Cleveland Sports Forum

How did the Indians not sign Carlos Pena? Hey, Hoynsie!
Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 9:09 PM Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 1:37 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

Hey, Hoynsie: If the Indians didn't sign Carlos Pena, I thought the reason would be the length of contract or that he was getting a $10 million, one-year deal as he did last year. He signed with the Rays for one year and $7.25 million. I feel like the Tribe could have made a deal. -- Jeremy Cronig, Shake Heights

Hey, Jeremy: So did the Indians. I was under the impression that they hadn't made an offer to Pena, but I was wrong. They made a "competitive" one-year offer to the left-handed hitting first baseman for a reported $8 million. Pena, however, is a former Ray and wanted to go back there. If the Indians had gone to $12 million, maybe they would have gotten Pena, but they would have been overpaying.

Hey, Hoynsie: If the Indians do not void Fausto Carmona/Roberto Hernandez Heredia's contract, what happens to Kevin Slowey when Carmona/Heredia shows up for work? -- Steven Alex, Gainesville, Fla.

Hey, Steven: No manager or general manager I've covered has ever complained about having too much pitching. With pitchers, especially starting pitchers, things like this tend to work themselves out.

But the speed at which the Indians acquired Slowey following Hernandez's arrest tells me that this isn't a problem they'll have to deal with in the near future.

Hey, Hoynsie: Any chance the real Fausto Carmona is the one who went 19-8 in 2007 and Roberto Hernandez Heredia is the guy we've seen since then? If I were GM Chris Antonetti I might look into that. Maybe the 19-8 Fausto is holed up somewhere waiting to be rescued. -- Calvin Rocke, Durham, N.C.

Hey, Calvin: A search party is being formed as I write this.

Hey, Hoynsie: Whose responsibility was it to see that the Indians' foreign player backgrounds were verified after being duped by the not-so-young shortstop a couple of years ago? -- Annie Walker, Cleveland

Hey, Annie: Talked to John Mirabelli, director of scouting for the Indians, and he said MLB investigates foreign-born players to make sure they are who they say they are. Then the Indians do their own investigation of players. Still, sometimes people are able to beat the system. The Indians aren't the first team to get burned and they won't be the last.

Hey, Hoynsie: I noticed that NBA guard Gilbert Arenas is unsigned and is amenable to nothing more than a one-year contract? Might he get one of those special spring training invites? -- Tom Diehl, Cleveland

Hey, Tom: It depends if he hits right-handed and leaves his six shooters at home.

Hey, Hoynsie: Did the new collective bargaining agreement limit the number of foreigners a team can have on its 40-man roster? -- Gus Fernandez, Cleveland

Hey, Gus: No.

Hey, Hoynsie: OK . . . you shot down my suggestion that the fans boycott Progressive Field this year. How would you suggest getting the message to the Dolans that the fans are very unhappy? -- Jim Clark, Johnston

Hey, Jim: I didn't shoot your theory down, I just said I've never seen it work. There is a core of fans in Cleveland who simply like Major League Baseball, be it good or bad, and enjoy coming to the ballpark.
If you want to voice your displeasure with ownership, you can write or call. Or you can stop coming to the ballpark. It's up to you.

Hey, Hoynsie: Unless I'm wrong, the Indians don't have a single guaranteed contract on their roster beyond the 2012 season. When are we going to start talking about the real story, which is the Dolans prepping the team to be sold? -- Adam Chandler, Olmsted Township

Hey, Adam: I pointed that out several weeks ago. Either GM Chris Antonetti has a tremendous amount of flexibility to make a big move in the next couple of years or the decks are being cleared for a possible sale. Or it may mean nothing at all.

Hey, Hoynsie: Can you please explain why the MLB draft seems much like a crapshoot and teams in the NFL and NBA can build through the draft. Also, what really makes the Detroit market different than the Cleveland market? -- Eliot Clasen, Cape Coral, Fla.

Hey, Eliot: Lots of big- league teams build through the draft. Check out the Rays starting rotation.
The fact that MLB teams can, and often do, draft high school seniors makes their drafts a bigger a gamble. It's going to take most 17 and 18 year olds three to five years to make it to the big leagues. A lot can happen in terms of injuries and lack of performance in that time.
As for the difference between the Cleveland and Detroit markets, two words -- Mike Ilitch.

Hey, Hoynsie: With Dan Gilbert continuing to buy sports franchises in Cleveland, any chance of him purchasing the Indians? As the casino opens I would think he would want to have a good Indians team with big crowds just a stones throw away. -- Jack Mauk, Mentor

Hey, Jack: If Gilbert got mad when LeBron James left through free agency, imagine how he'd feel owning the Indians?

Hey, Hoynsie: That's too bad about Fausto Carmona actually being Roberto Hernandez Heredia. How in the world are the Indians ever going to replace a $7 million-a-year 31-year-old pitcher with an ERA of 5.25? And seeing how the Dolans are very honest, steadfast, community folks, do we mail our Carmona jerseys to Larry & Paul's house for a cheerful refund? In that regard, could you please send me Paul & Larry's home address? Thanks, Hoynsie (I hope that's your real name) and see you in spring training. -- Paul Esterbrooke Jr.

Hey, Paul: For some reason I don't think Fausto Carmona jerseys were flying off the rack even when everyone knew him as Fausto Carmona.

Hey, Hoynsie: Come clean. Are you really Paul Hoynes? -- Joe Cepec, Dublin

Hey, Joe: There are days when I really don't know. In the interest of full disclosure I will say that my full name is James Paul Hoynes. I just want to stay on the good side of the Dominican National Police.

