Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[billmac91]

Jody Gerut, Ryan Ludwick...

Great series for the Tribe, good to see them still competing. Hopefully things stay positive in the 2nd half and the club carries it into the next season.

Blake and Peralta's trade value have to be at their highest points heading into the All-Star break. It will be interesting to see how long they last.

I still wouldn't mind seeing Jhonny slide over to third base and giving Cabrera a shot at SS.

 

[Zippercat]

Rincon is completly washed up and is showing no signs of returning to his old form.........

You could be correct...but the Tribe deep thinkers claim he's had some mechanical problems that they're trying to correct. Changing mechanics for many pitchers takes time and lots of repetition ...and Willis has helped others in the past make such changes. IF they can get Rincon back to even 80% of his old self, it's worth the effort...and worth blowing a few games in this meaningless season. Unless Rincon stops making the effort to change, it would be a mistake to dump him quickly.

The Twins didn't have the luxury of working things through with him during a pennant race...or maybe he needed the shock of being released to have him realize he has to make changes.

 

[LitlBuck]

I still wouldn't mind seeing Jhonny slide over to third base and giving Cabrera a shot at SS.

While I see what you are saying and I think JP's brings a type of hitting that is needed for a 3rd baseman, I have heard that a couple Springs ago that they worked him out at third base and it was a disaster. He is just not agile to come in on the slow rollers down the line. I do not think Marte it is our long-term answer at 3rd because over the weekend he made some very poor throws to first base only to be bailed out by Blake.

 

[Zippercat]

WTF kind of line was that from Sowers today? 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 8 K. He deserves some credit for only giving up 2 runs while allowing 10 baserunners, but where in the blue hell did the 7 walks come from? And moreso, the 8 K's?

The kind you get with a horse's ass behind the plate calling balls and strikes (and phantom balks). This crew has got to be one of the worst in MLB. Both teams were bitching about the calls for the entire series.

 

[Zippercat]

While I see what you are saying and I think JP's brings a type of hitting that is needed for a 3rd baseman, I have heard that a couple Springs ago that they worked him out at third base and it was a disaster. He is just not agile to come in on the slow rollers down the line. I do not think Marte it is our long-term answer at 3rd because over the weekend he made some very poor throws to first base only to be bailed out by Blake.

Then how about try him at 1B? Not like Garko is gonna win a gold glove there anytime soon ...or later!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Cleveland Indians southpaw Lee named All-Star starter

Posted by [URL="http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/about.html"][EMAIL="[email protected]"]Paul Hoynes[/EMAIL][/URL] July 14, 2008 10:56AM

Chuck Crow//The Plain Dealer
"Just to make the All-Star Game is an honor," said Cliff Lee (12-2), whose 2.31 ERA is second in the AL. "It's an honor just to play in the big leagues.

Earlier: Lee unconcerned about start


NEW YORK -- Indians left-hander Cliff Lee was picked today by manager Terry Francona to be the American League's starting pitcher in Tuesday night's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. Right-hander Ben Sheets of Milwaukee will be the starter for the National League.
Lee, selected for his first All-Star game, went 12-2 with a 2.31 ERA in the first half for the Indians.
Last year, Lee ended the season in the bullpen after spending a month at Class AAA Buffalo. He didn't even make the Tribe's postseason roster for the playoffs.

Continued....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Home run derby strategy goes deep for Sizemore

Posted by [URL="http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/about.html"]Chris Herring[/URL] July 14, 2008 06:38AM

Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer
"I may be a little more pull-conscious, but other than that, I'm not going to change my approach," said Grady Sizemore.

Headlining tonight's Home Run Derby, Grady Sizemore will take his American League-leading 23 home runs and compact swing to Yankee Stadium. What many reporters wanted to know Sunday, though, is whether the Indians' leadoff man will come back with that same swing after the All-Star break.
The contest draws annual questions of whether the competition al ters a slugger's stroke. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who has won the American League's home run crown five times, said he's skipping this year's derby for that very reason.

Asked whether he thought the contest changed his hitting mechanics, Rodriguez told the Associated Press, "Always has for me."

