Cleveland Sports Forum

If we all chant for Gregorio Petit (pe TEET) to make the roster, we'll likely have another first time MLB name to go along with Asdrubal.

I doubt there has been another "Gregorio" at the MLB level.

rusty2 wrote:

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.

And I always rooted for Leroy Hoard. And he had the double whammy for me being a Michigan alum and a New Orleans native.

Fake Fausto Carmona Reportedly Was Outed by Real Fausto Carmona’s Mom on a Radio Show Because of Monetary Dispute

By Larry Brown

The Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona was arrested in the Dominican Republic this week for using a false identity. Carmona, or Roberto Hernadez Heredia if you prefer, has been pitching with the assumed name since 2000. So what led to his arrest several years later? Apparently a dispute over the amount of money he would have paid the real Fausto Carmona to continue using the false identity.

Pedro Gomez reported on Outside the Lines Friday that the real Fausto Carmona’s mother went on a popular radio show in the Dominican Republic and outed fake Fausto Carmona. The U.S. government began investigating after the radio appearance. When fake Fausto went to apply for a visa, he was arrested.

So why did real Fausto’s mother out the fake Fausto? Because of a monetary dispute.

Gomez says the Carmona family wanted a pay raise when they learned the pitcher was going to receive a salary bump. When fake Fausto balked, the mother outed him, leading to his arrest.

This saga reminds me of the Reggie Bush payment gone wrong. We’ve learned once again that if you’ve agreed to pay someone as part of a nefarious plan, it’s best not to go against that.

Could care less about the Michigan thing.

Always rooted for Thom Darden.

Steve Everitt!!

I loved that guy. I remember going to a game at the old stadium and it was as cold as I had ever been in my life to that point. And out walks Everitt well before the game in his football pants, do-rag, and a t-shirt with the sleeves and bottom cut out. He walked all around the field and all along acknowledging the fans. Then he sat on the bench by himself for quite a while. I got pneumonia just watching him.

And unfortunately I was the biggest Braylon Edwards apologist at the Browns forum.

And nobody hates the team up north as much as me.

And unfortunately I was the biggest Braylon Edwards apologist at the Browns forum.

The truth will set you free brother !


Now about that Butch thing .......

I'd take Butch, and RAC for that matter, over the last and current coach!

Pluto on the Tribe:

About the Tribe...


View full sizeAP fileKevin Slowey had no success last year in Minnesota, but seems a reasonable gamble for the Indians.
1. The Indians are preparing for Fausto Carmona/Roberto Heredia to not be in training camp ... and beyond. They intend to keep him under contract -- it's guaranteed for this season at $7 million. They also know that his visa and identity mess is probably not going to be resolved soon. They never expected to wake up one morning to discover that Fausto Carmona is not Fausto Carmona, and has gone from 28 to 31. But losing a starting pitcher to something does happen.

2. There will be no paycheck for Carmona unless he shows up in camp. So it costs the Tribe nothing unless he can pitch. The Indians never knew he had another name, or that he was three years older than he claimed.

3. They picked up Kevin Slowey from Colorado for Zach Putnam. The Rockies also sent $1.25 million to the Tribe to offset Slowey's $2.75 million salary. He was 0-8 with a 6.67 ERA for the Twins last season, batting an abdominal strain and a shoulder problem. Maybe he will be ready for opening day, but it's hard to count on him given his physical condition. Slowey was a solid starter for the Twins (35-20, 4.36 ERA) from 2008-10.

4. The fact that Colorado was willing to trade a 13-game winner in 2010 for Putnam (and kick in the money) tells you the Rockies don't think much of Slowey. Putnam is a decent prospect, one of the guys who was set to take a bullpen spot if the Indians traded a reliever such as Joe Smith or others for a hitter.

5. For those keeping score, former Tribe executive Dan O'Dowd has sent Ubaldo Jimenez and Slowey to his old team for Alex White, Drew Pomeranz and Putnam. He has grabbed three of the top arms in the organization as the Indians plug holes in their rotation. It's critical that Jimenez pitch like a No. 1 starter because of the price paid and Carmona's troubles.

6. The emergence of Chen Lee (4-0, 2.27 ERA) at Columbus last season allowed the Indians to deal Putnam. They believe Lee, along with young relievers Nick Hagadone, Frank Hermann and possibly Tyler Sturdevant (3-1, 3.30 at Class AA), give the Indians enough bullpen depth. They also hope to find a veteran from Jeremy Accardo, Chris Ray, Robinson Tejeda and Hector Ambriz -- all with big league experience on a minor-league contract.

