civ ollilavad wrote:The John Hart deals went longer than that, didn't they?cover his arbitration years and possibly his first year of free-agent eligibility
Same type of deals.
Re: Articles
1576Same type of deals.
Same type of deals.
Re: Articles
1577Chicago clocks Josh Tomlin and Cleveland Indians early in 4-2 victory
Published: Monday, April 09, 2012, 9:47 PM Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 8:40 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
Josh Tomlin gave up three runs in the top of the first inning Monday night in the April cold at Progressive Field.
It's never recommended behavior for a starting pitcher, but at the same time it shouldn't guarantee defeat. After all, the home team still has nine innings left to swing the bats. Overcoming three runs in that time shouldn't be compared to scaling the north face of Mount Everest.
Except, of course, if the pitcher's team happens to be averaging 3.5 runs per game. Then that pitcher is in trouble. Which brings us to Trouble City and the Indians, who lost to the White Sox, 4-2.
Manager Manny Acta's team has played four games this year. They're 1-3 and they need a lot of help in the run department.
Monday night they didn't score until Shin-Soo Choo narrowly escaped refracturing his left thumb in the sixth inning when he was hit by a pitch from left-hander Chris Sale. This time the only thing that fractured was Choo's thumb protector. He took first base, stole second and scored on Carlos Santana's single to make it 4-1.
"It was a big scare," said Acta, referring to Choo, who had his left thumb shattered last year courtesy of a Jonathan Sanchez pitch in San Francisco.
There was only silence the rest of the night until Jose Lopez, making his first start, lined a homer off the left-field foul pole to start the ninth inning to make it 4-2. The next three Indians went down in order as Hector Santiago recovered for his second save.
Acta threw his right-handed hitting lineup against Sale (1-0, 1.35), who was making his first big-league start after pitching out of the Chicago bullpen the past two seasons. Give the decision to Sale, who allowed one run on three hits in 6 innings. He struck out five and walked two on 100 pitches.
"If he stays healthy and keeps the ball around the plate, he's going to be tough on a lot of people regardless of whether he pitches out of the pen or starts," said Acta. "He's got a very deceptive delivery . . . a low arm slot. He can run it up there in the mid-90s with sink."
Monday night was Tomlin's first start against the White Sox and he won't remember it fondly.
Alejandro De Aza and A.J. Pierzynski, both left-handed hitters, homered off him in the first for a 3-0 lead. De Aza opened the game with a homer over the wall in right field for Chicago's first leadoff homer since Scott Podsednik hit one Oct. 2, 2009.
Tomlin struck out the next two batters, but Paul Konerko reached on an infield single that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera couldn't bend over to field and Pierzynski homered over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead.
"When you fall behind in the count big-league hitters will make you pay," said Tomlin.
De Aza hit a 2-1 pitch and Pierzynski hit a 2-0 pitch.
"Those two lefties kind of ambushed him," said Acta. "After that, Josh pitched well."
Tomlin (0-1, 7.20) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings. He tied a career high with seven strikeouts, but was gone after five innings because he threw 95 pitches.
After the first, Chicago didn't score again until the fifth. Brent Morel singled off Lopez's glove at first to score De Aza from second. Tomlin retired the first two batters in the inning, but De Aza doubled to right.
"I've got to catch that ball," said Lopez.
De Aza came into Monday's game hitting .395 (15-for-38) against the Indians over the past 11 games.
Tomlin was the first Tribe starter not to go at least seven innings this season. Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe allowed three earned runs in 22 innings in the first three starts of the year.
Acta's plan to get the offense going?
"You have to stay positive and encourage the guys," he said. "Four games will not define the offense of the ballclub.
"We'd rather have six or seven runs every day on the board, but it hasn't happened. We're pitching well and that gives us time to wait until the offense gets going."
The Indians are hitting .153 (23-for-150) as a team.
Published: Monday, April 09, 2012, 9:47 PM Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 8:40 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
Josh Tomlin gave up three runs in the top of the first inning Monday night in the April cold at Progressive Field.
It's never recommended behavior for a starting pitcher, but at the same time it shouldn't guarantee defeat. After all, the home team still has nine innings left to swing the bats. Overcoming three runs in that time shouldn't be compared to scaling the north face of Mount Everest.
