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Indians Tidbits (2009 season)

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I thought I heard that they backed off of Mart?nez when they signed Pavano. There were both out there at the same time but I guess Pavano was willing to sign for less with incentives.

I had not read anything about Garko playing in the outfield but with his speed I just cannot see it. They would be better off putting him behind the plate and letting Shopach play the outfield for whatever that might be worth.
 
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Cleveland.com

Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge on Hafner, the catching situation and a whole lot more
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Wednesday January 21, 2009, 3:38 PM

ASHTABULA --- Manager Eric Wedge touched on a number of subjects today while fielding questions from reporters and the crowd at the Mount Carmel Banquet Hall during a stop on the Indians press tour.

* On Travis Hafner's return from right shoulder surgery: "Short of seeing him on the field every day, I think he's right where he needs to be. I'm extremely confident he's going to be fine. I'm probably more confident than he is."

* On his expectations for Hafner: "I expect him to be an average major league middle-of-the-order bat."

* On who is going to get the most playing time among catchers Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach, first baseman Ryan Garko and DH Hafner: "We have an interesting dynamic at catcher and first base. Victor and Shoppach are both going to catch. I know Victor and Hafner are going to play every day and Shoppach will play a little more than he did last year. How much more depends on Shoppie.

"I think it's important that we have Kelly catch Cliff Lee and Victor catch Fausto Carmona. If I feel in time that we're better with Victor playing more first base, that's what we'll do."

Wedge made it clear that he's trying to be as respectful as possible toward Martinez, a team leader, in his handling of the catching situation.
"We want to include Victor in the process because of what he means to us," said Wedge.

* On where that leaves Garko, who tied Grady Sizemore for a team high 90 RBI last year, in terms of playing time: "We're going to work out Garko and Josh Barfield in the outfield in spring training. It might not make it through spring training. It might not make it to one spring training game, but we'll see.

"If Garko is going to hit like he did in the second half last year, that's a bat we want in the lineup. I love Barfield's athleticism and speed. In the past, we've always been at our best when we've been the most versatile."

* On how newly-acquired Mark DeRosa will be used: "He's going to play mostly third base, but he's going to be popping into the outfield in left and right. That leaves third base open for Jamey Carroll against certain lefties. I'm also going to give Jhonny Peralta some reps at third base. He played there this winter and it makes sense to keep that option open."

* On the signing of closer Kerry Wood: "This was the first time we were able to get the guy we wanted to get. Kerry knows he's in the bullpen. He knows he's going to close. That's what he wants to do.

"Every bullpen starts with the closer. If you don't have that, it's going to be a long ride."

Continued
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buckeyemania11;1386079; said:
Garko in the outfield :lol:
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they should try him in CF in Detroit. He could just run and run and probably never catch up to the ball. Wedge has done some crazy things but this borders on the idiotic. Trade him but don't let them play the outfield... anywhere..
 
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http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/ne...t_id=3766642&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

Manny won't be Manny with Tribe
Pipe dream lives in fans' hearts, dies in front office
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- The question was posed by a little boy during a winter Press Tour stop earlier this week.
But it's a question that has also been on the minds and lips of grown -- and presumably sane -- adults, as well.
"Could you sign Manny Ramirez?" the young boy asked Indians general manager Mark Shapiro.

Shapiro's reply?

"Could I?" he said with a smile. "Or would I?"
There's a distinct difference, of course.

While the thought of Ramirez's bat returning to the Indians' lineup is enough to make any fan -- or Shapiro -- salivate, it's as realistic a possibility as the return of Rocky Colavito.



cont...
 
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BuckeyeMac;1390059; said:
Manny won't be Manny with Tribe | indians.com: News

Manny won't be Manny with Tribe
Pipe dream lives in fans' hearts, dies in front office
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- The question was posed by a little boy during a winter Press Tour stop earlier this week.
But it's a question that has also been on the minds and lips of grown -- and presumably sane -- adults, as well.
"Could you sign Manny Ramirez?" the young boy asked Indians general manager Mark Shapiro.

Shapiro's reply?

"Could I?" he said with a smile. "Or would I?"
There's a distinct difference, of course.

While the thought of Ramirez's bat returning to the Indians' lineup is enough to make any fan -- or Shapiro -- salivate, it's as realistic a possibility as the return of Rocky Colavito.



cont...
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I wouldn't want that circus sideshow back.
 