Hey, Hoynsie: Last week a man claiming to be Kevin Kouzmanoff's friend said he didn't sign with the Indians because they wouldn't offer him incentives. If he's right, why would the Indians not offer incentives? If he doesn't make them, it doesn't cost any money. If he does, I would assume they would be worth paying for. -- Tom Goodsite, Kirksville, Mo.

Hey, Tom: From what I've been able to gather -- and remember this is coming from the guy who told you the Indians weren't interested in the Kouz -- the Indians talked to Kouzmanoff, but he signed with the Royals because he felt they offered him a better chance of playing time.

Hard for me to believe if a team was really interested in a player, who was going to have to scrap for playing time, why they'd lose him over incentives. Incentives, as you state, look good in a contract, but mean nothing if they're not earned on the field.

Terry Pluto:
ABOUT THE INDIANS' KEVIN SLOWEY . . .

1. The Indians first tried to trade for Slowey at the end of 2011 spring training when Minnesota decided to put him in the bullpen. It was a strange decision by the Twins. Slowey was 13-6 with a 4.45 ERA in 2010. But the Twins always believed his edge was slight . . . a fastball in the 88 mph range and the need for pinpoint control to be effective.

2. Slowey was not happy about the decision. He clashed with management. He seemed -- at least in the opinion of the Twins -- to pout a bit. Then, he had some minor injuries -- an abdominal strain and some shoulder soreness. When he did start, he went 0-8 in eight starts. He is the first pitcher to lose his first eight starts of a season since Lou Sleater did it in 1951 for the St. Louis Browns. The season was a nightmare from beginning to the end.

3. So why did the Indians trade Zach Putnam for a guy who was 0-8 with a 6.67 ERA last season? It's because of the visa troubles of Roberto Hernandez Heredia (Fausto Carmona) in the Dominican Republic. But the Indians have long valued Slowey, who had a 39-21 record from 2007 to '10. The problem is Slowey gives up a lot of fly balls and a lot of hits, as he had a 4.45 ERA over that four-year span.

4. Slowey is the kind of pitcher who makes baseball executives say: "He's been winning for us, but that can't go on. He just doesn't throw hard enough." So they look for someone better. Yes, it's similar to what was said about Josh Tomlin in the Tribe's minor-league system.

5. The Indians like that Slowey is a fly-ball pitcher because they normally do well at Progressive Field. Slowey is 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four career starts in Cleveland. And they love that since 2007, only Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee have walked fewer hitters per nine innings. And they believe that because he's only 27, he can easily bounce back and win games in the Central Division.

6. The Rockies traded for Slowey perhaps believing they would trade him elsewhere, because fly-ball pitchers usually get migraines dealing with Denver's thin air. The Indians sent Putnam (a solid big-league bullpen prospect) to Colorado for Slowey, the Rockies adding $1.25 million to off-set Slowey's $2.75 million salary. So like the Twins, Colorado believes Slowey's stuff is too slight to win. The Indians have a different opinion, and plan to give Slowey the chance to prove his critics wrong.

ABOUT THE INDIANS' UBALDO JIMENEZ . . .

Tribe manager Manny Acta spent some time with Ubaldo Jimenez in the Dominican Republic this winter. The main concern was Jimenez coming to spring training in top physical condition. He has been faithfully working out with Nelson Perez, the Tribe's assistant strength coach who has spent the winter in the Dominican to work with several of the Tribe's players.

"[Jimenez] is in excellent shape," Acta said. "He got off to a bad start last year when he got hurt [pulled a groin muscle] and then tried to pitch through it. That led to some problems [with his throwing motion] and some things we can fix. He is so talented, he figured he could just throw through it, but that didn't work."

Jimenez was 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA for Colorado in 2010. He was 10-13 with a 4.68 ERA between the Rockies and Tribe last season. At 27, the Indians believe Jimenez may not repeat that 2010 season, but he can be the pitcher who was 15-12 with a 3.47 ERA in 2009. From 2008 to '10, he had a 46-32 record with a 3.48 ERA for the Rockies.

Acta didn't say it, but the Indians also want Jimenez to cut down his pitches -- he has six -- and rely on his fastball and one or two other pitches.

"He's a bright guy, a good teammate and a hard worker," Acta said. "I really think he can be good for us."

Cleveland Indians' Manny Acta all right with left-leaning lineup

Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 2:05 AM Updated: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 2:20 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Should the Indians add a significant right-handed hitter between now and Opening Day -- Derrek Lee, Mark Trumbo, etc. -- they could still have as many as six left-handed hitters in the lineup on most days during the 2012 season. Add switch-hitters Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana if the opposition is starting a right-hander and the Tribe will be leaning so heavily to the left that Rush Limbaugh may picket Progressive Field.

Manager Manny Acta accepts it. It's not like he didn't go through it a lot last year.

"That's why we didn't sign Prince Fielder," Acta said with a laugh Thursday night at the start of the Indians' mall tour. "You guys said we have too many left-handed hitters."

Fielder, who is indeed a left-hander, signed a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Tigers. The Tigers just so happened to win the AL Central last year by 15 games over the second-place Indians.

"We're fine with our left-handed hitters," Acta said. "Who was the team that won the division last year? They don't have one left-hander in their rotation. We all know that on the majority of teams, the majority of starting pitchers are right-handed.

"You can't build a team thinking about someone else's bullpen. Your job is to score as many runs as possible against the starters."

The rotation that kick-started the Tigers' stretch run to the division title -- Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Brad Penny -- was all right-handed. Lefty Phil Coke did make 14 starts during the season.