Except, of course, if the pitcher's team happens to be averaging 3.5 runs per game. Then that pitcher is in trouble. Which brings us to Trouble City and the Indians, who lost to the White Sox, 4-2.
Manager Manny Acta's team has played four games this year. They're 1-3 and they need a lot of help in the run department.
Monday night they didn't score until Shin-Soo Choo narrowly escaped refracturing his left thumb in the sixth inning when he was hit by a pitch from left-hander Chris Sale. This time the only thing that fractured was Choo's thumb protector. He took first base, stole second and scored on Carlos Santana's single to make it 4-1.
"It was a big scare," said Acta, referring to Choo, who had his left thumb shattered last year courtesy of a Jonathan Sanchez pitch in San Francisco.
There was only silence the rest of the night until Jose Lopez, making his first start, lined a homer off the left-field foul pole to start the ninth inning to make it 4-2. The next three Indians went down in order as Hector Santiago recovered for his second save.
Acta threw his right-handed hitting lineup against Sale (1-0, 1.35), who was making his first big-league start after pitching out of the Chicago bullpen the past two seasons. Give the decision to Sale, who allowed one run on three hits in 6 innings. He struck out five and walked two on 100 pitches.
"If he stays healthy and keeps the ball around the plate, he's going to be tough on a lot of people regardless of whether he pitches out of the pen or starts," said Acta. "He's got a very deceptive delivery . . . a low arm slot. He can run it up there in the mid-90s with sink."
Monday night was Tomlin's first start against the White Sox and he won't remember it fondly.
Alejandro De Aza and A.J. Pierzynski, both left-handed hitters, homered off him in the first for a 3-0 lead. De Aza opened the game with a homer over the wall in right field for Chicago's first leadoff homer since Scott Podsednik hit one Oct. 2, 2009.
Tomlin struck out the next two batters, but Paul Konerko reached on an infield single that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera couldn't bend over to field and Pierzynski homered over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead.
"When you fall behind in the count big-league hitters will make you pay," said Tomlin.
De Aza hit a 2-1 pitch and Pierzynski hit a 2-0 pitch.
"Those two lefties kind of ambushed him," said Acta. "After that, Josh pitched well."
Tomlin (0-1, 7.20) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings. He tied a career high with seven strikeouts, but was gone after five innings because he threw 95 pitches.
After the first, Chicago didn't score again until the fifth. Brent Morel singled off Lopez's glove at first to score De Aza from second. Tomlin retired the first two batters in the inning, but De Aza doubled to right.
"I've got to catch that ball," said Lopez.
De Aza came into Monday's game hitting .395 (15-for-38) against the Indians over the past 11 games.
Tomlin was the first Tribe starter not to go at least seven innings this season. Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe allowed three earned runs in 22 innings in the first three starts of the year.
Acta's plan to get the offense going?
"You have to stay positive and encourage the guys," he said. "Four games will not define the offense of the ballclub.
"We'd rather have six or seven runs every day on the board, but it hasn't happened. We're pitching well and that gives us time to wait until the offense gets going."
The Indians are hitting .153 (23-for-150) as a team.
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1578Uhhh Manny, most of these stiffs didn't hit in Spring Training either ...32 games and a lot of the pitching was AAA caliber.
Re: Articles
1579Really?!?!?!"If he stays healthy and keeps the ball around the plate, he's going to be tough on a lot of people regardless of whether he pitches out of the pen or starts," said Acta. "He's got a very deceptive delivery . . . a low arm slot. He can run it up there in the mid-90s with sink."
“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: Articles
1580Manny Acta adjusts Tribe lineup after long opening series: Indians Insider
Published: Monday, April 09, 2012, 9:02 PM Updated: Monday, April 09, 2012, 9:16 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What did it take to get Jose Lopez, Aaron Cunningham, Jason Donald and Lou Marson in the starting lineup at the same time this season?
The Indians had to cram a little over four nine-inning games into three official games against Toronto from Thursday through Sunday at Progressive Field. When it came to Monday night's series opener against Chicago left-hander Chris Sale, Lopez was at first, Cunningham in center, Donald batting at third and Marson catching.
"It's a combination of playing a lot of innings and facing a lefty," said manager Manny Acta. "Mostly it's because of the amount of innings we've played. When you leave Arizona or Florida, you don't prepare these guys to 28 innings in the first two games and 37 in the first three.
