SportsTime Ohio

This SportsTime Ohio controversy has taken on legs of its own recently, mainly because of cable companies complaining about the “outlandish” fees the Indians are asking to obtain Indians’ games, and because of negative coverage in the media.
Most of the onus for the negative feelings can be traced to the work of (surprise, surprise) Roger Brown, who must fancy himself as the Bob Woodward of modern-day Cleveland, sniffing out controversies and rumors, based purely on hearsay.
Brown has decided to turn this STO-Cable deal into his own Watergate. The main difference (and it’s a pretty big difference, among many, MANY others) is that while Woodward covered something that actually mattered, Brown covers the Cleveland sports media; which, ultimately, is rather sad.
Brown has portrayed the Indians as the big bullies in this dispute, mocking their rejection of the FSN deal and acting as the mouthpiece for the different cable providers, namely Cox Cable. I suppose it’s business as usual for Brown, who could be the least objective “writer” I’ve ever seen in a large-circulation paper. And while the PD must think that because his columns “get the town talking”, all he does is diminish the credibility and readability of the sports page on a weekly basis.

By the way, Brown recently moved from his $750 apartment in Lakewood, where heat and water were included in his rent.
Word on the street also persists that he prefers cats to dogs.
OK, in the spirit of Brown’s Town, I made that last stuff up.

But here’s my main thought process on this STO contract:
Whenever it comes to a dispute with a cable company - put me down for being in the corner of the adversary of the cable company. Whether you currently use the Dish, DirecTV, cable, or whatever, most people feel that the cable company generally does not make decisions with the interests of their subscribers in mind. They are more concerned with THEIR bottom line than what their subscribers think.
To wit, here are just a few things that I’ve always been confused by:

• Why do I have to choose a package of channels, 50 of which I’ll never watch?
  
• Why can’t I pick the 15 to 20 channels I watch, and pay only for them?
  
• Who decides these packages? I get TLC, the Speed Channel, and HGTV, but no ESPN Classic

I believe that there’s actually legislation in Congress to regulate the practices of the cable companies and the way in which they handle their “packages”. However, the Indians are the ones being completely irrational and obtuse, right?

If history is any indicator, the cable companies are the 800 lb. Gorillas in the dispute, no matter how they try to position themselves as fighting for the end consumer. That’s why these “negotiations” with STO make me leery of all of the reports. The cable companies know how to play this game and position themselves to the masses as the victim, when in reality; they go swimming in pools of money, a la Scrooge McDuck.

Of course, once the Adelphia-Time Warner merger goes through, about 70% of Northeast Ohio will have access to the games, leaving those not on board to explain to their customers why they didn’t want to charge them the extra $1.50 a month, but feel that Oxygen, Court TV, Style, and QVC are all must-haves. If those are the channels that you watch - fine. But I don’t complain that they are part of my cable bill. Don’t complain that something that I watch is on yours.

This, of course, is not the first instance of a situation like this arising from different parties. If you’ll remember when George Steinbrenner introduced his YES network (really, the model for all of these new team-owned networks), Charles Dolan, who owned Cablevision, didn’t want to include YES on his cable system. That situation did turn ugly (the 2 men never liked each other to begin with) for a while, but eventually cooler heads prevailed.
That being a completely different set of circumstances, I certainly don’t think it will get to that point and, as the Indians have said all along, “If you saw Tribe games last year, you’ll see them this year.”

However this all plays out, I imagine that the Indians wouldn’t risk a large portion of their already distrustful fan base missing games over all of this. Regardless of the costs they feel they can charge based on ratings that they typically bring in (which I believe are pretty high; and really, how often do you watched programming on FSN not related to the Indians or Cavaliers? Unless you’re a BIG Summer Sanders fan, I’m betting not to often), this should be resolved in the next month in time for Opening Day.

With all of that said, I’m very excited about the advent of a channel devoted to sports in Northeast Ohio and the possibilities, which seem limitless.

I think, though, there is always room for improvement in content and programming. One issue that I have with the advent of STO is the announcement that the current teams of broadcasters will continue to work the games in their 2005 format. Maybe it’s because I still resent John Sanders for essentially taking the place of Jack Corrigan, but I think that the broadcast teams should look like this:
Matt Underwood & Rick Manning on STO
Jim Donovan would do the WKYC games with Manning, allowing Underwood to still broadcast some games on the radio; but, really, Underwood has always struck me as more of a TV guy who can’t seem to find his voice on radio. That may be due to the fact that when he announces, I pine for the return of Hammy to the booth. Whatever the reason, I think that Underwood and Manning would have a nice rapport that translates well to TV.
Tom Hamilton & Mike Hegan on WTAM/Radio
I know that these guys need to take innings off, but the only time I’m OK with Hammy not doing the play by play is when Hegan is doing his “WAAAY BACK” imitation of Hamilton that sounds like he just finished a pack of unfiltered Camels. These two are the best at broadcasting on the radio and could trade-off doing play by play and color to keep them fresh throughout the game.

Maybe I’m delving into the depths of Roger Brown’s “articles” and “analysis”, but those are my ideal 2006 Indian broadcast teams.

Another disappointment that I have had was the announcement that STO would not broadcast minor-league games. Rather, they will produce shows on top prospects, which is all well and good, but…could you imagine the scenarios and possibilities?

They could show the Bisons & Aeros games from the previous nights in the afternoon (prior to any Tribe pre-game) and sprinkle Kinston & Lake County games on late at night. The advent of TiVo would allow most people to still catch these games.

This would allow fans the opportunity to watch Adam Miller start a game in Akron, watch Jeremy Sowers or Fausto Carmona pitch a game in Buffalo, critique the early season lineup in Buffalo (consisting of Marte, Garko, Gutierrez, Snyder, and Francisco), or monitor the transition of last year’s top draft pick, Trevor Crowe from CF to 2B.

They can still have shows that highlight their top prospects, but this is their opportunity to build up their own prospects by allowing Indian fans to become acquainted with players before they arrive in Cleveland.

They can appeal to hard-core fans to allow them to learn more about these players somewhere other than the Sunday PD and the Internet, which simply states their stats, and appeal to the casual fan, who may just want to watch an inning or two of someone they've read about.

People can see them with their own eyes to determine for themselves if Franklin Gutierrez has a swing reminiscent of Alex Escobar's, or to break down how Jeremy Guthrie handles himself on the mound, or allow opinions to form over whether Adam Miller is the real deal or a hard-thrower who has merely blown away inferior competition?

Maybe I’m alone on this one (as I did stay up until about 2AM to watch a Chuck Lofgren Lake County start on Adelphia last summer) but what’s the harm? You’re filling air time and you’re connecting with your fan base who is thirsting for more. Can you imagine the baseball IQ of these fans, intelligently discussing whether Ryan Garko’s defense is sufficient to make the leap to the Majors and having a point of reference to base it on, as opposed to “I heard” or “I read” replacing it with “I saw”?

The Indians have a golden opportunity with SportsTime Ohio and, once all of the contracts are in place, they should nurture it to allow to fulfill all of its limitless potential.

On another note, first intrasquad game today with Cactus League starting tomorrow.

The Gang's All Here

The position players are engaging in their first full workout today in Winter Haven, so let’s continue our look at the players in camp and their expected destination:
Infielders
On the Team
Ronnie Belliard
Aaron Boone
Ben Broussard
Travis Hafner
Jhonny Peralta
Eduardo Perez

The only real change from the infield of 2005 is the replacement of Jose Hernandez with Eduardo Perez, who will likely be part of a platoon at 1B with Benny.
How much of a platoon Wedge utilizes remains to be seen (whether he gives Broussard the first crack, until he goes cold, or goes straight platoon from Day 1), but the streakiness of Broussard nearly guarantees that Perez will see some AB’s.

Boone and Belliard are both potential FA at year’s end, so it will be interesting to see how each performs in a potential contract year. While Boone has uber-prospect Andy Marte possibly bearing down on him at the hot corner, Belliard is essentially the only answer at 2B, with no other viable option available.

Hafner and Peralta are now known quantities, and should remain among the elite at their respective positions again in 2006.

Candidates for Utility Infielder Position
Brandon Phillips
Ramon Vazquez
Lou Merloni
This is probably the most intriguing “battle” in camp as Phillips is out of options (meaning he cannot be sent to the minors if he doesn’t make the team), and Vazquez was on the team instead of Phillips in 2005, after the Cora trade.

Many think that Phillips is the front-runner (because he is out of options), but I would disagree, mainly because since 2003 (when he was handed the starting 2B job out of camp), he has been on a downward spiral. He has been unable to hit consistently in Buffalo, and still seems to exude that confidence (or cockiness or sense of entitlement) that, to this point, is unfounded. Phillips’ biggest cheerleader in the organization, Buddy Bell, is in Kansas City, which doesn’t exactly help his cause.

Vazquez is the likely choice out of camp with Merloni a serious contender for this spot. The Indians know what Merloni brings – versatility, leadership, grittiness – and may give the nod to the high character guy. Of course, if Merloni is not yet ready to play (he only played in 5 games in LA last year), Vazquez can fill the role of a 2B/SS. Merloni, though, is the more interesting player, as he brings the ability to play 1B/2B/3B/OF and even SS (he did play 23 games at SS in 2003) while giving the Tribe a more experienced right-handed bat off of the bench.

So, when all is said and done, the guess here is that Merloni (if healthy) gets the nod. If he’s not fully recovered, Vazquez will come North, while Merloni goes to Buffalo to get healthy. Sadly, I think that this Spring will be the final chapter of the Brandon Phillips Experience in Cleveland, as he’ll probably be traded for some bullpen depth at the end of camp. Both entities probably will benefit from the separation.

