Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
17LOUFLA: I will be in Sarasota the entire month of March. Let me know if you would like to get together for a ST game anywhere.
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
20JR- An old College buddy and his wife are visiting us over their Spring Break and we will be tied up for about half the month, they are not baseball fans so my ST period will be severely limited.
I just cant get up the motivation to get out and drive around Phoenix.
(
I just cant get up the motivation to get out and drive around Phoenix.
(Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
21
Derek Lowe
Ex-Twin Guzman aces physical, to sign Indians' minor-league deal
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
Infielder Cristian Guzman has taken a physical for the Cleveland Indians and says he will sign a minor-league contract with the club.
Guzman was spotted in the hallway of the Indians' training facility Tuesday as players took physicals before the team's first official workouts this week. Later, Guzman took an empty stall in Cleveland's clubhouse and said he will likely sign Wednesday.
Guzman has played for Minnesota, Washington and Texas. He sat out last season because of a shoulder injury. He had surgery in 2009 when he was with the Nationals and played for Indians manager Manny Acta.
Guzman said Acta called and asked the 33-year-old if he wanted to keep playing.
The switch hitter has a career. 271 average in 11 seasons. He batted .316 for the National in 2008.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
22Indians trade prospect De La Cruz to Rangers for cash considerations
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
The Cleveland Indians have traded minor-league left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.
The Indians had designated the 32-year-old for assignment on Feb. 14 to make room for free agent first baseman Casey Kotchman, who signed with Cleveland earlier this month. De La Cruz spent last season at Double-A Akron, where he went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 23 games. He had been with the organization since 2004.
De La Cruz will report to the Rangers' training camp in Surprise, Ariz.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
The Cleveland Indians have traded minor-league left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.
The Indians had designated the 32-year-old for assignment on Feb. 14 to make room for free agent first baseman Casey Kotchman, who signed with Cleveland earlier this month. De La Cruz spent last season at Double-A Akron, where he went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 23 games. He had been with the organization since 2004.
De La Cruz will report to the Rangers' training camp in Surprise, Ariz.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
23Inspired Indians poised to contend in 2012
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -
On a cinder-block wall adjacent to the front entrance of the Indians' training complex, a large script "I" has been replaced this year by a block "C," which, of course, stands for Cleveland.
The Indians would like to believe it also symbolizes that they're contenders.
However, just being in the hunt or near the top won't be enough for closer Chris Perez, sporting a full beard and longer hair this spring. He's done with rebuilding, second-place and any talk about waiting until next year.
Perez wants more for the Indians in 2012.
"We were contending last year," he said Tuesday. "Winning is the word this year. I don't want to compete. I want to win."
Leave it to Perez to bring the early heat during the first week of training camp under the getting-warmer-by-the-day Arizona sun. The right-hander had 36 saves last season, but he couldn't do anything to stop the Indians' late-season slide in the standings. Cleveland's surprising 30-15 start was followed by an equally abrupt collapse as an avalanche of injuries overwhelmed the Indians in September.
A summer of fun at Progressive Field became a bummer.
The Indians finished 15 games behind AL Central-champion Detroit Tigers, the odds-on favorites to win the division again this year after adding slugger Prince Fielder to an already potent lineup.
Looking back on 2011, Perez doesn't remember the start as much as the finish.
"It was fun last year while it lasted, but at the end of the year I had a bitter taste in my month," Perez said before going outside to play catch. "After the deadline, the Tigers kind of took off and played at another level and we went the other way, but they weren't a better team than us in the first half. This year, we don't have any excuses."
The Indians will hold their first official workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday, with the full squad set to take the field for the first time Saturday.
On Tuesday, players, coaches and manager underwent physicals.
"Lots of blood," manager Manny Acta said with a smile after having some drained for tests. "Maybe as the manager you have to lead by example giving away that much. I thought it was a lot."
The Indians certainly needed a lot of medical attention last season.
It seemed hardly a day went by without one of Cleveland's players being hurt. The Indians lost their entire starting outfield to injuries, had two starting pitchers go down, used the disabled list 22 times (second most in the AL) and had their four most established hitters - Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera - in the same lineup just 17 times all season.
"You try to do as much as you can to prevent them," Perez said, "but we had so many that were just freak injuries. There's nothing you can do."
