Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

A season's split: White Sox keep playoff hopes alive as Tribe finishes '08 at 81-81

by Paul Hoynes Sunday September 28, 2008, 7:47 PM


Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated PressAlexei Ramirez, left, greets Paul Konerko after Konerko's solo home run in the second inning tied Sunday's game with the Indians at 1-1. Chicago scored twice more in the inning to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish in a 5-1 victory.
CHICAGO -- A season that started poorly, only to grow worse, ended in mediocrity Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field. The Indians, after winning the first two games of the series, lost to Chicago, 5-1, to end their season with an 81-81 record. Chicago's victory allowed it to extend its season to Monday for a makeup game against Detroit in an attempt to force a playoff with Minnesota for the AL Central. The Indians, meanwhile, were gone with the wind.
The Tribe's month-by-month record tells its story -- 13-15 in April, 12-15 in May, 12-16 in June, 10-14 in July, 18-10 in August and 16-11 in September.
So do the extended stays on the disabled list by Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook. As well as the trades of CC Sabathia, Paul Byrd, Casey Blake and Jason Michaels.
"We had a lot of holes to fill," said manager Eric Wedge.
And a long way to go to end the season at .500.

When the Indians traded Sabathia -- who pitched Milwaukee into the postseason Sunday -- on July 7, they were in the midst of a losing streak. When the streak reached 10 games on July 9, they were 37-53 and 16 games out of first place.
They had to go 44-28 the rest of the way to break even.
"I'm proud of these guys," said Wedge. "They could have made excuses, but they never did."
Utility infielder Jamey Carroll, in his first year with the Indians, saw it happen from start to finish.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians Insider: Sizemore's second-half sag has Wedge planning on more rest in '09

by Paul Hoynes Sunday September 28, 2008, 7:35 PM


Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated PressGrady Sizemore denied a handful of White Sox fans a chance at a home run souvenir when he denied A.J. Pierzynski in the seventh inning Sunday afternoon in Chicago.
CHICAGO -- Grady Sizemore's second half has convinced the Indians that the All-Star center fielder needs more rest in the future. After hitting .273 (99-for-362) at the All-Star break, Sizemore hit .261 (71-for-272) afterward. Sizemore's triples dropped from four to one, homers from 23 to 10, RBI from 54 to 36, runs from 60 to 41 and steals from 22 to 16.
Sizemore's decline is somewhat distorted because he played 91 games before the break and 66 after it. Still, the Indians have taken notice.
"As we move forward we have to pick spots to give him more off days," said manager Eric Wedge. "He plays so hard and he plays every day. We started doing it this year and we have to do that a little more of that in the future."
This year, Sizemore played in 157 of 162 games. In the two previous years, he appeared in every game. He went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 5-1 season-ending loss to Chicago, but made a home-run stealing catch against A.J. Pierzynski in the seventh when the score was 3-1.

Sizemore's numbers, taken as a whole, are still impressive despite his .268 batting average. He scored 101 runs, with 39 doubles, five triples, 33 homers and ended in a tie for the team lead in RBI with Ryan Garko at 90 from the leadoff spot. He was the AL's only 30-30 man and finished with a OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .876.
Wedge believes Sizemore may have been worn down trying to replace the lost offense of injured Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner for much of the season.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians get only a taste of revenge in loss to White Sox

by Paul Hoynes Sunday September 28, 2008, 4:21 PM


Chicago --- The Indians couldn't swallow the whole revenge apple against Chicago this weekend, but they took a big enough bite.
After beating Chicago in the first two games of this series, the Indians lost the season finale, 5-1, today at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago's victory means they'll play Detroit on Monday in a makeup game at U.S. Cellular. If that doesn't determine the AL Central championship with the Twins, the two teams will meet at U.S. Cellular on Tuesday for a one-game playoff.
The White Sox scored three runs in the second off Bryan Bullington (0-2) to erase the Tribe's 1-0 lead thanks to Jhonny Peralta's homer in the second. Bullington was filling in for Cy Young candidate Cliff Lee, who missed the start because of a stiff neck.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Tribe fans, here are the 'Grover' Awards
Sunday, September 28, 2008
BY JOSH WEIR
[email protected]

The end of the Indians season calls for some grandiose awards recognizing the ups and downs in a disappointing 2008. Kind of like an Oscar or a Grammy, minus the plastic surgery, entourages and drug rehab programs.

