Indians Tidbits (2006 season)..

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Dispatch

INDIANS NOTEBOOK
Michaels wants to play every day

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




CLEVELAND ? By major-league service time, Jason Michaels is among the most experienced position players on the Indians roster. But in one important sense, he has felt like another rookie whose career is only beginning to blossom.
This has been Michaels? first season as an everyday player, the Tribe?s starting left fielder against right-handed and left-handed pitchers. He spent the previous four seasons as a platoon outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies, playing mostly against lefties.
"This has been a big-time learning year," he said. "I think I?m a better player now, but I know I have a lot to work on. I?m not satisfied at all with my year."
Michaels entered last night?s game hitting .271 with a subpar .327 on-base percentage and .396 slugging percentage ? but against lefties he had a .306 batting average, .365 on-base percentage and .472 slugging percentage.
With the recent success of some of the club?s young players, it appears Michaels? future with the Indians will be as a reserve, or perhaps in a platoon with rookie Shin-Soo Choo.
Michaels has fit in well in the clubhouse and said he would like to return. But he also would like a chance to put the lessons of this season to use.
"I still believe I?m an everyday player," he said. "I know next year is going to be better than this year."
In a funk ?

Rookie reliever Tom Mastny has allowed runs in each of his past three outings and has two blown saves. In his previous 11 games, he allowed only two runs and converted all five save chances.
He was quick to point out that he induced two potential double-play grounders Friday, but the first snuck through the infield for a single, and on the second the runners were moving on contact.
"That?s the way baseball goes," Mastny said. "It?s just that the breaks are going against me. I haven?t changed my approach."
Earned an encore

Franklin Gutierrez hit two doubles and a single Friday, so manager Eric Wedge kept him in the lineup last night.
Indians officials have been waiting to see the kind of power Gutierrez showed in the ninth inning Friday, when he lined a double off the wall in center. The past two years, they have asked him to be more selective at the plate, and in so doing his power numbers dipped.
"He worked hard to have a better approach," Wedge said. "Now he can kind of take that for a spin and get after it."
Gutierrez hit 24 home runs in 2003 in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has hit 27 home runs in three seasons in the Indians system. His strikeout-to-walk ratio has improved each season.
[email protected]

 

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ABJ

Garko making his point

CLEVELAND - at first base with Indians
Ryan Garko is getting his point across.
Although Indians manager Eric Wedge and General Manager Mark Shapiro have not declared him the 2007 everyday first baseman, he has turned himself into the front-runner.
``Ryan Garko has made a strong argument,'' Wedge said Saturday. ``Of necessity, we had to put him in the lineup (at the cleanup spot), and he's responded. He's also getting better at first base.''
Going into Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins, Garko was batting .310 with six home runs and 30 RBI in only 126 at-bats.
Wedge and Shapiro won't commit to Garko yet, because it's possible that the Tribe could acquire a run-producing first baseman in the offseason.
IS IT HIS BACK? -- Kevin Kouzmanoff missed time in the minor leagues because of a back ailment. Is that why Wedge has been reluctant to use him at third base?
``That's not it,'' Wedge said. ``I've wanted to get a look at Andy Marte and Garko (at first).''
However, Wedge has said Kouzmanoff will get a chance to play third before the season ends.
As for anxiety about the two damaged discs in Kouzmanoff's back, Wedge said: ``Any time there's an issue with the back you have to be concerned. But I'm hoping he can strengthen his back so it's a non-issue.''
EXPECTATIONS NOT MET -- Aeros outfielder Brad Snyder finished strong with a .270 average, 18 homers and 72 RBI, but for most of the season, his average hovered around .250, certainly below the expectations of the Tribe hierarchy.
``There were two things with Brad,'' farm director John Farrell said. ``One was his overall pitch recognition, the other was his two-strike approach. His strikeouts were the focal point for him and us.''
Snyder struck out 158 times in 523 at-bats.
MAKING HIS PITCH -- Walsh High School graduate Chad Rodgers has been named Pitcher of the Year in rookie level Gulf Coast League.
Rodgers had a 3-2 record in 11 appearances, including five starts, with a 2.31 ERA. He walked 13 and struck out 30 in 39 innings. Rodgers is climbing the ladder in the Atlanta Braves' farm system.

-- Sheldon Ocker​

​

 

