Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[tsteele316]

Hafner's problems are just as much mechanical as anything else.

He's got more of a loop/uppercut to his swing than he did before. The result has been slower hands through the hitting zone.

AsCab has the same problem right now. Both of them hit weak ground balls.

with respect to Hafner, I think he FUBAR'd himself in an attempt to beat the shift. He's tried to hit more balls the other way to beat the shift and it's made his swing long. He also seems to be diving over the play more on his stride, which leaves him vulnerable to inside pitches.

That, and I think he needs to be more aggressive early in the count.

I don't think he was juicing because 1. his body has not changed at all in the last few years and 2. his dropoff has been so severe that there is more than just a lack of power.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

sending Peralta home on a hit like that is a bad idea, lucky it was a bad throw

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Can the pen hold down a lead two nights in a row?

I sure hope that he doesn't try to slide again. A Little League player has a better slide.

Regarding the other comments about Hafner pinchhitting for Marte, I had mixed emotions. I thought it probably was the right thing to do at the time going with the lefty/righty theory (which I am not a big fan of) but on the flipside I think if Wedgie (this is the correct spelling for the Indians manager) would have let Marte bat it would have given Marte a great boost of confidence is specially if you would have gotten a hit but just to let him hit in that situation would have helped his confidence. He sure as hell good at hit the ball further than Hafner unless he would have struck out which would have been better anyhow.

I hope they leave Raffy as the closer even when Joe Blow comes back but I know that is wishful thinking. At least Raffy did strike a hitter out which cannot be said of Joe.

I cannot believe Cliff Lee. Never would have thought he would win 6 games in a row. I just wonder what is in store for the rest of the season. I just can't believe he can keep pitching this way.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

Hafner's problems are just as much mechanical as anything else.

He's got more of a loop/uppercut to his swing than he did before. The result has been slower hands through the hitting zone.

AsCab has the same problem right now. Both of them hit weak ground balls.

with respect to Hafner, I think he FUBAR'd himself in an attempt to beat the shift. He's tried to hit more balls the other way to beat the shift and it's made his swing long. He also seems to be diving over the play more on his stride, which leaves him vulnerable to inside pitches.

That, and I think he needs to be more aggressive early in the count.

I don't think he was juicing because 1. his body has not changed at all in the last few years and 2. his dropoff has been so severe that there is more than just a lack of power.

I totally agree with your last statement about Hafner "not juicing". His body does not ripple like the other guys who have been known to juice.

On the other hand, I have no idea what the hell is wrong with his swing. I thought that was Shelton's job. He probably need some help so you should give him a call. I can never remember Hafner going after the first pitch and they are usually right down the middle. I might be wrong about that but this season he seems to be taking the first pitch that awful lot.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I totally agree with your last statement about Hafner "not juicing". His body does not ripple like the other guys who have been known to juice.

On the other hand, I have no idea what the hell is wrong with his swing. I thought that was Shelton's job. He probably need some help so you should give him a call. I can never remember Hafner going after the first pitch and they are usually right down the middle. I might be wrong about that but this season he seems to be taking the first pitch that awful lot.

i'll put my resume in. it could very well be something that hafner doesn't do in the BP but does in real games. personally, i don't have much faith in Shelton overall. I also find it odd that so many hitters have the exact same problem of slow looping swings. AsCab does it. Hafner does it. Peralta does it all the time. outside of deluccit and victor, nobody on that team has a short compact stroke that consistently yields line drives.

[LitlBuck]

Maybe they need to get Manning out of the TV booth and down into the dugout because he seemed to be right on last night regarding Cabrera's swing.

I don't know what to do about Birdie. He certainly is not the same pitcher that he was last year. It almost seems like he thinks he is pitching in a slow pitch league. He can go only for about 5 innings and then he seems to run out of gas. They might want to bring up Sowers to replace him but I guess you can't replace everyone. Maybe I am overreacting but I don't think so. We shall see.

[buckeyemania11]

The Associated Press: Pirates trade for OF Michaels

Pirates trade for OF Michaels

1 hour ago
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired outfielder Jason Michaels and cash from the Cleveland Indians on Thursday for a player to be named.

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

The Associated Press: Pirates trade for OF Michaels

Now trade a couple of the AAA guys for Bay.

[billmac91]

Figures the Pirates would trade for Michaels. Worst organization in baseball.

Anyone else remeber the contract they gave Matt Morris. LOL.