Sunday Tidbits

As usual, a few great items from Terry Pluto on a Sunday. Why the PD sticks with their "columnists" for all these years is one of the great mysteries to me.

Ken Rosenthal hit on an interesting comparison:
Consider this comparison: Pitcher A was 20-18 with a 3.70 ERA in 3282/3 innings over the past two seasons. Pitcher B was 19-16 with a 3.86 ERA in 3262/3 innings. Pitcher A, right-hander Paul Byrd, signed a two-year, $14.25 million contract with the Indians. Pitcher B, left-hander Jarrod Washburn, received a four-year, $37.5 million deal from the Mariners. Washburn, 31, is four years younger and left-handed, but is he worth $23.25 million more? Doubtful.

Why is it that every national media type (with the exception of the all-knowing Steve Phillips) seem to think that the Indians were one of the few teams this off-season who made good, low-risk deals as opposed to a risky, flashy signing? Meanwhile, the local guys just make fun of the Dolans and their "cheapness".

Everyone decries the fact that we didn't sign a needed "big bat". Last I checked, Hafner, Martinez, Peralta, and Sizemore are all still in the lineup. While (and maybe because) the power from "big bats" doesn't come from the traditional power-producing positions (1B, 3B, RF, LF), everyone seems to forget that the C, SS, CF, and DH are probably in the Top 5 in their positions in the entire Majors.

When you get down look at this picture:

And realize that ALL of these players (representing 5 of the 9 spots in the lineup) are under the Tribe's control until, AT LEAST, 2008. That's 3 more years.

Now do we feel a little better?