Headed back to the Farm
Michael Aubrey
Ryan Garko
Andy Marte
Jose Flores
Jake Gautreau
Joe Inglett
With the news that Aubrey’s back problems (and ongoing injury issues) have continued, the only players who figure seriously into the Indians’ future who will see time this Spring are Garko and Marte.

Garko and Marte should both start the season at Bufffalo, but as I’ve said before, I would expect one of the two to be a regular in Cleveland by June. I don’t know which one, but I expect both to start fast out of the gate in Buffalo; if either Boone or Broussard falters or is injured, Garko or Marte should inject some pop into the bottom of the lineup.

By the way, if you haven’t seen a picture of Garko in Winter Haven, he’s a big guy wearing #25. Only difference from that “other” #25 1B: Garko’s a righty. It did cause a double-take though.

Flores, Gautreau, and Inglett are all minor leaguers who will probably stay in extended Spring Training before heading back to Buffalo or Akron, where they will fill their infield/utility roles.I

Outfielders
On the Team
Casey Blake
Jason Michaels
Grady Sizemore
These look to be set in stone, barring a youngster making a HUGE impression in camp, or an injury. The hope is that Blake will rebound after a tough 2005, that Michaels can fill the shoes of Coco’s (I feel that I will be able to), and that Grady continues to progress as most feel that he will, on his way to stardom.

Candidates for 4th OF position
Ben Francisco
Todd Hollandsworth
This, along with the final bullpen spot and the utility IF spot, is one of the few question marks in camp. Hollandsworth is the clear front-runner, as he represents a veteran LH bat off of the bench. Although he usually doesn’t play CF, Michaels is able to take over in CF when Grady needs a day off (which could be a frightening day - with an outfield of Hollandsworth, Michaels, and Blake).
Hollandsworth’s main competition will come from Francisco, who mainly played in Akron last year, but excelled this winter and could ride the momentum of a strong winter into a strong Spring.
Francisco is more of a true 4th outfielder, capable of playing all 3 positions, while getting on base and bringing some speed off of the bench. He probably ultimately projects as a 4th outfielder in the Majors, but his power this winter certainly did raise his stock in the organization.
Does anyone else remember some other guy who projected as a 4th outfielder who kept raising his stock? What was his name?
Now, by no means am I comparing Coco to Francisco, as Coco is only currently 2 years older with much more experience, but where most people thought Coco would top out at in the Majors is what is thought of Francisco.

Headed back to the Farm
Jason Dubois
Franklin Gutierrez
Brad Snyder
Trevor Crowe
Todd Donovan
Ryan Mulhern
Gutierrez and Snyder are the big names here, but both will start in Buffalo to get some more seasoning. There’s a chance that one of these players could come out of the gate quickly and force the Indians’ hand, but both players are still young and both strike out A LOT.
Dubois is still a man without a true position as he’s ideally a DH (he’s a butcher in the outfield), but is blocked by Le Pronque. Dubois has taken over the Ryan Ludwick role in the organization as the AAAA outfielder who will probably be little more than filler at the big league level.
Trevor Crowe and Ryan Mulhern are two lower level prospects to watch. Crowe is last year’s 1st round pick, who should (hopefully) move through the organization this year. Mulhern raked his way through the minors last year and could see some time in Buffalo this year if he’s needed.

There will be other names in camp, but I kept the analysis to players on the 40-man roster and non-roster invitees as it's unlikely that a player in the organization not on the 40-man will make too much of an impact.

With all of the talk of prospects, here are some links on top Indians’ prospects entering the 2006 season.

Minor league guru John Sickels breaks down his list.

Let’s Go Tribe has 2 lists, one from each primary contributor, which are both excellent.

Baseball America lists the top 10 and a “Best in the Organization” List.

Another good link is Sean McAdam’s breakdown of the Indians’ collapse and Spring Training tone on ESPN.com.

Off to Milwaukee this weekend, so no Lazy Sunday.
I’ll try to pick it up with the posts now that Spring Training is in full gear and the articles and photos have gotten me all excited again.

Heard a Hamilton call of the end of a game in the car yesterday and I got chills.
38 days until Opening Day.

Lazy Sunday...

The Indians are planning to put in a Hall of Fame in the old Davey Tree Park in center.
My idea to make it an extension of the Batter’s Eye Bar called The Reservation that had a machine that sent up smoke signals was probably unrealistic because the center field backdrop needs to be devoid of white or movement (so batters can pick up the ball).
This Hall of Fame is a great idea and is a great first step towards acknowledging some of the great players who have worn Tribe uniforms through the years.

Some old Indians (Karsay, Graves, and Diaz) are trying to make the team out of camp, armed only with minor league contracts and some optimism.
This piece, written by Burt Graeff, has been one of many good articles written by Graeff while Hoynes is in Torino, covering something (what is it again?).
Why isn’t Graeff given more latitude to write about the Indians? His analysis is always even-handed and insightful, yet the PD insists on letting the beat writer of a particular sport also be the analyst.
I would think that a third party writer, who doesn’t necessarily travel with the team or go into the clubhouse every day, would provide a great perspective on the team, without getting personally involved with the players or coaching staff. Whether Graeff would be that guy or not, it’s just a thought.

Terry Pluto addresses some of the principals in the Tribe’s bullpen.

ESPN’s first Power Rankings are out for 2006, with the Indians showing up in 4th, behind the White Sox, Oakland, and the Yankees. The White Sox, being World Champs, and the Yankees, with their payroll, are obvious. But the A’s, with their questionable acquisitions of the perpetually injured Big Hurt, Loaiza, and the combustible Milton Bradley doesn’t make sense to me.
It’s also funny to see the Mets (#5) and the Blue Jays (#8), who both spent the mother load this offseason in Free Agency, behind the “mid-market” Indians and their “cheap” ownership.

Sheldon Ocker’s piece on Ryan Garko discusses his conversion from C to 1B and has a good story about Jason Stanford’s engagement (what he fails to mention is that Stanford’s fiancé is a Cavaliers Girl…nice work, Stanny).

Ken Rosenthal’s piece on C.C., the WBC, and Carl Willis is probably more insightful than most articles I’ve read on C.C.’s mechanics.

Finally, Mark Schwab of WTAM has started to post a Spring Training Blog from Winter Haven which is pretty insightful, and full of cool pictures to get you ready for Spring Training.
I’ll link the page on the sidebar as long as new posts keep going up.

Parked in our seats, movie trivia's the illest.
What Friends alum starred in films with Bruce Willis?
We answered so fast it was scary.
Everyone stared in awe when we screamed Matthew Perry!

They Made It, Dammit, They Made It

While I have yet to actually see footage of pitchers and catchers in camp (catching up on TiVo’d episodes of 24 and Lost, as well as watching The Goonies 8 times since AMC put it into heavy rotation, have taken up some time), all reports indicate that there are 23 pitchers and 7 catchers who have reported to Winter Haven.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at those two subsets of players, examining what players are in camp and, without getting into too much detail, where they are expected to be when the big-league club breaks camp:

Rotation
C.C. Sabathia
Paul Byrd
Cliff Lee
Jake Westbrook
Jason Johnson
Barring any injuries, these 5 pitchers are essentially set in stone, and will probably pitch in the order in which they are listed this season. Without getting into who the #2 starter is vs. the #3 starter (which are really just arbitrary classifications), it’s assumed that the rotation will set up to separate the LH and RH and the styles of pitchers (power pitchers vs. sinkerballers).

As an aside, C.C. was named one of the starters for the U.S. Team in the WBC. Regardless of your feelings about the WBC, that’s a pretty big deal for C.C., who joins Roger Clemens, Jake Peavy, and Dontrelle Willis as the only starters on the roster. I know that a lot of players declined invitations (notably Tim Hudson), but that means that C.C. was selected over the likes of Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, Ben Sheets, Mark Buerhle, Jon Garland, Kevin Millwood, Chris Carpenter, and Roy Halladay.
Do you think that the rest of the league thinks that C.C. is a bona fide ace yet?

Bullpen
Bob Wickman
Guillermo Mota
Rafael Betancourt
Fernando Cabrera
Scott Sauerbeck
Matt Miller
From back to front, these are the arms that, by all accounts, have spots in the pen. Again, barring injuries, this should constitute the 6-9 inning crew.

The final spot in the bullpen will be up for competition, with these players thought to be in the mix:
Final Bullpen Spot Candidates
Andrew Brown
Jason Davis
Jason Stanford
Kazuhito Tadano
Steve Karsay
Tony Sipp
Danny Graves
Ben Howard

The final 4 (Karsay, Sipp, Graves, and Howard) are not on the 40-man roster, meaning that someone would have to be removed from the 40 man for any of those players to make the team.
The question facing the Indians will essentially come down to what they want in this final bullpen arm:
If they want a long man, who can also serve as a spot starter, Davis, Stanford, and Tadano (probably in that order) would be the main candidates.
If they want another lefty to complement Sauerbeck (and replace Rhodes as the 2nd lefty in the pen), Stanford and Sipp are the lefty options.
If they want a young power arm that can evolve into a more important role, the way that Cabrera has, Davis and Brown would be the guys.
If they’re looking for experienced arms, Karsay or Graves (or even long-shot Howard) would be the obvious candidates.

You get the idea. The Indians’ brass will probably enter Spring Training with a good idea of what they’re looking for out of the last bullpen spot. They will then whittle the list down to 2 or 3 and let those guys go after it.

