Random Thoughts: Neglected Friends and Tribesmen

I just wanted to make sure people knew I was alive.

This is perhaps the longest stretch, in-season at least, that this site has gone without updates.

Even the tweets have been minimal.

Truth is, I didn't have time to breath, let alone do anything after work. All week it's been work, then after work there was other commitments. And work, especially hectic.

But I'm here and with two more days of madness left, I'm almost ready.

You see now that work is technically over, classes start at the good old U of A tomorrow. For the first two days, I'll be a part of the crew that will help any new comers find their way around campus, when I'm not in class of course.

Which means two more really early days and exhaustion afterward.

But I promise I'll return.

What a game last night though, right?

Baby Louie sends the fans home happy after a nice solid comeback. Mr. Ace Aaron Laffey got hit early but found a way to bounce back and not only give up no more runs after the initial three-run blow, but go seven strong.

Then that bullpen. What the heckle?

Chris Perez comes in, puts himself in a death-defying jam with a runner at third and nobody out. He gets two strikeouts and then ends the eighth without harm. Prolonging the game for the Indians to take it into extras and more solid bullpen work got us to the point where Louie could end it with two outs.

Such is the way of Indians baseball.

Suck in the beginning, moderately suck in the middle, fantastic at the end.

Don't get me wrong, I like seeing the young players and new additions doing awesome, but it's frustrating watching this happen. Either making us believe this team has more than what we see in the beginning and holding out hope, or just giving us false hope for next year.

That all being said, there are seven things I'm confident about for next year.

1.) Asdrubal Cabrera - He's coming into his own. Eric Wedge wanted him to just carry a decent stick because his defense saves so many runs. Heck with that... He's establishing himself as an all-around All-Star at shortstop.

2.) Shin-Soo Choo - I'm positive he's our right fielder for now and the future, regardless of military service. I think the Indians and Choo have already decided that he's just not going back to Korea. He's either hoping they give him a pardon or he'll just address it at a later date if he ever wants to go back.

3.) Grady Sizemore - Injuries be damned. Grady Sizemore is going to give it his all next year and hopefully he'll be healthy. I know we can count on him when he's not injured.

4.) Travis Hafner - You're like, wait what, Hafner? How can you trust Pronk? I can trust Pronk because I now know what he's capable of producing now that he's back in the swing of things. By next year, he should be able to be a normal DH. Maybe he can't play in 162 games a year, and he'll need more days off here and there, but this is what we can count on. He'll hit in the .280's, knock in some runs, be a power presence, and most importantly, get on base and help out other hitters with the pure fact that he's in the lineup.

5.) Aaron Laffey - I've always known Aaron Laffey has what it takes to be in this rotation. He's probably not supposed to be a top of the rotation starter, but he's going to be next year. Remember the only time this kid has struggled was out of the gate when he made his debut and when he's been injured. Laffey is legit.

6.) Justin Masterson - I'm positive he's for real. He's got something about him. Again, probably not a front of the rotation starter, but this staff is looking a whole lot better than it was. We may not have an ace, but we have a few pieces that we can at least trust.

7.) Chris Perez - I'm a believer. He's now acclimated to his new club, the pressure is off to impress everybody and he's really taking off. Last night was the only example I need. He has ice water running through his veins and on top of it all, he's hitting high MPH on the radar gun.

I've got so much to catch up on for the past week, but I'm probably not going to. I'll just go and mention it as we go along in the next few weeks until I'm satisfied. That being said, This marks a new era of this blog.

For several reasons.

One... I'll probably try and go easy on the updates, mostly because I want to put more of a focus onto my school work. Now that I'm almost done with my general education courses, I'm starting to get into classes that are actually crucial for me as far as my major goes. I don't want to screw that up.. If I update too much, I either have way too much free-time, or I need smacked. Updating this blog is like crack when I have nothing to do and I'm not tired.

Second... We're moving! Sort of! You can still come to this URL to see the same ridiculousness that is The Tribe Daily. That won't change. I'm not going to get into details, but The Tribe Daily is joining the Fan Huddle network. It's a move that I hope brings in a new audience and expands it. Nothing will change as far as content and information. You can read more about Fan Huddle in this Press Release. It launches on September 10th. More info in the coming weeks as we begin the transition.

I've updated the boards, as best as I could yesterday. It'll probably need a nice little rundown, which I plan on doing this week, as far as all the minor league teams go. That's probably a little bit of a mess after this past week.

NEWS!!!!

I updated the side today..

First update, we're in first place! The Tribe Daily is in first place in the Fantasy Baseball League with other blogs/sites! I'm working hard to hold onto first place for another month plus to bring home the title.

Second update, as you know, the sponsorship of Ben Francisco is rather weird now that he's on another team, which means I had to find someone else to represent. I also wanted to sponsor two in this new era of Indians baseball. Well I won't be adding another until the Francisco sponsorship expires next March, but I made my move.

I'm proud to say, that as soon as it's approved, we're sponsoring the one and only, JESS TODD!

It was a close battle between and Todd and Chris Perez, and I even considered both at this time, but like I said, I don't want to go more than two right now and well, I want to spread the love among positions.

It's Todd Time! I never get tired of saying that.

There are so many minor league notes to go over it isn't even funny. Like I don't even know what's been happening.

Akron got no-hit yesterday, and were an error and HBP away from being retired in order (perfect game). Connor Graham was outstanding the other night, and some pitchers have been getting tattooed recently, including Tomlin and Lofgren last night.

But really, I think the story of the past week, since I've not updated, is the promotion of Matt LaPorta and his immediate impact.

The guy starts in his first game and knocks in three runs. Jango!

Trevor Crowe was playing well and the injury comes up, which sucks, but I think he's earned himself enough to at least be in the mix. Let's be honest, first base isn't really set in stone with Marte at all. That would mean LaPorta could slide there. I think Jordan Brown is going to get a chance the prove himself, but Crowe is definitely in the mix for left field next year and if not that, we need someone to be the fourth outfielder and he matches the skillset.

But LAPORTA!

and MARTY!!!

Both have been good these past few games now that they've actually been playing. Marte has five hits in the ten at-bats he's had in the past three games (gee golly, playing him three days in a row, what a concept!?), with four RBI.

LaPorta has four hits in 11 at-bats with three RBI since his call-up.

So really... Party time with these two. Keep playing them. Let's see where it goes for Marte. Peralta is locked in a third, but if Chris Gimenez isn't going to hit, there's a spot for someone to pick up corner infield at-bats in a backup role, because I'm going to assume Jason Donald or Luis Valbuena will be doing the middle infield deal.

I like Gimenez, and I think he needs more time to prove himself, but if Marte is going to hit right now and prove he can do it now, Gimenez will have to bide his time.

Okay we've got Fausto Carmona on the hill in a few hours. He's going up against King Felix, but you can't complain what he's been doing. He's taken losses in his last two games, the first of those probably not being deserving of one, but the last one, with a lot of shaky defense from the looks of it. He hasn't been the horrendous mess that he was earlier this year.

I'm prescribing to this "baby steps" idea that Willis and Wedge are giving us with him. If they are trying to reinvent him into more of a pitcher, it's the best thing for him and his future. He can't be a thrower his entire career, especially right now with him just walking people like crazy. Something had to change.

Anyway, I'm feeling not tired this morning, so I wanted to check in. I've got some last-minute errands to run today before classes tomorrow.