Left-handed hitters expected to make the Tribe's starting lineup this season are second baseman Jason Kipnis, left fielder Michael Brantley, center fielder Grady Sizemore, right fielder Shin-Soo Choo and DH Travis Hafner. Lonnie Chisenhall and Jack Hannahan, two more lefties, will compete for the third base job.

Here's what they hit last season against righties: Kipnis .276 (27-for-98) with six homers and 14 RBI; Brantley .289 (90-for-311), seven, 35; Sizemore .239 (47-for-97), eight, 25; Choo .254 (52-for-205), seven, 29; Hafner .302 (67-for-222), nine, 38; Chisenhall .253 (41-for-162), two, 11; and Hannahan .226 (48-for-212), six, 14. As a team the Indians hit .247 against righties and .258 against lefties.

"Ideally, you want to have a balance," Acta said. "But at the end of the day you need guys who can hit no matter how they swing the bat.

"Our issue is developing young hitters. Right now we have Kipnis and Chisenhall. Down the road, we're not trying to make them platoon players. Whoever is pitching, they're going to have to face down the road."

Acta said the Indians are working hard to improve the offense. Their most public pursuits of bats have been Carlos Beltran and Carlos Pena. The Indians offered Beltran, a switch-hitting outfielder, a two-year, $24 million deal, but he signed with St. Louis. They offered Pena, a left-handed hitting first baseman, a reported one-year, $8 million deal, but he signed with Tampa Bay for $7.25 million.

Hall of Famers: Gaylord Perry was elected to the Indians Hall of Fame. Perry went 70-57 for the Indians in three-plus season (1972-75). He won the AL Cy Young Award in 1972 with 24 victories, a 1.92 ERA and 234 strikeouts.

Perry, a 314-game winner, is a member of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Trainer Jimmy Warfield and broadcaster/outfielder Jack Graney will be inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame for non-uniformed personnel. Warfield spent 37 years with the Indians' organization from 1965 until his death during the 2002 season.

Graney was an Indians outfielder from 1908 through 1922. He was the first former player to become a broadcaster, doing Indians games from 1933 through 1953.

Perry, Warfield and Graney will be inducted Aug. 11 before the Indians' game against Boston at Progressive Field.

Finally: The Indians hired Court Berry-Tripp as coordinator of baseball information. Berry-Tripp was the former manager of media relations for the Texas Rangers.

Pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona has long road back to Cleveland Indians roster
Published: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 11:01 PM Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 11:03 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The road back to the Indians and big league baseball is not going to be easy for Roberto Hernandez Heredia, the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona.

The Indians put Hernandez on the restricted list Thursday. The move means that Hernandez does not count toward their 40- or 25-man roster and that he cannot be paid or credited with service time until he joins the Indians in the United States.

If Hernandez and his representatives successfully clear the legal hurdles of two countries in the coming weeks, the restricted list will probably seem like a minor inconvenience.

Here's what Hernandez is facing following his arrest last week in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for using a false identity to try and get a visa so he could report to spring training on Feb. 20 in Goodyear, Ariz.

• Hernandez must establish his real identity with the Dominican government. For instance, what is his real name, birth date, etc.?

• Then he would have to apply for a visa from the United States government so he could join the Indians.

• Then he very well could face disciplinary action in the form of a suspension from MLB.
After his arrest and subsequent release on bail, Dominican authorities said Carmona was really Hernandez and that he was 31 instead of 28.

Manager Manny Acta, at the start of the Indians' weekend mall tour Thursday night at Southpark in Strongsville, said he's talked to Hernandez almost every day since his arrest. Acta did not want to speak about Hernandez specifically, but did address the long-running problem of Dominican players falsifying their ages and identities to make themselves appear younger and thus more attractive to big-league teams.

"I believe Major League Baseball is doing a tremendous job right now to better the system," said Acta. "But it's been a flawed system for a long time.

"You can be 21 and a first-round pick out of college here. But when was the last time anyone was 21 ... and you knew he was 21 ... and was signed out of the Dominican? It's a system that in the past has forced those kids to do this stuff."

Just how long Hernandez will have to stay in the Dominican is unknown. The same thing happened with Miami Marlins pitcher Leo Nunez, who was arrested in the Dominican in September. His real name is reportedly Juan Carlos Oviedo and he is still trying to work his way through the legal system so he can report to spring training with the Marlins.

The Indians exercised a $7 million option on Hernandez for 2012. It's not known if they'll use that money to obtain another player. However, if Hernandez returns during the regular season, he's guaranteed to be paid a prorated version of that salary.

Acta said newcomer Kevin Slowey and holdovers Jeanmar Gomez, Zach McAllister and David Huff will compete in spring training for Hernandez's spot in the rotation.

New guy: The Indians signed veteran right-hander Dan Wheeler to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. Wheeler is the latest veteran reliever to sign a minor-league deal with the Tribe. Jeremy Accardo, Chris Ray, Robinson Tejeda and Chris Seddon are the others.

It could be that the Indians are setting the stage for a trade in case they add a free-agent hitter and have to dump salary.

Wheeler, 34, went 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 47 appearances for Boston last year. He's pitched in 577 games, 568 as a reliever, over a 12-year career.

The Indians also signed right-hander Jose De La Torre and former Giant infielder Ryan Rohlinger to minor-league deals. They will report in March with the rest of the minor leaguers.

Finally: The Indians will start a select number of Saturday and Sunday games at non-traditional times this season to give families more of an opportunity to work them into their schedule. Here are the games and start times.

