Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[Mac]

Link


I don't write this stuff. I just deliver it:)

God please don't get rid of Victor, who would you have playing Catcher everyday? Everyone knows damn well that Shopach can't put up BIG/Decent numbers consistently. I will VERY upset if he gets traded.

Update on the PTBNL: Appears it is now between OF Michael Brantley and 3B/2B Taylor Green.

Brantley is a very interesting prospect who has been tearing up Double-A ball. Just turned 21. He has Great speed (25 steals already down in Huntsville). Batting .324 on the year with 15 doubles, 4 HR, 34 RBI. 39 BB compared to 18 K's. Everything looks pretty good to me. I guess some project him as a top of the lineup type of player. Baseball America said he has the best plate-discipline in the Brewers system.

On the other hand, Green appears to be a great looking prospect in his own right, especially at a position of need (2B) for the Tribe.. Brantley is a closer to impacting the big club sooner compared to Green. I think the Indians are in a great position and can't go wrong with either.

I sure hope it's one of these 2 guys otherwise, I think this trade wasn't a very good one. Sure you get one very good prospect, but from what I heard the 2 pitchers aren't the best in the world. Sure the one might have decent stuff, but pitchers are a hit or miss. Look at Sowers, all he throws are BP balls. But we'll see!

I am looking forward to the end of this year/spring training next year/and the next few years to see these guys play.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

LaPorta a 'great value' Keystone player in Sabathia deal to play for Aeros tonight in Akron
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
CLEVELAND: Aeros fans will have the first chance to see what the fuss is all about.
When the Bowie Baysox visit Canal Park tonight, it is expected that Matt LaPorta will be in the Aeros' lineup playing left field.
LaPorta was judged to be a worthy replacement for C.C. Sabathia by Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro and his lieutenants, who traded last year's Cy Young Award winner for a package of players from the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system, foremost among them being LaPorta.
''We made a trade that in the current market we think is of great value,'' Shapiro said Monday afternoon at Progressive Field. ''LaPorta is a corner outfielder who has proven to be one of the more productive players in Double-A this year, in all of minor-league baseball.''
LaPorta, 23, batted .288 with 20 home runs, 23 doubles, 66 RBI and 56 runs in 84 games at Huntsville. He also had a .403 on-base percentage and a .576 slugging percentage.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Brewers send 4 prospects to Indians for Sabathia

By CHRIS JENKINS
AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE ? With one XXL-sized move, the Milwaukee Brewers hope to transform themselves from scrappy underdogs to a big, bad pitching powerhouse intent on chasing down the Chicago Cubs and making the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The Brewers obtained AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia in a trade with the Cleveland Indians on Monday, giving up four prospects in a gamble that favors the present over the future.
"I'd say we're going for it," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "That's the way I look at it."
The deal stacks the Brewers' deck with a pair of aces, Sabathia and Ben Sheets ? but only for a few months.
Barring blockbuster contract offers from a small-market team that already is stretching this year's payroll into the $90 million range, both players will become free agents after the season.
But Sabathia said that's a concern for the offseason. Right now, he's just trying to blend in and get back to having fun on the mound ? something he didn't do in the postseason last year.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians trade pitcher C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee Brewers, will miss his big presence

Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

C.C. Sabathia's absence will be felt tonight when Jeremy Sowers takes the former Tribe pitcher's start against Detroit at Comerica Park.
It will be felt even more if Jeff Weaver, one of several vagabonds trying to get by at Class AAA Buffalo, N.Y., moves into the rotation for more than a couple of starts while Fausto Carmona works his way off the disabled list after the All-Star break.
Sabathia is big and wide, and he took up a lot of space on the mound and in the Indians' locker room. When former manager Charlie Manuel went against the farm department and fought for him to open the 2001 season with the big-league club, he was asked what attracted him to the 20-year-old left-hander besides a 98 mph fastball.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

A season of great discontent

Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist

The symbol of the most dis appointing Indians season ever isn't C.C. Sabathia leaving town. That became unavoidable when injury and unreadiness exposed the full effects of General Manager Mark Shapiro's state of denial after last season.
The symbol of the season is left fielder David Dellucci. He has a year left on the remarkable three-year contract Shapiro gave him as a platoon player. Shapiro did nothing in the recent off-season, which was hard to understand. Then again, who but the Sultan of Squat could have looked on the 2007 season, in which the offense frequently took a week or so off, and still figured the Dellucci/Jason Michaels platoon was just what he needed?
Shapiro challenged a questioner to name a single veteran hitter who would have overcome this blighted season in which four "core" players (Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona) went down with injuries. Not even Barry Bonds when he had more juice than Minute Maid was the correct answer to that, so the questioner kept quiet about Kenny Lofton.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

C.C. SABATHIA HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTABLE EVENTS

Tuesday, July 08, 2008


C.C. Sabathia had a career year in 2007, winning the AL Cy Young Award.
C.C. Sabathia had his major-league debut against Baltimore on April 8, 2001.
The 20th overall selection by the Indians in the 1998 draft.
Made his major-league debut on April 8, 2001, against Baltimore, getting a no-decision in the Tribe's 4-2 win after allowing a Jeff Conine three-run homer in the first inning (5 2/3 innings pitched, three hits, three earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts).
Recorded his first major-league win in his second major-league start at Detroit on April 13, 2001, in the Tribe's 9-8 win (5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's).

