Indians Tidbits (2007 Season)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

INDIANS INSIDER
Division-series schedule can wait


Thursday, September 13, 2007 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Chicago -- Manager Eric Wedge isn't sure why the team with the best record in the AL will be allowed to pick when it starts its best-of-five division series.
"I'm not sure what to think of it," said Wedge. "I don't know what advantage there is to it. It's just the way they're doing it this year."
Entering Wednesday, Boston (88-58), Los Angeles (85-59) and the Indians (85-60) had the top three records in the AL.

Continued....

 

[Zurp]

Neither Detroit nor Cleveland played last night.

Situation remains the same: Indians are up 5.5 games, magic number at 11.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Cleveland Indians' bandwagon has plenty of space available, says Terry Pluto


Friday, September 14, 2007 Terry Pluto
Plain Dealer Columnist
Are you ready to buy into the Indians now, or at least throw down a few bucks for a ticket as they return for the final homestand of the regular sea son beginning tonight at Ja cobs Field against Kansas City?
Does first place in the American League Central Division do anything for you? Especially first place with a 5?-game lead over Detroit and Tigers manager Jim Leyland re cently waving a division surren der flag.
Yes, the man who managed the Tigers in the 2006 World Series recently told reporters, "[The Indians] are winning the way division champions win. They are going on the road and winning at Minnesota. They are coming back and winning games. They have all the earmarks of a division champion."

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Formidable rotation has made the Indians an October threat


Friday, September 14, 2007 Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Indians' blueprint for playoff contention this season de pended on a strong rotation to dovetail a potent offense and revamped bullpen.
The rotation has done its job, although the brass could not have foreseen the precise nature of the means to the end.
As if putty in the hands of manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl Willis, the rotation has been shaped and reshaped around one formidable constant. By the second half, when the pretenders fade and the real money is on the table, Wedge and Willis have been able to count on their starting pitchers to consistently give the Indians a chance to win.

Continued....

 

[Big Papa]

Wow, F A U S T O. What a stud, just heard after tonight's shutout, he now leads the AL in ERA. He has really come a long way from last year, he could be a better pitcher right now than C.C. Dual Cy Young candidates this year? When is the last time that has happened? Sabathia and Carmona are going to be a nightmare for any team that we face in the playoffs this year.

Man, great day. Buckeye great win, Tribe with an impressive win. Reality comes crashing down tomorrow with the Browns though.

 

[NFBuck]

FAUSTO!!!!!!

What a difference a year makes. I was worried about teams figuring him out as the year went on, but he's the real deal...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Indians 6Royals 0
Carmona in rhythm
Pitcher strikes out nine in another solid outing
Sunday, September 16, 2007 3:51 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Tony Dejak Associated Press
Ryan Garko is tagged out by Royals catcher Jason LaRue in the third inning. Garko later left the game because of a hand injury.


CLEVELAND -- He bounces out of the dugout, approaches the chalked foul line and does not hop over it so much as dance over it: a half-turn, a leap, then a stutter-step and on to the mound. Three outs later, he repeats the dance.

Even in the simple act of entering or exiting the field, Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona has a rhythm all his own. He is at once understated with flair. On the mound, his easy motion betrays a wicked fastball and a sharp competitiveness.
The Kansas City Royals bore witness again last night during a 6-0 win by Carmona and the Indians. Carmona struck out nine in eight scoreless innings, which lowered his ERA to an American League-best 3.07, a remarkable achievement for a pitcher who made the club only because of injuries to veteran teammates Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Lee focused on fixing his problems
Sunday, September 16, 2007
By Andy Call
Repository sports writer

CLEVELAND Cliff Lee, it stands to reason, almost has to be better.

Cleveland's 29-year-old left-hander has had a rough year. He began the season on the disabled list, struggled through 16 starts, then was sent to Triple-A Buffalo. Since being recalled Sept. 1, Lee has made just two relief appearances in two weeks. He is 5-8 with a 6.53 ERA in 18 games - just two years removed from rolling up 18 wins for the Tribe.

Both Lee and Manager Eric Wedge spoke hopefully Saturday afternoon of seeing significantly different results in 2008.

"The bottom line is I've got to get better," Lee said. "Whatever I've got to do to do that, I'm willing to do."

"I think they're fixable," Wedge said when asked about Lee's problems. "With the talent and ability he has, the competitor he is, and the resources he has here with the Indians, I think they're fixable."

Continued......

 

[scarletandgrey]

It would be nice to see Lee get back to pitching the way he was 2 years ago. He would be the third ace in our bullpen. Which would be a nightmare for anyone the faced us.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Tribe focuses on present
Attention turns to Tigers in key AL Central series
Monday, September 17, 2007 3:25 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch

Jeff Glidden Associated Press
The Indians' Josh Barfield is tagged out by third baseman Alex Gordon while attempting to advance on an infield grounder.



CLEVELAND -- The Indians have been alone in first place for the past month. They have led by more than three games for almost three weeks. Even after losing to the Kansas City Royals 4-3 yesterday, they have a 4?-game lead with 13 games to play.
It is a new experience for most of the Indians, trying to counter the burden of expectation with the comfort of a lead, or vice versa.
"I think we've done a great job just staying focused on the moment -- that day's game, that day's starting pitcher," Ryan Garko said. "Obviously, you peek at the scoreboard a little bit. That's about it, then right back to doing your job. This game will humble you real quick if you get ahead of yourself."

Continued.......

 

[Zurp]

I think that I heard on the radio that the magic number is now 9.
Someone might want to confirm that, though.

 

[PrincessPeach]

Neither Detroit nor Cleveland played last night.

Situation remains the same: Indians are up 5.5 games, magic number at 11.

I think that I heard on the radio that the magic number is now 9.
Someone might want to confirm that, though.

I thought you were our official magic number updater... :p

Nine is correct. Indians won Friday and Saturday... lost yesterday. Detroit has won five in a row.

Gonna be a big week!

 

[JCOSU86]

4.5 game lead, 12 to play

 

[OHSportsFan]

the Tribe are currently in a battle with Detroit, now entering the top of the 11th tied at 5. The Indians had a very nice 8th inning rally to get the game leveled at 5 after they were trailing 5-2. Jhonny has 2 HRs.

Boston lost already so its a great chance to pick up a game in the overall AL standings.

 

[Zurp]

I thought you were our official magic number updater... :p

Nine is correct. Indians won Friday and Saturday... lost yesterday. Detroit has won five in a row.

Gonna be a big week!

I went to work this morning. I can't do EVERYTHING!!!!

Indians just won with another walk-off home run (Blake).
That knocks that number down to 7, since the Indians' win is also a Tigers' loss.