Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[bukIpower]

I am going to rant and let off some steam here so forgive me if I step on any toes...


What the hell where they thinking?? Do they really think that we can win our division let alone the world series with Dulluci in left and michaels/Gutes in right? You add a struggling hafner for the past 2 years, a off/on perralta, and a new faced 2nd baseman and you got problems!

I said it right after we lost to boston... we needed one more bat in order to stay on top. Our worst nightmare has hapened already only 18 games in. Because we aren't hitting, we're depending on our pitching which is normally a great idea. However, throw in CC sucking big time, Byrd getting roughed up once, and a bullpen that isn't consistent and you got problems.

sizemore
cabrera
hafner
victor
(Free Agent)
Garko

That's how the top 6 should've looked this year... season is a long one so whatever, i knew when last season ended we were going to need some help from a free agent standpoint if we want to get back. I was also hoping for a new decent #4-5 starter in place of byrd. I thought Byrd pitched great last year, but to be honest thought it was a luck year for him.

Another thing with Westbrook, Lee, and carmona all pitching well there's no damn reason this team shouldn't be in first place..

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Pitiful hitting flusters Indians Frustration can set in when the going's tough. Wedge says Hafner's key
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008
KANSAS CITY, MO.: There are all sorts of ways to quantify the Indians' problems at the plate. Here are two: average with runners in scoring position and runs per game.
But even though the Tribe ranks low in both categories, the statistics can be deceiving.
With 79 runs through Sunday, Cleveland and Texas are tied for 10th place in the American League. The numbers are skewed, however, because the Indians have scored six or more runs in five of 19 games, somewhat neutralizing the nine games when the offense has scored three or fewer runs, averaging 1.8 runs in those contests.
Same thing with the team's average with runners in scoring position. A .255 average isn't awful, but there is a wide disparity between the top five hitters and the bottom four.



Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians pitching prospect Adam Miller ready for some action with Class AAA Buffalo Bisons


Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Kansas City, Mo. -- Spring training is finally over for Adam Miller.
Miller, considered to be the top Indians pitching prospect, will start Wednesday night for Class AAA Buffalo against Scranton, Pa. Miller's stay in Winter Haven, Fla., began in mid-February when he reported with the rest of the Tribe's pitchers for big-league camp.
He developed a blister on the middle finger of his right hand and was sent down before ever getting to pitch for manager Eric Wedge. The blister has long since healed, but Miller needed a second spring training to get ready for this season.

Spring training II is history.
"He was up to 93 mph in extended spring," said Ross Atkins, director of player development. "That's without the adrenaline of being under the lights for the first time. He told us he's as ready as he's going to get."
General Manager Mark Shapiro and Wedge have hinted Miller's quickest path to the big leagues might be in the bullpen. With the Tribe's pen unsettled after losing closer Joe Borowski to a right triceps injury, could Miller be preparing to join the pen at Progressive Field?
"That's a good question for Mark or Eric," Atkins said. "Our job in player development is to develop him as a starting pitcher."




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Tribe's Cliff Lee having unreal start to 2008 season
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
BY Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Even Cliff Lee admits the numbers are crazy.

Three starts. A 3-0 record and 0.40 ERA. Two walks and 20 strikeouts. A .111 opponents' batting average.

"Obviously the results are really good so far," Lee said. "And, obviously, I don't think I can continue to pitch this way the rest of the season. That would be crazy to expect that."

The craziness will continue during the Indians' three-game set at Kansas City that begins tonight. Lee is scheduled to start Thursday's series finale.

Those who saw Lee during spring training believed he would fare much better than during a forgettable 2007 season. He missed a month with a strained abdominal muscle, struggled in his return (5-8, 6.29 ERA), then was demoted to the minor leagues.


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[LitlBuck]

I am going to rant and let off some steam here so forgive me if I step on any toes...


What the hell where they thinking?? Do they really think that we can win our division let alone the world series with Dulluci in left and michaels/Gutes in right? You add a struggling hafner for the past 2 years, a off/on perralta, and a new faced 2nd baseman and you got problems!

I said it right after we lost to boston... we needed one more bat in order to stay on top. Our worst nightmare has hapened already only 18 games in. Because we aren't hitting, we're depending on our pitching which is normally a great idea. However, throw in CC sucking big time, Byrd getting roughed up once, and a bullpen that isn't consistent and you got problems.

sizemore
cabrera
hafner
victor
(Free Agent)
Garko

That's how the top 6 should've looked this year... season is a long one so whatever, i knew when last season ended we were going to need some help from a free agent standpoint if we want to get back. I was also hoping for a new decent #4-5 starter in place of byrd. I thought Byrd pitched great last year, but to be honest thought it was a luck year for him.