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto scribbles in his notebook about the Cleveland Indians' trade of C.C. Sabathia

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
If the Indians are right about Matt LaPorta, they've made a good deal with Milwaukee. C.C. Sabathia was not going to sign, and the Indians are in the midst of a major power shortage. LaPorta leads the Southern League with 20 homers. As a pro, he has 32 home runs in 417 career minor-league at-bats. He is 23 years old and perhaps the highest-rated power hitter in minor-league baseball. His batting average this season is .288, on-base percentage is .402 and OPS is a stunning .978.
Scouts rate LaPorta
an above-average first baseman, below average in the outfield. He played right field for Class AA Huntsville, Ala. The Indians will move him to left field at Class AA Akron. A hot start can move him up to Class AAA Buffalo, N.Y., in August, and he could earn a trip to Cleveland in September. A right-handed hitter, LaPorta was batting .321 with a 1.021 OPS vs. righties, .250 with an .848 OPS vs. lefties. He seems to handle breaking pitches reasonably well.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians acquire big bat in minor-league outfielder Matt LaPorta

Newly acquired prospect known mostly for hitting
Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Brad Shepard
Special to The Plain Dealer

Huntsville, Ala. -- Matt LaPorta's fan mail flowed so freely into the Class AA Huntsville Stars clubhouse that the team got its top prospect his own mailbox.
From the buffet line to a bathroom stall, the mailbox kept popping up in the oddest of places. But no matter where it was, it was nearly always full.
The Indians may have gotten rid of one of their most popular players when they shipped pitcher C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee, but the player they got in return had almost a cult following among Brewers fans. He is a strong character guy who is a devout Christian and won't likely cause any off-the-field problems, and did not appear to have any issues with teammates in Huntsville.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

CC Sabathia goes to Brewers in five-player deal
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
BY Mike Popovich
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND General Manager Mark Shapiro's well-founded expecations for the 2008 Indians will not be met. One year removed from playing in Game 7 of the ALCS, underachieving performances and four core players going on the DL have landed the team in last place.

Facing the harsh reality that they will not be a contender this season, the Indians traded a reigning Cy Young Award winner Monday.

CC Sabathia was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers for four minor league prospects, most notably outfielder Matt LaPorta. The Indians also will receive pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson and a player to be named for the big left-hander, who will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Sabathia turned down a four-year, $72 million offer from the Indians during spring training, and said he would not negotiate a new deal until the offseason.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Players coming to Cleveland
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
COMPILED BY MIKE POPOVICH

A look at the three prospects the Cleveland Indians acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in Monday's trade for reigning Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia.

MATT LAPORTA, OF

* Hit .288 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 84 games this season for Double-A Huntsville in the Southern League.

* Selected to play in Sunday's Futures Game at Yankee Stadium and one of 60 players being considered for the 24-man United States Olympic team.

* Chosen by the Brewers in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

* Two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at the University of Florida.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Indians notebook: LaPorta will make his Tribe start with Aeros
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
BY Mike Popovich
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND So how good is outfielder Matt LaPorta? Indians fans won't have to travel very far to find out.

LaPorta, the top prospect Cleveland acquired from Milwaukee in Monday's trade for CC Sabathia, will report to Double-A Akron. He is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight when the Aeros host Bowie at Canal Park.

Baseball America rated LaPorta the top prospect and the best power hitting prospect in the Brewers organization and the 23rd best prospect in all of baseball entering the 2008 season. The former first-round pick hit .288 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Huntsville in the Southern League this year.

"He has proven to be one of the most productive hitters in all of Double-A, really in all of minor league baseball," Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Players too rich for Tribe's blood
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
REPOSITORY STAFF REPORT

CC Sabathia was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, making the big left-hander the latest Cleveland Indians star to come up through the team's minor league system, make it big, then be let go because of salary expectations.

Here's a look at Sabathia's numbers compared to some others who have been let go this decade:

CC SABATHIA ? $100 million??

ACQUIRED First-round pick, No. 20 overall, 1998

YEARS WITH TRIBE 6 1\/2

SALARY AT THE TIME Making $11.2 million in final year of four-year deal, the highest paid player on Indians roster

DEPARTURE The most coveted player on the trade market, Sabathia was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for four players, including left fielder Matt LaPorta.
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[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Rob Oller commentary: Sabathia delivered great stats, but no championship

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 3:09 AM
By Rob Oller


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


CC Sabathia and his crooked cap leave Cleveland the same way they found it, without a World Series title. From that standpoint, trading the lumpy left-hander to Milwaukee for one promising prospect and some throw-ins is no fatal blow. In his own way, Sabathia was no different from other Indians All-Stars who left town without bringing a championship to a city starved for one.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Indians will miss Sabathia's huge presence

Posted by Paul Hoynes July 07, 2008 23:20PM

Categories: Indians
C.C. Sabathia's absence will be felt tonight when Jeremy Sowers takes his start against Detroit at Comerica Park. It will be felt even more if Jeff Weaver, one of several vagabonds trying to get by at Class AAA Buffalo, moves into the rotation for more than a couple of starts while Fausto Carmona works his way off the disabled list after the All-Star break.
Sabathia is big and wide, and he took up a lot of space on the mound and in the Indians locker room. When former manager Charlie Manuel went against the farm department and fought for him to open the 2001 season with the big-league club, he was asked what attracted him to 20-year-old left-hander besides a 98 mph fastball.
"I like C.C." said Manuel. "He looks big out there on the mound."
Big is right. Sabathia is 6-7 and a good 300 pounds.

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[tsteele316]

Hope so. I want to see him and Hodges in a Tribe uniform in September.

crowe is injured again.