Dellucci Finally Gone! Perez back.

The David Dellucci era is finally over in Cleveland, as the Tribe designated the veteran for assignment while recalling Rafael Perez. His 3 year, $11.5 million dollar contract was a bad decision from the start, and the Indians will be eating the remaining $4 million left on his deal for 2009. He hit 15 HRs, 68 RBIs, with a .238 BA in 183 games, utilized primarily as a platoon outfielder over his 3 seasons. Double D got the wrath of many Tribe fans mainly due to his horribly overinflated contract and his inability to field or do what he was brought in to do, hit right handed pitching. Hopefully the Indians have learned there lesson in not signing aging players to multi year contracts. Rafael Perez makes his return to the Wigwam tonight and will be probably eased into steady work with the success of veterans out there (Herges, Aquino, Vizcaino). The club is currently rocking a 13 man pitching staff, which isn't a terrible thing considering how many innings the pen has compiled over the past week. Look for Travis Hafner to be the next player added sometime early next week while I imagine Tomo Ohka will be the pitcher to be sent back to Columbus.

Trevor Crowe Recalled, LaPorta back to Columbus

Apparently 42 at bats over the span of a little under four weeks was enough for the Indians to send top prospect Matt LaPorta back down to Triple A. He batted .190 with one home run and 4 RBI, but never received consistant playing time. I do agree that the if the former Brewer is not getting regular at bats in the Majors (and he definitely is not) then he should be playing everyday in Columbus. Wedge does not like rookies much, so a less heralded Trevor Crowe fits in better stuck to the pine. This probably does bode well for Luis Valbuena, as I imagine Mr. Utility Mark DeRosa will be getting some time in Left Field with Benny Francisco and hopefully not David Dellucci. This also points to the organization that they are still in the division hunt, so going with two rookies playing everyday is not the prescription for a competitive remedy. We will see Matt LaPorta again in 2009, let's just hope next time it is on an everyday basis and for good.

Carroll back up, Barfield sent down

If you are Josh Barfield, you have to be pretty annoyed. You go 3-3 in limited pinch hitting duty and then are promptly sent down a week and a half later. Jamey Carroll makes his triumphant return to the Wigwam tonight, and probably will be in the lineup. Carroll is a good solid utility guy, but hopefully the "stubborn" Wedge lets him play only 1-2 times a week. The teams' future second baseman is already on the roster (Valbuena), so any time he spends on the bench besides against a tough lefty is time wasted. Everyone's favorite Italian David Dellucci has lived to see another day in Cleveland, even though he is 1 for his last 20. At this point in his career, Double D is a pinch hitter at best. With the Tribe carrying 12 pitchers and a bunch of question marks around the diamond, Dellucci will hopefully ride the pine until Hafner comes back.. His inevitable release (along with Kobayashi's) adds to the list of broken down veterans signed to bad contracts that the Indians waited way too long to release (see Jason Johnson, Jason Michaels, Roberto Hernandez, etc.) Then we will see if Shapiro has the wherewithal to cut bait with one of his biggest contract mistakes.

Sweeping a "Fire" Under the Bus

You just knew going into the 9th of today's game that the Tribe would get runners on base and flirt with victory. Then you realized they have teased us fans all year with a season-changing comeback or a last at bat win. As Choo flew out to end the game, I wondered to myself how long can a team find new ways to lose? Apparently many, as the Indians were swept away by the Tigers, scoring a total of 3 runs in 3 games. Random angry thoughts from a frustrated fan...

• Moves I would make to the roster today... Cut Kobayashi and Dellucci (why is he still playing, we all know that he sucks). Bring in Vizcaino (which will probably happen soon) and call up Jordan Brown/Michael Aubrey and make them your left handed bat off of the bench. Dellucci is a train wreck and there is no room for a team that is 10 games under .500 to even have a roster spot for a 35 year old washed up can't bunt can't field can't hit outfielder.


• Lineup changes I would make... Just move Peralta to third and get it over with. He is eventually going to play there next year and the defense is infinitely better with Cabrera playing short (see Friday's game). Let Valbuena play everyday as he has a flair about him and will get better as he plays more (Friday's game not withstanding). Move DeRosa to the outfield and hope he gets his bat going.


• LaPorta should be playing everyday and it inexcusable that he did not play in one game against Detroit. He is accruing service time and not gaining any experience riding the pine. That is a huge blunder by Wedge.


• Have Shoppach only play twice a week. His swing and plate discipline is a joke right now. Let him catch Lee and occasionally someone else. It's all or nothing with him. Give the other at bats to Garko, he at least usually gets on base.


• New lineup... Sizemore-Cabrera-Martinez-Choo-Garko-DeRosa-Peralta-LaPorta-Valbuena


• Still looks pretty crappy, but at least it shows some promise at the end. Francisco and Shoppach are strike out machines.


• I am done hearing Grady is not a vocal leader. He needs to man up, kick a cooler, yell at some team mates and help will this team to victory. Sizemore is not a young kid anymore.


• Wedge may not be the reason the bullpen blows or the team goes into hitting funks, but a club tends to take on the personality of it's manager. Here are Victor's quotes from after the game today...

"It's not Wedge's fault," he said. "I take all the blame, we take all the blame."
In case you missed it, Martinez does not think it's Wedge's fault, which means he does not think Wedge should be jettisoned.
"He's not the one playing," Martinez said. "I don't see any reason why he should pay for this."
Asked what is missing from the 2009 edition, Martinez said: "Energy and, you know, the fire, the fire to play this game."
As to why that would be, Martinez said: "Sometimes we get down on ourselves. We're really trying to do too much at one time. You can't get five hits in one at-bat. You can't get three homers in one at-bat. You have to take it pitch by pitch, at-bat by at-bat."

