Cleveland Sports Forum

Until last year Spilburgh's stats were pretty decent:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ry01.shtml

Thinking of comparisons, I looked up Jason Michaels. Michaels is much worse. Why has he lasted so long?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ja01.shtml

More good news, Pluto says Cabrera is out of shape.

About the Tribe...


View full sizeJae C. Hong, Associated PressAsdrubal Cabrera may need spring training to get into better shape, says Terry Pluto.
1. The Indians don't want to talk about it, but Asdrubal Cabrera showed up in training camp in less than ideal condition. The shortstop has long battled weight problems. He was in pretty good shape last spring, leading to his breakout season (.273, 25 HR, 92 RBI, .792 OPS). But this spring, he is heavier than a year ago ... although I can't find out how much.

2. Cabrera had struggles with his weight in 2008 and 2010. He has a stocky build and has to be careful with his diet because it's easy to put on pounds. As a shortstop, his only weakness is very ordinary range ... and the weight doesn't help. Now, it's up to him to use this time to get into shape, because the 26-year-old is blessed with a lot of ability. His conditioning issues also are why any team has to be careful when giving him a long-term contract.

3. The good news is Carlos Santana is in excellent condition after working out in the winter with assistant strength coach Nelson Perez, who spent the off-season in the Dominican Republic. In his first full big-league season, Santana hit 27 homers with 79 RBI. His average (.239) was low, but his OPS (.808) showed his ability to draw walks and hit for power.

4. The Indians are extremely pleased with how Derek Lowe is throwing. They made a small adjustment to his windup, and it seems to have helped him regain the sharp sinker that has been his best pitch for more than a decade.

5. Cord Phelps has added 12 pounds of muscle ... the Indians are pleased with his upper body strength and how he has looked early in camp. He opened last season at shortstop in Class AAA, then moved to second base when promoted to Cleveland. He was shaky in the field and at bat. Second is his primary position, and the Indians plan to keep him at that spot.

6. At the start of last spring, Phelps was projected to be more big-league ready than Jason Kipnis -- although Kipnis was the higher prospect. Phelps turned 25 in January, so it's premature to write him off. He is a .304 hitter (.880 OPS) in 163 Class AAA games. He is not expected to make the team out of camp, but could be recalled if Kipnis is injured.

7. The Indians are very excited with what Kipnis has shown. In addition to infield coach Steve Smith, the Indians have former infielder Adam Everett working with Kipnis at second base. Everett is with the team as a special assistant. He opened last season on the Tribe roster, but was cut on June 30.

8. With Grady Sizemore out with back surgery, only two outfielders are guaranteed roster spots -- Shin-Soo Choo and Michael Brantley. Shelley Duncan and Aaron Cunningham are both out of options, so they are likely to make the cut. They do have Jason Donald, who can play some outfield. But they may pick one more outfielder from Ryan Spilborghs, Russ Canzler, Felix Pie and some others. Zeke Carrera would only make the team if he beats out Brantley as the starting centerfielder, and that's not likely to happen.

9. Some fans asked about the Indians not signing Kosuke Fukudome. He will be 35 on April 26. For the Tribe, he did a decent job as a fill-in, but hit only .249 with 5 HR and 22 RBI in 237 at-bats. He signed with the White Sox for $1 million as a backup. I'd rather see Brantley, Duncan and others get a chance to play.

10. So glad Manny Acta went with Justin Masterson to start the opener. He earned it. Also, the less pressure on Ubaldo Jimenez, the better. Masterson was 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA. In 11 of his 33 starts, the Indians scored two or fewer runs. Seven times, it was one or no runs. He earned those 12 wins.

Cabrera is a 21st century Baerga. Stick a fork in him. He is done.

Alex White arrested on DUI suspicion

Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Colorado Rockies pitcher Alex White has apologized to his teammates after being briefly jailed following an arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.

White was arrested on Saturday while in Arizona at spring training. He spoke with team management Sunday morning.

The Rockies say White understands he made a mistake and the embarrassment it has caused.

The 23-year-old White was acquired last summer from Cleveland in the trade for Ubaldo Jimenez.

White is vying for a spot in the Colorado rotation. He went 2-4 with an 8.42 ERA in seven starts with the Rockies last season.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

Most employers would can this moron immediately.

MtFan wrote:Alex White arrested on DUI suspicion

Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Colorado Rockies pitcher Alex White has apologized to his teammates after being briefly jailed following an arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.

White was arrested on Saturday while in Arizona at spring training. He spoke with team management Sunday morning.

The Rockies say White understands he made a mistake and the embarrassment it has caused.

The 23-year-old White was acquired last summer from Cleveland in the trade for Ubaldo Jimenez.