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ABJ

Ocker on the Indians

Here's the problem: too much overthinking

`Process' of building team looks good on paper but it doesn't always work

By Sheldon Ocker

You can't get from here to there efficiently without a map.
In a nutshell, that explains the logic of modern baseball executives who emphasize ``process'' in their efforts to acquire players capable of competing for a championship.
Hunches, intuition, good and bad luck, even wisdom gained through experience mostly are to be disregarded. The essential elements of the plan include compiling thorough research (``doing due diligence'' is the way baseball people talk these days), gathering informed opinion and coming to a sound decision based solely on the relevant facts.
Sounds good to me. It really does. The problem is that it doesn't always work in practice. Weighing all options can turn into overthinking and indecision.
Not all variables are equally probable or equally important. Having a plan is vital, but those responsible for carrying out the plan must be flexible and certain they are not being blinded to the forest by the trees.
Most of all, when sticking to the plan becomes the goal rather than fielding the best team possible, someone has to step back and realize the tail has begun to wag the dog.
I'm not sure why the Indians signed Jason Johnson, but General Manager Mark Shapiro emphasized the pitcher's ability to ``eat innings.'' Granted, the number of innings Johnson annually threw was an important fact, but it never should have been the most important, let alone the reason he was signed to a contract.
Another significant decision is under consideration: determining the future role of Fausto Carmona.
Shortly after Carmona was called up to work out of the bullpen, Shapiro said Carmona's live arm was such an outstanding asset that his future would lie either as a starter or closer. In any other capacity, his talent would be wasted.
I couldn't have agreed more. I still feel that way, despite his failure as a closer.
More recently, manager Eric Wedge has hedged on Shapiro's statement concerning Carmona's future, presumably with the GM's concurrence. The manager has not excluded Carmona from becoming something other than a starter or a closer, ``depending on the team's needs next year.''
That means setup man -- not a bad job but one for which Carmona is overqualified. Carmona has a superior arm. He should be told right now -- maybe yesterday -- that he is being groomed as a high-profile member of the rotation.
This is not a decision that should depend on what moves Shapiro makes over the winter. Surely, the GM can find another setup man. More than likely, someone on the current staff can do that job.
So this is not a decision that should be made on the basis of the team's probable ``needs'' in 2007. Carmona's long-term job should reflect what is best for him, because he has the potential to be a premier starter, which would benefit the franchise far more than any role he could play as a reliever.
If in two or three years it turns out that he lacks the requisite traits to be a starter, he can always be moved to the bullpen.
I know this sounds a little too simple for the modern baseball mind to accept. But maybe that's the way it should be.
High and low roads
Thanks to the overzealous Boston media, the Red Sox lead the major leagues in drama. Now that everyone in New England has beaten to death the team's failure to meet expectations, it's time to focus on the American League Most Valuable Player competition.
Not many weeks ago, David Ortiz seemed like a prohibitive favorite to win the award. Not only did he have impressive home run and RBI numbers, but also his performance in late-inning, clutch situations was other worldly.
Since then, the Red Sox have tanked and Ortiz has been slowed, partly because of a health issue that kept him out of the lineup for a while.
At any rate, he decided to air his views on the impending MVP balloting (in the hands of two sportswriters from each AL city).
``I'm right there, but I'm not going to win it,'' he told a Boston newspaper. ``They gave it to Alex (Rodriguez) one year, even though his team (the Texas Rangers in 2003) was in last place, so they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it.''
Somehow, this led to a rebuttal by the New York media, who have their own MVP candidate in Derek Jeter of the Yankees.
Their response was triggered by Ortiz's fears he will be passed over because he's a designated hitter.
``I'll tell you one thing,'' Ortiz said. ``If I get to 50 home runs and 10 more RBI (he had 127 at the time), that's going to be a round number that no one else in the AL will have.
``But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy.
``It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ballclub, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games.''
Jeter was smart enough not to get sucked into the argument. ``I'm not thinking about the MVP right now,'' he said.
Hey guys, what if neither of you wins it? That's a distinct possibility. The media in Boston and New York are certain that the world revolves around their two cities, but Johan Santana and Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels, Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox, among others, are legitimate MVP contenders.
Had the Indians made a run at the playoffs, Travis Hafner would have been in the running, though missing the final 29 games of the schedule because of a broken hand probably would have sunk his chances.

 

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Canton

Martinez will remain catcher
Sunday, September 17, 2006

[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Andy Call REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]


CLEVELAND - Perhaps Ryan Garko has something to do with it, or perhaps nothing.
In any case, Indians Manager Eric Wedge said the decision to leave Victor Martinez at catcher has become a permanent one, or at least one as permanent as decisions come in the volatile business of big-league baseball.
?Victor is our catcher, and he?s going to be our catcher,? Wedge said Saturday.
Martinez has struggled throwing out runners this season (13-for-106, 12 percent) and backup Kelly Shoppach is an above-average defender. Martinez does offer more offense than most catchers, however, and has been a bit more effective defensively in the second half of the season.
Wedge said Martinez will play first base on occasion next year to give his knees a rest, noting, ?That will always be an option for us.?
Garko appears to be the first option at first base for the foreseeable future.
The 25-year-old rookie was hitting .310 with eight doubles, six home runs and 30 RBIs in 126 at-bats through Friday. He has been batting in the cleanup spot since designated hitter Travis Hafner suffered a season-ending broken hand Sept. 1.
?He?s made a strong argument for himself by the way he?s played and how he?s responded to where he?s hitting in the lineup,? Wedge said.
The converted catcher has been charged with four errors at first base, where he remains a work in progress. But, if Garko keeps hitting, he is likely to remain Cleveland?s first baseman ? and Martinez will stay put.
?Garko has gotten a lot better defensively,? Wedge said. ?You see him pick (low throws) now, which is a good sign. He has a better feel of where to go and what to do with the ball. Fundamentally, he?s made tremendous improvement.?

NOT AS NASTY Wedge said he is not concerned about rookie closer Tom Mastny, who has allowed five runs in 2 1/3 innings over his three most recent appearances and blown back-to-back saves. ?He?s done a nice job but, the last couple times, his command hasn?t been the same,? Wedge said. ?You?re going to have some days that don?t turn out the way you like.?
WHO?S ON THIRD? Kevin Kouzmanoff has yet to make his first start at third base. Aaron Boone replaced Andy Marte in the starting lineup Saturday. Wedge said the Indians are being careful with Kouzmanoff?s bad back. ?We want to help him stay on top of it so it?s not an issue,? Wedge said.
A BIG FAN Minnesota Manager Ron Gardenhire said he has voted for Grady Sizemore as the American League?s Gold Glove center fielder. ?The kid can play,? Gardenhire said. ?He?s unbelievable.?
HOME BOY The Indians said rookie right-hander Fausto Carmona will make six-to-eight starts for Los Aguilas at the beginning of the winter league season in the Dominican Republic.
Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail: [email protected]

 

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Dispatch

INDIANS 7 ATHLETICS 2
Westbrook, Tribe put down Athletics

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Janie McCauley
ASSOCIATED PRESS




