Indians Tidbits (2009 season)

[itownbuckeye]

Things just keep getting worse regarding injuries. Hector Rondon left tonight's Akron game with a possible injury. Kelvin De La Cruz has already been out since early-mid May. These two guys were considered the top two starting pitching prospects in the system to start the season. Hopefully Rondon's injury is not serious as he needs this year for development. Lord knows the Tribe could use help in the rotation next year.

Indians Prospect Insider

With 1 out in the 4th tonight in the Akron Aeros game, literally like 20-25 minutes ago, RHP Hector Rondon threw a pitch that was described by the broadcaster as very slow and up and Akron Pitching Coach Ruben Niebla shot out of the dugout followed by Manager Mike Sarbaugh and the trainer. After a very short discussion, Rondon was pulled from the game. No idea what happened, but given the state of affairs with the Indians of late, expect the worst!

 

[Scooch]

I believe Carmona has one option left.

 

[LitlBuck]

cliff lee is very tradable.

I guess if you really want the season to go down the tubes you would consider him but I do not know how many years he has left on his contract.

St. Louis is in need of a third baseman due to an injury so DeRosa might be traded for some minor league pitching or a relief pitcher.

Rumblings

With the St. Louis Cardinals in need of a third baseman because of ligament damage in Troy Glaus' shoulder, general manager John Mozeliak told reporters the type of player he is looking for and all but described Cleveland Indians infielder Mark DeRosa without mentioning him by name.

Ever since Jhonny Peralta moved to third base, rumors of DeRosa's impending departure from Cleveland have been flying -- the Chicago Tribune added the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves to his list of possible destinations this week -- but so far the Tribe's price is apparently higher than what suitors are willing to pay.

Cleveland is looking for major-league pitching, obviously, and in the Cardinals' case, right-handed starter Mitchell Boggs could be available. St. Louis could probably also part with one of several right-handed relievers, most notably Chris Perez or P.J. Walters.

 

[NFBuck]

I guess if you really want the season to go down the tubes you would consider him but I do not know how many years he has left on his contract.

St. Louis is in need of a third baseman due to an injury so DeRosa might be traded for some minor league pitching or a relief pitcher.

Rumblings

The season is already down the tubes, and the way injuries are piling up, they'd be wise to deal the guys with value before they end up on the DL.

As for Cliff, I believe there is an option for next year, but I believe it is mutual and I doubt Cliff exercises it.

It's time for a blow this team up, everything must go firesale.

 

[tsteele316]

The season is already down the tubes, and the way injuries are piling up, they'd be wise to deal the guys with value before they end up on the DL.

As for Cliff, I believe there is an option for next year, but I believe it is mutual and I doubt Cliff exercises it.

It's time for a blow this team up, everything must go firesale.

i'm fairly certain it is a team option. regardless, he's only on the team for at most next season. so, the question becomes, do you think cleveland can be competitive in '10? If so, you don't trade him. If not, then you get max value for him when you can.

this season is done.

 

[NFBuck]

i'm fairly certain it is a team option. regardless, he's only on the team for at most next season. so, the question becomes, do you think cleveland can be competitive in '10? If so, you don't trade him. If not, then you get max value for him when you can.

You may be correct, I do remember hearing it was a mutual though and that he could walk after this season. But yeah, that really is the question...can they be competitive next year? There is a lot of help needed, particularly in the rotation, and the way this front office spends, I don't see it. Even if they went out and got a mid-level arm or two, there are still a lot of holes potentially in the lineup (I'm now convinced Pronk is done) and the powderkeg that is the bullpen. If they're smart, they move some very tradeable pieces with an eye to the future. That's what happened back in '02 that led to some good seasons...but that run is over.

this season is done.

Yes, yes it is.

 

[LitlBuck]

I don't know about blowing up the entire roster and if you trade Lee you are essentially giving up this season and next. If you do that, you really have to start thinking about do you really keep a guy like Martinez, who is one of the older guys, around and make a really big move like a Colon/C.C. trade

 

[NFBuck]

I don't know about blowing up the entire roster and if you trade Lee you are essentially giving up this season and next. If you do that, you really have to start thinking about do you really keep a guy like Martinez, who is one of the older guys, around and make a really big move like a Colon/C.C. trade

This team doesn't have the horses to be competitive this season or next and the front office won't spend the money necessary to fill those holes. I'm all for trading anybody that can net us some good players for the future. That means Victor, Cliff, DeRosa...whoever. This current incarnation of the Indians has gone as far as it can go. It's time to start over.

