Indians Tidbits (2006 season)..

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/10/06

INDIANS SPRING TRAINING
Mota's spring debut is relief to Tribe


Thursday, March 09, 2006 Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter
Winter Haven, Fla.- The Indians have treated Guillermo Mota with kid gloves this spring, bringing one of the keys to the bullpen along slowly after a bout with shoulder tendinitis in September.
The gloves came off in Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the New York Mets at Chain of Lakes Park.
Making his first appearance against big-league hitters since working 2 2/3 innings in late September against Atlanta while pitching for the Florida Marlins, Mota shut out the Mets in one inning.
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<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!--if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) {document.write('<IFRAME WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 FRAMEBORDER=0 SCROLLING=no BORDERCOLOR="#000000" SRC="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/{$category_letter}/{$category_whole}/@StoryAd"></IFRAME>');} --></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>The 24-pitch outing was highly scrutinized. The Indians hope Mota is the set-up man to closer Bob Wickman, replacing Bob Howry.
Howry rode a 7-4 record (2.47 ERA) out of Cleveland, signing a three-year, $12 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Enter Mota, a one-time set-up man supreme for Eric Gagne and the Dodgers four years ago.
Mota's tendinitis issue, which nearly negated a January trade that sent Coco Crisp to the Red Sox and also brought third baseman Andy Marte and catcher Kelly Shoppach to Cleveland, looked like a non-issue Wednesday.
At times struggling with his command, Mota walked the first batter he faced (Chris Woodward), but he retired the next three: Lastings Milledge, Sandy Martinez and Julio Ramirez.
Sitting in the stands behind home plate was Tribe General Manager Mark Shapiro. "He's healthy, he looked good and he looked strong," Shapiro said. "I am very pleased."
The set-up man - the guy who gets the game to the closer - is a key to any bullpen. Wickman, who has looked sharp in two spring games (no runs, two innings), said he's worked with three top-notch set-up men - Steve Karsay, Paul Shuey and Bob Howry - during a 14-year career in which he's saved 214 games.
"The bullpen as a whole has to work in sync, but those three set-up guys stood out, and not in any order. The thing with a set-up man is if he doesn't understand his role and has an attitude, then there is a problem.
"You have to feed off each other. You could see that with me and Bobby [Howry] last year."
Indians manager Eric Wedge looked relieved at seeing Mota pitch a healthy-looking inning.
"It was good to get [Mota] out there," Wedge said. "He's on a program, one that hopefully ensures he will be healthy for Opening Day.
"We need to make sure we keep building him up."
Mota was pleased. "Pitching for the first time since September, I felt good," he said. "I was not worried about them hitting any home runs or anything like that.
"I was just worried about any pain. The pain last year was the worst I ever had. Today, I had no pain."
Mota was not concerned with velocity. "Right now, I don't have the velocity I normally have and I'm not putting the ball where I want. But I am real happy."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/10/06

<H1 class=red>Grapefruit gab

</H1>

Thursday, March 09, 2006



What: Game No. 8 vs. New York Mets at Winter Haven, Fla.; No. 9 vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Dunedin, Fla.

Score: Indians (6-3), lost to the Mets, 7-1; beat the Blue Jays, 7-4.
Rundown: Starter Paul Byrd was shelled (7 runs, 9 hits in 1 2/3 innings), and Jhonny Peralta drove in the lone run against the Mets. . . . Andy Marte went 4-for-4 (home run, double, two singles) with three RBI against the Blue Jays. Jeremy Sowers started and gave up two runs on five hits in three innings.

Handicapping the position races: Kelly Shoppach, battling Einar Diaz for the backup catcher's spot, was hitless in two at-bats. His batting average dropped to .111. He threw out 1 of 2 runners attempting to steal. Diaz is batting .222 after popping out in his lone at bat.

Other observations: The errors keep piling up. They stand at 15 in nine games after Aaron Boone's boot against the Mets and Joe Inglett's two against the Blue Jays. . . . Travis Hafner is not polished at first base. In the second inning, he was the cut-off man on a throw from the outfield. He bobbled the throw, when he should have let it go through for a play at the plate.

