Half-Full: I'm Proud of You Jordan!

With a tremendous lull in baseball news, I wanted to take a moment to tell my soon to be 15 year-old daughter, Jordan, how proud I am of you!

You have surpassed my accomplishments academically and athletically, and are on your way to a successful life!

Freshman Basketball!

Freshman Softball soon to follow!

High Honor Roll in your first semester in High School!

Keep up the good work girl! I know it's hard at times, but always remember, the harder you work now, the easier the rest of your life will be.

You have a lot to be proud of yourself for!

Love - Dad.

News: Lara Update Grim

Between Juan Lara and Sean Taylor, this week is littered with tragedy.

Lara suffered spinal injury, brain damage in accident

News: Lara Seriously Injured

In a rather uneventful period of no new news....this is the type of story we could do without. Our prayers are with you Juan.

per Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Indians reliever Lara seriously injured in crash

Indians left-hander Juan Lara was seriously injured Saturday night in an automobile-motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic.Lara, 26, suffered what an Indians spokesman called "life-threatening injuries" when the car he was in was struck by a motorcycle at an intersection in San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. The two riders on the motorcycle were killed instantly and Lara was hospitalized, according to Bart Swain, Indians director of media relations.
Swain said Lara's car was stopped at an intersection when the motorcycle hit the car broadside. Lara was pinned inside the car.
"We are monitoring the situation closely," said General Manager Mark Shapiro. "Our prayers are with Juan and his family."
Lino Diaz, Indians director of Latin American Operations, was dispatched to the Dominican to check on Lara's condition. Lara made one appearance with the Indians in 2007 and nine in 2006. He spent the majority of the 2007 season at Class AAA Buffalo, going 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA and two saves in 52 appearances. He struck out 50 and walked 27.
Lara has been in the Indians organization for nine years. He's on the 40-man roster and was pitching for Estrellas in the Dominican winter league.

Half-Full: Tribe Signs Masa Kobayashi

No folks. Not the "Hot Dog Guy". Although, it is surely only a matter of time until the Cleveland fans think up some kind of hot-dog related nickname for Masa.

On to the details:

$6 million/2 years, with a $3.25 million optional 3rd year. I'll take it. Certainly affordable in this day and age for a back of the bullpen guy. Another nice element here was that he was already a free agent, so the "Indians did not have to pay a posting fee to Chiba Lotte to negotiate with him". And in case you are wondering, Hot Dog with Masa please doesn't throw a gyroball. Darn, what will the announcers talk about now?

Here is what Rotoworld had to say:

"Indians signed RHP Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.
Kobayashi, 33, saved 227 games in Japan. He's coming off one of his worst seasons, but he had a 2.95 ERA and 116/29 K/BB ratio in 146 1/3 IP over the last three season. With an 88-91 mph fastball and a quality splitter, he has a chance to be a very good setup man for the Indians. He'll likely join Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez in working the seventh and eighth innings in front of Joe Borowski."

Mark Shapiro's specialty...getting guys coming off a down season. Also, this is a sign that the Tribe was serious about expanding their scouting to the Far East. Perhaps more to come? I don't know, but I do like the added element to our makeup.

Here's a look a what the locals have to say:

Listen to the Shapiro and the press conference right here.

The Plain Dealer article on Masa Kobayashi signing.

MLB.com article on Masa Kobayashi signing.

FoxSports.com article on Masa Kobayashi signing.

Goooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Full: New Alternate Uniforms!

Call me crazy...but I like em!

After all, they are only their alternate jerseys. If you are wondering when they will sport them:

"Regardless of its origins, the Tribe's "Sunday Best" -- to be worn only on Opening Day (March 31), weekends and holidays -- is a handsome return to the classic Indians uniforms of the early 1900s and 1920s."

And if you are interested in purchasing one:

"The new/old jersey is available for holiday giving at the six team shops found in Northeast Ohio. The authentic version, in the same Coolmax fabric the Tribe will wear, is $180; replica jerseys will be $85."

Here is an entire article on the uniforms.

Gooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Transactions: Rule 5 Draft Looming

The Rule 5 Draft will take place on Dec. 6 at Baseball's Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

The Tribe added five players to their 40-man roster yesterday, making the total 39.

Here are the players added:

RHP Adam Miller

"Miller, who turns 23 later this week, is considered the organization's top pitching prospect, though injuries have hindered his development. He missed a month of this season at Buffalo with a strained right middle finger and another month with right elbow inflammation. For the season, he went 5-4 with a 4.82 WERA in 19 games, including 11 starts."

"The Indians sent Miller to the Arizona Fall League to increase his workload for the year, and he went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts. He was scratched from his last scheduled outing last week when the right middle finger flared up again, but the Indians insist the injury is not serious and that Miller will be ready to go in time for Spring Training."

"When spring camp opens, Miller, who was the 31st overall pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, isn't likely to be in line for a big league rotation spot, though he could be counted on for rotation depth in 2008. It's also possible the Indians could try him out in the big league bullpen at some point."

LHP Scott Lewis

"Lewis, 24, spent all of '07 at Akron, where he went 7-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 27 games, including 25 starts. He finished fifth in the Eastern League with 121 strikeouts. He was the Tribe's third-round pick in the 2004 Draft."

LHP Reid Santos

Santos, 25, wasn't as highly touted a prospect as Miller, Lewis and Sipp before '07, but he's pitched his way toward recognition. He went 8-3 with two saves and a 2.72 ERA in 39 games, including 10 starts, at Double-A Akron this year, and he posted a 2.08 ERA in four Eastern League playoff games."

LHP Tony Sipp

"Sipp was expected to provide help to the Major League bullpen at some point in '07, but his season never got off the ground. He suffered a strained ligament in his left throwing elbow during Spring Training and had Tommy John surgery performed in July. Over the previous three Minor League seasons, Sipp had compiled a 2.75 ERA in 219 1/3 innings of work."

C Wyatt Toregas

"With the depth of catching relatively weak in the sport, Toregas, 24, is being added to ensure that he isn't swiped by another club. He also spent '07 at Akron, batting .250 with 16 doubles, six homers and 39 RBIs. Lower back and elbow problems limited him to 86 games. He is considered one of the more defensively polished catchers in the Tribe's system."

Summaries courtesy of MLB.com.

Goooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Interesting: Stats Behind the Stats

If you are looking for some in-depth research on defense, this is your article.

Also, here is a look at Right Field defense, specifically range. No suprise, Franky G. is near the top of the list.

Thank you to "Buddy34" from IndiansInk message board for finding these articles.
Sorry so short today...Final Exam this evening.

Gooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Empty: LeBron is Getting Fed Up - Rightfully So!

Most Cavs fans are well aware that LeBron is surrounded by a bunch of over-paid average joes. The question is, how aware is LeBron of this fact and what is his opinion on the matter? This little snippet is only a taste of the answer to that question...the last part is enough to make you want to vomit.

Check out this "inside scoop" from ESPN's Page Two:

"Now, the bad news. I had seats behind the visitor's bench for Sunday's Cavs-Clippers game, which was perfect because I love keeping track of all the bench guys who watch the Jumbotron, don't listen to their coach, search the crowd for girls and crack jokes during 25-point blowouts, and I love the player-coach interactions and even hearing the coaches yell at players and referees if it's quiet enough. You just get a great feel for the general mood and spirit of the visiting team (good or bad). During the third quarter, LeBron drove toward the foul line and made a beautiful dish to Gooden, who didn't gather himself for the pass in time. As the ball bounced out of bounds, a frustrated LeBron jogged back up the court staring at the coaches with one of those, "Did you see that? You saw that, right?" looks on his face. And that would have been fine if it ended right there. After all, we get it -- he's great, the rest of his team sucks, and occasionally, it's going to be a little exasperating.

Well, LeBron wasn't done. He glanced back disdainfully at Gooden again, then back to the bench for an extended pseudo-glare. Reading between the lines, I interpreted the glare to mean either, "Take him out of the game before I punch him in the face" or "If that happens again, I'm running straight into the locker room, getting my stuff and chartering my own jet home." At this point, Gooden was running back upcourt and watching the whole thing -- he was officially getting shown up in front of 15,000 people. LeBron shook his head and glanced at Gooden one more time, then back at the bench for a third time, just in case they missed the message the other two times. What a bizarre sequence to watch from 20 feet away. After tasting the Finals and earning some well-deserved media hype last spring, it's pretty clear LeBron won't accept the Cavs taking a gigantic step backward and becoming a non-contender again. But that's where they're headed. Stay tuned.

Reason No. 12,364 why I love the NBA: The Cavs are paying $30 million this season for Larry Hughes, Damon Jones, Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble."

Gooooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Empty: Miguel Cabrera for your Top Four Prospects!?!

It sure sounds like the Florida Marlins think Miguel Cabrera is the next coming of Babe Ruth, ever-growing belly included.

The Tribe is not mentioned in the following quote, and probably rightfully so, after Mark Shapiro must have lost his lunch after hearing what they were asking for. If we were, it would have been something like Adam Miller, Chuck Lofgren, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Andy Marte for Miguel Cabrera.

In four words: No Thank You Sir.

Time for rational Tribe fans to turn their attention elsewhere for an upgrade at 3B. Considering what is available outside of Cabrera and ARod...we are probably better off looking at one of the corner outfield spots for an upgrade and keeping our fingers crossed on Marte. The good news is that we are not awful at 3B right now and we do have some options in Blake, Marte, and Peralta.

Get ready for a synical giggle...

This quote from Sports Illustrated:

NEW YORK -- "The Florida Marlins are trying to hit a grand slam in trade talks involving All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera, executives involved in the discussions say. The price is so prohibitive and includes multiple top-tier prospects -- the kind of young players that are hardly ever traded anymore -- that executives believe the Marlins will have to drop their price significantly to deal Cabrera. Because the requests have been jaw-dropping, teams say they don't see anything happening until the winter meetings next month. For Cabrera, 24, the Marlins are requesting a package of four top young players, according to industry sources, and prime names that interest them are believed to include pitchers Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes from the New York Yankees, outfielder Jacoby Ellbsury and pitcher Clay Buchholz from the Boston Red Sox, pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and second baseman Howie Kendrick and pitching prospect Nick Adenhart from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Specifically from the Yankees, it is believed the Marlins seek either Chamberlain or Hughes, plus outfielder Melky Cabrera, outfield prospect Jose Tabata and a fourth prospect. Meanwhile, the Yankees are telling people they would not consider parting with their two best pitching prospects in a deal for anyone other than Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana. The Dodgers and Angels are considered the biggest players in the Cabrera derby, not only because both teams could upgrade at third base but because they have the types of prospects Florida covets. In addition to Kershaw, the Marlins would have interest in several Dodgers players, including third baseman Andy La Roche, first baseman James Loney, outfielder Matt Kemp and pitcher Chad Billinsgley. Angels players thought to be targeted, beyond Kendrick and Adenhart, would be third-base prospect Brandon Wood and/or first baseman Casey Kotchman."

-----------------------------------
Speaking of Tribe Prospects...

Mlb.com gives you a peek at some youngsters including Trevor Crowe, Michael Aubrey, and David Huff.



Goooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Full: The Awards Continue

After Grady won his first Gold Glove and Carsten Charles won his first Cy Young, it is now time to tip our caps to Eric Wedge and his first Manager of the Year award.

It is a pleasant sight to see the Indians receiving some well-deserved recognition for a very successful 2007 season. Although it certainly did not finish the way Tribe fans would have hoped, there were an abundant of positives throughout the season and the future is extremely bright.

Wedge's journey to this award was hardly a smooth ride. After a very strong start, which led to Mark Shapiro's decision to offer him an extension, the Tribe seemingly hit rock bottom. They followed a mediocre .500 middle of the season with a few losing streaks and a terrible stretch immediately following the All-Star break. By mid-August, many naysayers were questioning the decision to extend Wedge and the overall heart of the team in general.

And then something clicked. Exactly what it was that caused the Tribe to finish the season stronger than any team in baseball (outside Colorado) is debatable. However, Wedge's impact and hand in those events cannot be overlooked. Overall, he seems to have a very passive, one-day-at-a-time approach and he rarely calls out his team or individuals publicly. There are exceptions of course, but he seems to be the polar opposite of Ozzie Guillen. While Ozzie was praised a couple years ago for his hands-on and aggressive approach to coaching, his antics wore thin and this year they may have been the most underachieving team in baseball. This is not to say that Wedge is perfect and detractors would certainly point to his poor in-game management at times. But in baseball, when teams play nearly 200 games including spring training and the playoffs, a Rah-Rah manager can often do more harm than good. In-game managing is over-rated as most ML managers will tell you and it is the ability to build a cohesive unit for the long haul that is willing to buy into your system that leads to success.

Congratulations Eric! Keep up the good work.

In case you are interested, here is how the voting turned out:

Manager.......................1st..........2nd.........3rd..........Total

Eric Wedge, Cle...............19.............6.............3............116
Mike Scioscia, LA...............4.............11............9.............62
Joe Torre, NY...................5...............8...........12.............61
Terry Francona, Bos............0............3.............4.............13

Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Full: More on the Carsten Charles Achievment

.