• Isn't it the role of a manager to help promote passion and intensity to help bring a team together? If the manager is relaxed and calm when the results are abysmal, the players may follow suit. It is nice to see Victor defending his skipper, but his comments kind of throw him under the bus. That "Fire" isn't going to come from a player's only meeting. That "Fire" isn't going to come when you can't get a sac bunt down in the 7th inning or when you miss a cut off. That "Fire" isn't going to show up when have got on base once to leadoff a game all season. The only way to catch the "Fire" is to play good, fundamental baseball, create scoring opportunities, pitch with confidence, and have fun for once. Do we really need to bring back this guy or do this after every win to loosen the team up?


• Whether it's bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez (who knows what he does anyways), or the Wedge-clone, hitting coach Derek Shelton, the demeanor, approach, and results of the players these men are supposed to have an impact on are well below acceptable. One or both should be canned just to let these guys here some sort of new voice.

I have a few theories concerning why the lineup looks so out of whack and have narrowed it down to these two main spokes in the bicycle in the Tour De Tribe.

Travis Hafner going on the DL was really no shock to anyone, but I didn't think the team would miss him as much as they have. The team is 3-8 since the last game he played in and are devoid of a true cleanup hitter. Who knows if Pronk will ever stay healthy for an extended time, but the mere presence of his bat in the lineup lengthened its productivity. Choo is not a cleanup guy at all and may hinder his maturation. Here is what the cleanup hole has produced in those 11 games...

Choo: (8-35, 2 extra base hits) .229 batting average .341 on base percentage .415 slugging percentage .756 OPS 0 Homeruns and 5 RBI.

DeRosa: (1-8, 0 extra base hits) .125 batting average .125 on base percentage .125 slugging percentage .250 OPS O Homeruns and 0 RBI. Combine the two and here is the production out of the cleanup spot over the past 11 games...

4 hole: .209 batting average .306 on base percentage .367 slugging percentage .673 OPS.

With all the blame going to the bullpen, the cleanup spots' production has been well below average and a glaring hole to fill. Another guy is equally to blame for the teams' struggles.

Grady Sizemore might be hurt. I went to the game April 26th when he collided pretty hard with Trevor Crowe. Grady got up pretty slowly and took a few moments to regroup himself. He obviously looks fine in the outfield and on the basepaths, but maybe he hurt a shoulder-wrist-elbow during the play and hasn't told anyone or the team is hiding the ailment. We all know how the Indians love to hide injuries as we learned straight from the skipper (See Tribe Town Hall Meeting Part 2 for Wedge's answer)in January. Grady is also a gamer and would be the last to make any excuses. Here is some quick numbers for Grady.

Up until April 26th season stats... .269 batting average .367 on base percentage, .564 slugging percentage, .931 OPS.

After April 26th season stats... .227 batting average .313 on base percentage, .424 slugging percentage, .737 OPS.

Over his past 12 games... (April 27-May 10) .167 batting average ..237 on base percentage, .288 slugging percentage, .525 OPS. Team Record (including game he had off) 4-9.

These stats are significantly terrible, even for a struggling Grady. Is he hurt or just in a slump? I know he almost took Verlander yard in the 9th Friday, but his swing is looking longer and his plate discipline has gone completely array. Time will tell. Sizemore and Hafner are two of the most important parts of this lineup (including Martinez). As they go, so does the team.

The best thing about a team playing bad is that tomorrow is another day and yet another potential way to right the ship. The White Sox come to town and hopefully the whole Tribe will decide to show up for once.

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.

All of Ohio is a Winner

Quick game recaps from the Minor League affiliates of the Indians today as all 4 Ohio teams won. Many stars of the game for each team so let's get right into it...

Indians win 6-5 over the Tigers

A win is a win, even though my heart was pounding out of my chest, which is very unnecessary for a May 1st game. Maybe The Tribe just needed to get through that pesky month of April, put their crappy performances behind them, and move forward. Let's forget Jensen Lewis meltdown and slow bus trip to Columbus (along with Perez) and focus on the positive. Saturday may be a pretty exciting day for some Major League Debuts.

• Carl Pavano: 7 1/3 IP, 2 ER 5 Hits, 0 Walks, 3 K's. Hot Carl pitched a gem, making his longest start since 2005. Pavano commanded his pitches and was able to keep his stuff low in the zone. I believe he will be up and down all year, but I think he may be better than I think as his best buddy on the team (Cliff Lee) may be a good positive influence on him. He also could get bombed for 9 runs against Red Sox next week. What do I know (see below)
  
• David Dellucci: 4-5, 2 doubles. Double D came back with a bang. If as the DiaTribe refers to him as (the Looch) can be a positive bat off the bench and fill in for injuries, he may be able to salvage his Tribe career. One game does not make a season, so I will watch with cautious optimism. Give Davey some credit, but hold the applause until mid June.


• Jhonny Peralta: 2-5, HR, 2RBI. Jhonny woke up today and stopped over thinking at the plate. It's May so Peralta is happy April is over.


• Kerry Wood: Picked up his 5th save in 5 save opportunities. Went 1,2,3 and threw some wicked sliders and curves. They had a great gameplan against Laird and Inge to not show the fastball too much. He is worth every penny of his $10 million dollar salary (that's for you Jonny).

The Columbus Clippers rattled the Durham Bulls today 14-1, scoring 10 runs in the last two innings. Andy Marte hit a grand slam as the Clips wave goodbye to three of their starters (more on that later)

• David Huff: 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 k's, 0 earned runs. Is setting up to be the next starter called up to Cleveland


• Luis Valbuena: 2-4 BB, HR, 3 RBI. Continues to mash in Columbus and will be a welcomed addition to the big league club.


• Jordan Brown: 4-5 HR, 3 RBI. Guy hits everywhere he goes, just unfortunately for him be with the Indians.


• Chris Gimenez: 3-5 HR, 3 RBI. Has been raking as of late after his early season struggles. Will be an option for the Tribe sometime this summer.