My thinking would be that they’ll be looking for a long man or someone who can develop into a top flight reliever, thus Davis would be the front-runner with Stanford and Brown being in the mix. Karsay and Graves would have to really impress to break camp with the Tribe while Tadano and Sipp will probably need more seasoning in the minors before making a serious push to stay in Cleveland.
Young Pitchers Getting a Taste
Fausto Carmona
Jake Dittler
Jeremy Guthrie
Edward Mujica
Rafael Perez
Brian Slocum
Jeremy Sowers
This group is going to Winter Haven knowing that they have little chance to make the 25 man roster, but will benefit from the big-league coaching at camp.
The starters (Carmona, Dittler, Guthrie, and Sowers) will all see some action before being sent to Buffalo to comprise their rotation (which should be pretty impressive). There is an off-chance that one of the starters (Carmona or Sowers) completely blows away the Indians, like C.C. memorably did in 2001, and breaks camp with the big boys; but that is an unlikely scenario.
The relievers (Mujica, Perez, and Slocum) will also get some innings (and likely stay in extended Spring Training) until they are sent to Buffalo and Akron. Mujica and Slocum are two interesting names to watch as Mujica is a big 21 year old who has moved up the ladder quickly, while Slocum is a 24-year old converted starter who made his first foray into the bullpen in the Arizona Fall League, where he held his own.

Catchers
Victor Martinez
Kelly Shoppach
Armando Camacaro
Einar Diaz
Javi Herrera
Tim Laker
Victor and Shoppach are the only two catchers (I’m counting Ryan Garko as a 1B/DH for all intents and purposes) on the 40 man roster, so it’s likely that those will be the catchers on the 25 man roster come April. Not much needs to be said about Victor (as we all know what we’re getting), but Shoppach is an interesting player.
Acquired in the Coco deal, Shoppach was blocked by Jason Varitek and the Red Sox insistence on a veteran backup in Boston (by the way, do you think that Josh Bard will be on the Sawx Opening Day roster? Me neither). Now in Cleveland, Shoppach will get every chance to be the backup C out of Spring Training. Hopefully his defense (he gunned down 44% of baserunners in AAA last year) and the pop in his bat (he had 26 HR in Pawtucket) will allow Victor to take some days off, or play some games at 1B.
The rest would do Vic some good, as he played a staggering 147 games (way too much for a Catcher) last year and didn’t get any breaks late in the season, after Wedge lost all confidence in Bard’s ability to hit.

Einar Diaz and Tim Laker are two old Tribesman who are looking to make the team out of Spring Training, but Einar will probably end up in Buffalo (unless someone else gives him a ML contract), while Laker has acknowledged that his career is on its last legs and he will probably retire (and possibly find a place in the Indians’ organization).

Camacaro and Herrera are two farmhands who will be in Winter Haven to ease the burden of catching too many innings in Spring Training. Camacaro is an older (26) catcher who spent most of last year in Akron, though not as the starter. Herrera had that distinction, and is more of a prospect – being a 23 year old who played in the Arizona Fall League. He didn’t have very good numbers in Akron and is now essentially blocked by Martinez, and now Shoppach, from making too much of an impact on the big-league squad any time soon.

The catching position, like the 3B position, prior to the Coco deal was lacking in top-level prospects. The acquisition of Shoppach (like Marte) solves that problem by giving the Tribe another top-flight prospect at a position of need.

Not much competition is expected out of the Catcher position in Winter Haven, as The Stick and Shoppach should be the ones making the trip to the North Coast come April.

Today is the first workout for the players listed above (along with anyone else who reported early), while position players are scheduled to report on Tuesday.

We’ll take a look at the position players in camp and any issues at that time.

If you’re in Cleveland, enjoy the sub-zero wind chill temperatures and dream of palm trees and Spring Training.

The Soundtrack of Life

With very little happening until Thursday, when pitchers and catchers report (and, really, not much happens even then), it’s time for one last bit of frivolity before the hearty, in-depth analyses. Thus, I present the Soundtrack of Life.

The Soundtrack of Life is a game, developed by some friends while in college, that essentially asks the question: What would your theme music be?

Starbucks made a clever commercial not too long ago under this same premise, as a twenty something worker went through his morning routine, while a variation of Gary Glitter’s “Rock & Roll Part II” was being sung by anyone and everyone around him.

The way that the game went was to pick a song that would accompany you as you entered a bar/party and would set the tone for your evening. Some popular choices included the intro to House of Pain’s “Jump Around”, Tupac’s “I Get Around”, and Queen’s “Fat-Bottomed Girls” (remember that these are college students on the prowl), which would conceivably set the environment. Interestingly, bw-3 (before it changed its name) at the University of Dayton had “Fat-Bottomed Girls” on the jukebox, so the biggest guy among us would feed $20 into the machine, play it over and over, and look menacingly at anyone who complained. Ah, the good old days.

But the game was always fun for mindless Sunday morning discussions and was reinforced by some famous Soundtrack of Life moments in cinema; most notably Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey’s character) entering the Emporium in Dazed & Confused in a slo-mo saunter while Bob Dylan’s “Hurricane” provided the backdrop.

To put the idea into Cleveland terms, think of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” playing every Friday at 5PM on WNCX, hyping up untold Clevelanders for the weekend and setting the tone for a Friday night.

This concept, or game, was always also fun to play at Jacobs Field, as players came out to what could be called their Soundtrack, or theme music. In years past, they have ranged from the boring (almost all of them) to the clever (Thome coming out to the chorus from Black Oak Arkansas’ “Jim Dandy” - Jim Dandy to the rescue) to the incredible (no matter what you thought of John Rocker personally or as a pitcher, when he came out to the extended version of The Scorpions “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, there was no way to not get excited). We would listen to a players' intro music and pick a song that would be more fitting for them.

So, I’ve decided to make some suggestions for the 2006 Tribe for songs that they can be introduced to.
Without further ado:
2006 Song Suggestions
Grady Sizemore – Voodoo Child – Jimi Hendrix
The Seattle native memorably came out to the Doors’ “Back Door Man” last year, leaving a lot of things up to the imagination; but this year we’ll go with the guitar intro to this Hendrix classic. Some songs that were rejected include “Just a Gigilo” by David Lee Roth (suggested by serial poster Cy Slapnicka) and the “Superman Theme” by John Williams, playing off of the SuperSizemore persona. The “Superman Theme” just seemed a little too cocky.
Jason Michaels – I Want Action – Poison
Honoring his brother Bret Michaels’ band (they’re not really brothers), this 80’s anthem should fit in well with his reputation as a hard guy, and sometimes-bad boy.
Jhonny Peralta – Tonight Show Theme
Starting with the Ed McMahon “Here’s Johnny” introduction, the song is just classic for the low-key Peralta to make an intro and become a fan favorite as fans introduce him right along with Ed.
Travis Hafner – Stone Cold ’s entrance music
The way that the WWE fan (he sat front row at a recent show at The Q) swaggers to the plate, the glass-breaking and intimidating music that accompanied Austin’s way to the ring would serve nicely into making nice-guy Pronk a little more intimidating.
Victor Martinez – Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
I had a lot of trouble with this one (mainly because my exposure to Latin music consists of Gloria Estafan and Gerardo), but an upbeat song to accompany an upbeat, happy-go-lucky guy seemed natural.
Ronnie Belliard – Hells Bells – AC/DC
The tolling of the bells that begin this classic, then the guitar riff is just simple enough that it would serve as a nice intro. The connection is Belliard…Bells…get it?
Aaron Boone – Beverly Hills – Weezer
In honor of his Playmate wife, and the fact that he is a native of SoCal (and with a shout out to serial poster T-Bone, a diehard Weezer fan), Boonie can come out to the refrain of this recent hit.
Ben Broussard – Better Man – Pearl Jam
Yes, this is a bit of a dig on Benny, who is a big PJ fan. In lieu of playing his own CD, he can come out to the line, Can’t find a Better Man, which Shapiro may have sung during a recent karaoke performance, referring to his 1B problem.
Kasey Blake – Back in Black – AC/DC
Eschewing the advice of Cy Slapnicka (who suggested some Tom Petty songs, “Even the Losers”, “Runnin’ Down a Dream”, and “Free Fallin’”), I’m going to stay positive with Kasey. We’ll call “the black” hitting .250, so hopefully he can get back in the black this year, after hitting .241 in 2005. Next up for Kasey (if he goes above .250) is to earn back the C in his name by not whiffing so much. The guitar intro to “Back in Black” isn’t bad either.
C.C. – Numb/Encore - Jay-Z & Linkin Park
The Crooked Cap, who is a big Jay-Z guy, could come out to this tremendous song. If you saw the Grammy performance of this song, it doesn’t do it the justice of the track on the CD.
By the way, when are Indian fans going to figure out that when C.C. pitches someone should be putting C’s up for all of his strikeouts instead of K’s? Where are all of the clever fans in this town?
Cliff Lee – Ramble On – Led Zeppelin
This is a weak one, as it’s basically on here because Lee is a big Led Zeppelin fan and “Stairway to Heaven” doesn’t exactly fit the bill.
Jake – Once Bitten, Twice Shy – Great White
Playing off of the Jake the Snake persona, this 80’s anthem plays nicely.
On another aside, when will we see the emergence of The Snake Pit whenever Westbrook pitches? It’s such a natural. Why am I the only one who thinks of these things?
Paul Byrd – Freebird – Lynard Skynard
This is an obvious play on his name, since I don’t know very much about him. I thought about the theme music to Hitchcock’s “The Birds”, while they played a clip of the movie on the Jumbo Tron. Realizing, though, that this is Cleveland, I thought that the anthem of Southern Rock would play a little better.
Rafael Betancourt – Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
This goes back to an interview with Eric Wedge that I heard on the radio a few years back, when Wedge kept praising “Rocky” and how he really came through, and so on. As I sat there wondering who Rocky was, Hamilton came back on to say that Betancourt had done a “whale of a job”. Only then did I realize that Wedge was saying Raffy. But, for me the nickname stuck.
Fernando Cabrera – Enter Sandman – Metallica
Not because he looks like the Sandman from Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out (though he kind of does), but more because it’s intimidating the way the Eric Gagne coming out to “Welcome to the Jungle” is intimidating. I’d like to see many years of Cabrera swaggering out of the pen, with Metallica blasting in the background – signaling to the opposing team that the game has just been shortened from 9 to 8 innings.
Bob Wickman – Takin’ Care of Business – BTO
There isn’t that much to be said about this one, which is pretty self-explanatory. He grabs his lunch pail and his hard-hat and gets the job done. May not be pretty, but it’s done.

