Here's a list of the estimated "cost per win" for each team based on 2013 and 2012 salaries paid and 2012 actual and 2013 estimated wins. Tribe's CPW drops about $100,000 because the number of wins is estimated to increase, only to 77. The A's rate as most efficient team on this list, paying about 1/2 as much per win as Tribe and expected to win 91 games.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1540 ... st/page/31

When Kazmir left baseball, his fastball was running in the low to mid 80s. Probably couldn't get highschool kids out unless his location was perfect.

If you can't break a pane of glass, you better locate.

Maybe things have changed.......maybe not

Michael Brantley will be shut down 10 days with a left forearm injury.
Brantley had to be taken the hospital Monday after being spiked on the arm by Josh Donaldson. While there's no structural damage, the Indians are now saying that he’ll likely be sidelined at least until early-March. With Opening Day more than a month away, Brantley should have no trouble getting ready for the start of the season.

Source: Paul Hoynes on Twitter Feb 26 - 12:43 PM

So it begins...I'm anxiously awaiting the follow-up report in 10 days.

The original report from Nick Camino:


@CaminoTribe
Michael Brantley replaced by Jeremy Hermida in LF. Brantley seemed to slide awkwardly in 3B last inning. We'll see...

The injury condition of Tribe members has always been understated at best. A cut to the forearm that requires 10 days rest sounds like they're not telling you everything.

Took 15 stitches so it was not just a cut. At the same time a ball player is an employee and has rights about medical issues just like anyone else.

Unbelievable that Tribe fans think that they are so important that the medical staff lies to them.

Get real.....

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians are asking sinkerballer Justin Masterson to lead their rotation for the second season in a row.

On Tuesday, Cleveland manager Terry Francona informed Masterson that he will be given the ball on Opening Day against the Blue Jays on April 2 in Toronto. It marks Masterson's second consecutive opening nod.

Francona delivered the news to Masterson in the home dugout at Goodyear Ballpark prior to Cleveland's Cactus League contest against the Royals.

Last season, Masterson endured an up-and-down campaign, finishing the year 11-15 wth a 4.93 ERA in 34 outings for the Indians. Over 206 1/3 innings -- the second straight year he logged at least 200 frames -- Masterson mixed in 159 strikeouts and 88 walks.

In his Opening Day outing a year ago, Masterson turned in one of his best performances of the season. Facing Toronto at home, the right-hander scattered two hits and allowed just one run, piling up 10 strikeouts against one walk in eight stellar innings of work. Masterson picked up a no-decision for his effort.

Masterson received his first Opening Day assignment after a breakout showing in 2011. In 34 games that season, the starter went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA and 216 innings. Along the way, he struck out 158 hitters and issued 65 free passes.

Francona mentioned recently that Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez would be matching up against the top two starters from rival clubs this season. If that plan holds, Jimenez would slot into the starting staff as the No. 2 arm with his first outing scheduled for April 3 in Toronto.

Behind Masterson and Jimenez, the Indians' only perceived lock for the rotation is righty Brett Myers, who signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the club over the winter. Right-hander Zach McAllister is the favorite for the fourth job, while Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Scott Kazmir, Corey Kluber, Daisuke Matsuzaka and David Huff are in the mix for the final opening.

Brantley to miss at least 10 days with laceration

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Michael Brantley did not ask the doctors how many stitches were used to close the laceration in his left forearm on Monday afternoon. All the Indians left fielder was concerned about is how much time he is going to miss with the injury.

"I didn't need the details," Brantley said on Tuesday morning. "I just want to know when I'm coming back."

Cleveland is hoping Brantley will not be sidelined for too long.

Tribe manager Terry Francona indicated that Brantley will be shut down from all activities for a period of three days, giving the young outfielder time to heal after being spiked in the arm while sliding into third base in Monday's 14-10 win over the A's. Francona added that Brantley would likely need at least 10 days before being cleared for game action.

"It'll be a progression," Francona said. "We definitely want this thing to heal and heal properly. I'd bet you it'd be about 10 days. That's probably a pretty good estimate. There's not a reason to rush this thing whatsoever."

While Brantley is sidelined, the Indians will have an opportunity to rotate a handful of players through left field while evaulating their fourth outfielder options. For Tuesday's home game against Kansas City, Minor Leaguer Tim Fedroff got the nod in Brantley's position.

The injury occurred in the third inning on Monday when Brantley laced a double into the left-center gap at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Oakland used two cut-off men on the play, pulling third baseman Josh Donaldson away from his position. With no one covering third, Brantley attempted to take an extra base.

As Brantley slid headfirst into the bag, Donaldson stepped on the outfielder's left forerm. Brantley promptly exited the game and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, where he received 10 stitches (10 external and five internal). On Tuesday morning, Brantley was wearing a protective splint on his arm.

"I'm tough," Brantley said with a smile. "I've been stepped on once or twice. Who hasn't? But nothing to this magnitude. The cleat kind of got in there pretty good and left a nice little cut. They haven't really told me too much, just that they want to make sure I rest and make sure it heals."

In 149 games last season, Brantley hit .288 with a .348 on-base percentage in a breakout showing for Cleveland. Along the way, he mixed in six home runs, 37 doubles, 60 RBIs and 63 runs scored.

Brantley's injury also interupted a strong start to the spring slate. Through three Cactus League games, the left fielder had gone 5-for-6 with four doubles and two RBIs for the Tribe. Francona raved about that early showing.

