May 18, 2013

While We’re Waiting… Sportswriters tweeting, Trading Sessions and Bullpen spots

February 3, 2012 by 12 Comments

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Sorry Bob, but this has a little Get off my lawn to it -”Why should a sportswriter who is covering, say, a basketball game, send out little comments about the game every five minutes? If the tweet recipients were that interested in the action, wouldn’t they be riveted to the game on radio or TV? And if the sportswriter is tweeting every five minutes, isn’t his story going to suffer? To write a decent story, you need enough time to do two things: fully absorb the nuances of the event and turn those observations into a coherent, compelling piece of writing.” [Dyer/Ohio.com] [Read more...]

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On Inning Limits, the Indians Rotation & Injury Concerns

September 14, 2010 by 5 Comments

After much gnashing of teeth and about 20,000 wasted words from me, this weekend the Indians decided to relegate Justin Masterson to the bullpen for the remainder of the 2010 campaign.  According to the team, the decision was based not on any belief that Masterson slots better out of the bullpen in the future, but entirely on innings limits that the Indians believed they should put on pitchers who are ramping up workloads.

Indeed, according to Manny Acta, Masterson will enter Spring Training as a rotation option unless the team signs “five Bob Fellers” this offseason.  So this move was clearly intended to limit Masterson’s innings and allow his arm to rest after pitching more innings than ever before in his young career. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Lee Continues to Flourish, Baseball Physics, and Football Outsiders

August 14, 2009 by 10 Comments

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.

cliff-lee-cole-hamels 

Pour out some Great Lakes: “When he first came over, we kind of dubbed Cliff Lee the 1a to Cole’s No. 1 status in the rotation. No more. Cliff is this team’s beast [...]  Mr. Lee is the kind of guy you don’t only expect to pitch well every time out, you also expect a win.  MLBCoz points out that Since the All-Star Break, Cliff Lee is 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA in 5 starts with 3 complete games. The man is ours.” [Enrico/The 700 Level] 

[Read more...]

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So About That Akron Aeros Bullpen…

July 12, 2009 by 7 Comments

aa08-14_038_wrightAs has been discussed briefly in the past, the Akron Aeros bullpen has been just another factor of their incredible play thus far this season. Led by several top draft picks and also a couple of organizational players, the Aeros have relied upon their bullpen heavily en route to a 56-33 record thus far. Of course, if you are interested in seeing this bullpen in action along with projected starter Jeanmar Gomez (6-3, 3.21 ERA) then you can always join us at Canal Park on Thursday.

For the season, the Aeros bullpen was 25-11 with a 3.24 ERA heading into Saturday’s game against Erie, and recently had a ten-game stretch with a 1.08 ERA. Erik Stiller, Steven Wright and Carlton Smith have all had long scoreless streaks of 15+ innings plus, while Vinnie Pestano is breaking saves records left and right. Josh Judy came to Akron after a 12-win season out of the bullpen last year, while Zach Putnam is the hot-shot prospect and Neil Wagner is the intelligent veteran. For more information, here are player profiles of the seven players that currently inhabit the pen for Manager Mike Sarbaugh in Akron as all inhabit top 65 rankings in the Indians Prospect Insider blog.

Steven Wright - Easily the most consistent pitcher in the pen, Wright (pictured above) was named to the Carolina League mid-season All-Star Team with Kinston in 2008, and was the Indians second-round selection in the June 2006 Draft out of the University of Hawaii. [Read more...]

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Rafael Betancourt Becomes 8th Indian Hit DL

June 1, 2009 by 2 Comments

rafael-betancourt-home-runAfter all of three pitches yesterday, reliever Rafael Betancourt will spend the foreseeable future on the disabled list with a strained right groin.  Tony Sipp has been called up to take his place on the roster, providing him with a second crack at the majors.

Betancourt had been one of the Tribe’s most reliable arms out of the bullpen, racking up 29 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.  He is currently second among all American League relievers in appearances and which speaks volumes given the turnover that the team’s bullpen has seen this year.  This will also be his first trip to the DL since 2006, though some may argue that he wasn’t right for most of last season.

Sipp had a relatively solid start to his major league career, but fell victim to the implosion that occurred through most of his colleagues.  However, he continues to be successful at the Triple-A level, striking out 18 batters in 13 innings of work.  He has fanned nine hitters in six innings of work with the Indians, so his ability to miss bats is there.  Let’s just hope he can consistently locate as it was the walks (eight) that hurt him during his brief stint with the big boys.

