Friday night’s debacle against the Devil Rays really was hard to take.  C.C. Sabathia pitched another fine game, but left after the 8th inning with a lead.  Sabathia was over 100 pitches, so Manager Eric Wedge went to his struggling bullpen.  Jason Davis is inconsistent, but had the team’s only save, so he was the leading candidate to be brought in.  However, Wedge decided to go with Brian Sikorski, who has allowed four HR’s in nine innings thrown in a Tribe uniform.  Why?

 

I understand that the rest of this season is to see what the club has for next year.  But, the skipper still has an obligation to Sabathia, who has been a loyal soldier to the organization.  The big lefty has been pitching lights out over the last month, and is not getting any wins to show for it.  Out of all the options at hand to pitch the ninth, Sikorski would have been the fourth option to me. 

 

First, I would have used Davis.  Yes, he runs hot and cold, but he did earn the save at Fenway Park earlier this month, and he didn’t hold the lead in his most recent chance against the Royals because of Hector Luna’s error.  My second choice would have been Tom Mastny (this was before his save on Saturday) since he has done nothing but get guys out since being called up from Buffalo.  I would have used Fausto Carmona ahead of Sikorski, just based on pure stuff. 

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So, Sikorski comes on and Travis Lee hits one off the fence immediately.  The manager waited until the game was tied to get Davis into the game, and the big righty gave up a walk and the game winning hit to Carl Crawford.  Keep in mind that Davis is horrible when entering the game with runners in scoring position.  What gives?  What turned into a series win against the D-Rays should have been a series sweep.  The next night, Mastny did come on and pitched two impressive frames, striking out three.  Before yesterday’s game, the STO announcing crew told me that the rookie righthander may not get the next save situation.  Why the hell not?

 

Eric Wedge has been the Tribe’s manager for four seasons.  The bullpen has been in shambles for 2-1/2 of those years.  Only when Bob Wickman was here and everybody knew he was the closer, has the relief corp been settled.  It appears that Wedge or Carl Willis do not know how to identify a guy who can wrap up a game.  I agreed with their assessment of Carmona, but when that plan failed for the moment, there’s no alternative.  Mastny got the last save, so he should get the next opportunity.  If he fails, he’s the lastest who did.  If he succeeds, maybe the Indians found a guy who can close. 

 

This is not to say that Tom Mastny is the next Mariano Rivera, but he has demonstrated the ability to get guys out.  He deserves the chance, and he deserves it more than a guy who’s allowed four dingers in the equivalent of one game. 

 

JK

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed restricted free agent forward Drew Gooden to a three year contract the other day, putting another piece from last year back in place.  The debate as to whether or not it is a good signing will be waged, but it doesn’t hurt to keep a starter from a team that won a playoff series on the squad.

 

Gooden is one of the favorite whipping boys for the fans since most people would like a Karl Malone type as the team’s power forward.  But, the Kansas alum is a serviceable player, and sharing time at the #4 spot with Anderson Varajao isn’t a bad twosome to have at the position.  I believe Gooden could provide more offense if the team ran a few plays for him.  Actually, it would be nice if they ran plays for anybody. 

 

Another year under Coach Mike Brown’s defensive system should improve Gooden’s ability to defend the pick and roll, a major weakness for him last year.  That’s the main reason the former Jayhawk star would sit late in games in favor of Varajao.  It’s likely Brown will go with a four man rotation at the 4/5 positions with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Donyell Marshall.

 

The Cavs still have a glut of wings.  Besides starters LeBron James and Larry Hughes, GM Danny Ferry still has Sasha Pavlovic, Luke Jackson, Stephen Graham, Ira Newble, and rookie Shannon Brown on the roster.  They also still need a point guard.  Eric Snow can probably still give the team 20 good minutes per game in the regular season.  Who plays the other 28?  It’s obvious the wine and gold have soured on Damon Jones.  I’m sure Hughes can give them some minutes at the point, but he is not the long term answer at the position.  Rookie Daniel Gibson might work out down the road, but not this year.  This is still an area needing a solution. 

 

The Cavs might still be able to get a good solid role player at this late juncture in the free agent period.  Training camp starts in six weeks, so it is getting late quickly.  Starting the season with basically the same team will help the Cavs get off to a good start, but the roster has to be upgraded to advance further in the playoffs.

 

JK

 

 

 

The Cleveland Indians made some roster moves this weekend to allow Jeremy Guthrie to start the second game of Saturday’s day/night doubleheader.  They designated the beleaguered Guillermo Mota for assignment before Friday’s game and called up infielder Ramon Vazquez because Joe Inglett couldn’t go Friday due to a leg injury.  To make room for Guthrie before the night game on Saturday, the Tribe designated Vazquez for assignment.  The curious thing was the journeyman’s reaction to the move.