The Indians are hoping both Sizemore, who re-signed with the club as a free agent, and Choo can bounce back and have productive years. Choo seemed to have rebounded from a slow start in 2011 when he was hit on the thumb with a pitch, needed surgery and missed six weeks.
The club's best player in 2010, Choo played in just 85 games.
With so many key players sidelined, the Indians were forced to dip into their minor leagues and bring up players who weren't ready for pennant-race pressure. The club's lack of quality depth was exposed. So, to guard against the problem recurring, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti brought in 22 non-roster invitees into camp, including 13 on minor league contracts.
With 62 players on the spring roster, the team ran out of lockers in the clubhouse, forcing a few players to double up.
While there may be an abundance of players, there are only a few open jobs.
Four spots in the rotation are taken by Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, Derek Lowe and Josh Tomlin, with the fifth open because of legal problems involving the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, arrested in the Dominican Republic on false identity charges.
Carmona, whose real name is Roberto Hernandez, is on baseball's restricted list. The Indians don't know when - or if - he will be with them this season.
Acta has to fill two bullpen openings, pick between Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall as his starting third baseman and decide on some bench roles. It's a strong sign of progress, and a credit to Cleveland's front office, that the Indians don't have a long list of issues to address this spring - Acta's third.
Acta believes the Indians have championship pieces. It's now up to him to see that they're put together properly.
"We have some talent here," he said. "Our focus is to win. When you are in a rebuilding process, you can see it from year to year. We're talented. It's not a fluke when you spend as long as we did in first place."
Perez is counting on the Indians getting back to the top this year.
And this time, he thinks they can stay there. After all, the Tigers haven't won anything yet.
"Last year, we were right in it until the end, until September," he said. "Who knows? If we keep our horses out there all season, and our offense together all season, and our bullpen is going to be as strong like it was last year, and Derek Lowe has a bounce-back year, and Justin Masterson takes another step and Ubaldo has a full year with us? We're looking all right.
"And if it doesn't, we weren't supposed to win anyway, right?"
Notes: INF Cristian Guzman took a physical and said he may sign a minor league deal with the Indians on Wednesday. The 33-year-old sat out last season with a sore right shoulder. He played in Washington for Acta, who invited the two-time All-Star to camp. "We have a good relationship," said Guzman, who played for Minnesota from 1999-2004. "He called me. I told him I wanted to keep playing and he said to come here and try to help the team. So I said, `OK, I'll go."' ... The Indians traded LHP Kelvin De La Cruz to Texas for cash. De La Cruz was designated on Feb. 13 to make room for 1B Casey Kotchman. De La Cruz went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA for Double-A Akron in 2011.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -
On a cinder-block wall adjacent to the front entrance of the Indians' training complex, a large script "I" has been replaced this year by a block "C," which, of course, stands for Cleveland.
The Indians would like to believe it also symbolizes that they're contenders.
However, just being in the hunt or near the top won't be enough for closer Chris Perez, sporting a full beard and longer hair this spring. He's done with rebuilding, second-place and any talk about waiting until next year.
Perez wants more for the Indians in 2012.
"We were contending last year," he said Tuesday. "Winning is the word this year. I don't want to compete. I want to win."
Leave it to Perez to bring the early heat during the first week of training camp under the getting-warmer-by-the-day Arizona sun. The right-hander had 36 saves last season, but he couldn't do anything to stop the Indians' late-season slide in the standings. Cleveland's surprising 30-15 start was followed by an equally abrupt collapse as an avalanche of injuries overwhelmed the Indians in September.
A summer of fun at Progressive Field became a bummer.
The Indians finished 15 games behind AL Central-champion Detroit Tigers, the odds-on favorites to win the division again this year after adding slugger Prince Fielder to an already potent lineup.
Looking back on 2011, Perez doesn't remember the start as much as the finish.
"It was fun last year while it lasted, but at the end of the year I had a bitter taste in my month," Perez said before going outside to play catch. "After the deadline, the Tigers kind of took off and played at another level and we went the other way, but they weren't a better team than us in the first half. This year, we don't have any excuses."
The Indians will hold their first official workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday, with the full squad set to take the field for the first time Saturday.
On Tuesday, players, coaches and manager underwent physicals.
"Lots of blood," manager Manny Acta said with a smile after having some drained for tests. "Maybe as the manager you have to lead by example giving away that much. I thought it was a lot."
The Indians certainly needed a lot of medical attention last season.