White is vying for a spot in the Colorado rotation. He went 2-4 with an 8.42 ERA in seven starts with the Rockies last season.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

You subscribe to the One strike and he's out philosophy?

Should we have DFA'd Choo last year?

Indians closer Chris Perez targets March 15 return

By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Chris Perez, sidelined in late February with a strained oblique, isn’t the most patient player when it comes to rehabbing an injury. His goal for returning to the mound is March 15, and he believes he’s on schedule.

Indians medical staffers put the length of recovery at four to six weeks, which would put Perez’s return at about March 26, at the earliest. So it remains to be seen which prediction proves to be correct.

“It’s definitely a lot better,” Perez said Sunday. “I think I’m one or two days away [from starting a throwing program], but I don’t know for sure. There’s no new soreness, and every exercise they give me, I pass.

“I can see light at the end of the tunnel. They told me that with this kind of injury, you can make up time at the back end and accelerate the rehab.”

When Perez is permitted to throw again, he presumably will begin by playing catch, starting from 60 feet and progressing to 90 and probably 120.

“I think it’s going to be Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said. “If it doesn’t happen by Wednesday, I’m going to be disappointed. And I still think I’ll be back [in a game] by March 15.”

Rafael Perez has been out with shoulder soreness, but he has begun a throwing program already. Carlos Carrasco, who underwent elbow reconstruction surgery last year, will begin throwing from 75 feet on Monday.

Rough debut

Ubaldo Jimenez made his first start of the spring against Cincinnati and lasted only one inning, giving up five runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk, running his pitch count to 37.

There were mitigating circumstances. Miguel Cairo delivered a bloop single to right that scored two runs; Zack Cozart and Wilson Valdez reached on infield hits; and Russ Canzler committed an error to load the bases with one out.

“I felt that Ubaldo threw very well,” manager Manny Acta said. “He had good stuff. You can’t control those [infield] choppers.” Asked whether Jimenez has tamed his delivery, particularly the length of his stride, Acta said: “The hitters show you that. They were getting jammed.”

Jimenez was pleased with the way he controlled his mechanics. “I thought they were pretty good, not 100 percent, but it was close,” he said.

Since coming to Cleveland last midseason, Jimenez’s velocity has been an issue.
Velocity means nothing,” Acta said. “It’s a big deal to you guys, but it’s about the stuff.”

Canzler as advertised

Canzler singled twice, hitting both balls hard, to go with the only Tribe home run in two intrasquad games. "He’s a bat,” Acta said. “He’s looking good so far.” Only one problem: finding a position for him. Canzler will concentrate on playing first, though he has played left field.

Tomlin, Gomez strong

Josh Tomlin and Jeanmar Gomez each threw two scoreless innings. Gomez struck out the side without allowing a baserunner; Tomlin gave up two hits and struck out two.

“I’m getting a feel for facing another team now,” Tomlin said. “I’m just trying to hit spots and throw strikes. I feel like the pitchers have the advantage early in camp.”

Added Acta: “Josh threw strikes. That’s what he does. He makes pitches.”

Acta praised Gomez, saying: “He threw the ball well. He had a very good slider; it was a swing-and-miss pitch.”

Marching onward

Justin Masterson will start this afternoon, as the Tribe plays its third consecutive game against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. Johnny Cueto will start for Cincinnati.

In the morning, the White Sox will visit the Goodyear complex for a “B” game. Chris Seddon will be the starter for the Indians.

Ubaldo Jimenez's spring debut is a bumpy one as Cleveland Indians absorb 8-6 loss to Reds
Published: Sunday, March 04, 2012, 5:29 PM Updated: Sunday, March 04, 2012, 8:25 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Ubaldo Jimenez knew this wasn't going to look good in Monday's Plain Dealer or Sunday's cleveland.com blog. Given the chance, he probably could have written the headline himself.
Instead he asked a throng of baseball writers to plead his case. Now that's a leap of faith.

Jimenez, operating under the spotlight of public scrutiny this spring, allowed five runs on five hits in the first inning as the Indians lost, 8-6, to Cincinnati on Sunday in his Cactus League debut. Four runs were unearned, but his work resembled many of his starts from last year after the Indians acquired him from Colorado in one of the biggest trades of the season.

The one thing balancing the scales at the moment is that the Indians apparently sent the Beastie Boys to the Rockies. You remember departed No.1 picks Alex White and Drew Pomeranz? White was arrested Saturday night for a DUI. Pomeranz was arrested during the off-season for disorderly conduct. Who knew two of the top pitching prospects in baseball were pledging the Hell's Angels?