We could call it the "Espy" in honor of former Tribe utility man Alvaro Espinoza. But ESPN might not think too highly of that. Maybe the "Archie" would work, keeping in mind former center fielder and current TV color analyst Rick Manning. But that

doesn't feel right.

We're going to go with the "Grover" in honor of 2008 Indians Hall of Fame inductee Mike Hargrove. He managed the team to five straight postseason appearances and somehow coexisted with Albert Belle, so this is the least we could do for him.

Without further ado, here are the 2008 Grover Awards. Please hold your applause until the end.

The You Da Man Grover

Winner Cliff Lee

The guy lost one game in the span of 127 days this season. Lee's season is remarkable on the surface, but it's downright stunning when you consider what happened in 2007 (5-8, 6.29 ERA, left off postseason roster). He'll likely have to make room next to his Grover for the AL Cy Young award.

The R?sum? Grover

Winner Carl Willis

The Tribe's pitching coach has his answer for any future job interview:

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[NFBuck]

Quite an accomplishment to finish .500...even better, the Tigers finish in last place below KC.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Indians' Shoppach has knee surgery Arthroscopy for cartilage problem considered minor
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008
The Indians' Kelly Shoppach underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday at the Cleveland Clinic to correct a cartilage problem.
The operation, performed by Dr. Mark Schickendantz, the Indians' team physician, is considered minor. Shoppach will remain in Cleveland for a week, then move on to the Tribe's spring-training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., to continue his treatment and rehabilitation.
In four weeks, Shoppach will resume his normal strength-and-conditioning program. His repaired knee is expected to be 100 percent healthy by the time training camp begins in mid-February.
Shoppach took over the regular catching duties when Victor Martinez went down with an elbow injury early in the season and batted .261 in 112 games. His 21 homers were the most by any American League catcher.
In other Tribe news, Shin-Soo Choo was selected American League Player of the Month after batting .400 with five home runs, 24 RBI and 21 runs in 24 games in September. He posted a slugging percentage of .659 with a .464 on-base percentage.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Peralta open to a move to third base

by Paul Hoynes Monday September 29, 2008, 10:49 PM


Charles Krupa, Associated PressJhonny Peralta says he prefers playing shortstop for the Indians, but he will play third base next season if the team decides to move him.
Jhonny Peralta, coming off what he feels was his best season in the big leagues, will play winter ball for Aguilas in the Dominican Republic in December.
What position he plays, could depend on what moves Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro is able to make this winter.
Peralta has been the Indians shortstop for the past four years. He hit his 23rd and final homer of the season Sunday to tie Woodie Held for the franchise record for homers by a shortstop with 85.
All that might change.
"In my exit meeting with Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge, they told me they're trying to find another infielder," Peralta said as he cleaned out his locker Monday morning at Progressive Field. "They don't know if it's going to be a second baseman or a third baseman."
If it's a second baseman, Asdrubal Cabrera is expected to move to short with Peralta moving to third.
"When I start playing winter ball, I'm going to call Mark to see where I should play," Peralta said.
Peralta played third base Friday against Chicago. It was his first game at third in the big leagues since Oct. 2, 2004. It was his first start there since Sept. 24, 2004.
"It felt a little strange at third base Friday," Peralta said. "A little different. The ball gets to you fast at a different angle. They hit two line drives at me that I didn't see too well."

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[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians close to picking player to complete CC Sabathia deal with Milwaukee

by Paul Hoynes Monday September 29, 2008, 8:15 PM



The Indians could complete the CC Sabathia trade today by selecting outfielder Michael Brantley or third baseman Taylor Green from Milwaukee. The Indians get to make the choice because the Brewers, with a huge assist from Sabathia, made the playoffs Sunday as the NL's wild card team.
If the Brewers didn't make the postseason, they could have chosen the fourth player to complete the deal.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Indians go home even, thinking about the future
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
BY JOSH WEIR
[email protected]

CLEVELAND Empty boxes outnumbered players Monday in the home clubhouse at Progressive Field.

As the Indians cleaned out their lockers, shortstop Jhonny Peralta reminisced about last year's playoff run into late October.

"This year we're leaving early," he said.

A handful of players made their way through the clubhouse to collect personal effects and say good-bye before going their separate ways until February. The Indians lost, 5-1, to the White Sox on Sunday, ending a season that promised much but delivered little.

Rafael Perez jammed a couple of bags with hats, shoes and various items. Others, such as Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee, headed to their offseason homes directly from Chicago on Sunday.