"It was a grueling series. It also has something to do with facing a guy [Sale] who can be very tough on some of our left-handers."
Lopez, who hit his way onto the club in spring training, was anxious for the chance.
"I'm ready," he said before the game. "I came in to spring training fighting for a spot. I had an opportunity, but I had to fight for my spot. I won a spot and I'm playing my first game."
Lopez hit .327 (17-for-52) with seven runs, five doubles, two homers and 10 RBI in spring training.
Before reporting to Goodyear, Ariz., Lopez hit .310 (52-for-168) in winter ball in Venezuela. What remains unanswered is whether Lopez, 28, is still the same player who hit 25 homers and drove in 96 runs for Seattle in 2009.
"Yeah, I'm same guy," said Lopez. "I'm waiting for my opportunity. ... I don't want to show it in the clubhouse, I want to show it on the field."
That's all well and good, but Lopez made the Indians as an extra infielder.
"Given the opportunity, he might become the guy he was two or three years ago," said Acta. "That's not the case here, but we envision him as the guy who could be very valuable to us as a guy coming off the bench against left-handers and giving a guy a breather here and there.
"Hopefully, he can do that. Last year was the first time he started as a backup guy. It's a tough role to handle, but he knows that's what's in front of him here."
Lopez's first at-bat of the season ended in a strikeout.
Cunningham had three at-bats against the Blue Jays. Monday, he singled in his first at-bat. At the moment, he's the Tribe's fourth outfielder.
"I've got to accept it," he said. "I'm always going to keep pushing. Eventually, I want to get in that starting lineup sometime this year. Right now, I've got to take what I'm given and take advantage of it."
The Indians acquired Cunningham in an off-season trade with San Diego.
Lopez, Cunningham, Donald and Marson are all right-handed hitters. They were facing Sale, who was making his first big-league start after 79 relief appearances.
Birthday boys: Carlos Santana was the fifth Indians' player, according to STATS Inc., to hit two homers on his birthday. Santana did it Sunday against the Blue Jays.
The four other players were Hall of Famer Earl Averill, May 21, 1934 against the Yankees; Ray Boone, July 27, 1951 against Boston; Joe Azcue, Aug. 18, 1963 against Boston and Albert Belle, Aug. 25, 1995, against Detroit.
In MLB history, 46 players have hit two or more homers on their birthday.
Switch: In spring training, the Indians said No.5 starter Jeanmar Gomez would make his first start of the season Wednesday. That has been moved to Tuesday with Justin Masterson starting Wednesday.
Long ball or nothing: Through the first three games, nine of the Indians' 12 runs have been generated by home runs. They were tied for third in the AL with five homers after Sunday's 4-3 win over Toronto. They
ranked ninth in runs.
Finally: Acta's advice to Donald, hitting in the leadoff spot: "We don't ask anybody to change their approach. Just get on base."
Indians Chatter
Clubhouse confidential:
While serving his five-game suspension for hitting former teammate Troy Tulowitzki during an April 1 Cactus League game, Ubaldo Jimenez is allowed to work out with the team, but must leave the Indians’ clubhouse once the game starts.
“I watched Sunday’s game at the ballpark,” said Jimenez, Monday night. “I was sitting in the family section with my parents. Tonight I’ll probably go somewhere else and watch it on TV. It’s supposed to be cold.”
Jimenez started serving his five-game suspension Sunday after his Saturday start against Toronto. He’ll be in line to start Saturday against Kansas City.
What’s in a name? Manager Manny Acta said he’ll have no problem deciding what name to call the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona if and when he gets a visa to enter the United States. The choices are Roberto Hernandez, his real name, or Fausto Carmona, his phony name.
“I have no problem,” said Acta. “I’ve always called him El Grande [the big man].”
Stat of the day: Toronto won two out of three against the Indians, but hit just .110 (8-for-73) against starters Justin Masterson, Jimenez and Derek Lowe. It’s the lowest batting average against a starting rotation in the big leagues after three games.
Published: Monday, April 09, 2012, 9:02 PM Updated: Monday, April 09, 2012, 9:16 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What did it take to get Jose Lopez, Aaron Cunningham, Jason Donald and Lou Marson in the starting lineup at the same time this season?
