Tribe Talk: Eagerly Awaiting Fausto Carmona's Return, Or Dreading It?

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Samantha Bunten: I wouldn’t mind seeing David Huff stick around for the second half, as I think he has done a very solid job of stepping up to a challenge he never should have had to face at this stage of his career.

I would prefer that Trevor Crowe stay in AAA, as he looks consistently helpless facing major league pitching and could benefit from a chance to further hone his skills in Columbus for at least the rest of this season.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Jordan Brown get a call-up in the second half, as I think he has earned the right to an audition and he has less to lose by being promoted (potentially) too early at this point than a guy like LaPorta, whose career would greatly benefit from more time in the minors.

The player who I think would have the most positive impact if called up is, without question, pitcher Hector Rondon. However, I am absolutely not in favor of making that move.

If the Indians were in the playoff race, I would be all for calling up a pitcher who might not be truly ready if I thought he could help the team. In that scenario, the Tribe could justify calling up Rondon in a move similar to what the Rays did with David Price last year.

Alas, there will be no playoff hunt for the Tribe this year, and therefore no reason to fast track a player who began the season in AA ball to the majors when he isn’t fully formed as a pitcher. The Indians’ winning percentage is under .400; this means there is absolutely no way to justify making a move that could damage a player’s whole career in order to potentially eke out three or four additional wins.

Dave Wiley: I'd like to see the mascot for the Lake County Captains promoted to the bigs. Additionally, they have a clown that makes the best balloon animals I have ever seen. You promote those two guys, I'm thinking the rest of the balloon world/mascot population would have to take the Indians seriously. It’s an opportune time anyhow with the San Diego Chicken considering retirement.

As far as players, things like their number of remaining options are more the determining factors in who goes up and down than actual ability in a lot of cases. If the Indians farm system is as stacked as it has always claimed to be, just move the Indians down to AAA and move the AAA team up. See who does better.

The Coop: I don’t really think I’m qualified to give an opinion on which minor leaguers I’d like to see called up to the bigs. I don’t have much time to follow the affiliates other than to check out an occasional headline or two. That being said, I really feel like it’s important for the guys who are currently on the major league roster—and the guys who will be soon—to just take the bull by the horns and step it up.

It seems like none of the guys who have gotten a chance with the big league club have done anything to warrant staying. Over the years, guys like Shoppach, Francisco, Crowe, Barfield, Marte, and Huff have been boring and uninspiring, if not just bad.

I’m looking for young guys who are going to play hard and consistently produce when they have the chance. I’m sick of chalking up certain players’ performances to “he’s young” or “he needs experience.” I want guys who are going to man up and get the job done, no excuses. The rest of them can stay in the minors.

5. Fun Question of the week: The 2009 season has gone so badly in Cleveland that even the most blindly optimistic Tribe fans have given up hope for a miraculous comeback that lands the Indians in the playoffs.

That said, what team or teams will you be pulling for down the stretch and in the post season and why?

Who would you never, ever root for?

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