Cleveland Sports Forum

We'll just disagree, guess you haven't interviewed for a job lately.....

From my experiences the interviewer has most of the power.

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

#indians bigs encouraged after visiting trevor bauer. gm antonetti: "i think he's learned from his experiences in arizona."

Pirates Acquire Jeanmar Gomez
By Mike Axisa [January 9, 2013 at 2:11pm CST]

The Pirates have acquired Jeanmar Gomez from the Indians in exchange for Quincy Latimore, reports ESPN's Keith Law (on Twitter). Cleveland had designated the right-hander for assignment last week.

Gomez, 24, pitched to a 5.96 ERA with 4.7 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 90 2/3 innings for Indians last season. He owns a 5.18 ERA in 206 2/3 innings across 38 starts and four relief appearances in his big league career over the last three seasons. Baseball America ranked Gomez as the team's 21st best prospect in their 2010 Prospect Handbook, saying he should be a "serviceable fifth starter or middle reliever in the future."

Latimore, 23, was Pittsburgh's fourth round pick in the 2007 draft. The outfielder hit .252/.321/.433 with 15 homers and ten steals in 462 Double-A plate appearances last season, his second straight year at the level. Baseball America ranked Latimore as the 21st best prospect in the Pirates' system in their 2011 Prospect Handbook, noting he needs to be more patient at the plate.

Trevor Bauer meets with Cleveland media for first time

Newly-acquired pitcher Trevor Bauer, a key piece of the three-team trade with Arizona and Cincinnati last month, met with the Cleveland media for the first time today. He began the Q&A session with his story of how he first heard the trade news: while he was in the middle of eating a Chiptole burrito.

“My agent called and said ‘you were just traded, and we need to talk about some stuff.’ I said, ‘OK, but can I go inside and eat my burrito real quick and get back to you?’ He didn’t let me finish my burrito – I only got through half of it.”

On coming to Cleveland:

I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to come to a city that has very passionate fans, and an organization that I feel is very welcoming, and very excited to have me and really going in the right direction. So it has kind of been a blessing this off-season and I am excited for it.

On what he learned in his time with Arizona:

I think the biggest thing was probably the importance of throwing Strike One, and getting into advantage counts, attacking hitters and putting pressure on the hitters to swing the bat. The one start that I had the best success, I was ahead in the count all the time, and it just makes pitching a lot easier.

On his unique warm-up routine and pitching style:

I think I’m an exciting player to watch because the things I do are a little bit different…I throw the ball far [in warm-ups – see here for an example]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2YADvbDMeM
– that’s one of them. I wave a black rod around, which not many people do, so that’s a little different. My first warm-up pitch of every inning I do a crow-hop on the mound and throw as hard as I can to get in the feel of being aggressive. My mechanics are slightly different – it’s a little bit more of an aggressive delivery than a lot of the other deliveries out there right now. So it’s just little things, little differences, that make me fun to watch – I hope, anyway.

On the purpose of his unique routine:

It’s designed to prevent injury. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you can’t stay healthy and on the field, then it does you absolutely no good. My first and foremost goal is to be durable and that’s the only way you can actually increase your talent.

On meeting and playing for Terry Francona:

He seems really welcoming and open-minded and really just a pleasure to talk to, which is still kind of surreal for me. I watched baseball growing up and remember Terry Francona managing the Red Sox and they win a World Series and now I’m sitting here shooting the breeze with him – it’s kind of a cool moment for me.

On potentially making the Major League team:

Everybody wants to be part of the major league team, and I’m no different in that aspect, but I really try to focus on the things I can control, and the only thing I can control is getting better. I’m young still (ed. Note: Bauer turns 22 next week). Sometimes I don’t feel very young, but I am young, and if I get too caught up in: ‘am I in the big leagues? Am I not in the big leagues’ then it doesn’t do me any good, and I get distracted from what I should be focusing on, which is building up and improving myself, so I can pitch for a long time, which is what I want to do.

– TribeVibe Contributor Max Lom

I don't have proof of this but I feel very confident that this is the first trade in baseball history of a Jeanmar for a Quincy. I don't recall any Quincies on Cleveland teams over the past 54 years. Of course this Quincy has to make it past AA first.

Quincy was better his second time through in AA, but still only had offensive numbers of 252/321/433. Cut his K's to 105, raised his BBs to 38.

If shy Bauer can fit in, he'll be just fine in Cleveland

By Anthony Castrovince | Archive
01/10/13 10:15 AM ET
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Bauer introduced in Cleveland00:02:41Trevor Bauer says a burrito lunch was interrupted by a trade to Cleveland, but is happy to show his unique skills to Indians fans
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CLEVELAND -- The streets of this city on a winter weekday can be a lonely place for the new guy in town.

And so it goes that when Trevor Bauer strolled through those streets Tuesday night, looking to play some pool and perhaps meet a few folks, he wound up on his own, hunched over a billiard table in a bowling alley. The Indians' high-profile trade acquisition was, in that moment, just another nameless face in the downtown tableau, a solo soul.

Frankly, it's a part Bauer knows well.

