Let’s talk real baseball, hot stove baseball. The Mitchell Report came out yesterday, so most of the conversation on the national pastime has to do with performance enhancing drugs, but there weren’t any real surprises on the list.
One more comment. It is a joke that Barry Bonds holds the all time home run record. He can deny taking steroids or HGH all he wants, but he doesn’t pass the eye test. Our eyes tell us he did something to get that big in his late 30’s. That said, Roger Clemens is just as bad. Watch Clemens’ 20-strikeout game against Seattle in the late 1980’s, and compare the guy who pitched that game to the guy who started Game 3 of the ALDS last season. He fails the same test.
Now, onto the game on the field. It has been rumored that the Indians are in conversations with Oakland for starting pitcher Dan Haren. Haren has been one of the top starting pitchers in the American League since he was acquired from St. Louis after the 2004 season. He is under contract for 2008 and 2009, with a club option for 2010 at a relatively low cost. He would be a tremendous pick up for the Tribe.
The Tigers are building with offense, much like the Indians from 1995-2001. They arguably have the best line up in the game right now after picking up Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins. Remember, how many world championships those Cleveland teams won? None. The way to combat good offense is good pitching. Getting Haren would give the Indians a true big three of C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, and Haren, backed by Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd. That’s a pretty good rotation. Arguably the best in the game.
These rumors have speculated that Shapiro would have to give up Adam Miller in the deal to acquire Haren. There is no question that Miller is the Tribe’s best mound prospect. However, he has also had injury problems in two of the last three years. The front office will tell you Bartolo Colon had some arm problems when he was young, but became very durable after he turned 22 years old. I don’t know if lightning will strike twice this time. To get a 27-year-old starter of this caliber, one who is under contract for three more years, I think I would include Miller in the deal.
Shapiro is said to be balking at including Asdrubal Cabrera in the deal, and I would agree with the GM on this front. Cabrera figures to start at 2B for the Indians in 2008, and if he is dealt, it means the ball club is back to Josh Barfield. The organization wants Barfield to start the year in Buffalo to correct the offensive problems he had last season. There is little depth on this front, in fact, the Indians traded for utility infielder Jamey Carroll from Colorado to fortify the middle infield. Carroll is a veteran, but a slap hitter with the bat. He does draw some walks, but has very little power.
Getting Haren would also fortify the organization if Sabathia would leave via the free agent route following this season. The ball club would still have two solid starters at the top of the rotation. Keep in mind, with Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, both of whom have already pitched in the majors, and Chuck Lofgren and David Huff, who likely will be at Buffalo and Akron respectively, the team has some depth among starting pitchers. It would also be a nice Christmas present for Indians’ fans to find three aces under the tree from Mr. Shapiro.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 