June 3 vs. Twins at 3:05 p.m.; July 7 vs. Rays at 6:05 p.m.; July 22 vs. Orioles at 3:05 p.m.; August 11 vs. Red Sox at 6:05 p.m. and Sept. 16 vs. Tigers at 3:05 p.m.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Sports - Columnists - Ron Morris

Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012


Morris: Climb to Mount Kilimanjaro summit special for Slowey


By Ron Morris - rmorris@thestate.com



Left to right, Cleveland pitcher Kevin Slowey, Mets’ bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello and Mets’ pitcher R.A. Dickey pose at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

/Photo courtesy of Kevin Slowey


JANUARY WAS QUITE a month for major-league pitcher Kevin Slowey. He was inducted on Friday into the Winthrop Athletic Hall of Fame. A week ago, he was traded by the Colorado Rockies to the Cleveland Indians.

Oh, yeah, he also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 13, Slowey stood with New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey and Mets’ bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello atop the largest free-standing mountain in the world. At 19,341 feet above sea level, the trio saw the sun rise from behind the clouds below and marveled at it all.
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“To see the Lord’s handiwork was a very special thing,” Slowey said. “In that moment at the summit, that was the most special to me.”

By the time the trio returned a few days later to the United States, they had surpassed their goal of raising $100,000 for the Bombay Teen Challenge, a group that works to rescue and rehabilitate women in Mumbai who are trapped in prostitution, their at-risk daughters and other girls vulnerable to the India sex-trade industry.

There were challenging times during the eight-day ascent and descent of the African mountain, times when Slowey and his mates questioned whether the peak could be reached.

“The physical feat may not have been as challenging as the mental one,” Slowey said, “to understand those challenges are difficult, but very few things are impossible.”

Dickey wrote in a blog for The New York Times that during the climb he occasionally forced his mind to think about his family at home and even to visualize pitching to every team in the National League East, batter by batter.

Slowey had a different method of overcoming any thought to abandoning the hike.

“One of the big things for me was to continue to dwell on the idea that there are so many blessings that I enjoy back in the United States,” Slowey said. “For these seven hours (each day) I needed to push through something that is difficult and challenging and uncomfortable in the hopes to raise awareness and funds for these girls who are living lives that are difficult and uncomfortable and challenging.

“It made it a whole lot easier for me to push through any difficult moment. For me, it was just a difficult moment. For millions of girls in India, it is a difficult life.”

Dickey founded the idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro after reading the Ernest Hemingway book “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” Dickey broached the idea with Slowey.

“Of course, I thought there is no way this guy is serious,” Slowey said. “We kind of shared laughs about how seemingly ridiculous the whole trip sounded.”

It is easy to see why the two are fast friends. Dickey is considered in baseball circles to be among the more intellectual players in the game, occasionally quoting literature from his English studies background at the University of Tennessee. Slowey is not far behind, having scored 1,420 on his SAT before eventually studying business administration and Spanish at Winthrop.

At Winthrop, Slowey left his mark mostly with his right arm. A pitcher with pinpoint control, Slowey went 14-2 in 2005 with a 2.16 ERA that included a remarkable 13 walks and 126 strikeouts. He left Winthrop as a second-round pick of the Twins with a school-record 29 career wins.

Two years later, he was in the major leagues with Minnesota, winning 12 games in 2008, 10 in 2009 and 13 in 2010. During the middle of those three seasons, Slowey and Dickey were teammates.

Since Dickey was the ringleader in the Mount Kilimanjaro hike, he researched the project and plotted training as well as strategy. He selected the Lemosho route among several possibilities because it appeared to be the least dangerous.

There were risks involved, from altitude sickness to possible falls. Both purchased oxygen depravation masks to use in workouts and hikes.

“That made a big difference over the course of the climb,” Slowey said. “At no point did I feel like I was struggling to breathe. There may have been times I was physically fatigued, so that helped a lot. The general shape we were in helped.”

Slowey was surprised to learn the hike began in the African rain forests with no mountain in sight. Seven consecutive days of seven-hour hikes put the trio in position for the summit climb.

The final ascent began at 10:30 p.m. with headlamps and iPads in place, one ear reserved for music and the other to hear instructions from the African guides. Electronic devices, including still and video cameras, were toted in inner-coat pockets to keep from freezing.

Five minutes before sunrise, Slowey’s group was on top of the world.

“It would be tough to accurately describe what we felt, probably a great combination of elation and relief and joy,” Slowey said. “There was certainly a lot of awe. We were standing on top of the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. You’re above the clouds.”

After about 20 minutes of picture taking, the trio began their descent, although Slowey said it will take months and perhaps years to fully come down from the experience.
Watch commentaries by Morris Mondays at 6 and 11 p.m. on ABC Columbia News (WOLO-TV)

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/01/29/2132 ... rylink=cpy

Year after Lou Sleater started out 0-8 (he finished 1-9 for that season) he had a career year going 4-3 with ERA of 4.41. So we should expect something similarly great from Slowey in 2012.

Although I would much prefer Jeanmar Gomez get the first chance at the 5th starter job; he finished very well when he came up to Cleveland the end of 2011, 4-1 4.40, and a solid 7 earned runs in the first 4 September starts, then 8 the last time out

Slowey....his name describes his fastball.

Wheeler is actually a good pick up IMO. Can't believe he couldn't pick up a guaranteed contract somewhere.



Cleveland Indians sign RHP Dan Wheeler to minor league deal with spring training invite

Published: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 5:21 PM Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 5:44 PM

By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have signed veteran reliever Dan Wheeler to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training with the big league team.

