Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Indians battle, win 5th in row Victory over Orioles comes after bullpen again gives up lead
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008

CLEVELAND: The Indians didn't exactly take advantage of every opportunity, but they did enough to beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 and extend their winning streak to five games Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
The Tribe stranded 10 runners, nine in scoring position. Granted, several of their chances came after two were out, but there is no law that bars a team from getting a hit with two outs.
Then again, if the Indians had capitalized on all of the Orioles' blunders, the game might still be going on.
But that's a little negative under the circumstances. Beating the Orioles, coupled with a loss by the Kansas City Royals, enabled the Indians to pass the Royals and leap from last place to fourth in the Central Division.
''We are playing with a lot of confidence,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''These have been back-and-forth ballgames, and there's no quit in these guys. That's the way it should be.''
Can there be a team in the majors that is more fundamentally unsound than the Orioles? Here is a partial accounting of blunders and missteps from the first two games of the series: five errors, three wild pitches, three hit batters, one passed ball.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians trade starting pitcher Paul Byrd to Boston Red Sox

Indians trade with Red Sox, save some cash
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

Last year, Paul Byrd and Boston didn't mix. This year, he has a chance to help them return to the World Series.
The Indians traded Byrd to Boston on Tuesday for cash or a player to be named. The Red Sox assumed the estimated $2 million that remained on Byrd's $7.5 million contract.
Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said the player coming back to the Indians, if there's a player at all, will be of "little consequence."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Trades keep Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro busy

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Joe Maxse
Plain Dealer Reporter

General Manager Mark Shapiro had another one of those busy days on Tuesday. He added pitcher Paul Byrd to the trading list that included CC Sabathia and Casey Blake.
The latest move was in keeping with the way the season has gone down at Progressive Field. After addressing the Byrd situation, Shapiro talked about other areas of concern for the club as the season winds down.
"It's clear we've got to address our bullpen," said Shapiro, whose club has the fewest saves (20) in the American League. "It's safe to say it's one of our highest priorities."

Cont...

 

[swimwin39]

Does anyone know who/what/anything the Indians are getting for Byrd?

 

[OSUsushichic]

Does anyone know who/what/anything the Indians are getting for Byrd?

player to be named later or cash

 

[LitlBuck]

player to be named later or cash

You better hope that Byrd does not revert to his slo-pitch beer league form

 

[LitlBuck]

Not a bad read. I'm not too certain LaPorta will be on the roster next April. He'll probably need to log some time in AAA first, but if he has a good showing there, wouldn't be surprised to see him in the lineup by June. I think Hodges has as good a shot as anybody at 3B next spring. I'm not sure we'll see Victor at 1B fulltime. I really think Trevor Crowe will get a long look in the OF and as a possibility to leadoff allowing Grady to slide down into the 3 hole. Obviously, anything we get from Pronk is a bonus in my mind at this point. :(

Agree regarding LaPorta but only if you really is hitting the cover off the ball in Buffalo. I think Crowe has a better shot at making the big league roster next season as you suggested. They need to start looking for a replacement for Chin if he has to go serve in the military in 2010. I don't think that Hodges will be our answer next season. He's just not MLB ready and rather than rush the kid I would like to see them try and find a FA third baseman were even bring back Blake (can't believe I said that). While I would like to see Victor get a lot of playing time at 1st base, he wants to catch and will be very unhappy if he is not doing so. This will be a tricky situation for Wedge and the front office with the way Kelly is hitting the ball. Agree regarding Hafner. I think his better days are behind him and we are stuck with a 3 years of big-time salary.

 

[LitlBuck]

PD

Cleveland Indians promote Zach Jackson to start against Orioles on Thursday
Posted by Paul Hoynes August 13, 2008 14:22PM
Categories: Breaking News, Indians

Left-hander Zach Jackson will take Paul Byrd's spot in the rotation and start against Baltimore on Thursday at Progressive Field. Just how long Jackson, acquired from Milwaukee in the CC Sabathia deal, stays in the rotation will depend on how he pitches.

Jackson, 6-5, 220 pounds, made his big league debut with the Brewers in 2006. He was Toronto's supplemental first-round pick in 2004. Later he was traded to Milwaukee.

Thought to be an extra body in the Sabathia trade because the Indians needed a pitcher, Jackson did well in Class AAA Buffalo. He went 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA in eight appearances, including four starts.

The Indians could have also promoted lefty Aaron Laffey.

This is the move that I wanted the Indians to make. We already have seen what Laffey can do, or should I say can't do, so a look at Jackson will be refreshing even if he gets shelled

 

[AKAK]

This is the move that I wanted the Indians to make. We already have seen what Laffey can do, or should I say can't do, so a look at Jackson will be refreshing even if he gets shelled

You know what a 23 year old who has pitched in 25 big league games can do?

 

[LitlBuck]

You know what a 23 year old who has pitched in 25 big league games can do?

At least I have seen him and now I can see Jackson. That is what I meant. I know what AL can bring us and now I would like to see what Jackson can bring to the table. There is always September for more AL.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Jeff Stevens (aka, a player that was in the Brandon Phillips trade) blew the comeback rally by the US earlier this morning.

Team USA battled back to go ahead 7-6 and Stevens came in the 9th and allowed 2 runs. Korea wins 8-7.

He's pitched well in AA Akron and AAA Buffalo. 3.23 ERA, 75 K's/25 BB's in just 55.2 innings between the two leagues. At age 25 (on Sept 5) he looks like he could have a future with the Tribe.

...Especially if he keeps up the tradition of blown saves. :(

 

[LitlBuck]

Maybe he could assume Betancourt's role of giving up runs in the 7th and 8th innings

 

[ysubuck]

What are you guys talking about?

Is it still baseball season?

 

[NFBuck]

Well, that Donnelly pickup looks like a stroke of genius.

I wouldn't be opposed to shitcanning this entire "bullpen", save Perez, and bringing in a whole new group. They are that bad.

 

[billmac91]

Well, that Donnelly pickup looks like a stroke of genius.

I wouldn't be opposed to [censored]canning this entire "bullpen", save Perez, and bringing in a whole new group. They are that bad.

Bullpens might be the most tempermental group of people in all of sports...one year it's the best in the bigs, and the next year it's the worst.

It can go the oher way too....who really thought we'd have one of the best in the bigs last year, after the previous season?

All you can do is stockpile arms and hope some of them find a groove for the season...this year they didn't. It's a snowball effect, the best thing that can happen for these guys is for the season to end. Every one of them walks out there wondering how bad they are about to get hit.