Next up: Washington, at Winter Haven at 1:05 p.m.

- Burt Graeff

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/10/06

INDIANS INSIDER
Tribe not tipping its hand in contract talks with Peralta


Friday, March 10, 2006

Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Winter Haven, Fla. -- The Indians are closing in on a multiyear deal with Jhonny Peralta, according to his agent Bill Rego.

"We're rounding third and heading home," Rego said Thursday.

They may be rounding third and heading home, but General Manager Mark Shapiro would not offer much insight. "We are actively in talks," Shapiro said, "but there is nothing at this point."

Peralta, 23, hit .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBI in 141 games last season as the successor to nine-time Gold Glover Omar Vizquel at shortstop.

Nine in one:

The Indians erupted for nine runs on seven hits in the sixth inning of a 10-5 victory over Washington on Thursday at Chain of Lakes Park.

Jason Michaels knocked in four of the nine -- hitting a two-run single and a two-run double.

Jason Johnson started for the Tribe and was rocked for four runs in three innings. "I caught the middle of the plate too much," he said.

Nice save:

The World Baseball Classic served as a scouting tool for Shapiro.

Shapiro watched the televised broadcast of Puerto Rico's 2-1 victory over Panama on Tuesday.

The save for Puerto Rico went to Indians 24-year-old relief pitcher Fernando Carbrera, whom Shapiro feels can someday succeed Bob Wickman as the team's closer.

"Watching [Cabrera] pitch in the situation was a unique evaluation opportunity," Shapiro said. "It was as close to a major-league save as you can get."

Cabrera, 2-1 (1.47 ERA) in 15 appearances for the Indians last season, walked one and struck out two.

Under the radar:

Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, a disappointment after being selected in the first round of the 2002 draft and signed to the highest bonus in club history ($3 million), quietly is having a good spring.

In two appearances, Guthrie, 26, has given up two runs in seven innings (2.57 ERA). He's fanned six, walked two and opposing hitters are batting .192 off him. "His delivery looks like it's freed up," Shapiro said.

"He's always had the talent. He looks like he's more relaxed."

The upcoming season is pivotal for Guthrie. In addition to getting a $3 million bonus in 2002, he signed a four-year, $1 million major-league contract that expires at the end of this season. The Indians hold two option years.

Finally:

The roster was trimmed to 56 after rookie outfielders Trevor Crowe and Ben Francisco were sent to minor-league camp. Crowe is ticketed to open the season at Class A Kinston, N.C., Francisco at Class AAA Buffalo. . . . Unofficial team barber/rookie pitcher Brian Slocum has struck again. The latest to get buzz cuts are Casey Blake and Andrew Brown. . . . About 125 minor-leaguers reported to camp and began workouts on Wednesday. . . . Former Tribe pitcher Billy Traber started for Washington on Thursday and looked good, shutting out his former team on one hit in four innings.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/10/06

INDIANS
Prospect gets stuck on minor detail


Friday, March 10, 2006

Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Winter Haven, Fla.- Andy Marte, the Indians hottest minor-league prospect, knows he's ticketed to start the season at Class AAA Buffalo.

Tribe General Manager Mark Shapiro has said it. So has manager Eric Wedge.

Barring injury, Aaron Boone is the third baseman. Period, end of discussion.

Maybe so, but Marte says he's ready for the big leagues now. His bat continues to back him up.

Marte singled in two at-bats of Thursday's 10-5 victory over the Washington Nationals, raising his Grapefruit League batting average to .500 (8-for-16). He leads the Tribe in total bases (15), doubles (four) and has four RBI and one home run.

He has seven hits in nine at-bats (.778) after starting the exhibition season 1-of-7 (.143).

"[The Indians] say I have got to go to Buffalo," Marte said afterward, "but I am still trying to do the best I can no matter what.

"I feel I am ready [for the majors]. I am ready. They will find out that I am ready. I am not saying that I will hit .300 in the majors, but I am ready."

