Welcome to Tribe Talk, a season-long look at the trials and tribulations of the Cleveland Indians from the views of the loyal Tribe fans here on Bleacher Report.
I would like to thank my fellow Indians community leader, Nino Colla, and newcomer to Tribe Talk, Samantha Bunten. This discussion is not just meant for the included Indians fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below.
This week we detail the Indians offensive struggles and what moves could be done with the immediate roster. Also, of note is the Indians final trip to Yankee stadium. There have been many memories there, and we chose some of our favorites.
Without further ado, let's talk Tribe!
Another week has passed and the Indians are still struggling to score runs. Eric Wedge has now resorted to toying with the lineup to try and jump-start the team. What would be your batting lineup as of right now with Hafner slumping?
Samantha Bunten: I've worked out a good number of hypothetical lineups in my head already this spring, but at this point I can't help but wonder if maybe the best solution to the problem is just to leave things alone for now. Messing with the order doesn't seem to be helping. The shakeup hasn't ignited the team's flailing offense, and now I might even venture that the inconsistency is making this team's already fragile ability to execute even shakier.
Tne exception: I would put Hafner behind Martinez. Even though Pronk is struggling, I still say he is a better choice to follow Victor than Peralta if we don’t want opponents taking the bat out of Martinez’ hands. As an opposing pitcher, I’m likely to walk Martinez and look for a double play ball from Peralta . With Hafner behind Martinez, I don’t think it’s that simple. Sure, Hafner is struggling, but if he gets ahold of something, Victor will be one more runner on base who will score. I think Martinez will see more hittable pitches with Hafner following him, and as our best hitter, we don’t ever want to deny Victor the opportunity to bat.
Nino Colla: I've been very critical about the lineup Wedge has put out, but I support him making changes.
CF- Grady Sizemore
RF- David Dellucci
1B- Ryan Garko
C- Victor Martinez
DH- Travis Hafner
SS- Jhonny Peralta
RF- Franklin Gutierrez
2B- Asdrubal Cabrera
3B- Casey Blake
17 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Bob Salyer about 1 year ago
Great job Michael with Tribe Talk. This was the first time I have seen this as I am new to this site but it was very informative as well as interesting. I love to hear what the real fans are thinking and to get different opinions on specific questions. Thanks
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Michael Taylor about 1 year ago
Thanks! I think it is a fun way for everyone here in the Indians Community to get to know one another and discuss the weekly happenings. If you want in on one, just let me know. I try to get 4-5 people per week in this to keep a decent length, yet promote discussion among the rest of the community.
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Bob Salyer about 1 year ago
As far as a lineup, right now against a lefty like Pettite tonight,
Carroll, Gutierrez, Sizemore, Martinez, Garko, Peralta, Shoppach, Francisco & Marte.
Against RHP, Carroll, Dellucci(for now), Sizemore, Martinez, Garko, Hafner, Gutierrez/Francisco, Cabrera(SS) & Marte.
Changes: Grady to # 3, playing Carroll and Marte for a couple of weeks to see what happens, Carroll and Cabrera to play DP combo with sinkerball pitchers in the game, three way swing with our corner OF'ers, and benching Hafner for now against lefties and inserting Shoppach. Wedge won't like this but Blake becomes a super utility man for moves late in the game, if needed. May I add, Eric, no PH duties for Blake, just PR and PF appearances.
This offense does not need just a tweak but a major overhaul. Obtaining a guy like Reggie Willits would make things a lot easier and better and makes this lineup even very flexible.
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Eric Lawhead about 1 year ago
I agree with Bob, with moving Grady out of the lead-off spot. I believe I just wrote a comment on Bob's most recent article saying the same thing about moving Grady out of there. He can drive in 70+ runs from the lead-off spot, why not let him hit 3rd or 5th and drive in 100. I'd go with
1. Carroll
2. Peralta
3. Martinez
4. Garko
5. Sizemore
6. Hafner
7. Dellucci
8. Franciso
9. Marte
Putting Hafner behind Grady will let Hafner see better pitches. Yes it may detour Grady for a little bit, but once Hafner gets it going, which I still believe he will, they won't be able to pitch around Grady to get to Travis. And then the lineup is scary.
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Nino Colla about 1 year ago
If we do move Grady it won't be to the five hole. That is just not smart..
I don't see how putting Grady in front of Hafner would do that for Pronk. If you wanted that effect you would have to put Hafner in FRONT of Grady in my opinion. Even though Pronk is struggling teams will not pitch away from Grady to get to Hafner, at least I don't think they would.