 

The utility man said he never got a fair shot with the Tribe.  He said he refused to go to Buffalo because it was clear he was not in the Indians’ plan for next season.  Huh?  Actually, Vazquez got a huge benefit of the doubt when Eric Wedge did not want Brandon Phillips coming off the bench as spring training ended.  Phillips outperformed the former Red Sox and Padres infielder, but Vazquez made the club anyway.  How’s that not getting a fair shot.  It appears to me as if it was Phillips that didn’t get an equal chance.

 

I would say that Vazquez is pretty quick to figure out the Tribe had no plans for him in 2007.  What clicked that switch on for him, was it bringing up Joe Inglett?  Was it trading for Hector Luna?  Was it his batting average hovering around .200 for much of the season?  Was it his three error game at SS earlier this season?  Guys like Vazquez are as replaceable as a light bulb.  A younger guy is always going to get a shot at taking that job on a baseball team.

 

Down on the farm, Kevin Kouzmanoff went 4 for 4 for the Bison yesterday raising his average at the AAA level to .378.  Overall, the third baseman is hitting .388 with 19 HR and 63 RBI in 289 at bats.  The Kouz should get a September call up after the Buffalo season ends.  He’s had some back problems, so a move to the outfield (LF?) could be forthcoming.  Then again, if Andy Marte doesn’t start hitting a little bit, maybe Kouzmanoff stays at 3B. 

 

Despite Guthrie’s control problems on Saturday, here’s hoping he get a few more starts in September.  He may have had a case of nervousness in his first big league start, but I think the brass will want to start limiting Jeremy Sowers innings soon, especially since he has shown his effectiveness in a Cleveland uniform.  That could open some slots in the rotation for Guthrie.  Since the former 1st round draftee is out of options next season, the front office has to find out more about him in the show.

 

It’s on to the road for the Tribe for the next week and a half, with a chance to play spoiler at Minnesota, and then on to Tampa and Kansas City. 

 

MW

 

 

 

It finally happened!  The Cleveland Indians won their second consecutive game, defeating the Los Angeles Angels last night, 14-2.  It was the first time they won two in a row since July 1-4 when they won four straight against the Reds and the Yankees.  Since that point, one at a time has been the Tribe’s mantra.

 

However, Cliff Lee celebrated his new contract extension with his 10th win, and homers by Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko paced the offense along with a three hit game by Shin-Soo Choo.  Hafner is having a marvelous season, an MVP type of campaign which is being overlooked by many because of the Indians lot in the standings.  Pronk is tied for 2nd in the AL in HR’s with 34, is second in OPS, and is third in the Junior Circuit in RBI’s.  Unfortunately, his team’s fourth place standing makes most people unaware of his huge stats.

 

This weekend, fans will finally get a look at Jeremy Guthrie as a starter when he takes the hill in one of the games against the Royals on Saturday.  Previously, all of the former first round draft pick’s appearances have come out of the bullpen.  Guthrie has had a solid season at Buffalo this year and deserves a shot at a start. 

 

Speaking of young pitchers, Adam Miller continued his dominance in the AA Eastern League with a four hit shutout last night, striking out 11.  Miller has ascended to the top of Baseball America’s Hot Prospect List with his pitching since the beginning of July.  Miller will probably be with the big club in September, but as a spectator.  The front office does not want to put more wear and tear on the youngster’s arm, especially with an elbow problem in his past.

 

The trade of Todd Hollandsworth means that Franklin Gutierrez has returned to the big club.  Gutierrez picked up his offense after being returned to Buffalo, raising his batting average to .281.  An outfield of Sizemore, Gutierrez, and Choo could really cover some ground, and with both rookies having good arms, would upgrade the defense immensely.  GM Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge said the defense was a big problem, and every change made recently has made that part of the team better. 

 

Anyway, it’s four with the Royals this weekend before a trip to Minnesota, Tampa, and Kansas City.  The auditions continue for 2007, and it looks right now like the Tribe picked up some guys who can play in the deadline deals.  Are Mota and Boone the next to go?

 

JK

 

The Plain Dealer jumped all over the problem with stopping the running game as the reason the Indians lost to the Angels last night, 5-4.  However, there is another reason for the defeat that was missed.  That would be the lack of a lefty in the bullpen.  The Tribe has been without a lefty since Rafael Perez was returned to Buffalo a few weeks ago, and last night’s game cried for a southpaw to be used.