-----1971------------1985---------------2007---------

"Sabathia is the first African-American to win it since Dwight Gooden in 1985, and the first black Cy Young recipient in the AL since Vida Blue in 1971."

.

Jim Ingraham adds another perspective:

.

"In the 43 drafts since Major League Baseball's first June Free Agent Draft in 1965, the Indians have selected a total of 1,954 players. One thousand nine hundred and fifty three of them have never won a major award at the major league level. C.C. Sabathia has."

Half-Empty: Bad Time for a Cy Young

First and foremost, congratulations C.C. on your tremendous year! Your development as an ace has been steadily improving over the years and I hope to have you around for ten more.

Now to why this is "Half-Empty"...In one word...Timing.

I would love to see C.C. win 10 Cy Young awards as long as he is a Cleveland Indian. The problem is of course, there is no guarantee as of yet that he will be beyond 2008. With Mark Shapiro and Co. currently in the process of putting a long-term proposal together, you can bet that at least one of the front office members said, D@mn...better add some more dollars and another year to that deal! Okay, so maybe he didn't use profanity, but be sure that it was on their minds.

Secondly, after watching the ALCS, it is very difficult for me to accept C.C. as the best pitcher in the American League. Quite frankly, I'd rather have Beckett and Johan than C.C.. Heck, by the 2nd half of the year, I felt more confident with Fausto on the hill, but I digress. The Cy Young award is supposed to be for the best "regular" season pitcher in 2007. It is certainly arguable that C.C. had a better season than any other in the A.L.. Thus, my argument is not that he didn't deserve it...rather that I just wish the timing was better.

Sorry C.C....I didn't intend to rain on your parade. I hope you make me regret it by signing a deal soon.

On a side note...I was pleasantly surprised to see Carmona get his much deserved recognition, finishing in 4th place. This of course, has little effect on his current contract....not yet at least.

Here is how the voting broke down:

---------------------------1st-----2nd-----3rd----Total
Sabathia, Cle-------------19------ 8--------0------- 119
Josh Beckett, Bos-------8-------14-------4--------86
John Lackey, L.A.-------1------- 5-------16-------36

Others receiving votes: Fausto Carmona, Cle, 7; Erik Bedard, Bal, 1; Roy Halladay, Tor, 1; Johan Santana, Min, 1.; Justin Verlander, Det, 1.

Rumors: The Fans Speak

From time to time we will take a look around various message boards and take a look at what the fans are saying. While message boards are not always the most reliable source for Tribe news, they are an excellent way to gauge how the common fan is thinking and gain some immediate reaction as transactions take place.

In order of my favorite message boards:

1. Indians Ink

• There is an eight page thread on the prospects of trading for Jason Bay right here. Most serious fans are well aware that Neal Huntington presents a chance for a legitimate trade partner as he seeks to rebuild the Pirates farm system. With Shapiro as his mentor, and his knowledge of our minor league players first-hand, this is certainly a possibility. Here are what some speculate it would take to get him: DoubleE wrote: "Jason Bay for Ben Francisco and Andy Marte".....While MikeSopp replied, "The Pirates would have no interest in Fransisco since one of the reasons they are considering trading Bay is that they have plenty of young OFs of their own.Marte would be an interest for them. I suspect you would have to add Chuck Lofgren into the mix, and perhaps Kelly Shoppach.I'd love to expand the deal to get Freddie Sanchez and Salmon Torres - that would take putting Peralta in for Marte and another player or two on top of that."
• The second most popular thread in terms of players that fans would like to acquire is not surprisingly, focused on Miguel Cabrera. Some fans are willing to give up a package for Cabrera, such as ClevelandBrown's suggestion that he "would trade Sowers or Lee, Marte, Prospect for Cabrera"....but most are reluctant to give up Adam Miller in the deal. Overall, many have speculated that Cabrera is no longer a 3B and would have to play 1B...this of course would make a deal much more unlikely.
• Here is a surprising thread with a focus on a bullpen addition for 2008. Call me crazy, but I am tired of bringing in average to below-average, cheap and often over the hill veterans, even if I do like the guy. Stick to the booth BA. When you can't pitch for K.C., then, well...your days in the big leagues are done.
• Finally, expect this topic to be one of concern throughout spring training.

2. MLB.com

• According to his team's executive, "everybody" is interested in this guy. Based on our track record, this is actually the type of player that Shapiro would trade for--not overly expensive, good character, slightly above-average player.
• As far as what Tribe player that other teams are interested in, this guy's name continues to surface. Most fans admit that they are reluctant to part with him, especially after his solid 2007 season, but to borrow from an old cliche, you have to give up something to get something.

3. Cleveland.com (Plain Dealer)

• One fan has recently suggested Gagne as a possible bullpen addition. Personally, I would be all for adding one or two quality guys to the pen if we did not have to break the bank. If we are going to spend big dollars or give up prospects, then bring me a legitimate outfielder or third-baseman.

4. ESPN.com

• In case the first one wasn't enough, here is another Miguel Cabrera thread.

And so, there you have it folks. Jason Bay, Miguel Cabrera, and Raul Ibanez are the big "go get em'" guys, while Adam Miller and Kelly Shoppoch are our most coveted players....

...at least according to the fans.

Goooooooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Full: Top Prospects According to Baseball Prospectus

For full access to this article, you have to register.

The most interesting thing is not that Adam Miller is our top prospect, but that Wes Hodges and Beau Mills join him at the top of the list. Nick Weglarz and Beau Mills are the youngest of the group, while Brian Barton will be the only player over 24 years old as the 2008 season begins. For each player's minor league statistics, there is a link provided. Their age at the start of the 2008 season is in parenthesis.

Here is the summary:

Five-Star Prospects

None

Four-Star Prospects

1. Adam Miller, RHP (23)
2. Wes Hodges, 3B (23)
3. Beau Mills, 1B (21)

Three-Star Prospects

4. Chuck Lofgren, LHP (22)
5. Nick Weglarz, LF (20)
6. Aaron Laffey, LHP (22)
7. Jensen Lewis, RHP (23)
8. Josh Rodriguez, SS (23)

Two-Star Prospects

9. Jordan Brown, 1B (24)
10. Trevor Crowe, OF (24)
11. David Huff, LHP (23)

Just Missing:

Brian Barton, OF (25)
Jared Goedert, 3B (22)
Scott Lewis, LHP (24)
Matt Whitney, 1B (24)

What They're Writing

Every Sunday we will look at what both local and national sportswriters have to say about our Tribe in a "What They're Writing Post". Despite it being the off-season, this is one of my favorite times of the year as we look forward to next year and the potential additions that can be made to improve the Indians.

