Indians Tidbits (2006 season)..

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/7/06

Hafner gets a break

Sunday, May 7, 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]


SEATTLE - A Cleveland lineup without Travis Hafner’s name is always a cause for concern. No, make that a cause for worry.
The Tribe batting order Saturday night at Seattle was without Hafner, but the scenario could not quite be classified as “worst-case.” He was held out of the starting lineup with flu-like symptoms but could return as soon as today.
“He’s just under the weather,” Manager Eric Wedge said. “He’s not feeling well at all. He was feeling it a little bit (Friday) night as well.”
Hafner did not arrive at Safeco Field until just before his teammates were to take the field for pregame stretching, then walked immediately into the trainer’s room. Wedge said he had given Hafner permission to stay at the team hotel until he felt well enough to come to the ballpark.
Cleveland’s designated hitter has a history of elbow problems. He also did not start April 23 in Kansas City, but Wedge said Hafner’s elbow was not an issue that day either.
“Physically, he’s been pretty good all year,” Wedge said.
Hafner, 28, is among the American League leaders in almost every offensive statistical category, including batting average (.339), home runs (11), RBIs (29). He had hit a homer in four consecutive games before having that streak snapped Friday.
Jhonny Peralta started at DH, while Ramon Vazquez went to shortstop. Peralta had been the starting shortstop in all 30 games.
“This gives us an opportunity to get Jhonny off his feet and still keep his bat in the lineup,” Wedge said.

ON THE AIR Radio broadcasts of Indians games Sunday and Tuesday have been switched to WMMS-FM 100.7 to accommodate Cleveland Cavs game coverage.
ROYAL ROTATION Kansas City has changed starting pitchers for Monday’s opener of that three-game series. Denny Bautista (0-1, 4.09) will start for the Royals instead of Joe Mays. The pitching matchups for the remainder of the series — Tuesday, Jason Johnson (2-2, 5.08) vs. Jeremy Affeldt (2-2, 4.94); Wednesday, Jake Westbrook (3-2, 5.23) vs. Scott Elarton (0-4, 3.86).
OLD FRIEND Two fans at Safeco Field were carrying a large yellow banner that read, “Eduardo Perez, we’ll never forget you. You were a member of the Tigers.” Perez played for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League in 2001 but hit just .222 before having knee surgery that June.
OLD FRIEND II Several Indians players chatted with Seattle outfielder Matt Lawton before Saturday’s game. Lawton was traded by Cleveland to Pittsburgh for Arthur Rhodes following the 2003 season. He also was traded to the Cubs and Yankees in 2005 before signing with the Mariners as a free agent last winter.
HE AIN’T HEAVY Cleveland third baseman Aaron Boone spent the first two nights of the series at his brother’s home. Former Mariners second baseman Bret Boone, who retired during spring training, still lives in the Seattle area.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY University of Washington junior Tim Lincecum became the Pac-10’s all-time strikeout leader during his team’s win Friday at Oregon State. Lincecum’s 460 strikeouts exceeded the 449 accumulated by Rik Carrier of Southern Cal from 1998-2001. The Indians drafted Lincecum in the 42nd round last year, but he elected to return to school when the team wouldn’t meet his asking price for a signing bonus.
ON THE FARM Double-A Akron left-hander Edward Mujica worked three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Friday in a 4-3 Aeros victory at Bowie. Mujica has not been charged with an earned run in 162/3 innings. He has walked nine but struck out 15. Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail [email protected]
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/7/06

Sabathia prevents repeat

Left-hander atones for second consecutive night of anemic offense, blanks Mariners for eight innings