The Indians had to cram a little over four nine-inning games into three official games against Toronto from Thursday through Sunday at Progressive Field. When it came to Monday night's series opener against Chicago left-hander Chris Sale, Lopez was at first, Cunningham in center, Donald batting at third and Marson catching.
"It's a combination of playing a lot of innings and facing a lefty," said manager Manny Acta. "Mostly it's because of the amount of innings we've played. When you leave Arizona or Florida, you don't prepare these guys to 28 innings in the first two games and 37 in the first three.
"It was a grueling series. It also has something to do with facing a guy [Sale] who can be very tough on some of our left-handers."
Lopez, who hit his way onto the club in spring training, was anxious for the chance.
"I'm ready," he said before the game. "I came in to spring training fighting for a spot. I had an opportunity, but I had to fight for my spot. I won a spot and I'm playing my first game."
Lopez hit .327 (17-for-52) with seven runs, five doubles, two homers and 10 RBI in spring training.
Before reporting to Goodyear, Ariz., Lopez hit .310 (52-for-168) in winter ball in Venezuela. What remains unanswered is whether Lopez, 28, is still the same player who hit 25 homers and drove in 96 runs for Seattle in 2009.
"Yeah, I'm same guy," said Lopez. "I'm waiting for my opportunity. ... I don't want to show it in the clubhouse, I want to show it on the field."
That's all well and good, but Lopez made the Indians as an extra infielder.
"Given the opportunity, he might become the guy he was two or three years ago," said Acta. "That's not the case here, but we envision him as the guy who could be very valuable to us as a guy coming off the bench against left-handers and giving a guy a breather here and there.
"Hopefully, he can do that. Last year was the first time he started as a backup guy. It's a tough role to handle, but he knows that's what's in front of him here."
Lopez's first at-bat of the season ended in a strikeout.
Cunningham had three at-bats against the Blue Jays. Monday, he singled in his first at-bat. At the moment, he's the Tribe's fourth outfielder.
"I've got to accept it," he said. "I'm always going to keep pushing. Eventually, I want to get in that starting lineup sometime this year. Right now, I've got to take what I'm given and take advantage of it."
The Indians acquired Cunningham in an off-season trade with San Diego.
Lopez, Cunningham, Donald and Marson are all right-handed hitters. They were facing Sale, who was making his first big-league start after 79 relief appearances.
Birthday boys: Carlos Santana was the fifth Indians' player, according to STATS Inc., to hit two homers on his birthday. Santana did it Sunday against the Blue Jays.
The four other players were Hall of Famer Earl Averill, May 21, 1934 against the Yankees; Ray Boone, July 27, 1951 against Boston; Joe Azcue, Aug. 18, 1963 against Boston and Albert Belle, Aug. 25, 1995, against Detroit.
In MLB history, 46 players have hit two or more homers on their birthday.
Switch: In spring training, the Indians said No.5 starter Jeanmar Gomez would make his first start of the season Wednesday. That has been moved to Tuesday with Justin Masterson starting Wednesday.
Long ball or nothing: Through the first three games, nine of the Indians' 12 runs have been generated by home runs. They were tied for third in the AL with five homers after Sunday's 4-3 win over Toronto. They
ranked ninth in runs.
Finally: Acta's advice to Donald, hitting in the leadoff spot: "We don't ask anybody to change their approach. Just get on base."
Indians Chatter
Clubhouse confidential:
While serving his five-game suspension for hitting former teammate Troy Tulowitzki during an April 1 Cactus League game, Ubaldo Jimenez is allowed to work out with the team, but must leave the Indians’ clubhouse once the game starts.
“I watched Sunday’s game at the ballpark,” said Jimenez, Monday night. “I was sitting in the family section with my parents. Tonight I’ll probably go somewhere else and watch it on TV. It’s supposed to be cold.”
Jimenez started serving his five-game suspension Sunday after his Saturday start against Toronto. He’ll be in line to start Saturday against Kansas City.
What’s in a name? Manager Manny Acta said he’ll have no problem deciding what name to call the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona if and when he gets a visa to enter the United States. The choices are Roberto Hernandez, his real name, or Fausto Carmona, his phony name.
