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Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

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LitlBuck;1224466; said:
Not a bad lineup but I think you are counting on the young guys to come through too much. I think Hodges and Laporte will be ready in 2010 but not before that and Crowe will go through some growing pains.
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Yeah, but like I said in a fantasy world and at some point next season. I certainly don't expect all three of them to be regulars, or even on the team, next April. Crowe is already playing well in AAA, so he's probably got a decent shot next spring. Especially considering that management has to recognize that Grady needs to move to the middle of the order. It takes a gaggle of chimps to bat a 40-HR guy leadoff when you're lacking middle of the order hitters. I'd expect Hodges and LaPorta to begin the season in AAA, though I would like to see Hodges at least get a shot at the starting job at 3B next spring.

I actually wouldn't mind bringing Blake back at the right price this offseason due to his versatility and ability to hold down any of those postitions until the young pups are ready. Plus he's a great locker room guy.

However if we do not get pitching in the off-season, it will not matter. We need to find at least one good starter and a closer along with some bullpen help. Hopefully, the rejects that they called up today will come through. One never knows.
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That's the rub, pitching is gonna be a major wildcard. Aside from Lee, the rest of the rotation will have a lot of questions. Fausto's performance worries me, hopefully he gets the kinks ironed out and recovers 100% in the offseason. We need that badly. After that you have to hope Laffey can bounce back. Then you have Sowers and Ginter, both marginal ML pitchers at best. I look for them to add a second tier FA starter in the mold of Byrd or Elarton a couple years ago.

The bullpen is a another story. How could Betancourt fall off so badly? Can he bounce back next year. Perez right now, to me, is the only reliable one in the bunch. Kobayashi shows flashes, then totally melts down. He's a setup man at best. I'm hoping Miller is the longterm answer at closer, but he won't be ready for that at the start of the season. I, unfortunately expect them to bring in another bargain basement retread like Borowski to man that position to start next season. The rest of the spots will probably be filled by guys like Mujica/Mastny/Lewis or another Buffalo shuffle. Maybe a FA or two.

It's gonna be another long year next season in all likelihood. Like I've been preaching, we're at the start of another rebuilding process. Look at this year like our 2002...blew the team up, made one big trade (Colon/Sabathia), a couple minor ones and started to look to the future. Realistically, it's probably a 3 year job provided the youngsters pan out. One thing we have over the '02 situation is the hope that guys like Victor and Pronk can come back and one bonafide superstar in Grady. With a little luck, a competitive team might develop sooner. Time will tell.
 
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honestly it's twofold.

first, the bullpen was somewhat masked by the starters eating up so many innings and second, the raffys both having career years. the lack of quality depth was never really exposed.

as for calling guys up, anyone that isn't on the 40 man roster probably isn't going to get a shot in the show this year. Cleveland has to hope that Reyes and Donnely both pan out.

as for being in rebuilding mode, it will depend on if victor and pronk bounce back next year. if they do, cleveland can contend with things go right, if not, forget it.
 
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CPD

No relief in sight: Mujica, Kobayashi battered as Rays score 6 in 9th to top Tribe, 10-7

Posted by [URL="http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/about.html"][EMAIL="[email protected]"]Paul Hoynes[/EMAIL][/URL] August 06, 2008 17:54PM

Categories: Indians
Chris O'Meara/Associated PressCarlos Pena (foreground) and Gabe Gross enjoy Wednesday's 10-7 comeback victory over the Indians. Gross' 2-run homer off Edward Mujica tied the game, then Pena drilled a 3-run shot to win it off Masa Kobayashi.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The good news about the closerless Indians is there are only 49 games left in the season. The bad news is what might occur in those 49 games. The Indians entered the ninth inning against Tampa Bay with a 7-4 lead on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field. Edward Mujica and Masa Kobayashi combined to give up six runs while not recording an out as the Rays rallied for a 10-7 victory. Mujica gave up a two-run homer to Gabe Gross after allowing consecutive doubles to Jason Bartlett and Eric Hinske. Kobayashi relieved and gave up a three-run homer to Carlos Pena.
After the game, Mujica fled the locker room without talking to reporters. It's hard to blame him.
Kobayashi stuck around to talk to a group of Japanese reporters, but he's been through this a lot this season. The homer was the eighth Kobayashi has allowed in 49 2/3 innings.

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Dispatch

Baseball notebook: Pact puts Tribe in Progressive through 2023

Thursday, August 7, 2008 3:23 AM



FROM WIRE REPORTS

The Cleveland Indians and the nonprofit organization that owns Progressive Field reached a deal yesterday that will keep the baseball team there until at least 2023.
The pact extends an existing agreement that was set to expire in 2013 and comes as Gateway Economic Development Corp. prepares to pay off tax-exempt bonds used to finance the stadium's construction in the 1990s.
"We're very appreciative of the time and effort everyone took to come to what we believe is a very satisfying agreement," Indians spokesman Bob DiBiasio said.
After 2023, the Indians will have four renewal options at five years each.

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CPD

INDIANS INSIDER Help arrives for Cleveland Indians pitching staff

Friday, August 08, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

St. Petersburg, Fla.- There should be no shortage of work for right-handers Anthony Reyes and Brendan Donnelly when they join the Indians today in Toronto.
Reyes will go immediately into the rotation, facing David Purcey tonight. Donnelly will go into the bullpen.
"It's a good time to get them up here," said manager Eric Wedge. "Reyes was outstanding in his last start. Donnelly gives us veteran presence with some championship experience. He's worked hard to get back here."

Cont...
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CPD

In Cleveland Indians' season of gloom, Jhonny Peralta's bat booms

Friday, August 08, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

St. Petersburg, Fla.- Manager Eric Wedge could use some pleasant thoughts. Something calming, with gulls soaring in a tropical sun and the sound of waves rolling gently onto a white sand beach in the back- ground.
Wedge looked anything but tranquil late Wednesday afternoon as reporters left his office at Tropicana Field. He looked like a man adrift in a lost season without sail or paddle.
He'd just watched Eddie Mujica and Masa Kobayashi give up six runs without recording an out in the ninth inning. The Indians entered the inning with a 7-4 lead and left a 10-7 loser to the Rays.

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The Indians acquired infielder Andy Cannizaro from Tampa Bay's Class AAA Durham team earlier this week for cash and sent him to Buffalo. "We needed a middle infielder," said Ross Atkins, director of player personnel.
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Well, it finally looks like the Indians are bolstering up their middle infield depth down on the farm. Now they should do something regarding the team in Cleveland.
Tribe relievers have allowed an AL-high 48 homers this year.
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It looks like the Indians pitching staff must be doing something right. At least, they are throwing some good pitches.
the raffys both having career years.
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Agree with what you have said in your post and one of them is having a pretty good year this year so it is only Betancourt that has really let us down between the two this year.
 
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hopefully donnelly can provide some sort of competency in the pen.

there are rumors that some team just claimed huston street off of waivers. cleveland has long been rumored to be a bidder for him for use next season. my guess is some playoff hunt team claimed him.
 
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Dispatch

Indians 5 Blue Jays 2
Reyes effective in Indians debut
Lewis gives newcomer first win with solid ninth
Saturday, August 9, 2008 3:01 AM
By Paul Hoynes


THE PLAIN DEALER
0809_indians_reyes_08-09-08_C5_A0AVT67.jpg
Frank Gunn The Canadian Press
Anthony Reyes worked into the seventh inning in his first start with the Indians, allowing only one run.


TORONTO -- Anthony Reyes made a nice first impression last night, and Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge found someone who doesn't treat a three-run lead in the ninth inning like it's a timber wolf at feeding time.

Reyes, making his debut with the Indians, pitched 6 1/3 innings to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 in the Rogers Centre. He allowed one run, struck out four and walked one in 88 pitches. Then, Jensen Lewis resembled a closer by working a hitless ninth after Rafael Perez provided immediate relief for Reyes.
The Indians acquired Reyes from the St. Louis Cardinals on July 26 for minor-league right-hander Luis Perdomo. Reyes went 2-0 for triple-A Buffalo before being promoted to make the start last night.
"He pitched a good ballgame," Wedge said. "It looked like he had a good heartbeat. He used all his pitches and mixed them well."

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