Indians Tidbits (2006 season)..

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/23/06

INDIANS
Michaels finally makes it


Thursday, March 23, 2006

Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Kissimmee, Fla.- Jason Michaels has played in 383 major-league games, but he is a rookie in one significant aspect.

This spring with the Indians marks Michaels' first days as a regular player, as opposed to situational or platoon.

"To finally be in this position is exciting," he said. "No ques tion it makes things easier on the mind."

Michaels went 1-for 4 with an RBI single in the Indians' 2-1 victory over Houston on Wednesday at Osceola County Stadium.

Not long after Michaels arrived via trade from Philadelphia for Arthur Rhodes in late January, he was informed by the Tribe hierarchy he would be the regular left fielder. He was simultaneously surprised and thrilled to hear the news.

"I know I have to prove I belong, but it's nice to be told you'll be in there on a daily basis," he said. "They showed confidence in me; that, in turn, helps my confidence."

Michaels no longer needs to scratch his helmet wondering what, exactly, he must do to be a regular. A 1998 fourth-round pick of the Phillies, Michaels spent the previous four springs knowing that, no matter how well he performed, it would not be good enough.

"I've never had a shot at being an everyday player until now," he said.
Late in 2004, Michaels finally thought he had forced the Phillies' hand with a couple of solid months. Alas, Philadelphia acquired Kenny Lofton in the off-season and the bosses told Michaels he would continue platooning.

"They bring in Kenny . . . what am I supposed to do?" Michaels said

Lofton and Michaels formed a highly productive duo in center field, batting second behind shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Michaels finished with a .304 average in 105 games. He scored 54 runs and posted an on-base percentage of .399.

Michaels batted .336 in the No. 2 slot and .356 after the sixth inning.

Yet, if he had returned to Philadelphia this spring, there were no guarantees, even as Lofton had moved on to Los Angeles.

The body of work in 2005 is what convinced the Indians' organization to have faith in Michaels as a regular, batting second behind Grady Sizemore, from the outset of spring training. No proving yourself necessary.

As a result, Michaels, a career .291 hitter in the majors, can commence being taken seriously as a player - and just in time. He will turn 30 on May 4. Position players who hit the big 3-0 without having been a regular often find themselves in a struggle for respect for the balance of their careers.

"Heading into this spring, I felt it was coming down to the point where I could be labeled a platoon player," he said. "Nobody wants to get labeled that way."

Now Michaels can focus on getting ready for the regular season instead of fretting over every line drive that gets caught.

"The key is to have quality at-bats, not so much whether they result in hits," said Michaels, who was batting .273 this spring entering Wednesday. "[The Indians] have told me to do what I need to do to get ready for the season. That takes the pressure off."

Michaels brought with him a reputation as a hard-nosed pro willing to do anything to help his club win. He said it stems from his upbringing - his father had a football background - and that he never has been deemed an upper-tier prospect.

"I've used it as motivation to work harder and harder, to prove I belong," he said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4677

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/24/06

Mind over batter? Broussard tries new plate strategy

First baseman puts more thought into his hitting

Friday, March 24, 2006

Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -- Indians first baseman Ben Broussard has gone cerebral.

No more stepping into the box and cutting loose at the first pitch that appears juicy. No more uneducated guessing on how the pitcher will try to work him.

The new Benny Brou is coming to the ballpark with his brain on hyper drive.

"I've really focused on improving my mental approach," he said. "In the past, I've always concentrated on my mechanics instead of What am I thinking? What is my thought process at the plate right now?' "

Broussard's struggles last season forced him to acknowledge that the pitchers evidently knew more than he did when it came to their confrontations. Broussard batted .255 and drove in 68 runs in 466 at-bats over 142 games. He was prone to slumps, beginning with an awful April (.203) and ending with an 0-for-11 in the final week. He batted above .260 in only two months (May, August).

In the off-season, Broussard sat with hitting coach Derek Shelton and dissected video until his eyes hurt. Shelton asked Broussard why he swung at the pitches he did, why he let others go. Shelton asked him to think along with the pitcher, count by count.

"I realize how much of a mental game baseball is," Broussard said, emerging from the sessions determined to make this season different, vowing to use his .258 career average in the majors as a learning experience, not a trend.

"We wanted to get a plan of attack coming into the year, to change up some of my routines," he said. "I'm watching video, keeping a journal. Everything is designed to keep me as consistent as possible."

Broussard's first opportunity to implement the new approach, spring training 2006, does not appear to offer a ringing endorsement. He went 0-for-3 Thursday against the Braves and is batting .190.

On Wednesday against the Astros, he was 0-for-4 with a strikeout, double play and two fly outs, one of which was too shallow to score the runner from third.

Same old Broussard? The player says no.

"I'd like to have more hits, to be producing more, but I've noticed other areas where I'm improving offensively," he said. "A lot of times this spring, I've gone up and said, I'm going to see some pitches today.' Everything has a purpose, instead of my just going out there and whacking at it.

"I'm getting better at having a tighter zone in certain situations. If I don't get a certain pitch in a certain count, I'm going to look for something else."

The words sound good to Broussard's manager, Eric Wedge, who also has peered past the spring numbers into something deeper.