OAKLAND, Calif. ? Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer, Hector Luna added a solo shot and the Cleveland Indians beat Oakland 7-2 last night to snap the Athletics? four-game winning streak.
Casey Blake doubled in two runs as the Indians gave starter Jake Westbrook an early lead, a nice boost for this club after losing three of four to the Minnesota Twins.
Westbrook (13-10), a sinkerballer who had a no-decision against the A?s on June 6, ended a two-start losing streak that followed three straight wins. He struck out five, walked one and allowed only one earned run on nine hits in 7 2 /3 innings.
Oakland?s Dan Haren (14-12) was denied his career-high 15 th win after he won his last two starts, but he is still 8-3 in 11 starts since July 26.
The Indians challenged Haren from the start, working the count to elevate his pitch total. Haren had already thrown 67 pitches through three innings. The righthander looked little like the pitcher who worked eight scoreless innings in a 1-0 win at Minnesota last Wednesday.
Jason Kendall reached on second baseman Luna?s fielding error in the fifth that allowed Marco Scutaro to score the A?s first run. Mark Kotsay followed with a sacrifice fly.
Haren fell behind in a hurry on Martinez?s 16 th homer of the year. Grady Sizemore struck out to start the game, then Jason Michaels walked before Martinez connected. Martinez also doubled and walked twice.
Luna led off the fourth with his second homer of the year and by the fifth, everybody but cleanup hitter Ryan Garko had reached base for Cleveland. Luna reached on a fielder?s choice to score a run in the fifth.
Andy Marte singled to advance Luna to third, and Luna scored on a wild pitch that made it 7-0.
Haren gave up seven runs and nine hits, struck out two and walked four on 106 pitches. Sizemore went 2 for 3 and is batting .440 (11 for 25) for his career at the Coliseum ? his best average in any AL ballpark.

 

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ABJ

Athletics 7, Indians 3

Strikeouts, grand slam doom Indians in 7-3 loss

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

OAKLAND, CALIF. - For most of the time that Cliff Lee and Kirk Saarloos opposed one another on the mound Tuesday night, it was the Oakland starter who lived on the edge.

Between strikeouts, Saarloos littered the bases with Indians but somehow squirmed out of jams with a minimum of damage.

Lee, on the other hand, got in deep trouble once and paid for it dearly, as the Athletics earned a 7-3 win at McAfee Coliseum.

One swing of the bat, by Bobby Kielty, ruined Lee's evening, because the swing resulted in a bases-loaded home run.

Missed opportunities and a boat load of strikeouts were the distinctive features of the game for Indians batsmen, who stranded 14 runners, nullifying the beneficial effects of 13 hits and five walks.

The Tribe's penchant for striking out reached a peak, as A's pitchers struck out 17, with Shin-Soo Choo and Casey Blake leading the pack with four and three, respectively.

The Indians scored first, with Jason Michaels starting a rally with a one-out double in the first inning. With two outs and Michaels still on second, Saarloos walked Victor Martinez intentionally, but Kevin Kouzmanoff singled to score Michaels and push Martinez to second.

Hector Luna followed with another single, but the slow-footed Martinez was forced to stop at third to load the bases. A third, two-out hit was not forthcoming, as Choo struck out to end the inning.

Blake got the Tribe going in the third with a one-out single, and Martinez followed with a bloop hit to leave runners on second and first. One out later, Luna's single scored Blake, but Choo struck out for the second time, ending the inning.

In the fourth, the Indians had runners on first and second with one out but couldn't score.

Martinez led off the fifth with as single and Kouzmanoff walked, but Luna and Choo struck out to take the edge off the rally. Jhonny Peralta drew a walk to load the bases before Franklin Gutierrez lined to the second baseman for the third out.

By the end of five innings, Saarloos had thrown 113 pitches and did not come out for the sixth. Mostly because he was able to strike out a career high 11 batters, he was able to keep the game in order, despite giving up eight hits and four walks.

Lee retired eight batters in a row before giving up a single to Marco Scutaro with two outs in the third. The A's eventually loaded the bases, as Lee walked the next two batters, but Milton Bradley bounced into a force play for the third out.

Eric Chavez cut the Tribe lead to 2-1 with a home run with two outs in the fourth. Lee finished the inning and retired the side in order in the fifth.

His command began to desert him in the sixth, when he issued a one-out walk to Frank Thomas. Jay Payton followed with a single, but Chavez sailed a routine fly to right for the second out.

Lee then hit Nick Swisher with a pitch to load the bases, and Kielty drove the next pitch over the fence in left for the first slam of his career, giving Oakland a 5-2 advantage.

After Lee walked Scutaro, Fernando Cabrera relieved him and finished the inning. Lee was charged with five runs, four hits and an uncharacteristic five walks in 52/3 innings. Barely half (56) of his 105 pitches were strikes.

The Athletics added two more runs in the eighth off Rafael Perez, who gave up a two-run homer to Swisher.

 

