Sowers on fast track to big leagues
01/20/2006
CLEVELAND -- In the world of baseball, Jeremy Sowers is a young gun moving up the ranks in the Minor Leagues with dizzying speed.
But when walking the magnolia-lined streets of the Vanderbilt University campus this winter, the 22-year-old Sowers felt like a grizzled vet, as he finished up his degree in political science.
"Going back this time, I was blatantly older than the people around me," he said of his experience at Vanderbilt. "Everybody there was young.
"You don't really notice the difference between you and an 18-year-old until you go back and look around and say, 'Everybody here looks really, really young.' You feel old, even though you're 22."
Perhaps, then, standing among his fellow Indians prospects at Case Western University's Veale Center, where the Tribe is holding its annual Winter Development program, felt a little more comfortable for Sowers.
But if his 2006 season goes to plan, he won't be standing among fellow prospects for long. He'll be with his Indians teammates.
Before the Tribe signed free agent Jason Johnson to fill out the rotation last month, Sowers' name had come up as a potential No. 5 starter for the ballclub this year. That consideration alone is high praise for Sowers when you remember he recently finished his first full season of professional ball.
"It lets me know the organization has confidence in my ability," he said. "To be in such a position just one season into being a professional ballplayer, it's an honor. I just need to keep it up."
The Indians feel comfortable in the assumption the left-handed Sowers, their No. 1 pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, will do that. He gave them evidence that his performance lived up to his reputation with an '05 season that saw him go a combined 14-4 with a 2.37 ERA between Class A Kinston, Double-A Akron and one spot start at Triple-A Buffalo.
No matter what level he pitched at in 2005, Sowers was effective and efficient with his four-pitch mix. He knows he still has work to do, though.
"I need to become more accurate," he said. "I need to enhance my changeup and get a little better with my curveball. I have to work on holding the running game a little better.
"There's no part of the game you can ever be content with in this sport, because people always adjust and you need to be better."
The Tribe will send him to Buffalo to get better this season, even though many in the organization believe the kid could be ready to make a big-league impact. The team just doesn't have an opening for him at this time.
"We feel he still can benefit from innings at the Triple-A level," farm director John Farrell said. "Whether that's 10 starts or 15 starts, it's not a predetermined number. We were fortunate last year in that a sixth starter was only needed [in the big leagues] on a few occasions. At some point, provided the opportunity arises and the need is there, I think Jeremy Sowers will be ready."
Sowers doesn't know when he'll be ready, exactly. He's just waiting for word from the higher-ups.
"Anybody would say the sooner you can get there, the better," he said. "But in my case, I don't know what it takes, necessarily, to be at that level. So I rely on people in the organization to let me know whether or not I'm getting where I want to be."
Sowers has already gotten where he wants to be from an academic standpoint. The young pitcher who's as comfortable discussing foreign policy as he is discussing fastballs said at the time he was drafted that he intended to get his degree, and that's just what he did last month.
"Political science is something that interests me," he said. "I like hearing about it, I like talking about it. I feel I can hold a conversation with anybody about politics. It makes me feel well-rounded."
Sowers likes that feeling much more than feeling old.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Caravan satiates baseball-hungry fans
01/23/2006
WALNUT CREEK, Ohio -- The meal was perfectly fitting for the setting.
Fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie filled the plates of the 500 or so fans who came out Monday night for the Indians' Winter Caravan stop at the Carlisle Village Inn.
How appropriate -- down-home, old-fashioned cooking in a down-home, old-fashioned kind of place.
But from out of the kitchen came a rather startling site that stood in stark contrast to the simple surroundings.
It was, shockingly, a lone bottle of Tabasco sauce, ordered up by a rebel attendee.
The culprit? That wasn't as surprising. It was Tribe catcher Victor Martinez, who felt the need to add a little flavor to his fowl.
This, it would appear, is what happens when a Venezuelan comes to Amish Country.
"Latin spice," said Indians broadcaster Matt Underwood, who emceed the event and ratted Martinez out to the crowd. "He needs that."
And the fans who packed this charming country inn needed their fix of baseball talk.
That's just what Underwood, Martinez, right-handers Paul Byrd and Rafael Betancourt and hitting coach Derek Shelton delivered through a Q&A session with fans, an evening punctuated by an autograph session and live auction.
The Q&A session was all of about a half-second old when a fan raised his hand and asked, "What about the Coco Crisp trade?"
Clearly, the potential trade that would send the popular outfielder to the Red Sox is the talk of this and any town that supports the Indians.
Underwood responded with the same answer general manager Mark Shapiro had given reporters at Jacobs Field earlier in the day -- no deal is done, so there's not much comment to offer.
And so the focus shifted to more certain matters.
Fans wanted to know what the team will do to get off to a better start in '06, and Shelton replied that the club will do more hitting drills in Spring Training to be more prepared for the season.
Fans wanted to know why Byrd chose to sign with the Indians, and he told them about his affinity for the Tribe's defense and the organization as a whole.
"And I don't like the White Sox, so that helps," Byrd added with a smile.
That drew a round of applause from the audience, which seemed to enjoy the opportunity to converse with a few players about the season ahead.
The players got just as much enjoyment out of the experience, as well as the setting. Needless to say, this two-hour bus ride down Interstate 77 was much different from the road trips a big leaguer makes during the regular season.
"It's nice down here," Shelton said. "It's great to see different people and how excited they are about the season."
Shelton had visited Amish Country before, but this trip was a first for Betancourt.
"It's nice and quiet," Betancourt said. "That's the way I like it. I don't like a lot of noise."
Laughter was the noise that filled the air when the news spread about Martinez's order. One fan wanted to know if he had put the Tabasco sauce on his pie.
"I didn't eat any pie," Martinez replied.
Blasphemy. Who could pass up the pie in this place?
"I don't think we should invite him back next year," Underwood quipped.
Well, that's probably not a good idea. After all, who else is going to use up that Tabasco?
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Report: Tribe, Sox close on Crisp deal
01/22/2006
CLEVELAND -- The Indians are reportedly close to shipping outfielder Coco Crisp to the Red Sox for a package that includes reliever Guillermo Mota and third-base prospect Andy Marte.
The Boston Herald and Boston Globe both had reports on the potential deal in their Sunday editions, with the Herald reporting it was agreed upon in principle, contingent on the Indians first finding a replacement for Crisp in the outfield.
According to the Herald report, the Indians would spur the Crisp deal by sending left-hander Arthur Rhodes or right-hander Rafael Betancourt to the Phillies for outfielder Jason Michaels or by acquiring free agent Jeff DaVanon.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro would neither confirm nor deny the reports.
"The Cleveland Indians have a longstanding policy of not commenting on individual trades until they are complete," Shapiro said in a statement released by a team spokesman. "That said, we are constantly examining ways to improve the short- and long-term competitiveness of the Cleveland Indians and are therefore always involved in conversations with other organizations.
"If there is a trade to announce, we will comment more formally at that point."
Crisp has been the subject of trade rumors for months, and those rumors heated up when center fielder Johnny Damon left Boston to sign a free agent deal with the Yankees.
The Red Sox have reportedly been aggressive in their pursuit of the switch-hitting Crisp, who hit .300 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs in 2005. The Indians, meanwhile, had been rumored to be talking to Crisp, who is eligible for arbitration, about a multiyear contract.
For the Indians, the biggest acquisition in the rumored deal would be Marte, who was acquired by the Red Sox in last month's trade that sent Edgar Renteria to the Braves. Marte hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs for Triple-A Richmond and saw 24 games of action with the Braves last season.
In addition to Crisp, the Herald is also reporting that the Sox are on the verge of signing free agent Alex Gonzalez. The 28-year-old former Florida Marlin is expected to play shortstop and bat ninth for Boston.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Shapiro declines to confirm rumors
01/23/2006
CLEVELAND -- General manager Mark Shapiro flew to the Caribbean to get away for a few days. He came back to the United States on Sunday night to find word of his private trade talks spreading like wildfire.
"That was a heck of a time to go on vacation," Shapiro told reporters at Jacobs Field on Monday afternoon.
Indeed, because when Shapiro landed back in Cleveland, his voicemail and e-mail inboxes were flooded with interview requests.
Widespread reports have the Indians sending popular outfielder Coco Crisp and two low-level prospects to the Red Sox for reliever Guillermo Mota and third-base project Andy Marte. Right-hander Manny Delcarmen is also rumored to be in the mix.
The club is also expected to make a second deal with the Phillies by sending a reliever -- possibly Arthur Rhodes, David Riske or Mota -- to Philadelphia for outfielder Jason Michaels.
Though several sources have confirmed the involved clubs have had serious discussions, neither deal is complete or 100 percent certain of happening. Physicals must be completed by any players involved.
So without a firm deal in place, Shapiro made it clear he would not be discussing the situation directly.
"When there's something to announce, I'll speak freely and openly about it," he said. "We're in constant conversations with other clubs about trades. Sometimes [the discussions] leak out, but most times they don't."
Given the private nature with which Shapiro prefers to do his business, his words reflected disappointment that wind of the trade conversations had been picked up nationally.
"It's not efficient to do business that way," Shapiro said, "and it's disrespectful to the players."
With that, Shapiro turned the floor over to manager Eric Wedge, who will be taking part in the team's Winter Caravan all week.
Wedge was equally evasive about the trade rumors, and he refused to speculate how the moves would affect the lineup.
Wedge did, however, refute the notion that the potential trades would seem to benefit the Indians more in the long term than the short.
"Anything we do, we want it to be positive for this year and beyond," he said. "We're not doing anything that will have an ill effect on this year. We're not going to take any steps back."
For the Indians, the trade with the Red Sox would address one of the organization's few areas of weakness in the farm system. The Tribe is without a legitimate third-base prospect, and Aaron Boone is only under contract through 2006, though the club does have a mutual option with Boone for 2007.
The 22-year-old Marte, who hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs for Triple-A Richmond and saw 24 games of action with the Braves last season, has been listed by some publications as one of the top prospects in all of baseball, though he's not expected to be Major League ready for the opening of the 2006 season.
In Michaels, the Indians would be getting a player who has never had an everyday job in the big leagues. Michaels, who shared time with Kenny Lofton in center field last year, hit .304 with four homers and 31 RBIs and a .399 on-base percentage in 105 games.
Mota went 2-2 with a 4.70 ERA and two saves for the Marlins last season and missed several weeks of the season with a sore right elbow and sore right shoulder.