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Cleveland.com

Indians' Laffey gearing up to earn spot in rotation
by [email protected]
Monday January 26, 2009, 7:00 AM
This is the time of year when baseball fans are most gullible. The big leagues have been silent for almost three months and fans are eager to believe anything their favorite team sends their way.

Most teams have just completed their winter PR blitzes to begin the traditional countdown to Opening Day before the Super Bowl pushes them aside. The countdown is old and reliable -- pitchers and catchers report to spring training, first full-squad workout, first exhibition game, teams break camp to begin season.

So when manager Eric Wedge said last week during the Indians' press tour that Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona and Carl Pavano would be the first three starters in the rotation, the people at the Mount Carmel Banquet Room in Ashtabula nodded in acceptance. Their trust, regarding Lee and Carmona, had traction. Pavano represented a vigorous leap of faith.
It will soon become clear if Pavano can overcome four years of inactivity and injury or if he's just another version of Jason Johnson.
Who starts after Pavano, and in his place if necessary, is a far bigger concern. Wedge said there were five or six candidates for the last two spots in the rotation.

Continued
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One of those pitchers damned with such faint praise was left-hander Aaron Laffey. The others are Jeremy Sowers, Anthony Reyes, David Huff, Scott Lewis and Zach Jackson. Laffey and Reyes are favored to win the two jobs.
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You would think out of one of the 5 guys mentioned above that day would be able to find an adequate 4th and 5th starter.
 
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Is Pavano is expect to be the 3?

1.Lee- will obviously regress compared to last year, but hopefully a solid ace
2.Carmona- ugh, who knows, if he fixes his control, he's a great #2
3.Pavano- just hopes he holds the 3 spot down until the All-Star Break, then Westbrook can maybe slide everyone down a slot
4.Laffey/Sowers/Reyes/Huff/Lewis/Jackson- as you said, just hope the Indians can find some hot streaks with these guys on any given day/week- I'll take Reyes' performance that he ended with last season
5.Laffey/Sowers/Reyes/Huff/Lewis/Jackson- same as above
 
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I know that it comes to pitching you can never have enough starters but I am somewhat baffled why the Indians went out and signed a guy like Pavano who has not really pitched for 4 seasons. I think that money probably could have been used elsewhere considering that we have 5 guys who will be vying for 2 spots. I really liked away Reyes pitched late last year along with Lewis. However, I know that Lewis did not pitch that much less season but with Reyes and two of the other four guys I really don't think that the needed Pavano.
 
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LitlBuck;1392022; said:
I know that it comes to pitching you can never have enough starters but I am somewhat baffled why the Indians went out and signed a guy like Pavano who has not really pitched for 4 seasons. I think that money probably could have been used elsewhere considering that we have 5 guys who will be vying for 2 spots. I really liked away Reyes pitched late last year along with Lewis. However, I know that Lewis did not pitch that much less season but with Reyes and two of the other four guys I really don't think that the needed Pavano.
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ehhh.

both sowers and laffey are inconsistent at best. reyes is always hurt and jackson is just not that good. scott lewis is probaby still having his innings monitored carefully. pavano is making chicken scratch, and they weren't going to use the money anywhere else, so it's a flyer that he can give them something. If he doesn't they ship him off and move one of the other guys into the rotation.
 
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LitlBuck;1392022; said:
I know that it comes to pitching you can never have enough starters but I am somewhat baffled why the Indians went out and signed a guy like Pavano who has not really pitched for 4 seasons. I think that money probably could have been used elsewhere considering that we have 5 guys who will be vying for 2 spots. I really liked away Reyes pitched late last year along with Lewis. However, I know that Lewis did not pitch that much less season but with Reyes and two of the other four guys I really don't think that the needed Pavano.
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$1 million isn't alot of money. He is a low risk high reward guy. The low risk is we didn't spend alot of money on him, and if he regains his old form he will be worth the $4-$5 million in bonuses he will earn from it. And if he gets hurt he just gets cut or put on the DL for the rest of the year.

But if he regains his old form (a big if) he can be the #3 pitcher they are looking for. Plus he is insurance in case the group of Reyes, Laffey, Lewis, etc don't improve.
 
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