May 22, 2013

Brett Myers sidelined for at least two weeks with tendonitis and elbow sprain

April 22, 2013 by 15 Comments

The Cleveland Indians announced today that SP Brett Myers has elbow tendonitis and a mild UCL sprain-

The best case for the Indians? Myers is down for a couple weeks and returns healthy.

The worst case? Pitchers needing Tommy John surgery are often initially diagnosed with UCL sprains. If the former is true in Myers’ case, his 21 and a third innings of work will have cost the Tribe well over $300,000 an inning, or $109,375 an out. Give or take a grand.

Let’s hope that doesn’t come to pass.

Corey Kluber has moved into Myers’ spot in the rotation. Kluber has pitched in 2 games for the Indians this season and has a 1-0 record and a 1.80 ERA. He has struck out 5 and walked none.

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Tribe Weekend Recap: Getting Healthy in Houston

April 22, 2013 by 20 Comments

Carlos SantanaThe Indians were a reeling bunch heading to Houston this weekend. They had just been swept by the Boston Red Sox and were essentially dominated for three games on their home field. Thursday night’s loss was a microcosm of the series; it was one missed offensive opportunity after another. Hitting the road sometimes is a good thing, especially for a team like the Indians who are still attempting to find themselves early in the season. Their next opponent, it seemed, was just what the doctor ordered – the sad-sack Houston Astros.

However, despite the optimism, the Tribe started the series without the DL’d Michael Bourn and with their three back-end starters slated to go. Brett Myers, Scott Kazmir, and Ubaldo Jimenez are not exactly Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Halladay. But this is what the Indians rotation is in its current state. Naturally by the end of the weekend, the rotation picture has gotten even more cloudy. The Tribe did end up taking two of three in Houston, which you will take all day. But make no mistake, it was a struggle against an Astros team that resembles a AAA ball club. But hey, a series win is a series win.

So let us dig right in as we do every Monday morning with the weekend that was in Wahooland. [Read more...]

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Brett Myers to DL, Kluber to Rotation, Nieve Called Up

April 21, 2013 by 1 Comment

It didn’t look good when the Indians sent starting pitcher Brett Myers to Cleveland after Friday night. That concern was confirmed when the Indians placed Myers on the 15-day disabled list this afternoon with a right forearm injury. Corey Kluber, last night’s winning pitcher with four solid innings of relief work to close out the game, will assume Myers’s spot in the rotation on Wednesday against the White Sox. Myers has allowed 10 home runs in 4 games (3 starts) and is 0-3 with a 8.02 ERA.

To fill the roster spot occupied by Myers, the team called up Fernando Nieve from Columbus for long relief help. In 3 games (1 start), Nieve has allowed two earned runs and 10 hits in 13 innings for the Clippers, walking 4 and striking out 17. Last season, the 30-year-old right-hander was 7-9 with a 5.96 ERA at Triple-A Albuquerque in 25 games (24 starts). With Ubaldo Jimenez on the mound this afternoon and given his recent struggles, the Tribe decided to continue carrying 13 pitchers for the time being. With Asdrubal Cabrera day-to-day after falling in the dugout before last night’s game, the team has only 11 available hitters, one of them being Jason Giambi, who would likely only play the field in an emergency.

Related: Sunday Indians Notes: Beau Mills, the rotation, and prospects

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MLB News: Brett Myers dealing with flexor tendinitis

April 20, 2013 by 4 Comments

Shortly following Friday night’s 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros, the Akron Beacon Journal‘s Sheldon Ocker had the first report on a particular ailment that has been bugging Cleveland Indians starter Brett Myers, but maybe not significantly on the mound.

During the last frame of Myers’ 5-inning start that actually only included 76 pitches, Cleveland manager Terry Francona, pitching coach Mickey Callaway and trainer Lonnie Soloff went to the mound to chat with the pitcher.

Per Ocker, Francona had noted that Myers’ velocity was way down compared to normal, and he wanted to ensure that nothing was physically amiss with his $7 million starter.

According to Ocker’s reporting and the mouth of Myers after the game, the pitcher has actually been dealing with a flexor (right forearm) tendinitis issue since the spring. But that injury “has no affect on the way he is performing,” Ocker wrote.

“I’ve been feeling some tendinitis in my flexor tendon,” Myers said. “When they came out, they wanted to check, because my velocity was down. But I don’t feel anything, and you still have to go out and compete.”

Myers has been receiving treatment for his condition thus far, according to the report.

Overall, the 32-year-old who pitched for the Astros in 2011 and part of 2012 is now 0-3 with a 8.02 ERA in four games this season. He has allowed 10 home runs in only 21.1 innings pitched, by far the most in the majors, including two in Houston’s three-run second inning on Friday.

[Related: Red Sox 6 Indians 3: Stumbling Offense, Bumbling Defense Lead To Sox Sweep]

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Tribe Weekend Recap: The Rotation Situation Helps The Tribe Take Two

April 15, 2013 by 19 Comments

Nick SwisherThe weekend brought a fresh series and a fresh start for the Indians. They hadn’t played since Tuesday’s 14-1
debacle against the New York Yankees and the back to back rainouts were a welcome sight. Let them wash away the the memories of that brutal two game stretch and get back to baseball. The bats slumbered in two of the three games against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field, but they scratched and clawed their way to a series win, taking the first two of the three-game set.

