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Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

Link

Minor League Report: Diamond finds
Stevens, Santos could become latest Laffey, Cabrera or Lewis

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- A year ago, hardly anyone -- aside from immediate family and friends, of course -- was mentioning the names of Asdrubal Cabrera, Aaron Laffey and Jensen Lewis as realistic options for the Indians of 2007. Their big league timeline seemed further back.

Cabrera, Laffey and Lewis proved that even in the Internet age, where information on prospects is readily available to all armchair GMs, players can rise from relative obscurity.
So, which Tribe prospects could be due for such a rise this year? We already know about Adam Miller, who, if healthy, could impact the big league roster this season. Likewise Brian Slocum, who made his debut in 2006 and could provide rotation depth once again.

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Notes: Mujica hopes to stick with Tribe
Reliever went back and forth from Triple-A to Cleveland in '07


WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Getting called up to the big leagues is every player's dream.
But getting called up to the big leagues five separate times in a single season can be more like a nightmare for a player trying to find his groove. Reliever Ed Mujica isn't knocking the time he spent with the Tribe last season, but he certainly could have done without all those journeys on Interstate 90. The Indians borrowed him from Triple-A Buffalo from May 7-22, June 20-24, June 27-July 8, July 27-Aug. 25 and Sept. 4 through the end of the season.

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Indians to protect Sabathia, Carmona
Duo will be prepared in Spring Training with eye on workload
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Even the best parties come with the threat of a hangover.

The Indians knew this when they headed into the bright lights of the postseason last October. They knew the two big guns in their rotation -- C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona -- had already eclipsed 200 innings of work and were putting themselves in danger of having a tired arm in '08.
But what could the Indians do then? Shut their dual aces down? Hardly. And what can they realistically do now, as a new season dawns? Not all that much, really.

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Slocum to get back to pitching, snipping
Prospect and club barber faring well thus far in Tribe camp
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Brian Slocum's clippers, like his career, were quiet last season.

Slocum, a right-handed pitching prospect who made his big league debut with the Indians in 2006, usually has a busy side job as the club's unofficial team barber. But during his injury-plagued '07, in which he suffered an elbow strain that helped limit him to just five starts at Triple-A Buffalo, Slocum cut back on the cuts.
"That must have thrown my elbow out of whack," Slocum joked. Slocum isn't serious about this theory. But he is serious about his desire to stay healthy and get back to the big leagues this season.

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www.kansascity.com | 02/28/2008 | Recap: Cleveland vs. Houston

Recap: Cleveland vs. Houston

By Sports Network

The Sports Network


Trevor Crowe went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and a run scored, as the Cleveland Indians routed the Houston Astros 12-2, in Grapefruit League action.

Danny Sandoval hit a home run, while Andy Gonzalez had a pair of singles and knocked in a pair of runs for the Indians. Rick Bauer (1-0) got the win after pitching a perfect inning that included a strike out.

Mark Loretta and Nick Gorneault both knocked in a run for Houston, while Chad Paronto (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in one inning.
 
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ABJ

Impressionable newcomers Prospects make mark as Tribe routs Astros in first game of spring
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Feb 29, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: It looked like real baseball. The grass was green, the infield dirt was smooth as glass and many of the players had recognizable names.
There was Grady Sizemore, Jason Michaels, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko for the Indians. The Houston Astros were a little thin on legitimate big-leaguers, but smack in the middle of the lineup was Ty Wigginton along with Darin Erstad and Mark Loretta.
The game didn't count, of course. The 12-2 Tribe win kicked off the spring exhibition season, but a couple of things didn't feel right. For one thing, there was a wind chill, because the air temperature was 56 degrees with an 8-mph breeze.
But there was something else. Who were all of these could-be and never-will-be major-leaguers in the Indians' lineup? Whoever they were, most made a good impression on their bosses.
Michael Aubrey singled twice in three at-bats and drove in a run. On Wednesday, he doubled and homered in an intrasquad game. Trevor Crowe, the outfield prospect who struggled at Double-A Akron last year, doubled, singled and had three RBI.

Cont...
 
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ABJ

Westbrook says he feels strong despite soreness Pitcher plans to start against Tigers Sunday at Chain O' Lakes Park
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Feb 29, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: Jake Westbrook tested his arm Thursday and reported no ill effects from a 48-pitch session.
On Wednesday, the Indians said Westbrook was being scratched from his start in Thursday's exhibition opener because of ''general soreness,'' according to manager Eric Wedge.
''I felt strong today,'' Westbrook said. ''This is something that I get just about every year, and it lasts until about the middle of spring training.''
Westbrook refused to be more specific than his manager in describing the location of the soreness, saying, ''The soreness is in my arm. That's all I will say.''

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CPD

Cleveland Indians prospects and non-roster invitees put on show for scouts


Friday, February 29, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Winter Haven, Fla.- The scouts stayed to the last pitch of the last out. On a cold sun-splashed Thursday, 10 to 15 of them were bent into the seats behind the plate at Chain of Lakes Park, firing their radar guns and taking notes.
The Grapefruit League opener between the Indians and Houston was the kind of game scouts go to spring training to see. The veterans on both teams put in their two at-bats and four innings like they were going to church. When Grady Sizemore, Jason Michaels, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko and Casey Blake left the game after the fourth inning, there was no score and little sizzle.
Then came the guys trying to make an impression. Not just for the Indians or Astros, but for the scouts sitting behind the plate. These are the players - a mix of fringe big-leaguers and prospects - the scouts rarely get a good look at.




