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Cleveland Indians Team Preview (cnnsi.com)

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0
CNNSI.COM


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=554 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><!-- CONTENT GOES HERE --><!-- topper --><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #666 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666 1px solid" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=554 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e7e7e7><TD width=552 colSpan=3>
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</TD><TD class=team_name width=332>Cleveland Indians
Indians 2004 Finish: 80-82, 3rd AL CENTRAL
2005 Schedule | Team Page | Roster </TD><TD class=dropdown width=166><SELECT class=bbForm style="VISIBILITY: visible" onchange=window.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value; name=teams> <OPTION value="" selected>Select Team</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/angels.html>Angels</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/astros.html>Astros</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/athletics.html>Athletics</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/blue_jays.html>Blue Jays</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/braves.html>Braves</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/brewers.html>Brewers</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/cardinals.html>Cardinals</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/cubs.html>Cubs</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/devil_rays.html>Devil Rays</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/diamondbacks.html>Diamondbacks</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/dodgers.html>Dodgers</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/giants.html>Giants</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/indians.html>Indians</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/mariners.html>Mariners</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/marlins.html>Marlins</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/mets.html>Mets</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/nationals.html>Nationals</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/orioles.html>Orioles</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/padres.html>Padres</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/phillies.html>Phillies</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/pirates.html>Pirates</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/rangers.html>Rangers</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/red_sox.html>Red Sox</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/reds.html>Reds</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/rockies.html>Rockies</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/royals.html>Royals</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/tigers.html>Tigers</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/twins.html>Twins</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/white_sox.html>White Sox</OPTION> <OPTION value=/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2005/athlon/yankees.html>Yankees</OPTION></SELECT> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- /topper --><!-- PREVIEW --><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=2 width=554 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=text><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><!-- PHOTO --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=cnnImgAdPad width=300>
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Victor Martinez
David Maxwell/Getty Images


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- /PHOTO --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!--tablemaker--><TABLE class=cnnTMbox cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=cnnIEBoxTitle>Beyond the Box Score</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnTMcontent><!-- tabled content area --><TABLE class=cnnTM cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Always use protection
Rookie Kyle Denney was shot in the right calf Sept. 29 in a drive-by shooting while riding on the team bus after a game in Kansas City. Denney’s calf was partially protected by a white go-go boot he was wearing. Denney was dressed as a USC cheerleader as part of a rookie hazing prank when he was shot. </TD></TR><TR class=cnnIERowAltBG><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Bombed in the Bronx
The Indians have lost more than 1,000 games to the Yankees over their long history, but on Aug. 31, they gained a small measure of revenge, beating New York 22–0 at Yankee Stadium. It was the worst loss in Yankee history and matched the Tribe’s biggest shutout in history. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Thanks for the memories
When the Indians didn’t exercise Omar Vizquel’s $5 million option for 2005, they severed ties with the last player on the roster to appear in the 1995 and 1997 World Series.

</TD></TR><TR class=cnnIERowAltBG><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Catch me if you can
Victor Martinez, who had 108 RBIs overall, had 101 of them as a catcher to set a club record. The previous high was 83 by Sandy Alomar Jr. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Night to remember
In a game against Seattle on July 16, Martinez went 5-for-5 with three homers and seven RBIs. He hit homers from both sides of the plate and became the first Tribe catcher to hit three homers in one game.</TD></TR><TR class=cnnIERowAltBG><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Patience of Casey
Casey Blake saw an average of 4.26 pitches per at-bat last season. It was the highest average of any hitter in the American League.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Sevens
Not only did David Riske blow seven saves last season, but he also won seven straight decisions from May 29 through Aug. 25. </TD></TR><TR class=cnnIERowAltBG><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">Bringing heat
C.C. Sabathia threw 509 pitches at 95 mph or higher last year, the second-most in the AL. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnIEColTxtL style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px">High five
The Indians came out of nowhere and placed five players on the AL All-Star team. The Yankees and Rangers were the only teams with more.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- /tabled content area --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--/tablemaker--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>This is the season when GM Mark Shapiro said the Indians would contend again. Shapiro is four years into his rebuilding plan, and so far his timetable has run true to course. To make contention a reality in the American League Central, the Indians will need a solid year out of free agent arrival Kevin Millwood, a more focused C.C. Sabathia in the rotation and a healthy Bob Wickman in the bullpen. Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Casey Blake and Coco Crisp must continue to drive last year’s unexpectedly productive offense, and manager Eric Wedge must find out if Jhonny Peralta can replace Omar Vizquel at shortstop.