There has been lots to talk about since we last got together, so let us get right to it.

Nick Swisher’s walkoff single was a thing of beauty on a night of hideous at-bats. Friday night’s series opener had a first pitch temperature of 42 degrees. However, for the brave 11,864 who paid to see this one, it felt more like four degrees. It was cold and rainy, a brisk night that felt more like football weather. For nine innings, the Sox and Tribe pitchers completely shut down the opposing offenses. Chicago lefty Jose Quintana baffled the Tribe over his seven innings of work. The only baserunners he allowed were Michael Brantley, who got on base via a second inning double and Swisher, who he hit with a pitch in the fourth. Other than that, he was perfect. Seven strikeouts, no walks. [Read more...]

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Yankees 14, Indians 1: One week in and the rotation is a big problem

April 10, 2013 by 34 Comments

Carlos CarrascoI am not one to panic. Especially with 150-plus games left on the schedule. The hot starts for the Tribe the last two years resulted in nothing. But obviously you would like to see the lesser parts of your team do well early to give them confidence as the season starts to build.

It was no secret that the weak link of the 2013 Cleveland Indians would be their starting rotation. All five spots offered question marks. Would Justin Masterson regain his 2011 form? On perhaps his last chance here, would Ubaldo Jimenez ever be the guy he was in Colorado? Would Brett Myers be able to transition back into being a starter after spending 2012 in the bullpen? Was Zach McAllister ready for prime time? Who would emerge from the group of candidates to become the fifth starter?

Well we aren’t even two turns through the rotation and the Indians are already going to be on their seventh different starting pitcher tonight when someone – probably Corey Kluber –  will be called up from Columbus. This doesn’t even include the man who won the fifth starter spot this Spring, Scott Kazmir. His injury set things in motion and they haven’t stopped. [Read more...]

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Blue Jays 10, Indians 8: Myers ignites fuse on Jays explosion

April 5, 2013 by 34 Comments

Brett MyersYour Wahoo Warriors headed into last night’s tilt against the Toronto Blue Jays looking for a sweep. I am trying to be a glass half-full guy when it comes to the Tribe in the Terry Francona era, so let me start with the positives.

The Indians were facing a familiar foe in former White Sox great Mark Buerhle. It seems as though the Tribe faced him almost every opening day for a decade (exaggeration here, but you get the point). Last season’s group would have cowered when a southpaw stepped to the hill, especially when you consider Manny Acta’s patented “all lefty” lineup. Francona kept his regular lineup intact for the third consecutive game. The only minor tweak was moving Mark Reynolds to first base with Nick Swisher as the DH. [Read more...]

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WFNY 2013 Tribe Predictions

April 2, 2013 by 16 Comments

WFNY_roundtable

It is Opening Day! Rejoice! Terry Francona! Nick Swisher! Michael Bourn! Do you believe the Dolan Family Ownership ponied up for free agents? Do you believe not one, but TWO big name free agents signed long term deals here in Cleveland? The offseason was as exciting as any we have seen in the long history of the Tribe. The organization wants to get the fans back and they everything they could to do so. So here we are.

As we get set for another season of Cleveland Indians baseball, I got the WFNY group together and asked them some simple questions regarding the 2013 season. What do we expect for this club? Can they contend? Who will step forward? Who will disappoint? Lets take a look and if you would like, answer along with us in the comments section. [Read more...]

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Tribe Season Preview Part Two: The Pitching Staff

April 2, 2013 by 13 Comments

Justin MastersonTerry Francona’s re-made Indians will take the field full of confidence and excitement, ready to turn the page on the debacle that was the close of the 2012 season and the Manny Acta era. ActaBall is no more. Long Live TitoBall. Ownership had seen enough. The hiring of Francona signalled a new day was upon us. It was time to turn the page and move forward. There was an enormous amount of negative energy surrounding the franchise. Things had to change. We just had no idea how quickly and how massive the changes would be.

Gone (for now) are the days of seeing a band of merry-4A players rotating in left field, third base, and the utility spots. GM Chris Antonetti, with the help of Team President Mark Shapiro and owner Paul Dolan, added not one, but two big name, big money free agents. Between Francona, Nick Swisher, and Michael Bourn, the Indians want you all to know that they mean business. A once barren farm system is getting stronger with the addition of top prospect Trevor Bauer in the Shin-Soo Choo trade. Bauer joins Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Tyler Naquin, Ronny Rodriguez, and Shawn Armstrong as names to know down on the farm.

But it is no longer about the future. It is about the NOW.

[Read more...]

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Zach McAllister Confirmed As #4 Starter, Huff To Bullpen

March 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Indians manager Terry Francona confirmed today that Zach McAllister, the team’s most consistent starter last season, will join Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, and newly signed Brett Myers in the starting rotation, securing the fourth spot in the rotation. Correspondingly, according to The Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes, Tito also said that left-handed starter David Huff will now be fighting for a bullpen spot instead.