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->SEATTLE - It looked like the Indians were on their way to reprising their frustrating loss of Saturday night, when the Seattle Mariners' Joel Pineiro limited them to one run and four hits.
Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, and the Tribe managed only four hits again Sunday. It was C.C. Sabathia who intervened to save the day, leading the way to a 2-0 win at Safeco Field.
Sabathia (2-0, 2.35 ERA) seldom has been better. He used only 105 pitches -- at times he has needed that many to get through five innings -- to keep the Mariners in check for eight innings. He give up seven hits, most of them weakly struck, and did not issue a walk.
``C.C. got a couple of guys out on first-pitch change-ups,'' said Bob Wickman, who pitched the ninth to earn his 130th save, breaking the franchise record. ``Now, C.C. keeps some in the tank.
``The old C.C. would have gone after guys with first-pitch heat all the time. This way, he got through the eighth easy and probably could have gone back out in the ninth.''
Since the second half of last season, Sabathia has become much more accomplished at his craft. No longer does he try to overpower batters with fastballs in the mid to high 90s.
On Sunday, most of Sabathia's fastballs clocked in at about 91 mph. Moreover, he threw lots of curves and change-ups in counts where off-speed pitches might not be expected -- especially from him.
``This was more about C.C. pitching than anything else,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
``That's what we're seeing. C.C. really turned the page last year. He was about as consistent as you could be in the second half, and now he's trying to pick right up where he left off.''
After giving up a leadoff single in the first inning to Ichiro Suzuki, Sabathia retired 11 of the next 12 batters to set the tone for the game.
``What I liked was being able to finish off innings,'' Sabathia said. ``I was getting the third out without walking a guy or giving up a hit.''
It was easy to pinpoint the key at-bat during Sabathia's stay on the mound.
Kenji Johjima led off the fifth with a single and advanced to third on Jose Lopez's bloop hit to center. But Lopez was caught straying too far off first base and was tagged out. Sabathia then struck out Yuniesky Betancourt for out No. 2.
That brought Suzuki to the plate. Coming into the game, he had a career average of .419 against Sabathia and already had hit safely in the first and third innings.
Pitching coach Carl Willis trotted to the mound to talk to Sabathia about the dilemma he faced. Should he go hard at Suzuki or pitch around him and face Willie Bloomquist?
``That was the biggest point in the game,'' Sabathia said. ``Ichiro has done pretty good against me.
``Carl came out and told me not to give into him. If I did walk him, we'd get the next guy.''
Wedge was not in favor of giving Suzuki a free pass to first.
``We didn't want to walk him, because he would have a good chance of getting to second,'' said Wedge, referring to Suzuki's ability to steal a base, which he already had done.
With the Indians holding a 1-0 lead at the time, Wedge wanted to avoid putting the potential lead run -- and a sprinter -- in scoring position.
On Sabathia's 2-and-2 pitch, Suzuki slapped a bouncer to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who threw out Suzuki.
There was a little matter of getting the lead, and for the second game in a row, a Mariners starter was turning the Tribe's bats into toothpicks.
This time it was Jarrod Washburn, a veteran lefty (naturally), who gave up both runs and all four hits in seven innings.
Washburn is not among the left-handers who normally stymie the Indians. Coming into the game, he had a career record of 6-5 but an ERA of 5.13 against the Tribe. He gave up six runs in five innings in a game at Jacobs Field in April.
No matter. The Indians eked out a run in the third on Ronnie Belliard's infield single, a hit by Casey Blake that sent Belliard to third and Grady Sizemore's sacrifice fly.
In the seventh, Travis Hafner led off with a walk. Two outs later, he found himself steaming around the bases on Belliard's double.
Hafner spent Saturday in sick bay, trying to keep down liquids after contracting a virus.
``I think it took him longer to get from the plate to the dugout than it did for him to go around the bases,'' Wedge said. ``He was really out of gas.''
Or, as Hafner said, ``I was just happy to get past the finish line.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/7/06

Indians report

History made by Wickman

Indians' closer breaks franchise record for saves

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->SEATTLE - C.C. Sabathia called it right.
``It was a typical Bob Wickman save,'' said a smiling Sabathia, the winning pitcher in the Indians' 2-0 triumph over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday at Safeco Field.
What did Sabathia mean? Wickman gave up two singles with one out, and finished off the game by inducing Kenji Johjima to hit a double-play grounder.
``I knew he was going to get the double play,'' Sabathia said.
But this wasn't quite a prototype save by Wickman, because this one set the franchise record, passing Doug Jones' total of 129.
Ironically, Wickman took over the closer job from Jones at Milwaukee in 1998.
``He had no hard feelings about that, or anything,'' Wickman recalled. ``He used to talk to me a lot about closing games.''
Wickman has 220 career saves, including six this year. Whether he continues his career past 2006 will depend on the health of his right arm and his desirability among big-league general managers.
In talking about saving the ball from Sunday's save, Wickman said: ``I'm keeping every ball from here on out. If the Indians ask me back next year, I'll just keep that going.''
He also said he was giving away the ball he used on Sunday.
``I have a special little friend,'' Wickman said. ``I'll probably give this to Chris Kelley.''
Two years ago, Kelley was one of the Tribe batboys until a car crash left him paralyzed.
Wickman is riding a string of 22 successful saves, the longest streak of his career. Some of them weren't pretty, but at 37, he has learned how to finish off games.
``Bob is smart,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``He knows what he wants to do. He knows what he's trying to do with each pitch. Every pitch has a purpose.''
Said Sabathia: ``I'm just glad I was able to have a part in the game. I'm excited for him.''
What does the record mean to Wickman?
``It means I've been here for a while,'' he said. ``It's something to tell my kids someday: `Someone is going to beat it, but at one time, your dad had the record.' ''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/7/06

Betancourt feels good

<!-- begin body-content -->SEATTLE - after bullpen session
As expected, Rafael Betancourt (strained back muscle) threw his first bullpen session Sunday with no ill effects.
``He threw a 25-pitch, fastball-change-up bullpen in Cleveland, and it went very well,'' head trainer Lonnie Soloff said. ``He'll throw his next one on Tuesday, 40 pitches, using all of his pitches.
``The next logical step will be a simulated game on Thursday or Friday. He's done well so far.''
Presumably, after Betancourt's simulated game, he will go on a rehab assignment for one or two appearances and could be activated from the disabled list late next week.
BACK IN THE LINEUP -- Travis Hafner returned to his designated hitter spot after missing Saturday's game because of a 24-hour virus.
``I saw him get on the bus to go back to the hotel last night,'' one observer said. ``He looked like death warmed over.''
NEVER MIND -- A published report in Seattle revealed that former Tribe outfielder Matt Lawton had asked for his release, because he was getting little playing time.
Since then, Lawton has been playing more (though not because of his request) and he has changed his mind about wanting to go elsewhere.
ABOUT THE ROYALS -- With a 7-22 record, the Kansas City Royals have tied the mark for worst 29-game start in franchise history (established last year).
The Royals return home tonight to face the Indians after a 2-5 trip in which the offense scored only 14 runs, but the pitchers posted a 3.72 ERA. One problem: Mike Sweeney is on the DL with a back injury.
Only one team has a losing record against the Royals: The Tribe is 1-2.
There has been rampant speculation that General Manager Allard Baird is on the verge of losing his job.
FARM FACTS -- Jason Stanford (0-3, 4.00 ERA) yielded three runs and five hits in four innings, as Buffalo lost 5-2 to Ottawa in Class AAA. Steve Karsay worked 2 1/3 innings and gave up two earned runs. He has allowed only three earned runs in 14 innings.... Trevor Crowe had four hits, including two doubles, and Michael Aubrey hit his first home run of the year in Kinston's 13-1 win over Salem in Class A. Stephen Head hit his third homer.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

