Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Indians chatter

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Clubhouse confidential: If hitting coach Derek Shelton is feeling pressured by the Indians' poor hitting through the first two months of the season, he's not showing it.

When asked about criticism directed at him from fans and the media, Shelton said, "I don't read it and I don't listen to it.

"I imagine the fans are talking about it. Fans care and they're passionate about this team. But if I was going to worry about that, I would have started in June of 2005 when I took the job. We've swung the bats better the last four or five games, and we want to build on that."

Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said tests have shown that the rotator cuff in designated hitter Travis Hafner's right shoulder is not involved in the injury that put him on the disabled list Friday. Hafner, who was examined by Dr. Mark Schickendantz on Saturday morning at Progressive Field, will work on strengthening the muscles around the shoulder joint.

Stat of the day: C.C. Sabathia entered Saturday night's start against the Royals with a .599 (103-69) winning percentage since 2001. He ranked sixth among active pitchers, with Toronto's Roy Halladay in first place at .693 (104-46).

- Paul Hoynes

Shelton not feeling any pressure is good to know. It probably will stay around for 10 more years while the Indians continue to struggle at the plate. It is really starting to get ridiculous and whatever happened to Martinez's homerun power. I just don't understand how guys can go so bad in one season.

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

About the Indians who got away . . .


The biggest recent loss was Brandon Phillips. No need to rehash the old hash. If you want the full story, go to cleveland.com/pluto and find the logo for my book "Dealing." You can read five chapters (free) and the one on how "Dreams turn to nightmares in 2006" deals with Phillips. But the point is that after losing Phillips, the Indians needed a second baseman for 2007. That led to the Kevin Kouzmanoff/Josh Barfield deal with San Diego. If they keep Phillips, then Kouzmanoff is the Tribe's third baseman today.

The Phillips mistake led to some other moves that have caused the Tribe to scramble to fill holes ever since. In 765 big-league at-bats, the 26-year-old Kouzmanoff has 29 HR, 107 RBI, and is batting .271 with a .765 OPS. He is rated slightly above average at third, and plays in a tough hitters park in San Diego. At some point this season, the Indians do need to promote Barfield (.258, .301 on-base) from Buffalo, where 21 of his 57 hits have been for extra bases. They need to find out if he can hit enough to play second base, and if he can be the same guy who was a career .300 hitter in the minors and hit .280 with the Padres as a rookie in 2006. One thought is to give him the at-bats at second base that Carroll now receives.


Assuming the team falls out of contention, it's also important to come to a verdict on Andy Marte (acquired in the Coco Crisp deal with Boston). If Marte can play third, that solves a problem. And some fans wondered if the Tribe could have traded Marte to the Padres for Barfield rather than
Kouzmanoff. Nope, the Padres wanted Kouz.

Several fans have written angry e-mails about Ryan Ludwick (.327, 13 HRs, 39 RBI) emerging as a star in St. Louis, wondering how the Indians could have given up on the guy. The big problem for Ludwick was staying healthy. The Indians picked him up from Texas for Ricardo Rodriguez on July 18, 2003. In 39 games for the Tribe, he batted .265 with seven HRs and 26 RBI -- but he injured his knee in September and had surgery in October. He needed a second knee surgery in March of 2004. He played 15 games in 2004, hitting .220 as he recovered from the two knee surgeries. In 2005, he made the opening day roster, hit .220, was sent to Class AAA Buffalo -- and then broke the ulna bone in his right arm.

In 2006, Ludwick became a minor-league free agent. Because of the two knee surgeries and broken arm, the Indians decided to let him go. Ludwick signed with Detroit, where he hit .266 with 28 HR in 508 at bats (167 strikeouts!) at Class AAA Toledo. The Tigers passed on him for 2007, and he signed with St. Louis, opening last season at Class AAA Memphis -- hitting .340 in 29 games. He was called up to St. Louis, and batted .267 with 14 HR and 52 RBI in 120 games. I have a hard time faulting the Tribe on Ludwick. He was injury prone and strikeout prone. I give him credit for becoming a big-league regular at the age of 29, and doing it with his fifth team.

I knew that Ludwig was doing pretty well in St. Louis but not that well. The Indians really made a mistake by letting him go. In the article, it also mentions that Garko still has a option left. It might not hurt to send him down for a while to regain his stroke. He is not doing much up in Cleveland and they might as well give other guys some at-bats.

[buckeyemania11]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Cleveland.com



I knew that Ludwig was doing pretty well in St. Louis but not that well. The Indians really made a mistake by letting him go. In the article, it also mentions that Garko still has a option left. It might not hurt to send him down for a while to regain his stroke. He is not doing much up in Cleveland and they might as well give other guys some at-bats.

Im more [censored]ed about them trading Kouzmanoff for Barfield

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

Im more [censored]ed about them trading Kouzmanoff for Barfield

Oh, I agree with that especially when they are letting Barfield "rot" in Buffalo. Another interesting stat brought up in that article was that Cabrera, either at 2nd or short, saves the Indians at least one run per game with his fielding according to the organization. I think they really need to make a decision regarding JP and his future at short if they are going to keep Cabrera a round.