Marte, 22, was the key player for the Indians in a trade that sent Coco Crisp to the Red Sox in January. Tribe officials feel that once Marte is parked at third, he will be a fixture there for the next decade.

Meanwhile, the plan is to ease Marte into third base, recalling him from Buffalo only if Boone is injured or gets off to a slow start at the plate.

"As I have said before," Wedge said, "Aaron Boone is our third baseman.

Andy Marte is a young player getting a chance to play and he is really making a good impression."

Is he major-league ready?

"He's right there on the cusp," Wedge said

Shapiro reminded everyone quizzing him on Thursday that spring numbers do not always translate into summer numbers. "We will not make a decision based on spring training," Shapiro said.

"The talent is obvious. We are trying to make him feel comfortable here."
Shapiro said there is no intent to teach Marte another position - such as first base or the outfield. "My hope," said Shapiro, "is that he's putting up these kinds of numbers six or eight weeks from now.

"But right now, there is nothing he can do to win a spot [on the final 25-man roster]."

Marte showed little speed on the bases in the second, when he hit a dribbler down the third-base line and was thrown out easily by Nats third baseman Brendan Harris.

But in the fifth, he smoked a Jason Bergmann fastball up the middle that whistled past the bill of the pitcher's cap.

"I used to pull every pitch," said Marte, "but I am learning to take the ball up the middle or to the right when it is pitched on the outside of the plate."

Marte had a mixed day at third base. In the first, he fielded Daryle Ward's bouncer bare-handed and tossed the slow-footed runner out. Later in the same inning, Harris hit a hot grounder that Marte let play him.

It was ruled a hit, but could have been an error.

Bottom line: It's spring, but this kid looks like he can play.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/10/06

