DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum In Case You haven't Noticed (Indians)

In Case You haven't Noticed...Travis Hafner is back with the Tribe.

Indians bring Hafner off DL LINK: Travis Hafner was activated Tuesday by the Indians after spending more than three months on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Hafner was in the starting lineup as the DH for the Indians game at the Orioles. "We'll probably go every other day for a little bit, then back to back, then some three in a rows," he said before the game. "I'm excited to be back. ... We've got a lot of young guys swinging the bat well lately." Hafner hit .217 with four homers and 22 RBI in 46 games before going on the DL list in late May. An examination showed the DH had almost no strength in his right shoulder. A .290 career hitter, he averaged 32 homers and 108 RBI over the previous four seasons. Hafner hit .318 with four RBI in a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Buffalo last month. After Buffalo's season ended, he played in two playoff games for Double-A Akron, going 2-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI.

A lot of people said he was done. He's 2 for 4 tonight with a walk. And even taking into account his homers were in the minors, they were still homers. Any sign of power is a good sign with his shoulder. Hopefully he can strengthen that thing up for next season.

Living here in Cflorida, I've watched Green over a whole season in Viera...the kid is good. Decent power, decent field. low K/AB. Would be a very good 3 man in the order. He hustles every play, and could play 4 or 7 in a pinch...this is the one....

JMHO

Brownsrule08

I don't understand the concern for the Tribe....its only September...

We're looking ahead after the Browns go 8-8,....

Last night, rookie pitcher Scott Lewis pitched a gem for the Featherheads. For years, I've watched the Indians flail away at soft toss lefties like Jamie Moyer, Kenny Rogers, and (going way back) Scotty MacGregor. I never saw Lewis go over 86 with his fastball, but his breaking pitches and change-ups were in the low 70's and the Orioles looked helpless. His location was perfect with all his pitches ... in and out, up and down ... fastball-breaking ball-fastball-change up. I've always been a fan of having power arms, but watching the kid pitch last night was a real pleasure. Hope he's for real; we need arms.

Where did we get him?

I think we drafted him out of Ohio State. He pitched at Akron and Buffalo this year, going 8-4 with a 3.5-something ERA. He had elbow reconstruction surgery in 2006, I believe.

Correction - the surgery was while he was at OSU, the Indians drafted him in 2004.

Here's the game story from today's PD:

Great debut for Lewis

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter

Baltimore-The only thing that could have made left-hander Scott Lewis' big-league debut better was if manager Eric Wedge let him pitch a complete game. Then again, catcher Kelly Shoppach's nerves may not have made it through the ninth inning.

"I was a nervous wreck," Shoppach said. "He'd pitched so well. I just didn't want anything bad to happen to him late in the game. I think Wedgie made the right call."

Lewis pitched eight scoreless innings and Shoppach hit two homers in the Indians' 7-1 victory over Baltimore at Camden Yards. Lewis, taking injured Anthony Reyes' spot in the lineup, struck out three and allowed three hits. He faced the minimum over his last five innings.

It's the fifth-most innings pitched, according to baseballreference.com, by an Indian in his big-league debut since 1956. Ron Taylor went 11 innings in 1962, followed by Jim Kern (1974), Luis Tiant (1964) and Mudcat Grant (1958). Kern, Tiant and Grant threw nine-inning complete games.

Lewis threw 70 percent (67-of-96) pitches for strikes. He had no complaints about Wedge using Masa Kobayashi to finish the ninth. Kobayashi ruined the shutout by giving up an RBI double to Aubrey Huff.

"I can't be disappointed about anything that happened tonight," said Lewis, who pitched at Ohio State. "I've been on a strict pitch count my whole career because of injuries. I figured once I got close to 100 pitches, I'd be coming out."

Lewis underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow when he was still at Ohio State. After the Indians drafted him in 2004, they strictly monitored his pitch count.

This year, Lewis strained a muscle in his left shoulder in spring training. The injury shortened his season, limiting him to only 103 innings.

"It's an incredible performance when you talk about that being his big-league debut," Wedge said.

As for Lewis (1-0) making another start, Wedge said, "We'll have to see how Reyes [is], but he's certainly deserving of another start."

Wedge had no second thoughts about removing Lewis after eight.

"We were talking about getting him after the seventh, but he went through that inning very efficiently," Wedge said. "If I sent him out for the ninth, he could have thrown 110 or more pitches."

In Lewis' last start before joining the Indians on Saturday night in Kansas City, he allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against Baltimore's Class AA Bowie team on Sept. 3 for Akron in the Eastern League playoffs. His performance Wednesday night indicated Bowie's hitters were tougher than the Orioles big leaguers.

"I was nowhere near as nervous for the playoffs as I was for this game," Lewis said. "I didn't expect to do this well. I was at least hoping to get deep into the game. My nerves came back and forth on me in certain innings. I'd take a deep breath and settle everything down."

After leaving extended spring training, Lewis went 6-2 with a 2.33 ERA at Akron and 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA at Class AAA Buffalo before joining Akron for the playoffs.