7. Slowey was healthy enough to recently hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for charity. He is a little like Josh Tomlin -- doesn't throw hard, doesn't walk many, allows a lot of hits. The Indians need a good year from Tomlin, the 12-game winner who ended up on the disabled list with an elbow problem. The Indians say Tomlin is OK, but they won't know for sure until spring training. They also need a comeback from Derek Lowe.

8. Even if Slowey isn't ready for opening day (be it health or performance), the Indians have Jeanmar Gomez, who was 5-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 2011. He won five of his last six starts with a 3.28 ERA in that span. He was 10-7 with a 2.55 ERA at Columbus.

9. Then there's David Huff. It feels as if the lefty has been around since the days of Rick Waits. He was 2-6 for the Tribe, but had a 4.09 ERA. He had some good starts, but was 0-5 with a 6.20 ERA in September. As Gomez was rising, Huff was sinking. He is 27 with a 5.50 ERA in 258 innings. The Tribe would love to have a lefty in the rotation, but it's hard to know what to expect from Huff.

10. The lefty with a lot of fans in the front office is Scott Barnes. The 23-year-old was 7-4 with a 3.86 ERA at Class AAA when he injured his knee fielding a bunt in July. He had surgery to repair the ACL. He may not be 100 percent by the opener, but Barnes could be a call-up during the season.

11. I'm intrigued by Zach McAllister, who was 12-3 with a 3.32 ERA for Columbus. He was promoted to Cleveland three times and made only four starts, getting hammered the first two times. In his last two starts, he allowed two runs in 10 1/3 innings. He turned 24 in December, and throws about 92 mph with a solid sinker and slider.

12. The Indians have minor-league options on Huff, Gomez, McAllister, Slowey and Tomlin. Slowey won't be a free agent until 2014.

By any name, this is a strange tale to pitch: Bud Shaw's Sunday Sports Spin

Published: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 2:35 AM Updated: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 2:36 AM

By Bud Shaw, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As suspicious names go, this probably isn't a good time to be Detroit's Al Alburquerque...

The Indians acted smartly in trading for righthander Kevin Slowey. If that's his real name.
In the meantime, there is no indication they will cut ties with the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona -- and they shouldn't -- but no one can say when Roberto Heredia will be allowed to leave the Dominican Republic and resume his identity crisis in progress.

Remember when the gray area concerning him was whether his No. 1 starter stuff would ever win the tug of war with his No. 5 starter composure? That's still in effect. It's just been shoved into the background by other factors, not the least of which is the three calendar years he's lost in his latest visit to the U.S. Consulate. Doubts about the pitcher the Indians thought they knew and even occasionally loved have only increased, but the team is wise to let it play out.

The Indians gain nothing from voiding his contract. They won't be paying him anyway, so long as he is otherwise occupied finding himself in the Dominican.

They own one-year club options that pay Heredia $7 million this year, $9 million in 2013 and $12 million in 2014. The fact he's 31 and not 28 frames how much patience they'll have with him, but it's not as if they just signed him to a long-term deal. There's no moral imperative for them to cut him loose.

I mean, please. If I were Roberto Heredia and people I trusted told me I might get a smaller signing bonus at age 20 than if I were a newly minted 17 -- or maybe not get signed at all -- I'd adopt whatever name improved my lot in life. I'd go by Pedro Pan if that's what it took.

For years, major-league teams signed international players at third-world market prices. A year after the Indians signed Bartolo Colon for $3,000, for instance, they drafted Jaret Wright, son of a former major-league pitcher, out of high school in Anaheim. That market was different. They paid him $1.2 million.

In 2002, Colon admitted to being two years older than advertised. Not many Dominican players get signed at age 20. Teams have reason not to trust the listed ages of prospects. (If Heredia told teams he was 20, they'd probably have figured him for 22 or 23.) And prospects still find reason -- no doubt at the urging of adults -- to maximize their value even if it requires telling a lie.

In 2008, when the Indians thought they signed 16-year-old Jose Ozoria to a $570,000 contract only to find out his name was Wally Bryan and he was 20, MLB was investigating 70 players for identity verification.

Carmona's fraud speaks more to circumstances and culture than anything else. If he can get his papers in time, he has value to the Indians. If Heredia pitches like Carmona did in 2011, he won't get a cent from the Indians beyond this year. So they might as well see if he comes back a new man.

Whoooooo Ahhhhhh.

How does Manny Ramirez's suspension work? Hey, Hoynsie!