It seemed hardly a day went by without one of Cleveland's players being hurt. The Indians lost their entire starting outfield to injuries, had two starting pitchers go down, used the disabled list 22 times (second most in the AL) and had their four most established hitters - Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera - in the same lineup just 17 times all season.
"You try to do as much as you can to prevent them," Perez said, "but we had so many that were just freak injuries. There's nothing you can do."
The Indians are hoping both Sizemore, who re-signed with the club as a free agent, and Choo can bounce back and have productive years. Choo seemed to have rebounded from a slow start in 2011 when he was hit on the thumb with a pitch, needed surgery and missed six weeks.
The club's best player in 2010, Choo played in just 85 games.
With so many key players sidelined, the Indians were forced to dip into their minor leagues and bring up players who weren't ready for pennant-race pressure. The club's lack of quality depth was exposed. So, to guard against the problem recurring, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti brought in 22 non-roster invitees into camp, including 13 on minor league contracts.
With 62 players on the spring roster, the team ran out of lockers in the clubhouse, forcing a few players to double up.
While there may be an abundance of players, there are only a few open jobs.
Four spots in the rotation are taken by Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, Derek Lowe and Josh Tomlin, with the fifth open because of legal problems involving the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, arrested in the Dominican Republic on false identity charges.
Carmona, whose real name is Roberto Hernandez, is on baseball's restricted list. The Indians don't know when - or if - he will be with them this season.
Acta has to fill two bullpen openings, pick between Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall as his starting third baseman and decide on some bench roles. It's a strong sign of progress, and a credit to Cleveland's front office, that the Indians don't have a long list of issues to address this spring - Acta's third.
Acta believes the Indians have championship pieces. It's now up to him to see that they're put together properly.
"We have some talent here," he said. "Our focus is to win. When you are in a rebuilding process, you can see it from year to year. We're talented. It's not a fluke when you spend as long as we did in first place."
Perez is counting on the Indians getting back to the top this year.
And this time, he thinks they can stay there. After all, the Tigers haven't won anything yet.
"Last year, we were right in it until the end, until September," he said. "Who knows? If we keep our horses out there all season, and our offense together all season, and our bullpen is going to be as strong like it was last year, and Derek Lowe has a bounce-back year, and Justin Masterson takes another step and Ubaldo has a full year with us? We're looking all right.
"And if it doesn't, we weren't supposed to win anyway, right?"
Notes: INF Cristian Guzman took a physical and said he may sign a minor league deal with the Indians on Wednesday. The 33-year-old sat out last season with a sore right shoulder. He played in Washington for Acta, who invited the two-time All-Star to camp. "We have a good relationship," said Guzman, who played for Minnesota from 1999-2004. "He called me. I told him I wanted to keep playing and he said to come here and try to help the team. So I said, `OK, I'll go."' ... The Indians traded LHP Kelvin De La Cruz to Texas for cash. De La Cruz was designated on Feb. 13 to make room for 1B Casey Kotchman. De La Cruz went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA for Double-A Akron in 2011.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
24Roster Report
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. RHP Justin Masterson
2. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
3. RHP Josh Tomlin
4. RHP Derek Lowe
5. RHP Kevin Slowey
The all-right-handed rotation remains all right-handed, even without RHP Fausto Carmona, who will start the season on the restricted list after his arrest in the Dominican Republic for identity theft. Slowey, acquired in a trade with Colorado the day after Carmona's arrest, is the favorite to take Carmona's spot in the rotation. Slowey is out of minor league options, which could give him a leg up on the other candidates -- RHP Jeanmar Gomez, RHP Zach McAllister, and LHP David Huff.
Masterson had a breakout season last year and will probably get the opening day nod over Jimenez, who was a major disappointment last year after being acquired in a blockbuster mid-season trade. Tomlin is a strike-throwing machine who led the majors in 2011 with an average of only 1.1 walks per nine innings. Lowe, acquired at the start of the offseason in a trade with Atlanta, led the NL in losses last year, going 9-17 for the Braves. At 38, he bears watching.
PROJECTED BULLPEN
RHP Chris Perez (closer)
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Vinnie Pestano
LHP Rafael Perez
LHP Tony Sipp
LHP Nick Hagadone
RHP Dan Wheeler
All the key guys are back from last year's bullpen, which had a 3.71 ERA to rank fifth in the AL. Chris Perez was fourth in the league with 36 saves and fourth in save percentage (90 percent). Smith's 2.01 ERA ranked fourth among AL relievers, Pestano averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, Rafael Perez tied for second in the AL in appearances (71), and Sipp held right-handed hitters to a .180 batting average.