The Akron Aeros won in extra innings today 8-6 to improve their record to an amazing 17-4.

• Chuck Lofgren: 5 IP, 4 hits, 4 walks, 1 earned run, 3 K's. Lofgren is slowly getting back on the organizations' radar with every quality start.


• Jerad Head: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI. Big late inning homerun to propel Akron to victory for the infielder.


• Nick Weglarz: 3-5. 2 doubles, HR, 2 RBI. Finally had a breakout game as he has been struggling mightily all season. The Canadian is a top 10 prospect and will bounce back to his usual form. Still only 21.

The Lake County Captains had a big win tonight against Kannapolis 8-3.

• Nate Rechnagel: 4-5, double, triple. The Wolverine has been crushing the ball at a .370 clip.


• Abner Abreu: 3-5, triple, 2 RBI. 19 year old right hand hitting Dominican is one to watch for the Captains and is ranked 15th best Indians propect by Indians Prospect Insider.

Tomorrow is another day, but let's enjoys these performances for what they are, a day in the life of a long baseball season.

Clipper Clips

With the Indians off tonight, I decided to watch Cleveland's Triple A affiliate via the wonders of the internet. Columbus was unable to deal with the loss of veteran grinder David Dellucci, falling to the Durham Bulls 6-3. The Tribe's Triple A affiliate was only able to scrape together 6 hits and 3 walks. Right Fielder Stephen Head was the player of the game, going 3-4 with a double and a run batted in with two outs, something Indians fans have seen all to infrequently. The struggling Chris Gimenez went 1-2 with a double and two walks, while "The Golden Boy" Matt LaPorta (pictured above courtesy of indianspropectinsider.com), went 0-3 with a base on balls, probably ticked off that he has to wait until June to be called up to the major league club while the "gritty" Double D is back to finish off his disappointing run as an Indian. Wes Hodges went 0-3 with a sac fly RBI, but was robbed of hits twice by Bulls Third Baseman Chris Nowak.

As for the pitching, veteran Jack Cassell pitched a solid 6 innings, allowing 3 runs, scattering 8 hits and walking 5. To say he got himself out of a bit of trouble is an understatement. The bullpen ended up blowing the game as Zach Jackson loaded the bases in the 7th and allowed 3 earned runs. John Meloan came in to try and get the Clippers out of a jam with second and third with two outs, but gave up a double to right field to clear the bases. He pitched a scoreless 8th, but still needs time to polish up his pitch location. The Clippers continue their 4 game series against the Bulls tomorrow as David Huff is scheduled to throw Friday. Rays phenom David Price goes against Tomo Ohka Saturday, so it will be interesting to see how Columbus hits against Tampa Bay's top prospect.

Dellucci back with the Tribe, Fans Rejoice

Our savior is back! Although it has not been made official, the Indians have recalled David Dellucci from his rehab assignment in Columbus. The Columbus Clippers/Durham Bulls game is telecasted over the Internet and the announcer said that the Clippers were playing short handed due to Dellucci returning to the Tribe as he is on his way to Detroit. I imagine Rich Rundles will be sent back to Triple A, so the pitching staff has been trimmed to a mere 13. With Hafner out, Double D will be filling in at DH and unfortunately out in left field. He is under contract for $4 million this season so that is the reason why he is back and playing with the big league club. Hopefully he will bring his bat to the plate, unlike this photo. This season just keeps getting better, doesn't it?

Hafner to DL, Rich Rundles Returns!

Travis Hafner's comeback attempt has been on hold for now, as he was placed on the 15 day DL with shoulder soreness. Pronk has been out of the lineup off and on for the past 4 days. He is off to visit Dr. Death (James Andrews) soon so he can evaluate Hafner's now chronic shoulder condition. Hafner has been pretty solid so far, so hopefully he will be ok and rest is only needed. I am happy the Indians made their decision to DL him early so we weren't forced to watch a 60% healthy player again. Rich Rundles is back, if only for a night as the bullpen was heavily taxed yesterday (7IP 1 ER). He is on the 40 man roster so it was an easy decision. I would imagine everyone's favorite Italian Double-D David Dellucci will be called up to take Hafner's roster spot tomorrow, which is unfortunate. Josh Barfield is an option, but Wedge really doesn't seem to like him very much. Chris Gimenez has an outside shot as well due to his position flexibility, but he is hitting a woefull .137 with 18 K's, not exactly numbers that show promise. Other options that most fans would like to see are Matt Laporta and Luis Valbuena, but the club usually waits until the team is in a really big hole to call up promising rookies. The move opens up more playing time for Ryan Garko, who has been swinging the bat well as of late and getting on base.

Opening Day is Here!

With the snow falling in Cleveland, thankfully the Tribe is out in Arlington to take on the Texas Rangers. Now we all have read about a million predictions about our beloved Indians, so make mine number one million and one. The Cleveland Indians will go 90-72 and win the American League Central. Here are the rest of how the A.L will shake out.

East

Red Sox 97-55

Rays 92-70

Yankees 86-66

Orioles 78-84

Blue Jays 71-91

Central

Indians 90-72

Twins 87-75

White Sox 86-66

Royals 80-82

Tigers 70-92

West

Angels 84-78

A's 82-80

Rangers 80-82

Mariners 75-87

ALDS Red Sox vs Angels

Indians vs Rays

ALCS Rays vs Red Sox

World Series Red Sox vs Dodgers

Winner Red Sox

If the Red Sox do win again for the third time in six seasons, I may vomit. The Tribe loses a close five game series to the Rays and looks to retool their starting five in 2010. Matt LaPorta takes over in left field full time in July, David Huff becomes the de facto third starter, and Tony Sipp becomes a big time contributor out of the pen. Team MVP goes to Grady, as he hits .278, 37 HR, 98 RBI. David Dellucci, Ryan Garko, and Carl Pavano are not on the active roster at seasons' end. I personally would be pretty happy with a playoff appearance, so let's let the 162 game marathon begin and see how it shakes out.