"He's worked hard on being more routine-oriented," Wedge said. "He's put himself in a better position mentally, which can only help him. The results don't always show themselves right away. It takes time."

The old Broussard might not have allowed himself to be patient. He might have seen the bottom line and second-guessed the changes before they ever had a chance to take hold.

Not now.

"I spent the whole off-season thinking about this stuff, so I'm not going to panic," he said. "I know what I'm doing. I'm not going to get knocked off-track. I can't go back to the way I was just because I'm not hitting .300 or .400 in the spring."

Broussard maintains he will stay the course through times of trial even as first base gets crowded around him. Eduardo Perez is scheduled to platoon with Broussard, and catcher Victor Martinez and designated hitter Travis Hafner are projected to play some games there. Ryan Garko is not far away in Class AAA Buffalo.

"It's easy to worry about it, but all that will do is make it harder on you when you have to perform," Broussard said. "All I can do is play well, so when the season rolls around and I'm hitting the ball the way I know I can and playing defense, there won't be a tryout."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected]; 216-999-4677

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/24/06

<H1 class=red>Grapefruit gab

</H1>

Thursday, March 23, 2006



What: Game No. 23 vs. Houston Astros at Kissimmee, Fla.

Score: Indians (15-8) won, 2-1, in front of sellout crowd of 5,367 at

Osceola County Stadium. Houston is 7-13.

Rundown: Starter Paul Byrd gave up one hit in his five-inning stint against the Astros regulars, and Kelly Shoppach and Jason Michaels had RBI singles in the Tribe's first night game of the spring. Byrd set down the first 12 before allowing a single to Morgan Ensberg, who was caught stealing soon thereafter. Byrd struck out four and walked none, throwing 42 of 57 pitches for strikes. Indians relievers Rafael Betancourt and Matt Miller each worked a scoreless inning. Jason Davis pitched the final two innings, giving up one run in the eighth.

Handicapping the position/pitcher races: Kelly Shoppach, competing with Einar Diaz to be the backup catcher, went 2-for-3 with an RBI. His third-inning single drove in Aaron Boone with the Indians' first run. Shoppach singled in the fifth and grounded out in the seventh. Shoppach erased Ensberg in the fifth with a one-hop throw on target. Diaz entered in the seventh and did not bat. . . . Ramon Vazquez, in the backup-infielder mix, entered the game at second in the sixth and was 1-for-1. . . . Jason Davis, competing with Danny Graves and Steve Karsay for a bullpen spot, gave up a run in the eighth in a labored, two-inning appearance.

Next up: vs. Atlanta Braves at Disney Complex, 1 p.m. today. C.C. Sabathia is scheduled to start for Cleveland.

- Dennis Manoloff

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Sabathia shows he's in the spring swing


Friday, March 24, 2006

Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Lake Buena Vista, Fla.- Spring training or regular season, it does not matter.

As long as C.C. Sabathia gets to bat, he is happy.

Sabathia went 1-for-2 (and gave up one run in six innings) as the Indians and Braves tied, 1-1, Thursday in 10 innings at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

"I was worried about my swing coming in because I didn't have a good BP," said Sabathia, a career .280 hitter in games that matter.

In the third, Sabathia ripped a John Thomson pitch to right for a single. He was erased on a double-play grounder by Todd Hollandsworth.

In the sixth, Sabathia smoked a drive that struck Thomson. The ball caromed to the right side of the infield, where second baseman Marcus Giles managed to change direction, scurry over to throw in time to clip him. First baseman James Jurries made a nice pick as the earth shook; otherwise, Sabathia probably would have been credited with another hit.

"I had no chance to beat that out," Sabathia said. "None. The only chance I had was if the first baseman dropped the ball."

Manager Eric Wedge, visions of a blown hamstring or two dancing in his head, said: "I wasn't disappointed he didn't beat it out - let's put it that way."

Sabathia was disappointed in himself that he did not hack at Thomson's first pitch in the second at-bat, a fastball over the plate in a hot zone.

"I thought he was going to start me off-speed, so I wasn't ready for it," he said. Thomson's first two pitches to Sabathia in the first at-bat were off-speed.

The pitching part:

Sabathia, the Tribe's Opening Day starter, threw 58 of 91 pitches for strikes in lowering his spring ERA to 6.38 over five starts. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out six. He faced primarily Braves regulars.
"My change-up was good, my cutter was good, and the fastball was spotting up OK," Sabathia said. "I'm starting to feel better and better."

Wedge said that Sabathia reaching 91 pitches on March 23 is "right on schedule."
"We could have taken him to 95 if we wanted," Wedge said. "Obviously, he's coming out of the gate first, so we're ramping him up pretty good."

Byrd chirps:

Paul Byrd downplayed his dominant performance Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the Astros at Kissimmee, Fla. The right-hander gave up one hit, a single to Morgan Ensberg in the fifth, and faced the minimum over five innings. He walked none and struck out four.

It was the Indians' first night game of the spring. Neither team's batters appeared comfortable in the box.

"I'm not sure the hitters could see the ball really well," Byrd said. "I was throwing fastballs past guys, and that's not me, so I'm not going to be fooled."

B-Phil update:

Infielder Brandon Phillips, sidelined for almost a week because of strep throat, is expected to resume activity today. He is competing for a backup spot.

