BD57
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Everything posted by BD57
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Before the season, I think that was a "hope," not something anyone could say was going to happen with any confidence. Keep in mind how much of the offense this year was driven by record-breaking HR hitting. I don't know that anyone had reason to "know" that was coming. Yes, we thought we'd be better than last year - but I doubt anyone saw 101 wins coming, and "more than a few" thought Cleveland deserved to be favored in the Division. It only became clear the window was open - shoot, it was gone - during the season. And even then, we took some hits along the way (Buxton getting hurt & out yet again, Pineda getting disqualified, just as examples) which leave us going into the post-season at "less than full strength." I agree the FO needs to treat next year as a "Let's win now" opportunity. I'm not faulting them for what they did this year; with the exception of Dyson (did they miss / overlook something?), they made very few mistakes.
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I'll revoke the magic for Sano, if you'd like. Sano's interruptions last year strike me as "not injury related" - my opinion, that's all it is - so I don't particularly hold that against him - whereas the time he's missed this year was not "playing related." Buxton, meanwhile, has missed time this year on more than one occasion, all playing related, until he finally broke down. Sorry - based upon the track record, I think Sano is more likely to be a guy who gives us 140 games a year once he's "established," which, based upon his play this year, I think he's finally done. Buxton has yet to [a] show he can "hit enough" over the course of a year to get past "he's worth it for his glove alone" (and he's got to do more than that to be "really worth it"); and play a season without missing substantial time during the year because of "on field" injuries. I WANT Buck to do it, because if he does ... whoo boy, will he be a weapon!!!!!
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Thing is, what do we get from Buck's "position on the field' if he's only there for 1/2 of the season, vs. Sano if he's consistently out there for 140 games? Maybe I'm gun-shy, but until I see Buck put a couple of 130+ game seasons together, back to back, I'm going to have a hard time believing I can really "count on him" to contribute. And that's essentially the Question being posed - "Right now, knowing what we presently know .... which one would you put money on having more value?" If both have a run of 10 "healthy" years going forward - minor bumps & bruises only - then I think we're in for a heck of a ride, and there's a good chance we'll enjoy debating this topic, because it'll be like debating which is your "most favorite flavor of ice cream." Hope that's the case.
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Let's see ... Don't have much of anything. Everyone had a day off on Monday. Littell, Duffey, May, Stashak & Graterol all went an inning on Sunday; Duffey & Romo an inning the day before that. The most obvious explanation would be (a) I've just removed Jake as a precaution, which could mean "he's injured" . . . . I'm running out of guys to put out there at the beginning of a game if there's anything wrong with Jake, and Gibson's one of the guys we've done that with in the past; [a] it's "early enough" that I'd be inclined to keep him out here for more than an inning if he has anything; I'm hoping he has something, and I'd like to see him get some belief - because, again, my options are becoming more limited by the day otherwise; [c] it's the Tigers, not the Yankees; [d] bullpen's rested - I'll get him before he creates a problem, if there is a problem. I'd have been reluctant because I'm focused on turning "3" into "2" but if I think "Big Picture" I could see it.
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Can you tell me Buck is going to learn to stay healthy, play 130+ games a year, and get his BA up to, say, .275-.280? IMO, he needs to do those things to have long-term "big time" value; otherwise, he's a valuable piece who's "missing" way too often. If Sano's a 30-ish HR guy year in / year out for the next 5-10 years, he's going to be valuable, even if he winds up being a full time DH. While he still has holes in his swing & approach, he's definitely made progress this year - I think having Nelson Cruz around has been a godsend for him. Right now, I think "odds are" better on Sano, but only because Buck just keeps getting hurt.
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