Mailbag: What's ahead for Tribe?
11/07/2005Maybe the Indians have already done enough. Maybe they can just fine tune what they did last season. Maybe ... just maybe, Tribe fans can think about the World Series in 2006.
That's what ESPN is saying on its Web site. The media giant ranked the Indians as the No. 1 team in baseball as the sport heads into 2006. Like most fans, and me as well, ESPN did ask one big question:
"Can they sign Kevin Millwood?"
That's a question that general manager Mark Shapiro has said he'd like to answer, but the decision on Millwood will come down to hard, cold economics, and the economics might not make sense for a team that does have other needs.
But those needs notwithstanding, ESPN adds this note about the Tribe: "The Indians may be baseball's best team from top to bottom. They are young, loaded and hungry from their final-week collapse in '05. Cleveland could earn its first Series title since 1948."
That's heady stuff to hear, right? But before Tribe fans start booking their tickets to the postseason, the Indians have an offseason to deal with, an offseason that includes decisions that will dictate what 2006 might hold for a franchise that hasn't won a World Series in too many people's lifetimes.
Now, let's see if this heady talk from ESPN has caught the attention of Tribe fans, who dream of the Series as much as any sports fan in America.
Why look around for a first baseman? The Indians have one in Victor Martinez. They should be looking for a catcher who can help out defensively and move Martinez to first base.
Also, I believe that Jhonny Peralta will eventually be moved to third base and a good, steady, defensive shortstop will allow the Indians to have the best two young corner infielders in baseball.
Wouldn't Pudge Rodriguez or Mike Piazza look good in an Indians uniform next April? -- Fred, Baltimore
Pudge is not a free agent, and Piazza's value as a catcher isn't much. But let's stop this debate in its tracks: Martinez is the Indians catcher -- period. Anybody who disregards that fact hasn't been listening closely to Shapiro. Martinez's bat plays at the elite level for Major League catchers, but Shapiro doesn't see Martinez as having that same elite status if he were to move to first base.
So Martinez will be the Indians catcher for the next four, five or more years, if he stays healthy. Besides, what catcher out there can the Tribe get? The free agent market is thin in that area, Fred.
I just wanted to thank you for the very nice article regarding the passing of Hal Lebovitz. My brother and I also knew Hal, as he was a good friend and fellow sportswriter in Cleveland to our uncle Herman Goldstein of the Cleveland News.
My brother and I also grew up reading Hal's comments as well as our uncle's. They were both true sportswriters. In a recent conversation with Bob Feller, he had a great deal of respect for the old class of sportswriters in Cleveland. You really captured the real Hal in your article, and it brought back a lot of memories.
Just one correction to your article: Hal saw nine Cleveland championships. In addition to the two you listed, the Browns won four championships in 1946 through 1949 in the old AAFC league as well as three additional championships in the NFL in 1950, 1954 and 1955.
Those were the Otto Graham years. Again, thank you for the article. Hal truly deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. Many of today's writers could learn a few things from Hal's generation and report a little more about the athletes and the game and a lot less about controversies, off-the-field problems and other negative issues. -- Ed G.
Ed, thanks for the compliment. You should know, however, that I didn't forget those earlier titles. I had tried to focus on the last titles for the two dominant teams on the Cleveland sports scene, but the way my wording came out didn't do anything but muddle things. But I'll do better than that the next time I mention Hal and his prose.
I have family in Cleveland that has told me the name Carlos Delgado is one that could find itself playing first base for the Tribe. Don't you think it is a good fit both need-wise and money-wise? -- Jaxin S., Seattle
Carlos who? Jaxin, I think your family was playing a cruel joke on you, because if Delgado and his big salary end up in Cleveland, I'll shave my head bald. Oops! It's already shaved.
Keep in mind that the Indians need a right-handed bat, and Delgado doesn't help in that regard. Neither does Jim Thome, another name that keeps cropping up in offseason talk.
Let me repeat: The Tribe needs a right-handed bat. Don't listen to any trade talk or rumors to the contrary.
Are there any bona fide leadoff hitters within the Tribe organization that are relatively close to being called up to the bigs so we can move Grady Sizemore to the third spot? Also, I don't recall why Jeriome Robertson was considered a bust and released unconditionally. Could you fill me in on why he was dumped?
I'm not even going to comment on the whole Willy Taveras trade. -- Jim A., Boardman, Ohio
The less said about the Taveras trade the better, Jim. As for Robertson, he couldn't get anybody out, which is why he's not in the big leagues today. He had a lucky season with the Astros in which he won 14 or 15 games. But he wasn't nearly a 14-game winner in terms of his stuff. Why the Indians traded Taveras and Luke Scott for him is beyond me.
For now, the Indians have a No. 3 hitter; he's Jhonny Peralta, the next Miguel Tejada. I don't think the Tribe has a problem with Sizemore as its leadoff hitter. What the team needs is a middle of the lineup bat to complement Martinez and Travis Hafner. The top five hitters in the lineup are fine, in my opinion.
Surprised I have not yet heard any references in recent mailbags to "The Jake" no longer being "The Jake" -- at least officially, anyway. I think everyone will always call it that. But as I understand it, those naming rights are about expired now, right? Any hints you've been privy to? Hard to imagine that wonderful ballpark may soon become Sherwin Williams Field or Progressive Park or something uninspiring like that. -- Mark S., Cleveland
Hold on, Mark. I'm not sure when the exact date that the name will change, if it does. But I'll dig into this question and try to find an answer. "The Jake" does have a storied history, but the economics of the game might send it the way of "Gund Arena," "Enron Field" or "Comiskey Park," which is into sports archives.