Wheeler pitched with Boston last year. He made 47 appearances and threw 49 1/3 innings. He had a 0.84 ERA, allowing one run in 10 2/3 innings against AL Central teams. Right-handers hit .227 (27-119) average against him for the season.

He has a 3.88 ERA in his career with 43 saves in 577 appearances.

The Indians also signed RHP Jose De La Torre and infielder Ryan Rohlinger to minor league contracts.

___________________________________________________________________________

Seagull gets another Rhode Island guy to follow.


If we finish ahead of Detroit after this off season to date, we have a helluva story to be retold forever.

There have been times over the years I really liked Derek Lowe.

Seems like Slowey is worthy of good thoughts.

I'm not sure how nautical Wheeler is (veiled Jimmy Buffet reference), but I think he's a suitable pick up.

Maybe these mutts can hunt. Hope so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7thbWZTMTE


Just to pull back (one of the seven veils), here is a slight taste of Buffet's Nautical Wheelers.

It's in 3/4 time.

And I think that hippie that made that bat is in here somewhere, VT'er.

Breaking down the Cleveland Indians' 2012 spring training goals: The starting rotation
Published: Monday, January 23, 2012, 8:37 PM Updated: Monday, January 23, 2012, 11:49 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

(Editor's note: This is the first of a four-part preview of the Indians with spring training looming next month. Tomorrow: The bullpen.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the Indians traded for Derek Lowe after the World Series, it was hard to get past the 17 games he lost last season with Atlanta. The one thing that made those defeats tolerable was that in Lowe the Indians were adding a fourth potential high-inning starter to a rotation that included Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Fausto Carmona.

The last time the Indians had three pitchers top 200 innings in a season was 1997 with Dave Burba, Bartolo Colon and Charles Nagy. The last time they had four 200-inning pitchers was 1955 with Early Wynn, Herb Score, Bob Lemon and Mike Garcia.

So much for Plan A.

Carmona's arrest last week in the Dominican Republic for using a false identity has weakened a critical part of the team. The Dominican government says Carmona is really Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he's 31 instead of 28. Carmona has been Carmona since signing with the Indians in December of 2000, so this is like one of those TV shows where police unearth an SDS radical from the 1960s selling insurance in the suburbs 30 years after he blew up the dean's office.

If Hernandez -- Spanish experts say the proper use of Carmona's real name is Roberto Hernandez, Heredia being a reference to his mother's family -- can untangle his legal mess and convince the U.S. government to let him go to work before the end of spring training, well, maybe it's not that big of a problem. How likely is that?

The Indians acquired right-hander Kevin Slowey from Colorado the day after Hernandez's arrest, so what does that tell you?

Along with the right elbow injuries that have knocked out Carlos Carrasco and Hector Rondon for the 2012 season, and the Jimenez trade that sent starters Drew Pomeranz and Alex White to the Rockies, the Indians had little choice but to seek reinforcements. With that in mind, and pitchers and catchers scheduled to open camp on Feb. 20 in Goodyear, Ariz., it's time to take a position by position look at the team.

Today it's the rotation.

Last year, Indians starters went 53-61 and finished 10th in the American League in ERA at 4.51. They used eight different starters and finished 10th in innings pitched at 961 1/3. Tampa Bay led the AL with 1,058 innings.

The Indians were 11th in strikeouts with 631 and batting average against at .272. They showed improvement in walks, going from the second-worst in the league in 2010 at 362 to 10th last year at 287.

Here's a look at the Tribe's starters and potential starters for this season:

• RHP Masterson, 26, 12-10, 3.21: Topped 200 innings (216) for the first time last season. Underwent surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder at the end of the year. Over 80 percent of his pitches were fastballs. Average velocity 93 mph.

• RHP Jimenez, 28, 10-13, 4.68: He went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 starts after the Indians acquired him from Colorado. New pitching coach Scott Radinsky will have a full spring to work on his mechanics. Struck out 180, walked 78 and allowed 186 hits in 188 2/3 innings. Average velocity 93.5 mph.

• RHP Josh Tomlin, 27, 12-7, 4.25: A sore right elbow prematurely ended his first full season in the big leagues. Led AL with fewest walks allowed per nine innings at 1.14. Expected to be healthy for spring training. Average velocity 88 mph.

• RHP Lowe, 38, 9-17, 5.05: He's made 32 or more starts every year from 2002-11. Velocity is between 88 mph and 90 mph. Hasn't pitched in the AL since 2004 when went 14-12 for Boston. Average velocity 88 mph.

• RHP Slowey, 27, 0-8, 6.67: Limited to 14 appearances, including eight starts, for the Twins last year because of right shoulder bursitis and an oblique injury. Twins traded Slowey to Colorado in December. Throws fastball, slider, curve and change. Average velocity 89 mph.

• RHP Jeanmar Gomez, 23, 5-3, 4.47: Will compete with Slowey for fifth spot. Lefties hit .319 (36-for-113) against him. Won five straight starts after third call-up last year. Relieves on fastball and slider. Average velocity 90 mph.

• LHP David Huff, 27, 2-6, 4.09: Another candidate for the fifth spot. Went 9-3 at Class AAA Columbus, but 2-6 in 11 games, including 10 starts for Tribe. Average velocity 91 mph.

• LHP Scott Barnes, 23: He was 7-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 games, including 15 starts, at Columbus before tearing the ACL in his left knee. He'll be in the major-league camp this spring. Struck out 90 in 88 innings at Columbus. Average velocity 92 mph.

