Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Scoreless-innings streak for Cleveland Indians starting pitchers ends, but Tribe defeats Oakland Athletics

Laffey gives up one unearned run
Friday, May 16, 200ennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
The new streak is five innings, but the Indi ans can live with it.
If their starters give up one unearned run in seven innings, as Aaron Laffey did Thursday afternoon, they still will win plenty of games.
The Tribe completed a superb pitching-and-defense homestand with a 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Aaron Laffey allows one unearned run in seven innings for Cleveland Indians



Friday, May 16, 2008 Joe Maxse

Plain Dealer Reporter
Aaron Laffey had more important things to worry about than a scoreless-innings streak. The Tribe left-hander had just been responsible for allowing Oakland to score a run in the second inning on Thursday afternoon, something the Athletics had not been able to do during the first two games of the series at Progressive Field.
In fact, neither Toronto nor the Athletics had done much of that during the homestand as Indians starters kept shutting them out. But Laffey's throwing error to first base on Rob Bowen's roller allowed the A's to tie the game, 1-1, and left two men on base and one out.
"Errors can lead to big innings," said Laffey, who composed himself to get out of the inning and went on to get the win in the Tribe's 4-2 victory. "I can deal with giving up a run on a base hit, but on an error? I picked up the ball and kind of rushed it. I had more time. I almost threw it to second base."




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians chatter



Friday, May 16, 2008

Clubhouse confidential: On May 15, 1981, Rick Manning caught Ernie Whitt's fly ball for the last out of Lenny Barker's perfect game at the Stadium. Unlike Asdrubal Cabrera after his unassisted triple play May 12, Manning did not flip the ball into the stands on his way off the field.
"You weren't allowed to throw balls into the crowd when I played - you'd get fined," Manning said.
Manning carried the ball into the clubhouse and wanted to give it to Barker.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

leveland Indians substitute closer Rafael Betancourt relieved by Masa Kobayashi


Friday, May 16, 200ennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
Rafael Betancourt might have lost his job as substitute closer.
Betancourt was pulled Thursday after loading the bases with one out in the ninth inning and the Indians ahead of Oakland, 4-1.
Tribe manager Eric Wedge opted for Masa Kobayashi, who, after a wild pitch, struck out Mike Sweeney and Ryan Sweeney to save a game for Aaron Laffey. The Indians won, 4-2.




Cont...

 

[Piney]

Can't trade Sowers - may need him for depth in the future. The Indians still have to seriously consider shipping C.C. at some point, and they may be able to do that with the luxury of the depth in starting pitching. They'd definately get a quality bat (or two) for the big fella.

Yup. That is the one. I agree with you in that I don't know if I would like the deal or not because he struggles away from the "light air"...

With regards to trading Sowers, we have some quality depth in the minors when it comes to pitching and I am not including Adam Miller. There is supposed to be a phenom coming up pretty fast in the ranks plus the other guys around.

You have to trade something to get something and we need hitting. The question is how long are you willing to wait until we go into the WS again. I guess I am tired of waiting and really not that worried about the Tribe's young pitching.

Well, if there was one guy I would want from Colorado it would be this guy...

FOX Sports on MSN - Ken Rosenthal -

And yep... Colorado can have Miller for him and Sowers... and whatever lower minor leaguers they want. I can't believe Colorado is even considering trading Holliday!

 

[exhawg]

Well, if there was one guy I would want from Colorado it would be this guy...

FOX Sports on MSN - Ken Rosenthal -

And yep... Colorado can have Miller for him and Sowers... and whatever lower minor leaguers they want. I can't believe Colorado is even considering trading Holliday!

Either Sowers or Miller with Fransisco would work for me. If the starting pitching continues the way it is through the trade deadline I wouldn't be against moving CC to the NL for a good power 3rd.

 

[LitlBuck]

Well, if there was one guy I would want from Colorado it would be this guy...

FOX Sports on MSN - Ken Rosenthal -

And yep... Colorado can have Miller for him and Sowers... and whatever lower minor leaguers they want. I can't believe Colorado is even considering trading Holliday!

Either Sowers or Miller with Fransisco would work for me. If the starting pitching continues the way it is through the trade deadline I wouldn't be against moving CC to the NL for a good power 3rd.

I know the future is now but I think this guy has too big of a contract for the Tribe to bite. I also really have mixed emotions about trading Francisco. I would give them Sowers/Miller and one of our prime minor league 1st baseman but I would hate to give up Francisco or Gut. They could have anyone else.

 

[OH10]

Be careful trading for a hitter from Coors Field.

And I still say the Indians have to dump C.C. at some point for hitting and relief pitching. The starting pitching, even without C.C., is World Series quality right now.

 

[AKAK]

Be careful trading for a hitter from Coors Field. .

