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Indians Tidbits (2006 season)..

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ABJ

7/18/06

Angels win 7th straight,
10-5 over Tribe

Associated Press

<!-- begin body-content -->ANAHEIM, Calif. - Dustin Moseley didn't have much time to savor his victorious major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels. They optioned him back to Triple-A Salt Lake after the game, and the nameplate over his locker was taken down quickly.
"Anytime you have an opportunity like this, you're just full of emotions," Moseley said after Monday night's 10-5 win over the Cleveland Indians. "I'm super excited. The lights are a lot brighter here. ... It was a great opportunity and a lot of fun out there."
Garret Anderson and Orlando Cabrera hit two-run homers, Maicer Izturis had a career-high four hits, and the Angels won their season-high seventh straight game.
The two-time defending AL West champs have won 12 of 13 overall to climb within a half-game of division-leading Oakland.
"There's a lot of confidence in this room, you can feel that," Moseley said. "And that helped me out."
Moseley allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings. The right-hander, acquired from Cincinnati in a December 2004 trade that sent Ramon Ortiz to the Reds, struck out two and didn't walk a batter in a spot start for the ailing Jered Weaver.
The Indians have lost eight of 10 to fall a season-worst 10 games under .500 and 21 games out of first place in the AL Central. Jake Westbrook (7-5) was charged with seven runs - five earned - and 12 hits over 3 2-3 innings in his shortest outing since May 8, 2005, when he lasted only 3 1-3 in a 7-2 loss at Texas.
Cleveland twice used home runs to pull within one run. Travis Hafner narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the third with a leadoff drive that just cleared the 18-foot wall in right field. It was his 28th homer and ninth in 17 games.
Jason Michaels, who got Sunday off following a 6-for-34 rut that dropped his average to .264, sliced the Angels' lead to 5-4 in the fourth with his eighth homer of the season after a leadoff double by Todd Hollandsworth. But Moseley and Hector Carrasco combined to retire 11 in a row before Victor Martinez's leadoff single in the eighth.
"I was working behind in the count a lot, made a couple of mistakes, and they took advantage of it," Moseley said. "I'm glad the team put some runs for me, and the bullpen did a great job."
Cabrera's seventh homer gave the Angels a 7-4 lead in the fourth. Izturis singled in a run in the eighth and finished 4-for-5. Vladimir Guerrero went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI singles for the Angels, who got 15 of their 17 hits in the first five innings.
"Our situational hitting's much better, and we certainly got our share of two-out hits tonight with guys in scoring position," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I liked our approach. We were patient enough against a good pitcher, worked some deep counts and attacked them the way we had to."
Moseley gave up singles to his first two batters before Ronnie Belliard singled home Grady Sizemore with two out for the game's first run. But the Angels responded with three in the bottom half.
Guerrero tied it with a two-out RBI single after a double by Izturis, then Anderson wrapped his eighth homer of the season around the right-field pole on a 2-1 pitch. Westbrook came in with an AL-best groundball-to-flyball ratio of 3.31, and had allowed only five home runs in 96 1-3 innings over his previous 15 starts.
Anderson, the Angels' career leader in hits and RBIs, started as the designated hitter for the fifth straight game because of a sore hamstring while Juan Rivera played left field. Rivera made it 4-2 in the bottom of the third with an RBI double after Mike Napoli reached on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Ramon Vazquez.
Kendry Morales followed Rivera with a run-scoring single.
"It was my job to pick the team up right there, and I did the complete opposite," Westbrook said.
Notes: The Angels recalled LHP Joe Saunders from Salt Lake to make another spot start on Tuesday night. Saunders' outing is for RHP Kelvim Escobar, who has elbow problems but is expected to return to the rotation during the weekend. ... Despite his brief outing, Westbrook leads the Cleveland staff with 119 2-3 innings pitched after throwing more than 200 innings in each of the previous two seasons. He is trying to join Rick Waits, Charles Nagy and knuckleballer Tom Candiotti as the only Indians pitchers since 1975 to work at least 200 innings in three or more consecutive seasons. ... Hafner has 104 career homers, just 10 shy of injured Angels CF Darin Erstad for the most by a player born in North Dakota. Both players hail from Jamestown. Erstad, on the DL indefinitely because of ankle problems, has not homered in 91 at-bats this season. ... Weaver, who missed his turn because of biceps tendinitis but also is expected to return this weekend, made a special request to a team official to have the video crew show brother Jeff's first start for the St. Louis Cardinals on the scoreboard during batting practice so he could see it. They did it just in time for Jered to see his older brother and former Angels teammate give up a grand slam to Atlanta's Brian McCann.
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ABJ

