Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[Fungo Squiggly]

So it looks like the Tribe will have to part ways with Shin-Soo Choo by '10 thanks to the Korean military...

from Rotoworld

Just turned 26 and is hitting .252 with 4 HRs and 23 RBIs in just 41 games. He's showed some good potential, too bad he might not get to have a complete career.

I don't believe it. He's enlisting on his own because he'd rather be in the Korean military than be a Cleveland Indian. :p

Much like Bengal players would rather be in prison than play for the Bengals.

 

[LitlBuck]

I guess that's the law in Korea. He has to serve two years in the military. The only way he could get that reduced significantly this to play in the Olympics for Korea but you can't be with a professional team in the United States and play for the South Korean Olympic team. He is out of options so the Indians can't send them down to Buffalo. That would allow him to play in the Olympics but he would never clear waivers.

Regarding CC, I think the National League is much easier for him because he is only facing eight batters. It will be interesting to see how he pitches if the Brewers make it into the playoffs because he certainly didn't help the Indians in the playoffs. However, he certainly did help them get there. It's all about the money.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Cabrera is starting to discover his stroke Initial hitting results are mixed, and he still strikes out too much
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Jul 25, 2008
It's far too early to make judgments about any prospective improvements in Asdrubal Cabrera's offense, but he seems to have made strides at Buffalo, where he was sent five weeks ago to brush up on his approach.
He played in five of the six games on the Indians' trip to Seattle and Anaheim and had four hits in 19 at-bats with seven strikeouts. That is only a .211 batting average and far too many strikeouts, and manager Eric Wedge felt Cabrera's results have been mixed.
''What you are seeing with Asdrubal, and it's a start, is that he has a couple of good at-bats and a couple that aren't so good,'' the manager said. ''What he needs to do is have a consistent approach from at-bat to at-bat.''
If not for outstanding catches on Wednes
day by two Angels' outfielders, Gary Matthews Jr. and Garret Anderson, Cabrera's batting average would look a lot better today. He was robbed of two hits on balls that were struck with authority.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Priority: Close holes in the pen

Stats put Tribe relievers at bottom of the AL
Friday, July 25, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Indians, in an emotional sense, have rebounded from the trade of CC Sabathia.
"They're back to being themselves," said manager Eric Wedge, "relaxing, having some fun and trying to play good baseball."
What they haven't rebounded from this season, and what they probably won't until it is rebuilt or repaired in the off-season, is one of the worst bullpens in the big leagues.

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

The only two guys who should be left in that bullpen next year should be P?rez and Kobayashi. Maybe Jensen Lewis if he can get his act back together. All of the other guys are just waste and the majority of the guys in Buffalo are reclamation projects. Maybe one or two of the younger guys could step up but that's about it.

 

[tsteele316]

The only two guys who should be left in that bullpen next year should be P?rez and Kobayashi. Maybe Jensen Lewis if he can get his act back together. All of the other guys are just waste and the majority of the guys in Buffalo are reclamation projects. Maybe one or two of the younger guys could step up but that's about it.

If Sipp stays healthy he should be in the pen next year.

Apparently Shapiro made a comment last week that Adam Miller's odd finger issues may make him a viable candidate for the pen later this year or next year. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a pen next year consisting of Miller, Sipp, Raffy-L, Raffy-R, Kobayashi, Lewis/Mastny, and some retread reclamation project.

 

[LitlBuck]

Mastny,

Send him to the Valley or some place. I would not mind seeing Sipp next year. I don't think anyone will know when it will be Miller' time.

 

[NFBuck]

Chickenpen doing their best to blow Cliff's 14th win...

 

[NFBuck]

Perez bails out Kobayashi and Cliff gets number 14.

If Sipp stays healthy he should be in the pen next year.

Apparently Shapiro made a comment last week that Adam Miller's odd finger issues may make him a viable candidate for the pen later this year or next year. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a pen next year consisting of Miller, Sipp, Raffy-L, Raffy-R, Kobayashi, Lewis/Mastny, and some retread reclamation project.

I'd be surprised if Sipp isn't. Perez is still a solid piece. Kobayashi is shaky and nothing more than a set-up man at best. Betancourt is garbage, I don't know if this year is an aberration, but right now I wouldn't trust him to make toast. Lewis is a wildcard...great stuff but wildly inconsistent. Mastny is a spare part. They're simply gonna have to spend some money this offseason, particularly on a closer. Of course, who knows what Scrooge Shapiro will do. Given his track record, probably nothing.

