Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Great Scott: Lewis dazzles once again in Tribe win

by Paul Hoynes Monday September 15, 2008, 11:13 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerIn stretching his scoreless innings streak to 14, Scott Lewis threw 98 pitches over six innings Monday night against the Twins, including 63 strikes.
Big-league debuts are one thing. Pitching in front of the hometown crowd, complete with family and friends, now that's nerve wracking. Not to mention coming to terms with the opposition, the contending and increasingly desperate Minnesota Twins.
Left-hander Scott Lewis once again dealt with all of that Monday night in leading the Indians to a 3-1 victory at Progressive Field. Lewis threw six scoreless innings and has started his big-league career with 14 scoreless innings. It's the best start by an Indians pitcher, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1969.
Lewis' streak could go back even farther, but Elias' records don't.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Choo's second-half surge burns Twins

by Joe Maxse Monday September 15, 2008, 10:55 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerShin-Soo Choo's 11th home run of the season gave the Indians a 3-0 lead over Minnesota in the fifth inning Monday night at Progressive Field.
Shin-Soo Choo keeps chugging along, getting the job done. The Indians right-fielder continued to go about his solid business Monday night, as his two-run homer was one of the big hits during the Tribe's 3-0 win over the contending Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed among the faithful in the stands as chants of the South Korean's last name have become the drawn-out norm of "Chooooo!"
"I'm just trying to hit the ball hard," said Choo, who has done that more often than not since being called up from Buffalo on May 30. "I hit the ball hard my first two times up and had some confidence."
He hit it hard the last two times at the plate as well.

Facing Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey with two outs in the fifth and Grady Sizemore on second base, Choo worked the count full. He sent the 3-2 pitch on a no-doubt drive into the right-field seats to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. It was his 11th of the year.
"Grady got the stolen base, so I was just going for the RBI," said Choo, who now has 51 RBI. "You do what you can. I think it was a fast ball. [Minnesota catcher Joe] Mauer was calling for it outside, but it was coming in."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians Insider: Cabrera proud of resurgence

by Paul Hoynes Monday September 15, 2008, 10:01 PM


Mark Duncan/Associated PressAsdrubal Cabrera has rediscovered the steady batting stroke that impressed Indians coaches and fans in 2007.
When the Indians sent Asdrubal Cabrera to Class AAA Buffalo on June 9, he was hitting .184 (29-for-158) -- .097 (3-for-31) right-handed and .205 (26-for-127) left-handed. On Monday Cabrera was named the American League's co-player of the week with Minnesota's Carlos Gomez for hitting .455 (10-for-22) with three doubles, one homer and eight RBI through Sunday.
"I've been working hard," said Cabrera, the Tribe's second baseman.
Cabrera, since his return from Buffalo, is hitting .310 (49-for-158), with 11 doubles, four homers and 24 RBI.
"He's had a great developmental year," said manager Eric Wedge. "Talk about building a foundation for yourself, he's done that mentally, physically and fundamentally. Last year he played great for us, but he just kind of blew through it.
"This year the league's aware of him and he's had to make some adjustments that are real. He did a good job of going to Triple-A and working on what he needed to work on. ... He's come a long way."
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians defeat Twins, 3-1, as Lewis shines again

