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Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

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AKAKBUCK;1203157; said:
Well, what they are really doing is seeing if they want to keep Blake, Garko, or Marte.

The first two are known commodities (comparatively). And, I'd say at least for another month you're gonna have the DH spot open for Garko to play in most nights.
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I agree, until we get Pronk/Victor back that's 2 spots still open. But I'm talking about next year. You won't be able to keep all 3. Just because we'll have Pronk back and obviously he's going to play DH. So now we have 2 spots for 3 guys. And like you said they are going to have to make a decide on who they want to keep.
 
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I'm hoping that the Indians can find someone to take Blake off our hands for a prospect. He is in the last year of his contract.
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I think it would be a good idea if the Indians would try to trade Blake to a "contender" for a prospect and then try to re-sign him at the end of the season. That has been done before. I'm not saying that I am a Blake fan because I am not. This year he has been putting up career numbers and I just don't see forsee those numbers in the future. Having said that, I would almost rather see him playing first rather than Garko. At least he has some mobility in the field and some speed on the basis which Garko does not have.
 
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mstevmac;1203166; said:
I agree, until we get Pronk/Victor back that's 2 spots still open. But I'm talking about next year. You won't be able to keep all 3. Just because we'll have Pronk back and obviously he's going to play DH. So now we have 2 spots for 3 guys. And like you said they are going to have to make a decide on who they want to keep.
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Well, they have to resign Blake, so who knows how that's actually going to go, I have no idea what the FA market is going to be, but, some guys get in good position... and... who knows, he might end up getting good money elsewhere. (By good money, I mean more than they want to spend on him, or longer)

So, given that, you need to know if Marte can A. Play the Position or B. Is worth eating a spot on the 25 man again. (And if he is, for whatever moronic reason, they'll probalby have to keep Blake since he can play 4 positions)

I tend to think Garko is back either way... he's been up and down this year... and... to say mostly down might be fair, but, so has everyone else, and with Martinez out and Pronk Struggling/Out, there's no protection for young hitters...

And, I think you can attribute some of his struggles (and least its enough of a possibility that you can't give up on him) to the "sophomore slump" that young guys go through when they try to do too much too soon... I think its likely that Gutierrez, Garko, and Cabrera all are going through a phase where they are trying to will their way to improvement by doing things that they either can't or aren't ready for.

Anyway, those guys struggling and with Peralta and Blake both notoriously streaky...

Pretty much tells me that there needs to be some turnover in that we likely need to sign a veteran or two that are consistent if not premeir offensive presences in the line-up. (Read, Not Devid Delucci, Jason Michaels, Trot Nixon, etc)
 
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The Pirates also acquired right-hander Dan Reichert and infielder-outfielder Ryan Mulhern from the Indians, also for a player to be named.
Reichert was 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in eight games since joining Triple-A Buffalo, where Mulhern had a .250 average with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 58 games.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne...p&type=lgns

Indians | Bullington assigned to Triple-A
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:16:49 -0700
Updating a previous report, USAToday.com reports the Cleveland Indians have assigned SP Bryan Bullington to Triple-A Buffalo.
Indians | Betancourt expected to be shopped
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:55:23 -0700
Kelly Theiser, of MLB.com, reports Cleveland Indians RP Rafael Betancourt is expected to be included in trade talks.
Indians | Bauer released
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:23:17 -0700
The Sports Network reports the Cleveland Indians released RP Rick Bauer Thursday, July 10.
Indians | Borowski released
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:08:05 -0700
The Sports Network reports the Cleveland Indians released CL Joe Borowski Thursday, July 10. Borowski converted only six of 10 save opportunities this season after recording 45 last season.
Indians | Bullington claimed off waivers
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:01:54 -0700
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the Cleveland Indians claimed Pittsburgh Pirates SP Bryan Bullington off waivers Thursday, July 10.
 
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Don't look now, but two wins in a row in impressive fashion.

Another dynamite outting by Cliff and the "bullpen" actually held a lead.

Peralta's swinging a hot bat, wonder if it drums up any trade interest froma team looking for an affordable SS.
 
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NFBuck said:
Don't look now, but two wins in a row in impressive fashion.

Another dynamite outting by Cliff and the "bullpen" actually held a lead.

Peralta's swinging a hot bat, wonder if it drums up any trade interest froma team looking for an affordable SS.
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Big deal, 2 wins against the freakin' Devil Rays?!

...oh...what's that?....the Rays are good this year....first place?...hmm...good for them.

Best thing right now for the Indians is that a few players (Blake, Peralta) put on good individual performances over the next week or so and the Indians can shop them for some future talent.

