May 21, 2013

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]

Filed Under: Headlines Tagged With: , , ,

Tribe turns to Ubaldo for rubber match with Rangers

May 6, 2012 by 13 Comments

Jimenez looks to rebound from his rough start in ChicagoIf there’s one Indians storyline that dominates this early season, it is the lackluster performance of one Ubaldo Jimenez. If you’re ever on twitter during a Jimenez start, it’s one of the more entertaining twitter experiences one can have with the 2012 Tribe.

Notice I didn’t say enjoyable. Nothing is fun about an ERA over five and more walks (20) than strike outs (14). Coupled with the fact he’s only made it through seven innings once in five starts, it’s safe to say he’s a concern.

Questions surround Ubaldo. Will he ever regain his 2010 form? Is it his mechanics? Is it mental? Does Ubaldo mean ‘bust’ in Spanish (hardy har!)? How is it that he could pitch in Coors Field but not on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , ,

While We’re Waiting…Colt McCoy’s Future, Tribe Rotation Questions and Deadline Deals

July 10, 2011 by 2 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

How long is Colt McCoy’s leash in 2011? “But there is something else that will be hanging over the heads of the Browns in 2011 and that’s the 2012 NFL Draft, specifically the #1 overall pick. At this point, it’s a foregone conclusion that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, about as “can’t miss” a prospect as you will ever see, will be chosen first. If the Browns spiral down into oblivion, there will be an opportunity to draft Luck.

Does that mean the Browns give up on Colt McCoy after only one season? And what do you do if he plays relatively well and the opportunity to draft Luck is still there? The Browns are going to have to determine this season if McCoy is a quarterback that can lead them to a Super Bowl – it’s a decision that will affect the franchise for years to come.” [Steve DiMatteo/Dawg Pound Daily]

[Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Talbot Rocked by Toronto

July 9, 2011 by 1 Comment

It’s rare these days for the Indians to put 7 runs up on the board and get 15 hits in one game.  They accomplished this last night but unfortunately Mitch Talbot was on the mound.   He gave up 8 earned runs in just 5 and a third innings pitched last night.  He continues to put the Indians in a hole early in games – last night giving up 3 in the 2nd inning.  Mitch is not long for this rotation and last night may have been the final straw – he’s 1-6 with a 7.63 ERA in 9 starts since the end of May.

With the mix of starters on the DL and a couple guys in Columbus holding their own, the Indians will have a couple rotation questions coming out of the All Star Break.  After the game, Manny Acta sounded like a guy who had lost his confidence in and patience with Talbot, stating, 

“He’s scuffling, so we’re going to have to look into that.  We’re not going to overreact, but we’ve got to look into things. It’s been 31/2 months of baseball. We have to do what’s best for our team and look at all our options.”

Mitch can’t like the sound of that.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , , , , ,

Keeping the “S” in Scrappy: Mitch Talbot’s Upside

April 13, 2011 by 11 Comments

Mitch Talbot was born in October of 1983; he won’t turn 28 until after this season is over.  I suppose it might be safe to say that he doesn’t remember Ronald Reagan or Rubik’s cubes or mix tapes or the USSR.

Interestingly, his October birthday also makes him the oldest pitcher in our rotation, and worthy of some attention due to the pipeline we’ve tried to fill with pitching prospects over the last several years.  After all, the hope is that someone like Drew Pomeranz or Alex White or Corey Kluber or Nick Hagadone might soon make Talbot expendable.  I find myself waiting for the day that we cut him loose for one of our high-upside hopefuls.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , ,

Tribe Wastes Solid Start from Masterson

May 31, 2010 by 2 Comments

Justin Masterson, 0-5 on the year, was pitching for the Tribe so naturally he did not come away with the win yesterday against the Yankees.  But it certainly wasn’t his fault.  Masterson, who went only 4 innings and was rocked in his last outing against Chicago, pitched 6 scoreless innings in a tight game at Yankee Stadium.  He had great movement on his fastball as he continually ran it in on right-handed hitters and managed to avoid the problems against lefties that have plagued him all season.  He maintained his excellent strikeout rate, fanning 8 and walking only 1.

After his previous start, many believed he would fall out of the rotation for the Yankees series but Manny Acta seems committed to Masterson longterm.  Acta was quoted prior to Sunday’s game :”We want to see him command his fastball. We are convinced if he can command his fastball, he can be effective for us every five days…It’s a process,” he said. “This kid didn’t even have that many minor-league innings. He’s developed up here. He pitched out of the pen with the Red Sox. It’s not an easy thing to do.”  Well he commanded the fastball extremely well yesterday and hopefully this will be the beginning of a good trend.  Unfortunately, they still play 9 innings.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Tribe Talk: Carrasco Making a Surge

March 26, 2010 by 6 Comments

For most of the spring, we looked at the Indians last two open rotation spots as a three man race. Right hander Mitch Talbot and lefties Aaron Laffey and David Huff have been locked in a tight one since pitchers and catchers reported. However, a fourth name is trying his best to make his presence felt.

Carlos Carrasco.

The one time untouchable Phillies prospect who came over in the Cliff Lee deal has been outstanding his last two times out. Against the Rockies and the Brewers, the 23 year old righty pitched nine scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out seven and walking three. This is the kind of action the Tribe front office has been hoping for since Carrasco came over at the deadline last year. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Spring Training Update: Sowers Shoulder Hampers His Shot

February 23, 2010 by 13 Comments

SowersThe best things are said about Spring Training baseball. Everyone is 0-0. Hope springs eternal. It’s always sunny in Arizona. Everyone has smiles on their faces and cannot wait to get back into the swing of things. Even in this rebuilding year, there is a new voice and a new captain of the S.S. Wahoo for the first time in eight years;  Manny Acta. That should excite all of you Grind-haters.

The biggest issue by far that the new manager has to sift through with pitchers and catchers now beginning their work in Goodyear is in the starting rotation. Sure, Jake Westbrook is penciled in as your opening day starter, with the up and down Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson slotted behind him. Whatever happens with the last two spots is completely up in the air and anyone’s guess at this point.

Aaron Laffey, David Huff, Jeremy Sowers, Carlos Carrasco, Mitch Talbot, and Hector Rondon are all in the mix for the four and five slots. This seems to be a wide open competition. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , ,

For Starters…The Indians are in Trouble

May 26, 2009 by 12 Comments

reyesWe’ve all been so worried about the horror show that the Indians bullpen has become this season, that the starting rotation has kind of been pushed to the back burner on the list of issues. Well that has all but changed in the past seven days and now going forward.

During Friday night’s start, it was clear from the opening pitch, that Anthony Reyes was not right. He seemed to be battling a case of the yips in the first inning, walking the bases loaded on 12 pitches. He barely made it through three innings before getting the hook. His velocity has dipped in each of his last four starts, and he has yet to hit the 92-93 we saw him touch in his six start audition at the end of last season. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Indians Tagged With: , , , , ,