For the record, the Indians never had a question about White's makeup. Pomeranz, well, that may have been a different story. But they're both big and strong and legitimate No.1 picks.

"It's up to you guys to say they hit the ball soft," Jimenez told reporters Sunday. "Probably it doesn't look good in the paper. But I felt good.

"Whoever knows anything about baseball knows things like this will happen. They only hit the ball hard one time."

Jimenez was scheduled to pitch two innings, but was gone after the first because he threw 37 pitches and faced 10 batters. Errors by first baseman Russ Canzler and right fielder Aaron Cunningham extended the inning, but Jimenez did little to stop the negative momentum.

Drew Stubbs opened with a pop up to second. Zack Cozart followed with an infield single to third. Jimenez fell behind Chris Heisey at 3-2 before walking him. Todd Frazier sent a pop up behind first that Canzler dropped to load the bases.

Miguel Cairo hit a two-run single to right. Frazier went to third when Cunningham bounced his throw past catcher Lou Marson.

Wilson Valdez chopped a ball off the plate. Jimenez had to wait for it to come down and Valdez beat his throw to first, with Frazier scoring. Jimenez struck out Ryan Hanigan, but Willie Harris lined a two-run single to right to make it 5-0.

To Jimenez's way of thinking, that was the only hard hit ball of the inning.

At least a dozen scouts were sitting behind the plate. Every time Jimenez went into his delivery, their radar guns popped up like telescopes from a fleet of submarines. Jimenez didn't disappoint. He was clocked consistency between 94-96 mph. Not bad for March 4.

"What can I say?" said Jimenez. "You never want the score to be like that. But I was throwing a lot of strikes. I used only my slider, fastball and split.

"This is the first game of spring training. I don't want to be using five pitches and driving the catcher crazy."

Jimenez has been working on the stride in his delivery all winter and through the first two weeks of spring training. Manager Manny Acta and GM Chris Antonetti were pleased with the results.

"Their hitters let you know that Ubaldo's delivery was working," said Acta. "A lot of guys got jammed. I think he had good stuff."

Said Jimenez, "The delivery probably it wasn't the same every time, but it was close."
Jimenez's pitching motion sometimes looks like an overturned jigsaw puzzle. When he was young, he tried to copy Pedro Martinez's delivery. In 2004, he strained his right shoulder in Class A ball. He worked on a way to avoid the pain and keep pitching. He found one and the rest is part of his pitching evolution.

"A lot of people would say no [to the delivery]," said Jimenez. "No one wants to see you go like that.

"But it's been good for me. They tried to change me in the minor leagues, but it didn't work. Once they let me go, they said, 'Do what ever you think is good.' I just kept moving up after that."

Velocity IS "stuff," isn't it?

White was arrested about 9:15 p.m. Saturday night after his blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.174, according to a police report.
The legal limit is 0.08 and, under Arizona law, the term "extreme DUI" is used to describe anything over 0.15, The Denver Post reported.
A police spokesman said White would be charged if blood tests confirmed the results of his roadside test.
White, 23, told Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd that he had only consumed two drinks before his arrest.

rusty2 wrote:White was arrested about 9:15 p.m. Saturday night after his blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.174, according to a police report.
The legal limit is 0.08 and, under Arizona law, the term "extreme DUI" is used to describe anything over 0.15, The Denver Post reported.
A police spokesman said White would be charged if blood tests confirmed the results of his roadside test.
White, 23, told Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd that he had only consumed two drinks before his arrest.

Glad that we got rid of this lying pampered prima donna.

Interesting that both prospects White and Pomeranz that the Indians traded have had run ins with the law that involved alcohol. Pomeranz more then once.

Coincidence ? Who knows ?

The Sizemore Effect (Grady Version)
by Matt Klaassen - March 2, 2012

As Aaron Gleeman noted yesterday, it has been a rough week for Sizemores. Oakland third baseman Scott Sizemore tore his ACL, and much less surprisingly, yesterday it was reported that Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore will be out 8-12 weeks after a procedure on his back. Grady Sizemore’s story is probably well-known to most FanGraphs readers: from 2005 to 2008, he was one of best players in baseball.

Since then, he has been hampered by injuries and increasing ineffectiveness when he was able to take the field. It was not as if Cleveland was expecting a return to super-stardom for Sizemore when the team declined his 2012 option and then re-signed him for 2012 ($5 million deal with incentives). The team simply needed another outfielder as they try to make a run at the playoffs. But Sizemore is out for at least a couple of months, and probably at least half of the season. No player stands out as the obvious replacement. Let’s take a look at a few options, and what Cleveland stands to lose.