1. The Morning Journal

• Jim Ingraham summarizes the decision to bring back Fultz and the two B’s and reminds readers that Grady’s Gold Glove is the first by an Indians outfielder since Kenny in 1996.
• In case you missed it, M.Miller is gone, and Kenny, Trot, and Gomez have all filed for free agency while Shapiro edged out Dan O’Dowd for executive of the year.

2. The News Herald

• No new news.

3. The Akron Beacon Journal

• Larry Dolan was kind enough to do a Q&A session. My worst favorite question and answer, “Q: How do you feel in terms of confidence about re-signing C.C. Sabathia? A: I hate to use this answer: I don't know.”
• Sheldon Ocker also summarizes the resigning of the little three and brings up an interesting point for Kenny lovers—money is not the issue; rather, whether or not Kenny can accept a reserve/platoon role is. I don’t think I’m alone when I yell, “NO MORE PLATOONS!”
• For those of us with a poor short-term memory, Ocker also points out that Shapiro has now won 2 of the last 3 Sporting News Executive of the Year awards and the guy he narrowly beat out in 2007 is a former Tribe assistant GM.

4. The Canton Repository

• In the wake of picking up Byrd’s option, Andy Call is quick to provide details of Paul’s HGH controversy. He also gives Joe B. a chance to remind fans that if not for a few awful outings, his numbers would have been outstanding across the boad.

5. The Cleveland Plain Dealer

• If you want to listen to Hoynsie summarize 2007 and look forward into the future, here is the link.
• Apparently, Shapiro made a run at Brad Lidge and Miguel Cabrera at the GM Meetings, and perhaps due to his opportunistic (we don’t have many holes) approach, came up empty.
• If you are interested in some rumors around the league, Paul Hoynes has a few for you.
• The HGH thing just won’t go away for Byrd and Paul Hoynes says he faces a 50-game suspension. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the first offense was only a 25-gamer?
• Not surprisingly, re-signing C.C. is the #1 thing on the Tribe’s agenda. What is becoming increasingly clear is that the situation between the Twins and Johan Santana will be intertwined indirectly with our situation throughout the off-season.
• Some fans just won’t give up on the super cereal named Coco Crisp as the Red Sox will attempt to move him. Thankfully, Hoynsie feels like most of us, “That ship has sailed.”

6. The Chronicle Telegram

• No new news

7. ESPN.com

• Phil Rodgers summarizes the Tribe’s outlook and tells us our three primary needs: 1) Fix the corner outfielders 2) Backup Closer plan 3) Resign C.C.. The problem is, he throws Casey Blake into the resigning C.C. thing and call me crazy, but I don’t think Mr. Blake is worthy of being on the top of anyone’s “To-Do” list. There is more good stuff right here.

8. MLB.com

• Anthony Castrovince reminds us that the Tribe has a plan and is sticking with it. In other words, we are still broke. The good news is the “Jake” looks like it will be the “Jake” for at least one more year.
• You can get your Spring Training travel packages right here.
• Larry Dolan was honored with the Humanitarian Award, but unfortunately there was no “Prize Money” to go with it.
• Despite it being only #3 on Phil Rodger’s list, Castrovince says resigning C.C. is the Tribe’s #1 goal.
• Josh Barfield is up for a Yearly Award—just wait until you see which one (hint...click on blooper of the year).

9. Rotoworld.com

• A look around Rotoworld tells us that Adam Miller is not pitching too well in winter ball, a long-term contract is being prepared for C.C. and will soon be waiting approval from ownership, Michael Aubrey is actually healthy this month (check back in a week or two), the Mets have shown interest in Cliff Lee, and Luis Rivas realized that with Josh Barfield on the roster, there are too many questions to answer for him to sick around here.

Half-Full: Behind Enemy Lines

*** A special contribution by Mike From Amherst

Behind Enemy Lines

I’ve spent the last three months behind enemy lines. I have been temporarily transferred to my company’s home plant in Massachusetts. In my time up here I’ve endured plenty of heartache as most of you in Northern Ohio have, it’s just that mine has been rubbed in my nose pretty much every waking moment. It basically starts as I get in my car and turn on the radio on my way to work, continues at work while being taunted by my co-workers, in my temporary residence while watching TV, and pretty much anytime I go past a store-front or pick up a newspaper.

I’ve been with my company for a little over 7 years and in my time I’ve befriended quite a few of the people who work out of the Massachusetts plant. I used to like them a lot more prior to 2004. You see prior to them getting the World Series monkey off of their back they were very similar to Cleveland fans in regards to their outlook of the Sox. They seemed to have the glass half empty outlook that seems to permeate the Cleveland sports talk radio scene. It was great talking sports with my Northeastern counterparts because we both had the same expectations and could commiserate about our most memorable baseball collapses. Then 2004 happened and with the lifting of the curse of the bambino their glass half empty outlook quickly changed to the glass half full. Nothing drove that home more than the ALCS this year. Almost to a person the Sox fans never felt like they were out of the Series with the Tribe. Most actually felt that they had the Tribe right where they wanted them even going into Game 5. They figured even down 3-1 that they had Beckett throwing lights out ball for game 5 and that they would then head back to Fenway to close it out. It was at that moment that it dawned on me what winning a championship in one’s lifetime will do for your outlook.
Jinx?

I left Cleveland on August 27th. At that time the Tribe was 75-57 .561. Through the remainder of the regular season they were 24-9 .727 and on the brink of a World Series birth. It was then that it dawned on me that the last time I spent prolonged time out of Cleveland was from 1994-1998 while I was away in the Service. During my combined time away from Cleveland the Tribe is 464-310 .599. Dating back to 1975 the record of the Tribe while I am in Cleveland; 2123-2310 .478. I’m thinking about shooting Mark Shapiro an email and requesting an all expense paid trip out of Cleveland from next April – November.

Missed / Don’t Miss

The biggest regret not being home was missing the experience and atmosphere of a serious play-off run in Cleveland. The one thing that I am grateful for being away from Cleveland is that I don’t get Cleveland Rants up here and thus have to listen to the BSK. Only the BSK could somehow make Les Levine seem tolerable to me.

Paul Sorrento

Is it just me or does Casey Blake remind anyone of Paul Sorrento? No, not that they play the same position or even hit from the same side of the plate, but rather that they seem to have the same stats at the end of a year coupled with every time either one of them comes or came to the plate I think rally over.

Trade?