Also, while we’re at it, I would change the song played after a Tribe victory to the song they play during the final game in Teen Wolf, “Win in the End”; while Tom Petty’s “Even the Losers” can play after a loss, mocking the opposing team while they’re exchanging handshakes on our home field.

And there we have it, my suggestions for introduction music for the Indians’ Soundtrack of Life 2006.

If there’s anyone I missed, or anyone I whiffed on, let me know.

2 days until pitchers and catchers report. Feels like December 23rd.

Coo Coo for the topic of Coco

Jim Banks, of MLB.com, who gave us his superb analytical breakdown of the Coco trade, is at it again.
Banks, apparently overwhelmed by the Anti-Martes (copyright pending on that one), addresses the concerns of irate Tribe fans who flooded his e-mail box, either viewing Coco Crisp as the 2nd coming, or believing that the Tribe took a HUGE step back by making this move.

Again, an excellent analysis by Banks, which should appeal to most Indians fans, but I’ve learned that people will believe what they want to believe, regardless of arguments or opposing points of views. Those who don’t like the Coco deal now, won’t in May or August and probably won’t until the Indians’ winning forces them to take make a “hindsight is 20/20” proclamation, as they eventually did about the Colon deal.

One last thought on Coco and the whole deal: Fans were upset at the Indians for trading a popular player, a young player many felt was on the rise, and a hardworking player. All of these issues are certainly justified.

However, Coco is a CF and a leadoff hitter (Boston hopes) at his core and that spot is already taken in Cleveland by Sizemore for a long time. When it boils down to it, one of those players would be perpetually miscast as a corner outfielder and would eventually be moved to a team that could best utilize their skills.

Sizemore, with his youth and potential (which we got a peek of last year), is clearly the better player, making Coco ultimately expendable.

Did the move come earlier than most thought? Yes, most thought that the Tribe would wait until one of their OF prospects (Snyder or Gutierrez, or even Francisco), was undeniably ready to contribute at the Jake. But the Indians found themselves in an enviable situation, as the Red Sox were desperate for a CF after Johnny Damon left, and were willing to part with a bona-fide top prospect, probably ready for the Major Leagues (what every team tries to find when making a trade), who plays a position that needed some strengthening in the organization.

But that’s the analytical approach to it; many people are more upset about this deal at the emotional level. They feel that the Indians asked the fans, after the rebuilding plan went into effect, to accept and embrace these young players. When the fans finally did, they feel that the Front Office reneged on their part of the agreement, by moving one of those increasingly popular players.

This is understandable, and while it certainly doesn’t resonate like the shock of the Carlos Baerga deal (if you’ll remember, local TV stations went around town to measure the shock and disappointment of the fans, some of whom claimed they would stop following the Tribe), many people are having the same feelings.

First things first, don’t cry for Coco. According to Terry Pluto in a recent interview, Coco was ecstatic about the rumors that he would be heading to Boston. And why wouldn’t he? Coco will be playing in a larger market, in front of the rabid Red Sox Nation, where he can increase his national profile and develop into a nice complementary player for the BoSox (ideally for Boston), who will benefit from the hype machine that is the Boston media, the way that players like Kevin Millar and, really, Johnny Damon have in the past few years. One can only imagine Gammons’ glee as he (inaccurately and bombastically) compares Crisp to a young Lou Brock or Ricky Henderson.

Coco understands that this is a business and that his talents will be utilized more fully in CF in Fenway, just as Shapiro understands that. Coco, despite his his cursory remarks that he’ll miss Cleveland, is excited about the opportunity in Boston, and rightfully so.

Coco is a nice player who seems to be a solid teammate and clubhouse presence; and Cleveland should wish him the best of luck. But the bottom line that both parties are more than likely better off after this deal remains.

A local talk-show host is fond of saying that fans should cheer for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. While it’s important for a fan base to get to know players and get excited about their accomplishments, baseball is, and always will be, a business.

Players will move in and out of uniforms, sometimes leaving a feeling of nostalgia (or what-ifs), like Coco probably will; other times leaving a bad taste in one’s mouth (the way the Thome and Manny, after signing for bigger money elsewhere, did). The one constant is that crazy Chief Wahoo and the electricity of the Jake in October.

The days of players playing in one place their whole careers is long gone, as the glorious memories of success are often tainted by the ensuing years and their inevitable dramas. If you told me in 1994 that, a mere 12 years later, Thome and Manny would be vilified in Cleveland as greedy, that Belle would become Public Enemy #1 (remember this is 1994), and that Lofton, Vizquel, Alomar, and Baerga all would leave Cleveland somewhat unceremoniously, I would’ve thought that you were crazy. But that’s the reality of the situation.

Recently, I was doing some cleaning and ran across an Upper Deck set of the 1994 Cleveland Indians (probably given to me as a gift from someone who thought I was still 8), and thought that I’d pick a player’s card to be a bookmark. After going through the whole team, guess which card became the bookmark? Pasta Pauly Sorrento!?! I’m not sure why, maybe the nostalgia that Sorrento never had that bad break-up with the Indians, or maybe because I still remember the Jacobs Field JumboTron that showed the plate of pasta and his name. The point is that time changes things, perceptions and otherwise.

Maybe in 2018, I’ll look back fondly on Coco Crisp’s time with the Tribe. Maybe he’ll be the one who lacked that bad-break up with the Indians. But right now, in 2006, I wish Coco the best in Boston and look forward to a long, sustained run at multiple World Series in Cleveland.

Some other tidbits:
Count ESPN’s Gary Gilette among national analysts who feel that Aaron Boone’s 2005 was not an aberration, but rather an indication of his expected level of performance. Gilette, like many others, feel that Marte will take over for Boone at 3B by June.

Kyle Denney has joined Billy Traber on the Washington Nationals, by signing a minor league contract. Both will try to make the big-league club out of Spring Training.

Brian Tallett was Designated for Assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays, a move made necessary when the Jays signed Bengie Molina. For those keeping score, the Tribe traded Tallett was traded to Toronto a mere 3 weeks ago for minor-league pitcher Bubbie Buzachero. Count this as another brilliant move, full of foresight, by Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi in an off-season that looked more like a fantasy baseball draft than the construction of a team in Toronto.

Does anyone still think that we gave up too early on any of these three?

5 days until pitchers and catchers report.

Almost There

Spring Training is drawing very near, so to whet the appetite for conjecture, what-ifs, and projections, we'll turn to Anthony Castrovince's evaluation of the outfield position on the official site, and specifically Shapiro's comments on Gutierrez and Snyder:

The Indians hope current outfield prospects Franklin Gutierrez and Brad Snyder have similarly smooth transitions to the big leagues, should the situation arise
this season. Both will begin the year at Triple-A Buffalo.
"They will both be guys that you'll see a lot of in Spring Training," Shapiro said. "That's one of the things we want to accomplish this spring. Guys who fit into our plan, we want to get a good look at. Our Triple-A club is largely going to be a prospect club. Two of those prospects are Franklin and Brad."

Gutierrez sharpened his game in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .341 with four home runs and 31 RBIs for the Caracas club during the regular season.
"Franklin's had an unbelievable winter," Shapiro said. "He's cut down on his strikeouts. He's got to stay healthy and develop a two-strike approach. The guy's an exciting young player, but there's still some question as to what he'd be up here."
The same question exists for Snyder. Although the Bellevue, Ohio, native batted a combined .279 with 31 doubles, 22 home runs and 82 RBIs between Class A Kinston and Double-A Akron last season, he still has to prove himself defensively and at Triple-A. "He's definitely played the game the way we want it played," Shapiro said of Snyder. "He has the power, size and athleticism combo to be a corner outfielder at the Major League level. His approach fits with our approach, and he's a local kid. It's a pretty good match. But he's still got to go to the next level, which he really hasn't been to yet."

Personally, I'm of the belief that one of these two players will be a regular by August. Additionally, I think that either Garko or Marte will be getting regular AB's by that time as well. Whether that's a condemnation of Blake, Michaels, Boone, and Broussard or a testament to the talent that will be available in Buffalo, I'm not sure.
I just have the feeling that two of these players will force themselves into the situation, probably around the time an Indian hits the DL.

Things work themselves out as the season progresses.
Baseball's funny like that.

Some dates to remember:
February 16 - Pitchers & Catchers report
February 18 - First Workout
February 21 - Position Players report
February 23 - First Full Workout

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Lazy Sunday...

...wake up in the late afternoon
call Parnell just to see how he's doing
hello
what up pas!
yo sandburg, whats cracking?
you thinking what i'm thinking?
narnia!
then it's happening!

Sorry, a little around the horn on Super Bowl Sunday:
Terry Pluto addresses John Schueholz's (Atlanta's GM) impression of Andy Marte.

Ken Rosenthal, in his MLB Roundup, hits on the Indians desire to add another OF this season:

The Indians still would like to add a corner outfielder between now and the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Right-hander Jake Westbrook probably would have been too high a price for Reds outfielder Austin Kearns. Westbrook, 28, has worked more than 210 innings each of the past two seasons and is signed for $10 million over the next two. Kearns, 25, has yet to put together a full season of production ...