Hagadone, a rookie, made nine appearances late last season and was nearly unhittable (.118 opponents batting average), if erratic (11 walks in 11 innings). Wheeler, a free agent, signed a minor league contract, but has plenty of major league experience and looks like the leading candidate for the last spot in the bullpen. Other candidates are RHP Frank Herrmann and non-roster invitees RHP Jeremy Accardo, RHP Chen-Chang Lee, RHP Chris Ray, RHP Robinson Tejeda, and RHP Danny Salazar.
PROJECTED LINEUP
1. CF Grady Sizemore
2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
3. RF Shin-Soo Choo
4. C Carlos Santana
5. DH Travis Hafner
6. 1B Casey Kotchman
7. 2B Jason Kipnis
8. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
9. LF Michael Brantley
So much depends on Sizemore's health, but if able, he will return to his customary spot at the top of the lineup, although Indians' officials acknowledge the days of him playing 150-plus games are gone. Cabrera is coming off one of the best offensive seasons of any shortstop in franchise history, while Choo hopes to bounce back from a season basically lost to injuries.
Santana has all-star potential. He'll also, like last year, make some starts at first base, mostly against tough left-handers, who would give lefty-hitting Kotchman trouble. Chisenhall had a big spring last year and might need it again in order to win the third base job over veteran Jack Hannahan, a superb defender. Brantley would move over to center field on days Sizemore is not in the lineup.
TOP ROOKIES:
LHP Scott Barnes could pitch his way into the competition for the rotation spot vacated by RHP Fausto Carmona. Barnes was 7-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts at Class AAA Columbus last year. INF/OF Russ Canzler, acquired from Tampa Bay for cash, could be insurance at the corner infield and outfield spots. He was the MVP in the International League last season, batting .314 with 18 home runs, 83 RBI and a .401 on base percentage.
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. RHP Justin Masterson
2. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
3. RHP Josh Tomlin
4. RHP Derek Lowe
5. RHP Kevin Slowey
The all-right-handed rotation remains all right-handed, even without RHP Fausto Carmona, who will start the season on the restricted list after his arrest in the Dominican Republic for identity theft. Slowey, acquired in a trade with Colorado the day after Carmona's arrest, is the favorite to take Carmona's spot in the rotation. Slowey is out of minor league options, which could give him a leg up on the other candidates -- RHP Jeanmar Gomez, RHP Zach McAllister, and LHP David Huff.
Masterson had a breakout season last year and will probably get the opening day nod over Jimenez, who was a major disappointment last year after being acquired in a blockbuster mid-season trade. Tomlin is a strike-throwing machine who led the majors in 2011 with an average of only 1.1 walks per nine innings. Lowe, acquired at the start of the offseason in a trade with Atlanta, led the NL in losses last year, going 9-17 for the Braves. At 38, he bears watching.
PROJECTED BULLPEN
RHP Chris Perez (closer)
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Vinnie Pestano
LHP Rafael Perez
LHP Tony Sipp
LHP Nick Hagadone
RHP Dan Wheeler
All the key guys are back from last year's bullpen, which had a 3.71 ERA to rank fifth in the AL. Chris Perez was fourth in the league with 36 saves and fourth in save percentage (90 percent). Smith's 2.01 ERA ranked fourth among AL relievers, Pestano averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, Rafael Perez tied for second in the AL in appearances (71), and Sipp held right-handed hitters to a .180 batting average.
Hagadone, a rookie, made nine appearances late last season and was nearly unhittable (.118 opponents batting average), if erratic (11 walks in 11 innings). Wheeler, a free agent, signed a minor league contract, but has plenty of major league experience and looks like the leading candidate for the last spot in the bullpen. Other candidates are RHP Frank Herrmann and non-roster invitees RHP Jeremy Accardo, RHP Chen-Chang Lee, RHP Chris Ray, RHP Robinson Tejeda, and RHP Danny Salazar.
