CLEVELAND INDIANS REPORT -- Wednesday, August 13
| Record: |
51-69, 4th Place, 13 GB |
| Last: |
Won 9-6 in Minnesota on
Tuesday |
| Streak: |
Won one |
| Next: |
Tonight in Minnesota, 8:05 PM
ET |
| Matchup: |
Jason Davis (7-9, 4.75) vs
Johan Santana (6-3, 3.19) |
| On Deck: |
Four games against the D-Rays
this weekend |
Who forgot to turn off the AC in the 'dome last
night when the Indians came to bat? Actually, when James Baldwin is pumping
fastballs in at 83-85 mph, I don't think the air has much to do with it anymore.
Ryan Ludwick went deep twice, Casey Blake and Angel Santos once and the Indians
prevailed 9-6.
Nice work by Rafael Betancourt and David Riske in shutting the Twins down in the
middle-to-late innings.
I'm telling you, Travis Hafner is going to be a force in the lineup next season.
Three hits last night, including two doubles.
Can someone tell Danys Baez that he doesn't get credit for a save situation of
his own making? Thanks.
Milton Bradley sat out his 4th consecutive game with back spasms and Eric Wedge
seemed to indicate that his condition is not improving and a stint on the
disabled list might be in the offing. At this point in the season, there's
absolutely no reason to rush Bradley back into the lineup so placing him on the
DL if he's going to be out for another week or so would seem like a logical
move. It would also free up a roster spot for Matt Lawton who took some more
swings in the cages yesterday and didn't sound like he was interested in heading
out on another rehab assignment. He's scheduled to face Bob Wickman again today
in a simulated game environment and if all goes well, don't be surprised if we
see Lawton activated and Bradley placed on the DL in the next few days.
Sheldon Ocker reports in the ABJ that Cliff Lee will be recalled to start
Saturday's game against Tampa Bay as the Indians officially make the switch to a
6-man rotation. With 42 games remaining in the season, the extra day of rest
would essentially allow each starter to make one less start over the next month
and a half. David Cortes, called up over the weekend, is the likely candidate to
be sent down when Lee is officially promoted. Who is Cortes? You remember, he's
the guy we signed out of the Mexican League a few weeks ago. Well, he worked in
three games for the Bisons (4.50 ERA, 7 K) before joining the Tribe. He has yet
to pitch for the Indians.
Paul Hoynes details the incentives in Brian Anderson's contract in the Plain
Dealer this morning. Aside from the $600k escalator bonus if he is traded,
Anderson is due to receive $50k for making 23 starts, $50k for 25 starts, $75k
for 27 starts, $75k for 31 starts, and $100k for 33 starts for a possible $350k
in games started incentives. He'll receive $50k when he makes his 23rd start
tomorrow against the Twins and is likely to receive a total of $175k based on
his current pace of 29-30 starts. Hoynes also notes that BA has innings pitched
incentives which kick in at the 170 inning mark ($75k). At his current pace of
six inning per start, he just may crack that 170 plateau. This $600k-$900k in
bonus money probably was (and will continue to be in August) a sticking point in
any trade talks involving Anderson.
Alex Escobar was named the International League Batter of the Week for August
4-10 after he hit homeruns in four consecutive games (Wed-Sat). Escobar
(.250/.296/.472) is now leading the IL in homeruns with 24 and is second in RBIs
with 78. In 436 at-bats, he's walked 24 times and struck out 132.
Victor Valencia was promoted to Buffalo this past Saturday when Josh Bard's
recall by the Indians left the Bisons with only one backstop. Valencia was
hitting .251/.319/.444 with 11 doubles and 9 homeruns in 58 games for the Aeros.
Clint Chauncey was promoted from Mahoning Valley to Akron to serve as the
understudy for Brian Luderer. Chauncey, acquired from the Cardinals earlier this
season for Bill Selby was hitting .241/.330/.265 with two doubles in 24 games
for the Scrappers.
Grady Sizemore had two more hits, including his 12th homerun, last night and is
now hitting .410 (25-for-61) over his last 15 games with five doubles, three
triples, three homeruns, 16 RBI, and three stolen bases.
Jake Robbins (right triceps inflammation) was activated from the Aeros disabled
list and Oscar Alvarez was sent to Kinston. Both pitched well last night (see
the recaps below). Alvarez worked in 13 games for the Aeros (including six
starts) and had a 2-2, 4.09 record with a .258 BAA. To make room for Alvarez in
Kinston, Rodolfo Navarro was returned to Burlington after a short stint with the
K-Tribe in which the 20-year old allowed three earned runs in two appearances.
Rick Elder was placed on the Kinston disabled list. He was hitting
.221/.319/.404 with six homeruns and 50 strikeouts in 136 at-bats. Luis Cotto
was promoted from Mahoning Valley to replace Elder on the roster.
Brian Slocum only made it through 1-1/3 innings last night in Kinston before
being removed from the game with a shoulder injury. Kinston.com reports that
he's listed as day-to-day right now. Hopefully, this was just a precautionary
measure but his performance last night (see the recaps) hints at something
worse.