Dayn Perry of Fox Sports analyzes the Crisp deal.

Sheldon Ocker of the ABJ hits on the fans' perception of the Crisp deal, on the Dolan's (alleged) cheapness, and voices the concerns of many of the fans, who feel that this is a step back.

I can't tell if Ocker is just trying to state the case against the trade or if he is truly against it.

The fact is that time will tell on the trade, with most national columnists (and experts) saying that the trade does not compromise the 2006 season, while setting the Tribe up for MULTIPLE years of contention.

Finally, The Official Site has a piece on the makeup of the 2006 bullpen. It basically says that the arms that WILL be in the bullpen:
Wickman
Mota
Cabrera
Betancourt
Miller
Sauerbeck

The final spot will be open for one of the following arms: Graves, Karsay, Jason Davis, Andrew Brown, or (surprise, surprise) LHP Tony Sipp.

Personally, I think it will go to Davis (who can serve as the spot starter) while Graves and Karsay work out kinks in the Spring and in Buffalo. Brown and Sipp will get consistent work in Buffalo and be the first names called on to make the trip West on I-90.

Oh, and one more thing - Mr. Pibb and Red Vines = Crazy Delicious.

One More Bite of Coco Crisp

With a nod to the Tribe Report, check out this article on MLB.com, lending some national perspective on the Coco deal.

Very strong stuff from an unbiased source with little, or no, emotional attachment to the Tribe.

If that hasn't gotten you fully over the Coco deal, the always steady Terry Pluto weighs in.

Now whether you are chugging, bonging, keg-standing, shooting, or hooking it up to a vein, Shapiro's Kool-Aid should be into your bloodstream by now.

By the way, the Tribe equipment truck leaves for Winterhaven on Friday.

The Aftermath

While in the heart of the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill for the uninformed), the MUCH-TALKED about trade finally happened. Since we've already addressed the perceptions about Coco, the numbers of Jason Michaels, and the addition of Andy Marte - let's look at each of the positions that were affected by the trade, briefly, and see how the deal affects the Tribe in 2006.

Catcher
Josh Bard's deficiencies with the bat had made him an unsatisfactory backup for Victor (as evidenced by his 83 AB's last year), with Wedge almost afraid to give Vic a day off because of the steep drop-off. Shoppach - who may develop into a legitimate future regular - has power, leadership skills, and defense as his strengths. Shapiro's comments that Shoppach may play C, while The Stick moves to 1B were nothing less than shocking. Can you imagine Shapiro saying similar things about Bard?

While I know very little about Shoppach (outside of his minor league numbers), I do know that Bard was an offensive liability, who seemed to reach his ceiling before the sports hernia. The Indians thought as much, obviously, bringing Einar Diaz and Tim Laker back into the fold to press Bard. Those players, still, will press Shoppach to be backup C, but it seems that Shoppach seems destined to make the team as the backup C.

This represented a very small part of the trade, but we've all seen what Shapiro has heisted before in throw-ins (Coco).

Outfield
Speaking of Coco, this seems to be the hot-button issue for most fans: the trade of an established portion of a successful team to improve the team for the future. But, examining the comments by Shapiro, the Indians never SOUGHT to deal Coco Crisp. They were approached by a number of teams (Arizona and New York were two others, among many) to deal Crisp to play CF. In Shapiro's estimation, he would only make a move if he were "blown away" by it.

Before we go further, consistent readers of the site know that I entered 2005 with a very low estimation of Coco, essentially that he was a glorified 4th outfielder. Yet Coco grew on me. Perfect, he was not. But his insertion into the 2 spot (with Grady and Jhonny around him) solidified the lineup. I felt that the Indians, in the long term, could handle his low power numbers (at a corner OF position), noodle for an arm (I was once in the left field bleachers when he threw the ball, no lie...10 feet), and his erratic baserunning. Warts and all, I thought that the Indians had enough talent elsewhere that Coco could be a nice complementary player on a good team.

But Coco was miscast as a LF, and had more value to another team at his natural position of CF than to the Indians. I have little doubt that the Indians would have upgraded LF (from the minors or FA) at some point in the next few years, and that is why Coco is gone.

I hope that Coco does well in Boston, with the aggressive media and their lack of patience, but I think that he's going into a situation where a lot is expected of him, as a great CF and a leadoff hitter. We'll see how Coco holds up (and I hope that nobody sees him as Johnny Damon's equal in 2006), but I've been surprised before.

On the Michaels front (who was referred to recently in the media as Shawn Michaels, thus the nickname "The Showstopper"), again I hope that the media doesn't attack him for every inconsistency in his game (though it WILL happen). Michaels is what he is, a player who has been relegated to being a 4th outfielder, either because of the impatience of the Philly front office or because he is a platoon player.

I think that Michaels, with an occasional Hollandsworth sighting, can make up for Coco's bat. All indications are that HBK is an above-average defender with a good arm, so he should fill in well in LF (which, with SuperSizemore to his left, is made easier). The Indians truly don't need that much from Michaels (again, he is a complementary player), but I sincerely hope that the Coco backlash doesn't adversely affect him, if by chance he starts slowly.

Overall, I'm OK with this trade-off and I can't figure out why I'm so blase about it. Coco was never that great of a player to me, and Michaels seems like a stopgap.
Maybe that's all that Coco was.
Maybe I'm giving Shapiro too much credit.

When all is said and done this season, don't be surprised if Grady Sizemore is the only OF who begins and ends the season as a starting OF.

Bullpen
The Tribe gave up two arms (Rhodes and Riske) in the trades, bringing Mota into the fold. By looking at the 2005 numbers (when Rhodes and Riske both did extremely well), this seems to be a crushing blow. However, if memory serves me correctly, neither Rhodes or Riske pitched extensively during the chase of the White Sox. Betancourt, Cabrera, Howry, and Wickman seemed to pitch every single night (with an occasional Sauerbeck sighting).

Shapiro is using that thinking to replace Howry with Mota. Howry got closer money to go Chicago (and his robotic ways will be missed), but in the end he was overpaid by a team desperate for bullpen help. Mota represents the replacement for Howry and allows the 'pen to shake out this way:
Wickman
Mota
Betancourt
Cabrera
Sauerbeck
Miller
Davis/Stanford/Tadano

Bullpen is a fluid concept (and don't discount B-Phil for another bullpen arm in Spring Training), and the lesson of 2004 still sits in Shapiro's memory. With that being said, there's no way to predict how individual bullpen arms will perform from year to year.

Shapiro has eaten enough Tums and Pepto to make sure the best bullpen of 2005 won't be far off the pace.

3B
This is the key to the whole trade (and more than simply the obvious acquisition of Andy Marte): Depth. Aaron Boone vastly underperformed in 2005 and despite all of the projections and the "don't worry about Boonie" comments that came out of the Front Office, the reality remains that behind Aaron Boone...there is nobody. The Indians farm system is full of players who don't project to the Majors for a while (if at all), and that had to have scared Shapiro.

If Boone started 2006 like he started 2005 (without the excuse of the knee), you're sitting on a HUGE hole in the lineup every day with no alternative. Enter Andy Marte.

People have talked ad nauseum about Marte and his ability and his great numbers at high levels in the minors at a young age, but Marte offers the Indians something they desperately lacked - insurance against another slow start by Boone. If Boone starts slow, and Marte fast, Marte could be called up to patrol the hot corner, with Boone becoming the utility IF (he has played SS as recently as 2003). Boone would still provide that attitude and leadership that Wedge and Shapiro reference so much, while being able to take Marte under his wing.

Of course, Boone could come out play very well and make this all a moot point. But until he does, the Indians needed to cover themselves. And they did so very well, by acquiring Marte.

2006 Effects
I don't think that this trade effects the team as significantly as most do. I think that The Showstopper will fill in adequately for Coco and that Mota and Shoppach will fill their roles admirably. The big effect of this trade to me (which some may disagree with) is that the quality of players one phone call away from the Jake is astounding.

All of last year, people moaned and howled about Boone, Broussard, and Blake. Here's some news: with the acquisition of Marte, the Indians have Marte, Garko, and Gutierrez nearly ready for the Majors. These players are not afterthoughts. They are nearly ready for the Majors and should contribute in 2006.

Sitting at a bar with a Yankee fan around Christmas, he was telling me that the last great Yankee team was the 2001 team. The reason that it was great was that it held to a basic premise - a team wins with strong starting pitching, a solid bullpen, 5 "core" players and the remainder of the lineup and roster that knows their roles.

The Indians are close.
The pitching is in place. The bullpen is in place. The "core" players are close (Grady, Jhonny, Vic, Hafner) with the great possibility that Marte, Garko, or Gutierrez will develop into that 5th, and the complementary players ready to play their role.

I'm excited, but guardedly so. This team needs to continue to develop, but the youth and talent are hard to ignore.

Sorry about the long post, but it's been a while.

Let Shapiro do his job and give him the benefit of the doubt...he's earned it.

Sitting Pretty

The roller coaster ride continues, with Jason Stark reporting that the Coco deal is rapidly losing steam. However this all plays out, one has to believe that Shapiro is playing this situation nearly perfectly.

Knowing that the Red Sox are desperate for a CF/Leadoff Hitter, he asked for their top prospect (and possibly the top prospect in baseball) along with players that would upgrade the bullpen and backup catcher positions. To cover himself, he was acquiring a replacement for Coco, whether it be in the form of Kearns or Michaels. Whether either of those players would improve or hurt the 2006 team is up for debate, but, be aware - the outfield won't have Todd Hollandsworth AND Kasey Blake in it. If anything goes down, we have plenty of time to REVIEW the trade, rather than engage in pure speculation.