Would you trade Asdrubal Cabrera, Adam Miller and a couple of other top prospects for potentially the best pitcher in baseball and a World Series MVP at 3B? The Red Sox are perceived to be able to buy their way to a World Series ala the NY Yankees, however the Josh Beckett/Mike Lowell trade may have been the move that got them back to being World Champions.

Half-Empty: Homework

Unfortunately today folks, I have a long-overdue paper to write on "Libraries and Technology".

For your viewing pleasure, please enjoy the new section of Half-Full or Half-Empty, your Cleveland Indians Video of the Day.

Half-Full: Infield Log-Jam (Part IV - 1B & C)

We have all heard the cliché in sports, "You cannot have too much of a good thing." Often times, this is very true and can lead to a healthy dose of competition at the very least. Sometimes however, this is not necessarily the case.

In the case of the Cleveland Indians' infield and baseball in general, I would argue that sometimes, you can have too much.

Lets continue by taking a look at First Base and Catcher: "Great, Good, Average, or Below Average?"

First Base:

These positions have me borrowing from another cliché, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

• Ryan Garko did an admirable job in his first full season at a new position. Early on in 2007, Blake was splitting time before his move to third, and it seemed that many were concerned about Garko's defense. Garko did make 8 errors at 1B, but overall, was hardly the "black hole" defensively that seemed to to be holding him back initially. This was slightly below average, but now that he has a full season under his belt, we will label him as "Average" defensively heading into 2008. Offensively, he batted .289, finished 3rd in the AL with 21 HR, and only C.Pena and Youk had a higher .obps in the AL. Once again, given that this was his first full season, we will give Garko a rating of "Good" offensively.
• Victor Martinez filled in at 1B periodically and while his offense is considered "Great" for a catcher, we will give him an offensive rating of "Good" while at 1B. Defensively, Victor started 24 games and had a .995 fielding percentage, earning him an "Average" rating defensively.
• Travis Hafner started 11 games at first base and did not make an error earning him a rating of "Average" defensively. Some would argue he deserves lower (or perhaps even higher, if only looking at errors), however, I would argue that in the role of a 1B in National League parks, Hafner did a satisfactory job, no more, no less. Of course offensively, I would love to revert back to 2006 and rate him "Great", however, we all know how 2007 unfolded, and Travis will get a rating of "Average" for the time being.

Cather:

• Victor Martinez as we all know, is one of the best offensive catchers in all of baseball, earning him a rating of "Great" offensively. Defensively, Victor made tremendous strides, especially in regards to base-stealers. He is no Pudge, but considering where he was a year and a half ago, I am more than satisfied with Victor's defense. If he continues to improve a little each year, then we may end up with a Hall of Fame catcher when all is said and done. For the time being, Victor is "Average" defensively...a far cry from one of the worst in the league in 2005.
• Kelly Shoppoch quietly was one of the biggest surprises of 2007, especially early. His defense is "Good" and has the potential to improve to "Great". He has a rifle for an arm and did a magnificent job calling games for Paul Byrd and his bounce back, 15-win season. Offensively is where Kelly surprised many of us. His numbers project to 18 HR and 85 RBI in a full season...stats that most teams would be happy with from a backup catcher. Considering he is a backup, I will give Kelly a rating of "Good" offensively.

First Base and Catcher Summary:

Overall, these are two positions where we have just the right amount of quality, experience, youth, and depth. I wouldn't expect much movement here for years to come, although according to Eric Wedge, "If he's (Marte) on our ball club, he's going to have to be able to play some first base, too," manager Eric Wedge said. "That comes with the territory." This may have much more to do with the Tribe struggling to find some ABs for Marte, but that said, there really won't be much time for him at 1B. I think it is fair to say that most Tribe fans would be much more understanding to Marte taking Blake's ABs than Garko's or Victor's. For now, I won't put a lot of stock into that comment. However, if it does come to fruition, then the theme continues as the log-jam in the infield just won't leave us alone.

Tomorrow, we will take a look back at this week's analysis of the infield and present a couple different scenarios in a humble attempt to identify which scenario is best for the Tribe in 2008 and beyond. Until then,

Goooooooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Full: Grady Wins Gold Glove!!!

Congratulations Grady on an outstanding season defensively!

According to mlb.com, "Sizemore, Cleveland's 25-year-old leadoff hitter, made just two errors in center field for the Tribe, who came within one victory of advancing to the World Series. Sizemore finished with a .995 fielding percentage, 399 putouts and his 1,409 2/3 innings were the most logged by any AL center fielder."

Cheers!

Question: HGH Clause for Byrd?

Yesterday it was announced that Paul Byrd's option was picked up by the Tribe for 2007. While I was okay with that, I wonder if Mark Shapiro talked with his agent about the possibility for a suspension based on the HGH news which came about just before game seven of the ALCS.

It may be apples and oranges, but if the Red Sox were able to add this into Schilling's contract, then why wouldn't the Tribe be able to protect themselves financially if Byrd was suspended for 25 games?

Cheers!

Half-Empty: Infield Log-Jam (Part III - 2B)

We have all heard the cliché in sports, "You cannot have too much of a good thing." Often times, this is very true and can lead to a healthy dose of competition at the very least. Sometimes however, this is not necessarily the case.

In the case of the Cleveland Indians' infield and baseball in general, I would argue that sometimes, you can have too much.

Lets continue by taking a look at Second Base: "Great, Good, Average, or Below Average?"

• Asdrubal Cabrera may have been the X-factor offensively and defensively that allowed the Tribe to turn the corner and make a run for the playoffs. He provided a much needed spark at the top of the line-up and finally gave the Tribe a much-needed two-hole hitter. His ability to put down a timely bunt, make effective outs, get a clutch hit when needed, and display flashes of power led to a very successful season offensively. Many had predicted that Cabrera was still a year or two away, especially offensively, but he came in a proved many a naysayer wrong immediately. While he only played about 28% of the season, his numbers would project to: .283, 10 HR, 70 RBI, 30 Doubles, and 7 Triples. It must be mentioned that he would also be on pace to lead the league in SO with about 120-130 Ks. Overall, his offense is "Average" to slightly above for a second baseman in this league. Defensively, Cabrera was "Good" with flashes of greatness. There were times where I had to do a double take to remind myself that I was not watching a young Robbie Alomar.
• Josh Barfield was a classic example of a player going through a sophomore slump in 2007 (at least I hope that is all it was). His poor season has been written about and speculated upon many a time this year, so I will refrain from beating this dead horse any more. Here is a good article written on Nov. 1st about Barfield's season. Offensively, he was not only "Below Average", but just plain "Poor". Defensively, he was "Average". At times, Josh displayed flashes of brilliance, but he would bounce back the next day with a knucklehead play to balance it out.

