The Cure-All
Looks like Royals pitchers D.J. Carrasco and Jimmy Gobble were just what the doctor ordered for the struggling bats.
The way that the Tribe plays against the Royals, in comparison to the tone of the team when playing the Yanks or the Pale Hose, is remarkable. The Tribe comes out hungry and takes advantage of mistakes made by the lesser Kansas City team. Actually, it's similar to the way that the White Sox came out against the Indians on Friday night.
The only exception to this rule was when the Wahoos went into Boston, then Baltimore, and went right after some good teams in their stadiums. That attitude, or maturation, is the next step for this team. Whether it comes this year or not is unknown, but you have to think that the Atomic Wedgie knows WHAT needs to be done, maybe just not HOW to teach this team to do it yet.
Cliff Lee was dealing tonight when the rain hit. The Royals were obviously overmatched when Lee had his good stuff going (striking out the side in the 5th as the tornado siren blared). Also, Lee didn't let a rough first blow up into a 6 on the board and toughened up to shut the Royals down, giving the Tribe a chance to take the lead and take advantage of the Royals pitchers. Can C.C. watch tape of that, and take notes...please? Lee's got great stuff and could be a solid 3 or even a 2 starter for a long time on the North Coast. His attitude is second to none either: no frills, just his best stuff challenging hitters.
It was reported by WTAM tonight that the Soriano rumor (Soriano for Brad Snyder & Andrew Brown) from ESPN.com was created by a Dallas columnist, completely from his imagination. In reality, the Rangers asked for SuperSizemore and Le Pronque for Soriano. OUCH! Can we throw in the complete Aeros roster while we're at it, Mr. Hart?
Gammons also reported that the Reds are looking for 3-4 Major League ready prospects for either Randa or Kearns, essentially making them unattainable/undesirable.
That RH bat might be more unlikely as the calendar draws closer to August, particularly if the Rangers stay in the Wild Card (and Mench becomes entrenched as a vital cog of their offense).
Time to get fat on some Kansas City BBQ.
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great win... after this weekend, we'll take 'em any way we can get 'em.
but anyhwo, so i join the team (in which PC played for tonight in an 8-1 victory!) at the bar after the game tonight, and on the .7 mile trip back home, i hear jody's going home? at least mary beth luna will be happy.
Updated: July 18, 2005, 11:50 PM ET
Indians send Jody Gerut to Cubs
Associated Press
Major League Baseball News Wire
CLEVELAND -- At the time, Jody Gerut didn't know his final swing Monday night would also be his last for the Cleveland Indians.
Gerut, who hit an RBIs single in the fifth inning, was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Jason Dubois in a swap of outfielders. The deal was announced moments after the Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 in a game shortened to five innings by rain.
"I'm shocked," Gerut said. "It's crazy. I guess I'm not quite ready to turn the page. But as soon as I clear out my locker, I'll be ready to turn the page."
Gerut's next stop will be close to home. He was born in Elmhurst, Ill., and raised in Lombard, Ill.
"I grew up a White Sox fan but I'm going to have to get over that," Gerut said. "It's great. It's an unbelievable franchise with a great ballpark."
The Indians have been in the market for a right-handed slugger, and Dubois (pronounced du-Boyce) could help. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder hit 31 homers last season at Triple-A Iowa. Dubois, 26, batted .239 with seven homers and 22 RBIss in 52 games this season for the Cubs before being optioned to Iowa on July 8.
He will report to the Indians on Tuesday.
"This is a pure baseball trade in the sense that we are trading a player we like in Jody Gerut for a player that we feel has a lot of offensive potential and compliments our club well, both now and in the future," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.
Gerut batted .275 in 44 games this season for Cleveland. He spent the first six weeks on the disabled list while recovering from major knee surgery last September. Gerut tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Sept. 17 while trying to catch a ball in the right-field corner at Jacobs Field.
Gerut became somewhat expendable with the emergence of outfielders Grady Sizemore and Coco Crisp.
"We've got four outfielders and three spots. What are you going to do with that?" Gerut said. "Somebody is not going to play as much as he would like to."
In 2003, Gerut batted .279 with 22 homers and led the Indians with 75 RBIss.
"We like the fact that he's a left-handed hitter," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said in Cincinnati, following Chicago's 9-4 victory over the Reds. "He's an above-average defensive player. He's more suited to play either corner, but he can play center. He's a guy who could help this club down the stretch."
Dubois made his major league debut with the Cubs last year and hit .236 with eight homers in 72 games.
"Jason's a guy who has power potential," Hendry said. "All of us felt he might be better suited to the other league."
however! the above was the AP story. interesting to see the twist when you read the version on www.indians.com
07/18/2005 11:17 PM ET
Tribe trades Gerut for Dubois
GM Shapiro cites power potential as reason for swap
By Justice B. Hill / MLB.com
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Jason Dubois hit .239 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs for the Cubs in 2005. (Brian Kersey/AP)
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CLEVELAND -- The Indians didn't make a deal Monday night that would make a big splash, but they did make a deal.
The Tribe sent outfielder Jody Gerut to the Cubs for outfielder Jason Dubois, who had spent most of the 2005 season in the Majors.
In making the move, general manager Mark Shapiro said Dubois was a right-handed power bat that he had been interested in trading for in the past.
Dubois was hitting .239 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 142 at-bats for the Cubs. Gerut's 2005 campaign with the Tribe ends with a .275 average, one homer and 12 RBIs.
Shapiro's decision to move the 27-year-old Gerut, the team's player rep, seemed to reflect the team's disappointment in Gerut's inability to show the power he displayed in 2003 when he was named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year.
Since that rookie year, Gerut has had knee problems. He spent the last part of the 2004 season on the disabled list and had surgery on his right knee Sept. 19. He'd been trying to rehab it ever since.
After starting the '05 season in extended Spring Training, Gerut was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on May 18. He was in the starting lineup Monday night, and he went 2-for-3 as the designated hitter.
One Major League scout expected the 27-year-old Gerut to eat up the outfield innings that Corey Patterson had for the Cubs. Patterson was demoted to Triple-A Iowa City last week.
Justice B. Hill is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
and now the www.cubs.com version:
07/18/2005 11:24 PM ET
Cubs deal for Gerut, trade Dubois
Acquisition brings defensive skill to depleted outfield
By Kyle Jepson / Special to MLB.com
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CINCINNATI -- After Monday night's game against the Reds, the Cubs acquired outfielder Jody Gerut from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Jason Dubois.
Although Gerut doesn't fill all the Cubs' needs -- the team is still in need of a leadoff hitter -- the 25-year-old will help a depleted outfield defensively, Gerut's greatest strength.
Gerut has committed just eight errors in his career, which includes more than 200 games played defensively.
In 2003, the left-handed batter broke into the Majors with his best season thus far. Gerut led the Indians in home runs (22) and RBIs (75). He was also named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.
In his next two seasons, though, Gerut was plagued by knee problems.
Gerut played in 134 games in 2004, but batted just .252. This season, he missed much of the first half of the year, but returned to bat .275 in 44 games.
Dubois was in his second season with the Cubs.
After playing only 20 games last year, Dubois was batting .239 in 52 games this season. He was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on July 7.
Kyle Jepson is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
love it!
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