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Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

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ABJ
Twins throttle Tribe Byrd bashed, bullpen bombed in blowout
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS: Now that the Indians' season has entered a new phase ? focusing on player evaluation and mental discipline ? maybe it doesn't matter that Paul Byrd leads the American League in home runs allowed.
Byrd is in the final year of his contract and probably won't be asked to return in 2009. Jensen Lewis and Brian Slocum, on the other hand, have an excellent chance of competing for jobs next spring.
But even though the combined populations of China and India couldn't care less about Byrd's future, it makes for an unpleasant evening in the dugout when the veteran starter leads the way to a 12-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins, as he did Friday night at the Metrodome.
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ABJ

For Indians, attention is on future Borowski is released with Bauer. Slocum, Lewis added to bullpen
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS: Unfortunately for the Indians, next year has arrived early.
Without announcing that making the playoffs is a goal beyond reason, General Manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge have begun the process of seeing who should stay, who should go and who should play where in 2009.
''We're not making any monumental declarations,'' Shapiro said by phone from Cleveland. ''We will have a duality of approach for the rest of the season. We want to compete and win games, but secondarily, we need to begin to address where we are as a club to ensure that we get something out of the season in terms of evaluation and development.''
That started with four moves on Friday, including the shocking designation for assignment of closer Joe Borowski, who sealed his fate on Tuesday in Chicago when he failed to hold a 2-1 lead in the 10th inning, suffering a 3-2 loss to the White Sox.
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ABJ

Major rebuilding not in Shapiro's plansM... Published on Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
Major rebuilding not in Shapiro's plans


MINNEAPOLIS: General Manager Mark Shapiro does not anticipate a full-scale rebuilding program for the Indians.
''I believe if guys hadn't gotten hurt ? even with the offense struggling and the disappointing bullpen ? we would still be in the hunt, though maybe not in first place,'' he said. ''Next year, I think we will be contenders, as well.''
Shapiro expects to alter the roster between now and April, but he does not believe improving the team's win-loss record rests primarily on acquiring outsiders.
''The most important thing is to get back our injured players,'' he said. ''Having those players return is bigger than anything we can do externally.''
He is talking about starters Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook, plus catcher Victor Martinez and DH Travis Hafner. All but Westbrook are expected to play this season.
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CPD

Cleveland Indians lose to Minnesota, 12-3; losing streak at six


Saturday, July 05, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Minneapolis -- Contention has been cast aside. Now all the Indians have to do is drift off to oblivion.
They have three months to get there, so it shouldn't be that hard. Especially if they keep playing like they did Friday night at the Metrodome.
The Indians lost their sixth straight game as Paul Byrd gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 12-3 loss to the Twins.

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CPD
Cleveland Indians designate closer Joe Borowski for assignment

Indians dump ineffective Joe Borowski
Saturday, July 05, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Minneapolis- The Indians started shoveling away the ashes of a still smoldering season Friday. Along with the soot and cinders, they threw out closer Joe Borowski.
Borowski and Rick Bauer, another reliever, were designated for assignment before the Indians opened a three-game series against the Twins. The Tribe has 10 days to trade or release Borowski and Bauer.
Relievers Jensen Lewis and Brian Slocum were recalled from Class AAA Buffalo, N.Y., to replace them.

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CPD

Cleveland Indians' C.C. Sabathia rumored to be in possible trade to Milwaukee Brewers


Saturday, July 05, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Minneapolis- Closer Joe Borowski went Friday. No. 1 starter C.C. Sabathia may be gone before he makes his next start Tuesday at Comerica Park against the Tigers.
The Indians are talking with Milwaukee about a deal in which they'd trade Sabathia, last year's Cy Young winner, for prospects. The Indians have been scouting Milwaukee's farm system, paying particular attention to its Class AA Huntsville, Ala., team.
The Dodgers are interested in Sabathia, although it's not clear how strong the interest is. They are in second place in the NL West, just behind Arizona.

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Canton

Borowski is the first of Tribe's upcoming moves
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Cleveland closer designated for assignment[/FONT]
Saturday, July 5, 2008
BY JOSH WEIR
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

MINNEAPOLIS It's here, that purgatory of the baseball universe, where competing and evaluating, the present and the future, are supposed to be accomplished at the same time. The Indians officially turned their sights to 2009 on Friday, designating closer Joe Borowski for assignment.

