Cleveland Sports Forum

Indians To Sign Ryan Spilborghs
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 20, 2012 at 10:32am CST]

10:32am: It would be a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets.

9:52am: The Indians have agreed to sign free agent outfielder Ryan Spilborghs, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. The Boras Corporation represents the outfielder, who was non-tendered in December.

Updated: January 20, 2012, 2:26 PM ET

Fausto Carmona released on bail

Associated Press


SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The Cleveland Indians pitcher known as Fausto Carmona made a tearful apology Friday as he was released following his arrest for allegedly using a false identity to play baseball in the U.S.

"I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," he said upon leaving the court, where a judge released him on bail of about $13,000.

Police arrested him Thursday outside the U.S. consulate in his native Dominican Republic when he arrived to get his visa renewed. Spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the athlete's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is 31, three years older than he had claimed.

He was the second Dominican player arrested in recent months for using a false identity.

Marlins reliever Leo Nunez was arrested last month for using a false identity, three months after the team placed him on the restricted list when it became known he was playing under an assumed name.

Nunez, whose actual name is Juan Oviedo, was quickly released and officials said he would not be prosecuted because he was cooperating with a larger investigation into the use of false documents.

Lawyers for Hernandez said the Indians pitcher would speak in more detail at a later news conference. Judge Keyla Perez ordered him not to leave the country and required him to check in with prosecutors while the case is under further investigation.

His lawyer, Joaquin Perez, said they did not know if pther players were also under investigation in the case.

Carmona is due to make $7 million this year, and the Indians hold options for 2013 at $9 million and 2014 at $12 million.

"We were recently made aware of the situation that occurred today in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the process of gathering information," general manager Chris Antonetti said after the arrest.

Carmona's career in Cleveland has been one of extremes.

After going 1-10 in 2006, the right-hander with a wicked slider won 19 games in 2007, shocking the Indians, who had briefly experimented with him as a closer. Carmona followed up with a disappointing 2008 season, and in 2009 the club sent him to the lower minors to work on his mechanics.

Carmona rebounded to win 13 games in 2010 in manager Manny Acta's first season. Although he went just 7-15 last season, Carmona stayed healthy, didn't miss a start and was expected to be part of the starting rotation this season.

Fausto Carmona Is No More
by Dave Cameron - January 20, 2012

Yesterday, Enrique Rojas broke the news that Fausto Carmona‘s real name is actually Roberto Heredia, and he’s three years older than his listed age of 28. Additionally, because he was using a false identity, Carmona’s Heredia’s chances of securing a work visa seem to be less than stellar. Previous players who have gotten caught using a false name and birthdate have ended up getting stuck in their home country, and it’s an open question whether or not Heredia will make it to the U.S. this year. The Indians are likely best off preparing as if he’s not going to be a member of their rotation in 2012.

Replacing a guy who posted a 130 ERA- last year doesn’t seem like that big of a challenge. In fact, the Tribe could run out pretty much any random Triple-A arm they wanted and expect to get similar or better results than what Heredia gave them a year ago. Of course, since you’re reading FanGraphs, you’re likely aware that past year ERA isn’t a great predictor of next season ERA, especially in cases where the results don’t line up with the underlying peripherals. In Heredia’s case, his xFIP- of 103 suggests that he was more likely to post an ERA closer to league average this year than he was to be lousy once again, and a starter who can throw 200 league average-ish innings has some real value. The Indians realized this as well, which is why they picked up his $7 million option rather than letting him hit the free agent market.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, Heredia’s in-flux status means that they can’t really count on being able to void his contract and reallocate those funds to another pitcher. There’s still a chance he could get his visa and join the team, in which case the club would still be on the hook for his salary – trying to get the contract completely voided on the basis of fraud isn’t easy and the case wouldn’t be settled any time soon.

So, with potentially limited funds to spend (after all, they still need a first baseman as well), Chris Antonetti will likely have to turn to the trade market if he wants to find a replacement for what the team was expecting Heredia to provide. And, luckily for the Indians, they might have a chance to make a deal that could allow them to bring in a pretty similar pitcher that they’re already very familiar with – Jake Westbrook.