Indians report

Too soon for Tribe to make decisions

Pitcher Guthrie appears to have moved up in opinion of GM Shapiro

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - Spring training still has a long way to go, and if the Indians' deep-thinkers have made any personnel decisions, they aren't talking.
General Manager Mark Shapiro says it's too early to make any definitive conclusions, and he's probably right. But enough time has elapsed and enough games have been played for him to have formed preliminary opinions.
Maybe the most interesting of those to date concerns his analysis of the Tribe's starters beyond the rotation that will pitch in Cleveland.
When spring training began, the spot starters scheduled to begin the season in Triple-A Buffalo were Jeremy Sowers, Fausto Carmona and Jason Davis.
The plan was to summon one of these pitchers to the big leagues if anyone in the rotation got hurt or went into a prolonged slump.
On Thursday, in delineating his list of spot starters, Shapiro added Jeremy Guthrie and omitted Davis.
``We should have a lot of guys who can give us starting depth in the minors: Guthrie, Sowers and Carmona,'' Shaprio said. ``Davis is concentrating on the bullpen for now.''
Davis is competing for the final bullpen spot with Steve Karsay, Danny Graves and Andrew Brown. If Davis loses out, Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge will determine whether he starts or relieves at Triple-A.
After what Shapiro said Thursday, it appears that Davis will remain a reliever.
But how has Guthrie elevated his game to join Carmona and Sowers?
Guthrie, the Tribe's No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft, began his career in dramatic fashion by dominating for the Double-A Aeros in 2003.
In addition to posting a 6-2 record and 1.44 ERA, he walked only 14 in 62 2/3 innings.
Later that season, Guthrie struggled at Buffalo and has continued to struggle ever since.
So why the rise in status now?
``Guthrie's outings have been encouraging this spring,'' Shapiro said. ``He's always had good stuff. Now, he's a little more relaxed. I've never been disappointed in Guthrie. We miscalculated the pace of his development.''
Guthrie has pitched in two exhibition games, giving up two runs and five hits in seven innings, while walking two and striking out six.
Certainly, Guthrie has done nothing to disappoint in training camp. But he will be 27 next month and needs to carry his success into the season.
Guthrie has one advantage over Sowers and Carmona in his quest for a major-league job.
Asked if Guthrie definitely would start if he received a call-up, Shapiro said: ``We'll see. One of Jeremy's strengths is that he can perform in multiple roles.''
Guthrie already has spent parts of two seasons with the Indians, compiling a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings in seven relief appearances.
On other topics:
• Shapiro has had no complaints so far with the World Baseball Classic. None of the Indians' five participants has suffered injuries or been abused.
The concern was mostly with pitchers, whose outings are strictly regulated. Starters can throw no more than 65 pitches in the first round of the tournament, and relievers aren't permitted to throw back-to-back games.
``The WBC has been fun,'' Shapiro said.
Fernando Cabrera has played the most prominent role among Tribe competitors as the closer for Puerto Rico (the other participants are Ronnie Belliard, Eduardo Perez, Victor Martinez and Rafael Betancourt).
• There are several players who won't make the 25-man roster who nevertheless have made a positive impression on Shapiro.
One of those is Jason Dubois, who is batting .389 in 18 at-bats with two doubles and a homer.
``What we've seen from his is positive,'' Shapiro said. ``I don't think what we saw last year was the real Jason. But I don't think what we're seeing now is the real Dubois either. It's probably somewhere in between.''
• Don't hold your breath. The three personnel decisions that have to be made -- one reliever, backup catcher and utility infielder -- probably won't be finalized until late in camp.
``For multiple reasons, it's going to come down to the last two or three days,'' Shapiro said.
A note about that: Wedge has said more than once that he wants to determine the entire makeup of the club early.
• Michael Aubrey, a first-round choice in 2003, took live batting practice three days ago for the first time this spring.
Ever since signing his pro contract, Aubrey has been plagued by injuries, the latest to his back.
``Right now, he's on track to break camp with a minor-league team,'' Shapiro said.
Less than perfect
The Indians scored nine runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 5-0 deficit, but Wedge was clearly unimpressed with the 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday at Chain O' Lakes Park.
The Tribe jammed seven hits into the seventh inning to produce the rally. Jason Michaels had two hits and four RBI, and Grady Sizemore added a double and drove in three runs.
``We had a good inning, but our (overall) approach wasn't particularly good today,'' Wedge said.
Getting their work in
One of Wedge's favorite expressions during camp is pitchers ``getting their work in.''
Jason Johnson did just that against the Nationals, giving up nine hits and four runs in three innings.
Ex-Indian Billy Traber, on the other hand, did a little more. Starting for the Nationals, Traber pitched four shutout innings, giving up one hit, walking none and striking out four.
``Billy looked good,'' Wedge said. ``He threw very well. And he's a guy that you root for.''
First cuts
Outfielders Trevor Crowe and Ben Francisco were re-assigned to the minor-league camp.
Crowe, the Indians' No. 1 draft pick last year, will start the season at Class-A Kinston. Francisco will go to Buffalo.
``His energy, his effort and his ability were all evident,'' Shapiro said. ``He still has some transitions ahead of him. But the impression he made was evident.''
Marching onward
The Indians play host to the Atlanta Braves today at Chain O' Lakes Park. Jake Westbrook will start against John Smoltz. Following Westbrook to the mound will be Graves, Karsay, Scott Sauerbeck and Brown.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/10/06

Classic going fine for Tribe

Friday, March 10, 2006


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]INDIANS NOTEBOOK ANDY CALL[/FONT]



WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - So far, so good.
Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro was among those expressing concern this winter over his players participating in the World Baseball Classic. The first few games have proceeded without incident to Cleveland’s players, however, and have even included at least one pleasant surprise for the Indians.
“The reports we’ve gotten have all been great,” Shapiro said of the five Indians taking part in the tournament. “We have no concerns at this point.”
Second baseman Ronnie Belliard has not played in either of the Dominican Republic’s first two games. Catcher Victor Martinez is 2-for-7 in Venezuela’s two first-round games, starting as a designated hitter in the opener. First baseman Eduardo Perez struck out in his only at bat for Puerto Rico in its first two games.
“For the most part, our position players have been used as extra guys, which is a good thing for us,” Shapiro said.
The good news came at the end of Puerto Rico’s 2-1 victory Tuesday over Panama when right-hander Fernando Cabrera, Cleveland’s projected closer of the future, came on in the ninth inning to earn the save.
“I was excited to see that,” Shapiro said. “It was a save situation in front of his countrymen in a situation that’s as close to a major-league game as you’re going to get this time of the year. That was something there was no way we could simulate.”
Pool play for the first round of the WBC concludes today. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinal round that begins Sunday. The finals are March 18-20 in San Diego.
INDIANS 10, NATIONALS 5
The Indians (7-3) struck for nine runs in the sixth inning as Jason Michaels belted a two-run double and a two-run single.
“Getting a couple hits felt good, especially at that time of the game,” Michaels said. “I’m seeing the ball well right now. Sometimes I wish we had more night games. But I don’t have any problem seeing in the sun. Hey, I’m a Tampa boy.”
Einar Diaz singled and doubled, and Grady Sizemore doubled and drove in a run. Jason Stanford, Kazuhito Tadano and Tony Sipp combined for five scoreless innings of relief.
“Our approach wasn’t particularly good today, but we strung together some good at-bats,” Manager Eric Wedge said.
Former Indians left-hander Billy Traber started for the Nationals and struck out four in four scoreless innings.

TODAY The Indians host Atlanta at 1:05 p.m. Jake Westbrook will start for Cleveland against John Smoltz. Danny Graves, Steve Karsay and Scott Sauerbeck also are scheduled to pitch.
PERALTA SIGNED? WTAM-AM reported Thursday night that the Indians had signed shortstop Jhonny Peralta to a five-year contract, but Shapiro said earlier Thursday that no deal was imminent. “We’re actively in conversations, with more than one guy,” Shapiro said. “Hopefully we’ll have an announcement to make soon. We’re not sure at this point.”
SHUFFLING OFF Outfielders Trevor Crowe and Ben Francisco were sent to minor-league camp Thursday, the first cuts off Cleveland’s original 58-man roster. Crowe was 3-for-8 with a double this spring. Francisco was hitless in two at-bats.
BAD BREAK Francisco played in just one spring-training game after straining a muscle in his right ribcage. “I did it at home right before I came to camp, and it’s been bothering me ever since,” Francisco said. “I could play, but I don’t want to tear it and make it a lot worse than it is now.” Francisco has a career .293 minor-league average but has been limited by injuries.
ON THE MEND Shapiro said first baseman Michael Aubrey took batting practice Tuesday and should be ready to return to action soon. Aubrey injured his back early in camp. “He’s on track to being able to break camp with a minor-league team,” Shapiro said. ALUMNI REPORT Former Indians in camp with Washington include pitchers Ryan Drese, Mike Bacsik, Kyle Denney, Steve Watkins, Jim Crowell and Billy Traber; infielder Damian Jackson; and outfielders Ryan Church and Alex Escobar. Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail: [email protected]
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/10/06

INDIANS

Hafner feeling whole again after playing through injuries

Friday, March 10, 2006

Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Travis Hafner hit .305 with 33 home runs for the Cleveland Indians last season. By one statistical measure, he was the secondmost productive hitter in the American League. But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Hafner’s performance is that he did much of it with pain in an elbow and cobwebs in his head.

He was hit by a pitch on his right elbow early in the season, which exacerbated a previous elbow injury, and at midseason he was hit on the head by a pitch and suffered a concussion. It forced him to scale back his otherwise intense workouts for the rest of the season, including his time in the batting cage.

"It was about as unprepared as I’ll be," Hafner said.

He proclaimed his head clear and elbow strong this spring, and he has even played first base in Grapefruit League games.

Recurring discomfort in the elbow limited Hafner to one game there last season and 12 in 2004, but he said the plan is to play 25-30 games there this season. It would allow the Indians to use the designated hitter spot to give other players — primarily catcher Victor Martinez — a break from the grind of playing defense every day.

"For the most part, it has been pretty good," Hafner said. "I just want to be an option as much as they’d like."

