Midpoint Status Review

[Raskolnikov]

I just want to say I think I was wrong about this team and eat a little crow.

The future is not set. 4th place might happen, but this team is competitive and fun to watch, they are bringing effort and tenacity every night as well as any team going in baseball. They have been putting on a show all year. This is an exciting team.

They could push for first because every team in this division has flaws. I was too pessimistic and jaded.

This Anderson kid called up has potential. He adds some speed to this team, athleticism, and a bad that can grow.

 

[Mr. Bates]

I mean...yeah. They're .500, 2.5 GB of the 2nd wildcard so they are definitely still in it. They've fallen to 7 behind the Tribe so would need to fill in some pretty big holes and really turn things around to be in talk of winning the division.

I count 12 more games before the break:
3 @ Home vs MIN
3 vs HOU
3 @ Home vs NYY
3 @ Home vs ATL

They could really do A LOT to help themselves with these VERY winnable series(es) coming up. If they can muster 9-3 or 8-4, they could be in really good shape.

 

[brett05]

The team is very overrated. They have to be perfect to be there. The depth just isn't there as I have been saying.

Sale and Q are fine. Frasier has to give more with the bat. Lawrie has to give more with the bat. We need a third OF that can hit to pair with Eaton/Melky. Catcher/DH need to get a lot better. Part of that might be solved with Justin.
Rodon needs to take a big step forward. Shields needs to start racking up the 8/10 QS again.

Guys, we are at best the 3rd team in this race.

 

[The Hawk]

I just want to say I think I was wrong about this team and eat a little crow.

The future is not set. 4th place might happen, but this team is competitive and fun to watch, they are bringing effort and tenacity every night as well as any team going in baseball. They have been putting on a show all year. This is an exciting team.

They could push for first because every team in this division has flaws. I was too pessimistic and jaded.

This Anderson kid called up has potential. He adds some speed to this team, athleticism, and a bad that can grow.

I'm with you. Right now Cleveland is as hot as the Sox were at the beginning of the season but they will cool off. I am still really pissed off, though, about Reinny not giving Hahn some resources as in left handed hitting middle of the order hitter.

What I do like is the defense that the team has. A key factor could be Shields returning to form. His last outing was done in by bad defense behind him and a lack of clutch hitting. Abreu needs also to step up and it'd be nice if Frazier would get hot.

 

[playthrough2001]

The mere fact that I can follow a promising, home-grown position player with real tools has been quite satisfying for me. And Sale makes every 5th day a must watch...

 

[Mr. Bates]

The team is very overrated. They have to be perfect to be there. The depth just isn't there as I have been saying.

Sale and Q are fine. Frasier has to give more with the bat. Lawrie has to give more with the bat. We need a third OF that can hit to pair with Eaton/Melky. Catcher/DH need to get a lot better. Part of that might be solved with Justin.
Rodon needs to take a big step forward. Shields needs to start racking up the 8/10 QS again.

Guys, we are at best the 3rd team in this race.

Not a heck of a lot to disagree with except for the comments on Rodon. He's #22 in ERA which makes him better than most as a #2 and better than EVERYONE as a #3. Also, Fangraphs has him as top 5 in their hard hit ball%, and #3 in their slider valuation (even better than Sale).

Rodon is just fine too.

 

[brett05]

Not a heck of a lot to disagree with except for the comments on Rodon. He's #22 in ERA which makes him better than most as a #2 and better than EVERYONE as a #3. Also, Fangraphs has him as top 5 in their hard hit ball%, and #3 in their slider valuation (even better than Sale).

Rodon is just fine too.

Rodon needs consistency and to cut his walks in half. That's the step the team needs to see from him. It will come, but we need it now.