June 19, 2013

Sunday Tribe Notes: Indians Look to Avoid Another Sweep, Aeros Claim Eastern League Title Again

Isn’t it unbelievable to consider that the Cleveland Indians are 9-8 against the Detroit Tigers this season? Think of all of the things that had to go right for that to occur.

Yes, it kind of makes some sense when you hear that Detroit has won five of seven since the Indians’ latest six-week nose dive, but it’s still an unbelievable fact.

It means that even if the Tribe falls today – which would mark a scintillating seventh series sweep since July 26 – they’d still perfectly finish at .500 against the superstar-heavy Tigers.

After today’s contest at Progressive Field – which many have called Comerica Park this weekend because of the lack of Cleveland noise and influx of Motor City fans – the Indians will have 15 games remaining in 2012. It’d be a huge miracle if the team even manages 70 wins, a crazy concept if you had asked me on July 26 when we were 50-49. [Read more...]

Indians Roster Moves: Vinny Rottino claimed off waivers, Chris Schwinden DFA’d

We saw some moves coming up soon, but this likely isn’t what we were looking for.

The Indians made a pair of small moves today, as they claimed IF/OF Vinny Rottino off outright waivers from the New York Mets. The versatile 32-year-old journeyman is expected to join the AAA Columbus roster and, of course, will be on the 40-man roster.

In 511 career AAA games, he’s a .294/.360/.436 hitter. He’s notched plenty of time at catcher, right field, left field, third base and first base over the years. A right-handed bat, he’s just at .188/.282/.319 in 44 career MLB games with Milwaukee, Florida and the Mets dating back to 2006.

In a corresponding move, the Indians DFA’d RHP Chris Schwinden, a starter for the Clippers. He actually had been picked up off waivers from the Blue Jays just a few weeks back. In three starts for Columbus, he was 1-2 with a 5.87 ERA, striking out five batters against six walks in 15.1 IP.

[Related: WFNY Wednesday Wahoos: Indians Minor League Weekly Review 6/27]