Bauer & Bruce star-Indians win Game One ALDS

Trevor Bauer allowed just two hits in six and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and Jay Bruce blasted a home run and finished with three RBI on the evening as the Cleveland Indians defeated the visiting New York Yankees 4-0 in game one of the ALDS in Cleveland.
Bauer picked up the victory with Andrew Miller and Cody Allen closing the game with the final seven outs of the game, Allen earning the save.
Game two is tomorrow in Cleveland with the Indians sending the likely Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the mound against the Yankees C.C.Sabathia.

Smoke Signals

1) There was some controversy over the selection of Trevor Bauer as the game one starter over Corey Kluber in order for Terry Francona to organize the rotation as he wished.
Trevor Bauer had pitched well in the second half and now the Indians have their best pitcher going in game two.
Gamble paid off...

2) Trevor Bauer had his best stuff going and best of all for the righthander on this night was the curveball that handcuffed Yankees all night long.
Bauer has always been a pitcher with tremendous stuff, it appears that now the mental game is catching to his toolbox...

3) There weren't any runners on base, but the play that set the tone was the diving catch in left center by Jason Kipnis in the third inning.
That catch not only showed the emotion from Trevor Bauer but it also revved up an already loud crowd.
Kipnis may not have a load of major league experience in center, but he was an outfielder at Arizona State and only after being drafted by the Indians did Kipnis move to the infield.
Kipnis in center has its own risks, but inexperience in the outfield isn't one of them.

4) Jay Bruce was involved in all four Indian runs, scoring in the first, knocking in the following three with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.
The narrative so far on the Bruce trade in this series is that the Indians obtained Bruce from the Mets over the Yankees because the Indians were more willing to pay the remainder of his contract than New York was.
The missing part was the price the Indians paid in Ryder Ryan.
Ryan was mediocre for low A Lake County but was impressive in eight outings for the Mets low A squad in Columbia.

5) Now the pressure is all on the Yankees-lose today (5;00 ) and they'll have to beat the Indians three in a row.
Pressure is on Cleveland too,lose game two and they could lose the series by dropping both games in New York.

Indians add Jay Bruce

The Cleveland Indians needed a bat with the recent injuries to outfielders Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall and that need had to be addressed quickly.
The Indians were able to do so with a trade with the New York Mets for outfielder Jay Bruce.

Bruce is doing about what he traditionally does with an average of .258,29 homers,75 RBI and already more than 100 strikeouts.
Bruce was traded to the Mets during the 2016 season after spending his first seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and his next home run will be his fifth season with 30 home runs or more.
That means the Indians have added a big bat with power in their lineup and even if Brantley and Chisenhall return at full strength,Bruce will add pop to the lineup and might see time at DH.
Bruce has spent his career in the National League,so we'll see how he might handle being a DH and there's always the question of being in a new league.
Bruce looks to be a better fit at DH once injuries allow as several of the defensive metrics used in the game rate him as the worst defensive outfielder in the game.

Because the Indians picked up all of the remaining 2017 salary on Bruce's contract at three million,the Mets didn't get a highly rated prospect as Cleveland sent reliever Ryder Ryan to the Mets.
Ryan posted a 3-4 record with an ERA well over four with six saves at Low A Lake County.
Ryan was a 30th round pick from North Carolina in the 2016 draft and not considered a top prospect.

Give the Indians some credit,no matter what Bruce does-they added salary,picked up the entire contract and did it for the right reasons in not giving up even an average prospect.
Bruce is going to have be managed correctly with his defensive deficiencies,but this could be a nice addition for the playoffs as well as getting the Indians by when their injuries need help most...