Rotation
Millwood, Sabathia, Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee give the Indians four decent starters. Millwood was a nice consolation prize for Cleveland after the club was outbid for starters Jon Lieber, Matt Clement and David Wells. Sabathia, distracted by on- and off-the-field issues last year, needs to stop baiting umpires and keep his emotions in check. If ground-ball specialist Westbrook builds on last year’s breakout season, he could become one of the best No. 2 or No. 3 starters in the American League. Lee, 9–1 in the first half and 5–7 in the second half last season, may one day replace Sabathia as the No. 1 starter if he can develop some consistency. Scott Elarton, who settled down in the second half after a horrible start with Colorado, could round out the rotation. Jason Davis opened last season as the No. 2 starter but could be the Tribe’s new closer by the end of the season.

Bullpen
The effectiveness of the bullpen will be a key to the Indians’ season. They blew 28 saves last year, 21 by the All-Star break. Wickman, 13-of-14 in save situations after the break, is back despite a questionable right elbow. Setup men Bobby Howry and David Riske have Wickman’s back if he struggles. Wedge spent much of last season without an effective lefty, but he’ll have options this year in veterans Arthur Rhodes and Scott Sauerbeck, along with Cliff Bartosh. Rhodes was acquired from Pittsburgh, and Sauerbeck missed last season with rotator cuff surgery. Sidearmer Matt Miller and Rafael Betancourt will compete for the middle innings, with Davis, Kaz Tadano and Jeremy Guthrie candidates to be long men and spot starters.

Middle Infield
Peralta has the difficult job of replacing Vizquel, who ended his 11-year stay as the Indians’ shortstop by signing a three-year deal with San Francisco. Peralta, the International League Player of the Year last season at Class AAA Buffalo, made 27 errors bouncing between short and third. He needs work on his backhand. Ronnie Belliard offers stability and a good bat at second. Alex Cora and Jose Hernandez both can play shortstop if Peralta falters.

Corners
After two productive years, Casey Blake is headed for the outfield, provided Aaron Boone can step in at third. Boone, signed in June as a free agent, didn’t play last year because of two operations on his left knee. The Indians expect him to be ready by Opening Day, but no one knows how much Boone, 32, has left after missing an entire year. When Boone was acquired last year, it made first baseman Ben Broussard trade bait. He wasn’t hitting, and Blake’s second-best position is first. But Broussard started to hit, particularly in the clutch, and saved his job. Broussard gives Wedge a productive left-handed hitter who can bat anywhere from fifth through eighth in the lineup.

Outfield
If Juan Gonzalez, signed to a minor league contract, makes it through spring training healthy, a jumbled outfield will begin to look orderly. Gonzalez will be in right field, Blake will move from right to left and Coco Crisp will play center. Gonzalez has been plagued by injuries over the last three years, but if he gives the Indians anything close to what he gave them in 2001 (.325, 35 HRs, 140 RBIs), he’ll be a steal. What the Indians really want him to do is replace the 100 runs scored by Matt Lawton, who was traded to Pittsburgh in December. Blake, who has gone from third base to right field to left field since the end of last season, hit 28 homers last season but has never played a big league game in the outfield. Crisp, who will get a chance to hit leadoff, can run the ball down in center, but he has a weak arm. He stunned management last year by hitting .318 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs in the second half.

Catching
The switch-hitting Martinez and Josh Bard could be the Tribe’s catchers for a long time. When Martinez moved into the cleanup spot in May, the offense took off. Martinez made the All-Star team, but he wore down in the second half and his throwing is a liability. When the Indians released veteran Tim Laker, they cleared a spot for Bard. He has a better arm than Martinez and has some power.

DH/Bench
The Indians likely would have offered Hafner a multi-year contract in the offseason had he not undergone surgery on his right elbow in October. Hafner is disciplined, works the count and has big-time power. Manny Ramirez was the only AL player with a better OPS than Hafner in 2004. Hernandez brings versatility because he can play all the infield positions as well as some outfield, and he’s a productive — albeit strike-prone — hitter. Cora can be a boost as well, especially defensively, and handles the bat extremely well. Bard will be the backup catcher, and Ryan Ludwick, slowed by knee surgeries last year, has a chance to be the fourth outfielder. Jody Gerut, when he recovers from ACL surgery on his right knee, will be a factor as well. Brandon Phillips could fill the extra infield spot.

