2019 MLB Season Thread [ARCHIVED] Baseball • Page 144

@truelovewaits is an honorary Clevelander AND an honorary Canadian!

 

Blessed is an understatement.

 

My wife and I used to go out to Akron every now and then for dinner. I think it closed, but there was a restaurant called 3-Point that was fantastic. They always had just Thirsty Dog beers on tap, but they were beers that were usually not sold in stores. I believe it just closed a few months ago. Right by Musica, which is where I'd always go before any shows at Musica.

We used to frequent 69 Taps and Baxters as well (left my credit card at Baxters once ...on a Monday night...and they mailed it to my house). Haven't been to Akron in years though.

 

Maybe it was because my last job was in Brecksville and that's basically the midpoint of Cleveland and Akron, but it just seemed like a lot of people were moving from Cuyahoga county to Summit.

 

I was in Lake up until a couple years ago and I'm in Summit now. It seems like a pretty growing area from what I can tell.

 

One of my best friends built a house in Willoughby (Tam-A-Rac) in 2009 so me and his brother (also one of my best friends) moved in with him and we had the time of our lives. Went to Downtown Willoughby millions of times. It's where I met my wife back in 2012 (she had an apartment above the bars in Downtown Willoughby) We lived in Willoughby until 2014 then bought a house in the Concord/Painesville TWP area three and a half years ago.

 

Very nice! I'm typically out in that area about once in a week since I play basketball at Lost Nation.

I used to go to Downtown WIlloughby a ton between the time that I graduated college in 2006 and probably up until like 2011 or so. Mullarkey's was the typical hangout.

I like the Concord/Painesville TWP area quite a bit and if I still worked in Cleveland that's probably where I'd want to live. My in-laws live in Concord and my parents are in LeRoy (yes, I know that's super small but you guys seem to know the area pretty well) so I'm familiar with all these places!

 

Crazy small world. I played in the Lost Nation bball league from 2009-2013...I stopped playing up there because we play 5 on 5 full court every Mon, Wed, Fri (during lunch breaks - 11:45 ish to 1 p.m.) at Mentor Heisley Racquet & Fitness Club...a lot of guys from the Lost Nation league play up there. We get about 12-17 guys each day and break off into 2 or 3 teams, winner staying on.

Mullarkey's was one of my favorites too. Actually dated one of the bartenders there for a little bit, haha. Also was a big fan of Ballentine, Wild Goose, Nicklebys and Oliver Twist (just closed, unfortunately).

EDIT: I created a shot at Mullarkey's...it's called The Bone Zone, and it's in their shot book. So next time you're there, take a Bone Zone shot, haha. It's so bad.

 

I didn't realize the Giants lost their starter after one batter because of a rain delay. That makes that even more amazing the Dodgers still couldn't win. They should just concede the division lol

 

That's awesome! I've played there since the fall of 2008 and it's been pretty fun. I used to play every Saturday morning super early at the Painesville YMCA (like there were 20+ guys there by 6 in the morning) but when I moved to Akron a couple years ago that stopped. It's about a 35 mile drive for me out to Willoughby but for a once a week thing it's not too bad. We usually stay at the sports bar for an hour or two after our game too which is pretty fun.

Yeah, I've spent some time at those other places you mentioned! 1899 too. I'm actually going to dinner in Willoughby this Sunday at a place called Brim. Have you ever been there?

Haha, if I ever get back to Mullarkey's I will definitely be sure to try that shot. I feel like I'm about 8-10 years too old for Downtown Willoughby at this point though.

 

Infield shift: Indians to try 2B Kipnis in center

This could be interesting.

I guess it can't really hurt to try it in the last couple weeks of the regular season.

 

I just think it's becoming clear that Kipnis may be an odd man out. We have Gonzalez, Urshela, and Meijia needing at bats or soon to need at bats. Plus, the team seems to really like Jose at 2B for defense. Add in the contract and various outfield options and I just think something has to give somewhere on the roster.

 

Wow, forgot to mention 1899, used to play Silver Strike there a ton. My cousin was a bartender there for ages. Used to love going there.

I've only been to Brim once, it's just opened a few months ago. It has a seating area outside on the second level, which is nice. It's a little outside of downtown Willoughby. It's north of Route 20, toward the railroad tracks. I didn't eat there. I just got drinks. They brew their own beers. I tried two different ones. Don't remember the names, but one was a wheat beer and the other was a pale ale. Not bad.

My wife and I rarely ever go to DTW anymore. Maybe a few times a year and that's it. It's definitely a young man's game there. Mostly 21 to 25-year olds. That's why I mentioned some of the places that are more geared to the 30 and above crowd.

There's actually quite a few new bars/restaurants in DTW now...Sol, Hook and Hoof, Taco Local, Erie Station (Burgers and Beer closed) and a few others.

Fun fact: My wife and I actually had our wedding ceremony and reception at Corks Wine Bar in Downtown Willoughby on New Year's Eve a few years back. We rented the entire bar out and private room out (a lot of people don't know this, but they have a private room in addition to the bar area.) It was awesome. My wife surprised me with having Ahmad (from the Cavs introductions) attend and do our wedding party introductions. I didn't know he was even there until we were waiting for names to be called and I heard 'CLEEEEVELANNND!!!!!!!!'