I've followed the Indians from across The Pond since I became a baseball addict during their World Series loss to the Marlins in 1997. This year was a pleasure to witness, and the way the team kept the pressure on the White Sox was incredible. The Kansas City loss this year kind of reminded me of the Twins loss (Corey Koskie's homer) last year, but I'm sure it will just make the Indians stronger for next year. Who knows what could have been if we hadn't lost Arthur Rhodes and a chunk of Travis Hafner?
My question is this: I'm worried about our starting pitching next year. How do our prospects of obtaining/re-signing one to two quality starters compare to decisions faced by other teams with strong starters such as the White Sox and Angels? -- Richard B., Cheshunt, United Kingdom
One quality starter is what I see, but I don't see the Indians getting two, Richard. They'll need some of their money to shore up the offense, particularly to find a right-handed bat for either right field or first base.
I think the big problem with the Tribe this year was that they didn't have a big right-handed hitter. My view of this is: Why not try to sign a veteran hitter like Mike Sweeney from the Royals for a couple of young prospects?
This would be a perfect fit into the lineup because he can play first base, and I think he is the player to fill in that spot of the big right-handed hitter. What do you think? -- Tony S., Pawtucket, R.I.
Tony, I've addressed the Sweeney thing before. First of all, the Royals haven't expressed an interest in trading him, which means to woo him at all, the Indians will have to give the Royals an offer that's as big as the one the Expos gave the Indians for Bartolo Colon.
In addition, Sweeney's contract calls for a big jump in pay if he's traded. The guy already has a big contract, and why would the Indians take it on? One more point: Sweeney is always hurt.
I think until people realize that you don't need a roster of star players to be a good team, I'll keep getting questions about trading a boatload of talent for one aging, overpriced player (Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome fit into this category). Look at the White Sox. The priority should be on pitching, a strong bullpen, good defense and smarter production on offense. Sweeney isn't worth what the Indians would have to pay to get him.
I always thought it would be a good switch for the Columbus Clippers (Yankees) and the Buffalo Bisons (Indians) to switch cities. I think fan interest in both the parent club and Minor League club would benefit. Makes sense to me. I'm a Tribe fan and would love to see this happen. What would it take? -- Jim N., Lancaster, Ohio
Not sure what it would take, Jim. It's a good idea, and I know it would give the Indians significant inroads into the Columbus market. But do baseball fans in Columbus really want to give up their ties with the Yankees? I'm just not sure that's the case.
Where do you think Daniel Denham is going to start his season at next year? Do you think the Indians will have enough faith in him to start the season out with him on the 25-man roster, or are they going to start him in Buffalo and wait to see how he does, and then call him up after the All-Star break, considering if he does well or not? -- Zach H. Oakley, Calif.
I wouldn't count on seeing Denham in the bigs anytime soon. The Tribe has a lot of arms ahead of him, including left-hander Jeremy Sowers, the No. 1 pick in 2004. Denham, a former No. 1 himself, hasn't progressed nearly as well as the organization had thought he would, and I wouldn't rank him as one of the team's top 25 prospects.
With Billy Traber, Brian Tallet and Jason Stanford awaiting a return to the Majors, I'd say Denham's hopes for 2006 are slim to none.
If there is anybody that the Indians should focus on re-signing, it should be Bob Howry. Jason Davis is ready to step into the rotation, so I won't be too worried if Millwood leaves. Also, when we didn't have a legitimate closer at the back end of the bullpen, our bullpen was terrible. David Riske can't do it, neither can Rafael Betancourt. Howry can, and I think he should be our first priority. -- Mark A., Cleveland
For the most part, I think you're right. I do look at the bullpen as priority No. 1 for the Indians this offseason, so getting Howry, Bob Wickman or somebody else who can close needs to be the focus. It has to be, because no one wants to see the bullpen disaster that was 2004 repeated in 2006.
But is Davis the logical replacement for Millwood or Elarton in the starting rotation? I can't say that for a fact. I like Davis' stuff, but he hasn't been able to harness it and turn it into consistent performances.
You did a great job picking the Tribe to win 90 games this past year. Though it might be too early to pick an exact number, do you see the Indians eclipsing their total from the past season in 2006? -- Luke F., Tiffin, Ohio
Yep, it's too early, Luke. I need to see what the Tribe does about rebuilding its pitching staff -- specifically, the bullpen.
Quite a season! It seemed to me that manager Eric Wedge finally got his season going when he stabilized his lineup, i.e., the players had their place in the field and in the batting order. That's a team.
As for Al Lopez, he will be remembered for being the only manager to beat the Yankees (twice, 1948 and 1954) between 1947 and 1955. But I'll remember him more for not starting Bob Feller in the 1954 World Series after Feller had one of the best percentage records in baseball, 13-3. I have never heard or read Feller commenting negatively about that, however.
Sports Illustrated had a good article on "Rapid Robert" a few months ago about his career after baseball. -- Frank M.
As always, thanks for your comments, Frank. I think it's good to end my Mailbag with some memories of Senor Lopez, a man whose death last week left the world worse off for not having him in it.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
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