Cleveland Sports Forum

The above article implies that the front office will be status quo for next season.
Looks like CALI/FLA will have to look for another team to root for.

Who is Hoynes kidding.

The decision has already been made. We just don't know what it is.

It's like saying there are still undecided voters out there. If you haven't decided who you're going to vote for, you are either a moron or havent been paying attention.

I don't think Dolan is a moron and I think he's been paying attention.

Here's hoping that the Dolans are singing this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-X9JkM9Bgo

I guess I'm either a moron or haven't been paying attention, or possibly both, because I haven't decided yet whom I'm going to vote for. All I have decided so far is that it won't be Obama and that it won't be NittWitt Romney.

You've decided and you're paying attention.

Yesterdays Wall Street Journal had an article on bias in baseball announcers. Not surprisingly the Hawk of the Chicago White Sox was considered the most biased with a bias score of 104. what was surprising was that of the 30 teams, Rick Manning and Matt Underwood came in second highest bias with a score of 25. The Twins announcers had a score of 9 and the Yankees along with the BlueJays, Red Sox,Dodgers and Mets had perfect scores of 0 demonstrating no bias whatsoever.

The Tribe announcers were criticized for using "we" and "us" excessively as opposed to the politically correct "they".

Not surprisingly, it was the small market teams,excluding the blatant Chicago guys, that scored the worse.

I have not heard all of the announcers but am surprised at some of the results. I do think our guys are relatively bias free and point out our deficiencies as well as giving other teams credit, also their take on umpire calls are pretty bias free.

On the other hand my experience with Twins announcers is different, especially Bremer who sounds at times like a Grandfather whose 6 year old Grandchild has been called out at home on a close play.

And as for Michael Kay of the Yankees-he howls like a banshee when a close call goes against the Yankees and demands replays over and over even when they clearly show he was wrong.

Just more media shilling for the big market teams, at least Hawks use of "the Good Guys" is real. Though the article points out that he has been called on the carpet for his bias.

I guess that was for the TV announcers. I'd be interested in seeing what they come up with for the radio guys.

And as for Michael Kay of the Yankees-he howls like a banshee when a close call goes against the Yankees and demands replays over and over even when they clearly show he was wrong.

Before XM radio I used to listen to a lot of Yankee and Boston games because those were the radio signals I could get. I found the Kay - Sterling team tolerable, mostly because of Michael Kay's fairness. He ALWAYS seemed willing to deliver criticism to the Yankees when it was deserved. I don't hear him as much anymore, but when I've occasionally heard a snippet (a highlight) on XM or at the MLB site I have noticed that he puts as much energy and excitement into callilng a game-winning hit for the opponent as he does for a game-winner from the Yanks.

Since his move to TV, the Yankees radio broadcasts have become unlistenable. Kay used to pull Sterling up to a higher level, but now the awful Suzyn Waldman drags him down toward her level. I don't find her quite as annoying as Milo Hamilton, but she's close.

I suspect that among radio announces, Tom Hamilton would be ranked as one of the most biased. But not as much as our dearly beloved but sadly departed Ron Santo!!!

Well on the games I have recently heard on TV (the YES network) Kaye has shown favoritism on calls that go against the Yankees. I do agree with you that I have heard him get excited about good plays for the opposition.

One thing that gets my goat in his broadcasts is the WRATH OF THE TITANS type intro to the games about the History, the Championships,etc etc.

Wish they did the same kind of thing for Money Spent.

Well, since most people listen to their home team announcers, I would think they prefer a bias. If it's for one of the networks, they should be non-partisan. It sure seemed like Bob Costas and crew were pulling for Leyland and the Marlins during the '97 WS, though.

Chris Perez keeps firing on the mound, but takes an intentional pass with media: Cleveland Indians Insider
Published: Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 8:15 PM Updated: Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 8:16 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer


CHICAGO -- Closer Chris Perez has been quiet on and off the field for a while now.

He's been quiet on the mound because the struggling Indians haven't created many save opportunities over the last two months. Perez did earn his career-high 37th save Tuesday in a 4-3 victory over Chicago, but it was his first opportunity since Sept. 13.

Off the field, Perez has been issuing a lot of non-comments since criticizing Indians ownership and front office in a FoxSports.com story in early September.

After Tuesday's win, Perez's answered reporters' questions bluntly and quickly. The only time he talked at length was about set-up man Vinnie Pestano's bounce-back performance Tuesday after allowing a game-winning three-run homer to Adam Dunn on Monday.

Some examples:

Reporter: How did it feel to play the spoiler today?

Perez: "I could care less. I'd rather be playing for something."

Reporter: How have you managed to stay sharp between save opportunities?

Perez: "I've had a lot of practice this year."

Reporter: Are you starting to think about next year and what you can build on?

Perez: "I'm not."

Reporter: What's been your routine because you wouldn't expect to go six, seven or eight games between save opportunities?

Perez: "Have you watched us this year? We haven't been in seven or eight games in a row."

Reporter: What do you think the team has learned from this year?

Perez: "No comment. I have opinions, but I'm not going to say them right now."

As Perez walked away from reporters, he said, "It will be a fun last couple of days of the season when I'm allowed to talk again."

The season ends Oct. 3.