Though the Indians had reportedly been talking to Crisp, who is eligible for arbitration, about a multiyear contract, no deal has been made with him for the 2006 season.
As talk of the potential trades continues to filter around town and around the country, the Indians' only official reaction is one of disappointment that their private trade talks had leaked.
"Out of respect to the players, you want to keep things close to the vest," Wedge said. "It's unfortunate that anything is out there."
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Mailbag: Crisp trade a good idea?
01/23/2006
While you're reading this, I'm probably on a bus somewhere.
No, I haven't signed up for one of those senior-citizen bus trips to Windsor, Ontario, to get my slot-machine fix. At least, not this week.
Rather, I'm on the Indians' Winter Caravan, which is winding its way throughout Tribe Country all week. Be sure to look for me in Walnut Creek, Ashtabula, Erie, Pa., Akron, Canton and Youngstown. I'll be the only one who looks like he'd have significant trouble fielding a ground ball.
But while I'm inhaling bus fumes, you, no doubt, have some questions you want answered about the '06 Indians. Perhaps your questions will be answered here. If not, be sure to send one of them in through that handy submission box with my ugly mug on it below.
Your submission, I should point out, comes with no guarantee of a response, but at least you'll have the satisfaction of having your voice heard. It's kind of like voting, though slightly more important, if you ask me.
All right, the bus is leaving, so let's get to it.
All I have to say is economically, the Coco Crisp trade makes no sense to me. Crisp has a breakout season in '05, hitting .300 with 42 doubles, and we have the opportunity to lock him up longterm for next to nothing. This would seem the way to go, instead of looking elsewhere. I do think that Guillermo Mota is a nice addition and Andy Marte would be potentially good in '07, once Aaron Boone's contract is up. But sacrificing one of the main "core" players (and a fan favorite) for a Jeff DaVanon, an unestablished relief pitcher, and a "potential" superstar prospect, doesn't seem to be in proper timing. -- Joe W., Athens, Ohio
I received my first e-mail about the reports of this trade at 4:28 a.m. Sunday and had roughly 50 more e-mails about it within a matter of hours. Not one of them was from a fan in support of this deal.
As of this writing (Sunday evening), nothing is official. The Indians haven't given any confirmation that the reports from the Boston newspapers are legit.
Personally, I'm a little skeptical about what the Indians would be getting back for Crisp. Trading a player as popular as he is will get the requisite groaning, of course, but this is a move that would seem to benefit the Indians' future much more than the present. Marte is a top third-base prospect who could probably take over the reins from Boone in 2007, but what does that do for the Tribe in '06? Not much.
I'll reserve further judgment until a deal is official (if that happens), but if my inbox is any indication, fans are rather peeved at the prospect of this move.
So now that the whole Crisp fiasco has happened, where do we line up for our slice of your paychecks? -- Scott C., Phoenix
Hey, hey, hey, Scott. Let's hold off on putting me in bankruptcy until it's guaranteed Crisp will be in another uniform next season. And if that is the case, you better believe I'll be coming after Justice B. Hill, who had the audacity to bet my paychecks on Coco staying put.
I hear rumors that C.C. Sabathia will be joining the World Baseball Classic Team America. This will mean that he will miss the majority of Spring Training. We need him to get off to a good start and not be terrible like the rest of the team last year. How does Mark Shapiro feel about this? -- Mike M., Monroe, N.Y.
It's nice to hear a rumor that's actually true, Mike. Yes, Sabathia is on the provisional U.S. roster for the WBC and could very well be in the club's starting rotation.
Shapiro, as you might guess, is a tad nervous about Sabathia pitching in a competitive situation before the season starts. Though C.C. is hoping to keep his adrenaline in check, he acknowledged that it will be difficult to not give his all for this event. He didn't make the final roster for the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, so he's been hungry for some international action.
But if you're Shapiro -- or any other GM sending a top pitcher to the WBC -- you're almost backed into a corner of being supportive of this tournament, which MLB is clearly excited about. He has already been given assurance that Sabathia would not be used in a relief situation, and I'm sure any starts he'd make would be limited by a strict pitch count.
The Indians' organization has 12 other players on the provisional rosters for the WBC. They are: C Josh Roberts, Australia; RHP T.J. Burton, Canada; INFs Ronnie Belliard and Jhonny Peralta, Dominican Republic; C Einar Diaz and OF Cirilo Cumberbatch, Panama; RHP Fernando Cabrera and INF Eduardo Perez, Puerto Rico; RHP Rafael Betancourt, OF Franklin Gutierrez and C Victor Martinez, Venezuela.
With the Indians missing out on some of the bigger free agents and therefore saving money, do you think this might open the window for Larry Dolan to OK a trade for a high-priced veteran when needed during the season? -- Brad M., Solon, Ohio
It's possible, Brad. If the Indians find themselves missing one piece of the puzzle come late July and that piece is out there on the trade front, I don't think Shapiro would be shy about unloading a prospect or two to get him.
But I suppose the answer to this question also depends on your definition of "high price," because while the Indians might have saved some money by losing out on guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Trevor Hoffman this offseason, we can't very well expect them to take on any players in the upper tier of MLB salaries. Not in this market.
I'm a bit shell-shocked as to why the Indians let go of hope with Brian Tallet. Tallet has great talent, and I don't see any reason to trade him to the Jays for pretty much a no-name guy. Can you help me and the rest of the Tribe fans out here with this one? -- Andrew Z., Struthers, Ohio
It's a simple matter of the Indians running out of room on their 40-man roster, Andrew. They needed to create a spot for Eduardo Perez, and they deemed Tallet the least likely member of the roster to make a significant impact at the Major League level this season. When you consider how long it's taken Tallet to come back into form after his '03 elbow surgery, I guess it's hard to argue with the Indians on this one.
The Tribe found a taker for Tallet in the Blue Jays, who sent them Bubbie Buzachero in return. You say he's a no name? I say he sounds like he could be a "Sopranos" character. In any event, getting something for Tallet beats the alternative of losing him to another team through waivers.
What happened to Michael Aubrey? Is he attending a hamstring seminar put on by Juan Gonzalez, or what? -- Keith P., Fayetteville, N.C.
Yes, and Ken Griffey Jr. will be this week's special guest speaker.
Actually, farm director John Farrell told me Aubrey is fully healthy and ready to go in Spring Training. The Tribe's No. 1 pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft only saw 28 games of action last year, during which he hit .283 with four homers and 20 RBIs at Double-A Akron. I'd expect him to be back with the Aeros at the outset of this season.
I have been following Ryan Garko ever since he was a catcher at Servite High School. What are the plans for Garko since Martinez has the catching spot locked up? Do the Indians see him getting any playing time at the Major League level or are they keeping him as trade bait? -- Fredy B., Crescent City, Calif.
Garko certainly won't be used as trade bait, Fredy. The Indians see this guy as every bit a part of their future as Martinez, Jhonny Peralta or Grady Sizemore.
But the key word on Garko is "future," because he won't be with the club when camp breaks in April. The Indians want him playing every day at Triple-A Buffalo at the outset of the season, as he continues to hone his first-base skills.
Barring an injury, I'd be willing to bet my extensive Chia Pet collection on Garko seeing some time in the big leagues this season.
Last year, the Tribe dropped 36 games, more than half its losses, by one run. It's often been said that a one-run loss is as much the fault of the coaching staff as it is of the players. What I want to know is was this the result of an inexperienced manager leading inexperienced hitters, in which that extra run or two could not be found, or was it the case that our great bullpen simply didn't let leads get out of reach? -- Patrick D., Warren, Ohio
The Indians did a study of all those one-run losses and found an inordinate number of them were the case of the team attempting to mount a comeback and falling just short. That could have been the result of many factors -- from a substitution that wasn't made, a clutch hit that wasn't delivered or an early mistake by the pitching staff that came back to haunt the team.
You make a good point about the youth of the coaching staff, though. We talk a lot about the maturation of the young hitters, but let's not forget that Eric Wedge is maturing as a manager, as well. I happen to think he's come a long way since 2003, but those one-run losses never look good on a manager's resume.
As far as '06 is concerned, the pitching staff has been hurt by the free agent losses of Kevin Millwood and Bob Howry. But I'm of the belief this team should be able to generate offense more consistently this season than in 2005, which should help drastically curb that number of one-run defeats.
I was surprised to see Ryan Mulhern go unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft and even more surprised to see no one take him. What gives? -- Brian P., Euclid, Ohio
It was ironic that Mulhern was named the organization's Lou Boudreau Award winner for the Minor League Player of the Year the same day he was exposed to the Rule 5 draft.
Wait, is that irony? I've had little concept of the true definition of the word ever since that Alanis Morissette song came out years back.
Well anyway, the thing we must remember about the Rule 5 draft is players taken in it must be kept on the 25-man roster throughout the season, or else be sent back to the club they were drafted from.
The Indians felt comfortable leaving Mulhern exposed, because they didn't think any team would classify him as 100 percent Major League ready just yet. Also, guys taken in the Rule 5 are traditionally pitchers or middle-of-the-diamond position players. It's rare for a corner outfielder like Mulhern to be selected.
Who would be the Indians closer if Bob Wickman gets hurt? -- Chuck H., Wadsworth, Ohio
The plan for the time being is to use some combination of Arthur Rhodes and/or Rafael Betancourt in emergency save situations. But now both of those names are popping up in trade rumors involving the Phillies, so who knows?
I was looking over Aaron Boone's career stats and I was surprised to see that his overall stats from last year were not too far off from his career stats. Is he really as good as the team projects him to be, or is he just a guy who had one big hit in one big game? -- Scott G., Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Boone's final '05 numbers barely reflect the story of a guy who struggled to hit his weight for much of the first half of the season. But you're right that he's rarely been one to hit for a very high average. His .294 mark in 2001 with the Reds was a career high.
Where Boone really fell off last year was in run production. This is the same guy who drove in 96 runs in 2003 before injuring his knee in that basketball accident. He came back with the Tribe and was a shell of his former self at the plate, driving in 60 runs last season. I think both he and the Indians underestimated how difficult it would be for him to come back after missing a year of action.
I don't think the Indians are too far off in their assumption he'll be closer to the Boone of old this year.