“I have no problem,” said Acta. “I’ve always called him El Grande [the big man].”
Stat of the day: Toronto won two out of three against the Indians, but hit just .110 (8-for-73) against starters Justin Masterson, Jimenez and Derek Lowe. It’s the lowest batting average against a starting rotation in the big leagues after three games.
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1581Acta not blaming Indians bullpen or offense for slow start
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
CLEVELAND: The Indians’ bullpen and the Indians’ offense bore the brunt of the criticism for losing two extra-inning games to start the season last week, but manager Manny Acta isn’t about to blame either segment of the team.
Acta emphasized again Monday that he saw his hitters with lots of quality at-bats, but hits weren’t falling.
Asked what he would like to see from his attack, Acta said, “More hits, but you can’t control that. You can do everything right. Every guy can square up a pitch, but there are eight guys out in the field with gloves.’’
The Tribe has scored four runs in each of the season’s three games. Going into Monday night’s series opener against the White Sox, the Indians were batting .153 but have hit five homers, good for nine of the club’s 12 runs.
Only two batters are hitting as high as .250: Jack Hannahan and Carlos Santana. Those two are responsible for driving in seven runs.
The bullpen has yielded 12 runs in 15 innings, but in the season opener, the relievers were forced to pitch eight innings and the next day they were summoned to work five more. In an extra-innings game, somebody’s bullpen eventually is going to give it up. In this case, it was the Tribe’s.
“They threw the ball well,’’ Acta said, referring to his relief corps. “When you play extra innings, if you have one bad inning, you’re going to lose. In the first game, the bullpen had to throw eight innings just to get to the 16th.
“To me, a bullpen is struggling when it can’t hold a team in a nine-inning game. It’s a lot to ask them to keep throwing scoreless innings over and over and over.’’
Chris Perez, who blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning of the season opener, redeemed himself Sunday, protecting a one-run lead despite having to get five outs because of Asdrubal Cabrera’s error on a double-play ball.
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
CLEVELAND: The Indians’ bullpen and the Indians’ offense bore the brunt of the criticism for losing two extra-inning games to start the season last week, but manager Manny Acta isn’t about to blame either segment of the team.
Acta emphasized again Monday that he saw his hitters with lots of quality at-bats, but hits weren’t falling.
Asked what he would like to see from his attack, Acta said, “More hits, but you can’t control that. You can do everything right. Every guy can square up a pitch, but there are eight guys out in the field with gloves.’’
The Tribe has scored four runs in each of the season’s three games. Going into Monday night’s series opener against the White Sox, the Indians were batting .153 but have hit five homers, good for nine of the club’s 12 runs.
Only two batters are hitting as high as .250: Jack Hannahan and Carlos Santana. Those two are responsible for driving in seven runs.
The bullpen has yielded 12 runs in 15 innings, but in the season opener, the relievers were forced to pitch eight innings and the next day they were summoned to work five more. In an extra-innings game, somebody’s bullpen eventually is going to give it up. In this case, it was the Tribe’s.
“They threw the ball well,’’ Acta said, referring to his relief corps. “When you play extra innings, if you have one bad inning, you’re going to lose. In the first game, the bullpen had to throw eight innings just to get to the 16th.
“To me, a bullpen is struggling when it can’t hold a team in a nine-inning game. It’s a lot to ask them to keep throwing scoreless innings over and over and over.’’
Chris Perez, who blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning of the season opener, redeemed himself Sunday, protecting a one-run lead despite having to get five outs because of Asdrubal Cabrera’s error on a double-play ball.
Re: Articles
1582Acta not blaming Indians bullpen or offense for slow start
Seems like it would be easier not to say anything rather then talk down to your fans.
Your closer is part of the bullpen and your closer blew a 3 run lead in the ninth inning. Your offense has scored how many runs that were not home runs in 4 games ?
Starting to understand what the real problem might be .
The Indians hired the Latin "Joel Skinner" as its manager.
Seems like it would be easier not to say anything rather then talk down to your fans.
Your closer is part of the bullpen and your closer blew a 3 run lead in the ninth inning. Your offense has scored how many runs that were not home runs in 4 games ?
Starting to understand what the real problem might be .
The Indians hired the Latin "Joel Skinner" as its manager.