"I think he was helped by not knowing how good that lineup is," Shoppach said. "I'm sure he was nervous, but he didn't look like it. I figured he'd throw his first pitch about 100 mph and it would be a ball - just like every other young pitcher does in his first game.

"But his first pitch was right down the middle for a strike. Just the way you want a first pitch to be."

The Indians, who have won 22 of their last 31 games, were led by Shoppach's three hits. He homered down the right field line in the fifth for a 5-0 lead off rookie lefty Chris Waters (2-3, 5.73).

In the seventh, he yanked a homer into the left-field seats for a 6-0 lead. Shoppach has 19 homers this year after entering the season with 10 in his career.

"Shoppy has two jobs, taking care of Lewis and swinging the bat," Wedge said. "He had a big game for us."

The Tribe took control of the game with a three-run fourth for a 4-0 lead. Asdrubal Cabrera doubled home two runs. Cabrera, with seven RBI on this trip, added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 7-0.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

© 2008 cleveland.com

I love that Shapiro realized this season was futile and decided to try to get what he could for the veterans he was going to let go anyway (Byrd and Blake) and make sure he got more than the FA compensation for CC.

Plus, now we get real playing time auditions for the guys that might be replacing them next year.

Shapiro definitely knows how to run a lower budget MLB team.

Shapiro credits second-half success to Wedge, says he'll return

Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro said manager Eric Wedge will return next season, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Friday.

The Indians, who came one win away from the World Series last year, got off to a disappointing start in 2008 as injuries mounted and the team fell 16 games out of first. But since the team traded pitching ace CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers in July, the Indians are 36-22, and have climbed out of the AL Central cellar.

Shapiro credits his sixth-year manager for that turnaround, according to the Plain Dealer.

"Eric's strength and consistency are most apparent when we have adversity," Shapiro said, according to the report. "Those values don't always show themselves when we're going through that adversity, but those values are always apparent when we emerge from them."

According to the report, Shapiro pointed out that instead of playing out the string of a disappointing season, the Indians under Wedge have improved and given their young talent a chance to shine.

"When teams go through tough times and transition, some don't utilize the time to get positive work done," Shapiro said, according to the Plain Dealer. "We have made the most of the situations. We've infused a lot of young talent into this team. Eric ensured that we'd get something out of this year."

Wedge, the 2007 AL manager of the year, had a 486-469 career record entering Friday night.

i like wedge, i think he's done a great job with the team.

i wasn't a huge supporter of him before last year, but he was marvelous in the playoffs. he pushed all the right buttons, and his star pitcher let him down (3 times)

i hope he stays with the indians for a long time.

Cliff Lee now 22-2 ... best year I've ever seen an Indians' pitcher have.

Lee wins No. 22, beats Royals

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

AP - Sep 12, 10:18 pm EDT

Another victory under his belt, Cliff Lee emerged from his postgame shower, walked to his locker and began getting dressed.

He slipped on a T-shirt that said: Ace of Spades.

Right now, he’s the ace of baseball.

Lee won his 11th straight decision and moved a remarkable 20 games over .500 with his 22nd win, leading the Cleveland Indians past the Kansas City Royals 12-5 on Friday night.

Unbeaten in 12 starts since July 11, Lee (22-2) allowed four earned runs in 8 1-3 innings to win his eighth straight start. He’s 5-0 in five outings against Kansas City, which was also Lee’s opponent for wins No. 4, 8, 18 and 21. Luckily, the Royals won’t have to face the left-hander again until next season.

“I’m tired of that guy,” Royals center fielder David DeJesus said with a laugh.

It’s almost unthinkable to remember that Lee, who was demoted to the minor leagues last season and was left off Cleveland’s 2007 postseason roster, had to win a spot as the Indians’ fifth starter during spring training.

Lee is the first pitcher to have 20 more wins than losses since Oakland’s Bob Welch in 1990. Welch went 27-6 and won the AL Cy Young Award that season, and Lee, who is scheduled to make three more starts, appears to be on his way to giving Cleveland its second straight award winner following CC Sabathia.

Lee’s season is the best Indians manager Eric Wedge has ever seen.

“I know there have been some tremendous pitching seasons by starting pitchers over the years,” Wedge said. “But this is without a doubt nothing like I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s very remarkable,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “He’s an outstanding pitcher. You can’t do what he’s doing by accident. You have to be focused from pitch to pitch.”

Lee’s streak is the longest by an Indians pitcher since Perry won 15 straight decisions in 1974.

He was almost machinelike in his efficiency. Lee did not go to a single three-ball count and was three outs away from his fifth complete game when the Royals, who collected 11 hits, scored three runs off him in the ninth.

As consistent as he’s been on the mound, Lee has been equally unshakable when talking about his magnificent season. He refuses to be impressed by his own eye-popping statistics, and insists all he’s trying to do is give the Indians a chance to win.

Lee barely cracked a smile when he was asked if he’d ever lose again.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m going to try not to. I’m just trying to give myself a chance every time out.”