I was looking at the projected starting pitching roles, and I'm pretty sure that Cliff Lee had the best season out of them all. Why not make him the No. 1 starter, then C.C. and so on. Lee was up there for votes in the AL CY Young Award. What do you think about making him the No. 1 guy? -- Bill O., Medina, Ohio
I think No. 1 designations are pretty arbitrary, on the whole, but C.C. deserves the job, given his experience and leadership qualities.
It will be interesting to see how the rotation shakes out this season. I guarantee Jason Johnson and Jake Westbrook won't be pitching back-to-back, because they have such similar styles. So even though we might be able to look at the rotation and classify those two as Nos. 4 and 5, one of them will end up being slotted earlier.
My point here is that a guy's slot in the rotation is not always indicative of his true rank in terms of potential for wins or ERA or anything like that. It's more often determined by matchups and how his talents complement those of the remainder of the staff.
Well, that's it for this week's installment of the Mailbag. See you on the road!
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Mota fails physical in Cleveland
01/24/2006
CLEVELAND -- Coco Crisp remained an Indian at the end of the day Tuesday. Now that The Associated Press is reporting that Guillermo Mota failed his physical in Cleveland, it's possible Crisp could end up staying that way.
The Tribe moved a step closer to shipping the popular outfielder to the Red Sox by having Mota in town for a physical that was generally regarded to be the last step in the days-long trade saga.
Reports indicate the Tribe was planning to send Crisp, right-hander David Riske and backup catcher Josh Bard to Boston for Mota, third base prospect Andy Marte and catching prospect Kelly Shoppach.
Once that deal was complete, the Indians were expected to trade left-handed setup man Arthur Rhodes to the Phillies for outfielder Jason Michaels.
But a Phillies official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Mota had failed his physical, putting the chain of deals in jeopardy.
Given Mota's injury troubles while with the Marlins in 2005, during which he missed nearly all of May with right elbow inflammation and two weeks of September because of shoulder tendinitis, the failed physical is not a total shock.
An Indians spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the report of the failed physical.
Should the Mota portion of the deal fall through, speculation out of Boston is that he could be replaced in the trade by right-handed reliever Manny Delcarmen, who posted a 3.00 ERA in 10 appearances with the Red Sox last season.
Still, the Indians remain tight-lipped about the trade conversations.
That has left Crisp's agent, Steve Comte, in the dark about what might be going on with his client.
"He could [end up] in Boston but he could still be in Cleveland," Comte said Tuesday. "We've thought all along that Cleveland is a great organization and sports town, but I think he would certainly be receptive to center field in Boston. We think he can play out there. Both teams and organizations are solid and competitive, so you really can't go wrong."
Crisp's name has floated in trade rumors involving the Red Sox all winter. Callers have flooded local sports talk radio shows in recent days with rallying cries against trading Crisp, who is one of the team's most popular and marketable young players.
Comte said Crisp hasn't been rattled by all the speculation one bit.
"If you know Covelli at all, he's a very mature young guy," Comte said. "He understands it's all part of the business and there are different issues that come into play, such as economics and team need. He understands it's the way of life."
If the deal were to go down as speculated, the Indians would likely replace Crisp, who is arbitration eligible, in left field with Michaels, who hit .304 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 289 at-bats while scoring a career-high 54 runs last season. Michaels recently avoided arbitration with the Phillies by agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
But the biggest acquisition for the Indians in the trades would be Marte, who is considered to be on the cusp of big-league readiness after posting a .275 average with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs for Triple-A Richmond last season. Marte saw 24 games of action with the Braves in '05 and hit .140 in 57 at-bats.
For what it's worth, Baseball America ranked Marte as the Red Sox's top prospect, with Shoppach and Delcarmen each ranking in the Top 10.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Tribe Caravan warms up Geneva
01/24/2006
GENEVA, Ohio -- The road that winds north of Interstate 90 in the direction of the Geneva Lodge & Conference Center is literally littered with signs of summer.
Signs urging you to take the kids to Family Fun Mini-Golf.
Signs touting Eddie's Grill and its tempting promise of fresh lemonade.
Signs that point you to Sands Beachfront Motel.
But the surest sign of summer on this wintry Tuesday morning in this small resort town came in the form of the Indians Winter Caravan, which pulled up to the lodge for its annual Ashtabula County stop.
More than 400 fans packed the lodge's ballroom for a ballpark-style luncheon, Q&A presentation, autograph session and live auction benefiting the WFUN-AM scholarship fund.
A good portion of the crowd was comprised of little kids who no doubt faked a few coughs to get out of school for the sake of getting up close and personal with Tribe pitchers Cliff Lee and Rafael Betancourt, catcher Victor Martinez and hitting coach Derek Shelton.
Well, OK, some of the kids had excused absences. Take Steve Miller's kids, for example. The Ashtabula resident brought along his 12-year-old daughter, Julia, and 11-year-old son, Joe, to a special meet-and-greet, VIP session before the luncheon.
"I told the school [Julie and Joe] have to come with Dad today," Miller said.
Miller brings his kids to the event every year, and this year's event was particularly special, because Joe got to meet his favorite player, Martinez.
In fact, Martinez's participation was part of the reason this year's event sold out a week and a half before it took place. Fans in this area are excited about the team's 93-win season in '05, and they came here to show their support.
"Ashtabula County fans are passionate," said Dana Schulte, vice president and general manager of WFUN. "Last year's event sold out, but this year's sold out a week and a half in advance. It just shows the passion of the fans around here."
And with the threat of a snow storm rolling into town, who wouldn't be passionate about a reminder of the summer ahead?
Reminders were in abundance at the luncheon, during which waiters and waitresses dressed as vendors and handed out hot dogs, hamburgers, Cracker Jack bags, peanuts and popcorn.
The fans were also treated to a highlight video of clips from the '05 season, and Shelton told the crowd that the reel gave him goosebumps, even though it was the second time he had seen it in as many days.
"This was my first chance to do one of these [press tours]," Shelton said, "and I've just been taken back by the support we've seen."
Indeed, it seemed the road pointing to signs of summer was pretty accurate, after all.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Tribe inks Broussard to one-year deal
01/25/2006
CLEVELAND -- The Indians have been talking for weeks about the platoon situation they'll have at first with Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez this coming season.
One little thing that had to get done, though: They had to get Broussard under contract first.
That finally happened Wednesday night, as the Tribe avoided arbitration with Broussard by signing him to a one-year contract worth $2.48 million.
The 29-year-old Broussard will continue to get the starts at first against right-handed pitching. He'll be looking to put together a much more consistent season than he had in 2005, during which he hit .255 with 19 home runs, 30 doubles and 68 RBIs.
The Indians are counting on better production than that.
"This is a pivotal year for him," general manager Mark Shapiro said about Broussard earlier this month. "We hope this is a year where his career takes off. We've seen him for spurts as long as a half-season and as short as a month to be a prototypical corner bat. But his inconsistencies have to steady."
Broussard and the Tribe had traded arbitration figures earlier in the month, and weren't far off in their figures. Broussard was asking for $2.6 million, and the Indians were offering $2.2 million.
Now that a compromise has been reached, the Indians have one player remaining on the arbitration block.
That player is outfielder Coco Crisp, the subject of widespread trade rumors involving the Red Sox in recent days.
The Indians have offered Crisp $2.35 million, but he's asking for $3.05 million. The two sides had reportedly been discussing a multiyear deal before trade talks with Boston heated up.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Former IF Carlos Martinez dies at 40
01/25/2006
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Carlos Martinez, who played seven Major League seasons, died on Tuesday at his home in Venezuela at age 40, his wife said.
Martinez, an infielder for the White Sox, Indians and Angels from 1988-93 and 1995, died at his home in the coastal state of Vargas, about 20 kilometers north of the capital Caracas, Evelyn de Martinez told reporters.
She declined to specify the cause of death, although she said he had suffered for years from the same disease which forced him to retire from baseball in 1998.
"He was hospitalized many times until last week, when they told me nothing else could be done," De Martinez said. "He wanted to spend his final days here at home with his family."
"Cafe" Martinez, as he was affectionately known because of his penchant for Venezuelan coffee, began his professional career at 18 in his home, port city of La Guaira, with Los Tiburones, and was signed that same year by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent.
He was traded in 1986 to the White Sox, for whom he made his Major League debut two years later in the last month of the regular season as a third baseman.
Undermined by injuries, he finished with a MLB career batting average of .258 with 25 home runs, and 161 RBIs.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Tribe Caravan hits Parma, Brecksville
01/25/2006
PARMA, Ohio -- The doors opened, the music lifted and the fuzzy fuchsia monster hurtled himself into the pews.
With 50 Cent's "Disco Inferno" blasting over the speakers, Indians mascot Slider took his hip-shaking, belly-wiggling dance act into the church at Bethel Christian Academy on Wednesday morning, and the third day of the Indians Winter Caravan was off to a raucous start.
It's doubtful this church had ever been privy to a service quite like the one the Tribe delivered.
"It's just a big party," children's pastor Tammy Brumley said.
The party was earned by the 300 or so kids in attendance because of their good behavior over the course of a school year. In fact, children at a total of six area schools were privy to the party, as the Indians made the school visits before sending their two buses to the Akron and Sandusky tour stops.
At Bethel Christian Academy and St. Columbkille in Parma and Central School in Brecksville, Indians announcer Tom Hamilton introduced the lucky kids to left-handed pitchers C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers.
The children got to ask a few questions of the ballplayers, and a few even came away with autographed balls.
The Q&A sessions, in particular, brought about some interesting nuggets of information.
When the kids at St. Columbkille asked which player would be most likely to appear on "American Idol," the unanimous choices were Coco Crisp and Ben Broussard.
Lee, though, suggested Sowers could give the show a shot, despite the young prospect's shy nature.
"The only way that would happen is if they go back to the 80s and do Journey songs," Sowers said.
At Bethel Christian Academy, a young boy wanted to know how many home runs Sabathia had hit in his career.
"Just one," Sabathia responded, referring to his center-field blast in Cincinnati last May. "But I've watched the video of it about 200 times."
And at Central School, the players were asked what their favorite color is. Lee provided a little comic relief by pointing to a child in the front row, wearing a neon-colored hat, and said, "Hot pink."
That drew laughter from the crowd, but the laughter could do nothing to top the ear-piecing screams let out at each school when the players and Slider first arrived.
"Is that the sound you make when your teacher tells you there's going to be a math test?" Hamilton asked the kids at Central School.