5/7/06

Results not there for Mota

Monday, May 8, 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]


SEATTLE - Where Guillermo Mota is concerned, a little of baseball’s traditional optimism is in order.
“As the year goes on, we expect he’s going to be better for us,” Indians Manager Eric Wedge said of his struggling setup man. “He has a good arm, a good fastball as well as a good slider and changeup. He’s a talented pitcher.”
Talent hasn’t yet translated into results for Mota. He is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA through 12 appearances. Opposing batters are hitting .278 against him. Mota has allowed 27 baserunners (15 hits, 12 walks) in 13 innings.
The 32-year-old right-hander was obtained by the Indians from Boston in the Coco Crisp trade, ostensibly as the replacement for Bobby Howry. Last year’s primary Indians setup man had a 2.47 ERA, a .191 opponents’ batting average and set a franchise record with 79 appearances.
Howry set a tough standard to be compared against, but there is nothing unfair in stating Mota has demonstrated an uncharacteristic lack of control so far. His average of 8.31 walks per nine innings is more than double his career average (3.43).
“I hate it when I walk batters,” Mota said. “I’ve walked too many guys early in the season and I’m not happy about it.”
Wedge was certainly not happy Thursday in Oakland when Mota walked the first four batters he faced in the seventh inning of a 12-4 loss.
“He was just throwing, not pitching,” Wedge said.
But, Wedge noted, he also viewed that outing as an exception.
“I think you throw that one aside,” Wedge said. “I don’t think that will happen again.”
Mota experienced elbow and shoulder problems with the Florida Marlins last year, but said his control issues are not related to physical ones. His fastball has been clocked at up to 96 mph this season.
“I feel strong,” Mota said. “I don’t need to do anything special for my arm. I don’t even ice it most of the time.”
Wedge said he believes better things are just around the corner. Wedge had Mota warming in the bullpen during the eighth inning of Sunday’s 2-0 win at Seattle.
“He’s a blue-collar guy with a good work ethic,” Wedge said. “He’s going to get the job done for you. He seems to be at his best when his back is against the wall.”

BETANCOURT IN SESSION Rafael Betancourt (back/shoulder) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday morning in Cleveland and “tolerated it very well,” according to head trainer Lonnie Soloff. Betancourt will throw a 40-pitch bullpen Tuesday and a simulated game Thursday or Friday, then could begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment next week.
RETURN OF PRONK Travis Hafner returned to the starting lineup after missing Saturday’s game with a virus. “I wasn’t at full strength, but I was a lot better than I was (Saturday),” Hafner said. Soloff said Hafner’s surgically repaired right elbow has not been a problem this season.
ON THE FARM Single-A Lake County right-hander Carlton Smith allowed two runs over five innings Saturday, but the Captains lost 4-3 to Delmarva in 10 innings. Smith, the younger brother of former Indians first-round draft pick Corey Smith, has a 2.45 ERA in two starts since reporting from extended spring training.

Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail [email protected]


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

5/7/06

Classic Wickman earns saves mark


Monday, May 08, 2006

Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

Seattle -- It wouldn't have been a save worth remembering if it had been easy.

Bob Wickman went into the Indians' record book as their top closer the way he should have -- on a tightrope over the shark tank with a hard wind blowing.

Wickman passed Doug Jones as the Tribe's all-time saves leader with 130 in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Seattle at Safeco Field. He started the ninth after eight shutout innings by C.C. Sabathia and retired cleanup hitter Richie Sexson on a grounder.

Then the fins started flashing and the wind blowing.

Carl Everett singled to right field and Adrian Beltre singled to center to put runners on first and second. Kenji Johjima was next and Wickman -- he'd never faced the Japanese catcher, but had studied him extensively -- threw three straight fastballs. Johjima sent No. 3 to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who started a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

"It was typical Wicky fashion," said Sabathia. "I told someone in here, I don't even get nervous anymore. I knew he'd get that ground ball. I'm just glad I could be part of it."

Wickman is 6-for-6 in save situations this season and has converted 22 straight since last year. It was his first save since April 28 as the Indians' feast-or-famine nature has prevented him from getting regular work.

The Indians have spent the past two winters trying to replace Wickman.

They've been rebuffed each time and each time have returned to the man who saved 45 games last year.

"Wicky is a fighter, a warrior," said manager Eric Wedge. "He understands the game on the field and off it."

Wickman said he's going to give the record-setting ball to Chris Kelley, a former Indians bat boy seriously injured in a car accident in 2004 just before he was ready to attend Tulane University.

"When Chris wakes up, he's going to see that ball," said Wickman.

Jones played with the Indians from 1986-1991 and again in 1998. Wickman replaced Jones as Milwaukee's closer in 1998.

"I remember saving my first game as the new closer," said Wickman. "Doug came up to me and said, If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here for you.' I took the job from him and he had no hard feelings."

End of the line:

Victor Martinez's streak of reaching base in 45 straight games ended Sunday.