Ok, I'll stop talking about Willoughby now. But it will always be a special city to me for a variety of reasons.

 

The Indians definitely have some interesting decisions to make in time for the postseason roster. This team is really stacked, and you can only bring 25 guys. I'm more interested to see who will make the OF positions. Obviously, Bruce, Lonnie and Austin Jackson are in. If Brantley is healthy, he's in...and then you got to decide between Guyer, Almonte and Allen. Allen is really the only true CF out of all those guys and has really great speed, which will be needed. I'm guessing Allen and Almonte don't make it.

But then you got all the infielders too between Ramirez, Lindor, Kipnis, Santana, Gonzalez, Urshela.

It'll be interesting to see who makes the playoff rosters. There's no way Kipnis doesn't make the postseason roster if he's healthy.

 

I'm glad the Indians are going for history.

because it distracts from the fact dodgers are bad

 

Kipnis will definitely be on the roster if he's healthy for the playoffs. I'd guess Allen and Almonte to be out as well.

The offseason will be interesting. They have decisions to make with Brantley, Bruce, Jackson, Santana, and several younger players. That's where I think if you can unload Kipnis you can free up some money to keep different players. Jackson I think will leave because he's definitely outperformed the team friendly deal we signed him to.

 

OK, when you said 'Kipnis may be odd man out' I thought you were referring to postseason roster.

I think Brantley will undoubtedly be picked up on the club option for 2018. If they picked up Santana for 12 million, they'll definitely pick up Brantley - who is the better overall player (if he can stay healthy).

I'm very interested to see what happens with Santana. I'm wondering what the market for him will be. He gets on base a lot, hits a decent amount of homers, but also strikes out a lot and doesn't hit for average. He is becoming a better 1st basement though. I think he'll get some offers. I hope we can keep him. I've always really liked him.

I doubt Bruce or Jackson are here next year, although I'd love for both to be back.

 

I think the Indians will pick up Brantley's option.

Jackson has absolutely outperformed his contract. I'd like him back if it was somewhere in the $5-$6 million a year range.

I don't see any way that they bring back Bruce AND Santana. I think Bruce is probably just a half season rental and I'm ok with that.

Santana has developed into a team leader and he has been a pretty consistent hitter. Not that it matters a ton, but he's also shown some versatility by playing different positions in the field. I think the Indians will try to bring him back unless he gets some really expensive offers.

In terms of the postseason roster, I see the OFs being Bruce, Brantley (if healthy), Jackson, Chisenhall and Guyer. Gomes and Perez for catchers, obviously. And Encarnacion, Santana, Kipnis (if healthy), Ramirez, Lindor and Urshela. That leaves 12 pitching spots.

I'd imagine that Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger, Allen, Miller, Shaw, Goody, Otero, Olson, and Smith are all locks. That leaves one spot for Salazar, Tomlin, McAllister and anybody I'm missing. I think Salazar probably has the edge there but we'll see how the next few weeks play out.

I'll come back to this in a few weeks to see how I did!

 

I'd love to keep Bruce and Jackson too, but I just think they will bring back Brantley, Chisenhall, and try to work in Diaz. Plus, you have Zimmer, Naquin, and Allen. At some point we have to move some pieces because we are pretty full at a lot of positions. It's been nice to have this depth with the injuries, but you can't have it forever and you'd like to get something back if possible.

 

In regards to Santana, keep in mind, the Indians will eventually bring up Bobby Bradley, who is one of their top prospects at 1B.

 

I think both Tomlin and Salazar will make playoff roster. You HAVE to have Tomlin on there just due to the success he had last October. He proved he's not going to buckle under pressure and he's been pitching really well since coming back from injury. I'm not so sure Goody and Olson are locks and Salazar would be nice in case you need long relief.

 

Agreed about Bradley, but until he hits his way on to the roster, you can't count on him. You'd rather have the bird in hand until there is another better bird. That's why I agreed with signing Kipnis at the time. Now we are reaching a place where we may have better, cheaper, and younger options.

 

Yeah, he's at least a year away though. Maybe they'll be able to work out something like a one year deal with a second year team option? Maybe like 2 year, $28 million give or take?

 

Santana is going to want term. If the market breaks like last year than a 1-2 year deal is possible, but I expect him to seek term since he is already 31.

 

Hmm...it's hard to say. In the ALDS it's only best of 5, so what do you think the rotation would look like? Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Kluber, Carrasco? or Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger, Kluber? If it's the first, I'd say that Clevinger could be there for long relief. I don't really see Tomlin being much of an asset out of the bullpen honestly. I think he seems like a really nice guy and he did pitch well in the postseason last year, but I'm not sure if that translates to this year. It's also possible that they carry 13 pitchers and 12 hitters and essentially add another pitching spot. In that scenario maybe Guyer doesn't make it?

I do see Olson as a lock mainly because he's a lefty and he's been really good so far this year.

If it comes down between him and Goody, I think Olson probably has the edge.