Westbrook is currently slated to be the Cardinals fifth starter, but there has been talk that the team has kicked the tires on bringing in Roy Oswalt, who would apparently love to pitch for St. Louis and is still looking for a job. Westbrook’s presence on the roster complicates the decision to sign Oswalt, however, as they’d essentially end up just eating the $8.5 million that Westbrook is owed for 2012 if they bumped him from the rotation. However, if they found a team willing to take Westbrook and a portion of his remaining salary, they’d have both a job for Oswalt and some extra cash to throw his way.

Westbrook’s skillset is very similar to Heredia’s, and if the Indians are looking to replace his production with something in the same mold, it’d be hard to find an available pitcher with more in common than Westbrook. Here are their 2011 seasons side by side:

Name IP BB% K% GB% HR/FB LOB% BABIP ERA- FIP- xFIP-
Jake Westbrook 183.1 9.0 % 12.9 % 59.3 % 11.4 % 69.1 % .313 126 114 106
Fausto Carmona 188.2 7.2 % 13.1 % 54.8 % 13.0 % 62.1 % .291 130 114 103

Westbrook traded a few additional walks for a few more ground balls, but overall, the results are basically the same. Westbrook also posted an ERA quite a bit higher than his xFIP would have suggested, though the culprit in his case was more BABIP than HR/FB, but like Heredia, he’s a decent bounce back candidate for next season.

Since Westbrook’s familiar with the Indians and they could basically guarantee him a rotation job, Westbrook could likely be enticed into waiving his no-trade clause and accepting a move back to his original franchise. The Cardinals would likely be more interested in freeing up a rotation spot for Oswalt than clearing out a large sum of money, and coming off a poor year, Cleveland probably wouldn’t have to pick up more than $3 million of the $8.5 million Westbrook is due this year. Antonetti already showed a willingness to make this kind of move earlier this off-season, when the team picked up Derek Lowe from the Braves under similar circumstances.

The move would seem to be a win-win for everyone. The Cardinals would upgrade their rotation to help fight off the Reds in the NL Central race, the Indians get a lower cost innings-eater to help replace Heredia, Westbrook gets a more secure spot in a rotation with an organization he knows well, and Oswalt would finally be able to land with a contender in the NL, where he’s used to pitching.

The Cardinals and Indians have been regular trading partners over the years. Given yesterday’s developments, it might be time for them to hook up again.

Indians sign Spilborghs, Petit
2:43 PM TONY NO COMMENTS

Ryan Spilborghs
Today the Cleveland Indians announced that they have signed free agent outfielder Ryan Spilborghs and infielder Gregorio Petit to minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League spring training camp.

Spilborghs, 32, has played in 619 total games at the Major League level - all with the Colorado Rockies - and owns a career batting average of .272 with 86 2B, 12 3B, 42 HR and 218 RBI. Last year with the Rockies his season ended prematurely because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot in early August. In 98 games with the Rockies last year he hit .210 with 8 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR and 22 RBI. He is a right-handed hitter and is versatile where he can play all three outfield positions. In his career he is a .305 (53-for-174) pinch-hitter.

Petit, 26, has a nine year minor league career where he is a career .266 hitter with 139 2B, 22 3B, 41 HR and 343 RBI in 827 games. He was a member of the Athletics organization from 2002-2009 and played in 25 total games at the big league level with them in 2008 and 2009. He last played in 2010 with the Rangers, and spent the entire season at Triple-A Oklahoma City and hit .251 (118-471) with 20 2B, 7 HR and 53 RBI in 130 games at shortstop. Last December he injured his knee playing in the Venezuela Winter League and missed the 2011 season, but recently played in the Venezuela League for Caracas and hit .189 with 6 2B, 0 HR and 11 RBI in 30 games.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).
Posted in: Gregorio Petit,Ryan Spilborghs

Indians Acquire Kevin Slowey
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 20, 2012 at 3:03pm CST]

The Indians have acquired Kevin Slowey from the Rockies for Zach Putnam, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets.

The move provides Cleveland with rotation depth in the event that the pitcher known as Fausto Carmona isn't ready to pitch out of the rotation on Opening Day as a result of possible identity fraud. It also clears room on a crowded Rockies pitching staff that includes more rotation options than ever after this week's deal for Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Indians have acquired right-hander Kevin Slowey from the Rockies for right-hander Zach Putnam.

Sounds like the Indians are bracing for the possibility that Fausto Carmona (otherwise known as Roberto Hernandez Heredia) might not be ready for the start of the season. The Rockies just acquired Slowey from the Twins in December after he posted a 6.67 ERA over 59 1/3 innings last season. He avoided arbitration last week by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract. On the bright side, Progressive Field is a much better place for him to get back on track than Coors Field.