"I wish you could bottle where his swing is at," Francona said. "He hit four doubles and he kept everything fair and he went from left-center to the right-field line. It was gorgeous."

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/video/ ... 6&c_id=cle


In the first installment, new manager Terry Francona, whose father, Tito, played for the Indians from 1959-1964, details how his passion for the Indians, their fans and the city played a vital role in his decision to return. The campaign also will appear in television, radio, print, online, and out-of-home advertising.

"I spent the first six years of my life here, going to the stadium with my dad: cheering for the Tribe, cheering for Cleveland," Francona says in the video, which can be viewed at Indians.com. "This is a town that doesn't give up. Being a Cleveland sports fan takes resilience. The passion is real. The fans are real. Cleveland is a Tribe town. "

Subsequent parts of the series, which will be released as Opening Day draws near, feature "Voice of the Tribe" Tom Hamilton, new first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher, bench coach and former Tribe catcher Sandy Alomar, and new outfielder Michael Bourn.

"'This is a Tribe town' captures perfectly the passion we feel for our fans and the community we serve," Indians president Mark Shapiro said.

Thong years long gone, Giambi has remade himself into mature mentor
By Jon Heyman | Baseball Insider
February 26, 2013 4:14 pm ET



GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jason Giambi is like a "bad penny,'' he says, because nobody's going to get rid of him so easily. Certainly not the sport he still loves just as much as when he came up -- with such a long-ago A's team that it still included Mark McGwire, Dave Stewart and Terry Steinbach.

Really, it's quite amazing that Giambi is still in baseball, considering not only his 42 years but his previous carefree lifestyle. He wasn't a guy opposed to having a good time, let's put it that way, and that includes late-night fun.

"I go to bed at 9 o'clock now. I used to see 9 in the morning,'' Giambi said. "I had a lot of fun. But I take care of myself now. I finally grew up.''

He seems decades away from his thong days. But if he hadn't reformed, he would have been like one of patented homers, long gone. Giambi, one of the oldest players in uniform, knows that, and so does everyone else in baseball. He's matured to the point where he's now considered a great mentor and even manager material. And his engaging personality would surely make him a natural for parts of the job.

No one who witnessed Giambi's prime and heard the legendary stories of fun would have believed he'd still be in the big leagues, not at age 42. But here he is, in a revitalized Indians camp, loving it like he's a kid. (He's always been a kid at his core, anyway.)

After slipping to .225 with just one home run in 2012, (following a 2011 season in which he hit .260 with 13 home runs and a .958 OPS), he has a minor-league deal that'll pay him $750,000 if he's on the big club. And, while no spot is guaranteed to an over-40 player on a minor-league deal, he has a good shot. The Indians are a lot deeper than they've been in the past, but they look like they could use his lefty power off the bench, and yes, his mentoring ability.

"It's an opportunity to play with good young players,'' Giambi said. "It keeps me young.''

It's an opportunity for him, and for the Indians, who are engendering excitement throughout Cleveland (they sold out Opening Day in six minutes, and ticket sales are up 40 percent). "They've made some nice moves to give themselves an opportunity,'' Giambi said. "They competed last year, until the wheels came off.''

They've placed his locker here between Mark Reynolds and Lonnie Chisenhall, two corner infielders who could learn from Giambi. Reynolds has star potential if he can drastically cut down his strikeouts, Chisenhall is all about potential.

It's another youngster that has changed Giambi's life, though ... his 15-month-old daughter London.

"I'm loving every minute of it,'' he said.

Giambi earned so much respect for the way he handled his part-time role with the Rockies the past four years that they pretty seriously considered giving him the managerial job, despite him having no experience, before they settled on respected ex-Rockie Walt Weiss, who only beat Giambi for experience by managing his kid's high school team. Other teams (including the Phillies) wanted Giambi as a coach, so it's easy to see him becoming a major-league manager at some point.

But Giambi isn't done playing, not for awhile, not as far as he's concerned. And he makes more sense here with the Indians, where he can DH a couple times a week, as opposed to Colorado.

Giambi said, "I'm going to keep playing until they tear the uniform off or my body tells me it's time to go.''

Giambi said, "I'm going to keep playing until they tear the uniform off or my body tells me it's time to go.''

It's time to go.

Indians slash concession prices to woo fans to games

The Indians are slashing concession prices at Progressive Field to encourage fans to attend more games. Beer prices dropped more than 25 percent. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)


In their latest attempt to draw fans to the ballpark, the Indians are promoting reductions in concession prices: $4 beers, $3 hot dogs and $2 soda refills, according to CBS Sports. The team will also have 15 $1 hot dog nights throughout the season. Last season, beer was $5.50, and the average across MLB stadiums was $6.17.

“We’ve asked our fans what they want most in their ballpark experience at Progressive Field, and more affordable concessions prices routinely top the list,” said Indians president Mark Shapiro (via MLBlogs network). “This is a way for us to let fans know we’re listening to them and that we value them.”

I knew Shapiro was in charge of hot dogs.

His claim to fame

I guess Masterson was selected to start on opening day. I'd like to see Scott Kazmir stay healthy and break into the rotation as a split between the all right handed mix.

1. Masterson (R)
2. Myers (R)
3. Kazmir (L)
4. Jimenez (R)
5. Bauer (R)
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6. Huff (L)

Kazmir is a lock for the rotation.

Jimenez is the #2.

Bauer is not making the team.

What is your claim to fame ?