While We’re Waiting…Improved Browns, Urban Loves The Heat, Tribe Rotation Fading Fast
July 22, 2012Box Score: Orioles 4, Indians 3
July 22, 2012It’s time for another great giveaway from the generous powers-that-be here at WFNY. We have a pair of tickets to Wednesday night’s Indians game against the Tigers at Progressive Field. With the Tribe now chasing the Tigers and 3.5 games back, it will be a huge series heading into the deadline — here’s hoping for a repeat sweep.
As we typically do, we’ll conduct the contest in the comments section of this post. Please make sure to use a legit email when you comment so that we can get in touch with you if you win. Obviously, please only comment if you’ll be able to make Wednesday night’s game at Progressive Field. Finally, your comment must address this prompt:
The trade deadline is looming and it’s the time of year that’s usually rampant with off-the-field rumors and speculation. For the Indians, it’s always provided a ton of excitement and interest during the dog days of summer. It was always fun to consider the prospects of adding a piece for a drive towards contention, regardless of whether it was a peripheral player or major contributor.
There have been plenty of Tribe deals, as both sellers and buyers. I love looking back on some of the more obscure or forgotten pickups — e.g. sending Steve Kline to Montreal for Jeff Juden. What’s your favorite obscure in-season pick-up for the Indians and why?
This player can also be an August addition as well (Bip Roberts!). The deal didn’t necessarily have work out well for the Indians — let’s just reminisce on those random trades we may have forgotten. The “why” part need not go in-depth, it can be something as little as your goofy personal preference.
The contest will close Monday (7/23/12) morning at 9 A.M. ET and the winner will be picked at random.
When you’re done commenting, take a look back at some of the deals TD highlighted during the Jacobs Field era:
Tribe and the Trade Deadline – A History of the Jacobs Field Era – 1994-1999
Tribe and the Trade Deadline – A History of the Jacobs Field Era – 2000-2002
Tribe and the Trade Deadline – A History of the Jacobs Field Era – 2003-Present
16 Comments
John Smiley and not even close. I was convinced he was going to put us over the top and even though it cost two personal favorites in Danny Graves and Damian Jackson, it was going to be worth it. He was going to go back to the 1996 version of himself, solidify the back-end of the rotation and end the Colon/Lopez/Anderson combination and even out the bullpen. Then, in the playoffs, he would be the 4th starter or solidify the bullpen. He was going to be the lefty that was so desperately needed in either role. Still can’t tell me that if he’s healthy and pitching well, that ’97 series doesn’t end differently. Plus, the injury that ultimately ended his career, had to be among the weirder injuries to ever occur.
My favorite obscure trade was when the Indians picked up Joey Cora in exchange for David Bell. It was an August acquisition meant to help fill a hole. In typical Tribe fashion, Cora was a former big name whose days were numbered, brought in squeeze out whatever was left in his tank (OK, maybe he wasn’t a BIG name, but he had been an all-star a few years prior). Due to injuries, Cora didn’t play much for the Indians and went on to retire after that season, but that’s not what I remember, what I recall is getting a guy who had made me nervous any time we faced him after the ’95 ALCS and thinking, “Cool, we got Joey Cora.” He was a guy I loved to hate and for that reason he is my favorite obscure trade (plus I never liked David Bell).
Has any trade come more out of the blue than trading for John Rocker? Indians traded Steve Karsay and Steve Reed, both quality relievers, for the controversial closer. I still remember the first game he sprinted in from the bullpen after the trade. His fastball was all over the place, but still somehow got the save. This has to be the most obscure pickup by the Tribe in some time.
I remember being so excited when the Indians acquired Marshall McDougall, thinking the kid who played at Florida State and hit 6 homers in one game! What a steal!
As a fairly young Tribe fan, my favorite transaction is a bit more modern. I remember in 2007, trading Max Ramirez for Kenny Lofton and my dad excitedly yelling for me to show me his familiar face standing in the outfield. Kenny was always one of my favorite Indians of all time and it was a great memory to see him back on the team.
My favorite obscure deadline pickup will always be the July signing of Tom Candiotti in 1999. I was only 10 years old at the time and didn’t really have any knowledge of who Tom Candiotti was, but I was ready to get pumped for any addition the Indians made to what I thought was going to be a World Series team.
It was the end of July, I heard it announced on the radio on my way to swim class and I was *stoked*. So stoked, in fact, that I actually faked an injury during class to get home and put him on the team in MLB ’99 for the Playstation. I was, for some stupid reason, sure that Tom Candiotti was going to put us over the top.
Of course, that feeling didn’t last long and he was released about a month later.
Jim Thome last year. I was at his first game back, and he was one of my favorite players and idols as a kid. It was cool to see him back as an Indian!
My favorite was the trade of Jose Mesa and Shawon Dunston for Steve Reed and Jacob Cruz. I wanted to run Joe Table out of town. It’s certainly unfair, but I’ll never forgive him for the 1997 World Series. It was cathartic.
In late August of 1983, the Tribe traded a fading veteran Len Barker to the Atlanta Braves for three minor league players. Two of the three “obscure” prospects to arrive in Cleveland happen to be two of my more favorite Indian players of the 80’s. There names are Brett Butler (cf) and Brook Jacoby (3b).
Jake Westbrook. Got a solid starter for David Justice, can’t beat that. Oh, and we get Ricky Ledee!!!
One of my prouder childhood memories was watching Brook play in the All-Star Game.
I was PUMPED when the Indians traded David Bell and Rick Heiserman. I thought he was the missing link in the rotation…
Definitely when Kenny came home. I bought tickets immediately to go to his first game back and made it on the jumbo-tron wearing my “retro” Lofton Indians jersey.
I liked when the Tribe brought Candy Maldanado back in August ’93. That sort of started the Tribe’s tradition of bringing players back that were in the twilight of their careers. Baerga, Lofton, Thome, etc. Plus we got rid of the knucklehead that was GlenAllen Hill.
Gotta go with John Rocker! He wasn’t the best pick up we’ve had by any means and he was definitely on the downswing, but the dude had a badass intro to games and really brought a different energy to Cleveland….If only it was a more positive energy!
I would have to say all of the people we got for Sabathia. We all knew he was leaving and I was so excited to have a first baseman again with power (LaPorta).