Welcome to the Team

We are proud to announce a new addition to Tribe Times, veteran baseball aficionado Jeff Martinelli. He has been added to our Columbus bureau (now standing at one member) and will focus his writing stylings primarily on Down on the Farm Reports, Clipper Clips, and general transaction updates. Jeff brings 30 years of life experience to the site, along with his uncanny ability to tell the blunt truth. Marty also played high school sports, which immediately adds much needed credibility to the Indians-centric blogosphere world wide. He is single, ladies, so make sure to comment on all of his posts with your measurements and phone number. Here's to you, Pick, and by the way, put a shirt on in your facebook photo.

Tribe signs Luis Vizcaino

The Indians' today signed veteran right hander Luis Vizcaino to a minor league deal. Will he be another potential gas can or a guy the club can actually count on? The 34 year old journeyman reliever posted a 5.28 ERA in 43 appearances as a Colorado Rockie last year. He was acquired this year by the Cubs and pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Apparently he ticked of Lou Pinella for showing up late to the first two games of the season and showed up to spring training late and overweight. As long as he makes it to the pen by the 5th inning and gets batters out, sleep in that extra hour Louie and eat a breakfast burrito. He is owed $4 million by the Cubs for 2009, so I imagine he signed a veteran minimum contract with the Tribe. Vizcaino has had success in the past and throws pretty hard. I imagine he can't be any worse than what is getting thrown out there day in and day out.

Let's Blow this thing up

12 runs in an inning before even registering an out with a Boston lineup consisting of Rocco Baldelli, Jeff Bailey, Nick Green and George Kottaras is pathetic. Jeremy Sowers is a jobber and better be on a short leash as I would rather see David Huff get a shot as we pretty all much know what we have in Sowers. The bullpen is a disaster. Masa Kobayashi is down right embarrassing and should be cut today. Why is it so hard to find pitcher to pitch one inning? The organization has done a terrible job home growing their own relievers, deciding rather to turn every good arm into a starter. Teams like Red Sox and Angels seem to always have internal options to go to in their minors for relief work. The Tribe would rather go with journeyman stiffs like Vinnie Chulk and Matt Herges. I have no idea what they should do to make the situation tolerable in the late innings. They are making the decision now to turn starters in AA and A ball into relievers (Herrmann in Columbus, Putnam in Akron), but it probably is too late for 2009. The bullpen of agony has done some good deeds for their team mates, masking the hitting struggles of Mark DeRosa, Jhonny Peralta, and Grady Sizemore. The trio has performed well below expectations and need to right their respective ships quickly or the season will be officially lost for good. Our Indian summer may be ruined. I guess it can't get any worse.

Down on the Farm Report: Zach Putnam

With all of the transactions concerning the bullpen being made at the Major League level yesterday, an interesting move was made in Akron. As reported at Indians Prospect Insider, 2008 5th round pick Zach Putnam was called up from Kinston to pitch in the Aeros bullpen. He was previously starting for the Little Indians, going 2-0 with a 4.13 ERA in 24 innings where he struck out 23 batters while only walking 5. The University of Michigan Wolverine is on the fast track to the bigs as he tops his fastball out at 96 MPH, along with a slider and a solid splitter that can be used as a changeup.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound Putnam became the first in conference history to earn two spots on the All-Big Ten team, earning recognition as a pitcher and designated hitter his last two seasons in college. He was also Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, going 9-0 in 12 starts with a 2.58 ERA in his junior year. Over three seasons, he was 23-7 in 36 starts with a 3.12 ERA. He was also a tremendous hitter in college as well. Putnam hit .307 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 55 games. He was a career .307 hitter with 19 home runs and 114 RBIs in 132 games.
He helped Michigan win the Big Ten title in each of his three seasons and play in the NCAA Tournament each year. Maybe they could use him to pinch hit for Peralta!

In 2008, Putnam threw 9 2/3 innings in Mahoning Valley, striking out 8 while posting a 3.72 ERA. It shows how much the right hander is progressing to totally skip Lake County and only spend a month in Kinston. It will be interesting to see where his maturation goes as Double A will definitely be a test. With really no hope in Columbus right now in the pen, Putnam may be on the fast track to Cleveland sometime in 2009 after only one year out of college.