Second Base Summary

This is one position that can be viewed a couple different ways, depending on the plans for Asdrubal Cabrera. If Shapiro is in fact, intent on keeping Jhonny at SS, then our starter at 2B is set with Cabrera. However, that leaves Josh kind of blowing in the wind. Barfield is not a utility player as he is not an option at 3B or 1B on a consistent basis. SS is also not really an option for Josh, although he could probably fill in in an emergency. That said, we would then actually have yet another log-jam at 2B. If Cabrera is our 2B, then expect the Tribe to trade Josh and get something for him while they still can. How much they can really get in return is not looking pretty. If they gave up a AAA prospect in Kouz for Josh following a solid season, then I wouldn't expect much more than a AA medium-level player for him after the 2007 debacle.

Now, if Asdrubal does in fact get consideration at SS, then Josh's value to the Tribe actually rises substantially. There is not much on the farm at the middle-infield positions, and at the very least, I would expect the Tribe to bring in either a journeyman second baseman or a utility player. The fact that they seem to be letting Gomez test free-agency suggests that they are not in the market for a utility player. This is a bit of a head scratcher to me, as Josh just is not a utility player. Who do they have in mind for that role? Shapiro did say, ''With Gomez, it's possible we'd try to bring him back, but there's a greater likelihood we'll look at what's out there."

Overall, it is clear that 2B is yet another position where some decisions need to be made. The theme of an unhealthy log-jam continues as we make our way around the infield. However, tomorrow, when we take a look at 1B and C, we will find that, while yes, we are quite full at those positions as well, at least it is in a much healthier way. Until then,

Goooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

More Transactions: Byrd, Borowski, & Fultz Staying

In a rather expected move, the Tribe has officially picked up the options for three players. Here are the numbers:

• Paul Byrd $ 7.5 Million
• Joe Borowski $ 4 Million
• Aaron Fultz $ 1.5 Million

Overall, these are all more than fair amounts with both Borowski and Fultz signing for a very reasonable price in today's market.

Welcome back fellas.

Cheers!

Transaction: Matt Miller Released

How quickly things can change and injuries can put a damper on one's career. At the beginning of 2007, many felt that Matt Miller would be a key component of the Tribe's bullpen, myself included.

Over a three year period, Miller put up outstanding numbers, including a combined 2.67 ERA while averaging nearly a strikeout per inning. However, one needs to look no further than games played to understand why this move was made:

• 2004: 55IP in 57 Games
• 2005: 29IP in 23 Games
• 2006: 15IP in 14 Games
• 2007: 1 IP in 2 Games

Durability was lacking to say the least. It is too bad, because Miller could have provided the Tribe with one of the best match up righties in the entire league. In 254 total ABs by right-handers, Miller gave up a grand total of ONE home run. ONE! This, while right-handed hitters batted a whopping .213 combined against him.

Good luck in your endeavors Matt. If you can get healthy, then we'll be seeing you soon.

Cheers!

Half-Full: Shapiro Named Executive of the Year!!!

Mark Shapiro has officially been named Executive of the Year!

I remember about six years ago sitting in a room with a few friends as we watched a Tribe game and I was bored and frustrated watching every AB by our Cleveland Indians. Why? It was clear that we had a team full of a bunch of over-the-hill, big name, little output, players...

Fryman....Alomar....Burks....Gonzales....Nagy.....

with a few mediocre youngsters tossed in....

K.Garcia....Branyan.....Jacob Cruz......E.Diaz....

U-G-L-Y!

Meanwhile, we were watching Sexton and Casey and Giles do there thing for other teams.

I thought....we have got to break this thing down and start fresh.

Mark Shapiro did just that. He took on a tremendous amount of criticism from spoiled Tribe fans everywhere. John Hart had left him with very little in the minors and Dick Jacobs wallet was no longer available. It seemed like an insurmountable task, but Shapiro attacked it head on and rebuilt this thing from the inside out.

Kudos to your hard work, dedication, loyalty, and perseverance that has produced a team that is poised for the future and a bunch of great guys that we can all be proud of as Clevelanders!

Great Job Mark....we are lucky and proud to have you on board!

Gooooooooooooooooooooo Tribe!

Cheers!

Half-Empty: Infield Log-Jam (Part II - SS)

We have all heard the cliché in sports, "You cannot have too much of a good thing." Often times, this is very true and can lead to a healthy dose of competition at the very least. Sometimes however, this is not necessarily the case.

In the case of the Cleveland Indians' infield and baseball in general, I would argue that sometimes, you can have too much, especially if:

• It is too much of an "average" thing.
• This applies to more than one position on the same infield.
• Minor League options are running thin.

This week we will examine the Cleveland Indians infield and ask ourselves if we have too much of a good thing, just a bunch of average joes, or just the right amount of quality and depth.

Lets start today by taking a look at Shortstop: "Great, Good, Average, or Below Average?"

• Jhonny Peralta is a player who most of us thought would once again, be under the microscope this off-season, as the brass determined if he was best suited to be our shortstop of the future. Mark Shapiro put a quick damper on any questions in this regard stating, “[Cabrera] won’t play shortstop. Jhonny Peralta is our shortstop next year." I was very surprised that this decision was not only made, but determined so quickly. Obviously, Shapiro heard the whispers suggesting we would be better off with Cabrera at SS in the future and perhaps did not think it fair to make Peralta the focus of the off-season for a second year in a row. For our intents and purposes, let us get back to the task at hand an analyze how the SS position shakes up as a whole for next year. Offensively, most Tribe fans are quick to talk about how great Jhonny is compared to the rest of the league, however, a closer look, yields some interesting results. Peralta was only 19th in .avg compared to all ML SS with at least 100 GP. Additionally, he was only 15th in .obps at .771. While he was 7th in HR, it must be noted that he struck out more than any other SS in the league (146 Ks). Finally, while most of us think of Peralta as having good 2B power, he only finished 19th in the league with 27. These stats are quite astonishing, considering the overall feeling that Jhonny is one of the best offensive SS in baseball. Rather he is much closer to "Average" than most realize. Defensively, Jhonny still leaves much to be desired. True baseball fans know that fielding percentage is only the beginning in terms of analyzing defense. Hardball Times put together this in-depth and telling piece on how awful he really is in terms of range. After reading this, it is hard to argue that Jhonny is anything but "Below Average" defensively. This season, we heard numerous times how well Jhonny is playing, but I wonder how much of that credit was actually due to his bounceback offensively from a horrendous 2006.
• Asdrubal Cabrera is of course, not our SS yet. However, he had a great deal of experience at the position in the minors and his play at 2B this year certainly leads one to believe that he would be an immediate upgrade defensively over Peralta. Based on the flashes we saw at times this season and his minor league track record, I am going to give Asdrubal an "Good" rating defensively. Offensively, it is a bit more difficult to estimate exactly what Cabrera would give the Tribe. While he does not have the power that Jhonny has, I would argue that the Tribe already has an ample amount of power throughout the lineup. What we could use a little more of is contact, situational hitters, who can lay down a bunt (don't get me started on Jhonny's inability to do such) when necessary. In addition he is a switch-hitter who also brings a little more speed and athleticism. Overall, Asdrubal will get a rating of "Average" offensively for the time being.