Lee will likely make three more starts, and he’s just hoping to finish a season no one saw coming.

“It’s not over yet,” said Lee, the first pitcher to reach 22 wins since Dontrelle Willis in 2005. “So far, it’s going pretty good. But I’m not going to start patting myself on the back yet.”

Jose Guillen homered twice off Lee for Kansas City.

Kelly Shoppach had three RBIs off Gil Meche (11-11), Shin Soo-Choo homered and drove in three and Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera had two RBIs apiece for the Indians.

Shoppach pulled an 0-1 pitch from Meche over the left-field wall to make it 2-1 in the third. The 28-year-old’s production this season has been a pleasant surprise for the Indians, giving them another option behind the plate and the ability to preserve catcher Victor Martinez by occasionally moving him to first base.

The Indians, now 35-21 since July 10, scored four runs in the fifth to open a 6-1 lead and Cleveland blew it open with three runs in the sixth, more than enough for Lee.

Kansas City tied it 1-1 in the second on Mark Teahen’s run-scoring single and the Royals had a chance to do more damage against Lee, but had two runners thrown out at home.

With one out and runners at first and third, Tony Pena hit a comebacker to Lee, who snagged the hard grounder but dropped the ball as he began to whirl and throw to second for a potential inning-ending double play. Lee recovered and alertly threw home to get a sliding Esteban German.

Rookie Mike Aviles followed with a single to right, but Teahen was thrown out by Franklin Gutierrez. TV replays showed Teahen slid safely around catcher Shoppach’s tag.

After the game, Shoppach was surrounded at his locker when reliever Brendan Donnelly yelled, “What did you do, Shop?” across the room.

“I caught Cliff,” Shoppach said. “He did what he’s done all year.”

Tonight is "Throwback Announcers Night" on Sports Time Ohio; Joe Tait and Bruce Drennan will be behind the microphone for the 7:05 telecast. They last broadcasted Indians' games in 1982. Should be fun.

Too bad it might get rained out.

The Indians may have something in young Scott Lewis. In his 2nd outing since being called up from AA, he is 2-0 w/0.00 E.R.A!!!

Great Scott: Lewis dazzles once again in Tribe win
by Paul Hoynes


Big-league debuts are one thing. Pitching in front of the hometown crowd, complete with family and friends, now that's nerve wracking.

Not to mention coming to terms with the opposition, the contending and increasingly desperate Minnesota Twins.

Left-hander Scott Lewis once again dealt with all of that Monday night in leading the Indians to a 3-1 victory at Progressive Field. Lewis threw six scoreless innings and has started his big-league career with 14 scoreless innings. It's the best start by an Indians pitcher, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1969.

Lewis' streak could go back even farther, but Elias' records don't. In stretching his scoreless innings streak to 14, Scott Lewis threw 98 pitches over six innings Monday night against the Twins, including 63 strikes.Rest of the article

Holy Smokes!

Is the Tribe "Pitcher University" or what??

Too bad we can't get the bats from the late '90's teams now.

It's all the curve balls that keep those away... Bat fear curve ball, JoBu no Help.

Are you trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball??

It is very bad to touch JoBu rum,,it VERY bad!

I know Joe Tait called the game. Words I will never forget:

Fly ball centerfield, Manning is there, got it, perfect game for Lenny Barker.

This is a game in which millions claimed to have attended, but in fact there was only a handful of spectators.

I saw that game on the radio

%#&*&(&*^%$%**& Can I watch you drink it while you cut your grass

Tribe back to .500 after beating the Tigers tonight (77-77).

Funny stat....(or depressing depending on how you look at it)

The Indians are 40-26 (.606) since the CC trade. The Brewers are 35-32 (.522) over the same time. And CC had 9 of those 35 wins.

good stat.

ahh baseball, if we cant have him. i hope cc goes back to his hometown. comendable

Not that I care that CC is gone, or how well he is/isn't doing, but the Brewers are still in it a whole helluva lot closer than the Tribe is.

Quote:

---

The Indians are 40-26 (.606) since the CC trade. The Brewers are 35-32 (.522) over the same time. And CC had 9 of those 35 wins.

---

Amazing once all of the pressure and expectations go away, the team plays up to it capabilities.

Indians are back to .500 as of tonight. (77-77)

S. Choo has really stepped it up, I really think we can build off this kid. Next year we will be a force to be reckoned with in the AL.

There is still a chance that we sign CC in the offseason as well.

GO TRIBE!

Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer is reporting that if the Brewers make the playoffs, the Indians get to pick the PTBNL from a list of 3-4 prospects - but if they don't make the playoffs, they (the Brewers) get to decide who we get, from the same list.

There would be a one game playoff if we tied them for the division. The only way the tiebreaker would work is if both teams are already in. If the Rays and Red Sox are both already in playoffs and finish tied, then the Rays win the division due to the tiebreaker...

Got it,...thanks. That would be some season-ender there, after just having swept the Sox to force the tie, a one-game deal for all the marbles,...so anyway, what would happen should the Twins also only win 85 ? i.e. 3 way tie,....