Back then was a diamond in the rough
Growing up invisible, my life was sure tough

These are the words that open one of the rap songs Bauer recorded, along with high school pal Connor Garelick, and revealed to the ever-critical eye of the Internet last summer. And while the clearly amateur effort leaves plenty to be desired from a poetic perspective ("I'm gold now, because I shine in all I do/Like a 24-carat diamond ring for your boo") and Bauer himself concedes "I'm not good at it," we can read quite a bit from those words. For rare is the professional ballplayer for whom feelings of isolation strike such a raw nerve.

This is, after all, a team sport. One in which the kind of raw talent Bauer possesses can elevate you to a supreme stature at a remarkably young age.

For Bauer, though, the baseball talent that came so naturally to him stands in stark contrast to the social and interpersonal skills that have often eluded him.

"I didn't have a lot of friends growing up," said the soon-to-be 22-year-old native of North Hollywood. "I had a lot of free time. Instead of going to the movies with friends, I'd be up at the park working out. Everybody would be talking about the movie they saw. Well, I couldn't be a part of that conversation."

This is the fundamental foundation point you must understand about Bauer, one of the most hyped, most scrutinized and perhaps most misunderstood prospects in the game. For this is a man apart from all convention, be it baseball's time-worn training methods or basic clubhouse interaction.

A man apart is a man critiqued, a man questioned. And the questions that arose out of Bauer's short and altogether unsuccessful stay in the Arizona organization have followed him to his new Major League home in Cleveland.

Shake off your catcher in the moment leading up to your first Major League pitch? Yeah, that'll ruffle some feathers in a game so deeply devoted to an often-unwritten code of conduct.

Toss the ball more than 400 feet, from outfield corner to outfield corner, as a regular part of your pregame warmup routine? Sure, you'll become a circus-like curiosity.

Summon your inner Eminem and the let the world in on it? Oh, man, you're going to get crushed in the Twitterverse.

And if you're traded a year and a half after a team took you with the No. 3 overall pick in the Draft and gave you a big league contract and a $3.4 million signing bonus, well, suffice to say it doesn't do wonders for your rep.

But for Bauer, this arrival to the Indians, who acquired him in last month's three-team, nine-player swap with the D-backs and Reds, presents a new opportunity. It is here, he hopes, where, to paraphrase a line from Bob Dylan, his shyness won't be mistaken for aloofness and his silence for snobbery. It is here, he hopes, where his unique routine will be embraced with open arms.

Already, things are looking up, for the Indians are genuinely open minded about Bauer, his program, his intellectual approach and his effort to become a better teammate. They wouldn't have swung this trade if they weren't willing to embrace Bauer, in all his forms.

General manager Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona visited Bauer earlier this week, observing his throwing program at Ron Wolforth's Texas Baseball Ranch and his conditioning routine at Dynamic Sports Training. They came away convinced, in Antonetti's words, that Bauer "works very hard and is committed to being the best pitcher that he can be." And the Indians are going into this relationship committed to letting Bauer do his thing -- even if his thing differs from the norm.

"If he aggravated somebody else on another team," Francona said, "I don't care."

Bauer caused consternation in Arizona. The words "stubborn" and "uncoachable" have been attached to his name, and these are not words to be taken lightly. Bauer had command issues both at the Triple-A (61 walks in 130 1/3 innings) and Major League (13 walks in 16 1/3 innings) levels, and perhaps because he relies so much on his lower half, this was attributable to the groin injury that hounded him much of the year.

But the baseball stuff aside, those same issues Bauer had in high school -- that struggle with the interactions that come so naturally to so many others -- followed him to the big leagues. When he was traded, he certainly wasn't barraged with texts from his former mates, wishing him well. Truth is, Bauer had once again been unable to secure meaningful friendships.

"I'm still learning how to fit into a social setting," he said. "I'm not comfortable in large groups of people. It's tough in baseball, because you walk into a clubhouse and there's a large group. How do I fit in? I didn't learn that in high school. I'm still trying to learn it. It's something I need to improve on."

That's one reason why Bauer is here, taking part in the Indians' winter development program, an acclimation environment for some of their prized Minor Leaguers. That's why he reached out to several of his D-backs teammates at season's end, asking where he went wrong.

Bauer's athletic skill and standing have already introduced him to a wealth of money and opportunity. But Bauer still counts his close friends (including Garelick, who he met his junior year of high school) on a single hand. And he is still, in many ways, that kid off on his own, tossing baseballs in the park.

"It's a lot easier to make friends now that I'm ... something," Bauer said. "But I still only have three or four really close friends in the world."

The irony is that Bauer's first impression with the Cleveland media could not have been stronger. He came off comfortable in his own skin, comfortable discussing his quirks in both personality and profession. Bauer was well-spoken, open and approachable.

If Bauer applies those traits to the Cleveland clubhouse, he'll fit in just fine. And if the more bizarre elements of his preparation are accompanied by success in the Tribe's starting rotation, he'll never have to worry about people trying to pull him out of his comfort zone.

It's a fresh start for Bauer. The balls have been re-racked. The diamond in the rough has a new chance to shine.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Terry Pluto:


About the Tribe ...


