Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

INDIANS SPRING TRAINING
Relief pitcher Rafael Perez tips scales of success to Cleveland Indians


Monday, February 25, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Winter Haven, Fla.- One of the 59 players in camp with the Indians this spring training let it slip that the team he played for last year knew what Rafael Perez was going to throw before he threw it.
When word reached General Manager Mark Shapiro, he couldn't believe his good fortune.
"If they think they have his pitches, I hope they keep thinking that way," said Shapiro, "because nobody hit Perez last year."

The opposition hit .187 against Perez in 2007, .145 (12-for-83) by lefties and .213 (29-for-136) by righties. With runners in scoring position, the opposition hit .164 (9-for-55) against the 6-3, 195-pound left-hander.
Together with Rafael Betancourt, they formed one of the best left-right setup tandems in the big leagues. Perez's 1.78 ERA was the third-lowest in the American League. Betancourt's 1.47 ERA was the second-lowest.
In trying to break down Perez's pitches last season, bullpen coach Louie Isaac threw his hands up in happy despair because every pitch moved so much he couldn't tell one from the other.




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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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Notes: Julio makes long-awaited debut
Visa issues delay reliever's first chance to impress Indians

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Better late than never.
Reliever Jorge Julio, a non-roster invitee hoping to land the last spot in the Indians' bullpen, made his debut in camp Friday morning, throwing a 10-minute bullpen session. He also threw a pair of bullpens earlier this week in his native Venezuela, where he was waiting for his visa paperwork to be processed. The 28-year-old Julio will compete with Tom Mastny and Ed Mujica and fellow non-roster invitees Rick Bauer, Scott Elarton, Matt Ginter and Jeff Harris for the seventh spot in the 'pen. Mastny is considered to have a leg up on the competition because of the job he's done for the Indians the last two seasons.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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Choo's big league path faces obstacles
Coming off elbow surgery, outfielder could join Korean military

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- A left elbow injury that required Tommy John ligament replacement surgery has proven to be a speed bump in the career of outfielder Shin-Soo Choo.
And another, more significant bump in the road might be looming in the not-too-distant future.
As an able-bodied male citizen of South Korea, Choo, who turns 26 in July, is obligated to serve between 24 and 28 months in the South Korean military before he turns 30. Such service, obviously, would put a damper on his big league dreams. "I'm not thinking about it right now," Choo said. "But it would be tough. For two years to not play baseball, then come back, it's really tough. Pitchers? Maybe. But hitters? It's tough."

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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Notes: Wedge won't pigeonhole power
Indians refuse to rely on corner spots to produce home runs


WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Manager Eric Wedge doesn't buy into the age-old theory that a lineup's power should come from its corner spots.
"I think that's changed, and I think we're a perfect example of that," Wedge said. "People get caught up in, 'You've got to have this at this position and this at that position.' But it's the overall [that matters]." Last season, Victor Martinez (25 homers), Grady Sizemore (24) and Travis Hafner (24) were the Indians' top three home-run hitters. Of that group, only Hafner, at designated hitter, has a position with a power tradition. The Tribe also got 21 homers out of shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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Lee determined to rebound in '08
Tribe lefty looking to regain form, make starting rotation

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- When the Indians sent pitcher Cliff Lee down to Triple-A Buffalo last summer, he reportedly took the news professionally and understood their rationale.

But Lee doesn't sound as willing to accept such a move this spring.
"I absolutely have no desire to go and pitch in Buffalo ever again," Lee said. "I do have another [Minor League] option left, but if that's what it comes down to ... I haven't even really thought about that. But I know it's not something I'm considering in my mind." All winter, Lee's name was floated in vague and unsubstantiated trade rumors. With two other younger options for their fifth-starting job -- Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers -- the Indians could have been forgiven for sending Lee packing.

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Dellucci in a relaxed frame of mind
Veteran will platoon in left field following injury-marred season

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- David Dellucci's body could probably sue him for abuse and maltreatment. The word "concussion" is sprinkled throughout his bio so much, you'd think he was a character in "Varsity Blues."

"If I was a football player," Dellucci said with a smile, "I'd probably have to wear one of those shock-absorbing helmets." Dellucci's determination can also serve to be his downfall, both in a figurative and a physical sense. His 2007 season proved that.

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Notes: Wedge has full stable of starters
Manager will have to find time for all of them during spring

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Jake Westbrook will be the Indians' Opening Day pitcher.