Your Tribe bullpen now consists of Kerry Wood, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp, Matt Herges, Luis Vizcaino, Jensen Lewis, Tomo Ohka and Greg Aquino.

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While We’re Waiting… Terrelle Pryor’s Tat, Hawks Fall Flat, and Tribe Tunes At-Bat

May 6, 2009 by 10 Comments

While We’re Waiting aims to be the round-up of the recent WFNY-esque information for your morning viewing. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.

terrelle-pryor-tattoo

While I have no clue what sideways “Okay” signs mean, it looks like Terrelle Pryor’s arm is committed to throw passes in Columbus for the forseeable future. [Bucknuts via EDSBS]

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Indians Bullpen Update

November 20, 2008 by 8 Comments

Scott Radinski's MulletI intentionally held off on this news until today as we had quite a bit of Indians news go down yesterday.  And heaven forbid we talk about all of our teams year round…

If you would have asked me a week ago about the Indians bullpen coach, I would have told you that it was a matter of time before Scott Radinsky got the nod.  You do not release a coach with the tenure of Luis Isaac without a plan in place.  At least that’s what I thought – which goes to show – given the way that the team promoted Eric Wedge up though the farm system.  Why not Radinsky?  I mean, the guy went Anne Sullivan on a slew of this team’s arms. 

When Cliff Lee was hurting last year, Radinsky worked with him in Triple-A.  When Jensen Lewis’ stuff wasn’t working early on, the team sent him down to Buffalo to get the kinks out.  Scotty Rad to the rescue.  He even rocked a killer mullet back in the day.  But apparently the team would rather Radinsky work with our slew of arms that are coming up through the ranks, which I guess isn’t terrible.  I just hope that it somehow impacts the big league team that will now have its bullpen in the hands of Chuck Hernandez.

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You May Want To Sit For This One…

September 3, 2008 by 16 Comments

Cliff LeeWhile the Indians and fans alike are still reveling in the 20-win season of Cliff Lee, there is no denying that we’re are always looking at the “what-ifs.”

What if Dennis Northcutt caught that pass against the Steelers. What if we don’t give up 30 yards on a third-and-long screen pass to the Raiders? What if LeBron makes that layup against the Celtics. And what if we actually had a bullpen this season?

Thankfully, when it comes to the would-be wins for the Cy Young hopeful, the DiaTribe’s Paul Cousineau did the digging no decisions that have been tagged to Lee’s name. Check out some of the details here:

May 12 vs. Toronto – 9 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 5 K, 2 BB (Indians lost 3-0 when Betancourt gave up 3 in the 10th)

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Un. Real.

July 9, 2008 by 25 Comments

Paul Byrd, None Too Happy

Paul Byrd, in line for his first win in over a month, has to be absolutely thrilled with Rafael Betancourt right now.

As a matter of fact, I’m not too pleased either.  Someone’s not invited to Carl Willis’ house this Christmas…

All of the damage can be found after the jump.  Watch at your own risk. [Read more...]

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Tribe Trade Rumors: Who’s Next?

July 7, 2008 by 12 Comments

 Ryan Garko, Casey Blake, Jhonny Peralta

With the Tribe dropping their seventh straight game yesterday, it may be a safe assumption that the C.C. Sabathia trade is the first of what will likely be a handful of deals that the Indians make before the trade deadline at the end of this month.  Trading our ace for the Brewers’ top prospect is an instant addition to our club-wide offensive woes, but a quick look at the rest of our team(s), and this organization still has some gaping holes which need tending to.

With that said, what can the fans look forward to over the next few weeks?  Which names will now move to the top of the “tradable” list, and which ones look to be here to stay?  Let us dig in, shall we?

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Indians Shed Rain, Padres in Game One

June 14, 2008 by 3 Comments

Grady SizemoreIndians 9, Padres 5 (box)

This one may not have ended until close to 1:30am, but it started and ended with Grady Sizemore. Leading off the game with a home run, Sizemore had to wait about six hours before he put the final nail in last night’s coffin – a two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning that would give the Tribe all it needed to earn a “W.”