Wraping up Arizona: Spring Training Reflections

As the Tribe officially moves out of their home away from home in Goodyear and on to two meaningless paid exhibition games with the Houston Astros, it is time to take a look back of the long adventure that was Cleveland Indians Spring Training. With the second installment of the WBC this season, the Cactus League was extended by two weeks and many, many games. The pitchers "got their work in". The position players "took it a day at a time". And manager Eric Wedge used countless other analogies to describe baseball games in March that don't count. Here were some of the highlights and low lights of the Spring that was...

Lowlights:

Cliff Lee's 12.46 ERA.

I never know how to judge a pitcher in exhibition baseball. Are they working on certain pitches? Is the Arizona air misrepresenting the flight of the hit baseballs? Do the pitchers really try? Besides one solid outing against the Rockies (6IP, 2ER), Clifton was shelled, but he wasn't the only one. Wedge opinioned about the pitching in general here. A few of his starts he was apparently just working on spotting his fastball, while others he said he just didn't have it. Lee seems to be the kind of guy who really gets focused on each and every start through scouting and mental preparation, so obviously his normal in season routine is fairly different. I am not too worried about Cliff, just a bit concerned especially when he has his first start in the band box that is The Ballpark at Arlington.

Shin Soo Choo .118 batting average.

Choo was gone for three weeks of camp due to the glorified exhibition that was the WBC. Even though his actual at bats were of more significance than a normal Cactus League game, they were far to infrequent. When Choo experienced some tightness in his left arm (where he had Tommy John surgery), the Indians asked the Korean team to use him strictly at DH. That seems to have made the right fielder a bit rusty, making mental mistakes out in the field and over swinging on high fastballs. Choo should be fine, but don't be surprised to see him sitting a few days a week against left handers in favor of rookie Trevor Crowe.

Masa Kobayashi 12.27 ERA in 11 innings.

When a soft tossing reliever can't keep his 85 MPH down in the zone, it may be time for his team to move on from said pitcher. Masa has been a disaster this spring, basically supplying batting practice for the various teams out in Arizona. If he wasn't on the hook for more than $3 million this season, he would have been jettisoned just like Tomo Ohka earlier in March. The way Wedge has been describing Kobayashi in the media ("Masa's pitches were flat and up," ) I wouldn't think it would take too many more clunkers to have him jettisoned off the club. The pen seems pretty solid with Wood, Perez, Lewis, Smith, and Betancourt. The other two roles may be a revolving door most of the season.

Highlights:

Mark DeRosa .367 batting average, 3 HR, 9 RBI.

Another WBC casualty, DeRosa was able to make an impact in limited time (30 AB) spent in Goodyear. He also led Team USA in RBI's, where he played like 5 positions. The former Cub has assimilated himself to the club very nicely and has immediately become a big threat in the 2 hole this season. This will provide much needed protection to Grady Sizemore in the order. In only a few weeks with his new mates, DeRosa has become a team leader and eventual fan favorite. Cubs fans sure were.

Kerry Wood/Rafael Perez/Jensen Lewis/Joe Smith Combined ERA 1.87 in 33 2/3 IP, 37 K's

If these guys pitch like this in the regular season, the Indians will be in contention all year. Newcomers Wood (0 ER in 6 IP) and Smith (12 K's in 7 2/3 IP) look like excellent acquisitions, while Perez (3.00 ERA, 9 K's in 9 IP) and Lewis (1.64 ERA, 10 K's in 11IP) picked up where they left off last season. Normally relief pitchers feed off of one anothers' success so hopefully their performances will spill into the regular season. Guys like Jackson and Kobayashi won't be relied upon as much and the fans can start putting last seasons' bullpen from hell out of their memories forever.

Trevor Crowe .304 batting average, 7 stolen bases, eventual David Dellucci Replacement.

With David Dellucci and his 3 year $11 million dollar contract hovering over the Indians like a buzzard, it was nice to see a guy go out and really compete for an outfield spot who has more than one discernible skill. The former first rounder and top prospect amassed 56 at bats this spring and played all three outfield positions very well. Double D will start the season on the 15 DL with probable time spent in Columbus, opening up a roster spot for some new blood. Nothing against The Looch, but with the current make up of the corner outfield having question marks, a guy like him with his skill set (left handed pinch hitter) does not fit well on this current club. If Crowe hits, runs, and hustles like he did in Arizona, he will find himself on the roster as a guy who can play center field, switch hit, and run. Look for Trevor to play a few times a week also.

Many other positives (Young guys in Columbus, steady Grady, Victor, Fausto) came out of camp as well as other questions (Scott Lewis' last 2 starts, Shoppach's K's, fielding issues) popped up as well. The team as a whole hit extremely well and pitched pretty poorly. The only real answers will come as the season plays out an Opening Day begins a new year of baseball. Cliff Lee takes on Kevin Millwood Monday, finally putting to rest all of the reflections, prognostications, and hyperbole. Let's PLAY BALL already

Trevor Crowe makes the Ballclub! Dellucci to DL

As speculated yesterday, Cleveland Indians rookie outfielder Trevor Crowe will break camp with the big league club. David Dellucci's nagging injuries (thumb, calf) and his one dimensional game (hitting left handed) made the move an easy one for the Tribe. Crowe had a great spring, batting .289 with six stolen bases. His all out hustle and speed will be an added component to the team. Don't expect him to waste away on the bench, because I have a feeling that the skipper will definitely find at bats for him a few times a week to keep Francisco and Choo (maybe even Hafner) fresh. We may fortunately have seen the last of ole' Double D, since he will be out a minimum of two weeks with a Triple A rehabilitation surely to follow. If Crowe rips it up at the major league level and Dellucci is wallowing in mediocrity it Columbus, the Tribe will probably cut bait a la Aaron Fultz last season and eat his robust $4 million dollar contract. 35 year old outfielders who can't field, run, or throw and can barely hit are not much of a hot commodity within baseball in these economic times. David seemed to be a good clubhouse guy, but an albatross out in the field. This move reminds me a bit of when Grady Sizemore was going to be sent down in 2005 in favor of Juan Gonzalez. While Crowe will probably never be Grady, more youth and position flexibility is never a bad thing to have off of your bench. Here is what Wedge had to say about Sizemore back then...