He said the elbow feels "definitely better than last year," but he is only throwing on a limited basis. He had surgery after the 2004 season to remove bone spurs, and he frequently got treatment last season. He said it did not affect him at the plate.

The concussion did, though. Hafner was sidelined for nearly three weeks after being beaned by Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox, and he said it was another month before he could exercise without getting headaches, which forced him to limit his batting practice.

"You’re tired all the time and it’s tough to focus," Hafner said. "In the games it was better, but it took awhile to get over it. By the last month, I felt fine."

Hafner hit .351 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in the final 15 games. Overall, he hit .296 with 15 home runs in 54 games after the concussion.
"There’s very little about Haf that surprises me anymore," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "I’m not sure people appreciate his toughness and intelligence. His level of preparation is as good as any in the game."

The fruits of that preparation were a .408 on-base percentage and .595 slugging percentage, third best in the AL in both categories. His combined total of 1.003 ranked second only to Alex Rodriguez.

Because Hafner was so valuable to the Indians even when he did not play defense, manager Eric Wedge said he will only play first base as long as the elbow remains pain-free.

"We want to make sure we keep his bat in the lineup," Wedge said.
Hit and run



Jason Michaels had two hits and four RBI in a nine-run sixth inning yesterday as the Indians beat the Washington Nationals 10-5. . . . Before the game, the Indians reassigned outfielders Trevor Crowe and Ben Francisco to minor-league camp. Crowe, the team’s top draft pick last year, is ticketed for high-Class A Kinston and Francisco for triple-A Buffalo. . . . First baseman Michael Aubrey, another former first-round draft pick, has been slowed by the same back problems that sidelined him for much of last season, but Shapiro said Aubrey is on track to break camp with one of the minor-league affiliates.

[email protected]

 

[Piney]

All I know is I am now hoping Boone sucks so Marte can get up sooner. He is tearing the cover off the ball this spring. Looking good

 

[exhawg]

All I know is I am now hoping Boone sucks so Marte can get up sooner. He is tearing the cover off the ball this spring. Looking good

Is there any chance Boone could play 1st? Boone is a better player than both of the first basemen so I would rather that he and Marte play well than one playing bad.

 

[redskinbucksfan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2006/03/10/bc.bba.indians.peralta.ap/index.html