 

With the score tied going into the eighth inning, righty Rafael Betancourt came on and gave up a leadoff single to Vladimir Guerrero.  Another right handed hitter, Juan Rivera was next and he flew out to center.  Lefty hitter Garrett Anderson followed, and with Betancourt pitching carefully because Anderson has some pop, walked.  Tim Salmon (R) was next and he struck out, with the Angels working a successful double steal to put runners on second and third.  Angels’ pilot Mike Scioscia then pinch hit the lefty hitting Adam Kennedy for Robb Quinlan, and Kennedy singled to break the tie. 

 

If a lefty was in the ‘pen, he could have been used to face Anderson, and then another righty could have come on to face Salmon.  Or either Scioscia would have kept Kennedy on the bench knowing a lefty would come on, and if Kennedy had come up a lefty could have been used at that point.  The Indians were beat as much because they had no lefty reliever as by the successful double steal. 

 

Even though the Wahoo’s are playing a lot of young players, the object is still to win the game.  Cleveland hamstrings itself in trying to win because they don’t have a southpaw in the bullpen. 

 

It’s nice that radio talk show hosts can evaluate talent so quickly.  I’ve heard hosts on WKNR pretty much proclaiming Andy Marte as a bust after 22 at bats.  On the other hand, Shin-Soo Choo is being hailed as the next big thing.  Do these guys realize that Travis Hafner just went through an 0 for 17 streak?  Or that Joe Inglett was hitting .350 after 20 or so at bats?  It takes a little bit bigger sample to evaluate a player than 20 plate appearances. 

 

I do like Choo’s patience at the plate, but at this point he has to prove he can hit a breaking pitch.  Marte has made some nice plays defensively, and has hit in a little tough luck.  He’s whiffed 5 times in 22 official at bats, so he’s not been Russell Branyan or Jason Dubois so far. 

 

Willie Mays started out something like 0 for 24 to start his big league career.  Good thing talk radio wasn’t around then.

 

KM

 

 

 

The Cleveland Indians return from a 2-5 road trip to take on the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow night at Jacobs Field.  It was a trip in which the Tribe led six of the seven games.  Not only that, they led those six games in the seventh inning or later.  It was an amazing because the optimists following this team realize they could have been 6-1 in this period, easily.  However, the game isn’t over until the 27th out is recorded, and currently the ballclub doesn’t have anyone who can do that. 

 

The amazing thing is how this team continues to bounce back.  I realize many people are critical of Manager Eric Wedge because of the disappointing season and the club’s record in one run games somehow suggests he is deficient in game management.  However, I think the skipper’s most important job is to manage the players in the clubhouse.  Wedge’s message of one game at a time is more important than ever after tough losses, and obviously the fact this team took early leads in the following game after one of these devastating defeats shows his message is still getting through.

 

One of the criticisms I do have of Wedge is his failure to use his entire roster.  Right now, the Tribe has a five man bullpen because of the manager’s reluctance to use Guillermo Mota (for obvious reasons) and rookie Tom Mastny.  Mota should be dealt for a low level prospect or released, and if the pilot isn’t going to use Mastny, he should be returned to Buffalo.  Apparently, Jason Davis is the new closer, and since we have been critical of Davis in the past, it’s funny that JD attributes his recent success to not thinking.  That is what we felt the problem was all along. 

 

The Tribe may have lost Casey Blake to an ankle injury on Saturday night.  Since Ryan Garko is struggling, I would like to see the team bring up Kevin Kouzmanoff from Buffalo.  Kouzmanoff has hit a combined .380 at Akron and Buffalo this year, and has belted 3 HR’s in his time in AAA in a little over a week.  This move would be assuming that Kouzmanoff can play a passable 1B.  The 25 year old is a lifetime .300 hitter in the minors, proving he can flat out hit.  He doesn’t have any overwhelming "tools", except for the ability to hit ’em where they ain’t.  It would be a message to all in the minors, that if you produce, you can get a shot on the big club.

 

This week’s action features a match up of young pitchers on Tuesday, when Jeremy Sowers takes on the Angels’ Jared Weaver.  Sowers passed his test against the Red Sox in Fenway, allowing two runs in five innings.   These are the things a Tribe fan has to look forward to in 2006. 

 

MW

 

Various thoughts going through our heads as the summer starts to wind down:

 

Roger Brown:  Really, you does this guy have pictures of?  His so called conversation with a National League scout on Shin-Soo Choo was very odd.  Choo was recently named the best arm in the PCL in Baseball America’s recent tools survey.  But, Brown’s source said Choo’s arm was just average.  Whether or not, the outfielder acquired from Seattle ever becomes a good major leaguer is up for debate, but the guy has a very good arm.  Heck, he used to be a pitcher.  Also, why does he think the Indians are going through a major overhaul in the off season.  They may make some deals, but their best players are not going anywhere.  Tinkering with role players and the bullpen is not a major rebuilding situation.