Part of the difficulty with this sort of analysis is getting accurate read on just how good Sizemore is at this point. Over the last two seasons, he has fewer than 450 plate appearances in the majors, with an absolutely abysmal .254 wOBA in 2010 that only served to make his .302 wOBA in 2011 look slightly less horrible. How much of that was injury, random variation, or simply decline in skills is difficult to answer. ZiPS and Steamer projections both see Sizemore as about a .330 wOBA hitter in 2012, but the error bars have to be pretty big on that.

Fielding is difficult to evaluate in the best of situations, and the lack of recent data for Sizemore makes it even worse. At his best, Sizemore was seen as an outfielder with good range and a bad arm, and the range has probably suffered. Optimistically with above-average offense and average fielding, Sizemore probably projected at between two and three wins above replacement if he did manage to play something like a full season.

Sizemore’s direct replacement is not much of a mystery. Due to Sizemore’s injuries, left fielder Michael Brantley has started 127 games in center over the last three season. Offensively, Steamer projects Brantley for a .316 wOBA, ZiPS for .313. That was around league average in 2011 — not starter-worthy in left field without great defense, but it might play in center.

It is difficult to evaluate how good or bad Brantley is in the field. Both UZR and DRS see him as slightly above-average in left, and horrible in center. However, the sample size is small even for those most confident in the measurements given by those metrics: less than 1200 innings over three full seasons. Brantley had a reputation as a good outfielder in the minors. If he is about an average center fielder, then he is about a two-win player over a full season given the hitting projections — almost as good as Sizemore was projected. If one thinks Brantley is a really bad center fielder (say, -10 runs), then he is between a win and two wins worse than Sizemore over a full season.

Along with Shin-Soo Choo, Brantley was going to start in the outfield even with Sizemore healthy, so whether he plays left or center, that will not change. What are some options for the now-open third spot? Apparently there are about ten players who might have a chance. Let`s briefly look at a few.

Russ Canzler and Matt LaPorta`s names will come up, but both have questions about their alleged Quad-A-ness, so we will leave them aside for now. Thomas Neal and Trevor Crowe are also mentioned, but at this point, they seem to be marginal players even as bench fodder. Ryan Spilborghs is finally out of Colorado, and, well, he would make a heck of a corner outfielder for a AAA team. Nick Weglarz is in camp, but did not hit in the minors when healthy in 2011, and he was a bat-first prospect. I was a Felix Pie advocate for years, but while he showed real promise in 2009, things just kept getting worse — he is even borderline as a bench player at this point.

I may have missed something, and I`m sure some will disagree with me, I think there should be four players in the mix for Cleveland`s remaining outfield spot to start the season. None of them are especially appealing, but all could be helpful if utilized properly.

One somewhat “safe” option would be a platoon. A left-field platoon to start the season could involve Fred Lewis as the left-handed half of the platoon, and either Shelley Duncan or Aaron Cunningham as the right-handed half. That would maximize offensive output, given the options. One could make an argument that Duncan should just get the spot straight up given that he hit pretty well (over 247 plate appearances) for Cleveland in 2011, but he’s 32, and not very quick out there. He is probably best suited as a right-handed bench bat, a part-timer at first and in left field.

One could also make the case for Aaron Cunningham to get the left field spot all to himself. He has never played as well in the majors as one might have expected given his minor-league numbers. He is not terribly young, but at 26 there maybe be something there worth checking out on a full-time basis, at least until Sizemore can come back. He can play better defense than Duncan, and would also provide a right-handed balance in a heavily left-handed lineup. On the other hand, Cleveland is obviously “going for it” this year, so they may not want to wait around and see if Cunningham can finally bring it at the plate.

While Cunningham is tempting, perhaps the best option would be to leave Brantley in left and to have Ezequiel Carrera start in center. Carrera does not do much more on offense than steal bases, but his speed probably makes him the superior option to Brantley in center. This would be Cleveland`s best defensive outfield option. Perhaps some sort of platoon arrangement with Cunningham and Carrera (with Brantley shifting to center when Cunningham starts) would be a good stopgap solution.

None of these options is terribly exciting, but that is the nature of having to look to reserves to fill a starting role. Still, it is not as if Cleveland was expecting Sizemore to provide five wins. Their offense now revolves around Choo and Carlos Santana, not Sizemore and Hafner. The Indians have enough decent options that losing Sizemore even for the whole year projects to only cost them maybe two wins, and that assuming Sizemore could have played decently for the whole year if he would have avoided the current injury.

Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall`s development has always been far more important to Cleveland`s 2012 season that Sizemore`s health. Losing two wins is a problem, given that they were already projected to be playing catch-up with Detroit prior to Sizemore’s injury. However, they are still within range.