The last time Martinez didn't reach base was Sept. 16. He reached base in his first 30 games this season.

On schedule:

Rafael Betancourt threw his first bullpen session Sunday after going on the disabled list with a strained back muscle April 20. He threw 25 pitches, concentrating on fastballs and change-ups.

He'll throw again Tuesday, using all his pitches. If that 40-pitch session goes all right, he'll throw a simulated game Thursday or Friday and then go on a rehab assignment. Betancourt was eligible to come off the DL Friday.

Last season Betancourt was suspended for 10 days for violating baseball's steroid policy. Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Betancourt's injury is not related to steroid use.

"It's a pitcher's injury," said Soloff. "Pitchers hurt themselves. It's not an injury uncommon to pitchers."

Change up:

The Indians will use Thursday's off day to change their rotation. Paul Byrd and Jason Johnson will flip-flop after their starts against the Royals. This will allow Byrd to pitch between Johnson and Jake Westbrook, so the two sinkerballers won't start consecutive games.

Finally:

Seattle stole two bases in as many attempts against Martinez in the series. The opposition is now 29-for-30 against the Tribe's catcher. Ichiro Suzuki stole his 200th career base in the first inning Sunday.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-5158

 

[Bucks21]

I dont know if anyone else noticed it but the Tribe are the only team in all of baseball to have a losing record against the Royals(1-2). I think the Indians really need to sweep this series and start getting some momentum going.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/9/06

Tribe can't figure out Kansas City

Indians offense misses chances, Byrd inconsistent against Royals

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->KANSAS CITY, MO. - This is not a good time for the Indians to fall into a slump.
They already had lost two of three to the Kansas City Royals before the start of a three-game series Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.
If the Tribe expects to contend with the high-flying Chicago White Sox for the American League Central Division title, it would not be a wise move to play patsy for the Royals, yet that is what is happening.
Final score: Kansas City 4, Cleveland 3.
The last-place Royals, the club with the worst record in baseball, have a winning record against only one team -- the Tribe.
In the past three games, the Indians have scored only six runs. Yes, it's only three games, and maybe the Indians have been victimized by good pitching. That was the case Saturday night in Seattle, when the Mariners' Joel Pineiro dominated them.
``I think the one pitcher (Pineiro) did a good job, but the last two games, we didn't do a good job offensively,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ``Tonight, we were overanxious and we were missing pitches we should have hit.''
It wasn't Pineiro on the mound for the Royals, not even a reasonable facsimile. But it didn't matter who pitched for the Royals, the result was the same. Starter Denny Bautista and relievers Mike Wood, Andrew Sisco and Ambiorix Burgos all found success.
Bautista had been scheduled to go on a rehab assignment after recovering from a strained pectoral muscle. But with Joe Mays having been designated for assignment, the Royals needed a starter. However, Bautista was on a tight pitch count (65).
The Indians had opportunities. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth but scored only one run, on Casey Blake's sacrifice fly. Blake led off the seventh with a double but got no farther than third, and Travis Hafner began the eighth with a double and also was left stranded at third.
``We had a couple of guys on third with less than two outs,'' Wedge said. ``And we didn't do a job of sticking our noses in there with two outs, and you see the outcome.''
Despite the Indians' inefficiencies at the plate, one hitter in their lineup earned his money. Grady Sizemore tripled to lead off the game and scored on a groundout. He also homered with one out in the ninth with nobody on base.
Paul Byrd had too few runs to work with, nor was he at his best. Byrd was good, Byrd was bad, Byrd was inconsistent.
``Ultimately, he gave us a chance to win a ballgame,'' said Wedge in defense of his starter.
He walked Esteban German, the first batter whom he faced, then gave up a double to Mark Grudzielanek to put runners on second and third for Doug Mientkiewicz, who singled home both runners.
Fortunately for Byrd (4-3, 6.52 ERA), Mientkiewicz waltzed blithely around first and was trapped in a rundown for the first out. The next two batters went quietly, and Byrd got through the fourth inning with little resistence.
But in the fifth, John Buck, who bats ninth and started the game with a .193 average, led off with his first homer of the year. German and Grudzielanek followed with singles, and Mientkeiwicz bunted.
Byrd fielded the ball, but his throw to third was wide for an error that loaded the bases. The Royals hardly made the most of the opportunity, Emil Brown driving in the only other run in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
``It's a shame I couldn't have made a better throw to third,'' Byrd said.``There were a few different ways I could have gotten out of it.''
As for Buck's homer, ``The count was 2-and-0, and I didn't want to walk him. I threw it down the middle and see what happens. I didn't think that would happen.''
What happened is the light-hitting Royals had a 4-2 lead.
Byrd gave up no further runs, but in seven innings, he retired the side in order only twice and allowed 11 baserunners (12 counting the misplayed bunt). Keep in mind this is a Royals lineup missing two key pieces, Mike Sweeney and David DeJesus, both on the disabled list.
Going into Monday night's game, they were last in the American League in runs (97) and batting average (.236). The Indians were first in runs (201) and average (.302).
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/9/06