Ditto.

And I still say the Indians have to dump C.C. at some point for hitting and relief pitching. The starting pitching, even without C.C., is World Series quality right now.

There's a problems of course... do you trade a guy to a team you might have to face in the postseason? These would be the only teams interested in him and they aren't going to want to players that they need for their own stretch run?

Sabathia has pretty much no trade value as long as the Tribe is in the hunt... so might as well let him pitch.

 

[LitlBuck]

Be careful trading for a hitter from Coors Field.

I thought the same thing initially but the guy is not a big home run hitter so I would be OK with him.

And I still say the Indians have to dump C.C. at some point for hitting and relief pitching. The starting pitching, even without C.C., is World Series quality right now.

I see your point but I would have to think about this for a while. You have to remember that Byrd is not getting any younger and this is his last contract year. However we do have some depth in the minors in case PB would leave or one of the other starters goes down. I think I would do it if we could get to quality bats and one would have to be a infielder. To be honest, I am not that concerned about our relief pitching. It is more our run production. That way we would not have to go to the bullpen so much.

 

[Piney]

Be careful trading for a hitter from Coors Field.

I know the future is now but I think this guy has too big of a contract for the Tribe to bite. I also really have mixed emotions about trading Francisco. I would give them Sowers/Miller and one of our prime minor league 1st baseman but I would hate to give up Francisco or Gut. They could have anyone else.

I thought the same thing initially but the guy is not a big home run hitter so I would be OK with him.

I would be careful too, one reason I don't want Atkins. But Holliday is a different story. Here are his "Away" splits, not bad for a Coors field hitter.

2008 - .283 2 HR & 7 RBIs
2007 - .301 11 HR & 55 RBIs
2006 - .280 12 HR & 36 RBIs

So in a normal park you would expect a .285 BA with 25 HRs and 100 RBIs. (and it isn't like Jacobs Field is a bad hitter's park) While not "MVP" numbers he still would inject some power and hitting into the lineup. You can bat him 3rd and leave Hafner at the 5 hole.

His salary isn't horrible at $9.5 million for this year (he is signed til next year). The only problem is he is a Boras client. But really this move would be to win now. If he walks after next year he walks (or can be traded at the deadline next year)

About who to give up? I don't mind losing Gut, I have always liked Francisco better. But really if we get Holliday one of them is expendable.

 

[Piney]

And I still say the Indians have to dump C.C. at some point for hitting and relief pitching. The starting pitching, even without C.C., is World Series quality right now.

There's a problems of course... do you trade a guy to a team you might have to face in the postseason? These would be the only teams interested in him and they aren't going to want to players that they need for their own stretch run?

Sabathia has pretty much no trade value as long as the Tribe is in the hunt... so might as well let him pitch.

AKAK is right. CC can only be traded to a contender and would that contender be willing to give the Indians major league ready hitters? No AL team would be willing to do that. Maybe a NL team so that limits your trading partners. So like I have been saying all offseason, you ride CC and hope we win it all.

So you trade your fringe starters (Laffey & Sowers) to help your hitting. And bullpen guys can be had for lower level prospects.

 

[LitlBuck]

I don't mind losing Gut,

:(We really need infielders who can hit. I think we are pretty relatively off in the OF positions and who would this guy really split time with. I would hate to sit Francisco/DL/Gut for any length of time and for the money that this guy is going to get you should be an everyday player.

 

[MolGenBuckeye]

Be careful trading for a hitter from Coors Field.

2005-2007 splits for Holliday:

Home (863 AB)

.370 BA
59 HR
212 RBI
1.106 OPS
147 K

Away (854 AB)

.281 BA
30 HR
126 RBI
.809 OPS
168 K

 

[OH10]

AKAK is right. CC can only be traded to a contender and would that contender be willing to give the Indians major league ready hitters? No AL team would be willing to do that. Maybe a NL team so that limits your trading partners. So like I have been saying all offseason, you ride CC and hope we win it all.

If the Yankees are out of it, they'll consider trading for him to avoid bidding for him in the offseason. Who would we get in return? Good question, but Hank Steinbrenner is nuts, so we could get greedy and ask for Robinson Cano.

So you trade your fringe starters (Laffey & Sowers) to help your hitting. And bullpen guys can be had for lower level prospects.

Laffey is only a fringe starter because we have a lot of depth right now. But keep this in mind for 2009:

1. C.C. is gone.
2. Byrd is probably done as an effective starter, if not sooner.

All of a sudden, if you give up those two guys (Laffey and Sowers) and you lose the other two (Sabathia and Byrd), then that great starting pitching depth is gone just so we could make one last hurrah.

I'd personally rather see long-term success because anything can happen in the post-season. All you have to do is get there.