Tribe Talk: Cleveland Indians Set For the "Battle Of Ohio"

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 this week’s participants, Zach Martin, Scott Miles, and David Wiley, for pitching in.

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 explosion against the Blue Jays, and discuss what to do with Aaron Laffey upon Jake Westbrooks return from the DL. Also of note is a discussion detailing our favorite, or not so favorite, Indians broadcasters.

Without further ado, let's talk Tribe!

How great was it to watch the offense explode Saturday night for 12 runs against such quality pitching as the Blue Jays have? Is this the beginning of the offensive rebound?

Nino Colla: It was pretty great, and the fact that I was there made it better. I tell you what though, I thought the game wasn't ever going to end, and it got real boring sitting around.

Anyway, I do think it is the beginning, but I actually think Friday night kind of kick-started them. Getting that big inning off of Roy Halladay in the seventh might have given them some confidence. Either way, I think the offense will start hitting a little bit better now.

Zach Martin: It was awesome. It feels like the 1995 and 1997 Tribe when we go off on someone. I sure hope it is.

Scott Miles: It was late in the first quarter of the Cavs-Celtics Game Three, and the Indians had more runs than the Celtics had points. Credit both the Cavs D and the Tribe O for that.

But yes, coupled with the six-run inning against Roy Halladay and some positives in the Yankees series, it seems like things might be turning around.

And how important is Grady Sizemore to this offense? When he's hitting the ball, it just seems like the rest of the lineup comes alive. He had five RBI and is 6-for-14 in the last three games. If he keeps getting on base and hitting the ball with some power, we're going to be all right. Well, as long as that Hafner guy gets something going, too.

Michael Taylor: It may not be the beginning of the breakout, yet. I would like to see it sustained for a few more games before feeling more confident about it. The Indians still have only had big innings, and have not been consistently getting on base and scoring runs.

It has been one big six-run inning and nothing else. However, I can't complain, at least they are scoring runs now. Hopefully this 12-run outburst will get their confidence up to continue on.

David Wiley: I don't know if its the beginning or not, but the law of averages says that at some point the Indians' bats have to break out. When they do, I think it will be like what happens on the toilet after a night of chicken wings and beer. Here's hoping that baseball's offensive equivalent of wing night comes soon.

The Indians shipped out Jason Michaels for the infamous "Player to be named", and called up Ben Francisco. Was this a wake-up call for the guys swinging the bats to start hitting or else you may be next?

Nino Colla: I think Francisco sort of sparked the team. He's had some big hits so far in his little time with the club, and they might have fed off that. It certainly gave a few of them a little bit of a notice that they better shape up or they'll get shipped out.

The only one that I think has to worry about getting replaced is Asdrubal Cabrera. The rest are either there for the long haul, or will have some more time to get themselves on track before a move is made. If Barfield starts hitting (even though he is hitting better than Cabrera right now), and Cabrera doesn't, he could get replaced.

Zach Martin: I think it was a good idea. Michaels didn't do much, and it was good to get Francisco up, because he is a really good player.

Scott Miles: I was at the Pirates-Braves game Friday night with some friends. Michaels came up to pinch-hit against Tom Glavine with the bases loaded, and struck out looking on three pitches. Some of the folks in Pittsburgh shouted "Send him back to Cleveland!"—to which we responded, "We don't want him!"

I think this was a definite wake-up call because the team just seemed so complacent. While it wasn't a major move, it was a good time to say, "Look, we need to get some type of urgency going here or we're going to be in trouble this season."

Plus, Francisco is a better player than Michaels anyway. I have no problem with giving the veterans a chance to play, but if they're not producing, then it's time to move on. Good move, and one that probably should have been made a week or two earlier.

Michael Taylor: I kind of think so. It has to be a little difficult for the guys to see one of their teammates from the past few seasons get shipped out. You just never know. Hopefully the young Francisco, who looks a little like Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will give them a boost, as Gutierrez did a year ago around this time.

He really does not excel in any one thing, but is definitely an all-around player who can get on base, hit a few home runs, and maybe steal a few bases. The Indians need some more team speed, and hopefully he can provide that.

David Wiley: Ben Francisco has been a spark in the Indians offense. He is the only player on the roster with a batting average over .300 besides Victor Martinez. Francisco is also a speed burner and a threat to steal. If he hits .250, he will be an offensive spark on the team at this point.

