Putting Some Ink in the Pen
As the ALCS begins, it’s time to take a look at the Tribe’s options for fixing the bullpen. It’s been said that the Indians will likely fill 4 slots from current players, with Betancourt and Cabrera being the only “for-sures”. The other 2 will come from Davis, Miller, Mastny, Mujica, Lara, and even Carmona.
The rest of the bullpen will be filled with guys like Steve Kline or Mike Stanton as the LOOGY and Octavio Dotel or Justin Speier as the 8th inning RHP. All of those players have closing experience and can be had in the FA market.
None would project as a bona-fide closer, but they would add some veteran leadership to a bullpen badly in need of some. These type of veteran arms don’t come cheap (each would cost between $3M and $4M per), though, so that’s where a good deal of budgeted money should go to.
As for that “bona-fide” closer, expect him to come via trade with the Astros’ Brad Lidge or the Pirates’ Mike Gonzalez being the most likely targets who closed last year. Other option
s would include Scot Shields, Scott Linebrink, Salomon Torres, Brandon League, and Dan Wheeler or Chad Qualls, though they’ve mainly been a set-up man in their careers.
Personally, I’m pulling for Chad Qualls…mainly because I loved his brother DJ in “Road Trip”.
Expect the Tribe to acquire one of those “closer” types, but to surround him with veteran arms in case of emergency or meltdown. Don’t be surprised if Shapiro loads up the bullpen with arms for Spring Training as he doesn’t ever want to be reminded of 2006, when he thought the bullpen was in decent shape coming out of the Spring, when in reality…well, you know the rest of the story.
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For any WTAM 1100 listeners out there, I cant reveal my sources, but I've confirmed that Trivissano sidekick Alison and Tribe hitting coach Derek Shelton are an item.
Shelton is 36, with two children but no wife.
Judging by the WTAM website, Allison couldn't be more than 25 and is pretty easy on the eyes.
Apparently it's not just players that get the hot chicks.
Good for him.
she's 26. some of the pictures on WTAM's site of their visits to area fire stations don't suck.
was in boston for a wedding this weekend. took a fenway tour on friday. pretty interesting, although you didnt get to go on the field or clubhouse. did go to a few different areas of the ballpark, including the seats on top of the monster. if/when i get pics up, i'll share with everyone.
PrintPrint © 2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Indians adjust broadcast team
10/16/2006 1:00 PM ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- Matt Underwood is changing booths, and John Sanders is out, as the Indians announced Monday that they have realigned their broadcast teams for television and radio.
Sanders, who has done play-by-play on the team's television broadcasts for the past 16 seasons, has not been asked back for 2007.
That created an opening in the TV booth, and the Indians filled it internally with Underwood, who has spent the past seven seasons as a member of the Tribe's radio broadcast team. He'll team up on the tube with analyst Rick Manning.
Veteran Indians broadcaster Mike Hegan, who moved back and forth between radio and TV during the past decade, will take over the permanent role in the radio booth, alongside "Voice of the Indians" Tom Hamilton, who will be back for his 18th season.
"We believe this realignment of our three broadcast teams enables us to strengthen the quality of our broadcasts, while simultaneously utilizing the skill sets of our existing quality talent," club vice president of business operations Dennis Lehman said in a release. "We are fortunate to have five broadcasters who possess a vast knowledge of the game of baseball and deliver it to our fans in an exciting, dynamic and informative manner."
That fifth broadcaster is Jim Donovan, who, for the second season, will partner with Manning for the broadcasts of 20 games on NBC affiliate WKYC and the regional over-the-air network.
This will mark the return to TV of Underwood, 38, who spent 16 years working for ABC affiliate WEWS, including four years as sports director. He hosted the Tribe's TV pregame show for nine seasons.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Indians Homepage | MLB.com
Farrell headed to Red Sox to coach pitchers
12:01 p.m.
John Farrell, Indians director of player development, has accepted a job as Boston’s pitching coach.
Farrell, 44, just finished his fifth season as director of the Indians minor league system. He pitched for the Indians from 1987 through 1990 and again in 1995.
Last year, Farrell was mentioned as a candidate to be Boston’s general manager before Theo Epstein was rehired. Red Sox manager Terry Francona and Farrell are friends and former teammates.
Dave Wallace was fired as Boston’s pitching coach at the end of this season.
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