 

[Piney]

I don't know about blowing up the entire roster and if you trade Lee you are essentially giving up this season and next. If you do that, you really have to start thinking about do you really keep a guy like Martinez, who is one of the older guys, around and make a really big move like a Colon/C.C. trade

Haven't we given up on the season already?

But it is really hard to trade Lee because we have no starting pitching at the moment. And if you trade Lee, Pavano becomes your #1 starter... eh gad. But really any trade with Lee has to bring back major league ready starting pitching.

But one thing we have to do is play the young kids that are ready. Give Crow the starting job while Sizemore is out to see what he can do on a daily basis. And if Hafner can't come back, bring LaPorta back up and play him EVERY day. That was such a waste of time playing him 1-2 times a week it was really sad. Heck, I wish Brantly was doing well in Columbus so he can come up as I see him as our future leadoff hitter, but he doesn't deserve a callup yet.

This summer is going to suck, I am going straight from Cavs mode to Browns mode and I am a HUGE baseball fan. This just sucks, I actually turned down 4th row behind home plate for a game next week (for free). I looked at the schedule and saw 'Kansas City' and I decided I'd rather stay home with my son and go to bed at a decent hour versus wasting my time going to a game.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Carmona heading to Rookie Ball

You had to figure Travis Hafner would be activated off the 15-day disabled list today.
And you might have guessed that Fausto Carmona would get optioned out after another brutal start.
But what you probably wouldn't guess is that Carmona isn't heading to Triple-A Columbus. Rather, the Indians are taking the drastic measure of sending Carmona to the rookie-level Arizona League.
Similar moves have been made in the past with the likes of Roy Halladay, Edinson Volquez and Dontrelle Willis. So this is not without precedent. Still, it speaks to how far Carmona has sunk over the last two years.
Carmona is 2-6 with a 7.42 ERA in 12 starts this season. He has walked 41 batters and struck out 36 in 60 2/3 innings.
More info to come on the Indians.com site as the story develops.

Umm, wow...

 

[NFBuck]

Carmona heading to Rookie Ball


Umm, wow...

Not surprising, frankly. I doubt he could get anybody out above A ball right now. Like that says, it has worked in the past, hopefully it does for Fausto. He's essentially starting over from scratch.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Not surprising, frankly. I doubt he could get anybody out above A ball right now. Like that says, it has worked in the past, hopefully it does for Fausto. He's essentially starting over from scratch.

Yeah, I'm not doubting whether it's the right move- it is. Just kind of shocking that he's going down that far, I didn't even really consider him getting sent to Rookie Ball.

Hopefully it gets him back to the basics and he can build himself up again. We need him in '10 (or whenever the team decides to compete).

 

[tsteele316]

Not surprising, frankly. I doubt he could get anybody out above A ball right now. Like that says, it has worked in the past, hopefully it does for Fausto. He's essentially starting over from scratch.

moves like this are done when you are totally breaking down a guy and rebuilding him, which at this point has to be done. Carl Willis got absolutely nowhere with the kid the last two years. He no longer has any control of most of his pitches or command of the strike zone.

He needs to start at square one and develop a pitch he can throw for a strike consistently, and it's not his sinker. If carmona, with the stuff he has, could throw a 4-seam fastball on the corners with any consistency, he would be unhittable.

 

[LitlBuck]

Yeah, I'm not doubting whether it's the right move- it is. Just kind of shocking that he's going down that far, I didn't even really consider him getting sent to Rookie Ball.

Hopefully it gets him back to the basics and he can build himself up again. We need him in '10 (or whenever the team decides to compete).

The basics is probably why he was sent down that far. Everyone knows that he has enough stuff to throw it past a major-league hitter. It's his mechanic's that need to be straightened out or maybe it's his head. Not sure on that one

 

[itownbuckeye]

And if you trade Lee, Pavano becomes your #1 starter... eh gad.

Of course Pavano is a pretty good trade candidate too. He's on a reasonable one year deal and is outpitching that contract. If he keeps it up I'd imagine they could get a solid prospect or two for him from a contender.

Can you imagine what the rotation would look like if they traded both Lee & Pavano? I'm guessing there would be some AA/AAA which would be better, although I'm sure they would get some pitching back in those deals.

One thing that concerns me is that I keep hearing they want major league pitching back in these deals. Of course I'd want good major league pitchers but if the choice is between a AA prospect with FOR potential and a major league ready guy who will never be anything more than a #5 starter, I'll take the high upside prospect who is a year or two away.