Re: Articles
1583It all starts with ownership!The Indians hired the Latin "Joel Skinner" as its manager.
You can't play major league baseball with "AAA" and "AAAA" players.
“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: Articles
1584Yeah, hard to play with Masterson, Jimenez, Lowe, and Tomlin.
Keep making excuses for the Latin "Joel Skinner".
Keep making excuses for the Latin "Joel Skinner".
Re: Articles
1585Sorry Rusty, I agaree that 90% of the problem at least is the quality of the talent available to play each day.
Re: Articles
1586Cleveland Indians: Tribe's Offense Struggles, Fails to Support Strong Pitching
By Bill Ford (Featured Columnist) on April 10, 2012
he Cleveland Indians are off to a difficult start to the 2012 season with a 1-3 record so far.
The Tribe has struggled offensively, and they have not been able to support some strong pitching performances from their starters.
Monday night, the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox 4-2. Starting pitcher Josh Tomlin struggled in the first inning, giving up two home runs, but he was able to settle down and gave five strong innings. Unfortunately, the Indians were not able to overcome the two home runs that he gave up.
After giving up the first home run in the first inning, Asdrubal Cabrera missed a ground ball that bounced off of his glove, giving Adam Dunn an infield single. His error set the stage for A.J. Pierzynski, who hit a two-run home run off of Tomlin.
Chicago scored another run in the fifth inning that took Tomlin out of the game. He had seven strikeouts, gave up seven hits, one walk and four runs.
Although Tomlin struggled in the first inning, he pitched well throughout most of the five innings in which he appeared.
The Indians have not done much with run support for their starting pitchers. Since it is so early in the season, there is a perception that there is plenty of time for them to get back on track. Let's hope that they can figure it out quickly before they lose too much time.
It's easy to say that it's just one game, or that it's early in the season, so it's not a big deal. The end of the 2011 season proved that thought to be wrong. Numerous teams played the final game of the regular season as a playoff game, deciding whether or not they would make it into the postseason.
Teams must play each game with the understanding that every game is important. Losing one game in April could mean that they don't make it into the postseason in October.
The Indians need to figure that out now and give their starters better support.
By Bill Ford (Featured Columnist) on April 10, 2012
he Cleveland Indians are off to a difficult start to the 2012 season with a 1-3 record so far.
The Tribe has struggled offensively, and they have not been able to support some strong pitching performances from their starters.
Monday night, the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox 4-2. Starting pitcher Josh Tomlin struggled in the first inning, giving up two home runs, but he was able to settle down and gave five strong innings. Unfortunately, the Indians were not able to overcome the two home runs that he gave up.
After giving up the first home run in the first inning, Asdrubal Cabrera missed a ground ball that bounced off of his glove, giving Adam Dunn an infield single. His error set the stage for A.J. Pierzynski, who hit a two-run home run off of Tomlin.
Chicago scored another run in the fifth inning that took Tomlin out of the game. He had seven strikeouts, gave up seven hits, one walk and four runs.
Although Tomlin struggled in the first inning, he pitched well throughout most of the five innings in which he appeared.
The Indians have not done much with run support for their starting pitchers. Since it is so early in the season, there is a perception that there is plenty of time for them to get back on track. Let's hope that they can figure it out quickly before they lose too much time.
It's easy to say that it's just one game, or that it's early in the season, so it's not a big deal. The end of the 2011 season proved that thought to be wrong. Numerous teams played the final game of the regular season as a playoff game, deciding whether or not they would make it into the postseason.
Teams must play each game with the understanding that every game is important. Losing one game in April could mean that they don't make it into the postseason in October.
The Indians need to figure that out now and give their starters better support.
Re: Articles
1587Manny Acta would be a genius if he managed the Tigers. So would Mike Hargrove, Charlie Manuel, Eric Wedge, Romeo Crennel...
Re: Articles
1588No one said the team is not lacking in talent. At the same time how many forum posters did not have at least 81 wins as a prediction ?civ ollilavad wrote:Sorry Rusty, I agaree that 90% of the problem at least is the quality of the talent available to play each day.
Re: Articles
1589Not in my opinion.J.R. wrote:Manny Acta would be a genius if he managed the Tigers. So would Mike Hargrove, Charlie Manuel, Eric Wedge, Romeo Crennel...