• RHP Zach McAllister, 24, 0-1, 6.11: Put in a good year at Columbus, going 12-3 with a 3.32 ERA. Made four starts, the first of his big-league career, with the Tribe. Will compete for fifth spot or could help during the season. Relies on his fastball and slider. Average velocity 91 mph.

• RHP Corey Kluber, 25, 0-0, 8.31: Made three relief appearances with the Tribe last year, but was 7-11 with a 5.56 ERA in 27 starts at Columbus. Lefties hit .400 (6-for-15) against him. Average velocity 92 mph.

Names to remember: Right-hander Austin Adams, a former college shortstop, hit 100 mph last year while going 11-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 26 starts for Class AA Akron. Lefties Matt Packer (9-12, 4.31) and T.J. McFarland (9-9, 3.87), who pitched with Adams at Akron last year, could help in the next couple of years.

Breaking down the Cleveland Indians' 2012 spring training goals: The bullpen
Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 7:35 PM Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 8:20 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

(Editor's note: This is the second of a four-part preview of the Indians with spring training looming next month. Previously: The starting rotation. Tomorrow: The infield.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- GM Chris Antonetti went into the off-season after last year knowing he had relievers to trade. He did just that, but left the best part of the bullpen untouched.

Zach Putnam was sent to Colorado on Friday for right-handed starter Kevin Slowey. Cory Burns was traded to San Diego for outfielder Aaron Cunningham on Dec. 16. On Oct. 31, Chris Jones went to Atlanta for Derek Lowe, another right-handed starter. Josh Judy was lost when he was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Cunningham.

Putnam was the closest to making the Indians this year. Burns was still in Class AA Akron where he went 35-for-37 in save situations. Jones, a left-hander, was 7-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 43 appearances at Class A Kinston. Judy, up and down four times with the Tribe last year, was 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 23 saves at Class AAA Columbus.

A bit of the future might have been lost, but one of the goals of a farm system is to improve the big-league team for the present.

The core of the pen remains closer Chris Perez preceded by Tony Sipp, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith and Rafael Perez. There will be many hands raised for the last two spots in the seven-man pen. Frank Herrmann did a nice job as a long man last year. Hard-throwing lefty Nick Hagadone, with free agent Chad Durbin not returning, could win a job as well after making his big-league debut last year.

Then there's the outside agitators. Veteran relievers Jeremy Accardo, Chris Ray, Robinson Tejeda and Chris Seddon will be in camp on minor-league deals. Tribe minor-leaguers Hector Ambriz, Chen-Chang Lee and Tyler Sturdevant have been invited as well.

Manager Manny Acta likes his bullpen. He used it 482 times last year, the most in the American League, but he did so wisely. Indians relievers pitched 492 innings, fifth most in the league.

The pen went 27-21, with the fifth-best ERA in the league at 3.71. It was tied for third with Seattle, New York and Boston for the fewest blown saves with 16. The Indians converted 70 percent (38-for-54) of their save chances. AL Central champ Detroit led the league at 84 percent (52-for-62).

From 2010-11, the pen increased its saves, wins and strikeouts and lowered its ERA, walks and batting average against.

Here's a look at the Indians' options for the upcoming season.

• RHP Chris Perez, 26, 4-7, 3.32, 36-for-40 in saves: Finished fourth in the AL in saves with 90 percent conversion rate. Opposition hit .215 (46-for-214) against him. Strikeouts dropped from 61 in 63 innings in 2010 to 39 in 59 2/3 innings last year. Average velocity 93 mph.

• RHP Pestano, 26, 1-2, 2.32, 2-6 in saves: Opposition hit .184 with .305 slugging percentage and .272 on-base percentage. Needs to improve against lefties, who hit .280 (26-for-93). Average velocity 93 mph.

• LHP Rafael Perez, 29, 5-2, 3.00, 0-2 in saves: Perez and Joe Smith tied for second in the AL with 71 appearances. Strikeouts have dropped from a career-high 86 in 2008 to 33 last year. Allowed just seven of 44 inherited runners to score. Average velocity 89 mph.

• RHP Smith, 27, 3-3, 2.01, 0-3 in saves: The opposition hit .217 (52-for-240) -- .152 by lefties, .246 by righties. Fastball-slider mix. Average velocity 90 mph.

• LHP Sipp, 28, 6-3, 3.03, 0-1 in saves: Tied for sixth in AL with 24 holds. Never pitched earlier than the seventh inning last year. Allowed 10 homers, but opposition hit just .201. Average velocity 91 mph.

• RHP Herrmann, 27, 4-0, 5.11: Righties hit .223 (27-for-121), lefties .386 (44-for-114). Can pitch three to four innings at a pop. Lives on his fastball. Average velocity 94 mph.

• LHP Hagadone, 26, 1-0, 4.09: Struck out 53 in 48 1/3 innings at Class AAA Columbus. Opposition hit .118 (4-for-34), .071 (1-for-14) by lefties, in the big leagues. Fastball and slider are his best pitches. Average velocity 94 mph.

• RHP Accardo, 30, 3-3, 5.73, 0-1 in saves: Pitched with Baltimore last year and had control problems. Saved 30 games for Toronto (4-4, 2.14 ERA) in 2007. Average velocity 92 mph.

• RHP Ray, 30, 3-2, 4.68, 0-2 in saves: Made 29 appearances with Seattle last year. Throws fastball, slider, split. Saved 33 games for Baltimore (4-4, 2.73) in 2006. Average velocity 94 mph.

• RHP Tejeda, 29, 0-1, 6.14 ERA: Made only nine appearances for Kansas City last year. Spent the rest of the time in the minors after being slowed by sore right shoulder. Average velocity 90 mph.