Lou on the loose: Lou Marson was on the loose Monday night. He singled in his first at-bat, was thrown out stealing twice, reached on an error, hit into two double plays, threw out Dayan Viciedo trying to steal second and tagged out Alejandro De Aza on a close play at the plate. All in a night's work for the Tribe's backup catcher.

It's been a long time since an Indians catcher has been thrown out stealing twice in the same game. It's happened only three times since 1921, according to STATS: Marson on Monday, Sandy Alomar Jr., May 1, 1991 against the Angels and Luke Sewell Sept. 3, 1927 against the White Sox.

After reaching on a single with two out in the second off lefty Chris Sale, Marson was thrown out at second by catcher A.J. Pierzynski. He tried again in the sixth with two out after reaching on third baseman Kevin Youkilis' throwing error. Marson made the first attempt close, but Sale fooled him the second time with a slide step and a quick delivery to the plate. He let up halfway to second and was an easy out on Pierzynski's throw.

Manager Manny Acta said he sent Marson both times with two out.

"He was sent both times on [Sale's] first move," said Acta. "The second time the guy slide stepped. We send Lou all the time on the first move, especially against left-handed pitchers, because they're not expecting it."

Marson, who runs well, is 4-for-8 in steal attempts.

Testing, testing: Roberto Hernandez's bad wheel could keep him from making another appearance this season. Hernandez, nursing a sore right ankle, will throw a simulated game Wednesday at U.S. Cellular.

"It's not about throwing," said Acta. "It's about moving around and fielding his position."
Acta said Hernandez will throw three innings and go through fielding drills. Hernandez injured his ankle on Aug. 27 against Oakland.

"If we don't feel it's good enough to let him pitch in a game, we'll just have another simulated game and call it a season," said Acta.

Easy does it: Center fielder Michael Brantley missed his second straight game Tuesday with a groin injury. He injured the groin Sunday during a rundown against the Royals.

Finally: Tuesday's victory broke the Tribe's six-game losing streak against Chicago. ... The Tribe is 23-11 in games decided by one run.


Indians Chatter
Clubhouse confidential: The Indians didn’t help the White Sox’s chances of winning the AL Central on Tuesday with their 4-3 victory at U.S. Cellular Field. But Manny Acta downplayed the Indians’ role as spoiler even though they have four games left with Chicago.

“The last thing on our mind is trying to hurt somebody or knock somebody off,” said the Indians’ manager. “We’re just trying to win as many games as we can. It’s just nice to win after what we’ve gone through the last two months.”

Scouting report: Rookie Russ Canzler was not surprised to see rookie Corey Kluber pitch seven strong innings Tuesday against Chicago.

“I’ve seen Corey pitch like that a bunch of times in [Class AAA] Columbus this year,” said Canzler. “He just shuts teams down and throws all his pitches for strikes. I think that’s something you can expect to see more from him.”

Stat of the day: Jason Kipnis, who singled in the third inning Tuesday, has hit safely in all 10 of his career games at U.S. Cellular. Kipnis, who lives in Chicago during the off-season, is hitting .438 (17-for-39) with three homers and nine RBI at The Cell. 

— Paul Hoynes

Acta, Indians ponder future options at shortstop

By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

CHICAGO: What do Asdrubal Cabrera, Orlando Cabrera, Juan Diaz, Jason Donald, Adam Everett, Jack Hannahan, Brent Lillibridge and Luis Valbuena have in common?

They all played shortstop for the Indians the past two seasons.

Asdrubal Cabrera, of course, is the regular. The others have filled in for him when he needed a rest or was recovering from an injury.

The Tribe has had many problems this year, most of them of a more acute nature than undertaking a worldwide search for the perfect shortstop to come off the bench. But it has been another contributor to the team’s fall into last placed of the Central Division.

“It has been an issue,” manager Manny Acta said. “”We need to find a guy to play backup shortstop that is very dependable.”

As an everyday player, Cabrera has the reputation of being a solid defender with some limits on his range, who has a powerful and accurate arm. However, this season he has played in 130 games (128 starts) and committed a career-worst 18 errors.

Yet the shortstop play still suffers when someone on the bench takes over. The four infielders who have filled in for Cabrera have played in 39 games collectively at short, including 25 starts, and managed to stack up seven errors.

Maybe Hannahan should be kept out of the discussion, because in the seven games when he has entered as a defensive replacement, he is error-free.

Donald also has value playing second, third and now the outfield.

It’s a good bet that Lillibridge won’t be back, and that Hannahan, the team’s regular at third until Lonnie Chisenhall recovered from an injury, will move on.

Juan Diaz got his brief taste of the big leagues as an Akron Aero. He finished the season at Columbus, and it doesn’t appear the Indians are grooming him to be a utility infielder.

So how will the Tribe go about collecting candidates to be next year’s backup shortstop?

“The best way to do it is to go out and sign minor-league free agents,” Acta said.

“Some guys think the main ingredient for that job is to find guys who play shortstop first, not third or second. When someone played shortstop in the first place, it’s easier for him.”

If all the Indians are worried about is who is going to be the backup shortstop next year, there's no hope.

Consider the source. It's Sheldon Ocker.

Perez: "Have you watched us this year? We haven't been in seven or eight games in a row."

Classic response ROFLMAO

As Perez walked away from reporters, he said, "It will be a fun last couple of days of the season when I'm allowed to talk again."

Gotta love a man who wants to win.