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ABJ

Notebook

Disney likely out as site

County doesn't want to pay for spring facility; Arizona good possibility

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

OAKLAND, CALIF. - The Indians' quest to relocate their spring training headquarters to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando, Fla., has hit a snag.
Osceola County is refusing Disney's request to ask the state of Florida for up to $15 million to help build the Tribe's practice facility, which is expected to cost between $22 million and $25 million.
Under the plan, Disney was to construct several practice fields, office space, batting cages and a weight room, plus locker room areas for the major-league team and minor-league players.
The Tribe would share the stadium with the Atlanta Braves, who have a training complex on the same site.
Osceola County has rejected the Disney plan because it would still be required to use an estimated $475,000 annually in tourist taxes to pay maintenance costs and debt service. Under this proposal, Disney was offering the county $975,000 a year but conceded there would be a shortfall that the county would have to make up.
Unless the county is willing to bear part of the expense of the facility, Disney said it would not go forward.
``The Florida situation has hit a significant bump in the road,'' said Tribe spokesman Bob DiBiasio on Tuesday.
Theoretically, if Disney were to come up with a plan that is more acceptable to the county, the deal could still get done. But the deadline for the county to apply for state money is Oct. 1, and presumably some details would need to be worked out to complete the application process.
Because of the latest impasse, Tribe officials no longer are optimistic about moving to the Disney property. However, that does not mean the team will stay in Winter Haven, Fla., indefinitely, though that remains a possibility.
There are two years remaining on the lease with Winter Haven, but if the club wishes, it can exercise each of three five-year options.
There is little doubt that the Indians' first choice was to move spring training to the Disney property, but there is a second viable option. The city of Goodyear, Ariz., has been courting the team for some time and seems willing to undertake the financial requirements of hosting a major-league team during spring training.
The Goodyear city council Monday night approved a measure to fund a stadium and complex for two teams. However, the state must ratify the city's decision.
Ideally, Goodyear, which is on the far west side of the Phoenix metro area, wants to lure two clubs and is prepared to build two practice facilities plus a stadium at an estimated cost of at least $40 million.
In addition to actively trying to lure the Indians to Arizona, Goodyear has talked to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have given signals that they might be willing to abandon their long-time spring training complex in Vero Beach, Fla., to be closer to their West Coast fan base.
Whereas Goodyear prefers to play host to two teams, it is willing to go forward with its plans if the Indians agree to come to Arizona, which is becoming a distinct possibility.
``We think there is a good possibility that we'll go to Arizona,'' said the Tribe's executive vice president for business, Dennis Lehman, to a reporter in Florida.
Defensive debut
Kevin Kouzmanoff made his major-league debut at third base Tuesday night after being a designated hitter for nine starts.
``This is a good time to get him in at third,'' manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday.
There were other lineup changes, including using Grady Sizemore as the DH for the first time in his career.
``This gives us a chance to use Franklin Gutierrez in center field and get Grady off his feet,'' Wedge said. ``Grady probably won't know what to do with himself.''
First start
Right-hander Brian Slocum will get his first big-league start Saturday in Texas against the Rangers.
During his minor-league career, Slocum has been used mostly as a starter until this season, when he split time in the rotation and bullpen at Buffalo. His six outings with the Tribe have all been in relief.
``Brian will get one other start after Saturday,'' Wedge said. ``We'll just go with six guys the rest of the way.''
Slocum's arm has not been stretched out, so his pitch count will be strictly monitored.
Guest staffer
Double-A Akron pitching coach Scott Radinsky has joined the Tribe and will remain with the team for the rest of the season to observe and help out if needed.
He is the second minor-league staffer to be invited to join the team. Triple-A Buffalo manager Torey Lovullo has been with the club since the Bisons' season ended Sept. 4.
Social note
Strength coach Tim Maxey and his wife, Amy, are new parents of a baby boy, Matthew, born Monday in Cleveland. Matthew weighed in at 7 pounds, 16 ounces and is 19 inches long.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

ATHLETICS 4 INDIANS 3

Carmona?s lead goes poof when ?pen gets it

Thursday, September 21, 2006


FROM WIRE REPORTS




OAKLAND, Calif. ? Milton Bradley homered and singled in the tying run, and Frank Thomas hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning to lead the Oakland Athletics past the Cleveland Indians 4-3 last night.
Indians starter Fausto Carmona didn?t allow a base runner past second until Bradley?s leadoff home run in the sixth cut the Athletics? deficit to 2-1.
The right-hander, making his sixth major-league start, allowed one run and six hits in six innings. Fernando Cabrera (3-3) was tagged for two runs and two hits in the seventh.
Esteban Loaiza (11-8) pitched 7 2 /3 innings to win for the seventh time in nine starts, relying on his offense to rally after falling behind in the first.
The A?s were in a hole after the top of the first for the third straight game after Ryan Garko?s RBI double and a runscoring single by Kevin Kouzmanoff moments later.
After Kouzmanoff?s hit, Loaiza retired 18 of the next 19 Cleveland batters with only a two-out walk by Victor Martinez in the third before Joe Inglett?s two-out single in the seventh.
The American League Westleading A?s, who stayed 6 1 /2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels with the win, were counting on Loaiza to go deep into the game because neither Dan Haren nor Kirk Saarloos could do so the previous two nights. Oakland will need its bullpen in today?s series finale, when Rich Harden makes his first start since June 4 because of an elbow injury.
Bradley homered leading off the sixth to pull the A?s to 2-1. His single against Juan Lara made it 2-2 in the seventh, and Jason Davis relieved to face Thomas, who lined a two-run double to center and drew chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the crowd of 25,131.
Loaiza left to a standing ovation after Casey Blake lined out to third for the second out in the eighth, waving his cap to the crowd. The right-hander gave up three runs ? two earned ? and five hits.
Joe Kennedy allowed Victor Martinez?s RBI single before Justin Duchscherer struck out Garko to end the inning. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 35 th save. Loaiza is 6-0 in his last six starts in Oakland after going 1-3 in his first six starts at the Coliseum.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Home no help to C.C. again

Sabathia's error, poor play of shortstop Peralta contribute to loss to A's

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oakland Athletics' Rich Harden throws to the Cleveland Indians in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
More photos