by Joe Maxse Monday September 15, 2008, 9:46 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerRookie left-hander Scott Lewis, a former star at Ohio State, stretched his scoreless streak to 14 innings Monday night as he picked up his second big-league victory, 3-1, over Minnesota at Progressive Field.
Home runs by Kelly Shoppach and Shin-Soo Choo gave the Indians a 3-1 win against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night at Progressive Field. Cleveland rookie pitcher Scott Lewis, making his second career start, went six scoreless innings to improve to 2-0. Lewis has not allowed a run in 14 innings, which is the longest streak for an Indian rookie pitcher at the start of his career since 1969, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Indians' Lewis looking good His stretch of scoreless innings goes to 14 after debut in major leagues
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008
CLEVELAND: Scott Lewis, like all inexperienced pitchers, will have to make some adjustments.
That became obvious when he walked two batters in six innings Monday night, as the Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 at Progressive Field.
In his major-league debut last week in Baltimore, Lewis didn't walk any of the Orioles in eight innings. One of these days, he'll probably give up a run.
Then again, nothing is certain in baseball. Slightly built pitchers who throw 86-89 mile-per-hour fastballs, even those who are left-handed, don't always mesmerize hitters. Lewis, however, has done just that.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lewis is the first Indians pitcher to throw 14 scoreless innings (since 1969, as far back as Elias can calculate) upon being introduced to the big leagues.
''Am I surprised?'' Lewis said. ''A little bit. I'm pretty confident, but I never thought I would do this.''
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Choo 'complete player' for Tribe Outfielder draws respect for ability. South Korean says baseball all he knows
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008
CLEVELAND: Where is Shin-Soo Choo when you need him?
He's probably getting a hit, making an accurate and strong throw or maybe stealing a base. The more the Indians see of Choo, the more they respect his ability and makeup.
Going into Monday night's game against the Minnesota Twins, Choo was batting .431 with four home runs and 14 RBI in his previous 17 games. Overall, he was batting .300 with 10 homers and 49 RBI in 273 at-bats.
Tribe officials probably aren't sure what to make of Choo yet. Is he a solid platoon outfielder or can he play every day? What appeared to be Choo's biggest weakness, an inability to hit left-handers, has diminished to the point where he is hitting .295 (in 61 at-bats).
If he has a second-biggest weakness, it might be a tendency to beat himself up.
''Choo has a tendency to be real hard on himself,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''But he's done a little better job with that this year. What I like about him is that he's a complete player. He can help you with his bat, his arm and his legs.''
Wedge neglected to mention his head.
Last week in Baltimore, Choo was in the batter's box having a conversation with umpire Paul Emmel. What were they talking about?
''The catcher says, 'The count is 2-and-2, right?' And the umpire agrees with him,'' Choo said. ''I say, 'No, the count is 3-and-2,' and I went through each pitch to show him.''
And the umpire agreed with Choo.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Rookie Scott Lewis continues roll, shuts down Twins
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
BY JOSH WEIR
[email protected]

CLEVELAND Scott Lewis isn't quite walking on water, but he's doing a lot more than getting his feet wet.

Fourteen innings into his major league career, the Indians' 24-year-old lefty stillhasn't allowed a run.

Lewis worked six scoreless innings in the Tribe's 3-1 win Monday night against the Twins at Progressive Field.

Lewis (2-0) was as good as his three-hit, five-strikeout linescore suggests. He threw 63 strikes in his 98 pitches, walking two. This comes off allowing three hits in eight shutout innings vs. the Orioles on Wednesday.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lewis is the first Indians pitcher since at least 1969 to begin his career with 14 shutout innings.

"I've always been pretty confident, but I never expected to do this well this early," he said. "I can't be happier with the way things are going."

The Ohio State product, who still calls Washington Court House home, said his nerves were worse Monday than they were in Baltimore last week.

Pitching in Progressive Field for the first time and having numerous friends and family in attendance didn't help.

But his nerves never got the best of him. As reporters and television cameras surrounded him at his locker, Lewis was a man enjoying the moment.

"I'm still kind of getting used to the pace of things," he said. "This is one thing I've gotta get used to. There are a lot more media, I know that. But it's a lot of fun though."
Cont...

 

[NFBuck]

Good God Zach Jackson is awful. Pissing away an 8-1 lead...

 

[NFBuck]

Here He Comes To Wreck The Day!

 

[NFBuck]

Victor with the walkoff HR!

 

[CincyBuck88]

Victor with the walkoff HR!

