Indians Tidbits (2007 Season)

[LitlBuck]

But like I said earlier unless Sowers turns it around quickly he will be sent back down when Westbrook is ready. As for Miller he IS ready. He is dominating AAA right now and it isn't close. Don't you just love having too much pitching? But he is still young and 2 years removed from arm surgery, so let him keep pitching in Buffalo where we can control his innings and development for another year.

But people talking about trading Byrd and Westbrook now is insane. There is no reason for it. When you are talking playoffs and World Series you don't want to bring up a rookie pitcher in Miller and trade away a steady veteran in Byrd and Westbrook.

If Sowers starts to turn around what are you going to do with Byrd and Westbrook? I will agree that it probably would be better for Miller to stay at Buffalo for another season to build up his arm strength. However if Sowers can get his act together, I think Shapiro should make a trade for a right hand hitting outfielder or a proven reliever along with a good utilityman. It all depends on Sowers.

 

[NFBuck]

But people talking about trading Byrd and Westbrook now is insane. There is no reason for it. When you are talking playoffs and World Series you don't want to bring up a rookie pitcher in Miller and trade away a steady veteran in Byrd and Westbrook.

Exactly. Byrd has been pitching relatively well so far this season and they're both innings eaters. With a shaky bullpen that is invaluable. Keep them both. Everybody is salivating over Miller, and rightfully so, but another year in AAA will do him good. It's nice to have him there though if we have more injury problems or if someone falters.

Carmona is looking like the real deal. When you have a guy that can throw in the mid nineties and can mix in a changeup and probably the nastiest sinker I've ever seen, we may have a genuine top of the rotation guy right there to go with C.C....all he's needed was to get his head on straight and it appears he finally has. When you have other teams players talking about how ridiculous your stuff is after your past few starts, you're on to something.

 

[Piney]

If Sowers starts to turn around what are you going to do with Byrd and Westbrook? I will agree that it probably would be better for Miller to stay at Buffalo for another season to build up his arm strength. However if Sowers can get his act together, I think Shapiro should make a trade for a right hand hitting outfielder or a proven reliever along with a good utilityman. It all depends on Sowers.

First off Byrd stays as he is pitching well. Also if Sowers is doing better you give Westbrook about 2-3 Rehab starts to stretch time and be 100% sure he is good to go. Then by that time Carmona either keeps pitching so well you can't put him back down in the minors or he has imploded. If Carmona keeps pitching lights out, demote Sowers anyway. But sometimes things just work themselves out (ie Westbrook getting hurt to allow Carmona to stay in the majors). So let's cross that bridge when we get to it.

Also our needs might present itself in a better light as time presses on. Matt Miller should be back soon to help the bullpen and we still have young arms that can move up. The key is Borowski and if he continues pitching well and only blows the occasional save. Because if he becomes more volitile then the question is this. What team will be willing to trade their closer to us? And really they would not want Byrd or Westrbook because most likely that team is rebuilding and wants young players. And the same can be said if we want an outfielder or any other position. Cuz really what rebuilding team would want Byrd or Westbrook and along those lines what playoff team would be willing to part with a major league position player to upgrade their pitching. And then you limit what teams you can trade with because really would you want to help an American League team that you could be trying to defeat for a wildcard berth or down the line in the playoffs.

So that leads to the next question. Would you be willing to trade Sowers to get that player we need to win right now?

 

[NFBuck]

So that leads to the next question. Would you be willing to trade Sowers to get that player we need to win right now?

If we could get a player to help a playoff run for Sowers, I'd do it right now. I like Sowers and think he can be a pretty good MLB pitcher, but I don't know if I see him ever being more than a middle of the rotation guy. Plus we have a very good young arm at AAA and Carmona seems to be on his way.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Tribe reverses early lead by Reds

Three-run homer by Garko, two-run shot by Sizemore make it look easy at Jacobs Field

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - And you probably thought the Indians were good in April. They have a chance to be even better in May.
The Tribe won Friday night for the fifth time in the past six games, coming from behind to easily handle the Cincinnati Reds 9-4 at Jacobs Field.
Conventional wisdom says that falling behind 4-1 is not a smart thing to do. Even if a team rallies, it has to use so much energy that finally it runs out of gas before finishing the job.
But wiping out the Reds' lead didn't seem like an exhausting enterprise for the Tribe. Bad pitching and erratic defense can make it rather easy.
In that respect, the Reds gave the Indians a big lift in the second inning, when Ryan Garko's three-run homer led to a six-run inning.
Garko had committed an error that led to two unearned runs in the Reds second, so he was more than relieved to give his team a boost with the home run.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

INDIANS NOTEBOOK

CLEVELAND - Marte to learn today
if he stays in Cleveland
Andy Marte (strained hamstring), whose rehab assignment expired Friday night, either must be activated and given a spot on the Indians' roster or optioned to Triple-A Buffalo today.
Manager Eric Wedge hinted broadly that Marte was coming back to Cleveland to be the everyday third baseman.
``As long as everything is OK with him, we'll probably make a move,'' Wedge said.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