Management
Shapiro’s rebuilding plan has been painful, because owner Larry Dolan has kept a tight hold on his wallet. Still, Shapiro has made progress, and he was rewarded with a contract extension in the offseason that will keep him with the club through the 2007 season. Now it’s up to him, Wedge and the players to take the next step. The Indians improved from 68 victories in 2003 to 80 in 2004, and they were one game out of first place on Aug. 14 before falling out of the race. Since blowing up the club in 2002, Shapiro has restocked the minor league system with trades, good drafts and about $100 million of Dolan’s money. He hired Wedge, who struck a motivational chord with his players last season. It will be interesting to find out if that chord is still ringing this year.

Final Analysis
Even in the conservative AL Central, payrolls are climbing. The Twins, winners of three straight division titles, are holding at $55 million to $60 million, but the White Sox and Tigers could go well beyond that. The Indians, with all their young talent, may not be able to compete with a projected payroll of between $42 million and $45 million, although securing a tested starter like Millwood will certainly help. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I think the Indians will be the team to beat in the central division as long as Milwood gives us solid outings and Wickman stays healthy. In my opinion these two guys are the keys to the season. Our bullpen last year at the start of the season was absolutely horrible and cost us basically the division, we finished 12 games out and we blew I think around 20+ save opportunities.
 
Indians have Pitching rotation set

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Indians spinning depth of rotation</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Sheldon Ocker, Beacon Journal staff writer


WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - Few teams have the luxury of being able to name their rotation before spring training begins.



When the Indians' deep thinkers arrived in Winter Haven a couple of weeks ago, they found themselves with nothing to worry about in terms of their five starting pitchers.

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What seemed to be an advantage turned into a problem, however, creating an issue vacuum. A team's executives can't go through a six-week training camp without facing a challenge.



Yet, try as they might, general manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge couldn't get around the fact that C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook, Kevin Millwood, Cliff Lee and Scott Elarton were locked in as starters.



Then again, there was the question of depth. What if one or more of the starting pitchers developed an injury or plunged into a monthlong slump? Thankfully, Wedge and Shapiro really did have something to fret about.



Truth be told, club executives go through this process every spring. The difference for the Tribe this year is the number of available choices to back up the starters.



"We need to find out who will be our sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth starters, and how to rank them," Shapiro said Monday. "Getting a preference list is important."



The candidates for depth at starting pitcher include Jason Davis, Jeremy Guthrie, Kazuhito Tadano, Kyle Denney, Denny Stark and Steve Watkins.



Except for one pitcher on the list, almost surely Davis, these starters will begin the season at Triple-A.



Davis sits atop the group, though Shapiro and Wedge insist that he does not have a hammerlock on a roster spot. However, he has the advantage of being able to start and of having a brief history as a reliever (late last season).



In all likelihood, Davis will be the emergency sixth starter and help out in the bullpen, both as a long reliever and in the middle innings.



"Jason is in a different category than the others," Shapiro said. "One question we have to answer is how big is the drop-off between Jason and the seventh starter and how long is he a viable candidate for the rotation once he's a reliever?



"There's no question he can contribute in the bullpen. But how can he help the club the most?"



Davis was strictly a starter until he struggled through much of last season. He then was converted to the bullpen.



The Tribe had high hopes that Guthrie, 25, by this time, would be an established major-league starter.



He was regarded as a prospect with a good arm and maybe a better head after being taken in the first round of the 2002 draft. He then dominated batters at Akron in 2003, but he struggled when he was promoted to Buffalo. Guthrie hasn't recovered.



"We think his best chance to ultimately have an impact in the majors is as a starter," Shapiro said. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that starting is his best role now. It's a question of how he will impact the team."



With each of these candidates, Shapiro is focusing on the short term, that is, this season, and in what roles they can best make the Tribe better. Even though they are career starters, they might be summoned to the Indians to work in the bullpen, if that is the immediate need.



"A guy who goes down to Buffalo to start could come up as a reliever," Shapiro said.



Two names on the list might be unfamiliar to Tribe fans: Watkins and Stark, both spring invitees.



Stark, 30, has three full seasons of big-league experience with the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies. Last year, he was 0-5 with an 11.42 earned-run average in six starts with the Rockies and 8-2 with a 3.50 ERA at Triple-A Colorado Springs. Overall, he has a 15-13 big-league record and a 5.78 ERA.



Watkins, 26, has pitched in only 11 major-league games, all of them in 2004 with the San Diego Padres, where he was 0-0 with a 6.28 ERA in relief.