After coming close to not making the team in Spring Training, he stepped into the starting lineup after Juan Gonzalez's injury and made it impossible for manager Eric Wedge to pull him out of the lineup.
"He plays the game hard," Wedge said of Sizemore. "He's plays the game the right way." indians.com

The skipper had high praise for Trevor also...

Crowe played well enough to make the ballclub,'' Wedge said. ''He has every tool that you want to see in a young player

ohio.com

We will have to wait and see how it plays out. Crowe is in the in the lineup for tonights' game against San Diego (televised locally on STO), so it will be interesting to see how he responds to his good fortunes. These roster issues usually seem to work themselves out overtime (Michaels, Borowski, Julio circa 2008) so this move seems to be a positive one. All I know is that I am not upset at the idea of seeing Trevor Crowe get some major league at bats instead of a broken down aging veteran.

Down on the Farm Report: Trevor Crowe

It may be sooner rather than later for Cleveland Indians prospect Trevor Crowe's major league debut. With aging veteran David Dellucci experiencing a nagging calf injury, the Tribe may be calling on their top draft pick of 2005 to fill in. Crowe, with his ability to play all three outfield positions, switch hit, and run well would be a natural fit off of the bench in 2009.

This Portland, Oregon native was highly touted coming out of the University of Arizona where he played with current Clipper teammates Jordan Brown and John Meloan. Being the 14th overall selection, Crowe was immediately put on a fast track to move on through the Indians organization as by the end of his first full professional season (2006) he had already logged 154 at bats at Double A Akron. A myriad of injuries and bad luck, coupled with a failed change of position experiment (move to second base) seemed to derail his top prospect standing within the organization. Hard nosed and the eternal fighter, Crowe quickly regained respect in the front office posting a solid 2008 campaign (.302, 41 extra base hits, 18 steals) between Akron and Buffalo.

Originally and probably unfairly compared to Grady Sizemore, Crowe plays and athletic style of baseball possessing most of the prototypical five tools a baseball player should possesses. His career minor league on base percentage is .361 and has steadily climbed over the past two seasons. The Indians feel that more pop in his bat will come in the future as he matures and learns the game. His ability to drive the ball to both outfield gaps will ultimately be the deciding factor of whether Crowe is an everyday player or a fourth outfielder. Some also that he may not have the range to play centerfield on a daily basis, but what I have scene in person of Trevor is a tough, hard nosed kid who could definitely handle the challenge. As the current roster is made up, the Indians really doesn't have a guy to fill in in center if Sizemore needs a day off, so Crowe would be the most logical choice.

Trevor Crowe came in to spring camp as a man on a mission, impressing manager Eric Wedge along the way.

Crowe played well enough to make the ballclub,'' Wedge said. ''He has every tool that you want to see in a young player. But there is no downside to sending him back, because it will help him fine-tune his game. When he comes up — and I think he will at some point in the season — he will be a better player. ohio.com

That "some point" may be to start the season. He hit .289 (13-for-45) with a homer, a triple, a double and three RBIs, while going 6-for-6 in stolen-base attempts. Crowe would also be a much needed steady outfield replacement for both Shin Soo Choo and Ben Francisco if either struggles early on. In his last game up with the big league club, Crowe slugged a long homerun and a double which impressed the front office.

"When Crowe hit his HR to right (which was huge), Antonetti and Shapiro exchanged a raised eyebrow glance." letsgotribe.com

With the lack of first round homegrown talent on the current big league roster, it would be a big win for the organization for Trevor Crowe to become a solid major league contributor. His game reminds some of Arizona Diamondbacks' outfield Eric Byrnes, which would not be a bad thing at all. Look for Crowe to make some type of impact in 2009 with a shot at an everyday spot in 2010.

Split the Road, Tribe

Tribe Times has been on hiatus for a week and not much really happened. The Indians have been playing better of late sans Aaron Laffey's last two starts. The team as a whole seems to be having more fun actually playing the game rather than "grinding." It will be a long last few months of the baseball season, so I am going to add another addition of Random Thoughts.

The Retro 1989 jerseys need to be sold in stores and uses next year. Paul Hoynes said that the Mariners gave the 25 man roster a chance to buy their respective jerseys for charity and a whopping 20 did so. Bring them BACK!!!

Casey Blake may not be traded, which is not necessarily a bad thing. If they can sign Casey to a one year contract with a club option for 2010, I would be all for bringing him back. He is a definite team leader and a good guy to have around. Blake may not take such a deal since this is his first opportunity at Free Agency and he may want the security of a multi-year deal. That would be risky since he is 35.

Aaron Laffey better straighten things out our the 2009 rotation is looking thinner by the day.

Tom Mastny introduces himself with an "I'm Tom Mastny," meatball everytime he pitches.

Edward Mujica may not be as bad as I thought he was.

Juan Rincon may be worth a 2009 look, but will probably end up like Jorge Julio/Roberto Hernandez.

David Dellucci should be duct tapped to the bench.

Andy Marte is playing better, but is not the long term solution at 3rd Base.

Ryan Garko should not be our starting firstbaseman in 2009.

Jhonny hit good, field bad.

Travis Hafner may be done for the year.

