Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Baseball notebook: Sabathia obvious choice for opener

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 3:11 AM



From wire reports

C.C. Sabathia hasn't been formally told yet, but he's going to start on opening day for the Cleveland Indians.
Talk about a no-brainer.
"I didn't think I needed to tell him," manager Eric Wedge said yesterday. "I mean, if you can't assume that the Cy Young Award winner is going to start the opener, then when can you?"
The Indians open at home March 31 against the Chicago White Sox.
It will be Sabathia's fifth opening-day assignment. The left-hander went 19-7 last season and led the major leagues in innings pitched with 241.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Indians notebook
Tribe hitters off to quick start
Peralta, Garko, Aubrey homer in intrasquad game. Francisco goes 3-for-3, Sizemore, Marte get two hits
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008


WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Even in intrasquad games, the maxim about pitchers being ahead of the hitters early in spring training usually holds true.
Tuesday was the exception to that rule. Jhonny Peralta, Ryan Garko and Michael Aubrey homered.
And that was only the beginning. Ben Francisco was 3-for-3 with a double, Grady Sizemore and Andy Marte singled twice, and Victor Martinez doubled.
The serious evaluation of players won't really begin until the exhibition schedule starts Thursday, but for Marte, every little bit helps.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Healthy Aubrey hopeful
Minor-league slugger thrives when not hurt
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008


WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: It was only an intrasquad game, but you couldn't help but notice Michael Aubrey, who doubled and drove a three-run homer deep over the fence in right field at Chain O' Lakes Park.
Because it was only practice, it would be unwise and premature to make too much of Aubrey's display of explosive power. More important than his Tuesday afternoon of slugging is that he didn't break anything, tear anything, strain anything or bruise anything.
''Every day, that's the first question I get,'' Aubrey said, referring to inquiries about the state of his health.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Intrasquad games full of promise
Word gets around: Anderson hasn't signed
Published on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008


WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Welcome, the PA announcer said, to ''your Cleveland Indians vs. your Cleveland Indians.''
This not-so-charming burb in the middle of Florida ? not too far from Cypress Gardens, but a good long ways from Yeehaw Junction to the east and Weeki Wachee (population: nine) to the west ? apparently does not surrender its Indians easily.
Even though the logo on the outfield fence still is from 2007.
This announcement greeted the Indians' first sort-of-real on-field play of the last spring training in central Florida, the intrasquad game.

Continued........

 

[buckeyemania11]

Westbrook scratched from Indians' spring opener with arm soreness - USATODAY.com

Westbrook scratched from Indians' spring opener with arm soreness

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) ? Cleveland Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook was scratched from his scheduled start in Thursday's spring training opener against the Houston Astros because of soreness in his right arm. Westbrook doesn't expect the soreness to last. He has experienced similar discomfort in past training camps.

"I usually get this every year," he said Wednesday. "I'm not a big fan of throwing bullpens every other day. It usually acts up on me."
Westbrook will throw a bullpen session Thursday and see how his arm responds.

The 30-year-old right-hander is penciled in as Cleveland's No. 3 starter behind AL Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. Westbrook hopes to rebound from an up-and-down 2007 season. He spent more than a month on the disabled list with an abdominal strain and finished 6-9 with a 4.32 ERA in 25 starts

Jeff Harris, who pitched at Triple-A Buffalo last season, will replace Westbrook in the Grapefruit League opener.

 

[NFBuck]

Link
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."

Continued.......

I love Miller's arm, but I've got a bad feeling in my gut that he's just one of those unlucky guys that cannot get and stay healthy for extended periods.

 

[billmac91]

I love Miller's arm, but I've got a bad feeling in my gut that he's just one of those unlucky guys that cannot get and stay healthy for extended periods.

Maybe, but blisters this time of the year are so common. It's the same as golf season, you get the club in your hands, and they haven't toughened up yet, you develop blisters, and once they heal you're good to go.

I wouldn't count on Adam having any more blister problems after this initial one.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Hafner thinks swing is corrected 2007 stats disappoint, but Tribe's 96 victories make troubles tolerable
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Thursday, Feb 28, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: You can tell by the numbers that 2007 was a lousy year for Travis Hafner.
The Indians' designated hitter amassed 24 home runs and 100 RBI. How bad is that for a guy whose only job is to perform at the plate? Sixteen American League players had more homers than Hafner and 14 had more RBI.
But wait a minute. That means somewhere around 165 hitters had fewer homers and RBI. Moreover, isn't driving in 100 runs an industry benchmark for success? And 24 home runs isn't exactly chopped liver.
Or is it?
As manager Eric Wedge says about Hafner, ''He holds himself to a high standard, and he's a great hitter.''


Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Westbrook's soreness not a big concern Wedge not surprised, nor is he very worried. Marte might try outfield
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Thursday, Feb 28, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Indians pitchers frequently have fallen victim to spring injuries that cost them time in the regular season.
A vague discomfort in Jake Westbrook's right arm is not likely to be one of them. Westbrook was scheduled to start the exhibition opener today, but his debut as been postponed.
''Jake is a little sore,'' manager Eric Wedge said Wednesday. ''He usually goes through this sometime during the spring. He'll throw a bullpen tomorrow instead, and more than likely, he'll start Sunday.''
Asked to be more specific about Westbrook's condition, Wedge said: ''It's nothing in particular. General soreness. It's so early in the spring, there's no sense of him trying to push through it. This usually hits a couple of guys at some point in the spring.''


Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Indians' Westbrook has sore arm, will miss exhibition opener
Thursday, February 28, 2008
By Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

WINTER HAVEN, FLA. Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook wasn't terribly upset about seeing his streak come to an end.

"I was getting tired of starting the first game every year anyway," Westbrook said Wednesday morning.

The 30-year-old right-hander won't start today's spring-training opener against Houston at Winter Haven. He was scratched from his scheduled start due to soreness in his right arm. He will instead pitch a bullpen session today.

Westbrook had started Cleveland's first spring game in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The last time he didn't, 2003, the Indians started Jason Phillips and Ricardo Rodriguez in split-squad games.

"I also pitched the first game for the Yankees in 2000, because somebody got hurt," Westbrook said.

"It was my second big-league camp. I was scared to death."


Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Notebook: Indians putting tickets on sale
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

WINTER HAVEN, FLA. Ready, set, spend.

Single-game Indians tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. The team already has sold 1.3 million tickets for 2008. Season ticket sales are up 20 percent and group sales up 39 percent from 2007, according to the club.

Those fans wishing to purchase a partial (6, 20 or 40 games) or full (81 games) season-ticket plan can pick their seat Saturday at Progressive Field from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There is a limit of eight tickets per game, and a maximum of 10 games, for each purchase of single-game tickets Saturday.

The promotional schedule for this season includes fireworks on Fridays, giveaways on Saturdays and kids activities on Sundays. And, of course, the ever-popular $1 hot dog days.

The team has instituted a new pricing plan in which fans will pay more for weekend games and games against Boston and New York. Tickets purchased in advance are now cheaper than those purchased the day of the game.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Word from Indians camp

Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:17 AM

Home field: Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven, Fla. Web site: The Official Site of The Cleveland Indians: Homepage

? Yesterday's result: Intrasquad game was canceled because of wet grounds.
? Today's game: Exhibition opener vs. Houston, 1:05 p.m., Winter Haven. Journeyman Jeff Harris is scheduled to start for the Indians.



Cont...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

McManamon on the Indians
With barrel, Martinez rolls
Awareness and control keys to solid contact for consistent catcher
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Thursday, Feb 28, 2008


WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Some people roll out the barrel.
Others do a barrel roll.
Then there are the folks who are caught over a barrel.
Lock, stock and barrel.
Do not count Victor Martinez among them. Not by any means.
Martinez, perhaps the finest hitting catcher in the major leagues, has control of the barrel.
''We call it barrel awareness,'' Indians hitting coach Derek Shelton said Wednesday after the day's spring training workout.
Yes, Shelton even admitted it's a ''strange saying.''
But it's the key to Martinez being a good hitter.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Peralta working on range, winning fans' hearts

Posted by [URL="http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/about.html"][EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL][/URL] February 27, 2008 19:59PM

Categories: Indians

Winter Haven, Fla. -- The other day Jhonny Peralta found infield coach Luis Rivera and asked a favor. Peralta wanted Rivera to work him harder.
Rivera, a former shortstop, said OK.
"I'm happy when guys ask me to work," said Rivera. "If they need the work, we're going to do it anyway, but it's always better when they ask."
When people criticize the Indians, Peralta is one of their favorite starting points. Peralta is too big and too slow to play shortstop, they say. He should be moved to third, second or the outfield.
Some say the Indians should have traded him this winter.

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[Crashcup]

Shapiro and CO should be focused on one thing ONLY. That is winning the World Series.

Everything else is moot.

The "next year" is and should be over with this team.

If the current ownership can't handle that reality, then sell the team again.

I am going to puke listening to all of Clevelands empty promises for every pro team they have.