Indians notebook

Pitchers are in groove since Sabathia's return

For most part, starters have followed lead of healthy staff ace

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->KANSAS CITY, MO. - It has only been six games, but since the return of C.C. Sabathia, the Indians' rotation has turned a corner.
Sabathia has made two starts since coming off the disabled list with a strained abdominal muscle, winning both games and allowing only one run in 13 innings.
That is not the only good news for the Indians. The other starters -- with the exception of Jason Johnson, who delivered a clinker -- also have been effective since Sabathia was activated.
Throw out Johnson's seven-run, two-inning loss against the Oakland Athletics, and Tribe starters are 5-0 with a 2.75 ERA since May 2.
``The staff is starting to settle in,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said Monday. ``Guys are pitching like they're capable of pitching, with more confidence. We still have a ways to go, but we're moving in the right direction.''
Now that Sabathia has retaken his place in the rotation, Fausto Carmona is back at Triple-A Buffalo, learning the finer points of pitching. As Sabathia's replacement, the rookie went 1-2, demonstrating obvious talent and obvious inexperience.
Is it a coincidence that the starters have performed more efficiently since Sabathia has returned, or is that a coincidence?
``When you lose a guy like C.C., you feel it as a club,'' Wedge said. ``There's the intangibles. It's not just that somebody else replaced his performances. When a guy like C.C. comes back, I think the entire team gets a boost.''
Rotating rotation
Sabathia's return created some dislocation in the rotation. Wedge was unable to insert the him precisely where he wanted.
``We have the off day coming up (Thursday),'' Wedge said. ``We'll look at everything, but nothing is decided yet. But at some point, we'll separate them.''
Wedge was referring to Johnson and Jake Westbrook, both sinkerball pitchers, pitching back to back. If they are separated, it's possible that left-handers Sabathia and Cliff Lee will pitch consecutively.
Turmoil central
Owner David Glass has promised significant changes after another horrid start by the Kansas City Royals.
Asked when they might occur, Glass said, ``Not on Monday.'' That statement has put everyone on alert for today. Speculation is that General Manager Allard Baird will be fired, but that manager Buddy Bell is safe.
Still waiting
Touted third-base prospect Andy Marte is batting .255 at Buffalo and has yet to hit a home run.
``We want him to as a hitter first,'' Wedge said. ``The power is going to be there.''
Farm facts
Buffalo's Ryan Garko is tied for the RBI lead in the International League with 24, and Jason Dubois is fourth with 21. Jeremy Sowers is third in the ERA race with a 1.47 figure, Franklin Gutierrez is first in runs (25), and Lou Merloni is 10 in hitting with as .315 average.... Charles Lofgren (5-1, 1.67 ERA) worked seven shutout innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out nine, as Kinston beat Salem 9-5 in Class A.... Kevin Dixon didn't get the decision, but he gave up one run and four hits in six innings, as Lake County defeated Delmarva 3-1 in Class A.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

5/9/06

Tribe may adjust pitching rotation

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Chris Beaven repository sports wRITER[/FONT]


KANSAS CITY, MO. - A healthy C.C. Sabathia coupled with Thursday’s off day will allow the Indians to realign their starting rotation.
“We’ll look at everything,” Manager Eric Wedge said in terms of changing things.
The current rotation has the Tribe’s two lefties (Cliff Lee and Sabathia) working back-to-back. Paul Byrd follows before two sinker-ballers (Jason Johnson and Jake Westbrook) go back-to-back.
Wedge said it’s, “more important to separate the sinker-ballers than the left-handers.”
The Indians’ original rotation of Sabathia, Westbrook, Lee, Byrd and Johnson took just one turn before things were altered. Sabathia’s injury in the season opener caused the shift. Fausto Carmona made three starts in Sabathia’s absence, and the rotation eventually fell into its current pattern.
In the Detroit series starting Friday, the Indians will use Lee, Sabathia and Johnson in that order — apparently skipping Byrd for this round.
Regardless of when his starters throw, Wedge has been more encouraged of late by how they are pitching.
“They’re starting to settle in,” he said. “Guys are starting to pitch more like they’re capable of. They’re getting their confidence.
“There’s still a ways to go, but we’re headed in the right direction.”
Sabathia”s return last week further helped the direction of the starters. He has looked strong in two starts.
“For the entire team, it’s a boost,” Wedge said.
Sabathia was at his best in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Seattle, pitching eight scoreless innings. Wedge loves the tempo Sabathia is showing on the mound, in addition to doing a nice job of keeping his emotions in check.
“He’s just really come a long way,” Wedge said. “... (Since the) middle part of last year he’s really become a pitcher. ... He’s pitching with more of an arsenal.”

STRONG STARTS A big part of the Indians leading the American League in runs (201 entering Monday) is the production coming from the bottom of the order. Leading the way are Ben Broussard, Aaron Boone and Casey Blake, three guys who struggled throughout the first half of last season. Broussard and Blake each have 22 RBIs, hitting .393 and .371, respectively. Boone is hitting .241 with 16 RBIs. “It was important for all three of those guys to get off to a better start, and they have,” Wedge said. “I think all of them finished better than they started (last year), and that helped. They all worked hard (in the offseason). ... And mentally, they came in confident they’d do better this year.” STARTING ANEW Victor Martinez had his streak of reaching base in 45 straight games snapped Sunday in Seattle. He started a new one Monday by smacking a double off the wall in left to lead off the fourth. LOOKING AHEAD Johnson (2-2, 5.08) and Westbrook (3-2, 5.23) start the next two days. Tonight’s game is at 8:05, while Wednesday’s starts at 2:05. The Royals counter with Jeremy Affeldt (2-2, 4.94) and former Indian Scott Elarton (0-4, 3.86).


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

5/9/06

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- According to, well, common sense, no player who hits ninth in his teams batting order has ever won a batting title.