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Jhonny Peralta and the Cleveland Indians both got the security they sought Friday when the shortstop signed a five-year, $13 million contract that the team has the option to extend in 2011.
An ecstatic Peralta said he now can support his parents comfortably in retirement.
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<SCRIPT>if(cnnEnableCL){if(!(location.hostname.indexOf('cnn.com')>-1)) {cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','/.element/ssi/misc/2.0/contextual/story.html','');}else{ cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','http://cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/si/cl/2.0/si-story.jsp','category=simlb&url=http:/\/robots.cnnsi.com/2006/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2006/03/10/bc.bba.indians.peralta.ap/index.html&desccharcnt=100&site=cnn_simlb_dyn_ctxt&origin=si');}}</SCRIPT><IFRAME id=iframecontextualLinks style="VISIBILITY: hidden; POSITION: absolute" name=iframecontextualLinks align=right src="http://cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/si/cl/2.0/si-story.jsp?domId=contextualLinks&time=1142018883847&category=simlb&url=http://robots.cnnsi.com/2006/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2006/03/10/bc.bba.indians.peralta.ap/index.html&desccharcnt=100&site=cnn_simlb_dyn_ctxt&origin=si" width=0 height=0></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--endclickprintexclude-->"When I was a boy, I dreamed of being a baseball player. I never thought of being a millionaire," he said. "But now, I can take care of my family without having to worry about anything except playing baseball."
Agent Bill Rego said the deal is "one of the top two" signed by a shortstop before becoming eligible for arbitration. Nomar Garciaparra got $23.25 million over five years with the Boston Red Sox in 1998.
"This may be the best day of spring training thus far," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.
Team president Paul Dolan said he was confident that increased attendance and proposed revenue from a new TV deal would enable the Indians to make similar offers to other players.
"There is no artificial cutoff on signing long-term deals," Dolan said.
Assistant general manager Chris Antonetti, who handled most of the negotiations, said the deal is patterned after one given to catcher Victor Martinez. Last April, the Indians signed the switch-hitter through the 2009 season with a club option for 2010.
future long-term deals could be structured differently, Antonetti said. "Each player is different and we may or may not see one like this again."
Shapiro said the club is talking with two key players, believed to be left-hander Cliff Lee and centerfielder Grady Sizemore.
"If we can't get something done by the end of spring training, we'll stop," Shapiro said. "We will not negotiate during the season."
Peralta, 23, emerged as one of the top offensive shortstops in baseball a year ago in his first full season in the majors. He batted .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 141 games -- setting a franchise record for homers by a shortstop by hitting one more than Woodie Held hit in 1961.
"I think I can do even better this season," Peralta said. "I feel much more comfortable."
Peralta was put in the unenviable position of replacing fan favorite Omar Vizquel, who left as a free agent after the 2004 season. Peralta got off to a slow start, hitting .222 last April and making nine errors in his first 46 games, before blossoming last summer.
"I knew some fans were going crazy because of those errors and comparing me to Omar," Peralta said. "I was feeling it a little."
From May 6 until the end of the season, however, he hit .302 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs in 121 games to help propel the Indians into contention in the AL Central.
He spent much of the first half of 2005 batting ninth. When designated hitter Travis Hafner was injured, manager Eric Wedge moved Peralta into the No. 3 spot with dramatic results. Peralta went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs on July 23, his first game hitting third, and stayed there the rest of the season.
"He didn't blink and how he handled that move mentally drove our confidence in making this offer," Shapiro said.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

cnnsi.com

3/10/06

Indians sign Peralta through 2010

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Jhonny Peralta and the Cleveland Indians both got the security they sought Friday when the shortstop signed a five-year, $13 million contract that the team has the option to extend in 2011.

An ecstatic Peralta said he now can support his parents comfortably in retirement.

"When I was a boy, I dreamed of being a baseball player. I never thought of being a millionaire," he said. "But now, I can take care of my family without having to worry about anything except playing baseball."

Agent Bill Rego said the deal is "one of the top two" signed by a shortstop before becoming eligible for arbitration. Nomar Garciaparra got $23.25 million over five years with the Boston Red Sox in 1998.

"This may be the best day of spring training thus far," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.

Team president Paul Dolan said he was confident that increased attendance and proposed revenue from a new TV deal would enable the Indians to make similar offers to other players.

"There is no artificial cutoff on signing long-term deals," Dolan said.

Assistant general manager Chris Antonetti, who handled most of the negotiations, said the deal is patterned after one given to catcher Victor Martinez. Last April, the Indians signed the switch-hitter through the 2009 season with a club option for 2010.

future long-term deals could be structured differently, Antonetti said. "Each player is different and we may or may not see one like this again."

Shapiro said the club is talking with two key players, believed to be left-hander Cliff Lee and centerfielder Grady Sizemore.

"If we can't get something done by the end of spring training, we'll stop," Shapiro said. "We will not negotiate during the season."

Peralta, 23, emerged as one of the top offensive shortstops in baseball a year ago in his first full season in the majors. He batted .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 141 games -- setting a franchise record for homers by a shortstop by hitting one more than Woodie Held hit in 1961.

"I think I can do even better this season," Peralta said. "I feel much more comfortable."

Peralta was put in the unenviable position of replacing fan favorite Omar Vizquel, who left as a free agent after the 2004 season. Peralta got off to a slow start, hitting .222 last April and making nine errors in his first 46 games, before blossoming last summer.

"I knew some fans were going crazy because of those errors and comparing me to Omar," Peralta said. "I was feeling it a little."

From May 6 until the end of the season, however, he hit .302 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs in 121 games to help propel the Indians into contention in the AL Central.