Big night from him, good to see he still has it and that these guys didn't end up mailing it in at the end of the year.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Martinez makes Tribe victor Three-run homer in 12th inning brings win over Twins
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
CLEVELAND: At some point during spring training, the manager will respond to a question about the makeup of the roster by saying, ''We don't have to cut players; they cut themselves.''
The same thing is true when training camp happens to come in September. As long as Eric Wedge is manager of the Indians, all the games will count. But this year, with the Tribe long out of the race, Wedge, his staff and General Manager Mark Shapiro are watching closely as players audition for 2009.
Not that Tuesday night's 12-9, 11-inning victory over the Minnesota Twins was incidental. Wedge plays 'em all to win.
So does Victor Martinez, whose one-out, three-run homer off lethal closer Joe Nathan put a dent in the Twins' hopes to catch the Chicago White Sox, the Central Division leaders, who are now 21/2 games in front.
Martinez, who has hit his only two home runs since coming off the disabled list Aug. 29, came into the game 1-for-10 against Nathan.
Like spring training, as tryouts proceed, the wheat eventually separates from the chaf without much prompting. In that regard, let's hear it for Rich Rundles, Jensen Lewis and Tom Mastny, who did their
jobs with alacrity.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Reyes shut down for season Sore elbow sidelines pitcher who could be in 2009 rotation
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
CLEVELAND: Anthony Reyes is calling it a season. Rather, Indians officials are calling it a season for him.
''We're shutting Reyes down,'' manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday. ''There's still some inflammation [in his right elbow], and there's no sense pushing it.''
Wedge indicated that he and pitching coach Carl Willis had seen enough of Reyes to know that he can challenge for a spot in the rotation next spring.
''He showed us what we needed to see,'' Wedge said. ''Now, we just want to make sure he's healthy for spring training.''
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Victor-y: Martinez's 3-run homer in 11th rocks fading Twins, 12-9

by Paul Hoynes Tuesday September 16, 2008, 11:46 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerAn enthusiastic welcoming committee waits for Victor Martinez (far left) to arrive at home plate after Martinez ended Tuesday night's 11-inning slugfest with Minnesota with a game-winning 3-run homer.
Victor Martinez felt like a little kid as he circled the bases Tuesday night at Progressive Field. The Twins, the sand running out of their hourglass, just felt old. Martinez hit the first game-winning, walk-off homer in his career to give the Indians a 12-9 victory in 11 innings and seriously damage the Twins' playoff chances. The loss dropped them to 2 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central.
The Twins, with 11 games to play, overcame a 8-1 deficit to take a 9-8 lead off Rafael Betancourt in the eighth.
"We just kept playing until we were able to take that game back," said Martinez.
Grady Sizemore forced extra innings with a game-tying homer off the right-field foul pole in the eighth off Eddie Guardado. It was Sizemore's 32nd homer and his first since Aug. 25.

If Guardado had retired Sizemore, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was going to bring in closer Joe Nathan for a four-out save. Sizemore didn't give him the chance, which meant Nathan (0-2) didn't enter the game until the 11th.
Franklin Gutierrez started the rally with a single followed by Jhonny Peralta's walk. Martinez hammered a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right center.

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

PD

Dellucci pained by injury-plagued time with Tribe
by Joe Maxse
Tuesday September 16, 2008, 8:03 PM

David Dellucci had a year to forget in 2007. This season has not been one for the memory bank, either.

Sidelined for most of last season with a hamstring injury that required surgery, Dellucci was looking to put together a solid year of play for the Indians, both in the outfield and at the plate.

Hitting .242 going into Tuesday night's game against the Twins at Progressive Field, the personable 10-year veteran from Baton Rouge, La., did not hide his frustration.

"It has been a very trying year for me as well," said Dellucci, who has 11 home runs and 47 runs batted in. "It's had its ups and downs ... not the way I wanted as far as hitting."

After missing the Tribe's playoff run a year ago, the left-hand-hitting Dellucci was looking to contribute in a platoon situation with Jason Michaels. A poor start, hindered by the surgery that removed the tendon behind his left knee, put him in the hole.

"In the early part it wasn't fully strong enough and I played through the cold with an obvious limp," he said. "Once it got warm, I felt a lot better and could hit off the back leg. It seemed like around the All-Star break I hit like I was capable. I felt comfortable with my swing, timing and approach."

I guess I just don't understand why they kept Dellucci on the major-league roster if he was not at full strength. I mean the guy didn't do anything at the beginning of the season so if they knew he wasn't at full strength why didn't they send him down to the minors until he was fully recovered or does it all boiled down to the money:(

Reyes shut down for season

This will mean that Scott Lewis will get another start before the end of the year which will be nice to see. Hopefully, it will perform as well as he has of his prior two starts.