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Eric Lawhead about 1 year ago
Why wouldn't they pitch around Grady to get to Hafner? Hafner is batting a whopping .273 with runners on 1st. If you put Hafner in front of Grady like your saying there is more of a chance of bad things happening for the opposing team. Grady is hitting .313 with runners on 1st with 4 HR. If I'm a team and I see an opportunity to get around either Grady, if you do my suggestiong batting Sizemore 5th and Hafner 6th, or getting around Martinez batting 3rd and Hafner batting 4th. I would take my chances with Hafner. He has not proven himself this year with runners on base, like a 4 hitter should do. Take the chance with the Sizemore 5 and Hafner 6 and get Hafner better pitches to hit. That's what all of this about, getting Travis a few more fastballs and a little less breaking stuff.
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Bob Salyer about 1 year ago
I enjoy others throwing their ideas and thoughts on lineups.
A few thoughts about your proposed lineup: I am not sure that Peralta would do well batting 2nd. Most guys batting 2nd need to be able to give themselves up for stolen base and hit and run attempts and I am not real sure he would blossom in that setting.
Sizemore would be ideal for # 3 because we could still use his speed. You put him between Martinez or Garko and Hafner, you basically take the wheels away from Grady. Also, I think that it is important to have Grady and Hafner not bat back to back, with both being lefties. I would actually keep Hafner batting 6th or 7th until he shows signs of returning to his old form.
But again, some of my thoughts. It never hurts to look at and discuss different lineup options.
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Nino Colla about 1 year ago
Because once they get Grady out, then they don't have to pitch fastballs to Hafner.. If Grady is behind Hafner then they will pitch him(Hafner) fastballs because they don't want to deal with Sizemore following him.
That's how it's always worked.. Why do you think David Ortiz became the monster that he was in Boston? He had Manny batting behind him, he got all sorts of stuff to hit because they didn't want Manny to kill them.
Bob is spot on with the lefty thing as well. I wouldn't even consider them batting back to back because of it, especially when you have a right handed Garko and a switch hitting Martinez to toy with.
Also if you start moving Grady down that far, you are taking away at bats from him, which is just not smart.
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Michael Taylor about 1 year ago
Samantha, I remember that game now, what a playoff that was. The most memorable moment of the series was Sandy Alomar's HR of Rivera, but that was an important game in NY, and with the flamethrowing kid Jaret Wright making his first postseason start...I can't believe that slipped my mind.
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Samantha Bunten about 1 year ago
Funny you mention that because when I first saw "Favorite Indians - Yankees Moment", the Alomar HR was the first thing that came to my mind. That definitely tops my list for my favorite Tribe - Yankees moment at the Jake. I remember sitting there watching right before Sandy hit the HR, thinking I'd finally lost my mind because I was convinced that Rivera might actually blow the save. I think I went into shock when it actually happened.
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Noah Klarr about 1 year ago
i have a poster in my room of the scoreboard in yankee stadium from August 31, 2004. that is the game the tribe scored 22 runs @ yankee stadium that Nino mentioned...
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Scott Miles about 1 year ago
My favorite moment, and one they just replayed on STO...Bartolo Colon's 1-hitter back in 2000 where he was ohsoclose to a perfect game. After that game I wrote a note and put it up on our fridge at home guaranteeing that the Indians, led by ace Bartolo Colon, would win a World Series before I graduated high school.
I was 13 at the time. I'm now days away from turning 21 and a semester away from graduating college. Still no World Series. Maybe this year.
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Lori Grim about 1 year ago
Wow, I just found Bleacher Report and Tribe Talk...I'm so glad that I did!! I've already added an RSS feed to notify me of new articles about the Tribe and anything from Michael. And I have to agree - Game 2 of the 1997 ALDS was amazing. It was the night before my wedding and my entire wedding party gathered at a local BW-3 to watch the game. The place went wild and, needless to say, the entire wedding party was hungover but very happy at the wedding the next day!
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Michael Taylor about 1 year ago
sounds like a great time! Glad to have you aboard BR and thanks for adding the RSS!
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Samantha Bunten about 1 year ago
Michael, I'm still a big Manny Ramirez fan too despite his defection to Boston, so I'm glad you included that in your best Tribe moments at Yankee stadium. It's a shame Manny isn't an Indian anymore (for many reasons of course), but in this case because I wish we could do a "favorite Manny moment". I'll never forget the game winning home run off Eckersley, and the replay that showed a stunned Eck saying simply, "Wow".
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Michael Taylor about 1 year ago
I laughed watching last night the replays they showed and told my wife that we put most of those into our article. I know I saw the Game 2 and Manny moment replayed last night during the broadcast.
another Manny fan, cool, not to many still like Manny. I agree that by far is my most favorite Manny moment in an Indians uniform. Though there are so many to choose from, maybe we'll do a "Manny being Manny" theme one week.
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Nino Colla about 1 year ago
How about number 6 and skinny man Jim Thome hitting his first career jack at a very empty Yankee Stadium? My jaw dropped when I saw Jimmy like that, haha.
I still respect Manny and I love his antics out there.. Can't say he is my favorite but at least he didn't go to a team that I can't stand or anything.
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