Two down, how many more to go?

Kotchman, Lopez, or Hafner? They might to trade the first two. There still seems to be a sentimental thing about keeping Hafner around.

J.R. wrote:Indians designate Johnny Damon for assignment
Last updated: 08/03/12 at 12:35 PST by Juan Dominguez

The Cleveland Indians have designated outfielder Johnny Damon for assignment according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. This creates room for Ezequiel Carrera who was recalled from Triple-A.

Damon, 38, hit .222/.281/.329 with 4 HR's, 19 RBI's and a 72 OPS+ in 224 plate appearances for the Indians this season.

Quick... someone go put a stake through his heart!

rusty2 wrote:Actually, in North Carolina the proper address is "Hey".

In central South Carolina when greeting a guy casually that one does not know well the offering is sometimes, "hey Bo." Or "hey beau," dependent upon your dictionary.

I have a good friend in South Carolina I've known for about 17 years. He graduated UNC Asheville and moved to the suburban Columbia town I frequented. When I first ran into him at a bar not long after his arrival he quipped that he thought every male in town must be named "Beau" because of the greetings he was hearing.

I watched out for him the first night I met him because he was drinking heavily and ordering group shots. He was wearing a shirt that said "CBC," and I interpreted that he was a fallen Christian student from "Columbia Bible College."

Turned out there was some bar downtown Columbia called "Columbia Brewing Company."

DETROIT -- The Indians felt their starting rotation was in good shape when this season began. It has since fallen short of expectations, leaving the club questioning the strength of the cast going forward.

Tribe manager manager Manny Acta said the club will need to re-evaluate the rotation for 2013.
[Manny may have a point there. Anyone know where to find 5 really cheap starters?]

"We're definitely going to have to reinforce [the rotation]," Acta said on Sunday. "No one was anticipating that some of the guys who [we] started the season with were going to -- I won't say take a step back -- but not pitch, at least, the way they pitched last year."

Entering Sunday's game in Detroit, Cleveland's rotation had gone 0-7 with a 12.08 ERA over the team's past eight games, allowing 54 runs (51 earned) over 38 innings. Among American League rotations, the Tribe ranked 12th in ERA (5.13), wins (36) and winning percentage (.424), 13th in walks (249), strikeouts (401) and WHIP (1.50) and last in losses (49) and hits allowed (688).

Justin Masterson (7-10, 4.78 ERA) and Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11, 5.29 ERA) are the only members of the Opening Day rotation who remain on the current staff. Josh Tomlin (5-8, 5.81 ERA) has been moved to the bullpen, Jeanmar Gomez (4-7, 5.18 ERA) was shipped back to Triple-A Columbus and Derek Lowe (8-10, 5.52 ERA) was recently designated for assignment.

The rotation now includes rookies Zach McAllister (4-3, 3.42 ERA) and Corey Kluber (0-0, 12.46 ERA), along with lefty Chris Seddon.

"I was looking at it [on Saturday] night," Acta said. "Out of the five guys we started the season with, I wasn't anticipating that one was going to get released, one was going to be sent down to Triple-A, one was going to have to be put in [the] bullpen and, at some point, the five of them would have a 5.00 ERA.

"That's not the way I think. That's not the way anyone should be going into the season thinking. We were positive going in. at least be better than it had been in the past. I was anticipating that either guys were going to pitch as good, or better."

paul hoynes ‏@hoynsie

#Indians GM Chris Antonetti says Manny Acta will be back next year as manager.

Rusty adds : Antonetti had to wake Manny up in the dugout to tell him.

Indians Claim Fabio Martinez
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [August 6 at 1:18pm CST]

The Indians announced that they have claimed right-hander Fabio Martinez off of waivers from the Angels. The Indians optioned Martinez to Class A Carolina, where they plan to convert him to a reliever.

Martinez had been pitching at Class A Inland Empire this season, his sixth as a professional. The 22-year-old posted a 10.72 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 12.7 BB/9 in 22 2/3 innings, all as a starter. He has a 3.90 ERA with 11.8 K/9 and 6.2 BB/9 in his minor league career. Martinez has two options remaining after this year, according to the Indians.

Great Fabio joins Lars as we are expanding the Tribe players Internationally.

I guess they are going after the ladies, since Grady doesn't play any more.

In an interview with super scout Seagull, Fabio says "I'll show everybody I can hit a bull in the ass with a fiddle"

Indians GM Chris Antonetti is exploring the trade market for both Johnny Damon and Derek Lowe, tweets MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Antonetti feels there's a chance that he can complete trades within their respective 10-day windows. Cleveland recently designated Damon and Lowe for assignment.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that Antonetti is happy with the job Manny Acta has done and expects him to be the Indians' manager in 2013. Antonetti did concede that the front office and coaching staff may have over-evaluated the roster's talent in Spring Training.

As well as underestimating Willingham and the need for a RH power bat.

What is our record since penalizing Hagadone with no salary? That may have not gone over with many players on our team and possible signees. Another possible management gaffe.

Antonetti did concede that the front office and coaching staff may have over-evaluated the roster's talent in Spring Training.

Are you kidding!

Tribe bats were awful in ST.

I saw that Seagull. Thought it best to bite my tongue and not respond. That kind of sums up the past 10 or so years though. The two years we did have some talent, the front office could not take us to the next level, rather we regressed in both cases. Personally, I don't think I can weather another rebuilding process with this ownship and this front office in place.

Notice that he didn't say that Antonetti won't fire himself. He can tell where the blame lies.