Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

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Dispatch

Rob Oller commentary: Wedge's composure is an asset for Indians

Thursday, January 24, 2008 3:34 AM
By Rob Oller


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


No hair ever strays out of place with this tortoise. Steady Eric Wedge is nothing if not in control of his appearance, his emotions and his team.
A year ago, that calm and calculated approach to managing the Cleveland Indians did not sit well with fans who wanted a fire-breathing butt-kicker in the dugout.
This offseason, however, three months removed from an American League Central title and near World Series appearance, Wedge's loudest detractors speak in hushed tones. They are not silent, mind you. Some beefs never disappear. So Wedge will continue to take heat for leaving his starters in too long against the Boston Red Sox in the American League championship series, or for some other supposed sin.

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ABJ

Indians relieved to sign reliever
Betancourt's deal worth $5.4 million for two years
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
CLEVELAND: Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro kept the streak going Wednesday by signing setup man Rafael Betancourt to a two-year guaranteed contract with a club option for 2010.
With Betancourt in the fold, the Tribe is one player away from going 17 years without being forced into an arbitration hearing. The deed still is not done. Third baseman Casey Blake filed for arbitration, asking for a salary of $6.9 million, $1.5 million more than the team offered. Last year, Blake made $3.75 million.
''Chris (assistant GM Chris Antonetti) continues to have meaningful conversations,'' Shapiro said of ongoing negotiations with Blake's agent. ''We're hopeful of getting something done. If we don't, we're comfortable with the arbitration process.''

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ABJ

Indians prospect gets back in swing
Shin-Soo Choo attends winter program as he recovers from surgery
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Jan 18, 2008


CLEVELAND: Left-hander Shin-Soo Choo once pitched five games in seven days during a tournament for Busan High School in his native South Korea ? totaling a whopping 44 innings.
That's quite a strain on a teenage arm that's still developing. Not to mention a daunting load that no one would allow a veteran major-league pitcher to consider.
''Korea don't care about players' bodies,'' said Choo, who signed with the Seattle Mariners for $1.35 million shortly after being named the Most Valuable Player and best pitcher in the 2000 World Junior Championship held in Edmonton, Alberta. ''It's just, make the championship.''

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[Piney]

Originally Posted by OH10

[censored] that. Trade C.C. He didn't do [censored] in the playoffs last year anyway. If he doesn't want to be here, then simply ride him hard for the first half of the season, then dump his bones on someone else for some hitting.

Of course players don't learn from experience and get better from it . CC has done this the past 2 years becoming the Cy Young pitcher he is. Who is to say that now that he has experienced the post season (for the 1st time)that now he can control his emotions better and pitch like he did during the regular season?

But I am not saying don't trade CC. But we would have to get a TON of players and a few of them major league ready. (Matt Kemp was exactly who I was thinking of in my scenario)

Originally Posted by OH10

So you're saying a small-market team that needs every long-term advantage it can get should just mortgage its future for one run?

How is it mortgaging the future to keep CC? Are we trading off all of our other young pitching prospects along with CC? Oh yeah... losing ONE player to free agency will kill the long term viability of this team. An injury can do the same thing. ONE player does not kill a team, especially in baseball.

But I know what you mean... we aren't "restocking" the farm system. Do we really need more prospects? We are one of the top minor league systems in the league. And IF we lose CC to free agency we do get two first round draft picks as compensation. So if you really think "long-term" that isn't a bad consolation prize.

Sorry, but we are still one of the favorites to make the playoffs and win it all. And CC is a big reason why as you need stud pitchers in the playoffs.

But here is the big picture. Here are two options... which do you prefer...

Option #1 - A few games back from the Tigers come the trade deadline. Trade CC to "restock" the farm system. Fall out of contention and takes 2-3 years for the players we got in the trade to be stars and thus to be in contention again. Fans get upset and Dolan has to cut salary, no new free agents brought in. In 2-3 years if the players we got from the CC trade don't do well the fans will be talking about trading Grady Sizmore as there is no way we can afford to keep him when he becomes a free agent in 1-2 years. Rinse and repeat cycle...

Option #2 - A few games back from the Tigers come the trade deadline. We keep CC and overtake the Tigers and/or NY/Boston to win the division/wildcard. Now teams fear the Indians due to having a great 1-2 combo. Do we win it? Do we fall short? All I can say is we have a great chance to win it, but we do have that chance. *** Fast forward to free agency - We lose CC, but fans are supporting the team as we came close again (or won it all). Dolan has some money from the playoffs and tells Shapiro to replace CC. So Shapiro brings in a pitcher and while the new pitcher isn't CC he is an adequate #2/#3 pitcher. So we still can contend in 2009.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

INDIANS Shapiro
Indians GM Shapiro pleased with quiet off-season


Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Indians haven't impressed many people with their off-season acquisitions. Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi, utility man Jamey Carroll and a sprinkling of spring-training invitees haven't satisfied the general managers who operate in cyberspace or make the rounds on the local sports talk radio and TV shows.
Mark Shapiro, during a stop Tuesday night at the Mayfield Heights Boneyard as part of the team's winter press tour, said he understands their frustration, but doesn't seem inclined to do anything about it. The man's opinion counts because he really is the general manager of the Indians.
"We've gone through the most active part of the off-season," said Shapiro, when asked if he was done trying to improve the team. "Historically, big deals don't get done in spring training."

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CPD

Cleveland Indians still lamenting the playoffs that got away


Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Indians' winter press tour began Monday and many of the players chose to look back before looking forward to a new season.
They reflected on a 3-1 lead over the world champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series in October, only to lose in seven games. The three Indians' wins were Boston's only postseason defeats.
"We saw the light at the end of the tunnel, we saw the finish line," said outfielder David Dellucci. "We had our hands reaching for the World Series and we fell short. Probably because this is a young team that hasn't been in that situation worked as a negative instead of a positive.

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