Related: Indians, Zach Putnam
Source: Jon Paul Morosi on Twitter Jan 20 - 4:04 PM

Putnam was just ranked as our No. 10 prospect by Baseball America, but since most of you guys wouldn't want a Michigan grad on the Indians, even he were Barry Larkin, I suppose the trade will seem like a can't lose deal to Forumites.

I think the f.k.a. Fausto should be addressed as Roberto Hernandez, not Roberto Heredia, the last name is his mother's name. I think Roberto picked a pretty cool name for his alias.

Slowey.......$2.75 M for a guy with a 6.67 ERA. Ain't arbitration wonderful.

Slowey did have have decent numbers in 2009 and 2010. Health is the big issue. Still only 27 may turn out to be a decent move.

It may also tell you how confident the Indians are of Heredia/Carmona pitching for them in 2012.

The Faustian Bargain of Fausto Carmona

Written by Andrew Clayman

faustofaust4When the day started, Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona still had the quirky distinction of being the only “Fausto” to take the mound in the history of Major League Baseball. By the evening, he was suddenly just another Roberto… and three years older. I suppose this isn’t such a shocking development within the context of Cleveland Indians history, with its Ten Cent Beer Nights and wife-swapping incidents. But even as the actual details trickle in on Carmona’s false identity arrest in his native Dominican Republic, the former English student in me can’t help but gravitate toward the big glaring literary allusion in this ridiculous story. He freaking named himself “Fausto!”

Prologue: The "Tragical History" of Fausto Carmona

Whether you know the classic legend of Faust or not, you’re unavoidably aware of its resonance in Western culture. Today, the term “Faustian bargain” is synonymous with “deal with the devil,” and while it’s probably referenced more in the context of Robert Johnson at the crossroads than a mythical doctor in Deutschland, everybody pretty much gets the gist of the tale. Still, since most of us have presumably been out of college for a while, let’s break out the source material (no citations necessary) and briefly review this Faust thing and why it’s kind of relevant to our new/old friend Roberto Hernandez Heredia.

Part I. The Faust Legend

Okay, so here’s a basic rundown of the Faust legend, as passed along through centuries of books, plays, paintings, films, music, and most other things that can involve some kind of narrative…

Faust is a smart and talented fellow—let’s say, a doctor-- but he’s also a bit of the snooty, jaded type, and isn’t satisfied with what he’s got. He wants to advance to bigger and better things—to make his wildest dreams a reality. And lucky for him, this impossible goal actually becomes feasible when Faust happens upon the devil, aka Mephistopheles, just chilling in the woods or something. The two get to talking, and Mephy starts negotiating a deal built around Faust’s ambitions. They come to a gentleman/demon agreement. Mephistopheles will use his powers to get Faust everything he wants for a certain number of years, but once Faust has hit his peak of personal satisfaction, the Devil will come collect on the doctor’s soul and send him down to the lake of fire.

faustofaust3

Naturally, things go great for a while, as Faust gains limitless knowledge, scores hot chicks, attains massive wealth, and pretty much reaches Jay-Z levels of untouchability. But as promised, the devil eventually comes to collect, leaving the reader to presume that eternal damnation is proportionally worse than a decade or so of mega awesomeness on Earth.

The Faust tales dates back to a German myth from at least the 16th century and probably much older. The basic characters, storyline, and themes would be recycled in a bunch of classics, including the British playwright Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (1604), the two-part epic Faust by iconic German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (early 1800s), and Thomas Mann’s novel Doctor Faustus (1947). Then you’ve got the literally thousands of adaptations of the story in new, modern packages, from Damn Yankees and Little Shop of Horrors to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” to that really shitty Brendan Fraser vehicle Bedazzled. The details change, but the song remains the same: giving up one’s soul for earthly gains is tempting, but probably not a good idea.

Part II: Fausto as a Faustian Character

It remains to be seen whether the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona will one day warrant his own cinematic retelling of the Faust legend. Honestly, any studio that would greenlight that horrible idea probably should be shut down before casting starts. But, if we imagine what such a movie might look like, it’d probably open with an exterior shot of Jacobs Field on October 5, 2007. In the midst of a Division Series playoff battle between the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees, a massive cloud of pesky insects suddenly descends into the stadium like a wrathful bug invasion out of biblical times.