OAKLAND, CALIF. - C.C. Sabathia didn't pitch effectively on Thursday, and he didn't throw effectively.
But for the second time in the four-game series with the Athletics, the Indians struck out effectively, making it that much easier for Oakland to win the finale 7-4 Thursday at McAfee Coliseum.
Manager Eric Wedge felt that Sabathia was as much victim as perpetrator, but he had harsh words for shortstop Jhonny Peralta because of a play in the fourth inning.
``I'm tired of talking about the guy,'' Wedge said. ``He's got to do better to be the shortstop we need him to be defensively.''
Sabathia has seldom pitched well here, 20 miles from where he grew up. That certainly includes his effort on Thursday, when he gave up seven runs, seven hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.
Granted, three runs were unearned, but Sabathia had a direct impact on those, too, as he tried to maneuver through a disastrous fourth inning, which was before he failed to negotiate a disastrous sixth inning.
``If anything, I'm too relaxed here,'' Sabathia said. ``I was talking to somebody, and he was saying that maybe I try to do too much when I pitch here. But on the surface, I get to go home and my family gets to see me pitch.''
When Sabathia was younger, pitching before friends and family might have created more pressure, but no more, said Wedge.
``I think that's behind him,'' the manager said. ``I know his numbers didn't look like it today, but he threw the ball well, and he's a different guy than he was in the past.''
It was in the fourth inning that Sabathia and the infield surrounding him gave the A's six outs to work with.
Frank Thomas led off the inning with a walk, and Jay Payton slapped a one-hop, double-play grounder to the mound. Sabathia gloved the ball, took aim and heaved the ball into center field for an error that left runners on first and second.
Sabathia followed that by hitting Nick Swisher in the foot with a pitch to load the bases. Mark Ellis brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly, and Marco Scutaro hit a ball in the hole at short. Jhonny Peralta waved to it as it rolled past him for an RBI single that probably should have been ruled an error.
Asked about the play, Wedge said: ``Jhonny has to make that play. We've challenged him several different ways.''
One out later, Jason Kendall smacked a hard ground ball several steps to the right of Joe Inglett at second. He dived and knocked the ball -- a legitimate hit -- 40 feet to his left to allow two more runs to score.
That made it a four-run inning in which three runs were unearned and all were undeserved. That was not the case in the sixth, when Sabathia was charged with three runs on a bloop over shortstop, an infield hit, a two-run single by Kendall and a walk. Suffice to say that Sabathia did not finish six innings, despite throwing 117 pitches.
Sabathia was frustrated to give up hits that were not hit with authority.
``I don't want to say I'd like guys to hit line drives,'' he said. ``But I don't want them to hit 18-hoppers through the infield, either.''
Then again, he was pitching in Oakland. In six career starts on A's turf, Sabathia (11-11, 3.36 ERA) has posted a 6.97 ERA and a 1-2 record.
On the offensive side, the Tribe was facing Rich Harden, who because of injury had not started since June 4.
Fortunately for the Indians, Harden was on a strict 60-pitch limit, otherwise the embarrassment factor might have been overwhelming. Harden did give up a run, on Grady Sizemore's 25th home run of the year in the third inning.
Otherwise, Harden was in total command, though only for three innings and 55 pitches. Nevertheless, he struck out seven in that brief span, and for the game, the Tribe was rung up 13 times.
The Indians set a franchise record by striking out 17 times Tuesday night against six pitchers, but primarily starter Kirk Saarloos, who whiffed 11 in five innings.
For the series, A's pitchers struck out 40 batters, including 13 on Thursday. The series strikeout leaders for the Tribe: Casey Blake (six), Shin-Soo Choo (five), Ryan Garko (four), Peralta (four) and Sizemore (four).
By losing three out of four, the Indians helped reduced the A's magic number for winning the Western Division title to four. The second-place Angels visit the Coliseum this weekend for three games but are seven games behind in the standings.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Rangers 12, Indians 4

Byrd falls apart early on

Trouble on mound, poor defense put Tribe in bad spot right away

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Paul Byrd hasn't exactly been the Indians' warrior pitcher down the stretch.
Instead of gritting his teeth and making tough pitches to keep the team in meaningless games, all too often he has been hammered into submission by opposing offenses.
It happened again Friday night as the Tribe lost 12-4 to the Rangers at Ameriquest Field.
Byrd lasted four innings, giving up eight runs, eight hits and one walk. Among the hits were consecutive home runs in the third inning -- a two-run blast by Mark Teixeira and Carlos Lee's solo -- that foreshadowed the kind of night it would be for the Tribe's beleaguered starter.
``I'm just glad I didn't tear up the clubhouse,'' Byrd said. ``It's gotten to the point where you feel like you're about to have a breakdown.''
In the fourth, Byrd succumbed for four runs -- he had yielded one in the first inning -- on three hits, a walk and a tough two-base error on Ryan Garko, who muffed a hard smash just inside the first base line.
Garko's error made all four runs unearned. But with two outs already, Byrd could have extricated himself from trouble by retiring the next batter.
Instead, Byrd allowed a two-run single to Michael Young and a double that gave Teixeira four RBI for the night.
``That (the error) was big, but I should have overcome it,'' Byrd said. ``I'm supposed to be a veteran leader. If someone boots a ball, I'm supposed to be a guy who steps up and gets the next guy out.''
Tribe manager Eric Wedge felt that Garko should have made the play but conceded that it was not a routine chance.
``The guy hit it on the nose,'' Wedge said. ``It was not an easy play, but it's a play that needs to be made at this level.''
In his last six starts, Byrd (9-9, 4.87 ERA) has compiled a 1-3 record and a 6.51 ERA. Over this span, he has worked an average of 4 2/3 innings per start and allowed 52 hits in 27 2/3 innings, including five home runs.
When asked if fatigue is a factor, Wedge said, ``When you're the kind of pitcher he is -- who relies on command and mixing pitches -- that might come into it. Fatigue might make you lose your command.''
Byrd wasn't buying it.
``I don't feel fatigued,'' he said. ``I feel strong. I got skipped a couple of starts ago, so I feel very strong.''
Byrd seems to be a magnet for bad defense. At least lately. In the six-start span that began Aug. 23, Byrd has given up the remarkable total of 14 unearned runs.
It's difficult to blame the pitcher when he is forced to throw more pitches and get out of jams that are not of his own making. However, like Friday night, there have been times when Byrd could have minimized the damage but was not up to the task.
``I'm very frustrated right now,'' he said. ``I don't know what else to say. It seems like I'm saying these same things over and over.''
Byrd has been durable this year. In the past, he missed large chunks of seasons because of one injury or another. The book on Byrd has been, ``If he's healthy, he will keep it close for six or seven innings.''
He has struggled to live up to that reputation this season, but because he has a $7.25 million contract for 2007, it is likely he will receive another chance to prove himself.
Because Byrd let the game get out of hand early, Wedge used the final five innings for bullpen tryouts.
Edward Mujica was far and away the best of the lot, working two hitless innings and striking out three.
Jeremy Guthrie made his first big-league appearance out of the bullpen since June 19 -- he also started for the Tribe on Aug. 12 -- and displayed a considerable layer of rust by allowing Lee's second homer of the night, leading off the seventh.
Tom Mastny, ostensibly the Tribe's closer, hadn't pitched in a week and gave up three runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
``When somebody hasn't been out there for a while,'' Wedge said, ``you have to take that into consideration when you evaluate him.''
The Indians' attack left something to be desired, mostly because they never got the hit to trigger a big inning. Thirteen hits and two walks didn't add up to much because they stranded 10 runners and Hector Luna's double was the lone extra-base hit.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Notebook