7/18/06

Timing off in Indians loss

Westbrook runs into hot-hitting Angels, Tribe struggles against rookie

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Did Jake Westbrook merely have a bad night, or did the fact he was facing the hottest team on the planet have something to do with his vulnerability?
Let the experts argue. The bottom line was this: Angels 10, Indians 5 on Monday night at a sold-out Angels Stadium.
Westbrook (7-5, 4.44 ERA) endured his worst performance since at least May 26 against the Detroit Tigers, when he gave up seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. Monday night, he didn't even get through the fourth inning, giving up seven runs and 12 hits, including two home runs.
Of course, Westbrook couldn't have done it without help from his teammates. The night's key defensive misplay was turned in by Ramon Vazquez, who was playing third base in place of Aaron Boone, who was not hurt. But more about that later.
The Angels, who have won 12 of the past 13 games, didn't need much help from the moribund Tribe defense. They hammered away at Westbrook, almost at will, especially after there were two outs in an inning.
They started in the first, when Maicer Izturis doubled to left with one out, and Vladimir Guerrero singled him home with two outs. Garret Anderson followed by ripping a drive over the fence in right for a two-run homer, completing the three-run rally.
And that was only the beginning. But before the Angels could strike again, they loaded the bases in the second only to be denied when Orlando Cabrera grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Westbrook was not so fortunate in the third, even though a double play after Guerrero's leadoff single put him in position to escape the inning without a run being scored.
But with two outs and nobody on, Mike Napoli hit a routine bouncer to third. Vazquez gloved the ball and delivered a weird shot-put throw to first that pulled Ben Broussard off the bag for an error.
That was all the Angels needed. Juan Rivera doubled to score Napoli and Kendry Morales singled to score Rivera for two unearned runs.
The fourth inning was highlighted by Izturis' one-out double and Cabrera's homer for two additional runs. Westbrook retired the second out of the inning, but when Anderson followed with a single, manager Eric Wedge summoned Edward Mujica from the bullpen to get the third out.
Mujica gave up a leadoff double in the fifth by Rivera and an RBI single with one out by Adam Kennedy.
The Indians amassed 10 hits in five innings against Dustin Moseley, who was making his major-league debut. However, they could not pull the trigger on a timely hit that would have culminated in a big inning, and Moseley didn't hurt himself by issuing walks.
Grady Sizemore led off the game with a bloop single, advanced to second on Jason Michaels' single but an RBI single by Ronnie Belliard came with two outs.
In the second, the Tribe had runners on first and second with two outs but failed to score.
Travis Hafner led off the third with a home run and Victor Martinez followed with a single, but after Broussard singled with one out, Jhonny Peralta grounded into a double play.
In the fourth, Todd Hollandsworth led off with a double and scored on Michaels' two-out homer that trimmed the Tribe deficit to 5-4, but the Angels merely scored twice in their half of the fourth to restore their comfortable lead.
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ABJ