The noise was no surprise, because each school had been anxiously anticipating the Indians visit for a while.
"I've been waiting day and night for the past week or so," said 14-year-old Kyle Ori, an eighth grader at St. Columbkille who had the pleasure of introducing Hamilton, the emcee. "You know how little kids are always into baseball, and even the big kids like me and my friend Mike [Ozog] here, we love it."
Plenty of love was in the air at all the schools, especially Central School, which had more than 700 students packed into its gym.
"It's a great opportunity for the kids," Central School principal Beverly Chambers said. "There's a lot of spirit here."
It's questionable, though, which visitors received more attention at Central School -- the Indians players or the WKYC Channel 3 cameraman who was there to take shots for the 6 o'clock news.
"Everybody's a ham," Chambers said with a laugh.
Sabathia said he had a lot of fun getting hang out with the little hams for a few hours.
"It's still early, but baseball season is coming up, so hopefully we can get these kids into the game," he said. "It's awesome to see the support of the schools and the kids. It's a lot of fun. I'd do this all day."
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Caravan wraps successful journey
01/26/2006
CANTON, Ohio -- All week, Eric Wedge has been riding a bus.
But when the Indians Winter Caravan pulled into the Marriott McKinley Grand Hotel here Thursday morning, cars were on the mind of the Tribe manager.
The hotel's basement contains an impressive collection of about 100 rare, vintage cars, all of which are for sale.
Wedge perused the vast Motorcar Portfolio, which includes such gems as a 1956 Ford Fairlane convertible and a 1964 Chevy Impala sport coupe, and seemed intrigued.
He was asked if he's a collector.
"I'm a wannabe-collector," he said with a smile. "I get a kick out of some of this stuff."
Wedge is currently having the first car he ever owned -- a 1980 Chevy Camaro -- restored to its original beauty. The car was blue when Wedge first had it, but he's not sure what color it will be when all is said and done.
"It was in good shape when I had it in high school," Wedge said, "but not now."
C.C. Sabathia was equally intrigued by the car collection, because he's in the process of building one of his own. One of his prized possessions is a '64 Lincoln Continental, but he's keeping his eye out for a vintage Cadillac '62 or '64 series.
In fact, looking at the list had Sabathia wondering if he might be able to duck out of the luncheon and ensuing autograph session.
"I want to check this out," he said.
But first there was business to attend to. Upwards of 500 Tribe fans -- mostly adults -- packed the hotel's ballroom for a boxed luncheon that included a Q&A session with Wedge, Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Travis Hafner and Joel Skinner.
Rich Bossler, the vice president and general manager of WHBC 1480 AM, which staged the event, said the Canton stop of the winter press tour is always a popular one.
"We had made about 450 tickets available, and we sold out within three days," he said. "We notice, as far as our radio station is concerned, from our spring book to our fall book, it's incredible what the difference is in our listenership to our evening hours through the week. Our audience is always larger in our spring book, which happens during the Indians' season."
Leonard Stevens is one of those fans tuning in. The Canton resident, who is also a member of the local Rotary Club, which helped stage the luncheon, said he's excited about the season ahead.
"I've been an Indians fan all my life, going back about 45 years," he said. "I go to a lot of games every year. I'm expecting this year to be a great year, especially the way they finished last year."
In what can best be described as a state-of-the-team address, Wedge told the crowd to expect his young club to learn from the lessons it endured when its bid for the playoffs came up just short last season.
"We're wiser for it today," he said. "We're tougher for it today."
Wedge will be joined on the bench this season by Skinner, who will be moving from third-base coaching duties to bench coaching duties. So what, exactly, does Skinner's new job require? That was the question posed to him by emcee Tom Hamilton, the voice of the Indians.
"What do I have to do, Eric?" Skinner asked Wedge, drawing a laugh from the crowd. "Actually, I talked to [former bench coach] Buddy Bell about this, and he said, 'Sit next to Eric and don't say anything. If something bad happens, go get a drink of water.' "
That wasn't the only moment of comic relief at the event. Hafner probably got the biggest reaction from the crowd when he grabbed the microphone and asked Hamilton, a Wisconsin native, why the Wisconsin Badgers recently dropped a basketball game to the North Dakota State Bison, from Pronk's neck of the woods.
"Well, I think when the guys from North Dakota drove in on their John Deere tractors, the Badgers were overconfident," Hamilton said with a laugh.
He then turned to Hafner and remarked, "Boy, he's as dangerous with a mic as he is with a bat, isn't he?"
Yes, he is. But Wedge is hoping Pronk is more dangerous with the latter than the former in '06. He promised the crowd that his team, as a whole, is something for local fans to be proud of.
"It's a special group already, and it's going to be more special," Wedge said. "They respect the game, and part of respecting the game is respecting each one of you and your support."
The Indians, who wrapped up their Caravan with Thursday's stops in Canton, Youngstown, Lima and Mansfield, also seem to respect the beauty of a vintage car.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Crisp at ease upon trade's completion
01/27/2006
CLEVELAND -- Coco Crisp put it succinctly.
"It's business," he said.
In a business move that had been talked about for days, Crisp learned on Friday night that his fate had been decided. The long-rumored deal between the Red Sox and the Indians became a reality after the Tribe made a spin-off deal that brought Jason Michaels, a 29-year-old outfielder, from the Phillies to replace Crisp in left field.
In return for Crisp, David Riske and Josh Bard, the Indians picked up third baseman Andy Marte, reliever Guillermo Mota and catcher Kelly Shoppach. For Michaels, the Tribe sent reliever Arthur Rhodes to Philadelphia. But the centerpieces of this three-team wheeling and dealing were Marte, the promising prospect, and Crisp, the energetic outfielder with the catchy nickname.
Since reaching the Majors in 2004, Crisp had parlayed that nickname and his daring play into popularity not seen at Jacobs Field since shortstop Omar Vizquel was winning Gold Glove Awards here. Crisp, 26, was coming off back-to-back seasons in which he solidified his reputation as a Major League talent, a talent that appealed to the Red Sox.
Boston had been courting Crisp as a replacement for center fielder Johnny Damon, whom the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in free agency. The Crisp deal swayed back and forth between happening and not happening throughout the past several days.
But the two sides cemented the deal when the Red Sox reportedly offered a sweetener: cash considerations or a player to be named.
The finality of it brought Crisp peace of mind, if nothing else.
"The whole situation of it being out in the open and hanging me out and not knowing where I'll be was kind of tough, especially for my family," Crisp said in a telephone interview. "As for myself, I'm handling it a little better than they are."
Crisp said that he would have preferred for the trade to unfold quietly and quickly, allowing all of the uncertainty to disappear. His friends had been wondering aloud where he'd be playing in 2006, which was the most unsettling part of things.
Crisp joked that he'd been answering 100 telephone calls a day.
The good thing about the completion of the trade, Crisp said, was that he was going to a storied franchise that has prided itself in playing winning baseball. That fact will ease the pain of leaving an organization and fans that he enjoyed playing in front of.
"I'm in a good situation, whether the trade went through or it didn't go through," he said. "Either way, I'd be in a good situation."
Still, Crisp, who's eligible for arbitration, said he would have liked to remain with the Indians. He'd built good friendships on the ballclub, become a leader in the clubhouse and established a reputation as the poster child for what baseball players are supposed to be on and off the field.
"But business is business, whether you're working in a fast-food restaurant or whatever business," said Crisp, who hit .300 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs last season. "It's part of the game -- to get traded. I won't hold a grudge, not even with the actions of how everything had gone down up until now.
"It's just unfortunate that things got leaked out [the last several days]."
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Tribe finalizes two deals in a day
01/27/2006
CLEVELAND -- All week, as widespread reports of a possible trade sending Coco Crisp to the Red Sox raged on, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro stuck to his assertion that a deal is not a deal until it's a deal.
Finally, the Indians have a deal.
Two of them, in fact.
As had been speculated all week, the Indians shipped left-hander Arthur Rhodes to the Phillies for outfielder Jason Michaels on Friday night, prompting a larger deal that sent Crisp to Boston.
The Indians received reliever Guillermo Mota, highly-touted third base prospect Andy Marte, catching prospect Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later and an undisclosed amount of cash in exchange for Crisp, right-hander David Riske and backup catcher Josh Bard.
While the popular Crisp moves on to become the Red Sox's center fielder and leadoff man, the Indians address one of the few glaring weaknesses in their otherwise strong farm system by acquiring Marte.
Marte is generally regarded as one of the game's top prospects, though this is the second time he's been traded this offseason. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of the Dominican Republic was acquired by the Red Sox at the Winter Meetings in the trade that sent Edgar Renteria to the Braves.
The 22-year-old Marte projects as a middle-of-the-order right-handed hitter -- precisely what the Indians are currently lacking. The problem is that the club is not yet certain he's ready for the big leagues.
At Triple-A Richmond last season, Marte hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs. He finished third in the International League in walks with 64, despite having three stints with the Braves.
"In Andy Marte, we are acquiring a right-handed power hitter who is also a good defensive third baseman," Shapiro said in a release. "Not only is third base a position of need in our organization, but it is one of the more difficult positions to acquire a player of Andy's caliber and skill set via trade or free agency."
Marte, who was named Baseball America's ninth-best prospect last season, appeared in 24 games with Atlanta, hitting .140 (8-for-57) with four RBIs.
It's questionable how much Marte will affect the '06 team, but the Indians are counting on Mota -- who is signed to a one-year, $3 million deal -- to help shore up the bullpen this season.
Mota, 32, has compiled a 22-24 record with seven saves and a 3.61 ERA over seven seasons with the Expos, Dodgers and Marlins. The Red Sox acquired him in the November trade that also landed them Josh Beckett.
With the Marlins last season, Mota went 2-2 with a 4.70 ERA and two saves in 56 relief appearances. His season was hampered by the significant time he spent on the disabled list, as he was forced to miss nearly all of May with right elbow inflammation and two weeks in September with shoulder tendinitis.
"Despite battling some health issues last year, when healthy, Guillermo Mota has been one of the most effective relievers in Major League Baseball," Shapiro said.
Mota, also a Dominican native, could provide insurance for the Indians if closer Bob Wickman gets injured.
Shoppach will likely compete with Einar Diaz for the job backing up Victor Martinez behind the plate. The 25-year-old Shoppach hit .253 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs in 102 games for Triple-A Pawtucket last season. He also appeared in nine games for the Red Sox, going 0-for-15 at the plate.
