Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[buckeyemania11]

this team looks god awful right now

getting stomped by a terrible Oakland team again

one of the worst lineups in the league pounded our ace for the 2nd time in 6 days

[CincyBuck88]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

this team looks god awful right now

getting stomped by a terrible Oakland team again

one of the worst lineups in the league pounded our ace for the 2nd time in 6 days

And just as we are getting back into it and the bats just might be waking up... rain delay!

At least the bullpen has done very well today.

[buckeyemania11]

so they delayed the game with a 0-2 count?

im at work watching the gametracker

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Ace gets decked again Sabathia fails to get out of fourth in Indians' loss
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Saturday, Apr 12, 2008
CLEVELAND: You can bet that throughout the nation, fantasy baseball fanatics, tears welling up in their eyes, are hoping against hope that it's not true. You can almost hear them wail in unison, ''Say it ain't so, C.C..''
Or is that manager Eric Wedge, General Manager Mark Shapiro and Sabathia's lodge brothers in the Indians' clubhouse?
Unfortunately for all of them, it is true. Sabathia is walking around today weighed down by an 11.57 earned-run average after pitching his team to oblivion Friday night at Progressive Field. Yes, it was the Oakland Athletics earning a 9-7 win, their second effortless victory over Sabathia in a week.



Cont...

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Byrd, others will not be suspended Tribe pitcher relieved, says possible HGH penalty was a distraction
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Saturday, Apr 12, 2008
CLEVELAND: Neither Paul Byrd nor any other player cited in the Mitchell Report for using performance enhancing substances will be disciplined by Major League Baseball.
That was one of the decisions reached by Commissioner Bud Selig, as outlined in a joint statement from the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association. ''I didn't think it was bothering me that much, but it was,'' Byrd said Friday. ''I felt a sense of relief when I found out that there would be no suspension. I think it (not knowing) affected me a lot more than I thought.''
Byrd was named by the San Francisco Chronicle as a user of human growth hormone from 2002 to 2005, when it formally was banned by the commissioner. Byrd admitted being a user, citing a medical condition.



Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD
Cleveland Indians' C.C. Sabathia shelled in loss to Oakland

C.C. gives up nine in 3 1/3; rain delay snuffs Tribe rally
Saturday, April 12, 2008Joe Maxse
Plain Dealer Reporter
All Indians manager Eric Wedge asks of his starting pitchers is that they give his club a chance to stay in the game. C.C. Sabathia has done just that for the most part in his career.
But there was nothing normal about Sabathia's outing Friday night at Progressive Field as the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner was rocked for nine runs and a dozen hits in less than four innings. Try as they might, the deficit was just too much to overcome and the Indians fell to the Oakland Athletics, 9-7.
It's too bad because it was a case of the Indians' bullpen giving the home team a chance to rally. Four Tribe relievers held the Athletics scoreless after the fourth inning.
Never one to buck the consequences, Sabathia put the blame squarely on his huge shoulders.
"It's definitely frustrating not giving the guys a chance to win," said Sabathia (0-2, 11.57 ERA). "I stink right now. I'm not making good enough pitches to get guys out."




Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Indians' Paul Byrd won't be punished for using HGH


Saturday, April 12, 2008
Joe Maxse

Paul Byrd showed he had not lost a sense of humor over a situation that was no laughing matter. The Indians pitcher expressed relief with MLB's announcement Friday that it would not discipline players who had been named in the Mitchell Report.
"This brings back memories of being in a tunnel on a rainy day," said Byrd, referring to the press conference he held at Fenway Park before Game 7 of last season's ALCS. "I didn't think it was bothering me, but it was. I was worried about a suspension. I'm very relieved."
It was reported last fall that Byrd had purchased $25,000 in human growth hormone to treat a pituitary gland problem from 2002-05. Byrd joined the Indians in 2006.
As part of the agreement between MLB and the players' association, those named in the report will join in efforts to educate athletes about performance-enhancing drugs.
"I'm glad MLB took the time and did it right," said Byrd, who is off to an 0-2 start this season. "I'm pleased with the outcome. I opened up my big mouth in Boston. But I stand behind my story. The things I said in Boston were accurate."




Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

Oakland lights up C.C. Sabathia in topping Tribe
Saturday, April 12, 2008
BY Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND Maybe it's the pressure of impending free agency. Maybe it's his three starts ? one on Opening Day, two others against a team that seems to have his number. Maybe he's going through a midlife crisis at 27.

Maybe the answer is more complex. But there's something about C.C. Sabathia that's not quite right. That became more apparent following Friday's 9-7 loss to Oakland at Progressive Field.

The reigning Cy Young Award winner has begun the season with three consecutive clunkers, being charged with nine runs over 3 1/3 innings. Sabathia (0-2) gave up 14 baserunners while his season ERA rocketed to 11.57.

"I just (stink) right now," Sabathia said. "I feel great. There's no excuse, no reason why I'm pitching this way. It's one of those things."
Cont...

[osugrad21]

Canton

Indians closer to leaving Buffalo
Saturday, April 12, 2008
BY Andy Call
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND The Indians moved a step closer Friday to ending a 14-year affiliation with their Triple-A Buffalo farm club.

The Bisons announced at their home opener that there will no discussions toward an extension of the player development contract between the teams until after the season is completed.

A new ballpark being constructed in Columbus will open next summer, and the Indians are likely to switch affiliations to the Clippers. The New York Yankees ended a 27-year relationship with Columbus this season, taking on Scranton as their Triple-A club. Scranton's former partner, Philadelphia, now is joined with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Allentown.

The Washington Nationals, who teamed up with Columbus for this season, could send their players to Buffalo in 2009.

Cont...

[LitlBuck]

A new ballpark being constructed in Columbus will open next summer, and the Indians are likely to switch affiliations to the Clippers.

That would be very nice if that came to fruition. I think attendance at Clippers games would go up and it would not just be because they were playing in a new ballpark. Cleveland always has a quality AAA team.

On a side note, I am glad to hear that CC is taking sole responsibility for being shellacked by one of the worst hitting teams in the majors. Maybe he won't be so hot of a commodity after this season.

[NFBuck]

So far tonight, managing to make another no-name starter look like an all-star.

Why Wedge continues to [censored]ing start Jason Michaels is beyond me. Oh well, at least he has him at the bottom of the line-up tonight.

Fausto's control has been spotty so far this season, 5 walks already tonight, hopefully it's just the cold.

[buckeyemania11]

this team is awful

this Lenny DiNardo schlub is rolling like its nothing

[CincyBuck88]

Well we get within 1 then Perez opens the floodgates for them.

We had the bases loaded with 1 out and we get 1 run after Delucci walks. That's not getting it done.

Question for you guys though... I was always taught that the best hitter in the lineup should hit 3rd, and then the most powerful guy after that should hit fourth. If that's the case, shouldn't Martinez be in the 3-hole and Hafner hit cleanup? What's Wedge thinking with that?

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by CincyBuck88

Question for you guys though... I was always taught that the best hitter in the lineup should hit 3rd, and then the most powerful guy after that should hit fourth. If that's the case, shouldn't Martinez be in the 3-hole and Hafner hit cleanup? What's Wedge thinking with that?

I never try to figure out what he's thinking. It just makes my head hurt.

Well, right now, it looks like the Tribe from the LCS collapse has bled over into this season. They are just awful right now, all around. It's early, maybe it's the weather, but this needs to be righted pretty quickly. Otherwise, this could snowball into a terrible season.

[CincyBuck88]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

I never try to figure out what he's thinking. It just makes my head hurt.

He makes a lot of baffling moves, but I always that thought it was basic lineup strategy to hit your best guy third. Though it probably wouldn't make much of a difference with the way we're hitting as a team.

Its still real early. And at least we're not 2-9 like the Tigers. But things need to start changing soon.