Would you sign K-Rod to a 5 year, 65 million dollar contract if it meant no offensive help next year? I would.

Matt LaPorta will be an Indian in May of 2009.

Shin Soo Choo and Ben Francisco will form a platoon next season. Book it!

Fausto will be one of the few players to watch left this season.

Jamey Carroll has a future being a jockey at Thistledown.

Sal Fasano is one of my favorite Indians of all time.

Two roster moves happened over the past week, as Asdrubal Cabrera was called up and Jorge Velandia was sent to Buffalo. Also Fausto Carmona is due to pitch on Saturday for the first time since the middle of May, so look for Matt Ginter to be sent down.

Browns training camp opened today so I imagine not many people but the diehards are reading this anymore. Thanks to those who do, whoever and wherever you are.

Giant Misses

6 runs in 3 games = 1 win. The lineup the Indians have been trotting out has been just plain terrible. I understand not having Martinez and Hafner hurt, but I never realized how much since watching the past 12 or so games. Besides Sizemore (who has had a down year also), the lineup has a severe lack of power. Batting Garko and Peralta in the four hole is unfortunately their only option, which is not a good one. Also, when Sowers and Byrd have been on the mound lately, it has resulted in a loss. They both pitched admirably after giving up runs in the first in their respective last starts, but they are no Fausto Carmona or Jake Westbrook. This team is unfortunately a bad one, with half of the season to go. Crazier things have happened (2007 Rockies), but I just can't see this team putting together any kind of winning streak. The hitting is weak, the bullpen is bad, and two of the starting pitchers are inconsistent. When you mix that all together, you have a team that is just not very good. The Reds come to town this weekend, another under .500 team the Indians will probably lose to.

The remaining 2008 season will be probably rough to watch. Trading CC seems to be the only interesting facet left, and that may or may not happen. The Indians may feel 2 1st round picks is a better option than any of the proposed packages they may receive. If that is the case, at least we will get to watch a great pitcher throw in an Tribe uniform for August and September. This is how I would manage the rest of the summer months. I am tired of seeing David Dellucci strike out so they just need to Trot Nixon him and glue him to the bench. Andy Marte has been ruined by the Indians, so might as well throw him out a 3rd for a few weeks to see if he can get that elusive first RBI. Stick Casey Blake at first base, he is more productive than Ryan (right knee in the dirt) Garko. Platoon Shin Soo Choo between DH and right field, and let Sal Fasano grow out his mustache. Ship Edward Mujica out of here because he is terrible and bring up Jeff Stevens. Finally I would get rid of Paulie Byrd (even though I said earlier we should keep him) and bring up David Huff to see what we got. The Indians literally now have nothing to lose, they have lost enough.

Good Grief

Sal Fasano is not happy with the way his new team is playing. The Indians were swept by the Colorado Rockies this week, subsequently ending any talk of contention this year. I know there is 90 games left, but with four of our best players gone for considerable time and the lineup looking amongst the worst in baseball, it is time to look toward 2009. Terry Pluto officially announced the Tribe season over today, so I will follow suit. Also the DiaTribe has a nice piece about which tough questions the Indians Management is asking themselves today. CC Sabathia is scheduled to start next Friday against the Reds, so buy your tickets today because I have the sinking feeling it may be his last home start ever as an Indian. Other players I feel will be dealt before July 31st are David Dellucci, Joe Borowski, and possibly Ryan Garko. I can't see Wedge allowing Casey Blake to be traded due to their man-bond, but he should be since he is a free agent and would be quite valuable as a utility player for a contending team. I am just sold on Garko being the long-term solution for the Indians at first, as he really isn't a power guy. Also watching him strike out while his right knee scrapes the ground drives me crazy. Jhonny could be traded to a team in need of a shortstop who can hit every other year and not field, maybe a team like the Orioles or Cubs. With Asdrubal playing everyday at shortstop, Jhonny''s future is either at 3rd or somewhere else. The 2009 version of the Indians will probably be drastically different than the past 3 with all of these questions flying around. One thing that will happen if CC and Byrd are traded are losses. This rotation will be instantly awful with not much in Triple A depth-wise. As for Highlights and Areas of Concern, I am going to put in my highlight video of 2007, dream of whip cream pies, and wonder why the Cleveland Indians successfully ruined my summer this year.

Texas-Sized Split

Just when you think the Indians potentially may string together a few wins... they don't. While hitting in The Ballpark in Arlington is similar to hitting at Softball World, at least the offense got going a bit. I will give the rotation a pass for the past 4 games as it must be extremely difficult to pitch there, but the bullpen is an utter mess. 11 pitchers have been used in relief and a total of zero of them have been consistent. General Manager Mark Shapiro laments the fact that bullpens are volatile, and he has never been more correct. If the Tribe's relievers were even average, this team would be over .500 and probably tied for first place.

This team is now at a crossroads. There are 102 games left in the season, so I would say the next 20 games will tell the tale of how management proceeds the rest of the season. If they tank, I say deal CC Sabathia when you have a chance to get value for him. Now I realize that they probably won't deal CC since Carmona and Westbrook are on the DL, but might as well try and build for 2009 while maybe pulling together something for the rest of 2008. If the Tribe can string any type of winning streak together over 4 games, they are immediately back in the race. I personally don't feel to encouraged right now, and here is why:

• Victor is obviously hurt and not the same player. Just end his misery and place him on the DL.


• No meat in the middle of the order. Garko had a great series, but he is not a clean-up hitter. The Indians have no legitimate middle of the order hitters.


• Jhonny Peralta's inconsistency at the plate has been excruciating to watch. He flails away at the high fastball, waves at curveballs in the dirt, and has actually less range in the field than he did last year. I wrote back in early April that Jhonny was destined for a breakout year, boy was I wrong.