Published: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 12:45 AM Updated: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 12:47 AM

By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

Hey, Hoynsie: If the Tribe were to sign Manny Ramirez, does he participate in spring training, then serve his suspension? Or is he out until he serves his 50-game suspension? -- Dan D., Columbus

Hey, Dan: First things first -- the Indians aren't signing Ramirez. If a team did sign Ramirez, he would be allowed to participate in spring training and play in exhibition games. When the regular season started, he'd have to serve his 50-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance at the start of the 2011 season.

Hey, Hoynsie: Jack Hannahan's son, Johnny, was born premature last year. How is he doing? -- Jane Kowall, South Euclid

Hey, Jane: Talked to Joe Speed, Hannahan's agent. Here's what he had to say about Johnny Hannahan: "Johnny is doing great. He keeps getting bigger every day. He's up to 121/2 pounds and Jack says he's getting ready to root for the Tribe this year.

"Jack and Jenny truly appreciate everyone's genuine concern for Johnny and can't wait for him to go to games this year."

Hey, Hoynsie: Were you surprised that considering Grady Sizemore's recent injury and production problems that the Tribe guaranteed him big money without an option year in return? -- Chuck Harper, Dayton

Hey, Chuck: I believe the Indians felt Sizemore, when healthy, offered them the most upside of any outfielder in that price range. I also think Sizemore probably wouldn't have returned if there was an option involved. If he can stay healthy and productive, he can relaunch his career as a free agent after the 2012 season.

Hey, Hoynsie: With the Tribe loading up on veteran relievers -- Chris Ray and Jeremy Accardo are former closers -- what are the odds Chris Perez is traded for a right-handed bat? -- Todd Edmond, Tiffin

Hey, Todd: In their position, the Indians have to consider every alternative. I'm sure Perez's name has come up in trade talks, but it would have to take something big for the Indians to move him. I also don't think Ray or Accardo would replace him. Vinnie Pestano and Tony Sipp would probably get the first shot.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why can't the Indians bring Omar Vizquel back for a final tribute before he retires? Even for one day -- opening day or a special day for him. We fans never got the chance to say good-bye to our favorite. -- Steve Brubaker, Medina

Hey, Steve: It's not like Cleveland fans haven't had a chance to say hello and goodbye to Vizquel since he last played with the Tribe in 2004. He spent the last three years with Texas and Chicago and has made frequent visits to Progressive Field with those teams.

If Vizquel doesn't sign with a team for this season, perhaps the Indians could hold a special day for him sometime this year, but the last time I talked to him he was determined to keep playing.

Hey, Hoynsie: It is 8 degrees below zero right now in central Vermont. You warmed the morning with the mention of Irv's Delicatessen in Cleveland Heights last Sunday. It was dead on. I don't know how many hours I "invested" in a booth there. What the diner in the movie of the same name was to Baltimore, Irv's so accurately reflected Cleveland. -- Richard Sheir, Montpelier, Vt.

Hey, Richard: Glad I could send some warmth your way. Wish it could have been a corned beef sandwich.
Hey, Hoynsie: I find it sadly laughable that if the Tribe had signed Carlos Beltran, they would have had to trade some salary off their ledger to make room for him. In your opinion why do the Dolans seem content to continue to own the team and not fight for a salary cap in baseball? What amount of salary are they paying themselves? -- Richard Grant, Hiram

Hey, Richard: The Dolans could fight all the want, but I don't think there's ever going to be a salary cap in baseball. The owners did get the first 10 rounds in the amateur draft capped, but I can't see it going any farther.

Don't know what kind of salary the Dolans pay themselves for owning the Indians. Don't think they're in any hurry to tell anyone either. Then again, they do own the team.

Hey, Hoynsie: Lonnie Chisenhall has shown potential with the bat, but is suspect at third base. Why not convert him to first base and keep Jack Hannahan at the hot corner? The Indians could go after David Wright the following year after he becomes a free agent. -- Mark Lasher, Bangor, Pa.

Hey, Mark: The Indians have already moved Chisenhall from short to third. Now you want to move him again before he's played a full year at third in the big leagues? Let's give him a chance, shall we? The reason the Indians called Chisenhall up ahead of schedule last year is because Hannahan stopped hitting -- completely -- early in the year.

Hey, Hoynsie: What do you think Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti's reasoning was in building a team heavy on left-handed hitting and weak in left-handed pitching. Is this a new baseball fad? -- Tim Phelps,
Cleveland

Hey, Tim: I think it's a Cleveland thing.

Hey, Hoynsie: I am a friend of Kevin Kouzmanoff. Recently you wrote that the Tribe was not interested in Kouz and were not negotiating with him. Just so you know ... they were. Kevin wanted to play for Cleveland because of the facilities and coaches. Chris Antonetti offered him the same money as Kansas City (where he signed), but would not put out any incentive bonuses like K.C, did. You need to get your sources in line. -- John

Hey, John: Now you tell me?