Chulkamania no longer, Sowers to start Thursday

Another body has been jettisoned off the Cleveland Indians roster, as Reliever Vinnie Chulk has been designated for assignment. The Chulkster had a respectable 3.75 ERA, but walked 10 batters in 12 innings and let a whole bunch of inherited runners score. Ole' Red Beard will need to clear waivers to stay with the team, so who knows with the state of relief pitching in the league this year if he will be in Columbus. Back to Cleveland as earlier reported is Jeremy Sowers. This is probably his last shot at pitching in the big leagues with the Tribe, as his 12-19 career record and 5.14 ERA in 3 seasons as an Indians is less than stellar. It is important game Thursday for Sowers and his club as they look to get something good going. The 9-2 victory Wednesday was the first in awhile where all facets of the ballclub did well (Starters Relievers, Hitting). Unfortunately Tim Wakefield is the opposing pitcher, so it will be tough. The knuckleballer dominated the Tribe last Monday, but hopefully that tricky pitch will run flat.

Perez sent packing, Herges recalled, Laffey to the Pen

After the implosion of monumental proportions happened Tuesday, heads were bound to roll. Rafael Perez has been epically bad, posting a 15.19 ERA in 13 games. This is probably what is best for Raffy, because he sure wasn't able to figure out his issues at the big league level. Paul Cousineau over at the DiaTribe thinks Columbus pitching coach Scott Radinsky may just be the man to straighten out the lean lefty. Now added to the Bullpen of Propane is 39 year old Matt Herges (pictured left) and his 5.40 ERA and 4 saves accumulated down in Triple A. He has 537 career major league appearances, so maybe he can help calm down his new relief mates (don't hold your breath).

Also, Aaron Laffey is being transitioned into the bullpen making way for the return of Jeremy Sowers. Sowers pitched well like he always does in Triple A, stuckout 22 batters in 24 innings while posting a 2.25 ERA. It remains to be seen if he can figure it out at the major league level. He needs to demonstrate a wide enough gap between his fastball and change-up (including arm angle) to get guys out. It is very interesting that Wedge chose to move Laffey into the pen. Apparently young Aaron is best suited for his new role because he gets a lot of ground ball outs and can get warmed up very past. Apparently Laffey had no idea about the move until today but was willing to do what was best for the team. Wedge and company have screwed with him a bunch this season so it will be interesting to see how he reacts as he has pitched very well this season. The Tribe needs somebody to get outs after the 6th inning, so we shall see. I don't see it being a permanent move for the young lefty, but more of a move out of necessity.

Two ways to go

If there were ever a game to jump start some sort of sustained winning streak, today's game would be it. It was excruciating to watch, you never felt comfortable with any lead, and you figured the Indians would somehow blow it in the end. Well, the Tribe won Monday, but it is tough to feel good about it. How should we look at it?

Cons

One reliable bullpen member crapped the bed (Wood) another looks downright lost (Perez), and one final member came in with the winning run at the plate who has yielded 6 homeruns in 25 games. Also, your offense was no hit for 6 1/3 innings by a junkball lefty who normally pitches in middle relief. Your uninterested shortstop (Peralta) seems to be swinging a pool cue instead of a Louisville Slugger. Your key offseason infield acquisition (DeRosa) boots the ball more than Aaron Boone. Lastly, your superstar centerfielder seems to be unable to get a big hit with runners in scoring position to save his life (we all know who).

Pros

Starting pitching was solid (Carmona). Rookie reliever pitching great (Sipp). Rookie stud outfielder tied the game with a bomb (LaPorta) Were able to tie the game with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth with 2 strikes (Cabrera). Pinch hitters/late inning replacements came up clutch (Dellucci/Barfield). Struggling reliever saved the game with winning run up and one out (Lewis again). Never gave up.

Time will tell us if this game made any difference in the 2009 season. They could go out tomorrow and lose ugly. I will give it the Indians, when they win (and it has not been often) they do it in exciting fashion. Let's just hope it isn't a once every three day occurrence.