Gark the Shark:

Wedge is excited about prospect Ryan Garko - and not just for the bat, which always has been a strength.

"I love the improvements he's made defensively," Wedge said.

Garko, drafted in 2003 as a catcher, will resume his first base duties at Class AAA Buffalo when the season begins. He was rocky defensively last season while trying to adapt to his new surroundings.

Wedge also praised designated hitter Travis Hafner for his defensive progress at first.

More matters of Pronk:

Hafner checked up hard rounding third Wednesday night. In the clubhouse after the game, he was on a trainer's table with an ice pack on his left hamstring.

"He's fine," Wedge said.

Hafner was one of many Tribe regulars who did not make the trip to Lake Buena Vista. Wedge gave them a break because of a day game following a night game.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected]; 216-999-4677

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/24/06

Posted on Fri, Mar. 24, 2006
Five have chance at playing first base

Broussard, Perez to platoon, but others in wings

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. - How many players does it take to man first base for the Indians?
Surprisingly, the answer is four with another on the way. Why does it take so many bodies?
Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez will be the regulars, forming a strict platoon, with Broussard facing only right-handed pitchers and Perez playing against lefties.
Manager Eric Wedge also wants to station everyday designated hitter Travis Hafner at first. The idea is to keep his bat in the lineup during interleague games at National League ballparks.
If Hafner plays in all nine of those games, he wouldn't even get his first baseman's glove broken in. However, Hafner also might start another 10 to 15 games at first to give Broussard a rest.
Then there's Victor Martinez.
In 2005, he started 142 games behind the plate. The only American Leaguer who caught more games was Jason Kendall of the Oakland Athletics.
Wedge has no desire to see Martinez challenge any endurance records for catchers.
Without picking a number, Wedge probably would like to limit Martinez to 120 games behind the plate but keep his bat in the lineup for 150 or more.
There are two ways to do that: Martinez can spell Hafner as the DH against some left-handed pitchers, or he can play a few games at first. Wedge probably will employ both methods.
There is an advantage to Martinez playing first: If the backup catcher suffers an injury during a game, Martinez could move from first to catcher. If he were the DH and forced to go behind the plate, the Tribe would lose its DH.
``That's it, right on the nose,'' Wedge said Thursday.
Wedge isn't sure how all of this will play out.
``I can't predict right now,'' he said. ``That's why we have to have all these options.''
In baseball, often the best-laid plans end up in the trash. Last year, for example, Wedge wanted to use Hafner at first base but was thwarted because Hafner developed a sore elbow and couldn't throw.
Hafner has undergone two operations on his elbow, and he always will have to take care that he doesn't overuse his throwing arm. This spring, playing first base, he has not felt the twinges of pain that plagued him last season.
Meanwhile, waiting in the wings is Ryan Garko, the converted catcher and possibly the next everyday Indians first baseman. Garko began learning to play first in the midst of the 2005 Triple-A season at Buffalo.
He has played first in several exhibition games. Garko appears to be comfortable and capable of making all the plays without looking like a man who just witnessed his first game after spending his entire life at the North Pole.
He raised eyebrows last week when he started a bases-loaded double play by grabbing a torrid smash, delivering an accurate throw to the plate, then getting to the bag for the relay.
Asked about that play, Garko said: ``Before, I would hope they didn't hit the ball to me. Now, I want them to. When the bases were loaded that day, I'm thinking, `It would be an easy double play if I got the ball.' ''
Wedge seems to have few reservations about Garko.
``Obviously, we love Ryan as a hitter and for the improvement he's shown defensively this spring,'' Wedge said. ``He will be a strong option if we need him.''
When Garko started learning to play first base, he was Buffalo's everyday catcher. He would spend extra time taking ground balls and learning how to position himself to deal with various situations at first.
``Every day, I would have to do extra work, and after a while it started to take its toll,'' Garko said. ``When I made the switch, I think it affected my hitting, because my legs got tired.''
Wedge does not want Garko to forget how to catch, but he no longer spends equal time drilling for two positions.
``I'll probably catch a couple of times a week at Buffalo,'' he said. ``But I already know my legs will feel better in June, July and August.''
Garko still hasn't mastered the finer points of playing first, like whether to start a conversation with opposing baserunners.
``I might say, `What's up?' but I'll probably only talk to the slow guys,'' he said, smiling. ``I don't want to bug people.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/24/06

Can Tribe bring success north?

Friday, March 24, 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]



LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Indians have once again become the scourge of the Grapefruit League. This year, however, they would like to bring a few bullets north when they break camp April 1.
Cleveland battled Atlanta to a 1-1 10-inning tie Thursday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, giving the Indians a 15-8-1 record this spring. That is the most exhibition victories in the major leagues and only six shy of the franchise record.
There is a downside, however. The Indians have posted winning spring-training records each of the last three years. And, each time, they have stumbled out of the gate when the regular season began. The 2005 Tribe won 93 games but was 9-14 in April and six games under .500 (17-23) as late as May 20.
“There has obviously been a lot of conversation about that, both internally and from the outside,” Manager Eric Wedge said. “There are pretty good reasons for the way we’ve played to start the season — strong, factual reasons. But there has been no consistency to them.”
Wedge said the organization decided against making wholesale changes in its spring-training agenda as a reaction to three consecutive poor Aprils.
“I don’t think this team will get off to a bad start, because of the maturity of this ballclub and the experiences they’ve gained,” Wedge said.
Left-hander C.C. Sabathia agreed with Wedge’s assertion that maturity should make the difference in the first month of the 2006 regular season.
“We’re a year older, and guys know what they want to do,” Sabathia said. “In years past, guys were battling for spots during spring training. This year, they’ve just come here to get ready for the season.
“If we had gotten off to a good start last year, we would have gotten into the playoffs. We know that. And we know what we need to do.”
INDIANS 1, BRAVES 1
Sabathia allowed one run in six innings and also drove a hit through the right side of the infield in his first plate appearance.
“I wasn’t worried about my pitching. I was worried about my swing,” Sabathia said. “Cliff Lee already got a hit, and I didn’t want to have to hear about it all spring.”
Sabathia, who threw 91 pitches, shut out Atlanta for five innings. Marcus Giles walked to lead off the sixth, moved to third on back-to-back hits that followed and scored on a sacrifice fly by James Jurries.
“I have one or two more starts, then it’s game time,” said Sabathia, Cleveland’s scheduled Opening Day starter. “They want us to start dialing it up.”
The Indians scored in the sixth on consecutive doubles by Todd Hollandsworth and Andy Marte. Guillermo Mota, Matt Miller and Ben Howard contributed four innings of scoreless relief.

TODAY The Indians host Toronto at 1:05 p.m. in Winter Haven. Jeremy Guthrie will start for Cleveland against Scott Downs. Bob Wickman, Danny Graves, Steve Karsay and Fernando Cabrera are scheduled to follow Guthrie.
MARTINEZ INJURED Victor Martinez is day-to-day with a bruised ankle. He fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday during a minor-league game. The Indians do not believe the injury to be serious. Martinez did not make the trip to Orlando but was able to take batting practice in Winter Haven.
PHILLIPS ILL Infielder Brandon Phillips, who hasn’t played since Saturday, has been diagnosed with strep throat. Wedge said the club hopes Phillips can resume baseball-related activities today and play Saturday.
THE TURK Wedge said one more round of roster cuts is likely to take place before Monday. There will be at least one more major cut before the team breaks camp.
ALUMNI REPORT Former Indians reliever Chad Paronto was among 10 players sent to the minor leagues Thursday by Atlanta. ON THE FARM Jake Dittler worked five shutout innings Wednesday for Triple-A Buffalo in a 5-2 loss to Double-A Akron. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out eight and allowed two hits. Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail: [email protected]
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/24/06

Rumblings....

There’s a chance the Indians will make a trade before the end of camp, and one or more of the team’s prominent young names could be involved.

Infielder Brandon Phillips played well before coming down with a viral infection last weekend. He’s out of options, so the Tribe can’t send him to triple-A Buffalo without putting him on waivers.

He’s an attractive commodity because of his youth and skills, but insiders say the coaches probably don’t like him enough keep him over Ramon Vazquez. They say Vazquez is a better short-term fit because he has experience coming off the bench and experience at third base. Phillips might attract interest from a team such as Florida, which can live with some growing pains and has a need for a second baseman now that Pokey Reese is not an option.

Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie has an option left, and although team officials have spoken highly of him, he would be, at best, the third-best pitching prospect at Buffalo. They have sent the rest of the Buffalo starters to minor-league camp, but Guthrie remains with the big club, the most logical reason being because the Indians are showcasing him for scouts.
Ryan Garko’s play at first base this spring probably has been good enough to make Ben Broussard expendable. The Indians might want to wait a while to see how this plays out, but with Broussard making $2.48 million this season, they might act fast if there is any interest.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com (free)

3/25/06

Marte, Gutierrez, Garko Go To Buffalo.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/25/06

Indians report

Tribe sends Marte, Garko to Buffalo

Strong impressions made in camp put them in position to recalled. Four others also sent down

