Little Slide Rooter

typical. instead of going for the jugular we kick him in the shin. stupid Cobs.

more please.

For the love of God and the sake of my sanity, PLEASE capitilize on this.

Brett Jackson isnt even a Cub yet.

I would have to disagree, WSR. I actually think the Tigers are where they are because of a bunch of power arms in both the rotation and the bullpen. Their pitching is WAY better than the Indians. The bullpen has several guys who throw some heavy gas. I haven't looked to see who the starters will be the next two days, but Rick Porcello is a highly touted 20-year-old prospect who has done well so far this season, and while Armando Galarraga's stats aren't great, he certainly will be better than anybody the Cubs saw in the Indians series except for Cliff Lee. We are an underdog heading into this series, because I'm not sure we can score enough runs against this overall pitching staff. While I don't think the Tigers have a GREAT offense, they probably don't need to be to take at least two of three from us. Hope I'm wrong. Galarraga and Willis have both been terrible this season. Rodney, Lyon and Seay are good bullpen arms, but the rest have had their struggles. This is definitely a better staff than the Indians, but it's top heavy in the rotation (Verlander, Jackson, Porcello) and in the back end of the pen without much else. The point is we should be ableto hit these guys, even Jackson. It seems that every time we run into a decent pitcher like Lowe or Vazquez people seem to think were doomed, when we have better pitchers, and on paper, just as good of an offense. I understand the attitude of fearing guys like Cliff Lee and Chris Carpenter to be afraid, but not every time we face a decent pitcher.

Edwin Jacksons pretty tough, but at least were missing Verlander. The rest of the Tigers pitching staff doesnt seem to be much better than that of the Indians.

I like Branyans bat a lot, but Mark Teahen or Felipe Lopez is more practical for us.

Maybe a trade for some insurance wouldnt be a bad idea.

During yesterdays game, they mentioned theyd give an update on Aramis' health. Did anyone catch it?

If it were a month ago, and Ramirez was 8 weeks from returning, maybe Id be inclined to trade Marshall for Dero, but as is, hes hopefully about 3 weeks from returning, so theres no point in giving up that much for him. Maybe id move a few smaller chips for Felipe Lopez at this point.

If we offer Seasn Marshall, were giving up too much. If we offer Kevin Hart or Mitch Atkins, its not enough. So wheres the in between? Hart or Atkins+ a few lower pitching prospects? That doesnt sound unreasonable. I would think it'd be based somewhat around a guy like Jay Jackson. Not an elite prospect, but a pretty good one. Randy Wells might also be a guy to base the deal around if the Indians are in love with his start to the year. You have to consider that if the Indians keep him and offer arbitration, he'd be worth a pair of first round picks to them. We'd have to come close to that kind of compensation to get them interested, I'd imagine. I wouldn't give up Marshall or Jackson for DeRosa. I wouldn't either. If I felt comfortable that DeRosa would be a Type A player, I'd be willing to give more, but Jackson or Marshall would be too much for me. How much value would guys like Tony Thomas and Tyler Colvin have? Maybe if Wells puts together a couple more very good starts, we could try something around him and one (or both) of Thomas or Colvin? I'd be far more willing to do something like that - especially if DeRo is able to work his way up to Type A status. Colvin and TT are both decent chips, but Cleveland made it clear that they wany major league ready pitching. However, one of those guys might help us net Teahen of Felipe Lopez.

If we offer Seasn Marshall, were giving up too much. If we offer Kevin Hart or Mitch Atkins, its not enough. So wheres the in between? Hart or Atkins+ a few lower pitching prospects? That doesnt sound unreasonable. I would think it'd be based somewhat around a guy like Jay Jackson. Not an elite prospect, but a pretty good one. Randy Wells might also be a guy to base the deal around if the Indians are in love with his start to the year. You have to consider that if the Indians keep him and offer arbitration, he'd be worth a pair of first round picks to them. We'd have to come close to that kind of compensation to get them interested, I'd imagine. I wouldn't give up Marshall or Jackson for DeRosa. But again, what is the in between? I agree that Marshall or Jackson are too much for a rent a player, and Mitch Atkins is pretty much worthless. If wed left Kevin Hart in Iowa and let him have a few more starts, if he kept it up, he may have had more value. Id rather not give up Wells for a rental either.

While it was an all around poor offensive effort, is it pretty safe to say that the play of the game was Fukus 1st pitch tailor made double play in the 1st?

Id definitely take Lopez as a cheap platoon partner for Fontenot, and we know Lou loves those switch hitters.

So when do we play the Indians again?

I guess the offense deserved the night off after the last 4 games.

J Jax through 5 with 0 runs 5Ks 1 hit and no BBs. Iowa?

So was it the Indians pitching staff that was giving us the illusion of a good offense? Oh how I miss the Indians already.

Are we the only team that cant get Franceur out anymore?

Vazquez is a solid number 3 starter, but you keep playing him up like hes some kind of ace. We can get some runs off him, and hoepfully Demp can find the K zone.

Anyone know if Aramis took BP today and how it weant?

Damn, thats like us losing Aramis, Soriano, Lee, Harden, Dempster, and Marmol all at once, and of course, its all just in time to face the Cardinals.

I don't. 2008 Soto, definitely. 2009 Soto, not so much.

Fuku is essentially a full timer, but they bring in Reed not so much because Fukus bad vs. lefties but because Reeds so good vs. lefties. Id assume that if Reed does need DL time, Freel would just be brought back up,or else Taguchi would be called on because hes the only righty of the Iowa bunch, aside from Dubois, who would basically be like having another Fox or Hoff patrolling the outfield.

I wouldnt give up Jackson for Dero. Maybe a Casey or 2, but Jax is too good to give up for a rental. How about Hart or Atkins, 1 Casey and Reinhard or Stevens.