Continued.....

 

[tsteele316]

Then how about try him at 1B? Not like Garko is gonna win a gold glove there anytime soon ...or later!

the entire appeal of peralta is that he gives you above average offensive production for the position he plays. moving him to 1st or 3rd base drastically diminishes his value overall.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Tribe sees rays of light with sweep

Posted by [URL="http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/about.html"][EMAIL="[email protected]"]Joe Maxse[/EMAIL][/URL] July 13, 2008 17:51PM

Categories: Indians

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerJhonny Peralta's two-run home run put the Indians up for good Sunday against the Rays.
Indians head into break on hot streak after sweeping the Rays.

READ MORE


The Indians could use a few days away from the baseball grind, but they sure do hate to see the Tampa Bay Rays leave town so soon.
They could use a few more doses of the Rays to cure what has ailed them for much of the first half of the year.
The Tribe went into the All-Star break by completing a four-game sweep of the Rays, 5-2, on a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. If only the first 90 games had gone as beautifully for the Indians as the last four.
"We played some good baseball the last four days," said manager Eric Wedge, whose club goes into the break at 41-53. "We put some things behind us and executed on the mound, in the box and defensively."

Continued....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME LaPorta Hodges
Hit at Yankee Stadium caps LaPorta's wild week


Monday, July 14, 2008 From wire reports


New York- Already, the Boston Red Sox are feeling right at home in Yankee Stadium during All-Star week.
Red Sox minor-leaguer Che-Hsuan Lin hit a two-run homer and nine World team pitchers combined on a three-hitter Sunday for a 3-0 victory over the United States in the Futures Game.
The Akron Aeros' Matt LaPorta, acquired by the Indians in the CC Sabathia deal last week, started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a single, a walk and a strikeout for the United States. His Akron teammate, Wes Hodges, entered the game in the sixth, played third base and went 1-for-2.

Continued.....

 

[LitlBuck]

Then how about try him at 1B? Not like Garko is gonna win a gold glove there anytime soon ...or later!

Fine with me... call Wedgie:!

 

[NFBuck]

the entire appeal of peralta is that he gives you above average offensive production for the position he plays. moving him to 1st or 3rd base drastically diminishes his value overall.

Bingo. Even that is only in spurts. He may be the most schizophrenic offensive player I've seen wear a Tribe uniform.

 

[LitlBuck]

Bingo. Even that is only in spurts. He may be the most schizophrenic offensive player I've seen wear a Tribe uniform.

I understand what both of you are saying but he is also limited with regard to his range at SS and we currently don't have a third or first baseman, maybe Blake, who brings the same offensive production that JP brings to the infield.

 

[billmac91]

I understand what both of you are saying but he is also limited with regard to his range at SS and we currently don't have a third or first baseman, maybe Blake, who brings the same offensive production that JP brings to the infield.

Agreed...nothing against Casey but Jhonny has more potential offensively. Jhonny's offense obviously doesn't compensate for his defense b/c his offense is so inconsistent. Assuming Casey is gone after this year, you'd think Jhonny could learn the position if he was committed to it.

I know he was said to struggle during a short experiment, but ARod struggled for a period too. It takes longer than Spring Training to get it down. I'd just like to have at least a plus middle of the field defensively if the offense is going to be suspect. And we know Jhonny is capable of producing big numbers, maybe the stress of not playing the hardest defensive position on the field would help the bat.

 

[NFBuck]

Agreed...nothing against Casey but Jhonny has more potential offensively. Jhonny's offense obviously doesn't compensate for his defense b/c his offense is so inconsistent. Assuming Casey is gone after this year, you'd think Jhonny could learn the position if he was committed to it.

I know he was said to struggle during a short experiment, but ARod struggled for a period too. It takes longer than Spring Training to get it down. I'd just like to have at least a plus middle of the field defensively if the offense is going to be suspect. And we know Jhonny is capable of producing big numbers, maybe the stress of not playing the hardest defensive position on the field would help the bat.

Hopefully Wes Hodges makes it all a moot point.