I've always liked a lot of speed on the base paths. Francisco compliments Grady Sizemore and Jamey Carroll, making this one of the faster Indians rosters in a long time. RUN FORREST, RUN!! It was a blast watching the Tribe tear up the base paths against the Yankees.

The Indians travel to Cincinnati this weekend to begin interleague play and renew the "Battle of Ohio" with the Reds. Do you see this as a great rivalry? If so, what is the most intriguing part of this matchup?

Nino Colla: I don't really hate the Reds, so I don't see it as a very intense one. It is nice to face them every year. I'm sorry, but this matchup kind of lost its luster after the rain out on Sunday. We don't get to see C.C. Sabathia swing the stick. To me it is a huge disappointment that we have to wait a little longer. In all seriousness though, I have nothing. Like I said, it is a nice little rivalry, but it isn't very heated like it is with the Tigers.

Zach Martin: To me it is. It's bragging rights, to show who is the better team in Ohio.

Scott Miles: I do enjoy this rivalry, especially after spending the last three years of my life in Columbus where there's a nice split between Reds and Indians fans. Reds fans—actually all Cincy sports fans—are so cute because they get so excited over one or two wins. It's adorable. All you hear is "Carson Palmer this" or "Edison Volquez that"—I like it.

I didn't do the research on this, but I have to imagine that this series is about even since interleague play started. It seems like every year is a 3-3 split in the six-game set.

I like some of the moves that the Reds have made to get younger, but they need to finish the rebuilding process by getting rid of Griffey and Dunn for more prospects.

But what I like the most about this matchup is the Tribe's pitchers getting to hit down in Cincy. I'll always remember Dave Burba going deep on his former team for the first Indians home run by a pitcher since 1970-whatever. I know CC's gone deep, and I think or two other guys have as well. Great times down in the National League!

Michael Taylor: A few years ago I really got into it, but now I really just view it as another interleague series that we happen to double-up on. It may have been because I was going to school in Dayton, where there are tons of Reds fans who were fun to razz, but what really make this a rivalry anyway? There is no history between the teams, and the recent history that has developed has not been that exciting.

Over the past decade or so since interleague play began, the Indians have really been the better team year-in and year-out. Even during the Indians' down seasons, the Reds still were bad and had a better record maybe once.

It's like going to play with your little brother and beating him every time. Only once since interleague play began have the Reds won a season series against the Indians, 1997. The Indians are 29-22 all-time in this series. Until the Reds step it up, I don't see it forming into a rivalry.

David Wiley: Being from Ohio, I'd have to think the area around Columbus is abuzz with Indians versus Reds, since that particular area, being the Oreo center between two baseball cookie outer pieces, is pretty much split down the middle for Cleveland or Cinci. It’s like that in football as well.

No, I do not think Cleveland/Cincinnati is a great rivalry like the Cubs and the White Sox, or The Yankees and the Mets. I would not even put it in the top five as far as that goes, but it is interesting to watch the two square-off. I like interleague play in a general sense, but I do not think Cleveland/Cinci is anymore interesting than the basic interleague premise in and of itself.

Player Debate of the Week: Aaron Laffey—Called up when Jake Westbrook went on the DL, Laffey has impressed beyond expectations since his promotion. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 14 innings, lowering his ERA to 1.83. If this keeps up, what would be your move when Westbrook is healthy and ready to return to the rotation?

Nino Colla: Jake Westbrook takes back his spot in the rotation. This isn't last year where there has been someone in the rotation that has struggled enough to where you can send them down. Jake shouldn't lose his spot due to injury (where would you put him anyway?).

Laffey has to go back down and continue to pitch every fifth time out for Buffalo. His time will come. The only possible move would be if Paul Byrd struggled for a long period of time, and it became unbearable. I don't think that will happen. But Laffey should be on standby because you never know when an injury will happen again.

Zach Martin: I would send C.C. down because he doesn't have his crap together. He needs to know that he needs to start getting better. A 2-5 record is not Indians pitching.

Scott Miles: Has Aaron Laffey even allowed any hits in the first five or six innings of his last three starts? Maybe one or two? He's been nothing short of great in the rotation. That being said, you have to give Westbrook a shot when he gets back to health. You can't punish a guy for getting hurt—just ask Wally Pipp about that!