"Kelly Shoppach is one of the better catching prospects in all of Minor League Baseball," Shapiro said. "He is a strong defensive catcher who will provide the club with power from the right side of the plate when he is in the lineup."
The name drawing all of the headlines in this barrage of barters is that of Crisp, the energetic outfielder who blossomed tremendously in 2005.
Fans have flooded local sports talk radio stations all week with rallying cries against trading Crisp, who was considered by many to be a key part of the Indians' young core.
Shapiro certainly recognized the 26-year-old Crisp's upside, but in discussing the player with reporters earlier in the day, before the deals were consummated, Shapiro also outlined a couple of Crisp's question marks.
"The question and the unknown on him is going to be how much more power he's got," Shapiro said. "That's an unknown. ... Last year, he was very bad against left-handed pitching. Very bad."
Crisp is eligible for arbitration. Before the trade went down, the two sides were reportedly discussing a multiyear deal.
Michaels, who avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal, is expected to be Crisp's replacement in left field. The 29-year-old Michaels has never had an everyday job in the big leagues, and he spent last season platooning in center field with Kenny Lofton.
"Jason Michaels is a hard-nosed, tough player that complements our lineup extremely well," Shapiro said. "He has always been a tough out while recording a high on-base percentage, and he has the ability to play all three outfield positions well."
Michaels hit .304 with four homers and 31 RBIs in 105 games last season. More impressively, he compiled a .399 on-base percentage along the way.
A fight with a Philadelphia police officer recently earned Michaels a sentence of six months of probation and 100 hours of community service.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Tribe completes trade with Phillies
01/27/2006
CLEVELAND -- The first domino in the Coco Crisp-to-Boston trade saga has officially fallen.
The Indians completed a trade Friday night that sent left-handed setup man Arthur Rhodes to the Phillies for outfielder Jason Michaels.
The deal is expected to spur a second trade in which the Indians would send Crisp, right-hander David Riske and backup catcher Josh Bard to the Red Sox for right-handed reliever Guillermo Mota, third base prospect Andy Marte, catching prospect Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later and cash.
The second deal, though, could require approval of the Commissioner's Office, depending on the amount of the compensation.
For now, the only done deal is the one with Philadelphia.
In Michaels, the Indians acquire an outfielder who has never had an everyday job in the big leagues. The 29-year-old right-handed hitter spent last season platooning in center field with Kenny Lofton, compiling a .304 average with four homers and 31 RBIs in 105 games. More impressively, he put together a .399 on-base percentage along the way.
Should the Crisp deal go down as planned, Michaels is expected to be the Tribe's new left fielder. He recently avoided arbitration with the Phillies by signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
"Jason Michaels is a hard-nosed, tough player that complements our lineup extremely well," general manager Mark Shapiro said in a release. "He has always been a tough out while recording a high on-base percentage, and he has the ability to play all three outfield positions well."
A fight with a Philadelphia police officer recently earned Michaels a sentence of six months of probation and 100 hours of community service.
Rhodes, acquired by the Indians in the trade that sent Matt Lawton to the Pirates before the 2005 season, leaves town after going 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 47 relief appearances. Rhodes' season was hampered by right knee inflammation that kept him out of action the second half of August and a significant family illness that forced him to leave the team for good in early September.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Pair of deals waiting on physical
01/27/2006
CLEVELAND -- Arthur Rhodes' physical will determine whether or not the Coco Crisp-to-Boston deal finalizes or fizzles.
Rhodes was in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon taking a physical that would complete a trade sending the 36-year-old reliever from the Indians to the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Jason Michaels, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
Once that deal goes through, the source said, the Indians and Red Sox would agree to a trade sending Crisp to the Red Sox.
The Indians would send the center fielder, reliever David Riske and backup catcher Josh Bard to Boston for reliever Guillermo Mota, third base prospect Andy Marte, catching prospect Kelly Shoppach and further compensation in the form of cash or a player to be named later.
That trade could need the approval of the Commissioner's office depending on the amount of the potential cash transaction.
But the whole house of cards hinged on the Rhodes physical.
Rhodes missed the second half of August with inflammation in his right knee. He also missed some of August and most of September because of the serious illness of a family member.
The Crisp trade rumors have taken on a life of their own in local and national media circles.
Earlier this week, both deals were expected to go down if Mota passed a physical in Cleveland on Tuesday. But when the Indians expressed concerns to the Red Sox about Mota's arm, the deal was reportedly dying.
Dying, that is, until the Red Sox stepped up their offer with the promise of further compensation.
Crisp, who hit .300 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs for the Indians in '05, would fill Boston's need for a center fielder and leadoff hitter now that Johnny Damon will be suiting up for the rival Yankees.
Michaels, who hit .304 with four homers and 31 RBIs, would likely take over Crisp's spot in left at Jacobs Field. He platooned with Kenny Lofton in center field for the Phillies last year.
Rhodes would fill the Phillies' need for a left-handed setup man. He went 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 47 relief appearances for the Tribe last season.
The biggest key to the deal, from the Indians' perspective, would be Marte, who is generally regarded as one of the game's top prospects. The Tribe has no viable third base option in the Minors, and Aaron Boone is only under contract through 2006, with a mutual option for 2007.
Marte hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs for Triple-A Richmond in the Braves' farm system last season.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Tribe confident despite unpopular trade
01/28/2006
CLEVELAND -- Show a little faith, Tribe fans.
That's general manager Mark Shapiro's plea in the wake of a rather unpopular move that sent outfielder Coco Crisp to the Red Sox on Friday night.
"Bear with me, hang in there and trust we have a very bright future in '06 and beyond," was Shapiro's message to fans during a conference call with reporters Saturday morning.
The call represented Shapiro's first public comments on the long-speculated and finally completed deals that sent Crisp, David Riske and Josh Bard to the Red Sox for reliever Guillermo Mota, third base prospect Andy Marte, catching prospect Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later and cash, and Arthur Rhodes to the Phillies for outfielder Jason Michaels.
When news of the deals first leaked in Boston newspapers last weekend, fans here were venomous in their calls to local sports talk radio stations.
Many saw the trade of the enigmatic Crisp for a package littered with prospects as more of a rebuilding move than a trade that would push the Indians into the playoffs this coming season.
Shapiro said he doesn't see it that way at all.
"I would hope that we've built up some trust through our decisions over the last three years," Shapiro said. "There have been a lot of other times we've made decisions people have been frustrated by, but we were a very good team last year, and we're going to be a very good team this year."
The Indians, according to Shapiro, never deliberately set out to trade Crisp, though teams certainly came through with some tempting offers over the last few months.
What put the Red Sox over the edge was the inclusion of Marte, generally regarded as one of the game's top prospects, and Mota, whom Shapiro feels can be the Tribe's eighth-inning setup man.
"We had some very attractive prospect deals [offered for Crisp], but none we would have ever traded him for," Shapiro said. "And certainly none that fit our short- and long-term plan the way this one does."
In the short term, Marte heads to Triple-A Buffalo, and Aaron Boone continues to get the start at third base.
But Shapiro said he feels the 22-year-old Marte, who hit .275 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs for Triple-A Richmond in the Braves' farm system last season, will be big-league ready in the near future -- most likely by the end of the season.
"His defense is Major League-ready," Shapiro said of Marte. "We'd still like to see him develop a more effective two-strike approach. He is not Major League-ready now, but he's very near Major League-ready."
The deal with Boston nearly fell apart when Mota reported to Cleveland for a physical Tuesday, and the Indians voiced some concerns to the Red Sox about the status of the right-hander's arm.
Boston sweetened the pot by including extra cash and a player to be named later as insurance for Mota, who missed significant time at the end of last season with a weak shoulder.
The Indians think Mota, if healthy, will be a fine replacement for Rhodes in the eighth inning.
"We've always liked Mota," Shapiro said. "There was some cause for concern in the medical and with last year's issues, so we took pre-emptive action and did some restructuring in the trade to mitigate some of our risk."
Shapiro said the Red Sox were reluctant to part with Shoppach, and that several teams are interested in acquiring the 25-year-old catcher, who hit .253 with 26 home runs and 75 RBIs for Triple-A Pawtucket last year.
"He's one of the best catching prospects in the Minor Leagues, and he led the International League in throwing out [44 percent of his] runners last year," Shapiro said. "If he's on our big-league club this year, he can give us great comfort in resting [Victor Martinez] or playing Vic at first base."
The Indians expect Shoppach to compete with Einar Diaz in Spring Training for the backup catcher's job. Shapiro also hinted that Shoppach could be dealt to another club.
"He has been sought after, and if there's not a fit for him here, [trading Shoppach is] a possibility as well," Shapiro said.
The Indians had internal discussions about making the deal with the Phillies, regardless of how the Crisp trade talks panned out, in order to have Michaels in line for the right field job. Ultimately though, the club would not have dealt Rhodes away without getting a veteran reliever in return.
But with both deals done, the left field job is now Michaels' to lose, Shapiro said. The 29-year-old Michaels, who had a .399 on-base percentage while platooning in center field with Kenny Lofton last season, is also expected to take Crisp's spot in the No. 2 hole in the batting order.
Shapiro addressed Michaels' July fight with a Philadelphia policeman, which recently earned him six months of probation and 100 hours of community service.
"To say we did background checks on this guy would be an understatement," Shapiro said. "We found, unequivocally, he's a great teammate and a great guy in clubhouse. We looked at the incident and the police report, and it's my understanding there was not a very good case [against Michaels]. The prosecution did not move forward. It was an isolated incident, and one he feels bad about. We've very comfortable about this pickup."
Shapiro is equally comfortable losing Crisp, who has always been deemed as a more natural center fielder than left fielder.
"One of the parts of this equation, which can't be looked at by any one facet, is that Coco and [Grady Sizemore] have similar skill sets and a similar primary position," Shapiro said. "We're certainly excited about Grady in center field. That makes [Crisp's] value to another team greater than his value to us, and we like him a lot."
Shapiro said he pushed to ensure he was getting a fair value in return for the popular Crisp, and the Red Sox pushed equally hard in their pursuit.
"It was," Shapiro said, "too much to turn down."
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Mailbag: Sorting out the Coco trade
01/30/2006
Don't you think that trading away Coco will definitely hurt the chemistry of this team? Coco was not only a spark plug at the top of the lineup, but he seems like a very nice person to have on your team, and one that produces quite well. -- Josh M., Ravenna, Ohio
I'm wishy-washy on this trade. I certainly understand its long-term merits. But this question cuts to the heart of my deepest concerns about the deal.