Regardless, the Indians are in the best spot of the four teams alleged to be in on these deals:
The Red Sox still need a CF and a SS and have about 7 starters on their roster, meaning they'll make a move at some point before the start of the season.
The Reds' new owner finally got rid of the GM who felt that it was better to have 5 OF than 1 decent Starting Pitcher.
Kearns is the odd man out and WILL be dealt to get pitching.
The Phillies have 4 outfielders and a hole in the bullpen.

The Indians could have the answer to all of these questions, but guess what? The Indians' roster looks pretty good right now and Shapiro would have to be blown away to make a move. Not a bad position to be in.

One interesting thing about this Coco outcry that struck me is the amount of people that were saying, "this team won 93 games last year, let's allow them to mature." Isn't that what we've patiently been saying all offseason?

And as for the people who were incredulous about trading a "core" player on the team:
We're talking about Coco here - not Grady, or Jhonny, or Victor, or Travis, or C.C., or Cliff, or one of the young guns. We're talking about a LF who will hit about .290-.300 every year with 15-20HR and 65-75 RBI. This is what we're so unwilling to give up.
We're talking about Coco here. What we talking about? Coco? C'mon man.
(Sorry, I slipped into Allen Iverson mode, there)

Seriously, though, what we can deduce from the rumors (true or untrue) is which players the Indians are willing to move (Coco, Riske, Bard, Rhodes, Westbrook) and where they would like to improve in the organization (LF, RF, bullpen, 3B depth, backup C). Can anyone argue with that?

Due to a trip south of the Mason-Dixon Line (Raleigh) to catch some ACC action (UNC-Arizona in the afternoon, Duke-UVa in the evening), I'll be out until Sunday. If anything happens, I'll try to get to a computer to have some comment. I'll be with some Cincitucky Reds fans, so it will be interesting to hear some different perspectives.

What we talkin' 'bout here? Coco?

Back to Square One

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting Guillermo Mota has failed his physical, putting the brakes on the Coco deal, and thus the Rhodes deal.

While this is a setback, I don't think that this is a deal-breaker.

And with the firing of Dan O'Brien in Cincinnati, Austin Kearns could once again be in play to upgrade the Tribe outfield. O'Brien reportedly turned down a Westbrook for Kearns deal (which I'm happy for), but the Tribe may be able to package some players to get Kearns to play RF or LF. Whether the Michaels deal even happens after that is up for debate (though I wouldn't mind it).

I don't think that this Coco move to Boston is dead, just be assured that there won't be as many leaks or hand-wringing in public when talks resume (and they will). Negotiating through the media is not the way that Shapiro likes to conduct his business and, last I checked, he's still holding the chip that Boston can't seem to take their eyes off of.

With all of the talk of these Boston prospects, I thought I'd pull the scouting report from Rotoworld on the AL East Prospects (Marte is Boston's #1 prospect, Shoppach is #7):

#1 Andy Marte - 3B
ETA: April 2007
Marte's bad 47-at-bat stint for the Braves should hardly qualify as a setback, not when he was so productive in Triple-A as a 21-year-old. The only real source of concern now is the mysterious right elbow injury, which came to light after he was traded to Boston for Edgar Renteria. His agent dismissed the report of him possibly requiring Tommy John surgery as nonsense. Even if Marte did need the surgery and missed 2006 as a result, he’d still be a fabulous prospect. His defense at third base, once a weak point, continues to improve, and he’ll be a .280 hitter with 30 homers and 60-70 walks per year in his prime. Another three to six months in Triple-A should be sufficient.
Reports have Marte on his way to Cleveland for Coco Crisp. It’d be an incredibly short-sighted move for Boston.

#7 Kelly Shoppach- C
.253/.352/.507, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 116/46 K/BB, in 371 AB in AAA
It hardly seems fair, but Shoppach’s embarrassing showing in 15 at-bats for the Red Sox last season seemed to counter what good he did by hitting 26 homers and finishing with an 859 OPS in 371 at-bats in Pawtucket. There didn’t appear to be much interest in him in trade talks over the winter, and now the Red Sox are prepared to go with John Flaherty rather than try Shoppach as the personal catcher for Tim Wakefield this year. Shoppach still figures to be a long-term regular. He’s solid enough defensively that he’ll never have to hit for much of an average to be one of the game’s top 30 catchers. With Jason Varitek signed through 2008, Shoppach will again be a candidate to go in an in-season deal this year.

Comparatively, Baseball America had Fernando Cabrera as the Indians' #7 prospect, so we're not talking about two marginal prospects. Shoppach would likely start the season as Vic's backup and Marte would start in AAA, with all opportunities to progress to the Majors quickly.

Just a little background on these names that sometimes feel like nothing more than names.

Stay tuned as pitchers and catchers report in mid-February, and at the rate that we're going, there's no telling what could happen.

Still in Limbo

With the Coco trade still all speculation, Ken Rosenthal has weighed in. What he's reporting (and he's usually right, if not real close) is the same initial trades to go down that are listed in Sunday's post.

Before I get into the moves fully (because they still haven't happened), I want to take a step back and look at some numbers for the players that seem to be the most oft-mentioned in the moves.
First, the outfielders in question and their 2005 stats:
Coco Crisp
-.300/.345 OBP/.465 SLG/.800 OPS
-16HR/69RBI/594AB
-44BB/81K
Jason Michaels
-.304/.399 OBP/.415 SLG/.814 OPS
-4HR/31RBI/289AB
-44BB/45K
Not too far off of each other, except that Coco had double the AB's and a worse K/BB ratio. Michaels is also superior in OBP, which could translate into his insertion to the #2 hole (if the trade happens).

Next, the relievers and their 2005 stats:
Arthur Rhodes
–43 1/3IP/1.04 WHIP/2.08 ERA
-43K/12BB
Guillermo Mota
–67IP/ 1.44 WHIP/4.70 ERA
-60K/32BB
Rhodes' numbers look a lot better, but the numbers were reversed in 2004. Truth be told, relievers (outside of Mo Rivera) are hard to predict from year to year.

Up to this point, the players involved look pretty similar. And now you get to the reason that the Indians are making this trade and his 2005 stats in AAA:
Andy Marte
-.275/.372 OBP/ .506 SLG/.878 OPS
-20 HR/70RBI/389 AB
-64BB/83K
Now I know what you're saying, "he's just a 21 year old prospect at AAA," but consider the comparable stats of a 22 year old in AAA in 2004:
Jhonny Peralta
-.323/.382 OBP/.489 SLG/.871 OPS
-15 HR/86 RBI/560 AB
-55BB/129K
So, imagine Peralta being a year ahead of where he is now. Do you try to make that acquisition?

I don't know if this trade helps or hurts the Tribe in 2006. If it does either, it's not that big of a difference. The difference is Marte, the middle of the order RH bat that doesn't come around very often.

When you have a desperate team willing to overpay for a player, you take advantage, regardless of where you finished last year or where you project this year. This deal makes the Indians a better, deeper team for a long time.

If the deal goes down, I'll get a lot more in-depth. Right now, Jack Bauer's about to save the world (again).

Not So Fast, My Friend

Just after I put up a post that the roster looks set, the Boston media reports that the Coco deal is done. Then, just to give it some validity, ESPN is reporting the same thing.

It still isn't clear which players are going where, but this is what it looks like:
CLE gets:
Andy Marte - 3B
Jason Michaels - OF
Guillermo Mota - RP

BOS gets:
Coco Crisp - OF

PHL gets:
Arthur Rhodes - RP

These principals could certainly change, but this is the most widely reported synopsis of the exchanges.

The naysayers will say that this is an indication that the Indians are "not going for it in 2006", but essentially you're replacing Crisp with Michaels and Rhodes with Mota while acquiring a top-flight prospect in Marte (who, incidentally, was traded for a perennial All-Star SS, straight-up, just a few months ago).

More on all of the stats and ramifications as the trades become clearer, but this is what it looks like right now.

Excellent coverage in the PD on it. Oh wait, it must be right next to the article about Modell and Voinovich. Unbelievable that the local paper completely whiffs on this.

25 Man Projection

While we're still 3 1/2 weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting, it looks like the 25-man roster is essentially set:
Starting Lineup
Victor Martinez
Ben Broussard
Ronnie Belliard
Jhonny Peralta
Aaron Boone
Coco Crisp
Grady Sizemore
Casey Blake
Travis Hafner
This is essentially the lineup that scored the 4th most runs in the AL, despite the deficiencies at 1B and RF. The Perez signing and the push for Garko to get experience at 1B indicates that if Broussard starts off slow, he could be displaced (particularly at the $2.4M he'll probably get in arbitration). Wedge and Shapiro seem content to give Blake another shot in RF, which should play itself out by June. If Blake stays in 2005 form (as opposed to his consistent 2004), the ultimate answer to RF may come via trade.

Bench
Josh Bard
Eduardo Perez
Ramon Vazquez
Todd Hollandsworth
This is an area that Shapiro said needed an upgrade, but there didn't seem to be one. Bard and Vazquez remain, while Perez replaces Hernandez. The thought was probably to get a RF, which would allow Blake to come off of the bench, which is where he's probably best suited and may end up. Hollandsworth has more experience than the other 4th OF candidates, as well as not needing the consistent ABs that Dubois and Gutierrez need in Buffalo.

Rotation
C.C. Sabathia
Jake Westbrook
Cliff Lee
Paul Byrd
Jason Johnson
Obviously, we've swapped Millwood and Elarton for Byrd and Johnson (for a lot less years and $), but the rotation still looks very solid. Assuming that C.C. pitches how he did in the 2nd half of last year (like he's finally figured it out) and the other pitchers post numbers close to their average, this remains a strength in a strong pitching division.