Re: Articles
1590Cleveland Indians, Carlos Santana agree to 5-year $21 million contract extension
Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 9:33 AM Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 3:46 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Catcher Carlos Santana has reached a five-year $21 million agreement on a contract extension with the Indians. The deal runs through 2016 with a club option for 2017.
Santana will receive a $1 million signing bonus this year along with his base salary of $501,900. Then the deal unfolds this way: $550,000 in 2013, $3.5 million in 2014, $6 million in 2015, $8.25 million in 2016 with a club option worth $12 million and a $1.2 million buyout.
If Santana qualifies as a Super Two player at the end of this year, which is not thought to be likely, the deal will be restructured.
Santana, 26, is entering his second full season in the big leagues. With one year and 115 days in the big leagues, he was not eligible for arbitration at the end of last season and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season.
In other words, the Indians had Santana under control for the next five years whether they signed him to an extension or not.
"In a very short time, we've seen Carlos develop into one of the best offensive catcher's in baseball," said GM Chris Antonetti. "What has us excited organizationally is not only the offense he provides, but how far he's come defensively and the commitment he's made to be the best catcher he can be.
"When you combine his offense, and what he provides behind the plate with his defense and leadership potential, it leaves us with a cornerstone player not only for the present, but for the teams to come."
Santana called Cleveland "my second home. . .I want to help this team win a world championship."
Negotiations on the deal started early in spring training and concluded on Opening Day.
Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta and Roberto Hernandez are some of the pre-arbitration eligible players the Indians have signed to multiyear deals in the past. Sometimes the deals included the purchase of the player's first free agent year or gave the club an option to purchase it.
Martinez serves as a good comparable to Santana. They're both switch-hitting catchers/first baseman. On April 5, 2005, Martinez signed a five-year $15.5 million extension with the Indians.
The deal ran through 2009 and the Indians held a club option for 2010, Martinez's first free agent year. They traded him to Boston in 2009.
Sizemore signed a six-year $23.45 million deal in the spring of 2006. It ran through 2011, which would have been Sizemore's first free agent season. This past winter, the Indians didn't exercise the option on Sizemore for 2012, but did re-sign him as a free agent for one year on a $5 million deal.
He is currently on the disabled list after undergoing back surgery on March 1.
Peralta signed a five-year $13 million deal in the spring of 2006 as well. The Indians did not purchase a free agent year from the durable shortstop, but traded him to Detroit in 2010, the final year of the deal.
Santana is hitting .250 (4-for-16) with two homers and four RBI through the first four games of this season. He hit two homers Sunday to celebrate his 26th birthday. He drove in a run in Monday's 4-2 loss to Chicago.
At Tuesday's press conference, Santana said, "This is my best birthday ever."
The Indians are basing their investment on Santana on what he did last year. While hitting only .239 (132-for-552), Santana hit 35 doubles, two triples and 27 homers with 79 RBI. He scored 84 runs, drew 97 walks for a slugging percentage of .457 and an on base percentage of .351.
Santana split time between catching and first base last year. This year he'll concentrate on catching. He'll move to DH against certain lefties to rest his legs.
On Wednesday, the Indians signed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to a two-year $16.5 million extension. Cabrera, who will make $4.55 million this year, under the terms of the extension Cabrera will make $6.5 million on 2013 and $10 million on 2014. If Cabrera had turned down the extension, he could have been a free agent after the 2013 season.
Cabrera and Santana's extensions are the first signed by the Indians since 2008.
"This is something we've always tried to do," said Paul Dolan, Indians Chief Operating Officer. "If we can get them done, that's great because it means the value is lined up for us and the player. If we don't get that done, we function on more a year to year basis.
"Our desire is to find the right balance with our core players and provide some certainty for us over a longer period of time."
Since the end of last season, as Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLBTraderumors reports, teams gave extensions to 11 pre-arbitration eligible players. They included Santana, Andrew McCutchen, Derek Holland, Jon Niese, Alcides Escobar, Cameron Maybin, Sergio Santos, Jonathan Lucroy, Cory Luebke, Salvador Perez and Matt Moore. Lucroy and Perez are catchers like Santana.
Last year Santana's 27 home runs set a club record for switch hitters. He also become just he first catcher in Indians history to record at least 30 doubles, 25 homers and draw 90 walks in one season.
Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 9:33 AM Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 3:46 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Catcher Carlos Santana has reached a five-year $21 million agreement on a contract extension with the Indians. The deal runs through 2016 with a club option for 2017.
Santana will receive a $1 million signing bonus this year along with his base salary of $501,900. Then the deal unfolds this way: $550,000 in 2013, $3.5 million in 2014, $6 million in 2015, $8.25 million in 2016 with a club option worth $12 million and a $1.2 million buyout.
If Santana qualifies as a Super Two player at the end of this year, which is not thought to be likely, the deal will be restructured.
Santana, 26, is entering his second full season in the big leagues. With one year and 115 days in the big leagues, he was not eligible for arbitration at the end of last season and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season.
In other words, the Indians had Santana under control for the next five years whether they signed him to an extension or not.
"In a very short time, we've seen Carlos develop into one of the best offensive catcher's in baseball," said GM Chris Antonetti. "What has us excited organizationally is not only the offense he provides, but how far he's come defensively and the commitment he's made to be the best catcher he can be.
"When you combine his offense, and what he provides behind the plate with his defense and leadership potential, it leaves us with a cornerstone player not only for the present, but for the teams to come."
Santana called Cleveland "my second home. . .I want to help this team win a world championship."
Negotiations on the deal started early in spring training and concluded on Opening Day.
Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta and Roberto Hernandez are some of the pre-arbitration eligible players the Indians have signed to multiyear deals in the past. Sometimes the deals included the purchase of the player's first free agent year or gave the club an option to purchase it.
Martinez serves as a good comparable to Santana. They're both switch-hitting catchers/first baseman. On April 5, 2005, Martinez signed a five-year $15.5 million extension with the Indians.
The deal ran through 2009 and the Indians held a club option for 2010, Martinez's first free agent year. They traded him to Boston in 2009.
Sizemore signed a six-year $23.45 million deal in the spring of 2006. It ran through 2011, which would have been Sizemore's first free agent season. This past winter, the Indians didn't exercise the option on Sizemore for 2012, but did re-sign him as a free agent for one year on a $5 million deal.
He is currently on the disabled list after undergoing back surgery on March 1.
Peralta signed a five-year $13 million deal in the spring of 2006 as well. The Indians did not purchase a free agent year from the durable shortstop, but traded him to Detroit in 2010, the final year of the deal.
Santana is hitting .250 (4-for-16) with two homers and four RBI through the first four games of this season. He hit two homers Sunday to celebrate his 26th birthday. He drove in a run in Monday's 4-2 loss to Chicago.
At Tuesday's press conference, Santana said, "This is my best birthday ever."
The Indians are basing their investment on Santana on what he did last year. While hitting only .239 (132-for-552), Santana hit 35 doubles, two triples and 27 homers with 79 RBI. He scored 84 runs, drew 97 walks for a slugging percentage of .457 and an on base percentage of .351.
Santana split time between catching and first base last year. This year he'll concentrate on catching. He'll move to DH against certain lefties to rest his legs.
On Wednesday, the Indians signed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to a two-year $16.5 million extension. Cabrera, who will make $4.55 million this year, under the terms of the extension Cabrera will make $6.5 million on 2013 and $10 million on 2014. If Cabrera had turned down the extension, he could have been a free agent after the 2013 season.
Cabrera and Santana's extensions are the first signed by the Indians since 2008.
"This is something we've always tried to do," said Paul Dolan, Indians Chief Operating Officer. "If we can get them done, that's great because it means the value is lined up for us and the player. If we don't get that done, we function on more a year to year basis.
"Our desire is to find the right balance with our core players and provide some certainty for us over a longer period of time."
Since the end of last season, as Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLBTraderumors reports, teams gave extensions to 11 pre-arbitration eligible players. They included Santana, Andrew McCutchen, Derek Holland, Jon Niese, Alcides Escobar, Cameron Maybin, Sergio Santos, Jonathan Lucroy, Cory Luebke, Salvador Perez and Matt Moore. Lucroy and Perez are catchers like Santana.
Last year Santana's 27 home runs set a club record for switch hitters. He also become just he first catcher in Indians history to record at least 30 doubles, 25 homers and draw 90 walks in one season.