Indians Tidbits (2007 Season)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Delivering quite a change

Carmona goes from failed closer to dominant starter in one season
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Jodie Valade
Plain Dealer Reporter
According to legend, Fausto Carmona once was so angry after a loss that he tossed a towel into a hamper in the locker room, and then stormed to his car without answering questions.
Rumor has it the right-hander once sat sullenly at his locker after he was scorched for one of his horrible closer attempts last season, and only spoke when verbally prodded by tiptoeing reporters seeking his assessment.
These are, according to observers, the only times the Indians' 23-year-old surprise with the second-lowest ERA in the American League has appeared off-balance, the only times the find from the Dominican Republic who led the Indians with a 19-8 record this season has seemed truly unnerved.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

He's got moves

GM Mark Shapiro's five key moves that influenced the 2007 Indians

Wednesday, October 03, 2007


1. Acquired minor league infielder Asdrubal Cabrera last season from Seattle for Eduardo Perez, now retired and working for ESPN. Without Cabrera's spark and inspired play in the last two months, the Indians probably don't win the division.
2. Signing free-agent closer Joe Borowski to a one-year $4 million deal and getting 45 saves out of him.
3. Approving the return of 19-game winner Fausto Carmona to the starting rotation last season after his failed test at closer.

Continued......

 

[Big Papa]

why wouldn't they?

good pitching beats good hitting in the playoffs a majority of the time, and cleveland has the far better pitching staff.

and, don't bother trying to cite regular season head to head records as an indicator as they are not close to indicative of postseason results.

Well said tsteele, but not only that, the Yanks never faced C.C. during the regular season and only faced Fasuto once. They see both of them in games 1&2. They don't have a starter that matches up with either of them well. That and you can count on A-Rod tanking in the post-season.

 

[Big Papa]

I don't know, but he's been terrible the last month.

Good point, and Westbrook has pretty much been on and has a good track record against the Yankees in the past. If Fausto and C.C. pitch like they have been, we should be up 2-0 going into Westbrook's start in NY anyway.

 

[redskinbucksfan]

Good point, and Westbrook has pretty much been on and has a good track record against the Yankees in the past. If Fausto and C.C. pitch like they have been, we should be up 2-0 going into Westbrook's start in NY anyway.

Westbrook's a Republican, so I'm surprised you want him to win

 

[Piney]

I don't mean to be cynical but does anyone really think we have a chance against the Yankees?

Well for starters I am either going to Thursday or Friday's game... so that is a guaranteed win as I have gone to 7 games this year and they were all wins, so all we need is 2 more

Seriously the outcome of this series will be determined by the first 2 games. I have utmost confidence in CC and Fausto, not so much in Westbrook and Byrd. But if CC comes out Friday and shuts them down I think we are going to win the series easily. CC means so much to this team and the confidence he brings the rest of the team.

I really don't know what to make of this series. Seems like alot of people are picking the Yankees to win, and a part of me agrees with them. But this just seems like a special year for Cleveland in sports.

Another key is our hitting. Can Hafner get hot at the right time? Will Cabrera keep doing what he is doing? Can the bottom of our lineup keep surprising us? Can Wedge not play Nixon? Gawd I hope not.

Games 3 & 4 will be pivitol. While I don't have confidence in Westbrook and Byrd they are both better than what the Yankees can throw out there. Mussina??? Clemens is acting his age... Will the Yankees start Hughes? So Games 3 & 4 can both be high scoring games. The key will be can we get to the Yankees starters enough so the Yankees will have to go to their bullpen before they can bring Joba out there? THAT is the key.

Overall I cannot make heads or tails of this series. It can go any which way, we can sweep, we can get swept, or it can go 5 games.

I will say this, if we get past this series I see us winning the World Series!

 

[LitlBuck]

Does anyone know when the postseason roster gets set to know that roster be change if the Indians make it to the ALCS or would they have to maintain the same roster that will be announced tomorrow. I can not understand why they are carrying 11 pitchers and 14 position players for such a short series.

