Little Slide Rooter

Why is it still on the mound?

I admit that I've always kinda-sorta expected John Lackey to have a British accent due to his resemblance to a fitter Nick Frost. http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/spaced/images/f/f4/Nick_Frost.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121002222112 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/baseball/mlb/players/170x170/223559.png

Travis Wood hasn't pitched since game 1, when he threw 8 pitches. With this in mind, is it a safe bet that if we have an early scoring opportunity with the pitcher spot up that Lackey's night will be a short one, regardless of how he's doing?

Score 1st. Make Kluber throw lots pitches early on. Destroy him. Win it for them: [tweet] [/tweet]

Never tell Derwood the odds Not when they're meaningless nonsense, no, don't tell me I wouldn't say nonsense. When the series was tied at 1, 3/5 remaining games at Wrigley, and 3/5 pitching matchups favoring us, then 60% may have seemed a bit low for us. But now that we're down 2-1, with the final 2 games to be split home and away and the pitching matchups 2/2, the 40% seems about right. And if we win tonight, I suspect that it will shift to 50/50 or 55/45, in either team's favor. But yeah, it's very subjective. It's like saying today that there's a 10% chance of rain next Wednesday, but next Monday, there's a storm moving in, so suddenly there's 40% chance. The odds are based upon current conditions. So the oddsmakers ardent so much predicting the future as they are analyzing the present.

Yes, definitely let's look to prioritize defense over offense after having been shut out two of the first three games of the series. Makes sense. yeah i was kinda scratching my head at that one too Look at it this way; prior to the World Series, the Indians scored a grand total of 0 runs in the 7th inning and beyond. They also gave up a grand total of 4 runs in the 7th inning and behind, 3 of which came in their only loss. So far, they've scored 4 7th inning or later runs on us. 3 of those came on an unlikely blast by Roberto Perez against a rusty Rondon, and the other was a single that could possibly have been prevented had Heyward been in LT. To sum it up, the key here seems to be as much about run prevention as production. Yes, that's always the case, but it seems especially important vs. Francona's Indians. In a close game, he's going to go from the starter->Miller->(sometimes) Shaw->Allen. This is no doubt a formidable combination, and being down by any number of runs here is very bad. But the Indian's pen is a steep decline from there. Bottom line: I know I t sounds absurd to enter a game thinking in terms of entering the 9th inning tied at 1-1 or 0-0. But vs. the Indians, it could be the best strategy. If Bryant, Rizzo, and Zobrist can ding Kluber to death, great; but I don't think it should be the primary plan of attack vs. a curve throwing ace. But if we can get to the 9th in a tie, I really like the chances against the rest of the Indians bullpen with Schwarber, Baez, and Soler awaiting on the bench. And just to be clear, this isn't about benching Javy. But with Zobrist being the hot bat right now, I'd give him the edge. There's also the option of Almora-Heyward-Zobrist across the OF with Javy at 2nd, but I don't know how much of a hit the defense would take. But I should also acknowledge that we're sending out John Lackey, who's a big drop from Lester, Arrieta, and Hendricks. So who knows. It was just a thought.

