Tag Archives: Wahoo Warriors

TRIBE ADDS BIG ARM AND RIGHT HANDED BAT AT TRADE DEADLINE

The Cleveland Indians were one of the most active teams heading into the Major League Baseball trade deadline, and while one trade failed (Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy vetoed a trade to the Tribe), the Wahoo Warriors did acquire left-handed closer Andrew Miller from the Yankees and outfielder Brandon Guyer from the Tamp Bay Rays.

A MLB Baseball on Ground

Here are the official press releases on both trades from the Cleveland Indians.

INDIANS ACQUIRE LHP ANDREW MILLER

FROM THE NEW YORK YANKEES 

CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians today acquired LHP ANDREW MILLER from the New York Yankees in exchange for RHP J.P. FEYEREISEN, OF CLINT FRAZIER, RHP BEN HELLER and LHP JUSTUS SHEFFIELD.

Miller, 31, has gone 6-1 with 9 saves and a 1.39 ERA in 44 relief outings in 2016 for the New York Yankees (45.1IP, 28H, 8R/7ER, 7BB, 77SO, .174AVG). He currently owns the 6th-lowest relief ERA in the American League while his .174 average against is also the 6th-lowest relief mark in the A.L.  He owns an 11:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, is averaging 15.3 strikeouts per 9.0IP and is 2nd in the league with 77 relief strikeouts. He has allowed runs in just 8 of 44 outings and has not allowed multiple runs in an appearance this season.

Miller owns a career relief ERA of 2.72 (274.2IP, 180H, 83ER, 412SO, .183AVG) in 297 career appearances with the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. He was Detroit’s first round pick (6th overall) in the 2006 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He is currently signed thru the 2018 season.  His combined relief ERA of 1.98 over the last 5 seasons since 2013 (44ER/200.0IP, .168AVG) is the 7th-lowest mark in Major League Baseball over the span.

 

INDIANS ACQUIRE OF BRANDON GUYER

FROM THE TAMPA BAY RAYS

CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians today acquired OF BRANDON GUYER from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for OF NATHAN LUKES and RHP JHONLEIDER SALINAS.

Guyer, 30, has spent the entire season to date with the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting .241 (51-212) with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 18 RBI in 63 games. He has appeared in 25 games in left field, 18 games in center field and 12 games in right field this season after making at least 15 starts at all three positions last season for the Rays.  The Herndon, VA native spent most of June on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain and currently leads the Majors with 23 hit by pitches. The right-handed hitting outfielder is currently hitting .344 (22-64) off left-handed pitching this year with 4 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI and a 1.082 OPS.

The University of Virginia alum began his professional career in 2007 after being selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the First-Year Player Draft.  He was acquired by Tampa Bay along with Chris Archer in January 2011 in a seven-player deal that sent RHP Matt Garza to the Cubs. He is under club control thru the 2018 season currently.

Juan Uribe 2

 

The Indians today also designated third baseman Juan Uribe for assignment.

THE TRIBE’S “MAY MEN”

After a horrible start to the season in the month of April, going (7-14), the Indians needed a big month in May to turn the year around and for all intensive purposes, save their season and that’s exactly what they got. The Tribe responded with 17 wins in 29 games in the month of May to climb back to within 2 games of the .500 mark (24-26) to start the month of June. The Wahoo Warriors have won 10 of their last 13 games.

3 players made a HUGE impact in that (17-12) month and are as hot as any players at their positions in all of Major League Baseball. Let’s take a look at the numbers that Jason Kipnis, Corey Kluber and Cody Allen put up during the month of May:

Jason Kipnis Spring Training Bat Selection

All Jason Kipnis did was bat .429 for the month with an on base percentage of .511. His 51 hits for the month are the most in May in Tribe franchise history and the most in any single month since Robbie Alomar in 2000. The “JK Kid” also scored 30 runs while driving in 17. He finished with 15 doubles, 3 triples and 4 home runs, while drawing 17 walks in the month. If he doesn’t win “Player of the Month” for May, there needs to be an FBI investigation into that crime.

Corey Kluber Smiling at Practice 2-27-15

Corey Kluber dominated hitters in May holding his opponents to a .233 batting average for the month. He finished with a (3-2) record and a 2.95era for the month while striking out 60 and only walking 6 in 42.2 innings of work while getting very little run support. Kluber has improved his season numbers now to (3-5, 3.52era) after going winless in the month of April.

Cody Allen Interview Photo Spring Training 2015

While the Indians reigning Cy Young award winner was mowing guys down to start games, Cody Allen finally rounded into form to close them out. After going (0-2) and a blown save with an earned run average of 11.57 in April, Allen was perfect in the month of May going 7 for 7 in save opportunities and posting an ERA for the month of 2.35. The Tribe’s closer, like the team, seems to have righted the ship and now has it headed in the right direction heading into the month of June and beyond and that’s good news for Terry Francona’s boys and Indians fans everywhere!

MID-SEASON THOUGHTS ON THE TRIBE

The Indians have hit the halfway point of the 2014 season. At the 81 game mark they are (39-42). Last year at this time they were (43-38). So that’s a four game differential on the negative side from a year ago when they finished (92-70) and in second place in the A.L. Central, but claimed the A.L.’s top Wild Card spot.

I’ve claimed all along that I didn’t think they’d be as good as they were last year mainly because of the starting pitching, or lack thereof. But also there is still no legitimate clean-up hitter with power, poor defense, they’re going to wear out their bullpen and two of their biggest bats Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana are hitting (.193) and (.207) respectively.

Having said all that, thanks to the two Wild Card spots in the A.L. and a Tigers team that is still the favorite in the division, but also not as good as they were last year, the Indians are far from out of it in the American League playoff picture. The Wahoo Warriors trail first place Detroit by 6 ½ games as of today, and are just 4 ½ games out in the Wild Card race with a lot of baseball yet to play.

A big power bat and a legit number #2 or #3 starter would go a long way of bettering their chances of getting to the post-season for the second straight year and they have until July 31st to make a trade, however don’t hold your breath on those. But as I’ve learned over the years in sports, never say never. Let’s hope that Chris Antonetti and Mark Shapiro address at least one of those two big needs.

 

MID-SEASON AWARDS

MVP Michael Brantley – This one was easy. Dr. Smooth is on pace to hit .318 with 25 homeruns and drive in 108 runs. He is the most complete and consistent player on the team and it’s not even close.

MDP (Most Disappointing Players) – Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana – This one was easy too. Your two so-called power bats are not only struggling average wise at the plate, they aren’t hitting for power either. Yes Santana is tied for the team lead in HR’s with 12, but that’s not saying much and Mr. Brohio has only hit 5 balls to “Souvenir City”.

MSP (Most Surprising Player) – Lonnie Chisenhall – Another easy choice. Where would the Indians be without the offense that “Lonnie Baseball” has provided? He’s hitting .350 with 8 homers and 36 RBI’s. Cody Allen is the runner-up here with 7 saves and a 2.67era as your closer.

Player Least Likely To Be Here After The Trading Deadline – Asdrubal Cabrera. He’s only hitting .248 with 8 homers and 36 runs batted in. Plus he leads the team with 14 errors and he’s a free agent at the end of the year. Trade him and get something in return for him because you sure as hell aren’t going to pay him what he’ll be asking once he hits the market. You have Mike Aviles to play short on an everyday basis for the rest of this year and until Francisco Lindor is ready for the big leagues.

Pitching Rotation – My rotation for the 2nd half of the season would be – Corey Kluber, Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin, Trevor Bauer and whoever gets hot, but leave Carlos Carrasco in the bullpen. He has found a home for now and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.