"This is not a simple equation," Shapiro said. "We have about eight guys we'd like to see start at Triple-A. We could field two rotations at Buffalo." However, that won't happen. Some pitchers on the depth list probably will end up in the Bisons' bullpen, while young studs Fausto Carmona, Jake Dittler and possibly Billy Traber and Brian Tallet will push for spots in the rotation. One of the complications is the fact that some pitchers -- Tadano, Watkins -- have had some success in the bullpen and as starters, either in the big leagues or the minors. In addition, Tallet and Traber are coming off Tommy John surgery.

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If CC can get more consistent and Milwood gets back to form, this rotation could be one of the best in the American league.
 
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two things about the tribe disappoint me.

1. Dolan. If this team is a real contender but falls a little short this year, he needs to go out and give up some cash to get a player or two where cleveland is lacking.

2. the fans have been rather fickle to say the least. the Jake was dead silent the few games I attended, and I was there when they were 3 games out of 1st place in August.

but nevertheless, go Tribe.
 
Upvote 0
two things about the tribe disappoint me.

1. Dolan. If this team is a real contender but falls a little short this year, he needs to go out and give up some cash to get a player or two where cleveland is lacking.

2. the fans have been rather fickle to say the least. the Jake was dead silent the few games I attended, and I was there when they were 3 games out of 1st place in August.

but nevertheless, go Tribe.
I agree..100%.......I think our payroll is around 42-46 million......that is not that much in baseball, we have some quality players and I would love for them to get involved in free agency, but I have to give them credit for sticking to the plan of bringing up the young guys, they have had some success, I just hope we can get over the hump.
 
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tsteele316 said:
two things about the tribe disappoint me.

1. Dolan. If this team is a real contender but falls a little short this year, he needs to go out and give up some cash to get a player or two where cleveland is lacking.

2. the fans have been rather fickle to say the least. the Jake was dead silent the few games I attended, and I was there when they were 3 games out of 1st place in August.

but nevertheless, go Tribe.
I agree with you. Everyone keeps blaming Dolan for being cheap but I think he is being smart. We need to build the nucleus first before we spend money. I am looking to see if by the trade deadline if we are doing well if we go out and make a trade for somebody.

But I am becoming more and more disappointed in so called Indians Fans. The problem with the 90s bandwagon is everyone got spoiled. Now they want to see a winner first. Sorry, but in Baseball it doesn't work that way for mid market teams. If you don't support the team in the growing stages then the team won't be able to make enough money to spend it.

The team we have right now is young and exciting and there should be no reason to not average 30,000 a game.
 
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Juan Gonzalez comeback watch

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="" vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Spotlight: Comebacks to watch</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Stan McNeal - SportingNews


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The old adage "hope springs eternal" pops up every year when training camps open. Here are seven players who are looking to rejuvenate themselves for the 2005 season.

Jason Giambi, 1B/DH, Yankees



Sore spots: intestinal parasite, strained groin, respiratory infection and benign pituitary tumor. And, oh yes, he's playing under a cloud of suspicion after admitting to a grand jury that he has used steroids. Indeed, no player will be watched more closely this spring than Giambi, a former MVP.

According to reports out of Tampa, Giambi looks much healthier; he says he worked out twice a day on most days in the offseason. Giambi says he ran, threw and hit in the mornings and lifted weights in the afternoons.

<TABLE cellPadding=1 align=right border=0 vspace="5" hspace="10"><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Although the Yankees publicly are pledging their support, manager Joe Torre has promised nothing more. Giambi will have to beat out Torre favorite Tino Martinez for the first base job and Ruben Sierra, among others, at DH.

In early batting practice, Giambi tried to use the whole field; last season, he pulled everything as he tried to play through his assortment of ailments. The results were miserable: a .208 average in 264 at-bats with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

One thing Giambi hasn't changed: his penchant for going out on the town. "You guys all know I like to have fun," he told reporters. "I like to go and have a good time. But it's never got in the way of my performance or playing ever in the past."

Andy Pettitte, LHP, Astros



Sore spot: left elbow. The Astros won't know until late March whether Pettitte will make the rotation. He's taking it slow, but it's encouraging that he's throwing with the same motion he used before the elbow problems. Pettitte went 6-4 in 2004, even though he knew after his first start that he eventually would need surgery.