INDIANS INSIDER
Tribe?s decision on Marte must come today


Saturday, May 19, 2007 Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
Indians manager Eric Wedge said late Friday night an announcement will be made today whether third baseman Andy Marte will remain in Class AAA Buffalo, N.Y., or rejoin the major-league club.
Friday was the last of Marte's 20-day rehabilitation assignment. Marte, the Tribe's Opening Day third baseman, has been on the disabled list since April 23 because of a strained left hamstring.
A rehab assignment may not last longer than 20 days for position players, 30 days for pitchers.
After a slow start on rehab, Marte went 4-for-4 with a homer Monday against Rochester, N.Y. However, he had been sidelined the past several days because of dental problems. Marte said he had a wisdom tooth pulled Wednesday. He resumed playing Friday.
In the early stages of Marte's DL stint, the odds were favorable that he would return to Cleveland. But the strong play of Casey Blake at third and Ryan Garko at first seemed to put the squeeze on Marte, who batted .179 with one homer in 13 games for the Tribe before the injury.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Baseball
Sweet win for Indians
Garko hits three-run homer, then gets pie in the face
Saturday, May 19, 2007 3:31 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Ed Suba Jr. | Akron Beacon Journal
Indians first baseman Ryan Garko hits a three-run home run off Reds starter Kyle Lohse during the second inning.

Ed Suba Jr. | Akron Beacon Journal
The Indians' Grady Sizemore slides in under the tag from Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips.

• Sports on the air
• Read what's on the minds of Dispatch sports reporters at dispatch.com/sportsblogs

CLEVELAND -- The Indians have found a tonic for the tensions of a long season. Their team meetings have come around the clubhouse television, laughing like teenagers. They have answered snowstorms, injuries and errors with handshakes, heavy metal music and pies in the face, which have quickly become the standard postgame celebration.

As the Indians jogged off the field after an easy 9-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds last night, relievers Fernando Cabrera and Ed Mujica immediately began plotting the next pie attack. Moments later, they caught a willing Ryan Garko with a face full of whipped cream.
"I helped 'em plan it, and they got me," Garko said with a smile, his hat, shirt and cheek still dotted with whipped cream 20 minutes later.

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[NFBuck]

Grady seems to be coming alive after a little bit of a swoon there.

 

[strohs]

Anybody else see Pronks homerun a minute ago?
This dude in a white jersey is watching at the ball coming at him in the stands, and it either gets deflected or he just doesnt put his hands up and he gets hit in the face and knocked out cold.
Looked like he hit his head on the seat on the way down too
Hope he is all right, but try catching it next time!

 

[NFBuck]

Okay, time for Sowers to go...and he can take Cabrera with him. They're both liabilities right now.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Sowers struggles as Reds top Tribe

Pitcher undone, giving up 7 runs in 6 innings

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - Jeremy Sowers is officially a troubled young pitcher.
For the third consecutive start and fourth time in eight outings this season, the Indians left-hander failed to keep a game under control.
As a result, the Tribe succumbed to the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 Saturday night at Jacobs Field.
To those who still view his glass as being half full, they might say that Sowers (0-4, 7.13 ERA) is beginning to emerge from his slump. That argument would be based on the fact that he lasted six innings against the Reds.
Manager Eric Wedge quite naturally is one observer who tries to look at the positive side.
``I think I saw some signs of Jeremy coming out of it,'' he said. ``Basically, he left two change-ups up for home runs. But I like the way he competed. He's not there yet, but he was a little more aggressive and made some pitches when he needed to.''

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Ocker on the Indians

Cabrera feeling heat under pressure

Pitcher's wilting when faced with holding big lead

By Sheldon Ocker

Last year, his name was Fausto Carmona.
Now, it's Fernando Cabrera who can't get through an inning when the Indians are ahead or the score is tied. Even when the lead is 15-5, as it was Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins, Cabrera was unable to retire three batters in the ninth.
He gave up solo home runs to Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel, allowed a single to Mike Redmond, then walked the No. 8 batter in the lineup, Garrett Jones, a raw rookie, before leaving with one out.
This has happened more than once. And as with Carmona last season, it was unexpected.
In Cabrera's first five outings of 2007, he yielded no runs, four hits and struck out 15 in 10 2/3 innings. In four of those games, the Indians trailed. In the other, the score was tied.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Q&A with Indians coach Gary Varsho

Quality of base running is his first priority

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sportswriter

Gary Varsho has a passion for base running. Dare to ask him one thing and be prepared to sit and listen for a while.
The former major-league outfielder has made a second career of dissecting the game, which he now does for the Indians. After serving as the Philadelphia Phillies' bench coach the past five seasons, Varsho, 45, joined the Tribe's front office as the team's outfield/base-running coordinator.
A fifth-round draft pick in 1982 by the Chicago Cubs out of the University of Wisconsin, Varsho made his major-league debut in 1988. In his seven-year major league career, he played with the Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Phillies.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Indians recall Marte

Posted by [URL="http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/about.html"][EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL][/URL] May 19, 2007 17:23PM

Categories: Indians

The Indians recalled third baseman Andy Marte before tonight's game against Cincinnati. Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was optioned to Class AAA Buffalo to make room.
Marte was on a rehab assignment with Buffalo as he recovered from a strained left hamstring suffered April 22. He hit .242 (8-for-33) with two homers and three RBI in 10 games with the Bisons.

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