PROJECTED LINEUP
1. CF Grady Sizemore
2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
3. RF Shin-Soo Choo
4. C Carlos Santana
5. DH Travis Hafner
6. 1B Casey Kotchman
7. 2B Jason Kipnis
8. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
9. LF Michael Brantley
So much depends on Sizemore's health, but if able, he will return to his customary spot at the top of the lineup, although Indians' officials acknowledge the days of him playing 150-plus games are gone. Cabrera is coming off one of the best offensive seasons of any shortstop in franchise history, while Choo hopes to bounce back from a season basically lost to injuries.
Santana has all-star potential. He'll also, like last year, make some starts at first base, mostly against tough left-handers, who would give lefty-hitting Kotchman trouble. Chisenhall had a big spring last year and might need it again in order to win the third base job over veteran Jack Hannahan, a superb defender. Brantley would move over to center field on days Sizemore is not in the lineup.
TOP ROOKIES:
LHP Scott Barnes could pitch his way into the competition for the rotation spot vacated by RHP Fausto Carmona. Barnes was 7-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts at Class AAA Columbus last year. INF/OF Russ Canzler, acquired from Tampa Bay for cash, could be insurance at the corner infield and outfield spots. He was the MVP in the International League last season, batting .314 with 18 home runs, 83 RBI and a .401 on base percentage.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
25Crowe gets a chance to save once-promising career
--OF Trevor Crowe,
a former No. 1 pick, has been invited to the Indians' major league training camp as a non-roster player. Crowe, the 14th player taken overall in the 2005 June Draft, has never been able to get his career over the big league hump. He missed most of last year because of shoulder surgery. Crowe, 28, will compete for a spot as an extra outfielder.
--C Lou Marson
goes to training camp as the likely backup to starting C Carlos Santana. Marson and Santana are the only catchers on the 40-man roster. The Indians, however, have invited four non-roster catchers to their major league camp. Marson is an above average defensive catcher, but the Indians would like to see a little more bat. Marson in 2011 batted only .230 overall, .191 vs. right-handed pitchers.
--RHP Hector Ambriz
will be in the major league training camp as a non-roster player. A Rule 5 Draft selection by the Indians, Ambriz was 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 34 relief appearances in 2010, then underwent Tommy John surgery in October of that year and missed all of the 2011 season. Ambriz will compete for a spot in the Indians' bullpen.
--INF Jose Lopez
could be a dark horse to win a spot on the opening day roster. Lopez is a non-roster invitee, but he has had some success at the major league level. He made the AL All-Star team while with Seattle in 2006, and had 25 home runs and 96 RBI for the Mariners in 2009. Lopez will compete for a utility job on the Indians' opening day roster.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 -- Number of ex-Indians who will be in spring training as a special advisor, special assistant, or guest instructor. They are Mike Hargrove, Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Adam Everett, and Jason Bere.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We can't sell dreams to people." -- Manager Manny Acta, on the Indians' attempt to improve their roster during the offseason.
--OF Trevor Crowe,
a former No. 1 pick, has been invited to the Indians' major league training camp as a non-roster player. Crowe, the 14th player taken overall in the 2005 June Draft, has never been able to get his career over the big league hump. He missed most of last year because of shoulder surgery. Crowe, 28, will compete for a spot as an extra outfielder.
--C Lou Marson
goes to training camp as the likely backup to starting C Carlos Santana. Marson and Santana are the only catchers on the 40-man roster. The Indians, however, have invited four non-roster catchers to their major league camp. Marson is an above average defensive catcher, but the Indians would like to see a little more bat. Marson in 2011 batted only .230 overall, .191 vs. right-handed pitchers.
--RHP Hector Ambriz
will be in the major league training camp as a non-roster player. A Rule 5 Draft selection by the Indians, Ambriz was 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 34 relief appearances in 2010, then underwent Tommy John surgery in October of that year and missed all of the 2011 season. Ambriz will compete for a spot in the Indians' bullpen.
--INF Jose Lopez
could be a dark horse to win a spot on the opening day roster. Lopez is a non-roster invitee, but he has had some success at the major league level. He made the AL All-Star team while with Seattle in 2006, and had 25 home runs and 96 RBI for the Mariners in 2009. Lopez will compete for a utility job on the Indians' opening day roster.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 -- Number of ex-Indians who will be in spring training as a special advisor, special assistant, or guest instructor. They are Mike Hargrove, Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Adam Everett, and Jason Bere.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We can't sell dreams to people." -- Manager Manny Acta, on the Indians' attempt to improve their roster during the offseason.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
26On a cinder-block wall adjacent to the front entrance of the Indians' training complex, a large script "I" has been replaced this year by a block "C," which, of course, stands for Cleveland.