Arizona springs very possible

Indians take big step toward new complex with City of Goodyear

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The Indians took a major step toward moving their spring training home to Arizona by committing to the City of Goodyear's plan to build a $77.5 million complex.
``We've signed a memorandum of understanding to do so, which is the first step,'' the Tribe's vice president of public relations, Bob DiBiasio, said on Friday.
But that does not ensure that the team will leave its base in Winter Haven, Fla., where it has trained since 1993.
``The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority must approve the memorandum,'' DiBiasio said. ``That's expected to take two to four months. So it's far from being a done deal.''
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority is the entity responsible for determining where state funding will go. And there is a possible pitfall ahead, because the nearby city of Glendale also is trying to lure one or two teams from Florida. Glendale and Goodyear are west of Phoenix.
Goodyear is not guaranteed the state money just because it will be the first to apply and have the backing of a major-league team. However, Goodyear has an obvious advantage.
It has been the position of the sports authority (and Goodyear) that enticing two clubs to move from Florida would be ideal, which is part of Goodyear's plan. So far, however, there have been no takers.
A spokesman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been one of Goodyear's targets, said the team has no intention of moving from Vero Beach, Fla., to Goodyear.
The Houston Astros might be another candidate, but apparently there is nothing imminent.
Goodyear's plan is to ask the state for $60 million and to have the complex, which will include a 10,000-seat stadium, ready by spring 2009. But practice fields are to be finished by spring 2008, if the Tribe were to need them.
``From the beginning, we've wanted to have a year-round facility,'' DiBiasio said. ``We can use it for the instructional league, and it can be where our draft picks go before joining their teams.''
How will Northeast Ohio fans respond to the move?
``We think the move will be something that some fans will be excited about,'' DiBiasio said. ``Another group will prefer we stay in Florida.''
The team trained in Tucson for 47 years, through 1992, until taking over the old Boston Red Sox complex in Winter Haven.
If the deal with Goodyear is consummated, the Tribe will be the 13th team to hold spring training in Arizona, leaving 17 in Florida.
Fixing Jhonny
On Thursday, manager Eric Wedge said, ``I'm tired of talking about the guy,'' referring to Jhonny Peralta, who failed to make a key play at shortstop in a 7-4 loss to Oakland.
On Friday, Wedge spoke more about Peralta, saying: ``It's important to help Jhonny understand what's acceptable and what's not. He's a good player, and he's going to (continue to) be a good player, but he's going through a tough stretch and can't give in to it.''
Peralta's average has fallen to .251 with 12 homers, 61 RBI and 146 strikeouts heading into Friday's game.
Fixing Jhonny, Part II
According to Wedge, the Tribe has no plans to jettison him before next season, which makes sense for two reasons: He had a breakout season in 2005 and was signed to a five-year guaranteed contract this year.
``We want him to be our shortstop,'' the manager said. ``People shouldn't think we're picking on him, because we're not. But Jhonny has to understand he has to work his butt off every single day. He needs to be relentless.''
No preference
Asked whether he prefers to hold spring training in Florida or Arizona, Wedge said, ``I don't think you can go wrong either way.''
Wedge has operated out of both venues for spring training.
Onward and upward
Grady Sizemore leads the big leagues with 88 extra-base hits and 52 doubles. His extra-base hit total ranks fifth in franchise history, and his doubles total is third. In his past 28 games, Sizemore is batting .337, and since July 1, he is batting .342.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

INDIANS 6 RANGERS 3
Peralta, Martinez provide 1-2 punch

Sunday, September 24, 2006


FROM WIRE REPORTS




ARLINGTON, Texas ? Jhonny Peralta homered and drove in three runs to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 last night.
Victor Martinez keyed a four-run third inning with a two-run double for the Indians, who won for only the sixth time in their past 20 games.
Trailing 6-1, Texas loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but reliever Matt Miller (1-0) got Gerald Laird to ground out.
Rafael Betancourt got three outs for his second save in five chances.
Brian Slocum got a nodecision in his first majorleague start, leaving after four innings even though the Indians had stretched their lead to 6-1 in the fifth. His first six appearances had come in relief. Slocum allowed one run and four hits.
Carlos Lee homered and Mark Teixeira had four hits for the Rangers.
Texas starter Vicente Padilla (14-10) gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings, striking out five and walking three. He struggled against the Indians for the second time this month. On Sept. 1, Cleveland had six runs and eight hits in 51/3 innings off Padilla in a 7-2 victory.
Cleveland took a 4-0 lead in the third on Martinez?s two-run double, Shin-Shoo Choo?s RBI single and Peralta?s run-scoring double.
Mark DeRosa?s RBI single in the fourth cut the deficit to 4-1, but Peralta?s two-run shot in the fifth ? his 13 th homer ? extended Cleveland?s advantage to 6-1.
In the eighth, Teixeira singled and Lee followed with his ninth homer in 53 games for the Rangers to pull Texas to 6-3.
Move to Cactus League reportedly in works

The Indians have agreed to move their spring training operations to Goodyear, Ariz.
As first reported in Friday?s Arizona Republic, the Indians solidified their desire to head west in a letter dated Sept. 21 to the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority and signed by club president Paul Dolan.
"We enthusiastically support the application of the city of Goodyear to the Sports and Tourism Authority of Arizona as part of the process of bringing Cleveland Indians baseball and its fans to Arizona," the letter states. "We eagerly look forward to developing a long-term relationship with the city of Goodyear and the state of Arizona."
The city of Goodyear, which sits just west of Phoenix, is offering the Indians a $77.5 million facility that would include a new 10,000-seat stadium, which could be up and running by 2009.
But the plan is contingent upon public funding from the Sports and Tourism Authority to pay for roughly $60 million of the project. The Indians and the city must also sign a "memorandum of understanding" to complete the deal. That is expected to happen sometime in the next week. If all goes to plan, the Indians would become the 13 th team in the Cactus League, joining division rivals Chicago and Kansas City.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