• Injuries to Carmona, Westbrook and the myth Adam Miller has quickly dwindled the teams pitching depth. One more injury to the starting staff and guys like Jeff Harris and Matt Ginter are in discussions about starting. EESSHH.


• Travis Hafner is also on the DL and hopefully he is searching for his stroke because it is gone. Along with Sizemore and Martinez, he is vital to the success to this team. Without him performing at least average, the Tribe has struggled mightily.


• Guys like Blake/Dellucci/Carroll/Choo/Gutierrez/Cabrera have to over perform to make this team a contender, and they have not. This team lacks punch, and besides a few great single game feats of strengths, these guys have all collectively been well below mediocre.


• The Bullpen as I stated before is awful. Nothing deflates a team more than the blown save, and this squad, (especially Betancourt) has blown a bunch. Names such as Bauer, Mujica, Elarton, and Slocum do not strike fear into the hearts of opposing batters, (all of which are actually sitting out in the pen). The Wahoos will not go anywhere this season without a decent bullpen, and that is looking less likely game by game.

The team did hit the past four days sans a 15 batter stretch Thursday. No lead is safe in that park, so with the Rangers pitching looking pretty terrible, I assume they will not be a contender in the AL West.

Here were some of the Highlights:

Ryan Garko: 11-20, 6 runs, 7 RBI's. The singles machine sure got some confidence back over the past 4 days. If he can consistently bat around .300 it will help this team immensely.

Ben Francisco: 9-20 HR, 5 RBI. One of the few consistent hitters on this team. Had some pretty bad at bats Thursday, but everyone is entitled to bad days. Will play everyday in this lineup as long as he continues to hit.

Casey Blake: 6-18, 2 HR 8 RBI's (7 in one game). Casey had a great Tuesday, would love to see him in a super sub roll instead of an everyday player.

David Dellucci: 6-10, 2 HR, 7 RBI's. Double D raked in his former ballpark, which was nice.

Areas of Concern:

Victor Martinez: 4-15, 5 RBI's. Drove in some runs, looks uncomfortable at the plate. I would stick him on the DL, looks like Victor will continue to "grind."

CC Sabathia: 6 IP, 4 earned runs, 9 hits, 3 walks, 8 K's. CC pitched ok but seemed to lose his composure after infield hits and defensive misplays (Choo). Needs to work through these situations and lose his cool.

Rafael Betancourt: (Thursday Game): 2/3 IP 2 hits. 2 walks, 3 earned runs. Has been up and down (mostly down) all year. Apparently he almost went on the DL a few days ago, might be there soon. Mr. Conquest was a main key to this team last year, and his terrible pitching this year is killing them.

Tribe Decision Makers (Shapiro, Wedge, Willis) I understand that the team was in a bind Wednesday with Westbrook going on the DL, but how could they have not known of this potential issue beforehand? Having to start a reliever in a major league game is inexcusable. They basically threw away the game and chalked it up as a loss. The way the Indians have played in 2008, can they really afford to do this? Call up a guy in Akron or Kinston, someone who can pitch more than 2 innings. If it means you may lose an arbitration year or a crappy guy like Elarton, Mujica or Slocum off of the 40 man roster, than so be it. This is not 2007, every game counts now after the proverbial hole they have dug for themselves being 6 games below .500.

I am not ready to kick dirt on the 2008 Wahoos, but am really close. They can't gather any momentum and seem to just float on by series by series. Since sweeping Oakland on May 15th, the team has went 5-14. That just is not going to cut it, even in a division as bad as the AL Central this season. Expectations were huge going into this season, as many pundits (including myself) predicted a World Series appearance. I knew I shouldn't have done it, since the last time I predicted such success was 2006, when the team fell apart. I predicted a 3rd place finish in 2007 which was smart since I wanted to avoid my self-inflicted jinx. This blog and my prediction may have jinxed the 2008 Indians, but who believes in such things? Every time the Tribe has people expecting big things, they fall on their face. I am now predicting the 2009 Cleveland Indians will finish in last place with the worst record in baseball.

If I were GM for a day...

Just when you think things can't get any worse, they are. The Indians 7-2 loss to the first place White Sox was there fifth in a row, slipping two games under .500. Since the majority of the Indians offense was produced by Ben Francisco and Michael Aubrey, both minor league call ups, these are some of the moves I think Shapiro should make over the next few days.

Send down Asdubal Cabrera and call up Josh Barfield. Now I know J-Barf hasn't exactly been tearing up Buffalo, but Cabrera looks totally lost at the plate, almost hoping for a walk. Barfield cannot possibly due worse, since his .177 batting average places him 90th out of the 90 eligible batters in the AL, 23 points behind 89th place Robinson Cano (.200).

Cut Craig Breslow and activate JoeBo. Although I cringe every time Borowski toes the mound, Breslow has no role on this team and has shown nothing. Need to keep as many hitters on the roster as possible.

Cut Jorge Julio and bring up Adam Miller. With Jorge arguing and shouting at Victor Martinez tonight, get him out of here, he is a stiff. Miller has been lights out in Buffalo and would bring some excitement to a dull team when he pitches.

Trade Paul Byrd to the Braves for infield hitting prospect. Byrd is a gamer and a great clubhouse guy, but he has some value to teams in contention. Paul is a free agent next year, so we may have to pick up some of his salary. Thanks for being a gamer Paulie, it is time for a youth movement.

Cut Andy Marte, activate Jake Westbrook. Marte is a corpse on the bench of the Indians. He is only 24 but his best days will not happen in a Tribe uniform.

Cut David Dellucci and bring up Shin Soo Choo. Choo is raking in Buffalo, Dellucci is who he is. Eat his contract and cut bait.

These moves won't make the lineup menacing, but it may give this team a spark it so desperately needs. The roster changes also may send a message to the team that complacency is not tolerated.

*Note: I know this moves can't all happen in a day, but a fan can dream.