Another thing with Westbrook, Lee, and carmona all pitching well there's no damn reason this team shouldn't be in first place..

I agree with most of your "rant". You were so fired up that you put Michaels platooning in RF with Gut when actually he platoons in LF with Delucci but that's okay I got your point.

I am with you to the extent that they needed to add a big-time bat. I am tired of waiting and I would be very willing to depart with some of our "prospects" to get that big bat unfortunately now that the season has begun other teams will see our weakness and will last for the farm in order for us to obtain a good bat.

You forgot to throw in Casey Blake with Michaels. 3rd-base is supposed to be a power position along with 1st and the corner outfielders and we are hurting in 3 of those positions. I have no idea why they are saving Marte. Either play him and see how he does or get rid of him. He is just taking up a roster spot that possibly could be filled with someone who could contribute.

I also think the signing of Hafner to that big deal was a mistake. They should have waited a year to see if he continued what he had done the previous season. Now we are stuck with him if he continues his present ways which are not good.

I am not too concerned about our pitching because I have to believe C. C. has proven himself over the past couple years to be as bad as he had been this year. He has to get better. I think our relief pitching for the most part is okay. It has been our hitting that has let us down so far this season. I guess the only good thing that can be said is that we are only 4 1/2 games out of first and the season is still early when I am not a holding out a lot of hope for this season.

 

[Mac]

If C.C. has another bad outing tonight, it may be time to start worrying.

 

[LitlBuck]

Things getting worse

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians put pitcher Westbrook on DL; outfielder Francisco recalled
Posted by Plain Dealer staff reports April 22, 2008 15:40PM
Updated 3:40 p.m.

KANSAS CITY, MO. -- An Indians spokesperson said the injury that put right-hander Jake Westbrook on the disabled list Monday for the second time in the last two seasons is on the same side of his body, but not the same injury.

Westbrook strained the left intercostal muscle in his rib cage during Saturday's start against Minnesota. The injury is located toward his back. Last year he missed almost two months with a strained left oblique muscle, which is most on the left side of his body.

Jeff Sibel, Indians manager of media relations, said Westbrook complained of pain to Indians trainers after Saturday's start and returned to Cleveland on Sunday for an MRI. Outfielder Ben Francisco was called up from Class AAA Buffalo to take Westbrook's spot on the roster.

Continued

Laffey probably will get called up to take Westbrook's start on Saturday against the Yankees.

 

[NFBuck]

If C.C. has another bad outing tonight, it may be time to start worrying.

It's passed time to worry...about the big picture at least.

We get zero offense from 3B, LF or RF. Three traditional "power" spots as stated above. Pronk hasn't been the same since signing the contract and even said himself he feels the bumps and bruises much more now. Victor is the only consistent bat in the lineup, we have no closer and the rest of the bullpen appears to be less than dependable at this point. Now we lose Westbrook as well. On top of all that, the manager has the baseball knowledge of a five year old girl. I try my best to stay optimistic, but there are just way too many holes right there for this team to be a serious contender for anything above a .500 record.

 

[3074326]

It's passed time to worry...about the big picture at least.

We get zero offense from 3B, LF or RF. Three traditional "power" spots as stated above. Pronk hasn't been the same since signing the contract and even said himself he feels the bumps and bruises much more now. Victor is the only consistent bat in the lineup, we have no closer and the rest of the bullpen appears to be less than dependable at this point. Now we lose Westbrook as well. On top of all that, the manager has the baseball knowledge of a five year old girl. I try my best to stay optimistic, but there are just way too many holes right there for this team to be a serious contender for anything above a .500 record.

3B, LF, and RF combined for 11 RBI tonight. And CC dominated. You need to make posts like this before every game.

 

[NFBuck]

3B, LF, and RF combined for 11 RBI tonight. And CC dominated. You need to make posts like this before every game.

Yeah, I was having that same effect a couple weeks ago.

One game does not make up for 19 games of ineptitude though. They blew up for 11 runs last week vs. Detroit, then went back in the hole for several games.

