Rzepczynski and Scott Atchison have allowed only seven earned runs in 45 innings, a 1.40 ERA.

The team isn't even playing close to average, yet they are at .500 and right behind 10-8 Detroit in the Central Division.

And for Tribe fans, that is very good news.

Here's a problem

OK, I can start with Carlos Santana's .137 average-- as the cleanup hitter. Or first baseman Nick Swisher having more errors (3) than homers (2). Only three regulars (David Murphy, Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes) are batting above .244.

But in the name of Travis Fryman and Omar Vizquel, will someone please catch the ball?

Given their iffy offense and rocky rotation, it's amazing the Tribe is 11-11 while leading the American League in errors!

Thursday, Swisher permitted a ground ball to get past him for an unearned run simply because he didn't put his glove down. Francona needs tell his first baseman, "Pay attention out there." All three of his errors are on very routine plays. [The 14 million dollar man is not earning his salary - pine time!]

Jason Kipnis has three errors at second. The third basemen have four errors, and only one belongs to Santana. Gomes is second in the league in throwing out runners attempting to steal (43 percent), but has six errors and three passed balls -- again, leading the league.

There's a stat called defensive efficiency, which includes range and other factors besides errors. In the American League, only the lame Houston Astros are worse.

I'd say those are a few glaring problems!

Santana and Swisher both need wakeup calls. The bench would be a good start. Does one bench the highest paid players on the team? Supposedly your leaders !?!!? Unless they start hitting and playing up to expectations, perhaps Columbus would be an even better wake up call.

Perhaps you should get a clue !

OK, Michael Brantley is the ultimate example of NOT judging any deal too early.

Some of us have known/said for years that this was a good trade for the Tribe, and for this reason.

Perhaps you should get a clue !

I have a clue, Rusty. Put it this way, Santana and Swisher both need a day or two off. It's possible it may do some good.

I'm not sure who the backup first baseman is this season. Last year Santana worked there some, but not this spring. Aviles backs up everyone else, so he's a possibility. Could try working out Chisenhall there. Has Raburn played 1st?

Brantley can play first. Raburn can play first.

I recall that when we first got him Brantley's OF defensive was questioned and he was viewed as a singles-hitting 1st baseman by the time he would reach the majors. He's turned out much more than that. Has he played first anywhere in the past half dozen years? I suppose he could relearn his skills