• LHP Seddon, 28, 9-7, 6.27 Class AAA Tacoma: Career minor-league starter who has not pitched in the big leagues since 2010 when he made 14 relief appearances with Seattle. Possible swing man.

• RHP Ambriz, 27: The Indians selected Ambriz in the Rule 5 draft in 2009. He did not pitch last year following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Made 34 appearances for the Tribe in 2010.

• RHP Lee, 25, 6-1, 2.40 at Columbus and Akron: Lee struck out 99 batters in 71 1/3 innings in 44 appearances last year. He walked 23.

• RHP Sturdevant, 26, 7-3, 2.89 ERA at Columbus, Akron and Kinston: The 27th round pick in 2009 jumped three levels last year. Struck out 82 and walked 19 in 47 2/3 innings.

Breaking down the Cleveland Indians' 2012 spring training goals: The infield
Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 7:51 PM Updated: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 7:52 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

(Editor's note: This is the third of a four-part preview of the Indians with spring training looming next month. Previously: The starting rotation, and the bullpen. Tomorrow: The outfield.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' infield is like Cleveland's weather. It changes by the hour, not the day.
Last year, veteran Orlando Cabrera was signed at the start of spring training to play second base, a position he'd rarely played in the big leagues. Jason Donald was the favorite to start at third, but broke his hand and Jack Hannahan, a non-roster player, won the job. All the while the road between Cleveland and Class AAA Columbus was being paved for prospects Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall.

Kipnis and Chisenhall eventually arrived to play second and third base, respectively. This spring we'll find out if they're ready to make those positions their own. The early line has Kipnis having a better grip on second than Chisenhall does on third. Chisenhall has to contend with Hannahan, while there is no clear-cut rival for Kipnis.

The big infield question is at first base. Will it be Matt LaPorta, overcoming 2 1/2 years of mediocrity? Or an in-house hybrid of LaPorta, Carlos Santana, Shelley Duncan and others?

Perhaps the Indians will eventually land that elusive big bat they've been chasing to play first. Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder weren't in the picture because of money, but so far they've missed on Carlos Pena and others. It might come down to another late February addition like Cabrera last year or Russell Branyan the year before.

"There are a variety of different ways we can go at first base depending on how things go in spring training," said GM Chris Antonetti. "I think we've considered everything through Plan Q."

For instance, if catcher Lou Marson came to spring training and showed he could hit as well as he catches, the Indians would consider making Santana the regular first baseman. As for now, Santana is their main catcher. Matt Pagnozzi, Luke Carlin, Chun Chen and Michel Hernandez will also be in camp.

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera had an All-Star season last year. He faded in the second half, but had played only 97 games in 2010 because of injury and never experienced the burden of carrying an offense as he did last year. Donald is in line to back up Cabrera and Kipnis at short and second. Other utility candidates are Jose Lopez, Andy LaRoche and Hannahan, should he not win the third-base job. Veteran shortstop Julio Lugo is expected to join that group as a spring training invitee once the Indians are satisfied with his medical reports.

Infielders Cord Phelps and Juan Diaz, both on the 40-man roster, will be in camp as well. Phelps got a shot at second base last year. Diaz played 127 games at short last year at Class AA Akron.

Defensively, the infield will be tested because starters Justin Masterson and Derek Lowe throw a lot of ground balls. Chisenhall and Kipnis are converted players and defense is not their best asset. Cabrera, blessed with great hands, lost range in the second half last year.

The Indians finished tied for eighth in fielding percentage last year in the American League with 110 errors. The Rays had the fewest errors in the AL with 73 and the A's had the most at 124.

This season should be DH Travis Hafner's last as an Indian. He's in the final year of his contract. Bill James, in his 2012 handbook, projects Hafner to hit .268 (101-for-377) with 23 doubles, 15 homers, 63 RBI and an .817 OPS (on base + slugging percentage).

Here's a look at the Indians' infield options for this season (with age, bats/throws, last season's average, homers and RBI):

• 1B LaPorta, 27, R/R, .247, 11 HR, 53 RBI: Needs to refine his swing so he can produce and stay in the lineup.

• 2B Kipnis, 24, L/R, .272, 7, 19: Needs to stay healthy after having oblique and hamstring injuries last year. Slugged .507 in 36 games.

• 3B Chisenhall, 23, L/R, .255, 7, 22: Showed power and improved against lefties late in the season.

• 3B Hannahan, 31, L/R, .250, 8, 40: Plays the best defense at third in Cleveland since Matt Williams in 1997.

• SS Cabrera, 26, S/R, .273, 25, 92: His 92 RBI are the most by an Indians shortstop since Lou Boudreau had 106 in 1948.

• DH Hafner, 34, L/R, .280, 13, 57: Hit .383 (31-for-81) with runners in scoring position.

• C/1B Santana, 25, S/R, .239, 27, 79: His 97 walks helped overcome low batting average.

• C Marson, 25, R/R, .230, 1, 19: Threw out 33.3 percent (24 of 72) of the baserunners he faced to finish second in the AL to Baltimore's Matt Wieters at 35.6 percent.

• C Pagnozzi, 29, R/R, .276, 0, 3: Played 12 games with Colorado and Pittsburgh last year.

• C Chen, 24, R/R, .262, 16, 70 at Class AA Akron: Communicating with pitchers in English is a problem for Taiwan native.

• C Carlin, 31, S/R, .213, 5, 63 at Class AAA Columbus: Has big-league times with Indians and Padres.

• C Hernandez, 33, R/R, .273, 2, 27 at Class AAA Norfolk (Baltimore), Columbus and Akron: Last played in the big leagues in 2009 with the Rays.

