Goodbye to a "gamer"...

As my son and I watched Casey Blake hit that 10th inning homerun last night, at first we both cheered loudly and high-fived for the Tribe...then, all kidding aside, we sort of thought about it and realized it wasn't a walk-off and that Chicago was going to come up in the bottom of the 10th.  As we sat there after the celebration, we both sort of got grim-faced and watched in horror as the "win" turned into another tough "loss"...

I told my boy that this may indeed be it for the Indians this year and be prepared for them to start moving some of the potential free agents and younger core talent for the future.

Casey ain't getting any younger, and probably has topped out in value right now...he's my son's favorite and one of the best "gamers'" out there; so here's to Casey Blake finding a home on a contender and a shot at a ring, and the Indians getting some good talent in return!

Now I am starting to understand your weird fascination with Casey Blake.  I had begun to think it may have been something buried in your subconscience with bearded men.  But since your son loves him--naturally--you have an affinity for Blake and will elevate him to something he's not.  My four year old son has decided he loves the Cubs.  I think it has to do with baby bears.  Now, I'm not going to discourage him, but they arent going to become my favorite team--unless he one day plays for them.

Turning to a trade for Blake.  Nobody wants this guy.  He make 6 million a year to be a--you say gamer--I say jobber.  Nobody is going to incur that burden and give up prospects.

What the real problem has been this year is the Indians' utter complacentcy.  It was clear from month one that our hitting was in trouble.  Then Martinez and Hafner get injured--Hafner probably injured from spring training-- and we dont do anything about it.  Compound that with two of our best pitchers being out and it is evident that this lineup will not cut.  Hell, Peralta is batting fricking cleanup.  At the end of May, we needed to explore any measures to get some runs.  Barry Bonds is still unemployed.  Ive got a feeling Julio Franco (whom the guy mentioned above) would be more productive than Ryan Garko has this year.  If nothing else he still would be a good pinch hitter and guy that can be inserted into the lineup every three or four days.  These are things that could have been done without a trade.  I am sure we could have gotten a decent outfield bat for a pitching prospect or two.

Instead we let a weak lineup get weaker with the subtraction of Hafner and Martinez.  Despite the Westbrook and Carmona injuries.  And despite knowing Borowski cant hold a 3-1 lead.  Poor Cliff Lee out to be 15-1 and perhaps on the verge of a season that would be mentioned with Bob Gibson and Denny McClaine as truly extraordinary. 

Is it surprising that we are in last after all that?  Of course not--we havent even tried to remedy the hitting woes.  Now I'm not guaranteeing  that Bonds and Franco or some other over the hillers would definitely produced better than the anemic hitters we have now or that we could have certainly obtained a legitimate younger cleanup hitter through a trade.  However, it would have been an attempt--a swing and a miss as opposed to just staring blankly and doing nothing.  If we could have picked up 5 or 6 games and be 5 or 6 back right now, we'd have a fighter's chance when Carmona gets back--especially how well Lee, Sabathia and Laffey have been pitching. 

Instead we are going to lose Sabathia and like the mid-nineties lose the core of pitchers (then hitters) that could have been the backbone of a dynasty.  I'm not sure that I can follow this team anymore if that happens.

Blake is a gamer, I'm guessing in the sense that he has a respect for the game that (other than Blake) I only see in Sizemore and most of the pitching staff, but he's very streaky and Indians fans have no patience for that.

He's a holdover from 2003's rebuilding stage and took over for an even bigger "gamer" in Travis Fryman. Another guy who was streaky with a bat, but had a love and respect for the game that's missing today (can't wait until he gets back to Cleveland from the minors again).

We've also enjoyed the mediocrity of Aaron Boone, who also was a gamer with more heart than talent, but it's time the Indians break this tradition and acquire someone with offensive skills over defense. Marte was thought to be the guy, but we've treated him like Brandon Phillips, and like Phillips was, he can't wait to get out of Cleveland so he can play every day. Believe me, Marte is much better than what he is playing, as was Phillips, and we'll see it someday though not in Cleveland.

It's hard to call Blake old (since he's just over a week older than I am) but he's lost a step or two over the years and his asking price will be higher than his abilities, though if not traded, I would not be surprised to see the Indians try to have one last go-round with him. Third base will be one of the things of interest in the offseason for the Tribe and will certainly get a lot of opinion on this message board for sure.

Well, thanks for the comments...yes, andy petro, it has been why I have followed the guy-my boy (10) really has followed this guy and plays the game with the same intensity that Casey has...and yes, he is an average, but IMO very adequate ballplayer for the Tribe.  He is a team player, cheerleader, and from what my son has told me, a father of three daughters!  (Good luck with the weddings, big guy!)

When I was a kid, my guy was Rico Petrocelli!  He had one or two really good seasons, but was nothing real special...but he played hard, and I kind of latched onto that.

I'm just personally satisfied that he chose a player who plays