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Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

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CPD

Indians Insider: Peralta convincing Wedge he's the No. 1 option for Tribe's No. 4 spot

by Paul Hoynes Friday August 22, 2008, 9:22 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerWith another RBI Friday night against Texas, Jhonny Peralta continued his impressive offensive production as the Indians' cleanup hitter.


Arlington, Texas -- Jhonny Peralta, with more extra-base hits than power hitters Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Quentin, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Morneau, could stay in the cleanup spot when Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez return from their rehab assignments at Class AAA Buffalo.
"We've talked about it briefly," said manager Eric Wedge. "We can work Vic and Hafner around Jhonny. We could hit Hafner and Vic three and four and Jhonny in the fifth spot.
"One thing we haven't decided is that we're just flat-out going to move him out of the No. 4 spot. I'm still thinking that through. That's a heckuva credit to Jhonny."
Peralta went into Friday's game against Texas hitting .328 (67-for-206) with 22 doubles, 10 homers and 40 RBI since taking over the cleanup spot on June 22. Wedge moved him there out of desperation because Hafner and Martinez were hurt and no one else could handle the job.

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CPD

Indians first pitch: Sowers says technique and confidence, not strength, behind better outings

by Paul Hoynes Friday August 22, 2008, 7:25 PM



Clubhouse confidential: The radar gun says Jeremy Sowers is throwing harder than he did last year. Manager Eric Wedge thinks so as well. Sowers isn't buying it.
"I'm skeptical of the guns," he said.
Sowers, who starts Saturday night against Texas, says it has more to do with improved command, deception and confidence. He says he's no stronger than he was last year, but Wedge thinks Sowers' arm action is better, which has helped his velocity and his breaking ball.

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ABJ

Sizemore to stay atop lineup
Despite power, speedy outfielder not likely to move down in order
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Saturday, Aug 23, 2008


ARLINGTON, TEXAS: The question arises among the sporting public almost every time Grady Sizemore hits a home run.
Why not move him from the leadoff spot to the middle of the Indians' lineup to take advantage of his power. With 29 home runs going into Friday night's game against the Texas Rangers, wouldn't he have 85-90 RBI instead of 79 by now?
''The only way I would consider doing something like that is if I had somebody very strong to put at the leadoff spot,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''Unless you had another leadoff hitter get on ahead of him, you probably would lose production.''

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Dispatch

Indians 8 Rangers 7
Tribe rallies from 7-1 deficit

Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:58 AM
By Paul Hoynes


The Plain Dealer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Cleveland Indians rallied from a six-run deficit to win their sixth straight game, beating the Texas Rangers 8-7 last night.
Kelly Shoppach hit a three-run homer and later had an infield single that set up the Indians' tiebreaking run after the Tribe trailed 7-1.

Help wanted: closer

Jensen Lewis' recent success in the ninth inning notwithstanding, manager Eric Wedge says closer remains the Indians' offseason priority.

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They fight back and pull it out 4-3. Betancourt, of all people, holds them at bay in the 9th. These guys are still fighting, gotta give Wedge a little credit there. He could have lost all control of this team after an awful May-July, but they've regained focus and continue to play hard. No small accomplishment with this bullpen.

Reyes looked really solid again tonight. That may have been a steal. He certainly looks like he could be a #4 guy next year.
 
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DDN

Indians beat Rangers for 7th straight win

ARLINGTON, Texas ? Franklin Gutierrez's tiebreaking single in the ninth inning Sunday night led the Cleveland Indians past Texas 4-3 for their seventh straight win and a three-game sweep of the fading Rangers.
With the game tied at 3, Ryan Garko led off the ninth with a single off Eddie Guardado (3-3). Pinch runner Andy Gonzalez advanced to second on Kelly Shoppach's sacrifice bunt, and Gonzalez raced home on Gutierrez's single up the middle to give the Indians their longest winning streak of the season.
Rafael Betancourt (3-4) picked up the decision, pitching a perfect ninth after forcing in the tying run with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
The Indians took a 3-1 lead into the eighth behind seven strong innings from starter Anthony Reyes.
Reyes, who threw a season-high 107 pitches, allowed one run and four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. He was making his fourth start since coming over in a trade with St. Louis in July.
Texas tied the score with a two-run eighth inning. Gerald Laird's two-out RBI double off Juan Rincon made it 3-2, and the Rangers went on to load the bases before Betancourt came on to walk pinch-hitter Ramon Vazquez.
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ABJ

Sizemore steals onlywhen the time is rig... Published on Monday, Aug 25, 2008
Sizemore steals only when the time is right


ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Grady Sizemore already has reached a new career-best in steals with 34, even though he seldom, if ever, runs unless there is a strategic advantage for the Indians.
''Grady has done a good job with that this year,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''A couple of years ago, he would force it from time to time. But now, he picks good spots and he knows when he should take a chance.''
Sizemore was given a break from center field Sunday night; Wedge used him at DH.
''It will get him out of the heat a little bit,'' Wedge said.
BIGGER ROLE? ? Kelly Shoppach has shown he can deal with the demands of being an everyday catcher, but the Tribe already has one of those.
''Kelly has taken advantage of the opportunity,'' Wedge said. ''Victor [Martinez] is our everyday catcher, but [next year] we might like to see if there's a way that Kelly can play more.''
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CPD

Indians sweep Rangers, win seventh straight

by Paul Hoynes Monday August 25, 2008, 12:27 AM



Arlington, Texas --- Manager Eric Wedge, his bullpen toasted from two long games in the Texas heat, needed something extra from pitcher Anthony Reyes on Sunday night.
Reyes gave it to him with seven good innings as the Indians completed a three-game sweep of Texas with a 4-3 victory at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Indians have won a season-high seven straight games and 13 of their past 16.
Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, who scored the winning run Saturday night in the eighth, drove in the game-winner Sunday in the ninth. Ryan Garko opened the ninth with a single off Eddie Guardado (3-3, 3.65). Andy Gonzalez pinch ran and Kelly Shoppach advanced him with a bunt.
"Did you ever think a bunt would be such a big deal in this ballpark?" asked hitting coach Derek Shelton, referring to the offensive nature of the Rangers' home turf.
Gutierrez bounced a single through the middle to break a 3-3 tie.

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CPD

Indians chatter

by Paul Hoynes Sunday August 24, 2008, 7:39 PM



Clubhouse confidential: In the fifth inning Saturday, the Indians countered a six-run fourth inning by Texas with a six-run inning of their own. It turned a 7-1 deficit into a 7-7 tie and the Tribe went on to an 8-7 victory.
Jhonny Peralta was part of the rally when it was ruled that Josh Rupe hit him in the back with a pitch that he tried to duck under. Peralta scored the third run of the inning.
"The ball didn't me, it hit my bat," said Peralta. "The umpire said it hit me in the back."
It was the largest deficit the Indians have overcome to win a game, according to Elias, in exactly two years. On Aug. 23, 2006, they overcame a nine-run deficit to beat Kansas City. The Indians had lost 35 straight games in which they'd trailed by at least six runs.
August showers: The surprise rainstorm that hit Rangers Ballpark in Arlington just before Saturday's game caused Tribe starter Jeremy Sowers to warm up twice and Texas starter Brandon McCarthy to warm up three times.
"It didn't help Jeremy," said manager Eric Wedge.
Sowers allowed seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

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