 

Michael Reghi:  When LeBron James is on the team, people will watch no matter who the play by play guy is, but Dan Gilbert blew it with this move.  I like Gilbert, because he lets his basketball people run the show.  But, my recollection of Fred McLeod is that he brings the same excitement as watching paint dry.  Gilbert needs to figure out that (to paraphrase Sam Wyche) we live in Cleveland, not Detroit.  We like our guys.  We don’t want some Detroit guy (yes, I know McLeod grew up here) doing the Cavs games.  When it comes to the stuff not concerning personnel, Gilbert should think about the fans and what they want.  Cavs’ fans want Reghi doing the games, they would like a new PA announcer at the "Q" as well. 

 

Owing the Yankees?:  After Fausto Carmona’s second blown save against Boston on Wednesday, ESPN Radio’s Mike Greenberg commented that the Indians owed the Yankees to not use an untested closer against the Sox.  That’s a load of crap!  The only thing the Tribe owes anybody is to find out who can help the team in 2007 and in what role.  Besides, as Greenberg’s partner Mike Golic pointed out, it is not like the Indians have an established closer after the trade of Bob Wickman.  Really, after the Yankees’ grand theft of Bobby Abreu does any team in Major League Baseball owe the Bronx Bombers anything?  I don’t see the pinstripers doing anything to help the Tribe. 

 

More help on the farm:  One of the Tribe’s best prospects, Adam Miller, has been on a roll at Akron, and not many people have noticed.  Miller went 4-0 with a 0.29 ERA in July and had 30 strikeouts in 31 innings.  Last night, he threw 6 innings allowing one run on three hits, whiffing 11.  Miller had some elbow problems last season, but it appears he has recovered.  Also, at Class A Kinston, lefty Chuck Lofgren won his 14th game, and was named the best pitching prospect in the Carolina League.  Also, Trevor Crowe returned to the Akron line up yesterday, after injuring an ankle.  Crowe was named the best hitting prospect in the same league, and also has the best strike zone judgment.  Keep an eye on these three players, as they (especially Miller and Crowe) could be wearing Cleveland uniforms next season.

 

JK

 

After last season’s drive to the playoffs fell short, people realized that the Cleveland Indians would not have the same team that finished the 2005 season with a 93-69 record.  There were free agents who would leave, and trades that would be made.  How would GM Mark Shapiro reconstruct the team?

 

The players you hear about most often on talk shows are Kevin Millwood, Bob Howry, Arthur Rhodes, and Coco Crisp.  Most reasonable supporters of the team realize that Millwood would sign elsewhere because he wanted a four or five year deal.  Virtually all major league teams give out that long of a contract to starters with the same frequency that they take poison. 

 

Granted, Millwood is hurling in an extreme hitter’s park, but his numbers currently show a 10-7 record with an ERA of 4.62.  He has allowed 24 more hits than innings pitched this season.  He clearly is the ace of the Rangers’ staff, but he also is not pitching as well as he did for the Tribe in 2005.  The man who supposedly replaced him, Paul Byrd has struggled in his last two starts, but has put up comparable numbers to Millwood.  Byrd is only under contract through next season, whereas Millwood has four years left on his deal.

 

Arthur Rhodes, at age 36, has had a terrible season for the Phillies, his second bad year in the last three.  Rhodes is 0-3 with a 5.67 ERA and one save in Philadelphia, and has allowed 61 base runners in 33-1/3 innings.  Scott Sauerbeck washed out in trying to replace Rhodes in the Tribe bullpen, but Rhodes has not been much of a loss.  Getting Jason Michaels for him has to be rated a good deal by Shapiro.

 

Speaking of Michaels, the man he replaced is not having a good season either.  Coco Crisp showed up on trade rumor lists before the deadline, so clearly the Red Sox are not enamored with him.  Coco is batting .272 with 4 HR and 20 RBI in ’06, and missed considerable time early in the year with a broken finger and kidney stones.  Having a hand injury can hurt a hitter all season, and it appears that Crisp is no exception as his slugging percentage has dropped 80 points from last year.  Michaels has a higher on base percentage and higher slugging percentage this season than Crisp.

 

Only Howry has comparable stats to 2005.  He is currently 3-3 with 3 saves and a 3.35 ERA for the Cubs.  That said, his ERA is almost a run higher than his 2.47 mark of ’05.  There is no question the Tribe misses having Howry available to pitch the eighth inning, but he also has three more years remaining on his deal.  Let’s say Howry’s ERA jumps a run again next year.  Will the Cubs be happy to pay him $4 million for an ERA of over 4?  Paying players based on a career year is a huge mistake, is that the case with Howry?  We will find out in the next three seasons.