Unfortunately, the Indians can't use a six or seven-man rotation, but as they say, you can never have enough starting pitching. If Westbrook isn't 100 percent healthy or if someone else goes down, we have depth to replace them, and that's a great sign for the organization.

Michael Taylor: Westbrook would definitely come back into the rotation, and unfortunately for Laffey, he would be sent back to Buffalo. Though with the way he has impressed again this year, he should go back with his head held up high. He has done exactly what has been asked and has shown he can handle the job.

It's just a matter of time before he is in the rotation for good. Whether that is as an injury fill-in again or taking someone’s place that struggles will be seen. He is the first in line.

Just think back to all of the Indians' great hitting-teams with lackluster pitching, and just imagine what it would have been like to have this pitching then...It would have been awesome. But you have to have one or the other in this market, and I'm glad we have the pitching.

You are never out of a ball game when you pitch like the Indians have the past couple of seasons. Having so much pitching depth is a great problem to have. We still have Jeremy Sowers and Adam Miller who are nearly ready as well.

David Wiley: This is a nice problem to have. Laffey is 1-2 with a 1.63 ERA. Westbrook posts similar numbers at 1-2, but a higher 2.73 ERA. Westbrook has more experience. Laffey is a lefty. The more lefties the better. Based on usual Indians philosophy, Westbrook will be back in the rotation after his 15-day disabled stint, but Laffey has definately shown he can hang with the big boys. I have to think that leaves Byrd and Westbrook on short leashes with Laffey in the wings.

Fun Question of the Week: Whether you are watching the Indians on SportsTime Ohio or listening to the radio, which announcer is your favorite to listen to? Least favorite?

Nino Colla: Thankfully we have a good cast and crew doing the games on both television and radio. I'm glad Old Man Saunders is gone, and Matt Underwood is doing the television side.

My favorite guy has to be Hamilton, as someone who would love to work in radio, Hammy does everything well, even when he gets a little too excited. Plus he is a homer, but not too bias; I strongly feel the head radio-guy for any team needs to be a homer for the team.

Mike Hegan kills me, not my most favorite guy, he just kind of drags along. Manning is top notch in my opinion; you couldn't find anyone better.

The one guy I just cannot stand is Jim Donovan. His voice ticks me off, and the way he pronounces "Ichiro" annoys me to no end. I could do without Jimmy, and I think I might have struck a cord, because I believe a lot of fans like him.

Zach Martin: I watch Baseball Tonight. I dont get STO

Scott Miles: OK, anyone who doesn't say Tom Hamilton is their favorite here should be investigated. Who doesn't love Hammy? "SWUNG ON AND DRILLED...DEEP LEFT FIELD...AWAYYYYYYY BACK...GONE!!!" God, I got goose bumps just writing that!!!

Least favorite, hands down, is Matt Underwood. The guy makes at least 10 errors per game, giving out wrong names, mispronouncing names, wrong stats—he's just not that good.

You can just tell Rick Manning tries his best not to boil over and punch him at times. I liked Underwood a lot when he was the sports anchor on Channel 5, and he needs to go back to that because he's just not a good play-by-play announcer.

Michael Taylor: My favorite has to be Tom Hamilton. He is so fun to listen to. You can tell by the inflection of his voice how angered or excited he is about something that happens. That is why I like him so much. He will be brutally honest about something, and even bash the Indians, yet stay professional in how he handles it. Plus, I have always been partial to his "Swing and a Drive...." home run calls.

I also love listening to Rick Manning, he is like Hammy in the same respects, but his views come from an analyst’s perspective. I definitely feel for him at times with the two guys they stick in the booth with him. He has to somehow keep productive conversations going after Underwood and Donovan say something stupid.

Both Underwood and Donovan just come across as kids in the booth. They don't add very much in-depth analysis and make very basic statements. I can tolerate Underwood and his "Souvenir City" line, but Donovan has to be the worst. He should go back to just doing Browns games and the sports news during Channel 3 news.

David Wiley: I'm not really particular to any of the announcers for the Indians. They are steady. They aren't annoying, and they aren't particularly exceptional either. They allow you to enjoy the game of baseball. I guess that is basically what you look for in an announcer. I've heard better, and I've heard worse.

Rick Manning's take on things is usually pretty good, so if I was stranded on a boat with a bunch of Indians announcers and had to keep one, I suppose I would pick Manning. Not really a ringing endorsement, but that's about all I've got.