Juan Gonzalez, OF, Indians



Sore spot: lower back. For the past three seasons, Gonzalez's presence on the disabled list has been a sure sign of summer. But because it's not yet spring, Gonzalez is healthy and "ready to work hard." Manager Eric Wedge is not ready to pencil Gonzalez into the lineup. "He has a complete understanding of what he needs to do to earn a spot on this club," Wedge told reporters.

Chad Fox, RHP, Cubs



Sore spot: right elbow. Fox, one of the heroes of the Marlins' run to the 2003 World Series title, is fighting for a job. He was sidelined for most of last season because of nerve damage in his right elbow, which already had been operated on twice. Fox has one factor in his favor: It's an odd-numbered year. His most healthy recent seasons were '01 and '03.

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers

Sore spot: left knee. Though many still question the soundness of Ordonez's knee, which had two surgeries last year, he promises to be ready for opening day. He reported to camp early and consistently has impressed his new team in the batting cage. Though he plans to take it easy on his knee, he told reporters, "I can say now that it feels normal."

Joe Mauer, C, Twins



Sore spot: left knee. Mauer, who'll be 22 in April, has been participating in full drills and says his surgically repaired knee is not an issue. Still, the Twins will be watching closely. They figure to use him as a DH frequently in spring games and occasionally during the season. Mauer was injured in the second game of last season and never fully recovered. Runelvys Hernandez, RHP, Royals

Sore spot: right elbow. The Royals say he has reached 93 mph in workouts and appears ready to regain his spot in the rotation. His arm action is loose, and his delivery has improved. All he needs to do is build up his arm strength . . . and stay healthy. Hernandez missed all of the 2004 season after undergoing elbow surgery in 2003.

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If we can just get 82 productive games out of Juan Gone, it will be a great help to the Tribe.
 
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dont get the wrong impression. i didnt expect dolan to go out and break the bank this offseason. he didnt ante up for ramirez and thome, but we all knew the rebuilding phase was forthcoming. there is going to come a time when guys like v-mart, CC and others are going to want a payday. if cleveland is in the midst of a nice run at that time and Dolan skimps, then there's an issue.

if cleveland is one or two pieces away from being a big time contender and dolan wont spend a little to get to the next level, then there is cause for concern.

i've been going to tribe games for 15 years. it was quite annoying when bigwigs snared up every decent seat at the Jake to show off to clients and business buddies when they couldnt name but 3 people on the team. but, that will always be the nature of the beast.
 
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i've been going to tribe games for 15 years. it was quite annoying when bigwigs snared up every decent seat at the Jake to show off to clients and business buddies when they couldnt name but 3 people on the team. but, that will always be the nature of the beast.

True true, that's the double edged sword of winning for a long time ... the fans (in attendance) go corprate -- but it's gotta be that way, especially in cleveland where ticket revenue is curcial in stocking the coffers. If the fans show up in force this year, it'll really help dolan put together some change to sign a higher priced player or sign a bunch of these young guys to long-term extensions.

In regard to Dolan's tight wallet ... I'm still not really sold that the guy isn't willing to pay to win. I think he got a bad rap because he came into a situation where the indians were way financially over-extended, and he had to reel things back into check. I have a feeling that he'll come through when necessary.
 
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Actually I think the image of Dolan as cheap is a bit unfair as of yet. Jacobs never spent 90 Million to lose 40, and I think its unfair of people to expect them to do so.

Anyway... he could have spent money and still lost, its easy to do.

This upcoming year should be the test though... first, in reagrd to paying the guys they have now.... (Hafner, Martinez, etc) whether those are FA's or if they give them arbitration aviodance deals... and the second part is that they'll have a better idea of what Peralta can do, hopefully a better read on Phillips and Sizemore... continuing evaluation on guys like Gerut, Broussard, Lee, and Davis. (And also, get a better read on Mike Aubrey and some of the AA level guys)... the whole point is that they will have a better idea if they sign Free Agents... who it is they need to sign... because even if you knew you had 10 mill to spend on a guy next year, they don't know if that guy needs to be a 1B or a 3B or corner outfielder or a starting pitcher or a closer or what.
 
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I like an owner that is so disgustingly rich that payroll is a non-entity... like Cuban... He just wants to win...

Altho, I also get very disgusted when avg and below avg players make outlandish amts of money... Jimenez comes to mind... weren't we paying him something like $150K per blown save??

I used to detest Steinbrenner... but I've come to appreciate him... the guy will spend whatever it takes... he'll do anything to win... money is never an object... not-withstanding the overall affect on baseball and fair play... the rules let him do it... don't like it?? ... change the rules...
 
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