It's the first of what could be multiple moves by the Tribe before the July 31 trade deadline.

General Manager Mark Shapiro talked about several topics during a conference call Friday. C.C. Sabathia's status was not one of them. Shapiro refused to make any comments about trade talks or contract negotiations with Sabathia.

The Brewers are said to be coming hard after the free-agent-to-be Sabathia with their surplus of young talent.

Brewers Manager Ned Yost denied to comment on Sabathia on Friday.

"A rumor's a rumor," Yost told The Associated Press.
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Canton

Indians Notebook: Kobayashi to close with help
Saturday, July 5, 2008
BY JOSH WEIR
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

MINNEAPOLIS The Indians' new closer is Masa Kobayashi.

Well, sort of.

The Indians designated Joe Borowski for assignment Friday as the team looks to evaluate what they have from some of the young relief arms in the system.

"Here at the beginning we'll give Masa the bulk of it, but I want to fix spots where we try other people too," Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge said about the closer situation before the Indians faced the Twins at the Metrodome.

Rick Bauer also was designated for assignment. He had a 13.50 ERA in just four appearances for the Indians. Brian Slocum and Jensen Lewis were recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Kobayashi saved 227 games for the Chiba Lotte Mariners of the Japanese Pacific League from 1999-2007. His first year in America has been a mixed bag. He's 4-4 with a 3.29 ERA and 4-of-6 in save opportunities.
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Canton
Brewers not talking about possible Sabathia trade
Saturday, July 5, 2008
BY COLIN FLY
AP SPORTS WRITER

MILWAUKEE If the Brewers are considered a front-runner in the C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes, manager Ned Yost wanted nothing to do with it on Friday.

"A rumor's a rumor," Yost said before Milwaukee's 9-1 win against Pittsburgh. "We don't pay attention to it too much."

According to recent reports, Milwaukee's surplus of minor league talent has given the organization an upper hand in the competition to acquire Sabathia. The reigning AL Cy Young winner is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA in Cleveland.

"He'd be a great addition to this team," Brewers third baseman Bill Hall said. "Any time you get a Cy Young guy in your rotation, it's going to make your team better. I'm sure everybody in here would love to have the guy in our rotation."
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Big Move

Cleveland.com

Now we are finally getting somewhere:biggrin:

C.C.'s replacement? Indians sign Jeff Weaver to minor league deal
Posted by Paul Hoynes July 05, 2008 10:47AM
Categories: Breaking News, Indians

Minneapolis _ With trade rumors continuing to circulate around C.C. Sabathia, you may have wondered who would take the big lefty's spot in the rotation if he was indeed traded. Well, the Indians provided themselves with an option today by signing right-hander Jeff Weaver to a minor league contract and sending him to Class AAA Buffalo.

Weaver, who helped St. Louis win the World Series in 2006 with three postseason victories, pitched this year with Class AAA Nashville, Milwaukee's top farm club. He was 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA in 27 starts for Seattle last year.

The 31-year-old veteran's last winning season came in 2005 when he went 14-11 and pitched 224 innings for the Dodgers. He's a former No.1 pick of the Tigers and has been in the big leagues since 1999.

Weaver may also give the Indians an alternative to struggling Paul Byrd, who lost his 10th game Friday night.
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NFBuck;1199152; said:
LaPorta is a five-tool prospect. 23 years old. Was the 7th overall pick in the '07 draft out of U of Florida. He's currently in AA hitting .291-20-66 with 23 2B. Good looking player, looks like a future star. Not gonna contribute this year, but could compete for a starting corner OF spot next year. Alcides Escobar is a 21 year old SS also on Milwaukee's AA club. Currently hitting .333-6-42 with 16 SB. Basically, if that's the offer with another prospect or two thrown in, they're nuts not to jump on it. Milwaukee seems like they really want to make a run this year, so theyre an intriguing trade partner with a good minor league system.
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From things that I have read, the Brewers to do want to part with Escobar so I think the best thing we probably could get from them would be Laporte and the third baseman Green who is either in A or AA. Even if they lost C. C. after the season was over via free agency they would still get two #1 picks because of his salary and so since they're so good in selecting young talent they could just reload their farm system.

I don't think the Dodgers would be dumb enough to take JP off of our hands. They would be able to get someone better. I would think.
 
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