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - It's a little easier to see the forest for the trees today.
On Friday, the Indians trimmed six more players from their spring training roster, leaving 32 in big-league camp. If picking the 25-man roster isn't yet down to the nitty-gritty stage, it's at least at the nitty juncture.
The latest cuts are no surprise and don't involve anyone who had a real chance of making the team. However, most of the players sent to the minor-league camp have a reasonable chance of receiving a promotion to the big leagues this season.
Andy Marte, Ryan Garko and Franklin Gutierrez were optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Jose Flores, Ben Howard and Lou Merloni were sent to the minor-league camp without being assigned to a particular team.
The spring stars of this mini-class were Garko and Marte, prime candidates to be elevated to the majors.
In 19 exhibition games, Garko batted .263 with a .417 on-base percentage. Among his 10 hits were two doubles and a home run. He also had five RBI and six walks.
Club officials almost take for granted that Garko will hit. More important for him this spring was to prove he could make a smooth transition from catcher to first baseman, and Garko did that.
``He still needs repetitions, but he's very capable of being a big-league first baseman,'' manager Eric Wedge said.
Marte, the set piece in the trade that sent Coco Crisp to the Boston Red Sox over the winter, batted .359 in 15 games. Among his 14 hits were a team-leading six doubles and one homer. He drove in nine runs.
If Aaron Boone were to go down with an injury, there would be little hesitation to call up Marte to take over at third base.
``We had high expectations, and he definitely met those and probably surpassed them,'' Wedge said. ``He had a very good camp. He showed us what we wanted to see and more.''
Gutierrez is ``The Natural'' when it comes to playing center. He has a knack for running to a spot and waiting for the ball to come to him, a skill that not many outfielders possess.
His biggest problem is making contact with breaking pitches. This spring, he batted .194 in 17 games.
``This is a guy who really impressed us with his approach at the plate,'' Wedge said. ``He probably put up as many quality at-bats as anyone but had nothing to show for it.''
Flores and Howard are less likely to make it to Cleveland this year, but Merloni, the experienced utility infielder whose offense is a plus, would be a no-brainer if needed.
If Merloni were more shortstop than third baseman, he would have been in the running for the utility infield spot Ramon Vazquez and Jason Phillips are contesting.
Merloni missed almost all of last season with an ankle injury but appears to be 100 percent healthy now. In 16 games, he received 23 at-bats and compiled a .174 average. But three of his four hits went for extra bases (two doubles, one homer).
Only seven more players need to be cut. The final one or two roster berths might not be decided until a day or two before the Indians break camp.
Tribe deep-thinkers continue to say that the seventh bullpen job remains uncertain, though it appears Danny Graves has the distinct edge over Steve Karsay and Jason Davis.
Davis' next scheduled outing isn't even as a reliever. He is due to start Sunday against Cincinnati. Whether that's a clue to his future is unknown.
The Buffalo rotation as of now will be comprised of Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers, Jeremy Guthrie and Jason Stanford, leaving one vacancy, possibly for Davis. On the other hand, it's no secret that Wedge believes Davis' future lies as a reliever.
The next cuts probably will involve Guthrie, Tim Laker and Jason Dubois, who has borne no resemblance to the player acquired last July for Jody Gerut and who struck out 25 times in 45 American League at-bats.
This spring, Dubois is batting .432 with four doubles and two homers among his 16 hits. His strikeout ratio is still high (12 in 38 at-bats) but nothing like it was in 2005.
Spring training numbers don't necessarily translate into big-league performances, but Dubois has helped himself. Had he not had such a strong camp, he would have found himself back at the minor-league camp much earlier.
``That's fair to say,'' Wedge said. ``The reason he's here is because he deserves to be here and made a strong impression.''
The only other contested job is backup catcher, where Einar Diaz and Kelly Shoppach are dueling.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/25/06

Indians notebook

Belliard remains hot in bludgeoning of Blue Jays

Tribe second baseman has four hits, including third home run of spring. Phillips back to work

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - It was fun and games for the Indians on Friday, as they walloped Toronto 16-3 at Chain O' Lakes Park.
The Tribe's cause was helped by a Blue Jays lineup packed with minor-leaguers. That didn't take away from the enjoyment of the hitters, who amassed six doubles and three home runs among their 16 hits.
Ronnie Belliard probably had the most fun, slugging his third homer of the spring plus two doubles and a single. He scored twice and drove in two runs.
Even though he missed more than two weeks playing in the World Baseball Classic, Belliard hasn't missed a beat.
``He was hitting when he left, and he's hitting now that he's come back,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``He plays year around and has a great feel for his offense.''
Belliard wasn't alone in demolishing Toronto pitching. Eduardo Perez hit a grand slam, and Jason Michaels hit a solo homer, his first of the exhibition season.
The battle for the final relief spot continued. Danny Graves worked two scoreless innings, allowing three hits, and Steve Karsay yielded two hits in his two innings. Jason Davis got the final out of the game, when Fernando Cabrera struggled with his control.
Martinez down
Victor Martinez turned his ankle playing first base in a minor-league game Wednesday and was out of the lineup Friday.
``Victor is fine,'' Wedge said. ``We're looking for him to catch tomorrow.''
The Phillips phile
Brandon Phillips is healthy again after a week-long bout with strep throat.
He worked out Friday and will do so again today. In addition, the plan is for him to play in a minor-league game.
Kids invited
For $10, children will be admitted to the Kids Upper Deck at the team's annual First Pitch Luncheon on April 11 at the Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University.
The entire Tribe roster and Wedge will be on hand with a question-and-answer period to follow lunch. For information and to purchase tickets, call 216-420-4487 or log onto www.Indians.com.
Marching onward
The Indians return to the Disney Sports Complex this afternoon to play Atlanta.
Jake Westbrook will start against John Smoltz. Rafael Betancourt and Scott Sauerbeck will throw out of the bullpen.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/25/06

INDIANS
Fractured career doesn't pain Hollandsworth


Saturday, March 25, 2006

Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Winter Haven, Fla.- Todd Hollandsworth has every right to bemoan the misfortune that checkers his major-league career.

He refuses.

The veteran outfielder looks past 11 trips to the disabled list and focuses on his upcoming 12th season in the majors.

"Before I even broke in, I remember asking God to give me four years in the big leagues," he said. "If I could just get four, it would be awesome. And here I am going into 12. How can I complain? To have played as long as I have is an absolute privilege."

Hollandsworth, however, does have one regret.

"I wish I would have worn a shin guard sooner," he said.