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Royals make Indians look like losers Before the Tribe came to town, Kansas City had the horrible streak, but that has changed
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Monday, Jun 02, 2008
KANSAS CITY, MO.: It's time to proclaim the Indians' new mission on billboards and splashy commercials. Say it loud, like you're proud, guys: ''Coming to a stadium near you, the nose-dive doctors of the American League.''
The Tribe strode into Kauffman Stadium on Friday with the Kansas City Royals in full retreat, the owners of an 11-game losing streak. One day after the patients lost No. 12, the Indians began effecting a cure, losing the next two to make the Royals well again.
On Sunday the Tribe fell 6-1, leaving the hosts with the feeling that they can play baseball like other big leaguers.
This defeat was equal parts bad pitching and lackluster hitting, although the Royals' defense played a role in making sure the Indians didn't have a change of heart and try too hard to win the game.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Getting crowded at first base Wedge finding ways to get Garko, Aubrey enough chances to play
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Monday, Jun 02, 2008
KANSAS CITY, MO.: It is something the Indians probably won't have to face. Then again, stranger things have happened. Much stranger.
What if Ryan Garko and Michael Aubrey prove to be impact hitters? Can they both remain on the team if they play only one position ? the same position?
Garko is a former catcher who was deemed a defensive liability. He has made the transition to first base, and whereas nobody compares him to Keith Hernandez or Eddie Murray in their prime, he has done an adequate job defensively, and he's getting better.
Like Garko, Aubrey is regarded as a hitter first, but he is an above-average defender at first. He made his major-league debut two weeks ago, after being called up to fill a roster spot temporarily. So it would be something of an upset if he stayed with the Tribe all year, partly because he plays the same position as Garko.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians still not hitting and still losing, this time to Kansas City

Wedge laments hard-hit outs after another feeble display
Monday, June 02, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Kansas City, Mo. -- For a while manager Eric Wedge talked about all the work going on behind the scenes to make the Indians better. He had top men working on the problem and everything was going to be fine.
Now, Wedge is counting hard-hit outs that could have been hits had they not been caught. Meanwhile, the Indians just lost a three-game series to the Kansas City Royals. It doesn't matter how you count that, it's bad news.
Friday night, the Indians handed the Royals their 12th straight loss. The Royals were just what the Indians needed after losing four of six -- including two of three to the AL Central-leading White Sox -- at home.

Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians' Victor Martinez has lost power because of tender hamstring, says manager Eric Wedge


Monday, June 02, 2008
Kansas City, Mo.- Victor Martinez has not used it as an excuse, but manager Eric Wedge said Sunday the All-Star catcher's offensive numbers are down this season because of the left hamstring he injured Opening Day against the White Sox.
Martinez has no homers and 10 doubles in 168 at-bats. He did not play in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Royals.
"Victor needs the day," said Wedge.

Cont...

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Indians recall Mastny, option Aubrey to Class AAA Buffalo
Posted by Paul Hoynes June 02, 2008 10:48AM
Categories: Breaking News, Indians
Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

The Indians recalled reliever Tom Mastny from Class AAA Buffalo today.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS -- The Indians, in desperate need of hitting, recalled reliever Tom Mastny from Class AAA Buffalo today and optioned first baseman Michael Aubrey back to the Bisons. Go figure. Mastny will join the Indians for the second time this season. He was with the Tribe from April 14 through May 7, but rarely pitched. He made two appearances in that time, allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

The tall right-hander has put up good numbers in Buffalo. He was 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA (five earned runs and 17 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings). After getting sent down by the Tribe, Mastny allowed one earned run in nine innings with eight strikeouts.

Continued...

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Another brilliant move by our front office. The Indians need hitting so they bring a pitcher backup from Buffalo. Visit there anyone in our farm system can at least hit the freaking ball. This is absurd. They should has sent Garko down. He has an option left. Give Aubrey a chance.

[tsteele316]

they sent him down so he can be in the line-up every day.

if they simply going to play him sporadically there is no sense in keeping him up here. with choo out of options, he's got to stay up with the club. aubrey has plenty of options left, and is really just now healthy for an extended period of time. give him regular PT in buffalo and get him ready to play at the big level.

if you look at the farm teams, there isn't anyone that is offensively ready to compete in the bigs right now. it's quite pathetic.

[BuckeyeMac]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

they sent him down so he can be in the line-up every day.

if they simply going to play him sporadically there is no sense in keeping him up here. with choo out of options, he's got to stay up with the club. aubrey has plenty of options left, and is really just now healthy for an extended period of time. give him regular PT in buffalo and get him ready to play at the big level.

if you look at the farm teams, there isn't anyone that is offensively ready to compete in the bigs right now. it's quite pathetic.

And no one in the bigs right now is offensively ready to compete in the bigs or the minors lol

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

they sent him down so he can be in the line-up every day.if you look at the farm teams, there isn't anyone that is offensively ready to compete in the bigs right now. it's quite pathetic.

Garko has an option left and he is not exactly tearing the cover off the ball. Oh, nevermind I'm sorry I said that.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Garko has an option left and he is not exactly tearing the cover off the ball. Oh, nevermind I'm sorry I said that.

garko has actually proven himself over the course of a MLB season, whereas aubrey has not.

but, if you'd prefer to have a guy that has never been healthy in the last 3 years and played all of 7 games in AAA, sporadically play 3 times a week and send down a guy that has actually proven himself over the course of an entire season, go ahead.

trial by fire has worked so well for astrubal cabrera, they should clearly do the same to aubrey.

[Mr_Burns]

Fundamental baseball has gone completely out the window with this team. Runners on first and second, no outs, Dellucci doesn't even attempt to get a bunt down and instead grounds into a double play. There is no excuse for being a major league baseball player who is so incapable of laying down a sacrifice bunt that you don't even try to in an obvious sacrifice situation.

Luckily Blake and Cabrera came up with some clutch 2-out hits to get some runs on the board. 2 home runs already on the night for Blake.

Edit: Add a bases-clearing double for Blake. 3 for 3, 2 HR, 2B, 7 RBI'S on the night.

[buckeyemania11]

these losers cant even keep a 5 run lead

Marlon [censored]ing Byrd who was hitting .200 with ONE home run on the season hits a grand slam

amazing