Hmm... another hint that the Chief's days are numbered?
Hmm... another hint that the Chief's days are numbered?
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
27Pitch usage, mechanics key to Lowe's rebound
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 02/21/12 7:10 PM EST
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
After analyzing as much data as possible, the Indians pulled the trigger on trading for veteran sinkerballer Derek Lowe over the winter with the belief that there were plenty of indicators for a solid comeback campaign.
On Tuesday, Indians manager Manny Acta pointed to Lowe's pitch usage last season as a main contributor to his subpar showing with the Braves. Over the next six weeks of Spring Training, and in the coming year, Cleveland plans on working with Lowe on going back to some old habits.
First and foremost, the Tribe wants Lowe to feature his fastball more often.
"Some guys, at times without knowing, fall in love with certain pitches," Acta said, "and just get in some tendencies and just forget about No. 1 a little bit. He's not the only one. A lot of the players don't realize their pitch usage as a pitcher, or their tendencies as a hitter, until you point them out to them with stats."
Last season, the 38-year-old Lowe went 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA in 34 starts for Atlanta, which traded the right-hander to Cleveland on Oct. 31. The Braves received Minor League reliever Chris Jones and agreed to pay $10 million of the $15 million Lowe is set to earn this season.
That showing came after Lowe went 45-33 with a 3.95 ERA combined over the 2008-10 seasons. During that same three-year period, the sinkerballer averaged only 56 walks per season -- compared to the 70 he issued last season.
As far as his pitch usage, Lowe turned to his sinker 50 percent of the time in 2011, according to fangraphs.com. That was down from 63.9 percent in 2010 and 67.6 percent in 2009. He featured his slider 25.3 percent of the time last year compared to just 16.1 percent in '10. Lowe's cutter percentage has climbed from 1.5 to 4.5 to 8.9 over the last three years.
Acta noted that the Indians have also identified some mechanical flaws that came up last year for Lowe. With those issues being tackled at the onset of Spring Training, the manager is convinced that Lowe can bounce back in a big way for the Tribe in the season ahead.
"He's going to go back to where he was before," Acta said. "He's very aware of what was going on mechanical- wise. If you put that together with the pitch usage, well obviously that would make a difference."
Quote to note
"Lots of blood. I don't know why you need that much blood for testing. Maybe because the manager has to lead by example by giving away that much."
-- Indians manager Manny Acta, joking about his physical on Tuesday
Smoke signals
• Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall will be sporting No. 8 (the digit worn by his childhood hero, Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr.) this year instead of No. 27, which he wore in 2011 with the Indians. Chisenhall said that he and second baseman Jason Kipnis had a "gentleman's bet" over the jersey number. The first to reach the Majors could wear No. 8. Chisenhall joined Cleveland on June 27 last year. Kipnis was given No. 22 after joining the Tribe on July 22. "He'll do just fine with '22,'" Chisenhall said with a smile.
• The Indians are holding a minicamp for some of their top prospects in the days before Minor Leaguers are required to report to camp. Among those already on hand at the team's complex is shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was selected in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft in June.
• Manager Manny Acta and general manager Chris Antonetti are currently working through two-on-one meetings with each pitcher and catcher. They held meetings on Tuesday and will continue to do so into Wednesday. Acta and Antonetti go over the goals and expectations for the coming season with each player. They will do the same when all the position players are in camp.
• Pitchers and catchers underwent routine physical examinations on Tuesday at the player development complex. The first official workout for pitchers and catchers will be held on Wednesday. Position players are required to report to Arizona on Thursday, though most are already on hand.
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 02/21/12 7:10 PM EST
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
After analyzing as much data as possible, the Indians pulled the trigger on trading for veteran sinkerballer Derek Lowe over the winter with the belief that there were plenty of indicators for a solid comeback campaign.
On Tuesday, Indians manager Manny Acta pointed to Lowe's pitch usage last season as a main contributor to his subpar showing with the Braves. Over the next six weeks of Spring Training, and in the coming year, Cleveland plans on working with Lowe on going back to some old habits.
First and foremost, the Tribe wants Lowe to feature his fastball more often.