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CPD

INDIANS INSIDER
Cleveland Indians' Jensen Lewis knows spot in bullpen not guaranteed


Friday, February 29, 2008
INDIANS INSIDER
Lewis taking nothing for granted
Winter Haven, Fla.- Manager Eric Wedge, in going over the pitchers in his bullpen, told reporters early in spring training that Jensen Lewis had all but guaranteed himself a job based on his performance last year.
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Then he added a qualifier, saying that Lewis was basically still a rookie and could not afford to take a backward step in preparation for the start of the regular season March 31.
Wedge needn't have worried.
In his meeting with Wedge and General Manager Mark Shapiro at the start of camp, Lewis told them what they wanted to hear.
"I told Mark and Wedgie, 'Last year is last year,' " said Lewis. "There were some good things, but I'm coming in as a rookie, with that mind-set, and I just want to win a job. By the time it's all said and done, hopefully, I'm going back to Cleveland and the snow."
Lewis pitched a scoreless third inning Thursday as the Indians beat Houston, 12-2, in their Grapefruit League opener.




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Canton

Westbrook expected to pitch Sunday
Friday, February 29, 2008
By Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

WINTER HAVEN, FLA. Former Indians Manager Mike Hargrove used to characterize problems with his team as either a "concern" or a "worry."

Jake Westbrook's right arm, as of today, remains a concern ? bordering on a worry.

"Am I worried? Well, I'm worried that I had to do this," Westbrook said of being scratched from Thursday's spring training opener due to soreness in his right arm. "But I'll take the ball Sunday and we'll go from there."

Westbrook threw a 45-pitch bullpen session before Cleveland's 12-2 victory over Houston and appears set to make his first start of the spring Sunday.

"Everything felt like I wanted it to," said Westbrook, who threw off the bullpen mound on the main field at Chain of Lakes Park as pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Luis Isaac watched.

Westbrook said he had been experiencing "general soreness" in his arm, but did not pinpoint a specific spot.

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Canton

Indians notebook
Friday, February 29, 2008
BY Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Coming up

The Indians will face Houston this afternoon at 1:05 at Kissimmee. Paul Byrd will start against Roy Oswalt. Those scheduled to follow Byrd to the mound include Joe Borowski, Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez and Masa Kobayashi. There is no radio broadcast.

The dotted line

The Indians announced Thursday they have agreed to contract terms with 13 players: Michael Aubrey, Josh Barfield, Asdrubal Cabrera, Fausto Carmona, Franklin Gutierrez, Scott Lewis, Andy Marte, Adam Miller, Edward Mujica, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp, Jeremy Sowers and Wyatt Toregas. None of the 11 unsigned players remaining on the 40-man roster are eligible for arbitration, so they must sign by March 11.

Baby, baby

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Canton

Young Indians get a chance in exhibition opener
Friday, February 29, 2008


By ANDY CALL

REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

WINTER HAVEN, FLA. If the first game is any indication, this is going to be a great season.

In Buffalo.

The Indians scored all of their runs long after the regulars had left the field Thursday as spring training opened with a 12-2 victory over Houston in front of 3,460 at Chain of Lakes Park.

"I like watching the young kids play and giving opportunities to six-year free agents or guys trying to revive their career," Manager Eric Wedge said. "It may not come into play on Opening Day, but it certainly could over the course of the next six months."

The Indians enter spring training with basically the same team that reached the American League Championship Series. Few battles exist for roster slots, even fewer for the starting lineup. Much of the early part of spring training, then, will be devoted to establishing the organizational depth chart.

This is when guys like Michael Aubrey, Andy Gonzalez, Danny Sandoval and Wyatt Toregas can make a name for themselves ? a name Wedge just might remember when injuries or ineffectiveness provoke the need to tap organizational depth.


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Dispatch

Spring spotlight: Andy Marte

Friday, February 29, 2008 2:59 AM

Dispatch reporter Scott Priestle is in Florida, splitting time between Reds and Indians spring training camps. Today he brings you ?

Andy Marte

INDIANS INFIELDER

? Age: 24
? Major-league experience: One year, 38 days
? Last season: Hit .267 with 16 home runs for triple-A Buffalo, .193 in limited action for the Indians
? This season: Backup at first and third base
Brandon Phillips has been gone for nearly two years, but his memory lingers in Chain of Lakes Park. It is evident every time Marte fields a grounder at first base or shags a fly ball in the outfield.

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Relievers fill in nicely for Westbrook
Tribe's bullpen holds Astros hitless through first five innings
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

INDIANS 12, ASTROS 2
at Winter Haven, Fla.
Thursday, February 28
Indians at the plate: All was quiet on this chilly day until the fifth inning, when the Tribe's backups came to life against right-hander Chad Paronto. With the bases loaded, Wyatt Toregas knocked in a run on a fielder's choice, and Mike Aubrey and Andy Gonzalez followed with back-to-back RBI singles. In the sixth, non-roster invitee Danny Sandoval launched a solo shot to right off Geoff Geary, and Toregas and Gonzalez added RBI singles. Trevor Crowe hit a three-run double in the eighth.

Continued....
 
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