TALKIN' TRIBE
? The Indians have scouts prowling both leagues looking for middle infielders. The free-agent possibilities are weak, especially if they decide to sign a shortstop (Please!) and move Jhonny Peralta to second base -- or perhaps even use him in a trade.
? Lately, manager Eric Wedge has been saying the infield defense must improve. The best way to do it is at shortstop. Some fans want Omar Vizquel back, but he has another year on his deal with the San Francisco Giants. He went into the weekend hitting .301 with only four errors in 145 games, so why would the Giants move him? At age 39, Vizquel has stolen 24 bases in 31 tries.
? Time to fess up: I never believed that Vizquel would continue to play shortstop at such a high level given his age. What he's doing is perhaps unprecedented in baseball history, and it appears that he can do it for a few more years. For Vizquel fans, the good news is National League writers (and Hall of Fame voters) are falling in love with the guy -- which really helps his chances for Cooperstown. He had my vote before he left the Tribe.
? Two veteran shortstops on the free-agent market who might interest the Tribe are Alex Gonzalez and Royce Clayton. Gonzalez is expected to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. Clayton will be 37 next year. He's playing short for the Cincinnati Reds, hitting .256 with two home runs and 38 RBI in 132 games this season.
? Clayton or someone of that type would just be a stop-gap. Another possibility, not for the start of 2007 but sometime during the year, is Asdrubal Cabrera. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in midseason. He finished the season hitting .263 with one homer and 14 RBI at Class AAA Buffalo.
? A scout who saw Cabrera in late August told me that Cabrera has very good hands. His range is slightly above average. He is improving as a hitter. He's not another Omar, but he's much better than Peralta. The question is his age -- only 20.
? The fielding numbers on Cabrera are strange. He had only five errors in 60 games at Class AAA Tacoma. He was traded to the Indians, where he's had 14 errors in 52 games at Buffalo. The scout told me not to worry much about those numbers. He compared them to the 19 errors for Andy Marte at Buffalo, yet he was voted the best third baseman in the International League by opposing managers -- and has played well defensively with the Indians.
? If the Indians want Ronnie Belliard back, they probably can sign him. He has struggled with the St. Louis Cardinals. Heading into the weekend, he was hitting only .238 with two home runs, 17 RBI and a .299 on-base percentage in 160 at-bats. The problem with signing Belliard is it puts Peralta back at shortstop.
? Bob Wickman mentioned several times to the Indians that this might be his last season. That might have been part of the reason they traded him to the Atlanta Braves for Class A catcher Max Ramirez; it also was obvious Wickman was not the Indians' first choice at closer.
? When the Indians traded Wickman to the Braves, he had the right to veto any deal and was going to approve moving to only the Braves or the Milwaukee Brewers. Since being traded, Wickman has been better than ever. He's 0-1 with a stunning 1.14 ERA for the Braves. In 24 innings, he has allowed only 20 hits and two walks. He doesn't scare anyone. He just gets saves -- converting 16-of-17. With the Indians, he had a 1-4 record with a 4.18 ERA and was 15-of-18 in saves.
? Time to fess up again: Never did I imagine that Wickman would have been this effective in the past two years: 76-of-85 in saves. There has long been a fear his arm would not hold up after major surgery a few years ago, but it suddenly seems stronger. That's why the Braves signed him to a $6.5 million contract for 2007. They took one hard look at the possible free-agent closers in the coming offseason and decided that Wickman was a better bet than any of them.
? The Indians have no closer for 2007. The Fausto Carmona experiment was a miserable failure. The best news is Carmona finally is regaining his confidence and has put together two strong starts. Clearly, the best role for the 22-year-old is in the rotation. As for a closer, who knows?
? Some fans will wonder, ``If Carmona starts, then who is out?'' The Indians are going to have to trade someone of consequence this winter to obtain: (1) A middle infielder, (2) a closer, (3) a power-hitting outfielder. Those are their biggest needs. So a starter such as Paul Byrd or possibly Jake Westbrook could be used in a major deal.
? The starter who would bring a lot in a trade is Cliff Lee. He just turned 28. He's left-handed. He's had a so-so year, 12-11 with a 4.58 ERA. He averages six innings a start. In 185 innings, he's allowed 213 hits and 27 homers while striking out 118.
? Lee has completed only one of his 107 big-league starts. He is mostly a six-inning pitcher. He tends to win games, his record is 47-28, but his career ERA is an uninspiring 4.44. The Indians have two other lefties in their rotation in C.C. Sabathia and Jeremy Sowers. Lee just signed a three-year extension, which might make him attractive to another team.
? Teams consistently ask about Westbrook because he's so durable. This has been a typical Westbrook season, a 13-10 record with a 4.15 ERA. He gives up a lot of hits, but gets through a lot of innings. Better infield defense certainly would help him. In the past three years, his record is 42-34 with 11 complete games and a 3.98 ERA. It's hard to give up a pitcher like that, and the Indians know it.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Indians put on grand show