Shortstop Summary

Interestingly enough, the above mentioned results would lead me to believe exactly what I felt throughout the final 3rd of the season: That we have the wrong player starting at shortstop. Jhonny defenders will continue to argue that his offense makes up for his defense, but there are a couple X-factors here that cannot go without saying. Fausto and Jake. These two will be in the top of the league in ground balls forced for years to come. This team is built primarily around starting pitching as our biggest strength. We must therefore accommodate our pitchers needs and give them the best opportunity to win.

While Shapiro's comments were surprising, especially in their timing, I hope that there is a bit more to the story. Perhaps, like Victor, Jhonny has more value at SS than at a corner position because of his offense. If Shapiro is in fact secretly considering trading Peralta, then he is best suited selling Jhonny as a SS to increase what we may get in return. In the mean time, he does not have to worry about Jhonny being insulted by being left to wonder what 2008 has in store for him. Until a move is made, it is clear that we have yet another position where an average player is holding back a promising youngster. In this case however, I would not think the potential drop off would be nearly as risky as it would by going to Marte at 3rd. Rather, it actually has the makings to be a significant upgrade.

Tomorrow we will take a look at 2B, in our attempt to see if the Infield Log-Jam is a good thing or a bad thing.

Until then, Goooooooooooooooooo Tribe!!!!

Cheers!

Half-Empty: Infield Log-Jam (Part I - 3B)

We have all heard the cliché in sports, "You cannot have too much of a good thing." Often times, this is very true and can lead to a healthy dose of competition at the very least. Sometimes however, this is not necessarily the case.

In the case of the Cleveland Indians' infield and baseball in general, I would argue that sometimes, you can have too much, especially if:

• It is too much of an "average" thing.
• This applies to more than one position on the same infield.
• Minor League options are running thin.

This week we will examine the Cleveland Indians infield and ask ourselves if we have too much of a good thing, just a bunch of average joes, or just the right amount of quality and depth.

Lets start today by taking a look at Third Base: "Great, Good, Average, or Below Average?"

• Casey Blake would be a strong candidate for "Good" if he was being fully utilized to suit his primary strength-VERSATILITY. If he was playing some LF, RF, 3B, and 1B, then his numbers would put him in the top of the pack in comparison to utility players around the league. However, that is not the case as he became entrenched at 3B in 2007. In comparison to the rest of the AL, you will find Blake in the middle of the pack both offensively and defensively. In Blake's defense, he played a significant role in our success this year and provided tremendous stability at a position which was shaky at best early on. That said, Blake is a very streaky player, with a propensity to struggle in clutch situations and is "Average."
• Andy Marte is of course much harder to judge. We simply have not had a large enough body of work to judge him by accurately. Granted, injuries set him back a bit last season, but Marte simply has not been given a fair shot. MLB.com mentioned that it is time for Marte to follow in Jhonny's footsteps and "shape up or ship out", but the real question is, will he ever get the opportunity to do that in Cleveland? Brandon Phillips and Jeremy Guthrie were never afforded such an opportunity, and not only have they both performed admirably for their new teams, but Cleveland received next to nothing in return for their services. In limited duties, Marte has been "Below Average." Some scouts have suggested that he has the abilities to be "Above Average." We will land somewhere in the middle here and label him as "Average", but we must also acknowledge that for Marte, it is more about opportunity than judging talent at this point.
• Jhonny Peralta is obviously not our current 3B, but many have suggested his transition to 3B in order to give Cabrera an opportunity at SS. Oddly enough, Johnny's stats mirror Blakes across the board. They had identical .avg in 2007, and about the same number of HR and RBI. Some would argue that by moving to 3B, Jhonny could focus a bit more on his offense and thus would surpass Blake a little offensively. Defensively, I would hope that Jhonny would also be a slight upgrade. Overall however, I'm not convinced that Jhonny as a 3B would be a tremendous difference than having Blake over there. Of course, until given the opportunity full-time, it is difficult to make a judgement call on Jhonny at 3B. At SS, he is "Good" offensively and "Below Average" defensively. However at 3B, I'd have to settle for just plain "Average", with a slight advantage over Blake. If this move was made, it would obviously be more about improving SS defensively than improving 3B. Of course the wild card here, is that if we move Jhonny to 3B, then where does Blake fit in? We already have six outfielders fighting for positions out there, but that is another story (for next week).

Third Base Summary

It is clear by looking at our options at 3B in 2007, that we have too much of an "Average" thing, especially because our depth is out of options. And contrary to what Mark Shapiro says, this is not necessarily a good thing. Why? Because this can lead to young players with potential to be deprived of a fair shot to show what they can do. Because if Marte is the real deal, then we are on the verge of letting yet another young, talented, and hungry player go to another team for next to nothing. Is there any guarantee that Marte will pan out? Of course not. Is Mark Shapiro to blame? Not necessarily. He is human and gets paid the big bucks to make difficult decisions such as this. No one is perfect, but what is important is that we learn from our mistakes, and in the case of Phillips and Guthrie, we most certainly did make a mistake. Could they have been prevented? Perhaps. But only, if ample playing time was allotted so that an accurate judgement of talent could be ascertained. For Marte, this opportunity has not come about as of yet, and despite Shapiro's desire to not change much about his 95 win team, there still is much work to be done.

Of course the the new difficulty facing the Tribe is how they are able to manage their roster now that they "have arrived?" That is, now that Dolan and the fans will expect the Tribe to compete on a nightly basis, will there be the opportunities to go around for young players to get adjusted to the major leagues? Many of the Tribe players were given one, two, sometimes three seasons to prove their worth. Unfortunately, in 2008, youngsters will be lucky to be given one, two, sometimes three months to prove their value.

Tomorrow we will take a look at SS, in our attempt to see if the Infield Log-Jam is a good thing or a bad thing.

Until then, Goooooooooooooooooo Tribe!!!!

Cheers!