 

[Mac]

:hotnews: NFBuck you are making posts about the team before 1st pitch of every game from now on....

 

[osugrad21]

AJC

Westbrook strains his back Pitcher put on DL; Francisco called up; Byrd to start Friday
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008
KANSAS CITY, MO.: The Indians will have to get along without Jake Westbrook for at least the next two weeks and possibly more.
The time frame isn't certain in the wake of an intercostal strain that causes pain in the left side of Westbrook's lower back, just beneath the rib cage.
''It occurred in the seventh inning Saturday night, when Jake was facing Minnesota Twins third baseman Mike Lamb,'' head trainer Lonnie Soloff said Tuesday.
''He threw a pitch down and in, and I guess he gave it a little extra. He faced two more batters after that.''
Westbrook pitched very well in the 3-0 loss in Minnesota, giving up all the runs on eight hits and one walk in seven innings. In his four starts, Westbrook is only 1-2 but with a 2.73 ERA.



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[osugrad21]

AJC

Tribe bats come alive Blake has 6 RBI, nearly hits for cycle. Sabathia finally has good start
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter



KANSAS CITY, MO.: There must be some mistake. Maybe several.
Indians hitters, contrary to recent custom, were unable to stop themselves from scoring Tuesday night. Even more contradictory, C.C. Sabathia, buffeted like a sailboat in a typhoon by opposing batsmen in four previous starts, pitched like a guy who has won a Cy Young Award, which he has, though many fans deny it.
The result was a 15-1 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Following the same pattern of semi-incredulous occurrences, the hitting star for the Tribe was Casey Blake, the ninth batter in the lineup, who began the game with a .179 average and 10 RBI.
By the time the noncontest was over, Blake had increased his RBI total by 60 percent, doubled his home-run output to two and raised his batting average to .233, coming within a triple of hitting for the cycle.



Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Behind C.C. Sabathia's pitching, Casey Blake's grand slam, 6 RBI, Cleveland Indians pound Kansas City Royals

C.C. K's 11 in six scoreless, Blake smacks slam, Tribe has 17 hits
Wednesday, April 23, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Kansas City, Mo. -- Man ager Eric Wedge was expecting a step in the right direction from C.C. Sabathia on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
What he received is usually found in Superman comic books where the Man of Steel leaps tall buildings in a single bound.
While Sabathia was bounding, Casey Blake was hitting. Sabathia struck out 11, and Blake drove in six runs as the Indians beat Kansas City, 15-1, in their best offensive game of the season.

"We had it going tonight in all areas of the game," said Blake. "C.C. set the tone. He was C.C. tonight. He was letting it go, throwing hard and putting it where he wanted to."
This may have been the game the Indians needed to rid themselves of an awful April. Or it may have been a chance meeting of good pitching and hitting that is long forgotten by the time Royals starter Brett Tomko throws the first pitch tonight in the middle game of this three-game series.
Sabathia (1-3, 10.13 ERA) ended the worst start of his career with six shutout innings to win his first game of the season.
In his previous three starts, Sabathia was 0-3 with a 15.63 ERA. In his past two starts, he allowed 18 earned runs.




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[osugrad21]

CPD

Tribe has him, may soon be sans Francisco

With Westbrook on DL, Laffey or Sowers to start Saturday
Wednesday, April 23, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Kansas City, Mo.- Don't get used to Ben Francisco in an Indians uniform. It doesn't sound like he'll be around long.
The Indians promoted Francisco from Class AAA Buffalo on Tuesday to take right-hander Jake Westbrook's spot on the roster. Westbrook was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left intercostal muscle. He strained a muscle below the last rib on the left side of his lower back during the seventh inning against the Twins on Saturday at the Metrodome.
An MRI in Cleveland on Sunday revealed the injury. Westbrook, whose four quality starts lead the Indians, is expected to be sidelined for two to four weeks. The Indians will re-examined the injury in about five days. If Westbrook is still having pain, he'll receive a cortisone shot to hasten the healing process.

Westbrook was scheduled to start Friday against the Yankees, but Paul Byrd will make that start. One of two-lefthanders, Aaron Laffey (3-1, 3.13 ERA) or Jeremy Sowers (0-2, 3.18), will be promoted from Buffalo to make Saturday's start. Manager Eric Wedge said Francisco is likely to be sent back to Buffalo to make room.
"But this is a funny game," said Wedge. "You never know what will happen. I told him to stay ready."




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