7/18/06

Indians' infielder happy to be here, even as part-timer

Joe Inglett appreciates being in big leagues, not in construction

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Don't talk to Joe Inglett about being an All-Star or breaking Alex Rodriguez's record for baseball earnings or even signing a multiyear contract.
Inglett is happy as a lark being a rookie utility infielder for the Indians.
``Being up here has been pretty much everything I expected and more,'' Inglett said on Monday. ``I'm having a lot of fun; everything is top notch, everything you dream about.''
Inglett's big-league career to date has lasted 28 days and has consisted of 10 games.
But despite Inglett's limited participation, manager Eric Wedge likes what he sees.
``Joe puts up good at-bats, he has his head in the game, and he brings things to the table we don't have a lot of,'' Wedge said, referring to Inglett's hustle and determination to make it.
Inglett sensed he's the kind of player that Indians deep thinkers hope will succeed.
``I know I'm their type of player,'' he said. ``I play hard and go about my business the right way.''
Even though Inglett is a part-timer, he has a lot on his plate. He already plays second base, shortstop, left field and center. He also is scheduled to become adept at playing third.
``It's not really about learning,'' Inglett said. ``It's just a matter of getting the repetitions. I played third in 2002. I probably played a half season at third.''
Four years ago, Inglett was playing at both low-A and high-A in the Tribe farm system.
Ask Inglett what has been the most difficult transition from the minor to the majors, and he will say, ``Not playing every day. I never had to prepare myself for doing that.
``It's like a game within a game. It's hard not being in the flow and then being asked to pinch hit. This is the first time I've had to do that.''
Veteran utility players can help, but Inglett thinks he needs to find his own way.
``I want to try and figure it out for myself,'' he said. ``I think it's more of a mind game than anything.''
One of Inglett's strengths and weaknesses is a tendency to ``work himself up'' emotionally.
``I have to get comfortable with myself up here,'' he said. ``But I'm starting to calm down and realize I can play up here. I would get anxious and try to overdo things. My heart would beat 100 miles an hour, so I've had to slow all that down. I just need to relax and go for it.''
As an eighth-round pick in the 2000 draft, Inglett did not receive the same nurturing as a first rounder. But in 2004, he batted .320 at Akron and last year, his first at Triple-A, he batted .330 at Buffalo.
``He put himself on the radar screen,'' Wedge said. ``He forced us to notice him.''
Baseball careers aren't only about what goes on at the ballpark. Lifestyle issues are involved.
Inglett's father owns a construction business in Sacramento. Until last winter (when he played winter ball in Venezuela), Inglett spent offseasons working in the family business, framing houses and putting on roofs and siding.
``Two years ago, I told my father it was going to be my last year doing that,'' Inglett said. ``I didn't want to earn my living that way.''
Inglett is making the prorated share of the major-league minimum salary, about $14,000 a week as long as he remains in the big leagues.
``Being able to do what I want to do is the biggest difference,'' Inglett said of his new economic status. ``I can get what I want to get and do what I want to do.
``I can spend a little more than I should and not worry about it. I still don't go out and spend, spend, spend. I like to see that amount in my account. It looks pretty to me.''
Making progress
Right-hander Matt Miller (right elbow strain) has begun playing catch at 90 feet. He will proceed to the next level (120) then begin throwing bullpen sessions off the mound.
If everything goes according to schedule, he will be sent on a rehabilitation assignment in mid- to late August and return to the Indians' active roster by September or a little earlier.
Blake resting
Wedge gave Casey Blake (strained oblique) another day off Monday.
Since being activated from the disabled list last Thursday, Blake has played in three of five games.
``There's still a little soreness and there will continue to be for awhile,'' Wedge said. ``I said earlier that Casey would play four or five days the first week and after that he would play more.''
Early birthday
C.C. Sabathia did a pregame interview for Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show, and they gave him a birthday cake. Sabathia won't be 26 until Friday.
Farm facts
Jeremy Guthrie (4-3, 3.63 ERA) gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings, as Buffalo dropped a 6-2 decision to Indianapolis.... Thomas Cowley (3-4, 1.73 ERA) delivered seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit, in Lake County's 4-0 win over Hagerstown. Juan Valdez had three hits, including a solo homer.... Matthew McBride had two doubles and a single, driving in two runs, as Mahoning Valley beat Oneonta 7-3.
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This team SUCKS. They are going nowhere. I'm not sure if they need to gut and start over yet again, but something drastic has to be done. The one word that comes to my mind when thinking about this team is PATHETIC.
 
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JCOSU86 said:
This team SUCKS. They are going nowhere. I'm not sure if they need to gut and start over yet again, but something drastic has to be done. The one word that comes to my mind when thinking about this team is PATHETIC.
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i don't know if the team needed gutted, but some definate changes need to be made. the errors are unreal. and it's not just simple physical errors, it's also repeated mental errors. That's where this team is bottom of the barrel. they are quite easily the weakest team mentally in MLB. There isn't a tough one in the bunch except for Hafner, but he's a DH. I know Wedge is Shapiro's boy, but he needs to start feeling the heat.
 
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The problem is that we overachieved tremendously last year, so expectations were set very high this year. They couldn't have had a worse off-season. The only encouraging thing is the experience the young pitchers are getting should help rebuild the bullpen and shore up the rotation for next year. It just sucks that after a real dark time for the Cavs, Browns, and Indians they seem to be improving, but until the Heat the NBA title, all 3 champions were in Cleveland's division:sad:
 
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When the hell is Marte coming up?

We baby our young prospects like no other. Look at what some of the younger guys are doing across the league, they are tearing it up!

Theres no way in hell Marte could do any worse than Boone, get him up here and get him valuable experience.
 
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scarletngrey11 said:
When the hell is Marte coming up?

We baby our young prospects like no other. Look at what some of the younger guys are doing across the league, they are tearing it up!

Theres no way in hell Marte could do any worse than Boone, get him up here and get him valuable experience.
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Marte will be up as soon as they can unload Boone. They don't have room on the roster for both of them and if they cut Boone they have to pay the rest of his contract. They are probably just trying to find someone who is willing to take on the rest of his contract for a player to be named later.
 
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exhawg said:
Marte will be up as soon as they can unload Boone. They don't have room on the roster for both of them and if they cut Boone they have to pay the rest of his contract. They are probably just trying to find someone who is willing to take on the rest of his contract for a player to be named later.
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Plus, if you bring up Marte, the value for Boone drops like a rock.
 
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IMO there are two key problems (and maybe the same problem):
1) lack of team player leadership - there is no one to be THE team leader... I understood the need to give Paralta his spot.. but Visquel was a team leader.. there's no VOICE.. to rally from within the ranks
2) lack of seasoned vets -- only works if you are a performer.. which negates Boone from being a help... Hafner performs but it's not his personality.. same for Belliard...

Indians may be positioned well from a young star-potential team.. but they need a dose of a seasoned vet the kids can look up to...
 
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