Entering play last night, however, Casey Blake, the Indians No. 9 hitter, was second in the American League in hitting with a .371 average.

That's a far cry from a year ago. On May 8 last year, Blake was hitting .198. His on-base percentage this year is .450, compared to .284 a year ago. His slugging percentage is .562, compared to .385 last year on the same date.

Blake, Aaron Boone and Ben Broussard were the three weak links at the bottom of the batting order a year ago. This year, all three have gotten off to much better starts.

Boone is hitting .241, which doesn't look like much until you remember his batting average at this time a year ago was .118. His on-base percentage this year is .311. It was .186 last year. His slugging percentage of .380 is over 100 points better than last year's .269.

Broussard's numbers on May 7 this year and (in parenthesis) last year: batting average .393 (.267), on-base percentage .440 (.340), slugging percentage .631 (.433).

''It was important for all three of them to get off to good starts, and they have,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''All three of them finished strong last season, and that's helped them this year. They also worked hard over the winter and were mentally ready to get off to good starts this year. And it's good that they have, because it creates a lot more balance in our lineup.''

Still waiting

Last year with Atlanta's Class AAA team at Richmond, Andy Marte hit 20 home runs, averaging one home run every 19 at-bats. This year at Buffalo, Marte has not hit any home runs, and has just five RBIs in 102 at-bats.

Wedge said the organization isn't fretting over the lack of power from its No. 1 prospect.

''We want him to hit first,'' Wedge said. ''If he does that, the power will be there. We just want him to concentrate on having a consistent approach as a hitter from at bat to at bat.''

Marte's power is supposed to be his No. 1 tool, but so far he hasn't shown it at Buffalo, where he is hitting .255 (he hit .275 last year at Richmond).

''He's going through what you would expect someone to go through their first time at Triple-A with a new organization,'' Wedge said. ''I think when it's all said and done, he'll accomplish what he needs to accomplish.''

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/9/06

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

usatoday.com

5/9/06

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=940 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Sizemore loves to play almost as much as fans love to watch him </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--startclickprintexclude--><TABLE height=25 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><!--endclickprintexclude-->Updated 5/8/2006 4:38 PM ET<!--startclickprintexclude--></TD><TD align=right><!-- EdSysObj ID="SSI-B" FRAGMENTID="13417811" mnguyen -->E-mail | Save | Print | <SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var tempshowReprintSSI = "";if(window.showReprintSSI){tempshowReprintSSI = showReprintSSI;} if ((navigator.os.indexOf("Mac")==1) && (navigator.type==2)) { // macIE if((document.forms.hiddenValForm.hiddenMacPrintValue.value == "0") || (document.forms.hiddenValForm.hiddenMacPrintValue.value=="2")) { if(document.forms.hiddenValForm.hiddenMacPrintValue.value == "2"){ document.forms.hiddenValForm.hiddenMacPrintValue.value = "0"; } else{ document.forms.hiddenValForm.hiddenMacPrintValue.value = "1"; } if(tempshowReprintSSI == 'showReprintSSI'){ writeReprintLink(); } writeSubscribeToLink(); } else { document.forms.hiddenValForm.hiddenMacPrintValue.value = "2"; } } else {// non macIE - write top and bottom if(tempshowReprintSSI == 'showReprintSSI'){ writeReprintLink(); } writeSubscribeToLink(); } function writeReprintLink(){ document.write('Reprints | '); } function writeSubscribeToLink(){ var url = document.location.toString(); var urlArray = url.split("/") var nurl = ""; for (i = 3; i < urlArray.length - 1; i++) { if(i<urlArray.length-2){ nurl += urlArray + "|"; } else { nurl += urlArray; } } document.write('Subscribe to stories like this '); } </SCRIPT>Reprints | Subscribe to stories like this <!-- /EdSysObj --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><TABLE style="FLOAT: left" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=245 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2></TD><TD vAlign=top width=20 rowSpan=3>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink width=80 height=18> Enlarge</TD><TD class=photoCredit align=right width=165>By Tony Dejak, AP</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=1>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=photoCredit colSpan=2>Grady Sizemore has 41 hits, sixth best in the American League. He's batting .297 and leading the Indians in marriage proposals. The team store's hottest-selling T-shirt says "Mrs. Sizemore."</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<!-- ContentCoreElement ID="ca283086-5843-46d3-8e97-73799a20e570" sgardner --><TABLE class=vaGlobal cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=245 border=0 xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format"><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD class=photoCredit vAlign=top width=80 height=14> Enlarge</TD><TD class=photoCredit align=right width=165></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=20>