On May 11, 2001, Hollandsworth was hitting .368 in 33 games for Colorado. His production included a three-homer, seven-RBI game against Arizona. But a foul ball busted his right shin and crushed a nerve, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.

It marked his eighth stint on the disabled list since debuting with the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the 1995 season.

"The whole process was so traumatic," he remembered, "the pain I went through so severe, that I said, 'This can't possibly happen again.' "

On June 27, 2004, it essentially did. He was batting .318 in 57 games for the Chicago Cubs before being shelved for the remainder by what was listed as a "right-shin contusion."

Hollandsworth returned last year to play 107 games for the Cubs (.254) and 24 for the Braves (.171). It was far from a memorable year, but at least the designation "DL" was not next to his name.

Cleveland signed him as a free agent in January to be a fourth outfielder/pinch hitter. When Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro asked how he was feeling, Hollandsworth chuckled.

"The first thing people ask me is 'Are you healthy?' " said Hollandsworth, the 1996 NL rookie of the year. "The second thing is, 'Will you stay healthy all year?' "

The slew of injuries, which includes fractures of the right hand, thumb and elbow, have limited Hollandsworth to 1,028 major-league games. Who knows what he could have done with all the missed time? As it stands, he is a .275 hitter with 91 homers and 366 RBI.

Hollandsworth, who was born in Dayton, turns 33 on April 20. If the injuries have not gotten to him mentally, they certainly have not adversely affected him physically. A former prep football standout, he appears to be in great shape. His bulging biceps and otherwise hard-core physique make the freak-injury occurrences seem that much more cruel.

"I've had incredible experiences, good and bad," he said. "I can't worry about what might have been. If I was told today I could not play any more, I'd be content. But I'm looking forward to going a lot longer."

Hollandsworth is convinced he can be an everyday player, but he was willing to sign with Cleveland as a reserve.

"It's not a concession," he said. "It's simply that I want to be part of a championship situation."

Outfielder Jason Dubois, whom the Indians acquired from the Cubs last season, has been surprisingly good this spring. Dubois' performance has stopped the Indians from guaranteeing an opening day spot for Hollandsworth, although he still has a decided edge.

"There are no guarantees in this game," Hollandsworth said. "I know that as well as anybody."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/26/06

Focus on start with eye on finish

Wedge believes Indians have experience to avoid early season stumble and can make run for playoffs

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. - Indians deep-thinkers are tired of seeing their team dig themselves a deep hole early in the season.
In 2003, the Tribe stumbled out of the gate with a 12-27 record. In 2004, it was 12-18, and last year, it was 13-19 after 32 games.
So who does General Manager Mark Shapiro see about eliminating April and maybe part of May from the calendar? OK, so that's not a viable solution, but Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge refuse to trust things to chance.
``There have been a lot of conversations about that among us and outside,'' Wedge said. ``There are pretty good reasons why it's happened, but I don't like to talk about it. It's like making excuses.''
Not really, but Wedge apparently has his reasons for being reluctant to discuss the club's painfully slow starts. Maybe he doesn't want his players seeing negative references in the newspaper.
Regardless, playing poorly for a month or more the past three years arguably slowed the team's development and certainly cost them a berth in the 2005 playoffs.
In 2003, the slow start was of little importance, because the Tribe didn't pick up the pace much as the season wore on. That came as no surprise. A substandard record was inevitable, as Shapiro already had begun jettisoning proven veterans for prospects who would become the first building blocks of the club's resurrection.
In 2004, when the rebuilding Indians were 80-82 overall, they compiled a 68-64 record for the last 132 games. In both 2003 and 2004, the tepid starts probably were a product of young players still acclimating themselves to the big leagues.
In retrospect, last year's 13-19 start was the costliest. This was one occasion when a plodding start was at least as significant as a lousy finish.
Granted, had the Tribe not lost six of its last seven, it could have beaten out the Boston Red Sox for the American League wild card, which it lost by two games. Winning half of its first 32 games would have served the same purpose.
Consequently, it's no surprise that Shapiro and Wedge examined possible reasons for three losing Aprils in a row.
``There really isn't any one reason,'' Shapiro said. ``Every year it's been something different. That first year, we had too many young players using their energy to make the team instead of just preparing for the season.''
Shapiro might have added that several of those players -- Coco Crisp, Casey Blake, Ben Broussard, Jody Gerut, Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook -- were just learning how to be major-leaguers. That process went on for the entire season.
In 2004, a similar process continued as Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee became regular contributors and the other young players continued to find their way.
Shapiro thinks that there was another reason.
``That was the first year we had any kind of expectations,'' Shapiro said.
Expectations became much higher last year, partly because Shapiro and owner Larry Dolan had vowed 3 ½ years earlier that the Indians would become contenders by 2005.
``Last year was the first that we went through those kinds of expectations,'' Wedge said. ``When you don't know what's coming around the corner, you have to handle it in real time.''
It took awhile for the Indians to find the handle, but when they did they couldn't stop winning. Despite the lagging start and horrid finish, they won 93 games, including 18-of-22 beginning in early September.
``I think in 2005, the guys tried to do too much early and it snowballed,'' Shapiro said.
So can anything be done to avoid a slow start? Much of the problem might resolve itself without a complex strategy.
``Eric has a plan (which he is keeping to himself),'' Shapiro said. ``But I think the natural maturation process of the players is the biggest thing.''
One thing that Shapiro would like to change is the schedule. The Indians begin the season at home about once every eight or nine years to avoid the frigid weather at Jacobs Field.
``That's something Eric expressed, and I think it would be a welcome change,'' Shapiro said. ``It doesn't matter if you open at home on April 3 or April 8.''
Apparently, slow starts aren't something that Wedge has chosen to talk about with his players.
``No, there's been nothing about that,'' Indians top pitcher C.C. Sabathia said. ``We know what we need to do. If we'd had a good start last year, we would have been in the playoffs.''
Obviously, every team wants to win as many games as possible, whether it's at the beginning of the season, the middle or the end.
But leaving the gate quickly is no guarantee that a team will have a successful season. In 2002, the Tribe started 11-1 and finished with a 74-88 record.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/26/06

