While We’re Waiting… Alex Mack to Sign, LeBron’s Book, and Betancourt Trade Thoughts
July 24, 2009MLB Trade Rumors: Lee’s Asking Price is the One Thing that the Yanks Can’t Afford
July 24, 2009Some of you have questioned why we here at WFNY are still covering the daily Tribe action. I understand your frustration, but the bottom line is they are the only team in town playing right now and the old adage in the sports media is that it is much easier to drum up conversation when the team is underachieving and playing poorly. I mean, if they were in first place right now (as I wish they were), how many fluff pieces about Cliff Lee could one person write anyways?
In all seriousness, while the Indians won the finale of their three game set in Toronto 5-4 yesterday afternoon, the victory juice was squeezed out shorty after the game. After David Huff came out to start the eighth inning, I asked myself why Eric Wedge isn’t going to Rafael Betancourt there. After a two out solo homer by Kevin Millar made the score 5-4, the Grinder went to the pen, except when the door opened, out ran Joe Smith, not “The Realtor.” Something had to be afoot.
And it was.
About ten minutes after Kerry Wood recorded the third out for his 13th save, the Indians announced that Betancourt, a mainstay in the bullpen since his call-up in 2003, had been sent to Colorado for A-ball pitcher Connor Graham, listed by Baseball America as the #5 prospect in the Rockies system.
Before you all jump down Shappy’s throat by saying “that is all you got for him? A single-A pitcher?” Think about the finances of the move. Raffy Right makes $3.35 million this year, which the Indians save in pro-ration the rest of the year. They also held a $5.4 million club option for next year. There is zero chance they would pick that up, seeing as though 2010 is looking more and more each day like it has to be a rebuilding year in Cleveland. With the league knowing Betancourt would most likely be a free agent at the end of this season anyways, no team was going to part with a top prospect to get a guy who they may not want to pay that kind of salary to in 2010.
After the Betancourt deal yesterday, I am convinced that either Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez will be next.
But back to the game. With his AAA personal catcher, Chris “G Man” Gimenez behind the dish for the first time as an Indian, Huff pitched in and out of trouble most of the day, scattering eight hits in his 7.2 innings of work. The home run ball is what kept the Blue Jays in the game. Aaron Hill’s three-run shot in the fifth and Millar’s eighth inning solo homer were really his only two mistakes. Lucky for Huff, the offense did just enough to get him a “W.” They scratched across five runs but strangely, only Shin-Soo Choo’s two-run triple brought them in via the hit. The Wahoos loaded the bases in the fourth with nobody out, but only got one run via a Ben Francisco walk. Gimenez and Martinez each drove one in on ground outs.
The Tribe now heads out West to take on Seattle. Saturday’s game will be started by none other than Jeremy Sowers, who is getting a completely undeserved third shot at a rotation spot this season by replacing Tomo Ohka who is moving to the pen. Over/Under on innings Sowers throws is 4.1.
10 Comments
If Wedge was smart enough to figure out ( like 95% of the people reading this ) that Sowers is only good going through the lineup twice, and that he gets killed the third time through the lineup EVERY SINGLE TIME, then he might actually get some decent innings out of him.
But since he isn’t…
How about a line on what the leadoff guy for the Mariners hits on his third at bat. I’m going with a double.
Andy Marte went 4-4 with 2 HR’s yesterday. What did Jhonny do?
Shapetti is fast at working trying to move Vic and Cliff as we speak. Anyone hear their lame pressers yesterday?
KC Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians……..
How about calling up Marte or LaPorta to replace The Realtor? They’ve got plenty of crappy pitchers in the bullpen already.
How about Al Pawlowsky perking things up as the Tribe’s new color man?
Isis – it’s mostly by default. Underwood’s wife passed away and Al P was the in-studio guy for STO.
@ Scott, I think you meant Underwood’s mom.
so wait, let me get this straight…
Sowers, who cant pitch more than 4 innings, or twice thru the lineup gets another start, and they move Ohka, who pitched like 7 innings his last start while giving up 3 runs, gets put in the ‘pen? what in God’s name is going on???
Peralta still looks like he would rather be gouging his eyes out with a rusty fork while flailing away, but for once, Marte looks to be coming around, yet no moves are made?
Gimenez seems like a better option than the Windmill at this point as well…he has a shorter, more compact swing (the single he had in the game yesterday was almost picture perfect as far as keeping your weight back, driving thru the ball, etc)…didnt see him throw from behind the dish, anyone know his ratio in the minors for base stealers caught? it almost HAS to be better than vic and shop…
Franswhiffco still has yet to make the adjustment in his hand placement that causes him to be over the top of anything outside (his cocks his wrists while he’s waiting for the pitch…that was something they taught you in little league, to keep your wrists more straight to avoid swinging over the top of outside pitches…think more like a golf grip than a death grip as far as your wrists being more straight) dunno how Shelton still has a job given the Indians struggles and lapses…i dont think I’ve ever seen a team get so tight when the bases are loaded with no one out, and strike out THREE times and only get one run…thats just sad…
Scott…….sorry to hear about Matt U’s wife or mom.
Just taking a jab at Pawlowsky………….the dude has fake hair and a fake voice. He wears 70’s style polyester suits and fat ties. Can’t figure the dude out or why he is employed as a Cleveland sportscaster?
Marte.