</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Grady's Ladies banded together last year to share their devotion to the Indians outfielder.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<SCRIPT language=javascript>swapContent('firstHeader','applyHeader');</SCRIPT><!--endclickprintexclude-->By Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY
Far from being a recluse, Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore just likes life on the quiet side, preferring to hone his skills on PlayStation 2 than close down a nightclub.
His favorite place is the ballpark, whether he's enjoying the clubhouse jocularity with teammates, taking extra batting practice five hours before the opening pitch or hitting a leadoff home run, as he did Saturday against Seattle.
But Sizemore, whom Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says is the best all-around player in the American League Central, is finding it harder these days to avoid the trappings of fame he says he would rather do without.
"I just want to play, relax and have fun," says Sizemore, who spends most of his time away from the ballpark at his modest condominium in historic Ohio City, just minutes from downtown Cleveland. "I just want to stay low-key."
Good luck. At 23, with good looks, the charisma of a matinee idol and enough athletic talent to turn down college football scholarships to go pro in baseball, Sizemore is fast becoming as big a hit in Cleveland as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Batting .297, he is helping the Indians (17-15) stay in contention in the tough AL Central. But that is only part of his charm.
Grady Sizemore Bobble-head Night drew 37,496 fans to Jacobs Field on April 29, Cleveland's largest non-opening day crowd in April since 2001. Earlier last month, the team's souvenir stores sold out of 3-foot bobble-heads of Sizemore's likeness that sell for $279.
The hottest selling T-shirt in the stores, which offer 41 Sizemore items, says "Mrs. Sizemore," and they're popping up in other parks, too. A growing number of boys are wearing "Guys Love Grady, Too" T-shirts.
Sizemore's face will adorn thousands of soft-drink cans in Ohio starting in July. Fan mail is on the upswing, as are marriage proposals for the bachelor. Fawning and wildly enthusiastic websites that hit cyberspace last year are tributes of love in his honor (www.sizemoregirls.com and www.gradysladies.com).
"Every field we go to all the girls are screaming to him," pitcher and teammate Cliff Lee says. "I'm married so I don't really mess around with all of that, but I do know he has plenty of options."
Sizemore's exploits on the diamond are eye-catching, too. In his first full season in the majors last year, the 6-2, 200-pound left-hander hit .289 with 81 RBI, finished in the top 10 in the AL in extra-base hits (70), total bases (310) and runs (111) and was the only player with at least 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals.
He is off to another strong start, tied for sixth in the majors for most hits (41), with 14 RBI and a .361 on-base percentage.
"It's good to be Grady," says Indians general manager Mark Shapiro, who got the go-ahead to sign Sizemore to a six-year, $23.45 million contract extension this spring, the longest and most lucrative given to a player with only one full year of service time. "We crave flexibility and we very grudgingly give out long-term deals, but this job is about betting on people."
That's why Shapiro, who acquired Sizemore and Lee in a 2002 six-player trade with Montreal for pitcher Bartolo Colon, isn't concerned about the fame, fortune, privacy loss and increased scrutiny heading Sizemore's way.
"The reason he excels and plays the way he plays has nothing to do with money," Shapiro says. "It has to do with his pride and his way of thinking how the game should be played."
Raised to play all-out
That would be full throttle, a speed Sizemore has been stuck on since growing up in Washington.
"Grady was an animal in practice," says his father, Grady, by telephone from Mill Creek, Wash., about 20 miles north of Seattle. The elder Sizemore coached his son in Little League.
"I was a big fan of (Baltimore Orioles) Brooks and Frank Robinson, and I remember (manager) Earl Weaver saying those guys never wasted an at-bat, even if it was 9-0, and that they went all-out all the time. That's Grady. When I see him playing now, I still see this little 5-year-old running around the field at full speed and playing because he loved sports so much."
Sizemore practiced his way to star status in football, basketball and baseball at Cascade High School in Everett, about 30 miles north of Seattle. He was recruited by many top football schools to play quarterback, safety or running back, including the University of Washington, before accepting a $2 million signing bonus from Montreal in 2000 when he was 17.
Not even that jackpot changed Sizemore. "It was like nothing ever happened," says younger brother Corey, a junior at Arizona State who loves sports as much as his only sibling does. "You would never have known he had money. He's common people. He's real humble, real quiet and has never bragged."
Then-Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel said he didn't think Sizemore was going to the school because he never said anything when the two talked during the recruiting process.
"I just laughed when I heard that," Sizemore's mother, Donna, says. "Grady's a great kid who gets along with everybody and really tries to please people, but he's just quiet."
That's OK — there are plenty of others who will speak about Sizemore.
"Because his teammates can count on him and because he respects the game," Indians manager Eric Wedge says, "he really epitomizes what you would hope to see in every major league player."
Teammate Paul Byrd says you'll see Sizemore a lot on sports recap shows.
"Every time I pitch," Byrd says, "Grady's going to end up on highlight reels because I give up a lot of fly balls and he catches everything hit out there."
Indians third baseman Aaron Boone says Sizemore's "just a good dude."
"He just has a great way about him," Boone says. "For one thing, he's good. And he just has that personality, and you see it right away that he is who he is and he's not going to change."
Not suited for all the attention
To Hallie Sheck, though, Sizemore is hot. The 23-year-old video production teacher at a Dayton, Ohio, high school is a charter member of Grady's Ladies and started the website. It features odes to Sizemore and accounts of sightings and meetings with him.
The site is attracting members by the week — the oldest is in her 50s, the youngest is 11. Sheck and her cohorts are working on creating T-shirts, car magnets and scarves.
"We obviously think he's a dynamic figure," Sheck says. "Ten of us girls started the site, and we just did it to entertain ourselves. ... The more popular he gets, the busier I get and I don't even have his autograph."
Not that Sheck hasn't tried. She has gone to many games and just hasn't been in the right place at the right time. She'll keep trying — the Dayton chapter of Grady's Ladies is planning multiple trips this year.
Sizemore is taking all of this in like a lazy fly ball.
"This is all new to me, the distractions and stuff," says Sizemore, who doesn't have a girlfriend. "As a guy, you can't really complain about getting attention from the ladies. I've gotten lots of letters and proposals and stuff, and it shocks me.
"I'm not looking to meet someone in the sixth inning of the game, but I might sneak a peek out there in between pitches."
Right now, however, baseball is his No. 1 love.
"I love coming to the ballpark every day, and I love playing this game and love trying to get better," he says. "All of this is shocking to me, and I just get goose bumps thinking about my life right now. I just can't focus on all of the other stuff going on."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/10/06