 

Mark Shapiro gets paid to make these decisions before he can see how the moves turn out.  Based on these four players seasons in 2006, he made the correct call on three out of four, and the Howry decision was based on how many years the reliever signed for.  That’s why the biggest free agent to be Larry Dolan needs to sign is his General Manager.  Baseball America recently included Shapiro in an article of 10 men who will impact baseball in the future.  Let’s hope that future includes continued employment by the Tribe. 

 

KM

 

The Cleveland Indians dealt 2B Ronnie Belliard to the Cardinals for utility player Hector Luna, a player who was formerly in the organization, having played in Akron in 2003 before being picked by St. Louis in the Rule 5 draft.  The trade took many by surprise since Belliard played hard and was fairly productive, but he was a free agent at the end of this season, so it was no lock he would return next year.

 

Luna is no stiff, with a .276 career batting average in limited opportunities (533 career at bats).  He has some speed, stealing 10 bases in 12 tries last year, and can play multiple positions, including SS and the outfield.  The plans are to platoon him with Joe Inglett at 2B, so he will be in the line up tonight against the Red Sox and David Wells.

 

GM Mark Shapiro said the team is done trading, but he is probably still trying to find new homes for OF Todd Hollandsworth, P Guillermo Mota, and 3B Aaron Boone.  It is somewhat amazing that Boone is still on the roster, but apparently the Tribe cannot find any takers.  The Indians don’t want to release Boone so as not to embarass him, but there he was starting at third yesterday against Seattle.  Of course, Boone failed to deliver with runners on second and third with one out and the infield in yesterday.  He grounded the first pitch to short, where Shin-Soo Choo made a base running error (nothing like trying to fit in!) and got caught off second.

 

Jim Donovan blamed Choo for short circuiting the rally, but Kelly Shoppach made an out right after that, so Choo’s mistake did not cost the team a run, Boone’s failure to hit a fly ball did.  Also, there was another media cover up in the ninth inning.

 

Inglett, playing SS, looked to third after making a tough stop, and missed retiring the batter, Greg Dobbs, by a step.  Rick Manning correctly pointed out that the Tribe gave the Mariners an extra out, with came back to haunt them when Jose Lopez got the go ahead hit with TWO outs.  However, The Plain Dealer did not mention the play in its game story.

 

Inglett made a nice play on the ball, and wasn’t playing his normal position.  But, imagine the uproar if Jhonny Peralta made the exact same play.  It would have been portrayed as another bad defensive play by Peralta.  Since it was Inglett, the play was swept under the rug.  The point is this, if Inglett had thrown to first right away, Dobbs would have been out, and it would have been man on third with two out.  Carmona would have had a much better chance to get out of the inning with a tie score. 

 

It’s on to Boston and Detroit for Kid Tribe to see where they stack up against two of the AL’s best.  Here’s looking forward to seeing Jeremy Sowers battling the Sox on Wednesday evening.

 

MW 

 

The Cleveland Browns lost All-Pro center LeCharles Bentley to a season ending knee injury yesterday, and the fans of the team regressed into the "Woe is Me" attitude that GM Phil Savage has condemned.  Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel had the correct attitude when the word came out the Bentley was indeed ruled out for the season, they related to the media that the show must go on.

 

Crennel doesn’t want any excuses for the team not doing well in ’06.  Bob Hallen is a veteran free agent signed to back up at guard and center, and he will be thrust into a starting role.  He is not a raw rookie being asked to replace Bentley.  But, hearing fans talk about Bentley’s injury, they now expect the team to finish with the same 6-10 record as last season, or maybe even worse.

 

I don’t buy it.  Bill Livingston from The Plain Dealer always talks about the free pass given the Browns from the fans.  The orange and brown never receive the vitriol from the public that the Indians get when they are mediocre.  Ever since the Dolan’s owned the Tribe, they made the playoffs once, and missed the post-season twice by one game.  Since the Browns returned in 1999, they made the playoffs as a wild card once, and have been terrible every other season.  But, it’s the Dolans who get all the criticism.

 

I like Phil Savage, and I like Crennel too.  I think they have the Browns headed in the right direction.  However, I expect this team to improve from last year’s 6-10 mark and I’m sure Savage and Crennel expect the same, even though Bentley is out.  They set the tone that the season has to go on, with or without the team’s biggest free agent aquisition.  The Browns’ fans should follow suit.

 

MW