SportsCenter highlights of the Brewers clinching the National League wild card played on the clubhouse's big screen TV. There was the Tribe's former leader, CC Sabathia, being doused with beer and champagne after leading Milwaukee to its first playoff berth since 1982.

The Indians weren't pouring beverages on themselves for finishing 81-81.

But the .500 mark sounded pretty good after they were 37-53 on July 9.

"I'm proud of how we finished," Peralta said. "We started really slow, then we did pretty good."

"We were searching for that momentum after all the trades were made, trying to take that into next year," reliever Jensen Lewis said. "I think we accomplished that."

The 24-year-old Lewis is taking October off. He's not picking up a baseball. He's not going near a weight room. It's a mental and physical break from a season that saw him demoted to Triple-A twice before thriving in the closer role for the final two months.

The Tribe's other Lewis, left-handed starter Scott, can't take it easy yet. He's scheduled to make a few winterball starts in the Dominican Republic.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

espn.com

Indians' Lee, Phillies' Lidge win Comeback Player of the Year awards

Associated Press

Updated: September 30, 2008, 1:21 PM ET

NEW YORK -- Pitchers Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians and Brad Lidge of the Philadelphia Phillies have been honored as Major League Baseball's Comeback Players of the Year.
The winners of the annual award were announced Tuesday.
Lee went 22-3 with an American League-leading 2.54 ERA. The previous season, he was 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA and was demoted to the minor leagues.
Lidge was a perfect 41-for-41 in save opportunities as the Phillies' closer. In 2007, he converted just 19 of 27 for the Houston Astros.

 

[OH10]

If he keeps this up he'll be the comeback player of the year.

Good April call.

 

[LitlBuck]

by selecting outfielder Michael Brantley or third baseman Taylor Green

I know that most everyone wants us to select Brantley but we have so many young outfielders not only on the 40 man roster but also in the minors. I know his numbers are also better than those of Green but we do need some infield prospects in the organization. I suppose you could always trade one of the young outfielders for a infield position player but if Green and Brantley are close I would prefer them taking Green.

Jhonny Peralta, coming off what he feels was his best season in the big leagues, will play winter ball for Aguilas in the Dominican Republic in December. What position he plays, could depend on what moves Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro

It will be interesting to see what happens when JP search to play some winter ball and what position they ask him to play. There is no way he can play second base so if we do not make a deal I suppose since he is willing to give it a try they might as well ask him to show what he has as a third baseman.

 

[Mac]

Love it that we ended up at .500. Like I said, this has to be thought of as a good season with what we were faced with at the beginning 1/4th. I'm looking forward to next year, and hopefully we can make a run at the WS.

Peralta @ 3rd. Asdrubal @ SS. Carrol @ 2nd. Nuff Said.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Wedge assesses season Finding closer among changes eyed for 2009
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
CLEVELAND: The questions are obvious, but most of the answers will have to wait until the offseason unfolds.
By now, Indians fans know what went wrong, what they can't know and won't for at least a few months is what General Manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge are going to do about it.
Any honest assessment of the team's season must recognize that in the second half, the Tribe underwent a genuine revival that lifted its record to 81-81, a major achievement after the club fell 16 games below .500 after 90 games.
''Nobody is happy with .500,'' Wedge said Monday in a session with reporters at Progressive Field. ''But considering where we came from, it (turnaround) was real.
''That might not matter to anyone else, but it matters to me, because there should be a carryover to next year. The one thing I asked them to do is get better, and they did.''
Much of the improvement had to do with young players Shin-Soo Choo, Ben Francisco, Franklin Gutierrez and Asdrubal Cabrera receiving consistent playing time, enabling them to settle in as big leaguers.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Indians not wondering what if With .500 finish, Tribe decent team after trades
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Published on Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
CLEVELAND: For the Indians, the 2008 season turned into one of those play-for-pride efforts pretty early.
By mid-May, folks were writing off the team's chances to even compete in the American League Central Division.
If this season proves anything, it's that nothing is ever over. At least not until, as Yogi Berra once said, it's over.
The Indians finished at .500, seven games behind the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, who took part in a single-game playoff Tuesday night.
Seven games obviously isn't close enough to contend, but it might be close enough to say ''what if'' ? if, that is, the Indians were so inclined.
They're really not.
Manager Eric Wedge insisted forcefully at his postseasonwrap-up Tuesday that he is never one to look back. Ever.
So he's not going to wonder what might have been had the Indians not traded C.C. Sabathia and Casey Blake.
''You start doing that,'' Wedge said. ''You do it with your whole life.''
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