I think Miller's future at the MLB level (if he can stay healthy long enough to have one) is in the pen. Laffey's recent downward spiral is disturbing though. I just hope he doesn't turn into another Sowers where he was great for a half season then fell apart. His stuff is much better than Sowers, but sometimes you never know. That may cause them to take a longer look at Miller as a starter.

Right now, I just want to enjoy playing the spoiler. They're playing much better ball lately, so they may be able to give contending teams fits in August and September. I hope LaPorta and Hodges are in Buffalo soon too and perform well enough to earn a September call up.

 

[buckeyemania11]

I think Miller's future at the MLB level (if he can stay healthy long enough to have one) is in the pen. Laffey's recent downward spiral is disturbing though. I just hope he doesn't turn into another Sowers where he was great for a half season then fell apart. His stuff is much better than Sowers, but sometimes you never know. That may cause them to take a longer look at Miller as a starter.

Im not too confident in Miller

the guy is always getting hurt, it would not shock me if he only managed few or no MLB innings in his career

 

[NFBuck]

Im not too confident in Miller

the guy is always getting hurt, it would not shock me if he only managed few or no MLB innings in his career

Agreed. Really sucks too because he looked great before all these freak injuries started happening. I'm just hoping less workload in the bullpen can help. He has nasty stuff and if he can get the mental aspect of being a closer down, he could be a good one.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Perez provides needed relief
Lefty rescues Kobayashi in 9th, preserves win for Lee, Indians
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter


CLEVELAND: Who would dare blow a save for Cliff Lee? At least this year, doing so would be the surest way to become Public Enemy No. 1 among Indians fans.
Masa Kobayashi has no desire to be tagged with that label, but he had everyone at Progressive Field on the edge of their seats by allowing two runs in the ninth plus a walk-off double (Kobayashi walked off) to give the Minnesota Twins hope.
In the nick of time, Rafael Perez relieved Kobayashi and retired three batters in a row to preserve the 5-4 win for Lee.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Tribe notes - Hafner, Martinez making progress rehabbing injuries
Published on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008


CLEVELAND: Travis Hafner (right shoulder strain) will be tested again, probably on Monday, to determine whether he is strong enough to begin swinging a bat. . . . Victor Martinez (elbow surgery) will begin baseball activity on Monday by playing catch and taking a few dry swings. He is expected to be back in the lineup in mid-August.
TOUGH PLAY ? Minnesota Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez left the game in the first inning with a lower back injury, after making a spectacular catch of Ben Francisco's drive and bouncing off the wall and onto the warning track.
Gomez was taken to Lutheran Hospital for tests. His place in the lineup was taken by Jason Kubel.

Continued....

 

[buckeyemania11]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3506150

By Jayson Stark
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: July 26, 2008, 1:23 PM ET

The Cleveland Indians traded third baseman/outfielder Casey Blake and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers on Saturday

"Casey Blake is a gamer," Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said. "His experience and character will be a plus as we head down the stretch in the final two months of the regular season."

The Indians received minor league catcher Carlos Santana and right-handed pitcher Jon Meloan. Santana is hitting .323, with 14 homers, for Inland Empire, in the Class A California League. The hard-throwing Meloan is 5-10, with a 4.97 ERA, at Triple-A Las Vegas -- but has piled up 335 strikeouts in only 262 innings in his minor league career.

Santana is a solid catcher prospect, something we needed

 

[buckeyemania11]

Indians promote Crowe to Bisons : Sports : The Buffalo News

Indians promote Crowe to Bisons

By Mike Harrington -- News Sports Reporter
Updated: 07/25/08 1:26 PM


The Buffalo Bisons' lineup got a huge addition today when the Cleveland Indians promoted outfielder Trevor Crowe ? a former No. 1 pick who has been tearing up the Eastern League ? from Double-A Akron to the Herd. He will join the Bisons tonight in Charlotte for the opener of an eight-game road trip.

Crowe, 24, was hitting .323 with four homers, 28 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 49 games with Akron. He was Cleveland's first-round choice in 2005.
Crowe missed much of the season's first six weeks with back trouble and was batting just .155 on June 1. But he has erupted since, with eight games of at least three hits, a .400 batting average in June and a .375 mark in July. He was 6 for 8 the last two days in Akron's games at Altoona.

Crowe has split his time in Akron between left and center fields. He's expected to play mostly in center for the Herd.
To make room for Crowe on the Buffalo roster, the Indians released Bisons outfielder Jason Tyner. He batted .235 in 76 games for the Herd.