I see general manager Mark Shapiro's concerns with Crisp. He has a weak arm, his more natural position is center field, (a position locked up by Grady Sizemore), he struggles against left-handed pitching and he has yet to find a way to fully utilize his speed on the basepaths.
I also understand the ideal projections of corner outfielders. They are expected to produce power numbers, which are not exactly Crisp's forte.
All that being said, it's a special thing in this game when a lineup gels the way last year's one through six hitters did in the stretch run. Crisp was a key part of that chemistry. He was great in the clubhouse, great with fans, and in many ways, embodied the spirit of this young club's resilience and hunger.
So while I appreciate statistical projections and ideology, I also appreciate the beauty of a bunch of guys who simply play well together. I'm sure White Sox fans feel the same way.
I fully trust Shapiro's vision for this team, and I think that, after last season, Crisp's value couldn't be higher. Andy Marte is the type of right-handed bat we've been whining about for two years, and it's pretty apparent that we're not going to get that via free agency. I like the trade. I don't think the risk is as big as the potential benefits. Though I do like Crisp, a stud third baseman would look nice in the middle of our lineup, even if it's not until late '06 or '07. -- Russ W., Monterey, Calif.
Last week, I told you guys and gals I received about 50 e-mails about the trade, with none in favor of it. If you're looking for an update, the tally jumped to, probably, 400 or 450, with maybe 25-30 fans in favor of the deal.
So here's one from the minority. You make good points, Russ, and I'm not going to discount the merits of this deal in the long term.
A third base prospect of Marte's caliber is a rare commodity in this game. Power-hitting third basemen don't come up in free agency very often, either.
Add to the equation that the Indians don't have a legitimate third baseman waiting in the wings beyond Aaron Boone (who is under contract through '06, with a mutual option for '07) and acquiring Marte makes a lot of sense.
It's just that it makes the most sense in the long term.
I don't understand how Josh Bard and Kelly Shoppach got involved. Isn't that part of the deal a wash? Is one more highly regarded than the other?
Oh, and to all those out there who say, "Who's our right fielder going to be?" I have this to say back: Jerome Bettis. He's been in big games, he's got power, and at 33, his best power years are ahead of him. And Bettis is a huge baseball fan (he is part owner of the Altoona Curve of the Eastern League). In fact, he has his own baseball bobblehead doll. -- Jason K., Riverside, Calif.
The Shoppach and Bard portion doesn't seem to be a wash to me. Shoppach is a very highly regarded prospect with a power bat. Bard's bat was and is a work in progress.
Shapiro hinted that Shoppach could be moved to another team (the Red Sox fielded many offers for him), but it's much more likely he'll be Victor Martinez's backup in '06.
Some have already speculated that Shoppach could become the full-time catcher, with Martinez making a permanent move to first base, but I think it's a bit premature to make such an assumption. We've never seen what Shoppach can do in the big leagues, nor do we know how strong Vic's first base skills are. I reckon we'll get a little taste of both as the '06 season progresses.
As for Bettis, he's got a Super Bowl to prepare for. And if you're serious about placing him in right field, it's quite possible "The Bus" could use you as his tackling dummy.
With the Crisp and Rhodes trades complete, our Opening Day outfield looks like it'll be Jason Michaels, Sizemore and Casey Blake. I don't think anyone would argue that Sizemore pretty much has center all tied up. But with all the skepticism about Michaels and the lack of ability in the field from Blake last year, what are the chances we will see some younger guys or even Todd Hollandsworth get some regular starting time at either corner of the outfield? -- Tim K., Hiram, Ohio
The Indians were hoping to add a right fielder this offseason to move Blake to more of a utility role, but as of now it looks like we can pencil him in as the right fielder. Hollandsworth will most likely be the backup to both Blake and Michaels. And if the former Rookie of the Year has anything left in the tank, who knows? He could end up stealing a job before all is said and done.
Still, I'm going to go out on a not-so-crazy limb here and guess that Franklin Gutierrez is the regular starter in one of the corner outfield spots by the end of the year. Perhaps as soon as July, depending on how things shake out.
Here we go again with the Indians being the Red Sox and Yankees' farm system. Check your history. Do you remember Ted Cox? -- Carl K., Alliance, Ohio
Cox's '78 and '79 seasons were historic -- historically bad. But what ever happened to that Eckersley character the Indians traded for him?
OK, point taken, Carl. Here's another fan favorite dealt away for a third base prospect from Beantown. And today's game is no different than the game in the late '70s, in that prospects burn out just as much now as they did then (read: Brandon Phillips).
Clearly, the Indians are gambling. And Marte, already dealing with the stigma of being traded twice in the same offseason, will have a lot to live up to when he makes it to The Jake.
As bad as it is seeing Coco go, we'll have to move on. Who is going to bat second now? When the Indians cemented one through six in the lineup last year, the offense began to click. Is Ronnie Belliard going to move up from sixth to second? -- Dan W., Erie, Pa.
The Indians see Michaels as Crisp's replacement not only in left field, but also in the two hole. They feel strongly that his .399 on-base percentage last season was no fluke, and he cut his strikeout total nearly in half from 2004 (80) to '05 (45).
Michaels, though, isn't much of a base-stealer, so the Indians will see a decrease in speed near the top of the order. Crisp, though, never really established himself as a consistent base-stealing threat, either.
I think the Crisp deal is excellent. We need prospects and future stars. Marte is the next Brooks Robinson. I've seen him play. He doesn't let a thing by him. He has the potential of hitting 45 home runs and batting .320. My cousin who lives in Atlanta almost had a heart attack when he was traded to Boston. -- Jacob H., Cleveland
Though there's no telling what his power ceiling is, no one I've talked to sees Marte as a potential .320 hitter. He's more likely to top out at or just below .300.
Defensively, the Indians feel Marte is Major League-ready. But he needs to cut down on his strikeouts at the plate.
Now that Shapiro has given up on the 2006 season, do you think the Tribe can get a couple of good prospects for Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta? -- Jordan L., Columbus
Ouch. We've got a live one here.
I'm not sold on this deal's short-term value, either, Jordan, but I don't believe Shapiro has given up on 2006. He's made a move he feels is in line with his dual-vision of keeping this club competitive now and in the future. Only time will tell if that move was the right one.
For now, though, some fans are just plain brutal. Like this character ...
Let's trade Travis Hafner for Dufas Duflunkie. --- Anonymous, Cleveland
Hey now, don't discount the value of Duflunkie. He's coming off a great season with the Triple-A Macon Whoopees.
If it's time to be paid, Larry Dolan will trade! -- Bob Z., Garfield Heights, Ohio
I don't mean to sound like an apologist for anybody, especially with regard to a trade I don't 100 percent agree with, but I really don't think this deal had much -- if anything -- to do with money. Yeah, Crisp was due for a raise, but that's not why the Indians shipped him off. They traded him because Boston dangled the rare carrot that is a prime third base prospect in Shapiro's face, and he bit.
The Indians' payroll has increased rather drastically this offseason, and Shapiro could have spent more than he did, if Trevor Hoffman, Brian Giles and Nomar Garciaparra didn't turn down his offers.
In fact, Shapiro said the other day that this is the first time in years salary won't be much of an issue if the Indians look to add a player through a trade during the course of the season.
The $3.05 million Crisp was asking for did not send him packing. Marte did.
OK, that's enough Coco banter for one lifetime, though I'm sure we'll be exploring the effects of this trade for years to come. Let's turn the focus to another matter at hand ...
What is your pick for the Super Bowl? -- Jeremy M., Cincinnati
My prediction is as follows: The Steelers will become the first Super Bowl team to not only post triple digits in points but to hold their opponent to a negative point total, 108-(-)7.
Oh, and the Rolling Stones will play "Honkey Tonk Women" at halftime.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Fan Guide: Cleveland Indians
01/30/2006
Before they can try to equal or build on last year's 93-win total and fight for a playoff berth, the Indians must head to their Winter Haven home.
The core young lineup that includes Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Grady Sizemore will be in attendance, and fans can also check out new faces, such as Paul Byrd and Jason Johnson. The Tribe will also have a fair amount of competition going on, with veterans like Danny Graves, Steve Karsay, Lou Merloni and Todd Hollandsworth all fighting for big-league jobs.
Having fallen just short of the playoffs in 2005, the Indians head to Winter Haven with contention on the brain. Manager Eric Wedge and his coaching staff must make the necessary adjustments and instructions to push the Tribe over the hump.
As Indians fans prepare for their journey to the Sunshine State, here are some questions and answers that should help:
When do the Indians arrive at camp?The Tribe's pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16, with the position players following on Feb. 21. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 23.
When do games start?The Indians' Grapefruit League schedule begins with a road game on March 2 in Kissimmee against the Astros. That's followed by the home opener at Chain of Lakes Park against the Astros on March 3.
The Tribe's exhibition slate will continue throughout the month, finally wrapping up April 1 in Sarasota, with a Grapefruit League finale against the Reds.
How do I get tickets?Tickets for all Indians Spring Training games at Chain of Lakes Park are on sale now and can be purchased at the Chain of Lakes Park box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (866) 48-TRIBE, by fax at (863) 299-4491 or online at the Indians' Spring Training Tickets page.
Chain of Lakes Park holds 7,900 fans. Located on the shores of Lake Lulu, the ballpark is a relic. It was built in the mid-1960s, and, despite being renovated in 1993, maintains the old-school charm of its era.
Ticket prices and other information can be found at the Indians' Spring Training Tickets page.
Where is Winter Haven, and how do I get there?If you're coming from Cleveland, you have the option of flying into either Tampa International Airport or Orlando International Airport, both of which are about an hour's drive away from Winter Haven, depending on traffic.
Chain of Lakes Park is located at 500 Cletus Allen Drive, on the south side of Winter Haven.
If you're pulling into town from Tampa, take I-4 East to Exit 27 (Polk County Parkway). Stay on the parkway for about 12 miles before taking Exit 14 (S.R. 540) toward Winter Haven. Follow S.R. 540 East for eight miles. Turn left onto U.S. 17 North and follow it for two miles over the bridge to the first light. Turn right at the light, and the ballpark will be on your right.