What They're Writing

Every Sunday we will look at what both local and national sportswriters have to say about our Tribe in a "What They're Writing Post". Despite it being the off-season, this is one of my favorite times of the year as we look forward to next year and the potential additions that can be made to improve the Indians. It is also a time of year when I miss the contributions of Hal (R.I.P. Mr. Lebowitz) desperately. That said, there is plenty of good stuff out there for your morning read:

1. The Morning Journal

• I couldn't agree more with Jim Ingraham as he advocates being open to trading Cliff Lee and/or Johnny Peralta in an effort to improve the Tribe and NOT follow the footsteps of the Cavs in 'stand pat' approach to getting better.

2. The News Herald

• While I am not a big fan of Les Levine and his paltry attempts to fill Hal's space on Sundays, he did offer an interesting tidbit, stating that Chip Caray actually apologized to the Tribe brass for admittedly knowing very little about the Tribe and the American League in general during his pathetic attempt at calling the ALDS. My question is of course, who in the heck is responsible for such incompetence? Ted Turner? Bud Selig? Both?

3. The Akron Beacon Journal

• Patrick McManamon offers this tiny blurb about a Tribe minor leaguer who won the Eastern League Player of the Year while at AA Akron. A 6', 200lb., soon to be 24 yr.-old, left-handed 1st baseman, drafted in the 4th round, who surprisingly hit .333 against both left and right-handed pitching in 2007. Here is a look at Mr. Brown's entire 2007 season.

4. The Canton Repository

• Unfortunately, I would have to agree with much of what Andy Call offers in a good summary to what to expect this off-season. First, cut bait with Lofton, Nixon, and Gomez (I wish he'd stick around, but with Barfield, there's no room). Second, pick up the options on Byrd ($8 mill), Borowski ($4 mill), and Fultz($1.5 mill-very cheap). Third, worry more about signing C.C. than current big name free agents.

5. The Cleveland Plain Dealer

• Recently acquired sports writer Terry Pluto agrees with Ingraham in that the Tribe should be pro-active and consider trading Peralta and Lee and go after Carl Crawford. He also adds Jason Bay to that list and reminds readers that Neal Huntington, the new GM of the Pirates is a former Tribe assistant.
• Bud Shaw addresses C.C.'s contract by curiously comparing the question of 'whether or not a business deal can be struck that is fair for both sides?' to 'what is the meaning of life?'
• Somehow, the Byrd and HGH controversy has Bill Livingston analyzing the potential use of steroids by the Indians of the 1990, specifically Albert Bell.
• Joey Morona offers a chance for the public to answer 10 questions facing Mark Shapiro in the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Indians blog (Tribe Tracker).
• As much as I like Hoynsie, he ignores the magnitude of a lack of a true salary cap in baseball, by offering this answer to the question: "The salary cap is a problem, but the measures MLB have taken are leveling the playing field. Seven different teams have won the World Series in the last seven years. If Colorado rallies to beat Boston this year, it will be eight. "

6. The Chronicle Telegram

• Chris Assenheimer reminds us that Ingraham and Pluto may be guilty of wishful thinking as Shapiro states, “We don’t have that many decisions to make,” Shapiro said. “My basic desire is to not make any changes.”
• Assenheimer also gives us Wedge's views on the future as he states, “I’m not looking for us to be here today and gone tomorrow.” Those who disagree with this are obviously John Hart lovers.

7. ESPN.com

• In case anyone cares, we are one of 13 teams on Curt Schilling's wish list. Don't get your hopes up folks. We have tremendous depth at starting pitching and in case you missed it, read Wedge's views on the future as mentioned above.

8. MLB.com

• Anthony Castrovince states that Andy Marte is 2008's version of Johnny Peralta...it's is time for the 3B prospect to "shape up or ship out".
• Castrovince also looks at Jeremy Sowers as "The looming question, of course, is just where Sowers fits in with this team next year."
• In a piece about those calling the games for us in Cleveland, we are reminded that we should appreciate how good the men in the booth are as Tom Hamilton, Mike Hegan and Rick Manning are all eligible for the Frick Award, --named for the late broadcaster, National League President, Commissioner and Hall of Famer -- has been presented annually since 1978 to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball".
• If you are hoping for a Lofton resigning, Castovince may put a damper on your wishes.
• If you can't wait to never see Trot Nixon in a Tribe uniform again, you like this piece.
• You are not alone if you are wondering where Josh Barfield will fit in 2008.
• The 2008 schedule was released and in case you care, both Boston and the Yankees will visit Cleveland in April.

Off-Season Dates of Importance

The "off-season" officially began for Cleveland Indians fans on a chilly night in Boston on October 21st.

However, if you are wondering exactly when and how the off-season, and specifically free agency will unfold, here are some dates to be aware of:

OFF-SEASON CALENDAR

NOV. 5-8
General managers' meetings, Orlando, Fla.

NOV. 13
Free agent filing period ends at 11:59 p.m. ET.

NOV. 14-15
Owners' meetings, Naples, Fla.

DEC. 1
Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.

Front Office News: Chris Antonetti

(the guy in the middle)

Glass Half-Full: Keeping the Braintrust Intact

A week or so ago, when I read that Chris Antonetti was interviewing for the GM position in St. Louis, I thought "This is it...This is one position which will be too lucrative to pass on". Boy, was I pleased to be wrong as he has apparently turned down the position.

With Neal Huntington recently accepting a position in Pittsburgh, it would have been quite a blow to the front office with the off-season already upon us. Personally, I would prefer to have Mark Shapiro's full attention on the task at hand: Improving the team on the field to provide the final pieces necessary for a World Series Championship.


Glass Half-Empty: Please Don't Go Mark!!!

Not only with Antonetti be staying on board, but it looks like he has a promotion coming in the immediate future. According to letsgotribe.com, Shapiro will become the new team president and Antonetti, the new GM, in addition to receiving more money. How this will effect the decision making remains to be seen. Should there be any concern for the end of the Mark Shapiro era in Cleveland? Perhaps not anytime soon. Shapiro seems to have every intention of seeing this thing through. He has done a magnificent job of doing more with less and building a winner from the inside out. However, once we win a World Series, and yes, we will win a World Series (and dare I say, "or two"), will Shapiro walk? Why would he you ask? Well, if he can win this thing with a payroll in the bottom of the league, imagine what he could build with significant dollars to spend in addition to his genius.

OVERALL: I Will Focus on the Half-Full

Thanks for staying Mr. Antonetti. If Mark Shapiro says he is "ecstatic" you are staying, then so am I. Now lets go get a stud corner outfielder and end this platoon idea.

Gooooooooooooooo Tribe.

Cheers!