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Indians Tidbits (2009 season)

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Cleveland.com

Major League Baseball Insider: New Indian Pavano can't escape Torre's literary wrath
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Saturday February 07, 2009, 11:45 PM

CLEVELAND -- New Indians pitcher Carl Pavano may want to skip reading Joe Torre's latest book, The Yankee Years. Pavano, who signed a four-year, $40 million deal with the Yankees after the 2004 season, does not come off in a good light.

Torre, in the book written by Tom Verducci, said of Pavano, "The players all hated him. It's no secret."

Yankee bullpen catcher Mike Borzello is quoted as saying, "Guys on the team despised him. One day Jeet [Derek Jeter] walked by him and said, 'Hey, Pav. You ever going to play? Ever?' Wow. That was a damaging comment coming from Jeter. He didn't say a whole lot, but when he did, it was pretty piercing."

Jeter is the Yankees captain. Torre, who now manages the Dodgers, managed the Yankees from 1996 through 2007.

Former Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina believed Pavano, who grew up a Yankee fan, couldn't pitch in New York. He said in the book that he realized it after a conversation with Pavano during his first season with the Yankees.

"He just didn't like being under the microscope," said Mussina. "He couldn't play being under the microscope every day."

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He should be fine in Cleveland. No bright lights and he certainly won't be under a big-time microscope:wink2:
 
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http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/ne...t_id=3818882&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

ClevelandIndians.com said:

Tribe eager to get early start in camp
Several players arrived prior to Thursday's spring report date
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- If the Indians adhered to the calendar, then Thursday would have been the day that pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training camp.

But this year, the Tribe's players are taking the official report dates as mere suggestions.

The truth is, many of the pitchers, catchers and position players have been here at the Indians Player Development Complex for several days, and in some cases, weeks. With a brand new facility at their disposal, the excitement to get to camp early and get acclimated has been palpable. In fact, a quick survey of the clubhouse Thursday morning revealed that only a mere handful of players had yet to arrive.
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cont...


EDIT: Completely forgot the link haha
 
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Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians reliever Rafael Betancourt won't pitch for Venezuela in WBC
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Thursday February 12, 2009, 11:40 AM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Right-hander Rafael Betancourt, reporting today to spring training with the rest of the Indians pitchers and catchers, said he will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela in March.

Betancourt said he told GM Mark Shapiro in January that he did not plan to pitch for his country.

"I took time to make my decision to play or not to play," said Betancourt.
"I played in the first one in 2006, but I didn't play winter ball this year and it takes time to get ready for those kind of games.

"It was a very good experience to play for my country in 2006, but I have to prepare myself for this season. I don't feel I pitched the way I wanted to last year. I want to prepare myself better this year and show I can pitch."

more...
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From the same article
This winter Peralta played third base for Aguilas in the Dominican Republic.

"The Indians asked me and I said I'd do it," he said. "I wasn't upset. I tried to do whatever they wanted me to do."

But Peralta made sure the Indians understood one thing.

"My position is shortstop," he said. "I don't know if I'm going to play third sometime, but I feel better at short. . .I think they know I'd rather play short than third because I've never played third in my life."
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Okay, now we are ready to roll:)

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians sign infielder Tony Graffanino and invite him to spring training
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Sunday February 15, 2009, 11:50 AM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians have signed infielder Tony Graffanino to a minor league contract and invited him to big-league camp for spring training. He'll join the club Monday.

Graffanino, 36, played with Class AAA Buffalo last year, hitting .267 (55-for-231) with six RBI in 25 games. He signed with the Tribe on June 24, whjile recovering from surgery on his right knee. Graffanino has spent 12 years in the big leagues with Atlanta, Tampa Bay, the White Sox, Kansas City, Boston and Milwaukee.

He has not played in the big leagues since 2007 with the Brewers. Graffanino played all four infield spots for Buffalo last year.
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Hopefully, we will see you on down the road Andy.

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians third baseman Andy Marte could be out of a job this spring
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Sunday February 15, 2009, 3:23 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. --- Andy Marte is in a tough spot and he knows it.
He's out of options and pretty much out of a job. It would take an injury, maybe two, for him to make the Indians 25-man roster.

"I'm here to make the team," said Marte before Sunday's practice. "What else can I do?

If it's not here, it's somewhere else. There are 29 other teams. I want to stay here, but it is what it is."

Last year was Marte's first full season in the big leagues. When the Indians traded Casey Blake to the Dodgers on July 26, he took over third base. He did not do enough to keep the Indians from acquiring Mark DeRosa from the Cubs this winter to play third.

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Run Garko run:biggrin:
Cleveland.com

Indians Insider: Garko, Barfield get their OF on
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday February 16, 2009, 10:30 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Ryan Garko, Josh Barfield and Jamey Carroll were chasing fly balls in the outfield Monday morning at the Indians' player development complex.

Carroll has played the outfield before, but this is something new for Garko and Barfield. Garko is a first baseman and Barfield a second baseman, but manager Eric Wedge says he can create more playing time for them if they're more versatile.

"I talked to Jeff Datz [outfield coach] and told him I think it's important to get Garko and Barfield out there to do extra work," said Wedge. "Barfield was running around and looking pretty comfortable out there."

Wedge wants Barfield to play all three outfield positions. Garko, if he plays at all, will play only left field.

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BuckeyeMac;1410427; said:
I just don't ever see Garko surviving the outfield...The running especially, but he doesn't have the greatest glove, nor do we know how well he can throw the ball.
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What besides his running, his fielding and his throwing makes you think he won't thrive playing in the OF???

Sorry, that just struck me funny. It's like my old high school coach used to say:

"Shit, we're small, but we're slow!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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ysubuck;1410436; said:
What besides his running, his fielding and his throwing makes you think he won't thrive playing in the OF???

Sorry, that just struck me funny. It's like my old high school coach used to say:

"[censored], we're small, but we're slow!!!!!!!!!!!
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OF is tough to play when you're slow, don't have an arm or a glove...I just don't see it working out for him in the OF because of those things. IF he has the arm and glove, I think he'll be fine, but I need to see it to believe it.
 
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BuckeyeMac;1410440; said:
OF is tough to play when you're slow, don't have an arm or a glove...I just don't see it working out for him in the OF because of those things. IF he has the arm and glove, I think he'll be fine, but I need to see it to believe it.
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Oh I'm with you. I was just laughing because Garko is slow, doesn't have an arm and has a suspect glove. OF is the last place he should be.
 
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Garko in the OF

Good ole Wedge, what a joker... oh wait, he's seriously considering putting Garko in the OF!?!? The only solace we can take in that is this project is sure to fail and not see the light of the regular season.

Damn, I'm ready for some baseball... can't wait to see the Tribe in Wrigley this summer!
 
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