And earned it was, considering that Eric Wedge had to go to one of the shakiest bullpens in the majors from the fifth inning on. Rafael Betancourt (who actually earned the win in this one) tossed one and two-thirds of one-hit ball, looking like the Rafy from last year. Fellow Rafy, Perez, allowed a solo home run, but that would only be one of two hits he would surrender in an inning and two-thirds as well.

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Trying to Avoid a Sweep

June 9, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Jeremy SowersTigers 5, Indians 2 (box)

Two games ago, the bullpen was responsible for the loss.  Yesterday, the bullpen didn’t even have a shot to make up for the previous implosion.  After falling behind 1-0 early, Jeremy Sowers tossed 90 pitches in only four innings of work – allowing five earned.  With an ERA of 2.08 for Triple-A Buffalo, Sowers has one just shy of seven with the big club.

Perhaps due to the fact that he’s called-up and sent back down in a matter of hours?  Perhaps due to nerves?  Or maybe he just isn’t ever going to be the starter that we thought we had a few years back when he tossed one of the better second halves in recent memory?  Either way, the result was another loss.  A loss to a team that has been worse than us (at least record wise) year to date, yet the same team that was supposed to be our rival at the top. 

Insted, we’re now 8.5 games out of first place, and are forced to read columns like this one.  [Read more...]

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Can “Rick” Harness Any “Jack?”

June 4, 2008 by 2 Comments

 We knew that Tom Mastny would be getting sent back to Triple-A Buffalo, it was just a matter of time. It turns out that he’ll have someone to talk to on the bus ride, as reliever Jensen Lewis was also demoted – hopefully to work on that awful WHIP of his. In return, the Tribe announced the two men that will be called up to bring the roster back to its 40-man limit.

CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has recalled RHP BRIAN SLOCUM and purchased the contract of RHP RICK BAUER from the AAA Buffalo Bisons.

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Been Nice Knowing You Julio…

May 21, 2008 by 3 Comments

“The Indians are showing signs of life for the first time in weeks. They appear to be beating the crap out of each other.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1FwU2R9iUc&feature=related[/youtube]

In the middle of the Indians melt down at the hands of the White Sox, Jorge Julio and Victor Martinez had a disagreement on the mound. No fists were thrown unfortunately. Soon after Jorge crossed Martinez up, throwing a fastball when Victor was clearly expecting a breaking ball. The ball landed about 400 feet away, a home run for Jermaine Dye. It wouldn’t surprise me if we’ve seen the last of Julio here in Cleveland. Of course, he has one of the better ERA’s in the bullpen. Perhaps the Tribe’s all-star catcher will make amends with the reliever. Who knows. Another line from Major League 2 applies to this team as well- [Read more...]

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Wasted Opportunity

May 19, 2008 by 5 Comments

Yes, the title of this post could likey be attributed to several different topics at this point in the day.  But while the Cavaliers’ loss resonates, I’m talking about an opportunity that opened its door about a month ago.  An opportunity that we had for someone else to step up, fill in the gaps, and prove that they were, in fact, better than the man ahead of them.

And that man is Joe Borowski.

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What to do with Adam Miller

April 22, 2008 by 3 Comments

adammiller.jpgFor over 3 years, Tribe fans have been hearing about Adam Miller, but we have yet to see him. Maybe that time has come…

The name Adam Miller is usually accompanied by either “Indians super-prospect” or “will miss another start”. The 2003 draft pick has been the Indians top prospect ever since his 2004 campaign at Lake County. In 2006 he was the AA pitcher of the year. But a variety of injuries have slowed his ascent to Cleveland. That and all the other starting pitchers the Tribe has.

Adam has 3 pitches, a mid to high 90′s fastball, a change-up and a wicked slider. There are concerns throughout the organization about his surgically repaired elbow, specifically whether or not it will hold up throughout an entire season. When healthy, there is no question that Miller is possibly the most dominating starter in the minors. The problem of course is that he hasn’t stayed healthy. [Read more...]

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Bullpen struggling? Score more runs.

April 9, 2008 by 2 Comments

Les returns with some advice for the Tribe’s struggling bullpen.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu6n2g79i4Q[/youtube]

Betancourt 8.10, Julio 5.40, Lewis 6.0, Borowski 19.29. Those are the ERA’s for our beloved bullpen stars. Perhaps scoring more runs is a bit too simplistic, but the bullpen will be crucial as we saw last year. Does the bullpen concern you, or is it too early?

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