Indians Tidbits (2007 Season)

[OH10]

this whole notion that NYY can snap their fingers when they want and get who they want is horseshit and old.

If the player gets to free agency, they have shown that they can pretty much snap their fingers and get them. Most teams have figured that out by now, and have implemented a strategy of early contract negotiation.

It seems as though C.C. is content with getting to free agency. If he wanted a long-term deal in Cleveland, he could have it. Shapiro has done an excellent job of locking down young talent well before their contracts are up. But C.C. knows there's bigger money out there if he can stay healthy.

 

[NFBuck]

MLB needs a fucking salary cap already.

Amen. I'm shocked that the fucking Royals are still fielding a team.

 

[tsteele316]

If the player gets to free agency, they have shown that they can pretty much snap their fingers and get them. Most teams have figured that out by now, and have implemented a strategy of early contract negotiation.

It seems as though C.C. is content with getting to free agency. If he wanted a long-term deal in Cleveland, he could have it. Shapiro has done an excellent job of locking down young talent well before their contracts are up. But C.C. knows there's bigger money out there if he can stay healthy.

actually, both shapiro and CC's agent have said that they weren't going to talk extention until this offseason to begin with, as they are waiting to see what the FA pitcher market brings this year before putting numbers on the table. that still doesn't change the fact that cleveland isn't going to trade CC this year, and they will not trade him the the yankees, which is the presumptuous part of the article above.

 

[OH10]

actually, both shapiro and CC's agent have said that they weren't going to talk extention until this offseason to begin with, as they are waiting to see what the FA pitcher market brings this year before putting numbers on the table. that still doesn't change the fact that cleveland isn't going to trade CC this year, and they will not trade him the the yankees, which is the presumptuous part of the article above.

Of course they aren't trading him this year. The Indians will be contending for a playoff spot.

But I don't buy the line that Shapiro isn't talking extension. That may be what is coming out of his mouth, but he knows that a small market like Cleveland can only compete if they lock 'em down before free agency. As we saw before with Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, and Jim Thome, the Indians can't afford to let talent like Sabathia test the waters.

 

[NFBuck]

Cliff Lee pitches a great game, getting the CG victory. If he can get back to 2004-05 form, that would be huge. Victor is somewhat quietly having a huge year too...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Indians 5, Angels 1

Tribe's Lee shows he's back with three-hitter

Indians get win as he pitches complete game for only third time in his career

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Cliff Lee gave Jake Westbrook something to look forward to Tuesday night at Angels Stadium.
If Lee can take a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his second start after recuperating from an abdominal strain, why can't Westbrook do the same?
More important is that the Indians tripped up Los Angeles at Anaheim 5-1 and that after a shaky 2007 debut, Lee put on a dazzling performance to throw the first three-hitter and third complete game of his career.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Indians notebook

Peralta is looking like a new man

Shortstop's play greatly improved from last season

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

ANAHEIM, CALIF. - It's probably not an overstatement to conclude that the vast majority of Indians fans believed that shortstop Jhonny Peralta would be part of the problem rather than part of the solution in 2007.
It wasn't difficult to see where they were coming from. Peralta made a mess out of 2006, after batting .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBI in his debut season of 2005.
Instead of getting better, he regressed, posting a batting average of .257 with 13 homers and 68 RBI.
And how about the show Peralta put on at shortstop? At times he looked like Will Ferrell doing a series of pratfalls as Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights.

Continued....

 

[LitlBuck]

Haven't been keeping up with the thread so if this has been discussed I am sorry.

I think the signing of Westbrook for 3 years/30 mil was a very stupid move and it's even worse now that he is injured. Carmona was pitching extremely well and they should have moved Westbrook before his injury. They could have used his money to saying Hafner and possibly C. C. Westbrook, IMO, has better trade value than Byrd strictly because of age.

From everything that I have read, Miller is extremely close to be ready to be pitching in the majors so if something would have happened to one of the starters, like Westbrook, with Carmona already in the rotation, they could have brought up Miller.

Also, by continuing to shuffle pitchers up and down from Buffalo, eventually they will run out of options. I will admit that Davis' time was up but there are younger guys that they keep on shuffling which I really do not understand.

Plus, it's not only the pitchers that they keep on shuffling which really bothers me.

 

[Piney]

I think the signing of Westbrook for 3 years/30 mil was a very stupid move and it's even worse now that he is injured. Carmona was pitching extremely well and they should have moved Westbrook before his injury. They could have used his money to saying Hafner and possibly C. C. Westbrook, IMO, has better trade value than Byrd strictly because of age.

From everything that I have read, Miller is extremely close to be ready to be pitching in the majors so if something would have happened to one of the starters, like Westbrook, with Carmona already in the rotation, they could have brought up Miller.

Actually I like the Westbrook signing. And his injury is not serious, it is the same muscle pull that CC had last year and with Carmona pitching the way he is the Indians can bring him back slowly like they did Lee. But $10 million a year is a great price for what Westbrook brings to the team which is innings and a stabling force.

The CC situation will be interesting. No way he gets traded this year unless we go on a 20 game losing streak and by July 30 we are totally out of the playoff hunt AND we get offered a TON for him.

The offseason is totally different animal. I can totally see Shapiro get serious with CC and if he feels CC is trying to break the bank ($20mil+ for 5+ years) then a trade might be the best course of action to get the most for him. But it also depends on how far in the playoffs we get this year and think we are a piece or two next season from winning it all you keep CC (signed or not) and let the string play out to try all out to win it all in 2008.