• UT Donald, 27, R/R, .310, 4, 15: If he stays healthy, Donald could see time at second, short, third, center and left field.

• UT LaRoche, 28, R/R, .247, 0, 5 with Oakland: Played all four infield positions with the A's, concentrating on third base.

• UT Lopez, 28, R/R, .216, 8, 21 with Colorado and Florida: Played 39 games at third, also saw action at second and first.

• UT Lugo, 36, R/R, .136, 0, 3 with Atlanta: Indians have not officially announced his signing.

• UT Diaz, 24, S/R, .255, 9, 60 at Akron: Tall shortstop acquired from Seattle along with Ezequiel Carrera for Branyan.

• UT Phelps, 25, S/R, .155, 1, 1: Tribe gave him a chance at second base, but he struggled. Hit .294 with 14 homers and 63 RBI at Columbus.

Breaking down the Cleveland Indians' 2012 spring training goals: The outfield
Published: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7:50 PM Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 11:13 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

(Editor's note: This is the fourth of a four-part preview of the Indians with spring training looming next month. Previously: The starting rotation, the bullpen and the infield.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- From an offensive standpoint, the Indians' outfield was below average last season. Make that way below average.

Sure it had something to do with starters Michael Brantley, Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo spending significant time on the disabled list. As painful as it was to lose them, the problem was compounded because the Indians didn't have anyone in the minors ready to step in and their only outside solution was

Kosuke Fukudome, who played well, but certainly wasn't capable of sparking an offense that finished ninth in the American League in runs.

In five offensive categories -- runs, batting average, homers, RBI and OPS -- Indians outfielders ranked in the top half only twice in the 14-team AL. Tribe center fielders ranked sixth with 87 runs and seventh with 68 RBI.

Indians right fielders never finished higher than 11th in the five categories. The best the left fielders could do was a ninth-place finish with 74 runs.

Headed into spring training, the Indians are going to try and correct the problem with a similar cast of players. They feel they can be competitive if Brantley, Sizemore and Choo can stay healthy. Brantley suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Sizemore has been hobbled by injuries for the last three years. Choo suffered a broken left thumb and strained oblique muscle.

GM Chris Antonetti tried to change the makeup by offering Carlos Beltran a two-year, $24 million contract. Beltran signed with St. Louis. He also tried to work a deal for the Yankees' Nick Swisher, but to date nothing has come of it.

In the place of a dominant hitter, the Indians are going with numbers. There will be at least eight outfielders in camp besides Brantley, Sizemore and Choo. Shelley Duncan, Ezequiel Carrera, Thomas Neal, Nick Weglarz and Aaron Cunningham are on the 40-man roster. Felix Pie, Fred Lewis, Chad Huffman and Ryan Spilborghs received spring-training invitations. Jason Donald, an infielder by trade, will get a look in center and left in an attempt to get his right-handed bat in the lineup more frequently.

If Brantley, Sizemore and Choo, all left-handed hitters, open the season in the starting lineup, look for the extra outfielder(s) to be right-handed hitters. That's one of the reasons Fukudome, another left-handed hitter, was not re-signed as a free agent.

Duncan, who can also play first base, has to be a leading candidate. He hit .260 (58-for-223) with 17 doubles, 11 homers and 47 RBI last year. Spilborghs, Cunningham, Neal, Huffman hit right-handed as well.

One benefit of having a lot of outfielders in camp is that it can create depth in the upper levels of the system. Duncan and Cunningham are out of options, but there's a chance that Pie, Lewis, Spilborghs or Huffman might accept an assignment to the minors if they don't make the club out of spring training. Neal, Carrera and Weglarz have options.

Here's a look at the outfield options for 2012 (with age, bats/throws, last season's average, homers and RBI):

• CF Sizemore, 29, L/L, .224, 10 HR, 32 RBI: Indians brought Sizemore back on a one-year, $5 million deal. Can he make the gamble worthwhile by staying healthy?

• LF Brantley, 24, L/L, .266, 7, 46: He's an non-traditional left fielder who is better suited for a center field/leadoff role.

• RF Choo, 29, L/L, .259, 8, 36: All he needs to do is stay healthy and play every day.

• OF Duncan, 32, R/R, .260, 11, 47: Hit seven homers and drove in 23 runs in September.

• OF Carrera, 24, L/L, .243, 0, 14: Good change-of-pace player, but he has to get on base more and his defense has to improve.

• OF Neal, 24, R/R, .289, 2, 26 at Class AAA Fresno (Giants) and Class AAA Columbus: Acquired from the Giants for Orlando Cabrera. Slowed last year by right shoulder injury.

• OF Weglarz, 24, L/L, .179, 3, 12 at Class AA Akron: Has power and discipline at the plate, but can't stay healthy.

• OF Cunningham, 25, R/R, .178, 3, 9: Appeared in 52 games for San Diego last year, playing 18 in right, 13 in left.

• OF Pie, 26, L/L, .220, 0, 7: Played 85 games with Baltimore last year including 67 in left, six in center and three in right.

• OF Huffman, 26, R/R, .246, 13, 58 at Columbus: Could help as an extra outfielder.

• OF Lewis, 31, L/R, .230, 3, 19: Played 81 games with the Reds last year. He was 2-for-7 in stolen base attempts, but he can run.

• OF Spilborghs, 32, R/R, .210, 3, 22: A valuable utility player for years with the Rockies, Spilborghs' 2011 season was hindered by plantar fasciitis. Has a career OPS vs. LHP of .799.

All in all that doesn't sound like a .500 club.