"Some guys, at times without knowing, fall in love with certain pitches," Acta said, "and just get in some tendencies and just forget about No. 1 a little bit. He's not the only one. A lot of the players don't realize their pitch usage as a pitcher, or their tendencies as a hitter, until you point them out to them with stats."
Last season, the 38-year-old Lowe went 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA in 34 starts for Atlanta, which traded the right-hander to Cleveland on Oct. 31. The Braves received Minor League reliever Chris Jones and agreed to pay $10 million of the $15 million Lowe is set to earn this season.
That showing came after Lowe went 45-33 with a 3.95 ERA combined over the 2008-10 seasons. During that same three-year period, the sinkerballer averaged only 56 walks per season -- compared to the 70 he issued last season.
As far as his pitch usage, Lowe turned to his sinker 50 percent of the time in 2011, according to fangraphs.com. That was down from 63.9 percent in 2010 and 67.6 percent in 2009. He featured his slider 25.3 percent of the time last year compared to just 16.1 percent in '10. Lowe's cutter percentage has climbed from 1.5 to 4.5 to 8.9 over the last three years.
Acta noted that the Indians have also identified some mechanical flaws that came up last year for Lowe. With those issues being tackled at the onset of Spring Training, the manager is convinced that Lowe can bounce back in a big way for the Tribe in the season ahead.
"He's going to go back to where he was before," Acta said. "He's very aware of what was going on mechanical- wise. If you put that together with the pitch usage, well obviously that would make a difference."
Quote to note
"Lots of blood. I don't know why you need that much blood for testing. Maybe because the manager has to lead by example by giving away that much."
-- Indians manager Manny Acta, joking about his physical on Tuesday
Smoke signals
• Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall will be sporting No. 8 (the digit worn by his childhood hero, Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr.) this year instead of No. 27, which he wore in 2011 with the Indians. Chisenhall said that he and second baseman Jason Kipnis had a "gentleman's bet" over the jersey number. The first to reach the Majors could wear No. 8. Chisenhall joined Cleveland on June 27 last year. Kipnis was given No. 22 after joining the Tribe on July 22. "He'll do just fine with '22,'" Chisenhall said with a smile.
• The Indians are holding a minicamp for some of their top prospects in the days before Minor Leaguers are required to report to camp. Among those already on hand at the team's complex is shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was selected in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft in June.
• Manager Manny Acta and general manager Chris Antonetti are currently working through two-on-one meetings with each pitcher and catcher. They held meetings on Tuesday and will continue to do so into Wednesday. Acta and Antonetti go over the goals and expectations for the coming season with each player. They will do the same when all the position players are in camp.
• Pitchers and catchers underwent routine physical examinations on Tuesday at the player development complex. The first official workout for pitchers and catchers will be held on Wednesday. Position players are required to report to Arizona on Thursday, though most are already on hand.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
28It's Spring training. They need catchers simply to catch pitches. They will be there, whether or they have a real shot at the 25-man.The Indians, however, have invited four non-roster catchers to their major league camp.
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
29Carmona/Hernandez seeks judicial pardon, hopes to return to Indians
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic --
Pitcher Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, told the Associated Press he hopes to obtain a judicial pardon and return to the Cleveland Indians this season.
Hernandez was placed on baseball's restricted list after he was arrested in the Dominican Republic on false identity charges last month. Authorities have said he is 31, three years older than the pitcher claimed.
"I'm doing all that is necessary so that when the pardon is granted, I won't have to wait long to play again," he said Wednesday.
Hernandez also said he keeps in touch with Indians manager Manny Acta.
"He has provided support," he said. "We don't talk a lot about the issue, but he is keeping an eye on me."
Hernandez's agent, Jorge Brito, said he is confident Hernandez will soon rejoin the team.
"We are working to resolve this situation, and we believe that Roberto will be able to pitch in the major leagues this year," Brito said.
Hernandez said he is meeting with young baseball players to warn them about the problems of using a false identity.
Hernandez said he chose to remain quiet about his past when fellow Dominican player Juan Carlos Oviedo, a Miami Marlins reliever formerly known as Leo Nunez, was detained after playing under a fake name for seven major-league seasons.
"I know I should have come clean before, but I was scared to reveal what happened to me," Hernandez said. "That's why I waited until it became public."
Hernandez went 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA last season and was expected to be part of the starting rotation this year. The Indians exercised his $7 million option for 2012 in October.