 

[Piney]

Does anyone know when the postseason roster gets set to know that roster be change if the Indians make it to the ALCS or would they have to maintain the same roster that will be announced tomorrow. I can not understand why they are carrying 11 pitchers and 14 position players for such a short series.

Yes, they can change the roster before each series. For example Wakefield won't even be on the Red Sox roster for the Angels series. But they plan on having him available if they advance.

 

[LitlBuck]

Yes, they can change the roster before each series. For example Wakefield won't even be on the Red Sox roster for the Angels series. But they plan on having him available if they advance.

Well that really confuses me. Why do we need 11 pitchers for a five-game series especially if Laffey is on our roster for the series against New York? Could this mean Fultz or Sowers is on the roster and is so why?

 

[exhawg]

why wouldn't they?

good pitching beats good hitting in the playoffs a majority of the time, and cleveland has the far better pitching staff.

and, don't bother trying to cite regular season head to head records as an indicator as they are not close to indicative of postseason results.

The regular season sweep didn't help the Cavs against the Spurs. If CC and Carmona can pitch well the Indians have as much of a chance as anyone.

 

[redskinbucksfan]

Well that really confuses me. Why do we need 11 pitchers for a five-game series especially if Laffey is on our roster for the series against New York? Could this mean Fultz or Sowers is on the roster and is so why?

More match-up type relievers. This is the second season, and it only lasts at most 5 games. You need to be able to pull out all the stops, and I think some of it shows a concern for Borowski. For example, instead of bringing in Borowski for the entire 9th inning, you can split and use a lefty/lefty match up for part of the inning, or extend one of the Raffys into the start of an inning. If we go to the 9th and the Yankees due up go R-L-R, you could theoretically use both Raffys and Borowski to close it out, since the extra pitchers you are carrying can be used later in the game. Also, it gives the ability to pull a quick hook if need be (remember Pedro throwing 6 no hit innings out of the pen last go round:().

 

[LitlBuck]

More match-up type relievers. This is the second season, and it only lasts at most 5 games. You need to be able to pull out all the stops, and I think some of it shows a concern for Borowski. For example, instead of bringing in Borowski for the entire 9th inning, you can split and use a lefty/lefty match up for part of the inning, or extend one of the Raffys into the start of an inning. If we go to the 9th and the Yankees due up go R-L-R, you could theoretically use both Raffys and Borowski to close it out, since the extra pitchers you are carrying can be used later in the game. Also, it gives the ability to pull a quick hook if need be (remember Pedro throwing 6 no hit innings out of the pen last go round:().

Great thought but unfortunately Wedge does not think like that. If we are in a save position going into the 9th inning you will see the same guy we have seen the entireseason. Major-league managers very seldom use the match up theory when they are using their "closer".

 

[redskinbucksfan]

Major-league managers very seldom use the match up theory when they are using their "closer".

Exactly, but it gives him the option should Borowski struggle

 

[Piney]

Well that really confuses me. Why do we need 11 pitchers for a five-game series especially if Laffey is on our roster for the series against New York? Could this mean Fultz or Sowers is on the roster and is so why?

Laffey is there for long relief. Ie what if Westbrook or Byrd don't have it? In a short series your hook is quicker as every game is important, you can't give Westbrook 4 innings to get settled in (as he is known to do). You have to get him outta there to limit the runs given up.

Plus what if there is an extra inning game? You don't want to burn your relievers in one game by extending their innings. You bring Laffey in to pitch a possible 3-4 innings.

Laffey being a lefty is also a bonus as the Yankees would probable have a lefty heavy lineup in against Westbrook and Byrd at Yankee Stadium. So he becomes a good option for when Byrd runs out of gas (you know how Byrd is strong til the 5th inning), you bring in Laffey at any sign of trouble to get you to the 7th.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Our probable starters for this series are a combined 4-16 limetime against the Yankees