Bullpen
Bob Wickman
Fernando Cabrera
Arthur Rhodes
Rafael Betancourt
David Riske
Matt Miller
Scott Sauerbeck
The re-signing of Riske rounded out the bullpen, which essentially replaces Howry with Cabrera. When the bullpen is viewed from that perspective, it seems solid. The major question, though, lies in the back with Sticky Wicky.
Personally, I'm of the belief that Wickman, by his guile and determination, could save games pitching with my arm. It wouldn't be pretty, but it's not very pretty now. Regardless of style points, you cannot argue with Wicky's successful results of 2005.
The big fear is a repeat of 2004 Spring Training, when Wickman went down and the bullpen fell apart. The main difference between that pen and this one is that Arthur Rhodes (or Betancourt) may be able to hold down the fort if Wickman were to go down, whereas Jose Jimenez and Scott Stewart folded like a house of cards (a nod to Bud Shaw - King of Analogies).

On the Outside Looking In
Brandon Phillips (out of options)
Jason Davis (1 option left)
Danny Graves (minor-league contract)
Steve Karsay (minor-league contract)
Lou Merloni (minor-league contract)
B-Phil will likely be dealt during Spring Training and he may be packaged with David Riske, based, ironically, on the early reports on Graves and Karsay. If either is pitching well, they could fill that 6th inning role, allowing the Tribe to trade Riske to a team (upon entering Spring Training) that realizes, too late, that their bullpen is going to be a problem.
Davis (as Eric Wedge told WTAM, prior to the Art Modell interview, today) will pitch in the bullpen in Buffalo and try to master the preparation and routine of pitching out of the bullpen. With his live arm, let's hope that JD can get it all pulled together so he can contribute in Cleveland, and not elsewhere.

Would have to force their way into the lineup
Jason Dubois
Franklin Gutierrez
Ryan Garko
Andrew Brown
Fausto Carmona
Jeremy Sowers
As stated earlier, Dubois and Gutierrez will probably start in Buffalo, though Dubois could hit his way onto the team this Spring. The HUGE drawback to Dubois is his poor fielding, which prevents him from being the ideal 4th OF. Garko will start in Buffalo to get reps at 1B, where he will probably continue to crush the ball. Once his defense is adequate, I expect to see the Stanford grad at the Jake. Andrew Brown has one option left (thanks to an injury exception) and could be another option in the bullpen (along with Davis, Graves, and Karsay) to give the Tribe depth through the long regular season. Carmon and Sowers (the 2 young pitchers Wedge specifically mentioned as "ready to contribute in 2006") will start in Buffalo and should be a phone call away from a spot start at the Jake.

Thanks to the fellas at Let's Go Tribe for help on options, and let's hear some pre-Spring Training thoughts.

East Coast Family

The trade of Brian Tallett to the Toronto Blue Jays for a guy named Bubbie brings an end to the BT Boys Era. With Billy Traber trying to make the Washington Nationals this spring and Tallett trying to do the same in Toronto, it got me to think how these two lefties were once seen as having the potential to be major cogs in the Indians' rotation for years to come.

Both started a few games in 2003 (Traber - 18, Tallett - 3) as they came to the Majors with another minor league southpaw, Cliff Lee (9 starts in 2003). Traber was the most ballyhooed, coming in the Alomar deal; with Lee seen by some as a throw-in for Colon, while Tallett was a home-grown prospect. A mere 3 years later, the 3 players fall perfectly into the East Coast Family Model (which those not into the hip-hop scene of the early '90s may not grasp completely, but should get the concept).

The East Coast Family Model
Michael Bivins, member of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe, launched his New Jack Swing sound with the "Motownphilly" video from Boyz II Men in 1993. In the video were pictured his 3 main acts: Boyz II Men, Another Bad Creation (ABC), and Sudden Impact.
Another Bad Creation burst onto the scene with a few hits and were seen as another Jackson 5, or at least New Edition. but after their initial success, they fizzled and disappeared.
Boyz II Men put together a solid career with singles and albums that consistently performed well, turning into a force in the music business.
Sudden Impact, the oft-forgotten white band of the group, never even recorded an album ; which, for the fans of the East Coast Family, fell under the category of falling below expectations, regardless of how high or low they may have truly been.

So, how does this ridiculousness relate to the Brian Tallett trade?

The three lefties that hit Cleveland in 2003 were all seen as potential fixtures in Jacobs Field, some coming with higher expectations (Traber) than the others. Each of these players followed the road of one of the bands of The East Coast Family Model:
Traber - ABC - After a promising 2003, including the memorable one-hitter against the Yankees, Traber disappeared from public view. Partly from injury and partly from his (alleged) avoidance of criticism, Traber is now toiling to find his footing in the NL.
Lee - Boyz II Men - Building on his initial success of 2003 (3-3, 3.61 ERA), Lee had a phenomenal 2004 and 2005, leading most to believe that he will remain a force in the rotation.
Tallett - Sudden Impact - Never really able to find a home in the rotation or the bullpen and plagued by injuries, Tallett eventually became a 28 year old pitcher without a track record or a specialty. Hopefully, he'll catch on as a LOOGY somewhere, or he'll fade into oblivion.

Not bad, eh? But, you're saying, "that's an isolated situation made to fit into the parameters". Or is it?

Also in 2003, 3 young outfielders made their debuts in Cleveland, slotting perfectly into the ECFM:
Jody Gerut - ABC - After a stellar 2003 campaign, in which he played in 127 games and won the Sporting News' Rookie of the Year, Gerut succumbed to injuries and ineffectiveness. Eventually, he was traded to Chicago, then Pittsburgh this past year.
Coco Crisp - Boyz II Men - Easily the least-hyped prospect of the group, Coco played 99 games in 2003 and has since managed to stay healthy and be productive in the Cleveland lineup. After fending off many challengers, Crisp may be looking at a long-term deal before Spring Training.
Alex Escobar - Sudden Impact - The Mets' top prospect, who came over in the Alomar deal, played in 28 games in 2003. Despite his gaudy Minor League numbers and rocket arm, Escobar was eventually given up on and has bounced around the league, unable to stick on a roster.

But there's more from 2003, regarding some RH starters:
Jason Davis - ABC - Davis started 27 games in 2003 and was thought to be the Indians' #2 starter of the future, right behind C.C. for years to come. But Davis has been unable to relive that success and has bounced back and forth between Cleveland and Buffalo, the rotation and the bullpen, until this year where it looks like he will be starting in Buffalo again.
Jake Westbrook - Boyz II Men - Starting 22 games in 2003, Westbrook went into 2004 as the long man only to rattle off some of the more impressive pitching of 2004, forcing his way into the rotation. He has stayed in the rotation since, even signing a long-term deal before the start of the 2005 season.
Ricardo Rodriguez - Sudden Impact - Acquired as part of the Paul Shuey deal, Rodriguez started 15 games in 2003, but never really experienced much success in Cleveland or in Texas (where he was dealt for Ryan Ludwick).

So what does this inane model show us, other than that I have too much time on my hands? Essentially, that not every "can't-miss" prospect is a can't miss, just as not every Player To Be Named Later is a scrub. It takes time for the true value of a player to show himself.

How will the Indians young stud pitchers (Sowers, Carmona, Miller) fit into the model? Or the young outfielders (Gutierrez, Snyder, Dubois)?

Time will tell, but let's all agree on what we're looking for more of:
Boyz II Men...hey, you know what I'm saying.

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?

Tomahawks

Not much going on at the Jake, and still...the tomahawks are flying:

• Good article by Ken Rosenthal on Coco Crisp's value and how other teams are going to have to bowl over the Tribe to get a deal done. Part of me still thinks that Coco may not be around when all is said and done, though I have nothing to back that up.
• Bruce Sutter got elected into the Hall of Fame and every article that I saw leading up to the election showed the potential inductees (Sutter, Gossage, Rice, Blyleven, Jack Morris), which got me to thinking: What happened to the beards and mustaches of the past? I'm not talking a pretty Mike Piazza mustache or a well-manicured goatee. I'm talking Jim Rice's bushy mustache or Bruce Sutter's overgrown beard. I think that Wickman, for one, would look awfully tough coming out of the 'pen with the whole mountain man bushy beard working for him. Maybe he can't because he's bald. Seriously, though, I would love to see the return of the wild facial hair, if only because I could pass it off as cool to the wife (how many people shaved their head before Michael looked cool bald?) and not shave for a while.
• With Eduardo Perez undergoing a physical, expected to sign any day and Shapiro's candid comments about Broussard, I got to thinking about Ryan Garko's defense. Shapiro said that Garko has only played one half of a season at 1B and doesn't need to be spectacular, he just needs to make the plays that should be made. If Broussard starts off slow (as he's prone to be streaky) though, I wouldn't be surprised to see Garko in Cleveland sooner rather than later due to Shapiro's effusive praise for his hitting approach and results. That is, of course, unless he has the John Kinsella Syndrome.
• And what is John Kinsella Syndrome, you ask? The JKS is the inability to have the baseball move past one's ear in a throwing motion. Or, essentially, throwing like a girl. The JKS is named after one of the worst moments in one of the best movies around. Upon Kevin Costner's realizing that the catcher in his cornfield is his father and asks him to "have a catch", everybody gets choked up. Until, that is, when his father John Kinsella (a reputed former minor league catcher) short-arms his first throw, undermining all of the good feelings up to that point. The producers went to such great lengths to make sure that the baseball scenes seemed genuine with actors possessing athletic ability. Until they get to the watershed moment of the movie. Terrible, just terrible.
• The JKS is also know to afflict Roy Hobbs' son at the end of The Natural and, more recently, Tom Cruise in War of the Worlds. Cruise, in particular is painful to watch, mainly because of his starmaking turn in All the Right Moves.