He spent much of the first half of 2005 batting ninth. When designated hitter Travis Hafner was injured, manager Eric Wedge moved Peralta into the No. 3 spot with dramatic results. Peralta went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs on July 23, his first game hitting third, and stayed there the rest of the season.

"He didn't blink and how he handled that move mentally drove our confidence in making this offer," Shapiro said.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

OK.. I'm gettin pretty excited.. this is the exact process the Tribe used in late 80s/early 90s .. ink their star youngters to long contracts... bring in pitching as needed.. and resulted in 10 years of great baseball... and almost 500 contiguous sellouts at the Jake

 

[BuckBackHome]

Sounds like a steal to me. I sure hope they get Lee and Sizemore locked up.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/11/06

Indians bash Braves

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - It was a day when the Indians' bats spoke for them, as they pummeled the Atlanta Braves 12-4 at Chain O' Lakes Park.
Aaron Boone collected three hits, including two doubles, and drove in a run. Lou Merloni blasted a three-run homer.
It was not a game in which manager Eric Wedge got much practice in situational hitting, though that has been a big theme of this spring training camp.
``There will be a time this season when we need to do that more,'' he said. ``Depending on what we're doing offensively, we might have to force the issue. Of course, it depends on where we are in the lineup.''
Last year, bunting, hit-and-run plays and slapping balls to the right side of the infield to advance a runner were the most difficult part of the game for the Tribe.
``Some guys are going to have to hit and run,'' Wedge said. ``And everybody needs to be better situationally.''
Though it was difficult to tell last season because of a two-month slump, Boone is a guy who can help manufacture runs.
``Boone is a good situational hitter,'' Wedge said. ``But last year, he was always playing catch up (after recuperating from knee surgery.''
THE RACE -- Three of the four competitors for the final spot in the bullpen threw one inning each.
Danny Graves gave up one unearned run and two hits, Steve Karsay worked a hitless inning and Andrew Brown yielded two runs on two hits and two walks, yielding his first runs of the spring in four outings.
``Brown has had a tendency in the spring to overthrow,'' Wedge said. ``He's strong. He doesn't need to do any more.''
In his early outings, Brown already was throwing 84-97 mph.
POSSIBLE INJURY -- Infielder Brandon Phillips fouled a ball off his lower leg and had to leave the game.
``He banged up his shin pretty good,'' Wedge said. ``We're going to have to see where he's at.''
GIVING THEM MORE -- Jake Westbrook started and gave upone run and five hits in four innings, striking out two.
``We scheduled Jake for three innings, and he went four,'' Wedge said. ``He did a great job with his pitch count and looked real good.''
MARCHING ONWARD -- The Indians travel to St. Petersburg to play Tampa Bay today.
Cliff Lee will start against Doug Waechter with Matt Miller, Jason Davis and Rafael Perez scheduled to work in the bullpen.
Sunday's 1 o'clock game against the New York Yankees from Chain O' Lakes Park will be the first telecast of the Tribe's new SportsTime Ohio network.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/11/06

TRIBE REPORT

Saturday, March 11, 2006


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TODAY - The Indians travel to St. Petersburg to face Tampa Bay at 1:05. Cliff Lee starts for the Indians against Doug Waechter. Matt Miller and Jason Davis are scheduled to follow Lee.

CELEBRITY GUEST Indians right-hander Rafael Betancourt stopped by the Chain of Lakes complex Friday. Betancourt is pitching for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but that team had a day off.

SLOPPY SPRING The Indians were charged with three errors Friday, giving them 20 in 11 spring games. “We still have a lot of work to do,” Indians Manager Eric Wedge said. “It’s going to take us a little more time to take some of that work into the games.”

INJURY REPORT Brandon Phillips is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his shin while batting in the third inning. KID STUFF Former Indians slugger Ellis Burks, now a special assistant to General Manager Mark Shapiro, was eating lunch by himself Friday at a table in the Indians clubhouse. “No one wants to eat with the teacher,” Burks mused. Burks, who still lives in Cleveland, will return home next week after meeting with Shapiro to determine what Burks’ duties will be during the regular season.

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