Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Shapiro also mentioned 1B as a position of need which is interseting on a couple of levels. It indicates they're ready to (finally) pull the plug on Garko, it also means they don't see Victor as a fulltime 1B, though they could bring somebody in to platoon with him so Shoppach can still get AB's as a C. Also, does this mean the LaPorta at 1B is not gonna happen?
.

That is very confusing. I would not mind seeing Garko hitting the highway. Have no idea what we could get for him in a trade but why is first base a position of need. I am getting to the point where I really do not care about Mart?nez's feelings. Put him at first base and go out and get a utility guy as a backup. We can't waste Shopach sitting on the bench just because Victor wants to catch. Let Mart?nez catch a little but his main position should be first base.

Totally agree with you regarding bringing Blake back if the price is right to play third. You can also play a little first base and the utility guy could fill in at third to ease Victor's feelings so he can catch some.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

That is very confusing. I would not mind seeing Garko hitting the highway. Have no idea what we could get for him in a trade but why is first base a position of need. I am getting to the point where I really do not care about Mart?nez's feelings. Put him at first base and go out and get a utility guy as a backup. We can't waste Shopach sitting on the bench just because Victor wants to catch. Let Mart?nez catch a little but his main position should be first base.

Totally agree with you regarding bringing Blake back if the price is right to play third. You can also play a little first base and the utility guy could fill in at third to ease Victor's feelings so he can catch some.

A few other interesting things:

1. shapiro said that they are looking at possible FA 2nd basemen this offseason. to me, that says that there is a possiblity of moving cabrera and peralta to short and 3rd respectively.

2. shoppach did tail off as the season progressed. were pitchers catching on to him, or was it just a late season swoon?

3. LaPorta is going to be put in LF until he butchers it to the point that they have to move him.

[BuckeyeMac]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

A few other interesting things:

1. shapiro said that they are looking at possible FA 2nd basemen this offseason. to me, that says that there is a possiblity of moving cabrera and peralta to short and 3rd respectively.

2. shoppach did tail off as the season progressed. were pitchers catching on to him, or was it just a late season swoon?

3. LaPorta is going to be put in LF until he butchers it to the point that they have to move him.

I think the fact of him playing every day for the first time in his career had to play some kind of role in this. Either way, if he can play like he did this upcoming year when Victor gets his day off etc...we'll be good at the catcher position for sure.

[NFBuck]

Shoppach didn't tail off that badly. He was absolutely raking the ball until the last week or two of the season. I don't harbor any delusions that he is a superstar back there, but he can be a very good catcher.

[LitlBuck]

I am seeing a lot of discussion about the Indians going after Brian Roberts of the Orioles who would make the perfect leadoff hitter and second baseman. The only thing I don't like about the rumor is that they're talking about trading Shopach and a couple of our younger pitchers, especially Raffey Perez to get him. That is way too much for a player who is only signed through 2009 at $9 Mil. I would hate for them to trade Shopach. He provided a lot of power even during the month of September.

[osugrad21]

Canton

Indians' Hafner to go under the knife
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
BY JOSH WEIR
JOSH.WEIR@CANTONREP.COM

Surgery is finally here for Travis Hafner.

The Indians' designated hitter will undergo diagnostic arthroscopy on his right shoulder today in Birmingham, Ala., with renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews performing the procedure.

Hafner was examined Monday by Andrews after an end-of-the-year physical revealed that his shoulder strength had regressed slightly. Hafner also experienced endurance and recovery problems in September after returning to big-league action from an extended stint on the disabled list.

"The time is now to do something and have Travis as close to 100 percent or unrestricted at the start of next year," Indians Head Athletic Trainer Lonnie Soloff said.

Today's procedure will clean out the shoulder and allow for further investigation into what is ailing the man known as Pronk.

Soloff did not want to speculate much on what exactly the surgery will accomplish or what Hafner's recovery time will be.

Soloff said there's been no indication of nerve damage. He would not comment on the rotator cuff or labrum, but did say, "There hasn't been anything on images or diagnostics that would lead us to believe that he's going to have to have anything repaired."

Hafner went on the disabled list in late May after basically losing all strength in the shoulder. It was determined then, with the help of Andrews, that surgery wasn't needed, but rather a course of strengthening and treatment would be initiated
Cont...

[BuckeyeMac]

Hopefully Pronk can recover and start hitting the ball again this upcoming season. If we can get him back to 100% maybe he can start to put up big numbers again.