1. Last week, I failed to mention Trevor Bauer as a candidate for the Tribe's rotation coming out of spring training. He is in the mix, but one of the reasons the Tribe signed Brett Myers is so they don't have to rush Bauer into the rotation. He's pitched only 172 innings, 161/3 innings in the majors. He'll turn 22 on Jan. 17.

2. Tribe manager Terry Francona and General Manager Chris Antonetti watched Bauer's workouts at a training facility in Texas last week. They didn't see anything that was especially extreme, and they had some in-depth talks about his training techniques. They don't think his approach to training will be an issue, as it was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

3. The Tribe learned that Bauer was bothered by a groin injury for most of the second half of last season. That is part of the reason he was 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA for Arizona in four starts. He was 12-2 with a 2.40 ERA at Class AA and AAA last season.

4. So the rotation has three spots set -- Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Myers. Competing for the final two spots are Zach McAllister and Carlos Carrasco -- both likely to make the team -- followed by Corey Kluber, Scott Kazmir and Bauer. The Indians expect Bauer to be in the big leagues at some point in 2013.

5. Russ Canzler is now with the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers from the Tribe. After signing Nick Swisher, the Indians said they had to decide between Canzler and Cord Phelps for the final 40-man roster spot. They thought Phelps (.276, 16 homers, .820 OPS at Class AAA) was more likely to be claimed on waivers. Phelps, 25, is a second baseman. Canzler, 26, plays first and the outfield, but struggles defensively. He hit .265 with 22 homers in Class AAA, then .269 with three homers for the Tribe in 93 at-bats.

6. This winter, Canzler has been put on waivers by the Tribe and claimed by Toronto, waived by Toronto and claimed by the Tribe. The Indians thought no one would claim Canzler this time -- because only Toronto put in a claim during the first waiver period. The Tribe's goal was to slip Canzler through waivers, sign him to a minor-league contract and bring him to spring training.

7. The other problem with the Tribe's roster is they have three pitchers (Josh Tomlin, Brandon Wood and Chen Lee) all recovering from arm surgeries. They won't be ready for the opener, but the Tribe likes all three and didn't want to risk losing them on waivers to a team that would keep them on the 40-man roster as they recover.

8. The Yankees are looking for a right-handed hitter (partly to replace Swisher, a switch hitter) and Canzler has a decent chance to make their team.

9. While left-hander David Huff would like to start, the Indians plan to stress to him that he's out of minor-league options. With Tony Sipp and Raffy Perez gone, they need lefties in the bullpen. A job is waiting as Huff will compete with fellow lefties Nick Hagadone and Scott Barnes for two spots. Huff is 28, so now is the time to find a role that keeps him in the majors.

10. In another roster decision, the Tribe kept Huff over Jeanmar Gomez, who was traded to the Pirates for Class AA outfielder Quincy Latimore (.252, 15 HR, 71 RBI, .754 OPS). He is 23, a right-handed hitter and considered a so-so prospect. The Tribe is desperate for outfielders at the upper levels of the farm system.

What about Bryson who is pitching well in the Winter Leagues?

Hope this hasn't been posted:

Rich Gossage on the Hall of Fame and steroids


http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow ... 7810.story

Bryson hasn't pitched in AAA yet, so he's not likely to be considered for the big league bullpen at the start of 2013. He has not completely overcome control concerns. (43 walks in 65 innings in 2012). He still has not made it to the 40 man roster, nor did anyone else see enough potential to tab him in Rule 5. If he can be effective for Columbus then he'll be on the Indians short list for promotion.

Thanks Civ, it would be nice if one of those trade Bozos worked out really well.

Key spring training dates


Feb. 12

Voluntary spring training report date for pitchers, catchers and injured players.

Feb. 15

Voluntary date on which all non-World Baseball Classic position players may be invited to spring training.

Feb. 20

Mandatory date by which all non-WBC players must report.

Feb. 22

First Grapefruit League game.

First Cactus League games.

March 2-6

World Baseball Classic, First Round

Pool A - Fukuoka, Japan (Fukuoka Dome): Japan, Cuba, China, Brazil

March 2-5

World Baseball Classic, First Round

Pool B - Taichung, Taiwan (Intercontinental Stadium): Korea, Netherlands, Australia, Chinese Taipei

March 7-10

World Baseball Classic, First Round

Pool C - San Juan, Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium): Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Spain

March 7-10

World Baseball Classic, First Round

Pool D - Phoenix, Ariz. (Chase Field & Salt River Fields at Talking Stick): United States, Mexico, Italy, Canada

March 8-12

World Baseball Classic, Second Round

Pool 1 - Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome)

March 12-16

World Baseball Classic, Second Round

Pool 2 - Miami, Fla. (Marlins Park)

March 17-19

World Baseball Classic, Championship Round

Finals - San Francisco, Calif. (AT&T Park)

March 30

Final Grapefruit League, Cactus League games

March 31

Opening Night: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Active rosters trimmed to 25

So we won't have Perez and Pestano around until the last 10 days of camp. I suppose that's less of an issue for relievers than starters.