And now that we have your undivided attention, that statement can be clarified to read that Westbrook will be pitching Thursday's opening of the Grapefruit League season against the Astros, not the actual opener against the White Sox on March 31 at Progressive Field.
The real Opening Day starting nod, of course, is going to reigning American League Cy Young Award-winner C.C. Sabathia. But manager Eric Wedge hasn't even bothered to give his ace that news. "I would assume he would assume," Wedge said. "How's that for a Yogi-ism?"

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[Mac]

I agree, we should NOT let CC go anywhere if we're in playoff contention. However, if we aren't in contention (I'd be surprised) then I would window shop a little. I can't wait for the season to get started!! Should be another great season of Tribe baseball!!

 

[exhawg]

I agree, we should NOT let CC go anywhere if we're in playoff contention. However, if we aren't in contention (I'd be surprised) then I would window shop a little. I can't wait for the season to get started!! Should be another great season of Tribe baseball!!

I'd put feelers out for CC to see if anyone comes through with a huge offer for a monster corner outfielder and at least one other good player in a position of need for the Tribe. I think the pitching depth is strong enough right now that they could lose CC and still beat anyone assuming the hitting picked up. If for some reason the Tribe isn't playing well come the trade deadline I would let CC go for a few big prospects. I think it would take several major injuries or slumps for the Tribe to get out of contention this year.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Tribe is same as last season in most ways Analyst says Indians to play Cubs for title
Published on Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008



WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: The rhythms of baseball do not often change.
From one spring training to the next, there is a sameness to the drills, the workouts, the practices.
Part of Monday with the Indians was spent working on calling for fly balls hit in the outfield gaps and for infield popups.
That same drill no doubt was used a year ago, two years ago, and this year in every camp in Major League Baseball.
Just like infield drills.


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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Tribe waits for Byrd's HGH verdict Decision by Major League Baseball expected soon. A suspension could open spot for another pitcher
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: The Indians haven't received the verdict concerning Paul Byrd's use of human growth hormone, but manager Eric Wedge does not fear the worst.
''I am fairly confident that the process will play out OK,'' Wedge said Monday.
He didn't know exactly when Major League Baseball would render a decision, but he thinks it will be soon.


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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Sowers thinks slump is over Repairing his confidence a big part of his recovery
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: The first thing you notice is a book by former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
It is in Jeremy Sowers' locker. He is reading it. Right-side up. He has an understanding of global economics and their effect on world governments. And why not? Sowers majored in political science at Vanderbilt University.
Indians fans already know that Sowers has a brain. That fact has been documented many times. He is the thinking man's pitcher, which makes it all the harder to understand the season he had in 2007, when he compiled a 1-6 record and 6.42 earned-run average.


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[osugrad21]

CPD

High school teammates Ryan Garko, Ben Francisco look to future with Cleveland Indians


Tuesday, February 26, 2008Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist
Winter Haven, Fla. -- The long odds of two high school teammates making the major leagues and playing for the same team got stretched even more in Toronto last summer.
That's when Blue Jays reliever Brian Wolfe retired Ryan Garko and Ben Francisco in a game against the Indians.
All three were seniors at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif., in 1999. But that's nothing compared to the odds a team with three future major-leaguers would lead a high school title game, 10-0 and somehow find a way to lose.

"Ask Ben about it," Garko said in a conspiratorial tone. "He's still bitter."




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[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia provides a scare with barehanded grab of grounder


Tuesday, February 26, 2008Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist
Winter Haven, Fla. -- Pitcher C.C. Sabathia's inning of work in a simulated game ended with an Omar Vizquel impression and a scare.
Sabathia reached with his bare hand for a grounder off the bat of first baseman Jordan Brown. The deflection caromed to second base for the final out.
"I didn't tell him I didn't want him fielding his position, especially with his pitching hand," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "We've had that issue before. It's just instincts."

Willis was able to laugh about it, but the memory of Sabathia being hit by a line drive in the final spring training game a year ago brought immediate cause for concern.
"I'm sure if it was worse, I would've heard about it," said Sabathia, who faced six hitters and threw just 24 pitches. "But they didn't holler at me too much."
Sabathia struck out two, walked a batter and got two fly balls to the outfield.




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Notes: Miller out again thanks to blister
No bullpen for odd men out in fifth-starter race; Tribe 'runs' drill
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Adam Miller's stagnant spring camp goes on, like a blister in the sun.

The blister that formed on the middle finger of Miller's right throwing hand last week healed enough to allow the Tribe's top pitching prospect to throw his first bullpen session of camp Sunday. But the blister has reopened, and now Miller will be shut down for at least five to seven days. "It stinks when a blister keeps you out," Miller said. "But I guess if that's the worst thing right now, it's not too bad."

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