McAllister, 25, was 6-8 with a 4.24 ERA last season in 22 starts (125 1/3 IP). He allowed 133 hits, 38 walks, and 110 strikeouts.

Huff, 28, is out of options, and his odds to make the bullpen may be long with a stacked Tribe bullpen that is immensely deep and may only keep one left-hander in the bullpen. That would likely be Nick Hagadone. Last year, he pitched in 6 games (4 starts) and was 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Huff won 11 games despite a 5.61 ERA in 2010, but he was 2-11 with a 6.21 ERA in 2011, including a ERA+ of just 64, 34 walks, and 37 strikeouts in 15 starts.

Related: The 2013 Tribe and jWAR

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On the 2013 Indians starting rotation and narratives

February 23, 2013 by 4 Comments

Ubaldo JimenezLast year, in spring training, I remember the WFNY crew was banging our heads against a wall trying to come up with Indians content. There ain’t no shortage of narratives and storylines this year. And that’s fun for everyone. Positives!

But today, I hope to tackle one specific topic from Jon’s “optimism” article earlier this week: the starting rotation. It’s a topic that divides a lot of fans’ and analysts’ opinions regarding the potential of the 2013 Indians. And while I know there could be millions of other arguments, I wanted to do a three-step piece today.

First, I’ll share an debate as to how exactly the Indians were “historically” bad in 2012. Then, I’ll share some intriguing narratives behind three of the starters. And finally, overall about narratives and the upcoming season.

This won’t necessarily be all stats-y, again, but that’s how it will start off for now. I’d love to hear your thoughts and expectations in the comments as well. [Read more...]

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Brett Myers acquisition isn’t sexy, but still helps bad Indians rotation

January 5, 2013 by 4 Comments

One of the central goals of the Indians’ offseason plans was to improve their dreadful starting rotation from 2012. While the team was expected to be a player for some of the second-tier free agents, the name Brett Myers was a surprise to fans when he inked a one-year, $7 million deal with Cleveland this week.

Myers, a 32-year-old who spent 2012 as a reliever with the Astros and White Sox, brings a reliable reputation as a solid innings-eater to Terry Francona’s club. He will easily be the most experienced pitcher on the team’s roster in 2013 1 .

But this Myers deal is as potentially helpful as it is intriguing. First thing is first: The Indians starting rotation truly was awful last season. As I broke down previously, they ranked 13th in the AL and 28th in MLB with a 5.25 ERA. So practically anything would be an improvement. But what exactly brought Myers to Cleveland and what could we expect this coming season? [Read more...]

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  1. He has 1,688.2 career innings pitched in 11 seasons. Justin Masterson is second with 1,093.0 IP in seven years. [back]

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MLB News: Brett Myers’ deal with Indians worth reported $7 million

January 2, 2013 by 12 Comments

The Indians got some much-needed depth in their starting rotation. Whether the name is Roberto Hernandez, Fausto Carmona or Brett Myers, that depth doesn’t come cheap.

Heyman thinks that it has made the Indians better and probably also factors in the Nick Swisher signing and the addition of Terry Francona.

[Related: Playing with House Money: Why I think the Dolans should consider selling the Indians]

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MLB Rumors: Indians to sign pitcher Brett Myers

January 1, 2013 by 18 Comments

Twitter is abuzz with rumors that the Indians have signed pitcher Brett Myers. The Indians have yet to confirm the signing which is likely pending a physical if it has actually occurred. Matt Loede from 92.3 the Fan in Cleveland was the first to post it.

If it is true, Brett Meyers gives the Indians a 32-year-old pitcher with starting experience who most recently came out of the bullpen for the White Sox. He played in 35 games for the White Sox with a 3.12 ERA. He had 21 strikeouts and nine walks.

Myers is also famous (or infamous) for his verbal altercation with a Philadelphia reporter that resulted in him saying, “Boom. Outta here.” (39 seconds in below video.)

[Related: Playing with House Money: Why I think the Dolans should consider selling the Indians]

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The More Things Change…

October 3, 2008 by 16 Comments

Man.  It was just days ago that we were discussing what C.C. Sabathia’s arrival in Milwaukee meant for their 2008 season.  After going 6-8 in Cleveland, the hefty lefty was nearly unhittable for the Brewers by going 11-2 with an ERA of 1.65.  But similar to what occurred last season for the Tribe, Sabathia entered the post season, and took the hill as a completely different pitcher.

Last night’s game saw the big man toss less than four innings, allowing five runs on six hits and four bases on balls.  His career post season ERA is just a few ticks under eight, while his regular season numbers are more than half.  Sabathia has only seen four seasons in the majors where his ERA is north of four, the last being in 2005 (4.03).  But once he hits the playoffs, he hasn’t seen an ERA under five, with the last season being 2001 (3.00).  An even uglier number: Sabathia has walked 22 batters in 25 innings of post season baseball.

[Read more...]

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