Guthrie to minors despite major progress

Sunday, March 26, 2006


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Andy Call REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]


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TRIBAL WRITES Catcher Einar Diaz is one of several Indians still fighting for a roster spot as spring training winds down.
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ORLANDO, Fla. - The Jeremy Guthrie the Indians saw this spring was the closest thing yet to the player they believed he could be four years ago.
One good month didn’t earn Guthrie a big-league job, but it was an encouraging sign for both the 26-year-old right-hander and the team that drafted him in the first round.
“This guy’s really turned the corner,” Indians Manager Eric Wedge said Saturday after Guthrie was optioned to Class AAA Buffalo. “I think he was fantastic. He utilized all his pitches. He was more consistent and confident.”
Guthrie had pitched well during spring training — a 4.00 ERA and .219 opponents batting average in five appearances — but the Indians had no openings in their starting pitching rotation.
“Even in conversations, you can recognize how far Jeremy’s development has come,” Wedge said. “He would be an option for us in either role (starting or relieving).”
The Indians gave Guthrie a four-year, $4 million contract when they took him with the 22nd overall pick during his 2002 season at Stanford. Guthrie’s results in the minor leagues have been inconsistent, with a 4.75 ERA in 80 games. He has also pitched in seven games for Cleveland the last two years (5.09 ERA).
“Every path is different,” Wedge said. “He needed to go through things a lot of young players do. He’ll be the better for it in the end.”
This is the final year of Guthrie’s original contract. The team also owns an option for 2007.
The move leaves the Indians with 31 players in camp.
INDIANS 4, BRAVES 2
Jake Westbrook allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings and Ronnie Belliard had a hand in all four runs as Cleveland (17-8-1) won in front of 10,598 at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex.
“You saw a lot of regulars out there today, Jake against (John) Smoltz, plus a good environment,” Wedge said. “It had a regular-season feel to it.”
The Indians broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning when Kelly Shoppach walked, was sacrificed to second by Ben Broussard and scored on Belliard’s hit to left. Casey Blake’s RBI single to right scored Belliard, who also had an RBI single in the sixth and had reached on a run-scoring error in the fourth.
“Ronnie hasn’t missed a beat,” Wedge said of Belliard, who was away from the team 15 days while participating in the World Baseball Classic.

TODAY The Indians will host Cincinnati this afternoon at 1:05. Jason Davis will start for the Indians against Brandon Claussen.
BULLPEN DAY Davis is just the first of six relievers scheduled to pitch against Cincinnati. Today is left-hander Cliff Lee’s turn in the rotation, but he will instead work a minor-league game.
MORE DAVIS Indians Manager Eric Wedge said Davis will pitch in relief at Class AAA Buffalo, assuming that will be his destination when the season begins. “More than likely, he’s going to be in the bullpen,” Wedge said. “We’re confident that’s where he needs to be. He’ll be a priority guy there, for sure.”
INJURY REPORT Victor Martinez started at catcher against Atlanta and was 1-for-2 in addition to being hit by a pitch. He had been sidelined with a bruised ankle since a baserunner stepped on his right foot during a minor-league game Wednesday. Martinez was playing first base at the time. “Victor looked good at the plate and was moving around good out there,” Wedge said. “He’ll probably be in there (today).” ... Brandon Phillips (strep throat) played in a minor-league game Saturday, his first game in a week, and might play against Cincinnati today. ON THE FARM Matt Whitney had three hits, including two home runs, for Class A Kinston in a 7-1 exhibition victory over Myrtle Beach on Friday. Whitney, 22, was the 33rd overall pick in the 2002 draft but hasn’t been the same since breaking his leg while playing in a pickup basketball game in the spring of 2003. Whitney batted .242 with six home runs and 27 RBIs for Class A Lake County last summer. Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail [email protected].
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

