Author's Blog

Pitching Staff Gone!

by scott longert on 09/19/16

What in the world happened to the Indians pitching staff? A few weeks ago we had four legitimate starters and some options for the fifth. Now Carlos Carrasco joins Danny Salazar on the sidelines for likely the rest of the year. A line drive from Ian Kinsler's bat broke Carrasco's hand while Salazar is having elbow problems that may be a long-term thing.

When the post-season begins the Tribe has Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin and rookie Mike Clevinger. Bauer has been hit hard lately, Tomlin had to miss time to figure out his home run pitches and I don't think Clevinger has pitched more than five innings in any start.

The team is going to have to score a lot of runs to advance in the playoffs. We need a Mr. October to blast some home runs and at least a few guys to hit and keep hitting. Maybe this is where Coco Crisp will find his youth and get some key base hits.

Did anybody notice that Brian Dozier of the Twins has hit forty home runs? He is right behind Mark Trumbo who has forty-three. How many guys are going to wind up with forty homers plus, and over 100 RBI's? I think most of the Red Sox starting lineup has 100 or close to it. An exaggeration, but it has really been the year of the hitter. A few years ago teams were looking for players that could hit twenty-five homers and knock in eighty -five runs. The ante surely has been raised!

No Money, No Beer, No Pennants has been officially released as of September 15. It is available at Barnes & Noble stores and Books-A-Million stores. You have your choice of hardcopy or paperbacks. It can be purchased on-line at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. It should be available soon at the Independent books stores in Northeast Ohio. I believe it is my best work so far and a great look at baseball during the Great Depression!

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Sizing Up the Opponents

by scott longert on 09/12/16

I may be calling it in early, but I believe the Indians will win the American League Central. I know they finish the regular season with games against Detroit and Kansas City, however I am confident they will have the title wrapped up by then.

I think Boston has the East taken care of and Texas same thing in the West. The wild cards will likely be Toronto and Baltimore. At this point I am not too concerned with the Orioles. Despite them being a home run machine, I believe the Indians pitching can keep the baseballs from flying out of the park. Toronto can hit their share of home runs but again I an sure the Tribe's pitching staff will be able to handle Donaldson and Encarnacion.

That leaves the Red Sox and Rangers. Both these teams will be awfully tough to beat. Boston has tremendous hitters all through the lineup. They can run, play good defense and hit the ball out of the park. I don't have to go to great detail to talk about David Ortiz and the year he is having. Pedroia, Betts and Bradley are outstanding and Hanley Ramirez is having a great second half. David Price has raised his game to ace level and Rick Porcello continues to have an excellent year. It is always tough to win in Fenway.

Texas has enough pitching with a healthy Yu Darvish, while their hitting is not quite Boston or Baltimore but more than good enough. They are veterans, capable of winning a World Series.

If Danny Salazar is unable to pitch any further, that leaves Trevor Bauer to pick up the slack. In the playoffs I expect Kluber and Carrasco to pitch well, but after that the situation becomes a bit shaky. The only other alternatives are Josh Tomlin and Mike Clevinger. For Cleveland to go deep in the post-season they need a lot of hitting from Kipnis, Lindor and Napoli. Can't wait for October!

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Approaching the Finish Line

by scott longert on 09/04/16

The Indians start play today with a five and 1/2 game lead over Detroit. Barring a disaster I think the Tribe will win the division somewhat comfortably. They added Coco Crisp, a former Indian and a veteran of post-season play. Catcher Yan Gomes is on a rehab assignment and will soon join the Big League club.

The Indians finish the season with Detroit and Kansas City which means they probably won't be able to coast to the title. Recent outings by Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco were a welcome sight. With Corey Kluber having a fabulous second half and the already mentioned two, that should be enough to get them deep in the post-season.

While I am slightly worried about Detroit my bigger concern is either Boston or Toronto in the playoffs. Boston has a lineup of hitters that can mash as good as anyone club in either league. Their pitching keeps getting better, especially with David Price coming around and Steven Wright off the DL. They might just be the team to beat in the American League.

I am happy to report my new book, No Money, No Beer, No Pennants will be released early on September 15. Thanks to my publisher, Ohio University Press for speeding up the release date. The book is available in hardcover and paperback. A great read on Cleveland Baseball history in the years of the Great Depression. It will be on my author page by Thursday and ready to order.

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Too Close for Comfort?

by scott longert on 08/28/16

The Indians lead over Detroit has shrunk to 4 1/2 games. The Tigers have gotten a second wind, while Kansas City is playing outstanding ball and making a bid for at least a wild card. It is no secret the Indian starting pitching has fallen apart. Corey Kluber is trying to keep things together by himself, but that won't be enough to go deep in the playoffs.

Josh Tomlin has had tremendous difficulty but a check of his career after the All-Star break shows this is nothing new. He can ring up nine or ten wins by each July, but struggles in August and September. His penchant for giving up the long ball is really hurting the team right now.

Danny Salazar is having his problems as well. He does not look the same pitcher that made the All-Star team. Supposedly he is healthy but he has been rocked several times and needs to turn things around.

This is gut check time for the Tribe. They have to find a way to win ballgames and find it soon. The offense has slowed down considerably in the recent series with Oakland and two of the three games so far with Texas. Today's game is quite important as dropping three out of four to the Rangers has post-season implications. The Indians missed Yu Davish in this series. That will not happen in a post season contest. If they can't at least split with Texas now, how will they fare in October?

There is still quite a race in the American League East. It is up for grabs but neither Boston or Toronto is taking charge yet. Baltimore is still there but their pitching is atrocious. Despite having three guys with thirty home runs or better the Orioles might not make the playoffs. Imagine that!

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Sad Anniversary

by scott longert on 08/19/16

Just two days ago was the ninety-six anniversary of Indians shortstop Ray Chapman's death. As most baseball fans know, Chapman was hit in the head by a pitched ball from Yankees pitcher Carl Mays. According to newspaper reports Chapman never moved and the high inside fastball caught him in the left temple. He collapsed at home plate. Doctors in the stands rushed to his aid, giving him smelling salts to revive him. Chapman did wake, struggled to his feet and walked a few steps before collapsing again. He was rushed to a New York hospital where he died in the early morning hours.

You can imagine the shock to the players when they found out that Ray had died. They still had to play another game, then take a train to Cleveland for the funeral. It is always a wonder to me that the ball club was able to overcome the loss and still win the pennant and the 1920 World Series.

Ray's widow Katy was pregnant with their first child, a little girl who would be named Rae. Mrs. Chapman never recovered from the loss of her husband. She committed suicide eight years later. If that was not enough, Rae Chapman contracted measles and died at age nine. A promising future for the Chapman family was not to be.

Last Friday night the Indians tied a club record by stealing eight bases in a lopsided win over the Los Angeles Angels. Rajai Davis and Jose Ramirez stole three bases each. The record occurred on August 27, 1917 when Bobby "Braggo"Roth stole four bases, Joe Harris two and Tris Speaker and Bill Wamby one apiece. I did some research with my good friend Marc Bona of Cleveland Dot.Com on the particulars of the game. Roth, in the bottom of the eighth inning attempted to steal second for his fifth stolen base. Joe Harris swung and missed for the third out. Roth had a great year stealing bases, but the American League leader turned out to be the above mentioned Ray Chapman with fifty-three.

The current day Indians continue to win and maintain their seven game lead over Detroit. Last night they came from behind to win in the ninth when Tyler Naquin hit a sacrifice fly to score Abraham Almonte from third. Everyone is contributing and I see no obstacle to stop the Tribe from winning the A.L. Central.

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