If you're coming in from Orlando, take I-4 West to Exit 55 toward Haines City/Cypress Gardens. Take U.S. 27 South for 16 miles. Turn right on S.R. 542 and follow it for about two miles. Turn left onto County Road 550 and follow it for about three miles. Turn right on S.R. 540 and follow it for about two miles. The park will be on your left.
Parking is available at the training facility, which is adjacent to the ballpark.
How can I watch the team work out?Before the start of the Grapefruit League schedule, the Major League team hits the field around 9:45 a.m. and some hitters stay out there well into the afternoon. Workouts on the lower fields, especially Nos. 1 and 2, are easily accessible to fans. Also, merchandise and limited concessions are available that time, to go with free parking.
Once the games begin, the morning workouts are generally closed to the public before the gates open at 11 a.m. But fans can watch the workouts on Triple-A Field No. 1 free of charge.
Where can I get some autographs?Autographs are abundant at the Indians' complex, because players are easy to catch as they walk from Field 1 to the stadium. Before and after games, the best place to try to snag a player's John Hancock is in the first row of the bleacher reserve section in right field, because all the players pass that way.
The Indians will hold autograph days on March 3, 13, 16 and 24 before the games. The sessions are usually held by the team shop, and two or three players usually attend each day. Get there early, though, because the line is generally capped off around 150 or 200 people.
What else is there to do in Winter Haven?Take the kids to Cypress Gardens, a boardwalk-style amusement park with four roller coasters and a giant Ferris wheel. Or take advantage of the boating, fishing and water skiing available on the chain of 16 freshwater lakes. Looking for a great milkshake? Hit up Andy's Igloo. Looking for a slice of pizza? Try Pasquale's Pizza. Both are close to the park. And if you're looking for a postgame brew, try Beef O'Brady's sports bar.
For more information on Winter Haven, visit the city's web site at www.winterhavenfl.com.
Where can I stay?There are several old standbys close to the ballpark, such as the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn and Days Inn, all of which are within walking distance. The Best Western Admiral's Inn is a five-minute drive away, but it's right at the main gate of Cypress Gardens. If you're looking for more upscale lodging, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in Orlando is the official Spring Training resort of the Cleveland Indians.
When do the Indians open the regular season?On April 2, the Indians and White Sox play the national opener on ESPN at 8:05 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field. The Tribe has its home opener at Jacobs Field against the Twins on April 7 at 3:05 p.m.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Around the Horn: Middle Infielders
02/01/2006
It can be a beautiful thing to watch Ronnie Belliard make a diving stop behind second base and flip the ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta for a forceout.
But when the Indians dreamed up such a scenario a few years back, Brandon Phillips was the one instigating the play.
Such is life in baseball. Sometimes prized prospects such as Phillips don't pan out as planned, and supposed one-year stopgaps such as Belliard become unexpected fixtures.
The Indians aren't exactly complaining, because in Belliard and Peralta they received consistently solid defense up the middle in 2005.
General manager Mark Shapiro is expecting more of the same in 2006. That's why the Indians exercised Belliard's contract option soon after the '05 season ended.
"[Belliard has] been better than expected," Shapiro said. "You're looking at a guy who was given an opportunity and ran with it."
Indeed, he has. Entering his third season with the Tribe, Belliard has compiled a .283 average with 29 home runs and 148 RBIs during his time in Cleveland.
Last season, he collected career highs in homers (17) and RBIs (78) and finished third among AL second basemen in RBIs and doubles (36) and fourth in home runs.
You don't put up those kind of numbers, though, without putting in some hard work behind the scenes.
"He brings passion and energy every day," Shapiro said. "He loves to play. He's one of the first guys here and the last to leave. He's a solid, solid player on both sides."
So much for being a stopgap. As Phillips has continued to labor offensively in Triple-A, Belliard has given the Indians reason to believe he could stick around for a lot longer than originally anticipated.
The Indians aren't considering a long-term deal with Belliard at this point, though it's possible such a scenario could present itself by the end of the '06 season.
"There's not immediate plans to do that," Shapiro said. "We'll look at what happens with Brandon Phillips and [utility infielder] Ramon Vazquez."
Phillips is out of Minor League options. The Indians, therefore, must decide what to do with him at the end of camp -- keep him in the big leagues, expose him to waivers or trade him.
But as up in the air as the Tribe's future at second base might be, the future at short is very much secure.
The Tribe wouldn't have let a fan favorite such as Omar Vizquel go after the '04 season if the club didn't feel it had a suitable replacement lined up in Peralta.
And as popular as Omar was, Peralta has certainly given Indians fans reason to believe the future at short is bright.
While getting his first full taste of the big leagues in 2005, Peralta gave the Indians more than what was anticipated of him. He broke the single-season franchise record for home runs by a shortstop with 24 and finished third among AL shortstops in RBIs with 78. His .521 slugging percentage ranked second among AL shortstops and 10th among all the league's hitters.
"His year was incredible," Shapiro said. "It's hard to imagine him maintaining that offensive performance. But he demonstrated the ability to affect a game. His offensive approach is beyond his years."
Defensively, Peralta has nowhere near as much range as Vizquel did, of course. But after posting four errors in the season's first games, Peralta began to settle in. He made 10 errors from June 14 through the end of the season.
"He's solid defensively," Shapiro said. "We're looking for him to be average and make all the plays he should. We just hope he continues to work at it."
Peralta and Belliard will continue to get plenty of work at their positions in 2006.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Critics overlooking Shapiro's foresight
02/01/2006
It has become clear that another voice needs to be heard regarding the Coco Crisp trade. The overwhelming response to the deal (on talk radio and as evidenced in Anthony Castrovince's Tribe Mailbag) has been negative, but please allow me to explain why this isn't just a good trade for the Indians, but a great one.
Let's all take a deep breath (feel better?) and break down this deal. Once you take a step back and analyze it, it's clear that there are four straight-up swaps in the deal.
1. Arthur Rhodes for Jason Michaels: Rhodes was a pitcher who made only five appearances after July, allowing runs in three of them, while missing time when the Tribe needed him most due to knee trouble and a family emergency. Jason Michaels is a 29-year-old outfielder who posted a .399 on-base percentage in part-time duty last season. Looking at his career -- a solid sample of 808 at-bats -- he has a .380 career OBP (that's almost 50 points better than Crisp's, by the way). Can he play every day? The statistical sample suggests that he can. Furthermore, he is very tough on left-handers (.323 BA in 2005), a need for the Tribe, while proving capable of hitting righties (.289), too, in roughly an even amount of at-bats against both. This is a no-brainer.
2. Josh Bard for Kelly Shoppach: The Tribe had so little faith in Bard's ability to contribute at the plate that he garnered just 83 at-bats as the sole backup to Victor Martinez in 2005. Bard hit a paltry .193 and carries a career .238 average into 2006. He's a good backstop, but so is Shoppach, who threw out 44 percent of baserunners last year at Triple-A, where he also pounded 26 home runs. So Shoppach can hit, too. He'll likely be the backup catcher this year, giving Wedge the option of resting Martinez more, or playing him at first occasionally. Is he good enough to become a starter and allow the Tribe to move Martinez to first? We don't know that -- but at least it's possible. It was clear that Bard was never going to be that guy. Another no-brainer.
3. David Riske for Guillermo Mota, cash and PTBNL: Indians manager Eric Wedge lost so much confidence in Riske late last year that he called for him only seven times in September, a month in which Riske went 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA. The concern was justified: Riske allowed a whopping 11 home runs in 2005 after allowing 11 in 2004. Calling for a reliever who has surrendered 22 home runs in a span of just 150 innings is playing with fire. Basically, there's no way you can bring him into a tied or one-run game -- that's a huge liability and one the Indians can do without. Mota, by contrast, has allowed three fewer home runs than Riske in his career despite throwing almost 100 more innings. There are health concerns with Mota, but those have been mitigated by both cash -- if he's not healthy, the Tribe can recoup more from the Sox -- and a PTBNL. I make this trade in a heartbeat.
4. Coco Crisp for Andy Marte: Ah, now we get to the crux of the issue. No question: Crisp was a heck of a player for the Tribe, providing solid outfield defense, surprising power and a spark atop the lineup. It's hard to give up a player the caliber of Crisp, but you don't get something for nothing in baseball. And Marte is worth getting. He hammered Triple-A pitching at the tender age of 22, and, by most accounts, he's a solid defensive third baseman. Is there a chance that Marte will be a flop? There always is, but typically, players who perform that well at Triple-A at such a young age translate to the big leagues. He's under the team's control for the next 5 1/2 years, he's a needed right-handed power bat and he plays third base -- that's a trifecta, folks, and reason enough to pull the trigger, especially when you've gotten clear wins at the other three areas of the deal.
Still not convinced? Let's continue to break it down. Here are five more reasons this was not just a good deal for the Tribe, but a great one.
1. Value for value: As Indians general manager Mark Shapiro has said, Crisp held much more value to the Red Sox as a center fielder than he did to the Indians as a left fielder. Typically, you want to get some power from your corner outfielders, and Crisp likely has maxed out in that area. Is Michaels the answer in left field? Likely not long-term, but he will help the team in 2006 (more on that in a bit). And the Indians have a plethora of talented young outfielders on the brink of the big leagues, but none at third base. The reality is that they likely can replace Crisp with a player from the system, while they had no options at third, where Marte could very well be the right-handed, middle-of-the-order power bat the Tribe desperately needs. Bottom line: If you have two players of roughly equal ability, a third baseman if far more valuable than a left fielder. So even if Marte proves to be no better than Crisp, he'll be worth more to the Indians.
2. Core players: You've often heard Shapiro talk about core players ... was Crisp a core player? No, he was not. When thinking of a championship team, you don't envision your left fielder posting a sub-.350 on-base percentage with moderate power. In center, he might have been, but the Indians are set there with Grady Sizemore; in left, he cannot be considered a core guy. Marte stands a much better chance of becoming a key core player at a very difficult position to find offensive talent. And Shoppach could become a core player behind the plate if he hits at the Major League level and pushes Martinez to first. Or, as a high-value offensive catcher, he could bring a core corner outfielder via trade.