Cleveland signed Hernandez to a four-year contract in 2008. The club has options on him for 2013 at $9 million and 2014 at $12 million.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic --
Pitcher Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, told the Associated Press he hopes to obtain a judicial pardon and return to the Cleveland Indians this season.
Hernandez was placed on baseball's restricted list after he was arrested in the Dominican Republic on false identity charges last month. Authorities have said he is 31, three years older than the pitcher claimed.
"I'm doing all that is necessary so that when the pardon is granted, I won't have to wait long to play again," he said Wednesday.
Hernandez also said he keeps in touch with Indians manager Manny Acta.
"He has provided support," he said. "We don't talk a lot about the issue, but he is keeping an eye on me."
Hernandez's agent, Jorge Brito, said he is confident Hernandez will soon rejoin the team.
"We are working to resolve this situation, and we believe that Roberto will be able to pitch in the major leagues this year," Brito said.
Hernandez said he is meeting with young baseball players to warn them about the problems of using a false identity.
Hernandez said he chose to remain quiet about his past when fellow Dominican player Juan Carlos Oviedo, a Miami Marlins reliever formerly known as Leo Nunez, was detained after playing under a fake name for seven major-league seasons.
"I know I should have come clean before, but I was scared to reveal what happened to me," Hernandez said. "That's why I waited until it became public."
Hernandez went 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA last season and was expected to be part of the starting rotation this year. The Indians exercised his $7 million option for 2012 in October.
Cleveland signed Hernandez to a four-year contract in 2008. The club has options on him for 2013 at $9 million and 2014 at $12 million.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: SPRING TRAINING 2012!
30Tribe unable to complete deal with Garland
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 02/22/12 5:44 PM EST
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
The Indians' deal with free-agent pitcher Jon Garland is off.
On Wednesday, MLB.com learned that the Tribe will not be signing Garland to a Minor League contract as the club had originally hoped. An agreement with the pitcher was in place last week, but he did not take a physical with the team on Monday as initially scheduled.
Garland is still working through a rehab program for his right shoulder and he was not in a position to compete for a job with Cleveland this spring.
The Indians and Garland agreed to a Minor League contract on Feb. 13, and the deal would have included a non-roster invitation to attend Spring Training with the big league club. The right-hander was presumed to be a possible candidate for Cleveland's vacant fifth-starter's role.
Kevin Slowey, Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff and Zach McAllister are the top four candidates for the lone vacancy in the rotation this spring. The top four spots (in no particular order) will be occupied by Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Tomlin and Derek Lowe.
Garland's 2,083 1/3 innings and 132 wins since 2000 rank 12th and 16th, respectively, among all Major League pitchers. The 32-year-old went 1-5 with a 4.33 ERA in nine outings with the Dodgers last year before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in July.
Over the course of 12 seasons in the Majors, Garland has had stints with the White Sox, Angels, D-backs, Padres and Dodgers. He is 132-119 overall with a 4.32 ERA across 353 games. He has won at least 12 games in a season seven times and has topped 190 innings nine times.
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 02/22/12 5:44 PM EST
GOODYEAR, Ariz. --
The Indians' deal with free-agent pitcher Jon Garland is off.
On Wednesday, MLB.com learned that the Tribe will not be signing Garland to a Minor League contract as the club had originally hoped. An agreement with the pitcher was in place last week, but he did not take a physical with the team on Monday as initially scheduled.
Garland is still working through a rehab program for his right shoulder and he was not in a position to compete for a job with Cleveland this spring.
The Indians and Garland agreed to a Minor League contract on Feb. 13, and the deal would have included a non-roster invitation to attend Spring Training with the big league club. The right-hander was presumed to be a possible candidate for Cleveland's vacant fifth-starter's role.
Kevin Slowey, Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff and Zach McAllister are the top four candidates for the lone vacancy in the rotation this spring. The top four spots (in no particular order) will be occupied by Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Tomlin and Derek Lowe.
Garland's 2,083 1/3 innings and 132 wins since 2000 rank 12th and 16th, respectively, among all Major League pitchers. The 32-year-old went 1-5 with a 4.33 ERA in nine outings with the Dodgers last year before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in July.
Over the course of 12 seasons in the Majors, Garland has had stints with the White Sox, Angels, D-backs, Padres and Dodgers. He is 132-119 overall with a 4.32 ERA across 353 games. He has won at least 12 games in a season seven times and has topped 190 innings nine times.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller