Cleveland Browns Progress Report: Week 7
October 25, 2016Invisible Rivalry: 100 Years of Cubs vs Indians
October 25, 2016The World Series is nearly upon us, and a certain team from the Southern shores of Lake Erie will be partaking in the festivities. The Cleveland Indians are a collection of intriguing characters who have shown an innate ability to overcome substantial obstacles throughout the entire season. It is the collective talent that has brought the Tribe to baseball’s biggest stage as there is not one dominant star player who outshines the rest. And, unlike the Chicago Cubs with Aroldis Chapman, there is not a player whom fans have to consciously rationalize their rooting interest. As such, there are a multitude of favorite players a fan might have. So, how do you pick yours?
Well, whether you prefer cheering on a dominant pitcher, soaring home runs, all-out-hussle guys, or prefer to be among the first on board the bandwagon of a player whose name might forever become associated with this World Series, the Tribe has options. Here is how you might go about choosing.
Starting Rotation
- Corey Kluber
- Josh Tomlin
- Trevor Bauer
- Ryan Merritt
Are you upset by bat flips, demonstrative athletes, and the pure emotion many show on the field? Do you miss the stoic professionalism of years gone by? Well, Kluber will stare into the frightened soul of a hitter, while not making a singular expression regardless of the plate appearance ending in a hit or strikeout. Strikeouts being more likely.
Any cowboy or those who enjoy cowboys will be down here. This Texan has the country charm that lures hitters into a false sense of security with a fastball rarely topping 90 miles per hour. However, just as those friendly Texans offering some nice sweet tea on the old, creaky porch to trespassers, hitters better mind themselves on the way out when the shotgun makes an appearance with their backs turned. Oh, and Tomlin is starting his game in Chicago because he is a pitcher who can rake too.
Are you a nerd? Do you enjoy learning about the physics of throwing a baseball or the anatomical limitations of the human body? Perhaps you are more into playing with drones or doing some high-level video editing. Yes, Bauer has you covered.
Get ready to swoon. Merritt is the pick for any hopeless romantic that believes every wedding should be a fairy tale come true. Indians fans showered baby-faced Merritt’s doorstep with gifts for his upcoming nuptials to show their appreciation for an ALCS win. If he wins a World Series game, he might be treated to the full Cinderella wedding or someone should at least open up a Honey Fund account for the couple.1
https://vine.co/v/5MtBlAtK65P
Infield
- Jason Kipnis
- Francisco Lindor
- Michael Martinez
- Mike Napoli
- Jose Ramirez
- Carlos Santana
Here’s the pick for all the class clowns in the crowd (note: not scary clowns). The former dirtbag was given that nickname for his propensity to get his uniform dirty, but he needs a new one as he’s among the best players in MLB at keeping things loose. Kip jokingly hid from Roughned Odor of the Rangers during the season, and he even teasingly chased Lindor off the field after a key out during the ALCS.2
Just to see you smile, I’d do anything that you want me to do cuz when all is said and done; I’d never count the cost. It’s worth all that’s lost. Just to see you smile.
You cannot prove that song was not written for Francisco Lindor. And, if it wasn’t, then it should have been. All other love songs could be attributed to watching Lindor and the pure joy that he exudes.
M-Mart is the guy for anyone who loves the underdog on the underdog team whose sole purpose might be as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner. Of course, that means there is an elevated chance he catches the final out or scores the clinching run. A sneaky pick that could pay dividends.
Don’t get cute with your pick. Go with the most boisterous party animal, the biggest home run hitter, the loudest persona, and among the most generous on the roster (once again, #PartyAtNapolis raised over $125,000 for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation). A vote for Napoli is a vote for America (or something).
All the cool kids are hip to J-Ram. He plays with a confidence that belies his age. His helmet refuses to stay affixed to his head as it wants the world to see the beautiful phoenix of hair that sits beneath. Oh, and he happened to be among the best overall players on the team in 2016 too.
Any lovers of controversy and debate will gravitate towards ‘Los. His batting average and designated hitter status have left some in the fanbase to criticize him. Many others have noted his advanced statistics show his true value and have started to point out that he will soon be a Top 20 hitter in Cleveland Indians franchise history. Just be prepared to argue the point should you pick him.
https://vine.co/v/5vhTFLWOixa
Outfield
- Lonnie Chisenhall
- Coco Crisp
- Brandon Guyer
- Tyler Naquin
- Rajai Davis
Might as well call him hipster Lindor. He’s better in the field than the plate, but he is steady at both. He won’t be talked about like Lindor though and people will give you a funny look when you say he’s your favorite. He is a player that every team wants but few fans crave. The perfect choice for those wanting to be different, while still having a chance to rub it in everyone’s faces when he comes through. Oh, and yes, he has plenty of different facial hair looks.
Nostalagia lovers don’t even need to be told to fall in line with Crisp. Being part of the team that setup the Tribe’s last run of contention, Crisp has come back to the Indians as an elder statesman who can still play well enough to help the team. And, do not expect a Joel Skinner stop sign to become a problem with this wayword son as his theatrics this postseason have included clearing the outfield wall.
He’s just a Guy-er waiting for an opportunity to contribute. All those wallflowers from the school dances who stare out onto the floor just hoping someone will call upon them to join in the fray will be able to empathize.
Tom Hanks ended the most recent SNL with a “Go Tribe!” call and one could not help but think he was speaking directly to Napalm Naquin as he bears a striking resemblence to Kit Keller from A League of Their Own. No, obviously not in physical features, but moreso in their approach at the plate. Naquin’s abject inability to be able to hit a high fastball might have very well led to a similar conversation as below with his hitting coach.
Ty Van Burkleo: Lay off the high ones!
Tyler Naquin: I like the high ones!
Ty Van Burkleo: Mule!
Tyler Naquin: Nag!
Any fan who is closer to retirement than promotion, but knows they can still hang with the young professionals in their field will appreciate Davis. 36 year olds are not supposed to lead the American League in stolen bases (43 SB, 6 CS), but Davis isn’t just any old ballplayer.
https://vine.co/v/5H2AHe3PrKH
Catchers
- Roberto Perez
- Yan Gomes
That’s My Boy! is a phrase that rings out upon Perez making a positive impact as nuance-lovers have found their man. Perez is so much more than the below average hitter his stat line reads. He calls a beautiful sequence of pitches to keep the hitters off balance, he moves around enough to ensure the batter does not know what is coming next, and he frames each pitch to help influence the umpire into calling those throws on the edges of the perceived zone as strikes. While not obvious to all, Perez might be the most important player on the Indians.
Redemption stories always make for a good read, so how about this one. A 2014 Silver Slugger battles through a variety of ailments and injuries, but his mere presense scares off an All-Star player at his position from accepting a trade to the Tribe. Sadly, just as he prepares to end his rehab, a ball glances off his hand causing his season to be over. Except, wait! Gomes refuses to accept that fate. He convinces the team that he can play and even hits a home run at the end of the regular season to prove his health. The World Series game in Chicago is on the line late in the game and manager Terry Francona needs a pinch-hitter, his eyes hit a laser-focused Gomes and…
https://vine.co/v/5vuWnIXibeD
Bullpen
- Andrew Miller
- Cody Allen
- Bryan Shaw
- Dan Otero
- Mike Clevinger
- Zach McAllister
- Jeff Manship
Anyone who is simply a fan of Cleveland in general will be on board with Miller. Nothing says “This is Cleveland” more than the best player on the team being a middle reliever.
Allen has the best odds of recording the final out of an Indians World Series win as the team’s closer, so that is always fun. Plus, he is a fiery temperament with a fastball that carries even more heat. Add in the adrenaline of the World Series and there is bound to be some fun.
Shaw is the middle child of the Tribe. He’s plenty good enough that he’d be considered a great reliever or even a closer on many teams throughout MLB. But, with Allen and Miller in Cleveland, Shaw’s meltdowns are far more publicized than his successes. Still, there is no truth to the rumor that he went off pouting “Well, all day long I hear how great Miller is at this or how wonderful Miller did that! Miller, Miller, Miller!”
If Shaw is the middle child, then Otero must have been adopted. He was in the Miller role before Miller came onto the team at the trade deadline. And, Otero did just fine with the fireman role. He’s capable of pitching a clean inning himself or helping his fellow pitchers get out of a jam.
Clevinger was kind enough to write this one for me. Mmmmmm-Bop.
https://twitter.com/Mike_Anthony13/status/790567258456219648
Everyone has a cousin who has the talent (mid-90s fastball) but just never quite put it together. You aren’t ever sure if you’ll hear he moved back in with his parents, got in trouble with the law, or finally figured life out and has become way more successful than you could even achieve. Or, maybe you are that cousin. If so, cheer on Zac-Attack.
Ron Burgundy once described diversity as Manship taking the mound or something similar. I never quite get those quotes correct. Expect that anytime diversity happens in the World Series that the game will be in hand (for one team or another). The lack of tense moments due to the game outcome having been decided will help those who need to avoid stress.
https://vine.co/v/5O5hZrXhaYF
Wild Card
- Danny Salazar
Salazar coming out of the bullpen late in a game in Cleveland with a black, leather jacket and those Rick Vaughn glasses would break the internet. Fans of life need to cheer for it to happen. If he happens to strike out an important batter to seal the World Series and J-Ram punches him in the face during the celebration, then the prophecies of Major League will have been fulfilled.
https://vine.co/v/5ZxQATVgxva
How did the Indians create such a deep and likeable team?
Over nine years of painstaking work, effort, and, yes, luck, is how the Indians reached the World Series. That level of intentional system development is also why when one man goes down with an injury, they have another waiting in the wings.
The Indians change started in the year 2007 when Mark Shapiro grew disgusted with the drafting and development program.3 He decided to dare to go all-in on a progressive movement from college that had not yet hit MLB in earnest. He gave Ross Atkins the keys and said to go and find the best available men for the job. Brad Grant was hired and instructed to find the best “tools” players he could in the draft. Carter Hawkins was hired and told to develop the heck out of those tools. And, they continue to hire the best baseball coaches to populate their system such as when they tabbed Matt Blake of Elite Pitching this past offseason.
MLB has taken notice. The three most recent general manager hirings have come from the Indians front office pipeline (Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and San Diego Padres).4 The Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball organizations also are led by men hired directly away from the Indians. And, those are just some of the more recent hirings that do not account for the people such as Paul DePodesta and Jon Hart that also first achieved success with the Tribe.
So, no matter who you pick for your favorite Cleveland Indian player, you cannot go wrong. And, the front office has worked hard to ensure that your decision won’t become any easier in the years to come. Now, it’s about time for the World Series to begin. Go Tribe!
https://vine.co/v/5v6IiEIB6dZ
- Don’t tell me Merritt didn’t pitch enough innings to qualify for the win. This is MY story. [↩]
- Here’s hoping that the ankle injury he sustained celebrating doesn’t keep him out of the World Series. [↩]
- Though you will never get him or anyone else to publicly admit such, his actions of completely changing everything about the MiLB system indicates it through action. [↩]
- Padres new GM came directly from the Boston Red Sox but they had hired him away from the Tribe. [↩]
24 Comments
We all know Bode is picking Lonnie Baseball.
Are you calling me a Hipster?
You did like Lonnie Baseball before he probably liked himself. That’s the perfect hipster pick!
Says the guy who lives in Austin.
That is a fantastic point. And, calling him out to be ready to explode into a good ballplayer as he was called up last August and did just that will probably forever be my “blind squirrel” moment.
Still, Carlos Carrasco was my favorite player in 2015 (infatuated with both his narrative and his play, which led to the end of year 2500 word story I wrote on it).
For 2016? It’s even tougher. It started with Los, but I’ve probably picked a dozen guys as my favorite player at any one point in time. My younger son is all about Miller (even picked his number as his football jersey).
But, if I go through the last couple months, there is one player that I get way more excited when he does something exceptional. The one player I am guaranteed to jump up and shout and get in trouble if the baby is sleeping.
THAT’S MY BOY!
1A. Carlos
1AA. Fraaaaaaaaaaaaankieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I’m in the country outside of Austin because I needed to get away from the hipsters 🙂
“Are you calling me a Hipster?”
also, i read this comment in the Eddie Harris “you try’na say Jesus Christ can’t hit a curveball” voice.
This was great.
I’m still going with Shelley Duncan.
See, I think we’re on to something here. Favorite players should be like call signs or code names. You don’t get to pick them, they are picked for you, based on other people’s perception of you.
Lonnie is my favorite though… ever since David Murphy was shown the door.
as God himself would have wanted you to do
Thank you sir. And, I still think Duncan should be on the bench as a coach whose sole job is to stare menacingly at the opposing team.
My vote is for Michael Martinez:
If you like a guy that you can relate to…in a way that you’re probably as good of a baseball player as he is.
Or if he piques your curiosity, like: Did the Indians put him on the roster because they had an old “Martinez” jersey (Dennis perhaps) that seemed to fit him and he was the lucky winner? Is he married to one of the Dolans? Did he bury a body for Tito after one of Tito’s infamous benders…and now Tito is forever in debt?
Makes sense. Tis Halloween season. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a96c04841d15aae0bca2317388fb3ed6692382c6aeb6a34ec9b9cfd8880fca69.jpg
<— Don't let my Kipnis avi fool you…
The angry Hamster!
http://0.static.upcoming.nl/static/images/f6a05b2f0e_1371560012_Onderstaande-hamster-kan-niet-wachten-tot-wereldheerschappij-zijn-deel-is.gif
I thought this was Shelley? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/92d1a42fe03a82e222b9c6d7cb511a95b505172a051f5f62c3435abed5306924.jpg
I think he’s managing a team somewhere now.
Lindor.
Vizquel made it look easy. Lindor makes it look fun.
Carlos, maybe?
Perez
Blind squirrel found a freaking Brazilian tonight!
Lindor … no doubt about it (the song “Never seen a smile as beautiful as yours …” applies here!)