BUT what if the Indians win it all this season and then CC wants to be the highest paid pitcher in baseball what do you do? We got our championship... so we now have flexibilty. We can sign him and try for more championships but risk overspending and then crash like we did in 2002. Or we can be like Oakland and try to substain the run by trading CC for max value and then retooling on the fly. But whatever we do... that would be a lovely problem to have

 

[LitlBuck]

Actually I like the Westbrook signing. And his injury is not serious, it is the same muscle pull that CC had last year and with Carmona pitching the way he is the Indians can bring him back slowly like they did Lee. But $10 million a year is a great price for what Westbrook brings to the team which is innings and a stabling force.

The CC situation will be interesting. No way he gets traded this year unless we go on a 20 game losing streak and by July 30 we are totally out of the playoff hunt AND we get offered a TON for him.

The offseason is totally different animal. I can totally see Shapiro get serious with CC and if he feels CC is trying to break the bank ($20mil+ for 5+ years) then a trade might be the best course of action to get the most for him. But it also depends on how far in the playoffs we get this year and think we are a piece or two next season from winning it all you keep CC (signed or not) and let the string play out to try all out to win it all in 2008.

BUT what if the Indians win it all this season and then CC wants to be the highest paid pitcher in baseball what do you do? We got our championship... so we now have flexibilty. We can sign him and try for more championships but risk overspending and then crash like we did in 2002. Or we can be like Oakland and try to substain the run by trading CC for max value and then retooling on the fly. But whatever we do... that would be a lovely problem to have

I realize Westbrook's injury is not that serious but what I am trying to say is what you do with Carmona when Westbrook comes back. Sooner or later if you keep on shuffling him back to Buffalo, he is going to be out of options just like Cabrera (SP?). I think you have to move either Westbrook or Byrd.

I totally agree with you regarding the CC situation but I just think the money could have been better spent on Hafner rather than Westbrook but I don't know Dolan's budget and if he is way to go the extra mile to keep Hafner not to even mention CC.

I also read where a scout said that Miller would be ready for the majors this year, perhaps June, as soon as he refines some of his location.

The Indians have a luxury that most major-league teams don't have we almost have too much starting pitching and most of them are young.

 

[tsteele316]

rumors are already floating that teams are inquiring about byrd.

cleveland is going to wait and see how carmona does over a few more starts. if you recall, he was one of the most impressive 8th inning men in baseball last year until being moved to a closer. then, he totally fell apart. the team has to see if he is going to implode like that again this year. Last year all it took was some bad luck and a good piece of hitting for him to totally get derailed. There will be a time when he starts and things just don't go his way, and he doesn't have his best stuff, and he gets roughed up. it's inevitable. if he can show that he can rebound from that and not fall to pieces, then you can begin to think about moving someone.

 

[Big Papa]

Actually I like the Westbrook signing. And his injury is not serious, it is the same muscle pull that CC had last year and with Carmona pitching the way he is the Indians can bring him back slowly like they did Lee. But $10 million a year is a great price for what Westbrook brings to the team which is innings and a stabling force.

The CC situation will be interesting. No way he gets traded this year unless we go on a 20 game losing streak and by July 30 we are totally out of the playoff hunt AND we get offered a TON for him.

The offseason is totally different animal. I can totally see Shapiro get serious with CC and if he feels CC is trying to break the bank ($20mil+ for 5+ years) then a trade might be the best course of action to get the most for him. But it also depends on how far in the playoffs we get this year and think we are a piece or two next season from winning it all you keep CC (signed or not) and let the string play out to try all out to win it all in 2008.

BUT what if the Indians win it all this season and then CC wants to be the highest paid pitcher in baseball what do you do? We got our championship... so we now have flexibilty. We can sign him and try for more championships but risk overspending and then crash like we did in 2002. Or we can be like Oakland and try to substain the run by trading CC for max value and then retooling on the fly. But whatever we do... that would be a lovely problem to have

Great, great post Piney. Yeah, I would LOVE to have that problem next year (winning a Championship). If they can't (won't more likely) pay him, then I guess they have to try and get max value for him at some point. Hopefully not this season. I still believe Dolan needs to continue to loosed the purse strings now that this team is contending. This is what he publicly said he would do, so it's time for him to put his money where his mouth is. Time to start winning those "championshipS" that he talked about when he bought this team.

 

[Big Papa]

I am going to wait for a few more starts before I jump on the Carmona bandwagon. Granted he has never gone this many starts in a row of quality starts, but I am still waiting on the meltdown from him. I hope it doesn't happen and he proves me wrong, but for now, I am taking his recent run of success with some skepticism.

 

[NFBuck]

If it comes down to a decision of Pronk or C.C., and I think it will, I'd bet the bank it will be Hafner. Pronk will command big bucks, but nowhere near what a (relatively) young lefty will. Somebody is gonna throw ridiculous bank at C.C., probably New York (Yankees or Mets, who knows). I really doubt we will be able to afford him. One other thing to look at is that we are developing some good young pitchers which would make losing C.C. less painful than losing a middle of the order monster like Pronk.

As for Carmona, I think he has turned a corner. He has nasty stuff, and his location and command seems much better. Some of the interviews with the Baltimore players after his outting last week had them saying they couldn't believe how good he looked in back to back starts against them. If it comes down to needing to move him out of the rotation, i would think he'd go back into the pen as opposed to back to Buffalo.

 

[NFBuck]

Bah. Lost 3-2. Bats got to Weaver in the first, but went cold. Byrd pitched a nice game, only 2 runs in seven. Cabrera coughed it up in the 8th. Cabrera came out on fire this season, but has looked really shaky his past few outtings.