3/26/06

All those players, just 4 spots

Sunday, March 26, 2006


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



The Indians brought 58 players to camp this spring — for the purpose of filling four spots on their Opening Day roster.
As of today, 31 remain. That number must be whittled to 25 by the end of the week.
Saturday night, the Indians will leave Florida and fly to Chicago for the regular-season opener. The passenger list for that flight has become a bit clearer, although those final four decisions have yet to be (officially) made.
“We’ll talk about them early in the week and start ultimately making decisions in the middle of the week,” Manager Eric Wedge said. “We want to give (the players) every opportunity possible.”
The spots on the roster still (officially) up for grabs are:
• Backup catcher — Kelly Shoppach or Einar Diaz.
• Utility infielder — Brandon Phillips or Ramon Vazquez.
• Fourth outfielder — Todd Hollandsworth or Jason Dubois.
• Relief pitcher — Danny Graves, Steve Karsay or Jason Davis.
Wedge emphasizes that much can happen over the final week of camp. Players get injured. Their performance falls off. Or they cuss out the manager in the dugout, leave in the middle of the game, and call a taxi to take them away forever.
Informed speculation, however, remains part of a beat writer’s job. Here is one man’s notion of how the Indians will look when Chicago’s Mark Buehrle throws the first pitch of the 2006 season next Sunday night:
• Catchers (2) — Victor Martinez and Shoppach.
• Infielders (7) — Ben Broussard, Eduardo Perez, Travis Hafner, Ronnie Belliard, Jhonny Peralta, Aaron Boone, Vazquez.
• Outfielders (4) — Jason Michaels, Grady Sizemore, Casey Blake, Hollandsworth.
• Starting pitchers (5) — C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook, Cliff Lee, Paul Byrd, Jason Johnson.
• Relief pitchers (7) — Bob Wickman, Guillermo Mota, Scott Sauerbeck, Rafael Betancourt, Fernando Cabrera, Matt Miller, Graves.
No writers have been allowed to sit in on organizational meetings (my janitor disguise didn’t work) or listen to General Manager Mark Shapiro’s phone conversations (I’m still reading “Wiretaps for Dummies”) or check Assistant General Manager Chris Antonetti’s e-mail (anybody know a good hacker?). But, here is some informed speculation as to the organizational logic on the final roster cuts.
Shoppach has struggled at the plate this spring (.167 through Friday), while Diaz is batting .379. Diaz has thrown out just one of eight runners attempting to steal, however, while Shoppach has gunned down three of four. The Indians know exactly what kind of catcher the 33-year-old Diaz is, but Shoppach’s upside at 25 remains an unknown. His minor-league numbers are compelling, and a solid contribution by Shoppach would make the Coco Crisp trade look even better.
Phillips, the jewel of the Bartolo Colon trade in 2002, remains an enigma. His 432 big-league at-bats haven’t produced exciting results (.206). Phillips was hitting well this spring (.323 in 31 at-bats) when he contracted strep throat that sidelined him for a week. The organization’s fascination with Vazquez, a pedestrian utilityman, remains a mystery. Phillips is out of minor-league options, and Vazquez has one remaining. But, concerns about both Phillips’ bat and attitude are likely to lead the Indians to trade him somewhere where a fresh start is available.
Dubois has had a fine camp (.421), but Hollandsworth is a veteran who has played the reserve role without complaint in the past. He’s also a left-handed hitter and an experienced pinch-hitter, giving Cleveland an alternative to right-handed outfielders Michaels and Blake in the late innings.
Graves says being reunited with his former mentors — bullpen coach Luis Isaac and others — has helped him fix some of the pitching mechanics that went awry last summer. Opponents are hitting .200 off Graves this spring. Scouts say Karsay looks like he’s on the road back, although opponents are batting .294 against him. Wedge hinted this week that, as a bona-fide contender, the Indians can’t afford to wait for Karsay. Davis has been hot-and-cold and has an option remaining.
It is probably a good sign for the Indians that the only openings on the team were, in reality, for the final four spots on the roster. The key roles on the team were set before the players even reported to camp. It is a far cry from the season-long open tryouts that took place during the early stages of rebuilding.
It’s also a sign that rebuilding is over. And that is a very good thing.
Seven days until Opening Day. Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail: [email protected].
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/26/06

<H1 class=red>Grapefruit gab

</H1>

Sunday, March 26, 2006



What: Game No. 26 vs. Atlanta Braves at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Score: Indians (17-8-1) won, 4-2. Atlanta is 7-15.

Rundown: Jake Westbrook, in his penultimate spring start, gave up one earned run on four hits over six innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Scott Sauerbeck pitched a hitless seventh to earn the victory. Rafael Betancourt retired all six, three by strikeout, in the final two innings.

Ben Broussard, Ronnie Belliard and Casey Blake each had two hits; the Indians finished with nine. Broussard's double was the Tribe's only extra-base hit. Braves ace John Smoltz (six innings, five hits, one earned run, five strikeouts) was sharp.

Handicapping the position player/pitcher races: Todd Hollandsworth (fourth outfielder) was 0-for-5 batting second. It dropped his spring average to .200. His competition, Jason Dubois, was 0-for-1 off the bench and is batting .421. Hollandsworth remains the favorite. . . . Kelly Shoppach (backup catcher) went 1-for-1 with a walk and run scored. His competition, Einar Diaz, did not play. The race is too close to call. . . . Ramon Vazquez (backup infielder) walked in his only plate appearance. He could be pushed by Brandon Phillips if Phillips, recovering from illness, has a strong final week.

Other observations: Betancourt did well in the eighth. . . . Belliard knows only one speed - all-out. . . . Victor Martinez's ankle appeared to be OK.
Next up: vs. Cincinnati at Chain of Lakes Park, today at 1:05 p.m.

- Dennis Manoloff