Frank

Millwood was a Boras client that couldn't get a job so Shapiro did Boras a favor and signed him to a cheap 1 year deal to showcase him. He pitched great and parlayed it into a 5 year deal the following season.
Maybe Lohse or Bourn won't be able to find jobs.

I'm a bogey golfer but I would be happy to take your money next year. Lots of nice courses out here.

Dice K is a Boras client.

Based on last year's stats, there seems no reason that Drew Stubbs should be an everyday player. His performance vs. RH pitchers was pathetic while vs. LH was quite solid.

Matt Underwood:
Tribe has signed OF Michael Bourn. Reportedly the free agent has agreed to a 4-yr deal.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/stats/_/i ... hael-bourn

Wow good for Dolan! Bourne signing is fantastic, legit leadoff hitter, solid addition to the lineup. Gotta believe Swisher goes to 1B and Reynolds to DH. Stubbs will be our everyday RF with Brantley in LF. Most of you are down on Stubbs but the kid is a legit everyday player inspite of a terrible season last year. He could very well end up batting 2nd. This set up an A Cab trade big time for a starter....

Indians really making some noise this off season!!!

RE: Bourne.

No Pop. OBP<340. Over 2k/BB ratio. Seems like a lot of scratch...

Dark add in the 40 bags, 100 runs and a Gold Glove in CF and not so much......

I know some people would like to continue the "cruise" myth, but the Indians have definitely been active this off-season. Maybe not all the moves will pan out, but at least they have made quite a few changes.

As posted previously, I like Michael Bourn. As Frank posted just a while ago, we now have a legitimate leadoff batter in the lineup.

On paper, a well-balanced attack. More importantly, a gold glove centerfielder. If I couldn't have Franklin Gutierrez, I'd gladly settle for Michael Bourn.

We can now boast that we will have the best bench options we've had in many, many seasons. Francona will definitely have a lot of options available to him. Ditto for the bullpen. You can't win without quality players coming off the bench or out of the bullpen.

Francona will also have some pretty good options for the rotation.

I gotta believe that Manny Acta and Chris Perez lit the proverbial flame under Dolan's and Shapiro's asses. The message seems to have gotten through.

I guess I can't bitch this season for the management team not putting forth the legitimate effort to finally improve this ballclub. I guess you can call me a pretty happy camper right now.

Yeah, this has been their most active offseason in a long time. Bourn and Swisher are the two biggest signees (in monetary terms) they've ever had. You probably have to go back to the offseason we picked up Dennis Martinez and Eddie Murray to compare to this one.

Only problem is that we still need massive improvement from the pitching to even work our way into the playoff conversation. But weirder things have happened. We look stronger now than Oakland looked a year ago at this time, that's for sure.

Looks like the Boras connection was real.

I wouldn't mind moving Brantley in some kind of package for some pitching.

shocked

You're not alone, Ken. Nobody saw that coming.

I gotta believe that Manny Acta and Chris Perez lit the proverbial flame under Dolan's and Shapiro's asses. The message seems to have gotten through.

Joe, did you get the memo that Acta got fired for being a terrible manager ? Did you get the memo that Chris Perez said that if Acta was the manager that he did not want to play for the Indians ?

Where is Acta now ? BEER LEAGUE GM !

Charlie T. wrote:Yeah, this has been their most active offseason in a long time. Bourn and Swisher are the two biggest signees (in monetary terms) they've ever had. You probably have to go back to the offseason we picked up Dennis Martinez and Eddie Murray to compare to this one.

Only problem is that we still need massive improvement from the pitching to even work our way into the playoff conversation. But weirder things have happened. We look stronger now than Oakland looked a year ago at this time, that's for sure.

My utopia dream involves Bauer coming up in the 2nd half and spreading Championship Cheer around the Moses Cleveland statue.