Blake's slam ties MLB team record, dashes White Sox's playoff hopes

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - There is no such statistic, but someone could make it up: The most lethal offense by a team 10 games under .500 in the (it is hoped) post-steroid era. Something like that.
The Indians tied a major-league record in the sixth inning Monday night, when Casey Blake hit his third career grand slam and second of the year in a 14-1 rout of the Chicago White Sox at Jacobs Field.
It was the Tribe's 14th slam of the year, matching the total of the 2000 Oakland Athletics, who, incidentally, finished the season with a 91-70 record, which will be far superior to that of the Tribe (73-83).
``It's a great accomplishment,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ``If you're talking about hitting with runners in scoring position and the bases loaded, to punch that ball out of the park is pretty special.
``I just wish it had been more meaningful to our season.''
Blake's 17th home run of 2006 was part of an eight-run inning that also featured Ryan Garko's two-run double, an RBI double by Andy Marte and a run-scoring single by Victor Martinez.
``I heard that we needed another one to get the record,'' Blake said. ``But I certainly wasn't thinking about that when I was up there. I don't go to the plate trying to his a slam.''
Blake downplayed the importance of the record.
``It's fairly dubious,'' he said. ``I'd rather be in the playoffs. Maybe down the road, if somebody brings up that record, I can say our club had it.''
If you will recall, the White Sox won the World Series last year and were the odds-on favorites to make it two American League Central Division titles in a row. But baseball is a funny game, as former Tribe outfielder Candy Maldonado likes to say.
How the mighty have fallen. The White Sox not only will not repeat as World Series champs, they will not qualify for the postseason, having fallen like a rock the past several weeks.
Instead, it will be the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins, which have flexed muscles nobody thought that they had when the season began.
Since Aug. 31, the White Sox are 9-16 and were officially eliminated from the playoffs Monday night. Ironically, a year ago this week, the White Sox did the same to the Tribe in the final series of the season.
``It's a different year and different circumstances,'' Wedge said.
The disinterest the White Sox showed in the first game of the series was almost shocking.
In the mix of bad plays and bad pitching were errors by catcher A.J. Pierzynski, shortstop Juan Uribe and center fielder Brian Anderson that contributed to four unearned runs.
Not that starter Jon Garland was blameless.
Of the eight runs scored by the Indians in the sixth, all were earned. In all, Garland (17-7, 4.61 ERA) was charged with 12 runs (eight earned), 12 hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Never before had he given up 12 runs in a start.
Though nobody admitted getting much satisfaction out of putting one of the nails in the White Sox's coffin, the Indians undoubtedly were happy to engage in a little payback.
``I suppose,'' Blake said. ``But it's not like this makes our season. They essentially knocked us out last year. If we can do that to them, great.
``But they have a good club that is worthy of making the playoffs.''
Cliff Lee (13-11, 4.46 ERA) delivered a clean performance for seven innings, giving up just one run, four hits and two walks.
The White Sox's first-inning run was a product of an infield hit by Scott Podsednik, a walk to Tadahito Iguchi, a bases-loading bloop hit to Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome's sacrifice fly.
Only one White Sox runner reached second the rest of the game.
``Cliff had to work hard in that first inning,'' Wedge said. ``But what that ended up doing is getting him into his game.''
Said Lee: ``It's been a while, it's been a long time that I pitched seven innings, let alone gave up one run.''
In addition to the boost provided by Blake, Garko had three hits and three RBI, giving him 37 for the season.
Putting that in perspective, if Garko were to drive in runs at that rate for a 550-at-bat season, his RBI total would reach 125.
``Garko has had an extreme number of RBI per at-bat, about as good as you're going to find,'' Wedge said.
``He's not a guy who just tries to yank the ball. Like tonight, when he punched that double down the line in right.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Indians notebook

Sizemore's numbers match Hall of Famers

His extra bases put him in category with Klein, Medwick, Gehrig, all enshrined in Cooperstown

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - Almost every day there's a new statistic to point out the virtuosity of Grady Sizemore.
The latest revelation is courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau, which has discovered that the Indians' leadoff batter is the fourth player in baseball history to accumulate 50 doubles, 10 triples and 25 home runs in the same season.
Preceding Sizemore in this feat were Joe Medwick (1937), Chuck Klein (1932) and Lou Gehrig (1927), all of whom are in the Hall of Fame.
Sizemore has a word for the kind of player he is.
``I just try to be as complete as I can be,'' he said.
Complete is the precise word for a guy who is batting .292 with 131 runs, 52 doubles, 11 triples, 27 homers, 74 RBI, 22 steals, a .378 on-base percentage and a .538 slugging percentage.
Sizemore has struck out 144 times, but that isn't much of an issue.
``It doesn't concern me, because his production is so high,'' manager Eric Wedge said Monday. ``He has a high on-base percentage, and his extra-base hits are through the roof.''
Sizemore isn't perfect. In addition to his high strikeout total, he is batting only .204 against left-handers.
``That might be reason for optimism,'' Wedge said. ``Anything he feels he needs to get better at, he attacks head on.''
Because Sizemore not only reaches base often and steals bases, he also is an above-average run producer. That has brought up the question of whether he should remain in the leadoff spot or bat somewhere in the middle of the lineup.
Obviously, there's nothing wrong with driving in runs at the top of the order, which might be a compelling argument for keeping Sizemore where he is.
``I think there's more of an argument in finding somebody else so we can keep Grady in the No. 1 spot,'' Wedge said.
While he's at it, maybe Sizemore should audition to be the closer.
Akron battery visit
Top Double-A pitching prospect Adam Miller and Aeros catcher Wyatt Toregas will be at Jacobs Field all week to develop a feeling for big-league life.
``They'll be showing me scouting reports on hitters, and I'll sit in the stands and chart pitches,'' Miller said.
Miller wasn't happy to be scratched from the final game of the Eastern League Championship Series because Tribe officials thought that he had thrown enough innings for the season.
``It definitely bothered me,'' he said. ``I see their point in shutting me down, but don't see what one more start would have done.''
Toregas will be off to winter ball in the Dominic Republic, where he will play about half the season.
Hurtin' a little
Hector Luna was removed from the lineup before the game with soreness in his oblique area.
``It's something that's been bothering him a little,'' Wedge said. ``He's available. I probably should have pushed it. He was going to play short.''
Tribute to Boone
Aaron Boone has played little since the arrival of Andy Marte from the minors in August. However, Boone hasn't sulked or been a distraction in the clubhouse.
``He's unbelievable,'' Wedge said. ``He's probably the most professional position player I've ever been around.... He understood that we were going to play the young kids, so he's helped them out, too.''
Trivia pursuit
From Elias Sports Bureau, here are the top winners in the American League from 2004 through Sunday:
1. Johan Santana (Twins) 54; 2. Kenny Rogers (Rangers, Tigers) 49; 3. Jon Garland (White Sox) 47; 4. Mark Buehrle (White Sox) 44; 5. Cliff Lee (Indians) 44; 6. Freddy Garcia (Mariners, White Sox) 43; 7. Curt Schilling (Red Sox) 43; 8. Jake Westbrook (Indians) 43.