Minorleaguebaseball.com reports in their transaction listings that Chris Reinike
was reinstated off the Aeros restricted list. Once upon a time, Reinike was the
Indians 8th round pick in the 1998 draft and was ranked as the 5th best prospect
in the NY-Penn League by Baseball America that season after posting a 1.91 ERA
in 15 starts and striking out 92 in 89.2 innings. Since then, however, his
career has been derailed by injuries which included rib surgery in August 1999
and shoulder surgery in September 2001 and July 2002. He last pitched for
Kinston last season, striking out two in two innings of work. Whether this is a
procedural move or Reinike is giving it another try on the mound remains to be
seen.
Congrats to San Felipe, the Indians Venezuelan Summer League team, on winning
the VSL championship.
Encouraging quote in the latest Peter
Gammons column on espn.com which reads "I think everywhere you go
throughout baseball, the two organizations you hear people talking about are the
Indians and Blue Jays," one assistant GM said. "It's talent, but it's
also pitching. They've both got a lot of really good arms on the way."
Mitch Meluskey signed a minor league contract with the Astros. Travis Driskill
was optioned to triple-A by the Orioles.
BUFFALO (63-61, 4th Place, 6.5 GB, 3.5 GB-WC): The Bisons offense continued to
struggle on Tuesday as they lost to Scranton 5-1. Jeremy Guthrie (3-9, 6.48)
took the loss after being charged with four runs (two earned) in six innings,
allowing five hits and three walks while fanning two. Mark Little had three hits
and Dusty Wathan doubled. Brandon Phillips (.149) singled. Maicer Izturis
committed two errors while Lyle Mouton and Luis Garcia had one miscue apiece.
Former Indian Aaron Myette (4-3, 4.38) allowed one run in six innings, striking
out six, for the Red Barons.
AKRON (78-46, 1st Place, 9.0 GA): Three Aeros hurlers combined for a 4-0 shutout
of Harrisburg. Kyle Evans (9-4, 3.56) worked the first six innings, scattering
four hits and two walks while striking out two. Jake Robbins (1.45) returned
from the DL with a scoreless inning and Todd Pennington (2.25) closed out the
game by punching out four in two perfect innings. Grady Sizemore (.304) homered
(#12) and singled. Eric Crozier also went deep (#17). Nate Grindell doubled,
tripled, and walked.
KINSTON (28-23, 1st Place, 1.0 GA): The K-Tribe lost 7-1 to Lynchburg. Brian
Slocum (6-7, 4.46) lasted only 1.1 innings before leaving with a shoulder injury
and four runs allowed on three hits and three walks. He's listed as day-to-day.
Oscar Alvarez turned in a fine performance in relief as the allowed just two
runs in 5.2 innings. A Rodney Choy Foo homer (#10) and Miguel Quintana single
were the Indians only hits in the game. Ivan Ochoa also walked.
LAKE COUNTY (35-16, 1st Place, 5.0 GA): The Captains lost 3-1 in Hickory. Dan
Eisentrager (10-2, 1.57) suffered his first loss as a starter after allowing
three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings of work. Blake Allen (1.56)
did not allow a run in two frames of relief. Nathan Panther extended his hitting
streak to 13 games with a pair of singles. He also stole a base. Michael Aubrey
doubled. Ricardo Rojas also banged out two singles.
MAHONING VALLEY (26-29, 2nd Place, 17.0 GB): The Scrappers lost in New Jersey
2-1. Joe Weaver (3.98) was sensational through five innings as he allowed just
two hits and a walk before giving way to the bullpen. Honeudis Pereyra and Chris
White each allowed a run in relief. Kevin Kouzmanoff (.311) belted a solo
homerun (#5). Ryan Mulhern, Josh Noviskey, and Jonathan Van Every added basehits.
Noviskey also walked while JVE stole a base.
BURLINGTON (31-24, 2nd Place, 2.0 GB): Rafael Perez returned to form with six
shutout innings to lead the B-Tribe to a 3-0 blanking of Danville. Perez (7-3,
2.02) struck out five, walked one, and scattered five hits in notching his 7th
win of the season. Reid Santos (4.74) worked the final three innings for his
second save. Argenis Reyes singled three times and stole a pair of bases.
Brandon Pinckney doubled twice, singled, and swiped a bag.
SLY FOX MASUGA (7-14): The mighty Foxers closed out the regular season with a
thrilling 11-10 come-from-behind extra-inning victory over Arturos on Tuesday
night. Trailing 9-3 after three innings and 10-5 entering the bottom of the 7th,
the Foxers rallied to tie the game at 10 thanks to a leadoff dinger from
H.Ballgame and five consecutive two-out singles and walks which were capped by a
clutch two-out, two-run baseknock by the Janimal. In the 8th, the good guys did
it with the gloves and the sticks as Fundamentally Sound Joe squelched a looming
Arts rally with a juggling over-the-shoulder catch that was turned into a
double-play when the runner broke off first base. In the bottom of the frame,
the Fox strung together four consecutive two-out basehits with the clincher
coming on a Big Daddy humpback liner to left-center that plated Jake with the
winning run. Big Daddy picked up the complete game victory as he managed to hold
Arts scoreless in five of the eight innings. Jake and Harvey each banged out
four hits to lead the offense. The Foxers are off next Tuesday and as the 7th
seed they'll open the second season against the hated Zemitos in two weeks. Good
seats are still available at all Ticketmaster locations and Jake's house.
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