There's always next year...
 
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tsteele316;1202705; said:
this is the most comical response i've seen in a while. don't rely on stats because they don't affirm my faulty conclusions.

the fact is, cliff lee has been a better than .500 pitcher, in each season he was with the club save for his hiccup last year. even discounting this season, his overall career record is 65-38. To say he'll regress to a .500 pitcher is laughable. borowski's career save % coming into this season was 82%. Last year he was at 84%. He was not extremely lucky, he pitched to his career average.

your "common sense" is misleading to say the least.
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What's misleading about it??? Did Joe Borowski look good closing games last year??

I'm not sure what is difficult about this? Yes, his percentage was good. But he and his 87 mph fastball looked terrible doing it, with a high ERA and WHIP if you want to look at stats. Even the Home-Run Derby pitcher will get 10 outs on each batter. Sometimes, things works out. I feel the closer position should have been addressed in the off-season....I think it was fairly predictable this could/would happen. Many others did as well.

And my comment about Cliff Lee isn't to knock him or take anything away from him for this year. He continues to throw exceptionally well. I just don't see him dominating at this level through next year, and he could have tons of value at the deadline. I wouldn't be crushed to see him traded for more pieces. If they keep him, he'll be solid but not sure how much beyond that. I just get the sense that Lee is being looked at as our future ace by management and I think it will backfire.
 
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billmac91;1203644; said:
What's misleading about it??? Did Joe Borowski look good closing games last year??

I'm not sure what is difficult about this? Yes, his percentage was good. But he and his 87 mph fastball looked terrible doing it, with a high ERA and WHIP if you want to look at stats. Even the Home-Run Derby pitcher will get 10 outs on each batter. Sometimes, things works out. I feel the closer position should have been addressed in the off-season....I think it was fairly predictable this could/would happen. Many others did as well.

And my comment about Cliff Lee isn't to knock him or take anything away from him for this year. He continues to throw exceptionally well. I just don't see him dominating at this level through next year, and he could have tons of value at the deadline. I wouldn't be crushed to see him traded for more pieces. If they keep him, he'll be solid but not sure how much beyond that. I just get the sense that Lee is being looked at as our future ace by management and I think it will backfire.
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ahh, i see. so, you prefer guys that throw mid 90's fastballs with no control, because in your world, style points get you outs. laughable. and borowski's era and whip were much better in save situations last year.

as for cliff lee, he isn't being looked at as an ace. cleveland's "ace" is currently on the DL. He's a possible #2, but really a #3 guy. but, for some reason, he'll regress to well below his career averages next year in your world.
 
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billmac91;1203644; said:
I'm not sure what is difficult about this? Yes, his percentage was good. But he and his 87 mph fastball looked terrible doing it, with a high ERA and WHIP if you want to look at stats. Even the Home-Run Derby pitcher will get 10 outs on each batter. Sometimes, things works out. I feel the closer position should have been addressed in the off-season....I think it was fairly predictable this could/would happen. Many others did as well.
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while Borowski isn't exactly the best closer in the world, it has nothing to do with the speed of his fastball.

Example 1: Trevor Hoffman hasn't hit 90 on the gun in 7 years. However he's the all-time saves leader for a reason. Sure he has a better change-up or out pitch than Borowski has, but it isn't all about lighting up the gun....which leads us too...

Example 2: Kyle Farnsworth. Between him in his prime and Joel Zumaya I don't know who would have thrown harder, but you would think a guy that can hit 100 consistently on the gun would be a shoo-in to be a closer. Except sometimes he can't find the plate with a GPS AND when he does his fastball has no movement, which is much easier to hit.
 
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Didn't we have a closer back in the 1990s that threw his fastball about 70 !! and he was actually a good closer...

Borowski was a flame thrower... he threw pitches loaded with gas... right down the middle .. so batters could make them explode...
 
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NFBuck;1202795; said:
Given the Tribe's recent track record in the draft, I wouldn't be all that excited. I can't remember the last time we had the # 1 overall pick, but I do remember having the #2 overall pick in 1992. Remember who that was? Probably not...it was Paul Shuey.
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Wasn't Mark Lewis a #1 pick? Another great name from the past, or Greg Swindell...

Actually both were #2 picks in the late 80s. And I found a link to our draft history and it seems like we have never had the #1 pick (probable due to that AL/NL switching every other year for the #1 pick and the Indians were always lucky to be the worst team in the league when the NL had the #1 pick :biggrin: Thankfully they got rid of that rule.
 
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