On the field, Yankees star pitcher Joba Chamberlain is covered in the fluttering midges, unable to concentrate on the task at hand as the Tribe rallies to tie the game late. His counterpart, however—Indians starter Fausto Carmona—is seemingly unfazed by the crawly creatures. As if protected by special, otherworldly powers, Carmona pitches nine brilliant innings in the bug storm, and the Indians go on to win the game and the series.

Then we flashback ten years, to 1997, in a small neighborhood in Santo Domingo, D.R. Here we meet a young man named Roberto Hernandez Heredia—a 17 year-old pitcher with loads of natural talent, but great concerns about his future. Will his sinkerball ever sink the way he wants it to? Will he ever impress American scouts enough to get signed? To get out of Santo Domingo? To play in the Bigs? To support his family?

During the height of young Roberto’s worrying, he meets a local sports agent named Jose. Jose Mephistopheles. And Jose says he can help the youngster achieve all his lofty goals. To do this, however, some sacrifices will need to be made. First and foremost, there's the age problem. Roberto will need a few years to develop his skills, and by the time he's ready to wow scouts, he'll be pushing 20-- way too old. So, when those scouts come around, Roberto must tell them he is actually three years younger than his true age. Secondly, and this is the biggie, Roberto must change his name. Otherwise, it would be too easy for scouts and/or government officials to find out the truth about his age and background. From now on, in order to get to where he wanted to go, Robert Heredia would have to become… Fausto Carmona.

faustofaust5

From there, of course, we follow Fausto on his rise through the Indians’ minor league system and his impressive victory in his first Major League start in 2006. We skip over the rest of 2006 a bit (he lost his next 10 decisions) because it doesn’t fit our narrative as well. Then we jump back in with that tremendous ’07 campaign, in which—with the continued “assistance” of his friend Mr. Mephistopheles—Fausto finishes fourth in Cy Young voting with a 19-8 record and 3.06 ERA.

Despite the success, though, Fausto remains constantly concerned that his deal with Mephistopheles will come to light—that everyone will learn he is not whom he has claimed to be. These worries begin to manifest themselves on the mound, where Carmona becomes famous for sweating profusely and yelling at himself between pitches, nervously re-adjusting his cap and shirt like a piss-poor poker player with a straight flush.

Despite the obvious signs of his deceit, though, no one in Cleveland is the wiser. And even after an extremely inconsistent 2011 season, Carmona finds himself rewarded by his old agreement with Mephistopheles again, as the Indians improbably agree to pick up Fausto’s $7 million option for 2012. He is the rich, successful Major Leaguer he had always dreamed of being. And as he concludes a joyous offseason in his homeland, it nearly escapes his mind that there was another part to that deal he signed as a wide-eyed teenager. “When you have reached the peak of your success,” Mephistopheles had said, “you will be arrested by the Dominican National Police for trying to obtain a visa with a false identity.”

It might not be hell, but it's safe to assume a Dominican jail cell ain't a long way from it for Dr. Fausto.

civ ollilavad wrote:Putnam was just ranked as our No. 10 prospect by Baseball America, but since most of you guys wouldn't want a Michigan grad on the Indians, even he were Barry Larkin, I suppose the trade will seem like a can't lose deal to Forumites.

Could care less about the Michigan thing.

Always rooted for Thom Darden.

Signee Petit missed the 2011 season due to a knee injury.

Signee Spilborghs season ended in August of 2011 due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Signee Slowey had a winless 2011 blamed largely upon an abdominal injury.

Did I miss anything?

Not certain of the legitimacy of the site or information, but did find this tidbit interesting:


Anonymous (Sophomore) wrote on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:53:03 GMT reply

Was in town today:

Slowey shows up

Righthander Kevin Slowey appeared at Target Field on Wednesday. He recently had laser vision correction surgery and is looking forward to testing his eyes out when he climbs Mount Kilimanjaro in January to raise money for charity. The group he's climbing with includes former Twins pitcher R.A. Dickey.
Since he was at the park, Slowey spoke with Ryan, who called him the day the Twins drafted him in 2005.

http://www.talk-sports.net/mlb/girlfrie ... vin_Slowey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M_qjjwCUbk


Kevin Slowey talking about his faith


Just for KenM.