May 20, 2013

Mariners 5 Indians 3: Speechless in Seattle

August 21, 2012 by 11 Comments

Yesterday, I uttered the phrase “I didn’t know what to say anymore” about this Indians team. 24 hours later, once again, they have left me speechless in the way they lost yet another game, their sixth in a row, this time to Eric Wedge and the Seattle Mariners. The days of good pitching, great defense, and timely hitting are long gone at this point. Now it’s essentially becoming borderline painful to watch this team. The exciting moments are few and far between with this group.

The game started locally here in Cleveland at 10:10, so I can’t blame you if you weren’t watching. I mean, after all this was a matchup of Ubaldo Jimenez and Kevin Millwood. Not to mention the Indians sputtering bats against a Mariners offense that isn’t exactly the New York Yankees. Somewhere, Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Ken Griffey Jr, and Edgar Martinez were looking at this one and shaking their heads.

The two sides of Ubaldo were in full effect in this one. He was actually hitting 95 on the radar gun, walked just one, and struck out eight Mariners. You see that and you say to yourself “wow, Ubaldo must have actually pitched pretty well.” Then you take into account the two, two-out homers he gave up to Griffey Jr and Jay Buhner….. errrrr…..Michael Saunders and Eric Thames. Jimenez was lifted after five and two-thirds. [Read more...]

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Pleading the Fifth on Tribe’s Rotation

February 9, 2011 by 8 Comments

If I count correctly, the Indians will enter Spring Training with four of the five rotations spots already accounted for. 

Of course, things could change between now and April, but the word coming out of the front office continues to suggest that Carmona, Masterson, Carrasco and Talbot are all but guaranteed a rotation spot.

Fausto seems like an obvious choice (though not an obvious ace, quite, er, obviously).  The other three certainly have their question marks, but at various points during the off-season, they’ve been given votes of confidence by the organization.  According to Terry Pluto, Carmona, Talbot and Masterson are “locked into the rotation.” [Read more...]

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MLB Free Agent Rumors: Indians Making Progress With… Kevin Millwood

February 6, 2011 by 6 Comments

Larry Dolan is opening the wallet and shopping around, looking to add another starting pitcher to the Indians roster as spring training approaches.  Earlier this week, rumors about a potential Jeremy Bonderman signing hit the press.  Kevin Millwood is the latest name to enter the rumor mill for a potential late addition to the rotation.

Millwood was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA in 31 starts with the Baltimore Orioles last year.  Those may not be advanced statistics, but I don’t think I need our Mr. Steiner to tell me that he was not very good at all and that this potential signing would not be the difference in contending in the AL Central.  In his last stint with the Tribe in the lost season of 2005, he was 9-11 with a 2.86 ERA.  That led the league that year but we are now talking about the 2011 season.  What’s the benefit of signing Millwood at this point?

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Indians Notes: Choo’s Contract, Third Base Future, Millwood Interest

January 29, 2011 by 3 Comments

Updating you on all of the Tribe news possible during the long winter months…

Spring or Bust – Cleveland Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo announced Friday through various media outlets that he will not be involved with long-term contract negotiations during the upcoming 2011 season.

“Every player wants a multiyear contract,” said Choo to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I will listen, yes. I don’t want to talk during the season, [but] it’s not closed. [Chris] Antonetti and Scott [Boras] can talk. My job is to play baseball.”

Similar to the demand recently made by St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols, Choo is in a much different position after just avoiding his first year of arbitration. That means the South Korean star is still three years away from being eligible from free agency, but a long-term contract should certainly be on the minds of both parties. [Read more...]

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Indians Open With a Thud

April 7, 2009 by 6 Comments

Cliff LeeOpening Day; an American right of passage.  Hope springs eternal. The crack of the bat. The roar of the crowd. Hot dogs and popcorn. Beers and Cracker Jacks. Sunshine in Texas (snow in Cleveland!). The reigning American League Cy Young award winner on the mound for a Cleveland Indians team that is picked by many to win the AL Central. What could possibly go wrong?

It took just an inning and a half for the game to go completely south for our beloved Wahoos. Ranger DH Hank Blalock’s hard grounder up the middle hit Tribe starter Cliff Lee on the left forearm – his pitching arm – and a knot immediately popped up, not just on his forearm, but with his location. Four two-out hits later, the Indians were down 4-0 in a blink. [Read more...]

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Series Preview: Indians at Texas Rangers

April 6, 2009 by 6 Comments

rangers-indiansCleveland Indians (0-0) at Texas Rangers (0-0)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas
Dates/Times (EST): 4/6 2:05 PM, 4/8 8:05 PM, 4/9 2:05 PM
TV/Radio: STO (HD)/WTAM 1100 AM

While I wish that the weather up in Cleveland was a little bit better, you can bet that the Indians are pretty happy to be starting this season on the road; in Texas nonetheless.  Though the Phillies and Braves got the season kicked off last night, today marks the opening pitch for the majority of Major League Baseball.  And I couldn’t be more excited.

For the next seven months, we’ll get to discuss the team that many have pegged to finish atop the AL Central.  After a year that was bruised by injuries across the board last season, the team returns (hopefully) more healthy and ready to make up for lost ground.  We won’t have C.C. Sabathia taking the hill on an opening day for the first time in quite a while.  Instead, it will by Clifton Phifer Lee, the winner of last year’s Cy Young Award.

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While We’re Waiting… Varejao’s Arsenal, Value Menus, and more LeBron for MVP talk

March 27, 2009 by 13 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.

anderson-varejao-cavs

The Brazilian Backhand?  “Anderson Varejao has added a new trick to his game this season — well, at least new to his NBA game — and it is fast becoming a surprising weapon for the Cavaliers.Varejao uses a backdoor cut and will actually catch an entry pass, usually from LeBron James, when he’s under the backboard and behind the defense. Then, sort of like a backward layup, he has nearly perfected kissing the ball off the glass with just the right sidespin from what would seem like an impossible angle.” [Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer] 

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