Just needed something to take my mind of the current goings on. And I know there was a Rule 5 thread or a discussion somewhere, but I'm just going to update it. RULE 5 DRAFT: John Andreoli, OF Pedro Araujo, RHP Jeffrey Baez, OF Yasiel Balaguert, 1B Corey Black, RHP Paul Blackburn RHP (traded) David Bote, INF Cael Brockmeyer, C Stephen Bruno, INF Victor Caratini, C Ben Carhart, INF Roberto Caro, OF Erick Castillo, C Jesus Castillo, RHP (traded) Josh Conway, RHP Rashad Crawford, OF (traded) Taylor Davis, C-1B Andin Diaz, LHP Greyfer Eregua, RHP Luiz Escanio, RHP Bryant Flete, INF Scott Frazier, RHP Robert Garcia, OF David Garner, RHP Jake Hannemann, OF Luis Hernandez, RHP Erick Leal, RHP Danny Lockhart, INF Mark Malave, RHP (ex-C) Dillon Maples, RHP Trey Martin, OF Jonathan Martinez, RHP Ryan McNeil, RHP Alberto Mineo, C Jose Paniagua, 1B-OF Juan Carlos Paniagua, RHP Adonis Paula, INF Jose Paulino, LHP Carlos Penalver, INF Steve Perakslis, RHP Chris Pieters, 1B-OF (ex-LHP) James Pugliese, RHP Bijan Rademacher, OF Will Remillard, C Armando Rivero, RHP Alexander Santana, RHP Tyler Skulina, RHP Daury Torrez, RHP Duane Underwood Jr, RHP Michael Wagner, RHP Rob Zastryzny, LHP* (rostered) Duane Underwood and Victor Caratini are almost certain to be rostered. Rademacher stands a decent chance too. He definitely fits the Guyer/Bour mold, in that it wouldn't surprise me to see him as a productive big leaguer, and would potentially pine for if not for a roster full of better players. But if a roster spot's available, may as well. Corey Black, Armando Rivero, Daury Torrez, and Juan Paniagua each have as much chance of being selected as not, and probably have as much chance of making it through the season on a big league roster as not. Rivero's the most intriguing of the bunch, but as I've been saying about him, as consistent as his minor league numbers have been for us, the fact that he's yet to be mentioned as a possibility for a call up suggests that he's simply not that good. Dillon Maples, Josh Conway, Ryan McNeil, Pedro Araujo: Someone with a Roster space to spare and a Rule 5 burning a hole in their pocket could take a chance. But I'll assume that there will be about 100 guys just like them available in the rule 5. On a side note, I hate that I cling to hope for Maples as a raw, high ceiling, prospect, despite the fact that he's 24, never having sniffed AA, and not particularly impressed at any level. 2016 MLB RULE 55 SECOND CONTRACT PLAYERS: Luis Aquino, RHP (previously released by CLE) Aaron Crow, RHP (previously non-tendered by MIA - Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Elvis Diaz, RHP (previously released by BAL) Jack Leathersich, LHP (previously non-tendered by CUBS) Brian Matusz, LHP (previously released by ATL) Miguel Mejia, RHP (previously released by DET) Drew Rucinski, RHP (previously released by CLE) Nick Sarianides, RHP (previously released by AZ) NOTE: RHP Cole Brocker (previously released by ATL), RHP Yan de la Cruz (previously released by HOU), RHP Miguel Estevez (previously released by CIN), and RHP Robert Severino (previously released by SEA) are Rule 55 Second Contract Players, but they are not eligible for selection in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. I would very much like to hang onto Crow and Learhersich, at least through ST. Additionally, any player eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent (6YFA) post-2016 who signs a 2017 minor league contract or a 2017 minor league successor contract prior to the December 2016 Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection, and any player eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 Second Contract Minor League Free-Agent post-2016 who signs a 2017 minor league contract or a 2017 minor league successor contract prior to the December 2016 Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 5th Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season, and a minor league player who was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the 4th Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season. POST-2016 RULE 55 SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FA: There is nobody in this group that I am concerned about. Gioskar Amaya, INF-C Jeffry Antigua, LHP Scott Barnes, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Frank Batista, RHP Jake Buchanan, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Kelly Dugan, 1B-OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Tim Federowicz, C (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Stephen Fife, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) David Freitas, C Ryan Kalish, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Matt Murton, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Kristopher Negron, IF-OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Manny Parra, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Felix Pena, RHP Joel Peralta, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Starling Peralta, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Juan Carlos Perez, OF-IF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) C. J. Riefenhauser, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs) Jose Rosario, RHP Logan Watkins, INF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs)

If so, it wouldn't be a benching so much as an odd man out. I still firmly believe that the best way to nest these guys is with defense. Put Almora in LF, Heyward in RF. Obviously, this means Russell at SS. Javy may be a better all around 2B than Zobrist, but Zobrist has been our one consistent bat this series. I doubt it will go down like this, but if so, it would be nice to have the bats of Schwarber, Javy, and Soler late in the game. Speaking of the game, whomever's up, drag your ass out of bed, wipe away the bourbon laced tears and, and get to work.

So you're resorting to the most/least X by a World Series winner logic. Well go on, then. I can assure you that there's a lot more where that came from. What are you waiting for? Chop-chop.

Oh for FFS. Stop with the self-absorbed whining. We all think this game blew, of course. But the series is only over after one of two teams wins four times. There's a lot of baseball left. I'm so sick and tired of the woe is me schtick. Don't like it, go be a White Sox fan. David is one of the more optimistic and rational posters on the board. He should be able to get away with a negative thought or two.

Well duh. It's Halloween.

That and we've now seen 88 more pitches from him than we had prior.

Are you sure it wasn't gas?

After seeing what this Indians team is all about, I feel that we can beat them where Boston and Toronto couldn't: with defense. Am I completely wrong in thinking that had Heyward been in RF in the 7th that this game could still be going on? Dong'a are great and all, but if the Indians aren't going to give up a lot of runs, we need to take away theirs. Time to take Heyward off punishment. Time to see what AA can really do with the glove work.

If give the Indians this though; they sure debunk the screw pitching philosophy.

Get ahold of yourself, man. We can't have the smart people losing it.

I hate every minute of this.

Time for some Javy magic. Please?

Make this happen, and all is forgiven.

Make this happen, and all is forgiven.

So who plays 1st if we reach that bridge?

Oh, please don't horsefeathers this up.

1 inning away from insane depression.

They have a pen full of righties. We have Schwarber and Coghlan. That has to be worth something. Can't go out like this.

horsefeathers this game to hell and let it burn for all eternity.