Gunned Down in the Queen City

Just when you think your team is on a roll, disaster strikes. Sunday was a crappy day in Cleveland sports as the Cleveland LeBrons were beaten in seven games by the geriatric celtics. Looks like two years left of professional basketball in Cleveland!

Getting back to baseball, we have all heard that the season is a marathon and not a sprint. Well interleague play became an annoying bunion on the big toe of the Indians as they were miserably swept by the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. The hitting continued to suck dramatically, and our bullpen savior decided to recreate Bob Wickman's Great American Ballpark meltdown of 2006. How is it that Adam Dunn can be a slow, underachieving, below average fielder most of the season and then see Cleveland across the jerseys of the opposing team and immediately become Ken Griffey Jr in his prime? (Not the Griffey now, he looks about done). Watching Dusty Baker chew on his toothpick and readjust his wristbands in the dugout made me want swallow my remote. The Reds are playing well now, but I am sure that reality will strike them by the all star break as it usually does. Their old man general manager will hang on to Griffey and Dunn too long because the organization feels that they can compete this year. The two will leave for free agency, bringing no prospects in return. Also, what team starts Jerry Hairston and Corey Patterson? Those guys make Dellucci and Blake look like cornerstones to any franchise.

The Reds did uncover the flaws that have been plaguing the Tribe for most of the season. Through the first two games, the team went 0-15 with runners in scoring position. Some of that was due to pitchers batting, but most of it was due to the ineptitude of the lineup as a whole. I understand that Wedge is pretty much clueless as to who to bat where in the order (understandably so) but batting Dellucci 3rd is down right ridiculous. He has had some clutch hits with runners on this year but that is way too high of a spot for pretty much a journeyman fourth outfielder. It killed them in the first inning Sunday as he was up with two on and no out and flailed away at a high fastball. Might as well let Francisco hit 3rd as he right now is swinging the best bat. I would prefer just sticking Hafner back there Tuesday and letting things sort themselves out.

Also the savior to the bullpen, Masa Kobayashi became ordinary again. I like his demeanor on the mound but if he ever were to become the closer, these sort of blown saves may occur due to his stuff not being overpowering. His fastball to Dunn was right in his kitchen. The media has reported JoeBo will probably be back in a week and they seem to believe this will settle things down. Most fans will believe what I do, that the 9th will not be safe unless a legitimate closer is brought in. I was all for Raffy, but he wilted under the pressure of the 9th. Kobayashi would provides a decent option, but he is suspect to the gopher ball. As for JoeBo, get out the heart medication because he is excruciating to watch.

Here were some of the Highlights:

Michael Aubrey: First Major League hit was a Home Run: This one week honeymoon by Aubrey will be interesting to watch. His call up may show how committed they are to Garko for the long run. He now has 1 more than our cleanup hitter.

Ben Francisco: 5-11, first HR of the season: I think his teammates should take some notes on his hitting style. Don't over think, see the ball, hit the ball. Has played himself into the everyday lineup.

Fausto Carmona: 7 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 0 walks, 4 K's, 1 earned run: Continues to deal, was robbed of a victory by the bullpen and the offense. No walks is an excellent sign.

Jorge Julio: 1/3 IP, 0 earned runs. Got to pitch, probably a big deal for the Julio family.

Areas of Concern:

Ryan Garko: Got thrown out Sunday at second base after hitting the ball off of the wall. Decided to watch his stroke instead of getting out of the box and hustling down the line. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in a platoon with Aubrey over the next week as Wedge usually does not tolerate lazy play. Also I am gettin tired of his front knee hitting the dirt when he swings at a low pitch. Probably not the best form.

Masa Kobayashi: 1/3 inning, 3 run bomb to Adam Dunn in the 9th, blown save: Crushed the hopes and dreams of every Tribe fan hoping we finally found a closer.

Asdrubal Cabrera: 0-10. Even though his glove has been superb, may need to be sent down to regain confidence in his bat. He is only 22 but he is pulling the ball and hitting way too many fly balls.

David Dellucci: 1-9. Rough weekend for DD, Wedge is asking too much of him by batting him 3rd. Needs to be dropped down immediately.

The Indians get a much needed day off Monday before they face the Chicago White Sox for a three game series in Chi Town. 52 year old Jose Contreras battles CC Sabathia Tuesday.

Defense Wins Championships (or games)

Most pundits believed going into the 2008 season that the Tribe's defense would be average at best. Those pundits should be slapped in the face, because the Indians are flashing the leather. Asdrubal Cabrera made an eye popping diving catch, Dellucci made a great grab against the wall, and Sizemore gunned down the fleet footed Frank Thomas while also making a great diving snag. All of these factors, including another gem of a start from Paul Byrd, and Ryan Garko finally delivering on a 3 run homerun led the Tribe to defeat the Oakland A's Tuesday, 4-0. The team has now won 6 of their last 8, and the starting pitching has hurled 34 consecutive shutout innings. If the bats ever decide to wake up, this team could become scary good.

Also while attending the game tonight, my wife and I sat in front of two dudes who's Tribe knowledge was deplorable. These were some of the 9 inning conversation highlights:

• The drummer bangs his percussion instrument every inning with two outs.


• The Indians last won the World Series in 1964


• The Indians have been to the ALCS 6 or 7 times in the past 44 years.


• The Indians made it to the World Series in 1995 and 1998.


• Jose Mesa retired in 1999.


• They missed the days of Mesa, Lofton, Baerga, and Thome. Wish they were still here.

Why do I mention this? Because it seems like every other game I tend to sit in front of these type of morons. They laugh loudly at their own jokes and have no idea what they are talking about. I am not saying that everyone should be a dork like me and have their own blog, but at least try and attempt to get your facts straight. I never hear anyone saying they wish we had Chad Ogea and Charles Nagy on the mound. The late 90's are over, let's move on.