Indians continue to stumble vs. Royals

Bumbling Tribe's defeat is fourth in five games against Kansas City

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->KANSAS CITY, MO. - One and four. Two numbers that should embarrass and alarm the Indians.
It is their record against the Kansas City Royals after a 10-7 loss Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Tribe stumbled, bumbled and fumbled its way to another loss against the woeful Royals, who have a knack for turning the Indians into the Twenty-Five Stooges.
In addition to failed pitching, the Indians made errors on the bases and could have done more with their 14 hits and five walks.
Tribe starter Jason Johnson had trouble pitching with the lead. Looking at the big picture, he had trouble pitching, period.
The Indians scored twice in the second inning, even though Casey Blake ran himself into an out, a mistake that cost a run, maybe more.
Royals starter Jeremy Affeldt hit Eduardo Perez with a pitch to begin the inning, and Blake singled him to second. Ronnie Belliard followed with another single that scored Perez, but Blake got hung up between second and third and was tagged out.
Naturally, the next batter, Aaron Boone also singled to score Belliard, who had reached second during the rundown of Blake. One out later, Jason Michaels singled and Jhonny Peralta walked to load the bases, but Travis Hafner lined out to end the inning.
Johnson gave away the lead in the third, allowing a leadoff double to Kerry Robinson and a walk to John Buck. Esteban German bunted the runners to second and third, before Mark Grudzielanek singled home one run, and Doug Mientkiewicz's sacrifice fly brought home the other.
In the fourth, the Tribe went ahead on Hafner's two-run triple that hit the top of the center-field fence and bounded back on the field. But for the second time, Johnson failed to protect the lead.
With one out in the Royals' fourth, Aaron Guiel, who came into the game batting .071, hit his first home run of the season. He hadn't gone deep since last September -- against the Indians, of course.
A bunt single by Robinson, a steal and Buck's bloop single gave the Royals the tying run.
The Indians forged a lead for the third time in the sixth. Grady Sizemore led off with a double (he started the game with a triple and didn't score), ahead of Michaels being hit by a pitch and Peralta drawing a walk that loaded the bases.
Hafner followed with a shallow fly to left, and Sizemore unaccountably took off for the plate. The fly landed in the glove of German, who, no more than 200 feet from the plate, threw Sizemore out easily.
Victor Martinez saved the inning by slapping a two-run single to center to put the Tribe ahead by two runs temporarily.
Manager Eric Wedge probably was pushing it to think that after blowing two leads, Johnson would stop the Royals cold. And after Johnson threw his first pitch for a strike, Danny Graves began warming up.
It wasn't wasted effort, because Johnson gave up singles to the first two batters he faced in the sixth inning.
As it turned out, that was only the beginning of a six-run, six-hit (the Royals' season highs) rally that was begun by Johnson, abetted by Graves and advanced slightly by Scott Sauerbeck and Jason Davis. It was truly a team effort.
The first batter Graves faced was Buck, who whacked a 2-and-2 pitch over the wall in left for a three-run homer, his second of the season and second in two nights.
Events deteriorated from there for the Tribe. The other key hit in the inning was Tony Graffanino's hard ground ball to Boone at third that scored two runs with Davis on the mound. The official scorer was betwixt and between before ruling it a double.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/10/06

Batting slump has Tribe

<!-- begin body-content -->KANSAS CITY, MO. - falling back in standings
Going into Tuesday night's game against the Kansas City Royals, the Indians had scored only six runs and were batting .183 in their past three games.
It's not a lengthy slump, but in losing two out of three, the Tribe has fallen farther back of the Chicago White Sox.
``That first game, Joel Pineiro really threw well,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
``But the last two games, we've missed scoring opportunities, with less than two outs and with two outs, where we'd done a really good job.''
How does an entire lineup hit the skids simultaneously?
``I don't necessarily think it's everybody,'' Wedge said. ``But there always seems to be a domino effect in baseball, positive or negative. And when you're going like this, it seems like you're alway one hit away.''
In that regard, the Indians are 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position the past three games.
``It's only two games,'' Wedge said, ``but it's important for us to nip it in the bud.''
NEW LINEUP -- Casey Blake was elevated from the ninth spot in the batting order to seventh.
``I like to have a consistent lineup,'' Wedge said. ``But Casey has moved around some. He's handled that very well.''
Wedge isn't sure whether he''ll keep Blake in the seventh position.
``I'll probably play it day by day right now,'' the manager said. ``Maybe this will get him another at-bat or get him up in another key situation.''
THE NEXT STEP -- Rafael Betancourt (strained back muscle) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday. If he feels no ill effects, he probably will go on a brief rehab assignment and be activated by late next week.
FAMILIAR FACE -- Royals right-hander Scott Elarton starts against his former team tonight, having compiled an 0-4 record but a 3.86 ERA.
``Any time you face someone who's been a part of your club, it seems a little odd at first,'' Wedge said. ``But that goes away quickly.''
FARM FACTS -- Jeremy Sowers (4-1, 1.40) gave up one run, six hits and no walks in Buffalo's 3-1 win over Ottawa in Class AAA. Jason Dubois hit his sixth home run.... Jose Constanza had three hits, but Lake County lost 7-6 to Delmarva in Class A.