But I digress...

• The Hollandsworth minor league deal basically gives the Tribe some depth if they don't acquire another OF. Hollandsworth is a decent 4th OF who, at the high-end, could turn into another Marty Cordova (as noted at Let's Go Tribe).
• I don't know if anyone else is forced to watch The Bachelor because of marital ties, but the first episode of the new season was unusually enjoyable as one of the women told the guy that her "eggs were rotting" and she had entered her "reproductive phase". Surprisingly, she was not picked and, as the episode progressed and the wine kept flowing, she ended up looking like Jerri Blank from Strangers with Candy, but a little scarier.

Pitchers and Catchers report February 16th. Can you tell I'm ready?

Shapiro on Shapiro

Last week, Mark Shapiro appeared on More Sports with Les Levine and was surprisingly candid and open about last season, players on the Indians’ roster, and going forward:

On Available Free Agent Bats
Shapiro said that the team knew going into the offseason that there were very few quality bats available, which is why they pushed so hard for Giles and Nomar. Unfortunately, both turned them down for less money to stay on the West Coast. Shapiro essentially said that the most important aspect of a hitter for the organization is plate discipline, which is essentially minimizing K’s, and by having productive at-bats, which can be generally gauged by OPS. So, by looking at a player’s K/BB ratio and OPS, you can determine rather quickly if a player fits the Shapiro mold.
Preston Wilson and Craig Wilson, just to name two, seem to strike out too much to be considered worthwhile contributors. Casey Blake does too, but more on that later.

Shapiro knows that this team is one bat away, and that an experienced hitter would certainly help; but for now, he has to depend on the talented hitters already in the lineup having one more year of experience. He hopes that nobody had a “career year” last year, but realizes that throwing too much money at a player (look at Burnitz’s contract) does nothing to help the team.

On the Indian Way and Manny
When asked about Manny Ramirez, Shapiro almost bristled and said that no player on the Indians would ever be like Manny, a player with his own set of rules who plays when he wants to play. He said, instead, that the philosophy is “to win with a team, not with individual superstars.” He added that some current players may become superstars because of their talent, but their makeup would never cause a problem.
He specifically identified the Indian Way as filling the team with team players who respect each other while the front office identifies available value to contend every year.

When pressed on whether Manny would sell enough tickets to justify the trade, Shapiro essentially said that the Red Sox wanted Sizemore and Peralta without picking up any of Manny’s salary. Shapiro went on to say that Manny’s negatives outweighed his positives and he could never sell enough tickets to justify his inflated salary.
Do you think he’s tired of hearing this question? From the usually political Shapiro, this was serious stuff.

On Salaries, Attendance, and the AL Central
Shapiro addressed the fact that the Tribe would have the 2nd lowest payroll in the AL Central, but said that it has nothing to do with how much is spent; it is HOW that money is spent. He reiterated what we’ve heard for a while about attendance being the equalizer for the Indians that can level the salary discrepancy in baseball to get the Tribe more in line with the Central. He also said that no one player is going to sell tickets, but winning would. The hope is that the winning of last year will bring people to the Jake, which makes sense to me. In his words, “money doesn’t solve problems, good management does.”

Shapiro said that the Tampa Bay series was the only time that he was truly disappointed in the fan base in Cleveland. Pointing out that the games were played with a potential playoff berth on the line, the Indians played in front of a less than the ML average crowd. Granted, they lost those big games, but as someone who was at all of the games, I couldn’t agree more. I was just surprised that Shapiro was as candid as he was about that one, as he usually defaults to being overly complementary of Indians’ fans.

Shapiro acknowledged that the White Sox improved their team, adding the classic caveat, “on paper”. But he said that the additions of Vazquez and Thome certainly should make the Central more competitive. When asked what he would do to counteract those additions, Shapiro essentially said, “I can’t worry about them, I have to do what I can do to make the Cleveland Indians a better team. There are certain facets of the Indians that WILL be worse than they were last year, I just don’t know what they are right now. When I find out, I will do my best to fix them.”
He also noted that the division has gotten a lot better, comparing the 93 wins of 2005 that weren’t enough to make the playoffs to the 87 wins that carried the ’97 Tribe to the World Series. The balance of power has shifted in the AL, with the Central boasting 2 (if not 3) of the better teams.

On the Lineup
Shapiro acknowledged that Sizemore and Peralta may see a bit of a down year, compared to 2005, but also said that both players are so talented and exceeded expectations so fully last year (Peralta was the 2nd most productive SS in the Majors last year), he didn’t expect the drop-off to be steep. Pointing to both players even-keeled demeanor, he identified them as fixtures in the lineup for years.
But we already knew that. The real surprise came in his descriptions of the 4 B’s:
On Boone:
Boone’s 2nd half is more indicative of the player that he is, according to Shapiro. Remember that Boone was hitting about .195 in mid-May, so his 2nd half should serve as a model for what we can expect in 2006. Shapiro also said that Boone was signed to be a bottom 1/3 of the order hitter, and was never meant to hit 3, 4, or 5 in Cleveland. As usual, Shapiro praised Boone’s makeup and defense and essentially promised that Boone would be much improved in 2006. He made no mention of Boone’s wife, Laura Cover.
On Belliard:
When discussing how the strength of the Indian lineup was up the middle (Vic, Jhonny, Grady), Shapiro corrected Levine, who had said that the Tribe got “above average” production from 2B. Shapiro quickly jumped in saying, “our production at 2B is just average.” I agree, but it was surprising that Shapiro was that quick to NOT include Jelly in that grouping.
On Broussard:
This is where Shapiro really spoke honestly and candidly, calling 2006 a “make or break year for Benny in Cleveland.” He pointed out that Broussard has shown talent in spurts, lasting anywhere from 3 weeks to a half a season. Shapiro said that “we don’t need spurts, we need consistency.” He stated that Broussard had the talent to play in the Majors, as an “average defender”, and with the obvious talent that showed up in those spurts. But without that consistency, Broussard has to be protected with a RH bat. Enter Eduardo Perez.
I was shocked to hear Shapiro so down on Broussard, even though it is deserved. Normally, again, Shapiro goes out of his way to be positive and defend his players. This was a definite turn from that philosophy and practice.
On Blake:
Shapiro acknowledged that the pursuit of Giles and Nomar were in response to Blake having a bad 2005 at the plate particularly with Runners in Scoring Position, calling it a “big drop-off” after back-to-back “good” seasons. He said that Blake is ideally a phenomenal super-utility player, versatile and athletic enough to play RF, LF, 1B, and 3B. He called Blake “a big league player, because of his versatility; but RF is a position we’d like to upgrade offensively.”
Again, there were no huge revelations here, other than Shapiro being refreshingly honest and openly critical of a player who has his warts.

On the Bullpen:
Asked how the whole closer thing went down, Shapiro explained that the FA closer market next offseason is abysmal, forcing the Tribe to look for a multiple year fit at closer. Since Wickman had essentially told the Indians that he was a one-year solution, Shapiro went after B.J. Ryan (who felt the Indians were a better fit, but offered less money) and Hoffman (to whom the Indians offered more money, but the Tribe didn’t play in San Diego). When those players rebuffed the Tribe, Wickman was more than happy to return (for his probable final year) to a place that he felt comfortable.
When asked if Cabrera was the “closer-in-waiting”, Shapiro wouldn’t put that tag on him. He stated that F-Cab certainly had the stuff, but being a closer is more mental than anything else. A player’s reaction to failure, criticism, and pressure are more indicative of whether he can become a closer in the Majors.
For this year’s bullpen, he sees the return of Rhodes and Miller bolstering the solid bullpen of 2005 to be just as strong in 2006.
Interestingly, Shapiro said that Wickman’s “tight-rope saves” had taken years off of his life. So, we’re not the only ones sucking Pepto-Bismol in the 9th.

On Prospects, Trades, and Going Forward
Shapiro identified 3 pitching prospects that could contribute in 2006: Sowers, Carmona, and Andrew Brown (as a bullpen arm). When asked about the development of Jeremy Guthrie, he said that Guthrie had not progressed as the organization thought he would, saying that Guthrie lacked deception and was still learning how to pitch at a new level.

For hitters, Shapiro said that Gutierrez was tearing up Winter Ball, but interestingly said that Franklin is a CF, “which we certainly don’t need.” He called Brad Snyder a corner OF with plate discipline (remember that term?) who just needs to work on his 2 strike approach. When asked about Ryan Garko, he pointed out that Garko had still only played 2 full years of minor league baseball, and only ½ of a season at 1B. He said that Garko needs reps at 1B, but as long as he’s not a defensive liability, he will be an asset once he gains experience. Shapiro said that Garko would get AB’s and 1B reps in Buffalo, but (with his stinging comments on Broussard) seemed to hint that Buffalo and Cleveland aren’t that far away.

On the subject of trades, Shapiro said that the front office bounce around more trades than anyone would ever believe. But, after doing due diligence, elect against them for one reason or another. He said that this team isn’t opposed to trading prospects; say at the July deadline, to fill obvious needs. The other purpose of a trade would be to trade for players further away from arbitration for more contract control. He also stressed that the Indians try to make trades that are win-win for both teams to keep all possible trade partners open for future discussion.

Shapiro said he didn’t see much happening before Spring Training (the Indians signed Todd Hollandsworth to a minor-league deal, which is nearly the definition of “not much”) because trades get more difficult as teams become more comfortable with their rosters. He didn’t rule anything out as impossible, just that they’re more difficult.

All in all, it was an enlightening and unusually candid conversation with Shapiro and helped flesh out a lot of the questions and concerns of the offseason by filling in a number of holes. Now let’s fill in that hole in RF.