Hey, Hoynsie: Will there be a point when the front office tries to hand out longer-term contracts earlier in a player's career than usual. It seems to be the trendy way of doing things -- the Rays did it with Matt Moore, who had a grand total of 9 1/3 big-league innings. They also signed Evan Longoria long term immediately, too. It's a big risk, but how many more players do we have to lose in their prime before a new direction is taken? Asdrubal Cabrera is as good as gone. So is Shin-Soo Choo. -- Ed Weevil, Cleveland

Hey, Ed: If you study your history, you'll realize the Indians started this "trend" in the early 1990s. They continued it through the mid- to late-2000s, but multiyear disasters to Jake Westbrook and Travis Hafner apparently shook ownership's commitment to such deals.
The last young Indians player to sign a multiyear deal was Fausto Carmona in 2008. The same Fausto Carmona who was arrested Thursday in the Dominican Republic for using a false named to try and get a visa.

There's also the question of talent. Knowing what you know going into the 2012 season, what Indian on the current roster would you try to sign for the next six or seven years?

Hey, Hoynsie: Shin-Soo Choo has a lousy year and gets a raise? Do [any] baseball players not get a raise? How bad and seldom would he have had to play last year? I thought the Dolans cried they don't make money. I guess we know why. -- Tom Goodsite, Kirksville, Mo.

Hey, Tom: Choo was eligible for arbitration. That means his 2012 salary was based not only on his 2011 season, but the consistency of his career. He had one bad season in 2011 preceded by two excellent seasons in 2010 and 2009. The arbitration process is also influenced by Choo's peers -- outfielders with the same amount of service time. Salaries of these players are compared and weighed against what Choo is making and seeking.

One more thing, a player's salary can't be cut by more than 20 percent.

Hey, Hoynsie: Given what is out there, is there a free agent who would make a significant difference? Or is a trade the only hope the Indians have? -- Roy Borgerding, Euclid

Hey, Roy: I'm thinking Prince Fielder. How about you?

Hey, Hoynsie: As a result of the five signings before arbitration, what does this mean for first base? Can we still get Carlos Pena or Casey Kotchman or someone else? -- Douglas Simek, Concord

Hey, Douglas: As you already know, Pena is off the board after signing Friday with Tampa Bay. Kotchman is still available. So is Derrek Lee.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think there would be less criticism of the Ubaldo Jimenez trade if it had been billed as trading a potential ace and a potential No.4 starter/reliever instead of simply trading the Indians' top two pitching prospects? While I think Drew Pomeranz has the ability to someday anchor a rotation, I think Alex White is more likely a fastball/splitter reliever with control problems than a front-end starter. -- Andy Applegate, Chicago

Hey, Andy: No matter how you slice it, the Indians traded their No.1 picks in 2009 and 2010 for a pitcher who arrived in Cleveland pitching more like a project than an ace. The only way Jimenez can save this trade is by pitching well for as long as he's an Indian.

-- Hoynsie

So much for a fairwell tour:


..
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Omar Vizquel and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday.

Vizquel’s agent, Adam Katz, declined to provide further details, such as whether Vizquel would be on a major league or minor league deal. ESPN first reported the sides had agreed to a contract.



Vizquel tweeted: “I’ll be with the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training this year to earn a spot.”

The veteran infielder, who turns 45 on April 24, would be headed into his 24th major league season if he makes the team. Vizquel has 11 Gold Gloves at shortstop and provided a positive clubhouse influence for the Chicago White Sox the past two seasons and a reliable option off the bench.

Vizquel appeared in 58 games last year, batting .251 with eight RBIs and seven doubles. He is a career .272 hitter in 2,908 games.

How much HGH is he using ?

Indians Sign Julio Lugo
By Mike Axisa [January 21, 2012 at 8:32pm CST]

The Indians have signed Julio Lugo to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Dionisio Soldevila of the AP (on Twitter). He's an ACES client.

Lugo, 36, spent last season with the Braves, signing a minor league deal in May and getting released in September. In between, he hit .231/.286/.365 in 58 minor league plate appearances and .136/.208/.136 in 48 big league plate appeances. Lugo gives the team some infield depth along with Jose Lopez and Andy LaRoche, who signed minor league deals with Cleveland earlier this offseason.

Good solid old old infield for the Clippers as they aim to repeat their AAA championship again. Moves necessary because of miserable IF options coming up from Akron, only Juan Diaz, SS, has earned a promotion to AAA.

Julio Lugo? Why didn't they sign Ryan Ludwick, for whom they were rumored to be trading last season?
He signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Reds last week.