[BuckeyeMac]

Shapiro has also come out and said that, don't close the door on FA Blake, CC, and Byrd. Although I think Blake is the only guy of the 3 that we have a legitimate shot at landing. I'm looking forward to these "off season" moves he promises.

[LitlBuck]

I know that surgery is not an answer to everything because some things can be healed through rehabilitation but usually a specialist can determine that after seeing some film. I guess I just don't understand why the Indians had to wait 2/3 of the season to determine that Hafner's shoulder was not going to return to normal without surgery. Usually after about a month of rehabilitation a specialist can determine whether something is getting better or not and either recommend surgery or as they continue to rehab and it will be fine. This just baffles me

[BuckeyeMac]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I know that surgery is not an answer to everything because some things can be healed through rehabilitation but usually a specialist can determine that after seeing some film. I guess I just don't understand why the Indians had to wait 2/3 of the season to determine that Hafner's shoulder was not going to return to normal without surgery. Usually after about a month of rehabilitation a specialist can determine whether something is getting better or not and either recommend surgery or as they continue to rehab and it will be fine. This just baffles me

Talked to my sister (Physical Therapist), she said about 2-4 weeks of rehab and the specialist can make the determination whether or not to continue rehab or resort to surgery. If the patient isn't progressing like they should, then it's surgery time. I agree with you though, why did they wait until now? Should have been taken care of during the year, let him rehab it and get it stronger so that he's fully recovered for next year. Some of the decisions I just don't understand

[BuckeyeMac]

Great minds think alike Litlbuck!!

[BuckeyeMac]

Hafner has shoulder surgery | indians.com: News

Hafner has shoulder surgery

Indians expect DH to be ready to start next season healthy

CLEVELAND -- No structural or nerve damage was found or repaired during Travis Hafner's right shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Hafner had what the Indians are calling successful arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder. The 45-minute procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews at St. Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.





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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Indians' Cliff Lee wins league honors Peers choose pitcher for two awards
Published on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008
From Beacon Journal wire services

The awards are starting to roll in for Cliff Lee, who emerged as the ace of the Indians' staff this season by becoming the team's first 20-game winner since 1974.
Lee was named Outstanding Pitcher in the American League by a vote of his peers, who select the annual Players Choice Award winners. In addition, a panel of 314 major-leaguers chose Lee as Sporting News American League Pitcher of the Year.
After a squandered 2007 season in which he suffered through an early injury and eventually was sent to Triple-A Buffalo, Lee posted a 22-3 record this year with a 2.54 ERA. His win total tied for the major-league lead, and his ERA was the lowest in the American League.
Lee walked only 34 batters in 2231/3 innings and struck out 170.
He was picked as the AL starter in the final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in July.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Indians Cliff Lee collects two more postseason awards

by Paul Hoynes Monday October 20, 2008, 1:58 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerCliff Lee won 22 games for the Indians and was named Comeback Player of the Year.
St. Petersburg, Fla --- Cliff Lee is going to have to make more room in his trophy case. The Indians left-hander was named the American League's Pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News in a vote by over 300 of his peers. Lee was also named the AL's Outstanding Pitcher in the Players Choice Awards, sponsored by MLB's Players Association.
San Francisco's Tim Lincecum, a former Indians draft pick who did not sign, won the same awards in the National League.
Lee led the AL with 22 victories and and 2.54 ERA this year. In 223 1/3 innings, the left-hander allowed just 34 walks and struck out 170.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Tribe's Lee wins comeback award Published on Friday, Oct 24, 2008


His peers have selected Indians pitcher Cliff Lee as the 2008 American League Comeback Player of the Year, one of the annual Players Choice Awards.
Lee, already the winner of the Players Choice Award as the AL's top pitcher and the Sporting News' AL pitcher of the year award, posted a 22-3 record and 2.54 ERA, tying for the major-league lead in wins and compiling the AL's lowest ERA.
This was in sharp contrast to his performance in 2007, when he compiled a 5-8 record and 6.29 ERA. Lee suffered a strained abdominal muscle in spring training and missed the first month of the season.
When he returned, he could not get untracked, was sent to Triple-A Buffalo in July and did not return to the Indians until September. Even after his callup, Lee was not given a spot in the rotation. He ended the season in the bullpen, seldom being used.
Outfielder Fernando Tatis, who batted .297 with 11 homers and 47 RBI in 92 games with the New York Mets, won the Players Choice Award as the National League Comeback Player of the Year after being out of baseball in 2004 and 2005.
He played in 28 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006 and spent all of 2007 at Triple-A New Orleans.
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