3. The two-hole: Hey, we all loved watching Crisp play, and he's got a catchy name, but the reality is that Michaels may very well turn out to be a better No. 2 hitter. He doesn't have Crisp's power, but he has a much better on-base percentage. He may not have Crisp's speed, but he can run well enough, and speed never helped Crisp steal bases. Michaels also cut his strikeouts in half from 2004 to 2005, and he will make more contact than did Crisp, who struck out 81 times last year. And Michaels is more balanced at the plate, hitting both righties and lefties while Crisp was a liability vs. left-handers. I'm not arguing that Michaels is a better player than Crisp overall, but it's a lot closer than you think, and Michaels has abilities that fit what the Indians will ask him to do.
4. Potential: The reality is that Crisp likely has gotten as good as he's going to be. He's been in the big leagues four years and his power has leveled off at around 15 to 18 home runs -- nice, but not outstanding for a left fielder. He has speed, but he can't steal. And he doesn't get on base enough to lead off (although Boston will ask him to). He's a good defensive outfielder, but has a weak arm. He's a very good complementary player, but he's not a star -- and he likely never will be. Marte has huge upside, some say he could be a 30-homer guy. Shoppach has shown very good power in back-to-back seasons at Triple-A, so he has a lot of potential as well. What I'm saying is that Marte and Shoppach (perhaps by bringing someone back in a trade) have the potential to become high-impact core players, something Crisp was not going to be in Cleveland (and maybe not in Boston, either -- we'll see).
5. Financial flexibility: I know all of you hate to hear this, and the Indians wisely avoided mentioning this as a component of the trade, but the reality is that this deal also helps the Tribe financially. Both Riske and Rhodes are free agents after this season, and Michaels makes considerably less than Crisp. Mota's contract is being paid in part by the Red Sox. Longer term, Marte will be under contract to the Indians for 5 1/2 more seasons before reaching free agency, while Crisp will be a free agent in two years. So, over the course of the next five years, the Indians stand to gain millions in payroll flexibility -- paying Marte far less over that time span than what Crisp will earn in his final two arbitration years, then in his first three free agent years, and far less than what a comparable third baseman would cost them on the open market.
So, if you wouldn't make this trade straight-up, would you make it if it meant the Indians had another $20-25 million over the next five years to land a corner outfielder, or keep Cliff Lee or sign that free agent pitcher?
I know you don't like to hear it, but it is what it is -- it's reality. The Indians are not the Red Sox or the Yankees, and they can't play the game the same way. If you want to root for a team that can keep everyone and buy everything else, then I'm sure the Red Sox or Yankees would love to have you.
But that's no fun. That's easy. What's fun is watching the Indians outsmart those guys, and when they win the World Series, you'll know that they'll have earned it by having made better trades, developing better players and spending their money more wisely. In the end, it'll all be worth it.
But to get there, you've got to do what Shapiro just did.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Notes: Mota working on staying strong
02/02/2006
CLEVELAND -- Guillermo Mota was as surprised as anyone to read reports he didn't pass a physical with the Indians in the midst of the Coco Crisp trade saga last week.
"I heard everything," Mota said Thursday. "I was kind of like, 'Whatever. Fine.' I don't think it's the real reason why they didn't get the trade right away. I said, 'No way. I don't have anything to do with it.' I know I'm fine and healthy."
Mota is in town trying to ensure he stays healthy this season. When the Indians acquired him from the Red Sox, they made a demand he report to Jacobs Field this week to begin a conditioning program before Spring Training.
"I came here for one purpose," Mota said. "To get better and stronger."
Before he broke down with right elbow inflammation last May and right shoulder soreness last September, the 32-year-old Mota had been one of baseball's most reliable relievers.
Since the 2003 season, he's thrown the most relief innings in baseball with 268 2/3. The 105 innings he logged with the Dodgers in 2003 rank fourth among single-season inning totals for a reliever in the last six years.
But the '05 season with the Marlins was a struggle for Mota.
He began the year as Florida's closer, recording two saves in two chances. That was, however, before the elbow inflammation revealed itself in late April. Mota was on the disabled list by May 1 and remained there for most of the month.
Mota returned from the injury, but he changed his mechanics to account for the elbow trouble.
"I was more afraid to get hurt," he said. "I was pitching in different positions and mechanics. That's why I hurt my shoulder a little bit."
For the season, Mota went 2-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 67 innings of work. But he made just one appearance in the second half of September because of the shoulder weakness.
Those injuries were of great concern to the Indians, but the team looks at Mota's body of work and sees him as a nice fit to replace Arthur Rhodes and Bob Howry in the eighth-inning setup role.
Mota will probably be the emergency closer when Bob Wickman needs a break.
"That's what [manager Eric Wedge and general manager Mark Shapiro] told me," Mota said. "They're excited to have me in the end of the game. That's what I look to be -- a setup guy and to have a chance to close some games."
Mota, though, will have to stay healthy to do so.
"I have some [exercise and throwing] program to take home [to the Dominican Republic] to do it there the next two weeks," he said. "I'll start doing those exercises to get strong."
In an effort to remain strong throughout the Major League season, Mota stopped pitching in Winter Ball two years ago. Now he's taking on this pre-Spring Training workout program to further assist his health.
"This is a big year for me," he said. "I'm a free agent next year, so I have to be healthy and look forward to a good year."
Bere is back: The Indians hired former pitcher Jason Bere earlier this week as a special assistant to baseball operations.
Bere pitched parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues, from 1993-2003, posting a career record of 71-65 with a 5.14 ERA. He was an All-Star for the White Sox in 1994.
The right-handed Bere was brought to the Indians organization in 2000, but his career was soon hindered by shoulder problems. As a special assistant, he will be in uniform during Spring Training and will be active in the instruction and development at the Major and Minor League levels.
Prep players: The Brush, Olmsted Falls, Poland, Canfield, Walsh Jesuit, St. Edwards, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, North Royalton, Hudson, Stow, Mentor and Shaker Heights varsity baseball teams will be competing in the third annual High School Hardball Classic at Jacobs Field this spring.
The event, which is presented by Cleveland Indians Charities, will take place May 4-5. Proceeds from the six games held over the two-day period will benefit the numerous education and recreation programs that serve the youth of Northeast Ohio and are funded by CIC.
The $5 tickets for the separate sessions of the Hardball Classic can be bought beforehand at the Jacobs Field box office or online. For tickets or more information, visit Indians.com or call (216) 420-HITS. Day-of-game tickets can be bought for $7 at the gate.
Come on over: The Tribe and will put single-game tickets to the 2006 season up for grabs Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m ET.
In conjunction with the on-sale date, the Indians will invite their fans to Jacobs Field for a free open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans will be invited to not only purchase tickets, but also take a tour of the Indians clubhouse, take a few cuts in the indoor batting cages, visit the Kids Zone or check out the press box and Terrace Club.
Tickets for the April 7 home opener against the Twins are fading fast. More than 38,000 seats have already been swiped up for the 3:05 p.m. ET game.
First sign of spring: The Indians' Spring Training equipment truck will be packed up and begin its trek to Winter Haven, Fla., on Friday.
Source: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/
Around the Horn: Bullpen
02/02/2006
CLEVELAND -- Big league bullpens are a flaky bunch.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro knows as well as anyone. For over the last few months, Shapiro has seen his bullpen morph from his club's biggest strength in 2005 to potentially its biggest weakness in 2006.
"The bullpen's going to be the biggest question mark heading into this year," Shapiro said. "I think that bullpens, in general, are unpredictable. You could bring the exact same bullpen back and there's a chance it could not perform as well."
But the Indians definitely won't be bringing the same 'pen back.
The eighth-inning job will now most likely go to right-hander Guillermo Mota, who was acquired in the January trade that sent Coco Crisp to the Red Sox, and left-hander Scott Sauerbeck.
The 32-year-old Mota's injury history -- he had a weak shoulder throughout the last month of the '05 season -- makes him a concern. But the Indians like his career numbers, as he's gone 22-24 with seven saves and a 3.61 ERA over seven seasons in the big leagues.
"When healthy, Guillermo Mota has been one of the most effective relievers in Major League Baseball," Shapiro said.
Sauerbeck went 1-0 with a 4.04 ERA in 58 appearances last season. Also toward the back end of the bullpen will be right-hander Rafael Betancourt, who's coming off a season that saw him go 4-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 54 games.
"I think if you look at the performance of Betancourt, over the last two year's the guy's one of the most dominant bullpen pitchers in the American League," Shapiro said.
Betancourt struck out 73 batters last season, to go with just 17 walks, while Rhodes' 16 holds ranked 12th among AL relievers.
With those arms in place, Shapiro is fairly confident his club will remain effective in the eighth inning.
It's the ninth that might be an area of greater concern.
Yes, the club has retained closer Bob Wickman, owner of an AL-leading 45 saves last year.
But Wickman will be adding another year of wear and tear to his 36-year-old right arm, which has already had its fair share of injuries. In addition, his propensity for putting runners on base in '05 (57 hits and 21 walks allowed in 62 innings of work) makes him a risky returnee.
The Indians treated Wickman as such by making him a backup option in the free agent market this winter. The club aggressively pursued the likes of B.J. Ryan and Trevor Hoffman before settling on Wickman for a one-year deal during the Winter Meetings.
And so it's more of the same in the final frame. Or, at least, that's what the Tribe is hoping for. Wickman converted 90 percent of his save opportunities and held opposing batters to an AL-best .149 average with runners in scoring position.
This, though, will likely be Wickman's last hurrah, which means the Indians must be thinking about their long-term options at closer. Luckily, they have perhaps their most attractive candidate for the job in-house.
Young right-hander Fernando Cabrera demonstrated an ability to pitch well in pressure situations during his time with the Tribe last season. He went 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in 15 appearances.
Shapiro sees Cabrera in the bullpen mix for '06.
"He'll be in the middle," Shapiro said, "and hopefully we'll let him work his way [toward the back end]."
Joining Cabrera in the middle will be right-hander Matt Miller, who should be fully healthy after missing the majority of the second half of '05 with elbow trouble.
Right-hander Jason Davis, who had been considered for the fifth starting job before Jason Johnson was signed, will compete for a job in middle relief.
"He's got to make some delivery adjustments and get the life and sink back in his fastball," Shapiro said of Davis. "If he does that, he'll have a spot somewhere. He had some delivery issues I think we figured out at the end of the year."
What the Indians also hope to figure out is whether veterans Danny Graves and Steve Karsay have anything left in the tank. The club signed the pair to Minor League deals with invites to big league Spring Training camp with the hope they can work their way back to the active roster.
"We've tried to provide ourselves with a lot of options," Shapiro said. "There's still some work to be d