Category Archives: Indians

Do NOT ask Trevor Bauer if he’s over-thinking on the mound

March 10, 2015 Ai Leave a comment

First, the good news. The Indians edged the Cubs of Chicago 10-6 this afternoon. On his birthday, young outfielder Tyler Holt notched a 3-3 day with with a double, triple and three RBI. Michael Bourn had three hits of his own from the leadoff spot, including an RBI and a walk. Top prospect Fransexco Lindor came in as a sub and drilled two doubles, driving in a run.

Trevor Bauer made his second start of the spring. Against a Cubs lineup that featured a handful of regulars (Alcantara, Soler, Baez), a bunch of guys who are in the mix (La Stella, Lake, Bryant, Castillo) and a pretty highly-regarded prospect in SS Addison Russell, Bauer cruised through the first three innings. Then the fourth inning came as it inevitably does, and this happened…

And Jorge Soler absolutely destroys a ball. As he does. pic.twitter.com/urJoKea1iq

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 10, 2015

…and then…

Then Baez matches Soler. pic.twitter.com/XvYuQlVxOm

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 10, 2015

…and finally,

And then Bryant completes the back-to-back-to-back. Holy crap. pic.twitter.com/lFJElQwOpd

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 10, 2015

NSFW

(Bryant, Soler, Baez)

Now listen. These weren’t just some schmuck AA scrubs that hit these missiles. Kris Bryant is quite literally the premier power prospect in all of baseball. Of all players in every league at every level, he hit the most home runs last year. Baez and Soler are both blue-chippers as well. But that wouldn’t stop the trolls from a trollin’.

Gotta give a shout out to all the trolls who have crept back onto my timeline. Glad to see y'all's off season was productive too

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@nel_jw would like to face them when the focus is getting them out not working on stuff to get ready for the season.

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 10, 2015

@BennettCiceri feels pretty good. Turns out big league seats are awfully comfortable

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 10, 2015

Buckle up:

@Brill_Grates I know that question shouldn't make me mad but it kinda does. That term "over thinking" is so annoying. What does that even

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates mean? So if an intelligent person explains why he's doing something and no one else understands it's overthinking. But if I

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates say I'm not thinking on the mound and give up a run then everyone will say well maybe you should think on the mound. It's such

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates an oversimplification of a complex issue. Obviously you have to think on the mound. If I have success, great. If not, I am

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates overthinking. And I'm doing nothing different, just the results change. So what gives? Now if someone said I was activating my

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates prefrontal cortex or trying to run a bottom up system from the top down, then we might be able to have a productive discussion

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates but I challenge you to even define what overthinking is. Where's the line? How do you even quantify something like that?

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates it's just a way for fans who have no idea why something is happening to sound like they know something when they don't. IMHO

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

@Brill_Grates that'll conclude my rant. I feel like @drivelinebases right now.

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

Whew. He lost me at “prefrontal cortex”, but SUCK BRICK @Brill_Grates!!!

Seriously though. It’s spring training. Literally everything you can possibly work on as a pitcher, he’s working on. Physical (mechanics, pitch grips, pre-game and post-game workouts, workouts leading up to and following starts), mental (when to attack what type of hitters with what pitch, comfortability with pitches & locations, out pitches, I COULD GO ON), all of it. Pitchers do things in spring training they wouldn’t do in the regular season. Know why? Cuz these games do not count. With Gavin Floyd now out indefinitely/forever, I’ll bet Bauer will slide to 3rd in the rotation behind Klubedaddy and Carrasco. Let’s at least save the trolling for the regular season, trolls.

And never change, Trevor.

Thought my drone was flying over the stadium during the game today…those homers looked like cruise missiles trying to shoot it down

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) March 11, 2015

Indians

Baseball is BACK, Cleveland

March 3, 2015 Ai Leave a comment

Happy f***ing Tuesday, Cleveland. Best day of the year. Baseball is officially back. The Indians kick off Spring Training with a skirmish against the Cincinnati Reds today at 3:05 on STO and WTAM.

Ain't she pretty? MT @GoodyearBP: Tarp is coming off. We're getting ready for some @indians baseball! #TribeSpring pic.twitter.com/b1SAbQImAb

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) March 3, 2015

In less than 26 hours, this will be our #TribeSpring opener lineup.

TWENTY-SIX HOURS. BASEBALL. pic.twitter.com/QUoLjrjrYz

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) March 2, 2015

Obviously it’s the first game of the spring so the starters won’t play much, and we’re still missing a good chunk of guys who are taking it slow after injuries. But I don’t care. I’d watch the Willoughby Baseball League minors division champs play the Yankees if it meant real, live baseball. There’s watch parties all over town for those of you who are with me. And here’s the TV schedule for the rest of spring:

This team has some serious hype. If you need me, I’ll just be here watching this 2015 Indians hype video made by my good friend Chris K on YouTube who I’ve never met.

Indians

Need Indians tickets or a dime bag? Call 216-420-HITS

February 20, 2015 Ai Leave a comment

So I’ll keep this one short and sweet. I just had it pointed out to me last night that the phone number for the Indians executive offices is 216-420-HITS and I’m absolutely fucking flabbergasted. It’s a number you hear ALL the time if you listen to games on the radio, or watch the games on TV, or follow them on any sort of social media. Basically, if at any point in your entire life you’ve paid one ounce of attention the Tribe, you’ve seen or heard this number read aloud a couple million times. I’m 24 years old, I’ve been a fan my whole life and I had to have it pointed out to me. Last night. By Mike. I’m actually embarrassed.

It’s not like this is a new thing either. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, we can be sure this has been the Indians phone number since at least 2007 (the oldest archive available of Indians.com). Chris Perez MAILED POT TO HIS OWN DOG in 2013 and I still never saw this phone number brought up. Absolutely stunning.

Seriously, why though? Hits are just things that happen in baseball. One of many, many things. Not specific to the Indians. In fact, most of the time, not at all specific to the Indians. Why not 216-420-BATS? 216-420-DIRT? 216-420-FANS? Just so many options and they went with literally the only four letter word in the English language that pertains to both baseball and smoking weed. I, for one, can’t believe it’s lasted this long. Maybe if those god damn Dolans would spend some money on PR talent they’d realize why they get a dozen calls a week from slow talkers in Colorado.

KEEP THE CHIEF