Cleveland Sports Forum

There are good times, no doubt. Francona's relationships with his Red Sox players are almost all presented as positives (basically all except Manny Ramirez). Same goes for his relationships with most of the people who worked for the Red Sox, including general manager Theo Epstein.


Terry Francona said Wednesday on The Big Show on WEEI that he's heard from several players since he and the organization parted ways last week. He also heard from an unlikely former player by the name of Manny Ramirez.

"Manny called me, how about that?" Francona said. "I was very surprised. It was actually a very nice message and I appreciate it a lot."

Maybe some things can change....Maybe not !?!?!?

Cleveland Indians have Thome, Hafner on DH radar

By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
on January 25, 2013 at 12:37 AM, updated January 25, 2013 at 12:46 AM Print


The Indians still don't have a designated hitter and Travis Hafner and Jim Thome are still available. It's believed the Indians are talking to the players' agents.

"We haven't closed the doors on anyone," GM Chris Antonetti said.

A handful of teams, including the Indians, are interested in Hafner. One of the suitors may have been eliminated with DH/first baseman Luke Scott reportedly re-signing with Tampa Bay. The Rays are one of several teams in the AL East to have shown interest in Hafner throughout the off-season.

When the Indians didn't exercise Hafner's $13 million option for 2013 on Oct. 31, Antonetti said he was still open to bringing Hafner back to Cleveland for less money.

"We've stayed in contact with Travis and his representatives," said Antonetti.

A lot of DH-type hitters are coming off the free-agent board with the start of spring training drawing near. Delmon Young just signed a one-year deal with the Phillies. The Yankees are close to signing first baseman/DH Dan Johnson to a minor-league deal with a spring training invitation. Johnson hit 28 homers at Class AAA Charlotte (N.C.), the White Sox's top minor-league club, last season.

Still, there is time left to get a deal done. Indians pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 10.

If the Indians re-signed Thome, it would be his third tour in Cleveland. The Indians' all-time home run leader most recently played with the Tribe at the end of the 2011 season.

Manny Ramirez, another former Indian, is not under consideration. Tribe manager Terry Francona managed Ramirez in Boston and the two frequently butted heads. Ramirez played in the Dominican Republic this winter in an attempted comeback after not playing in the big leagues last year.

Should the Indians add a player like Hafner or Thome, the DH spot will still be a crowded position this season. Last season Hafner and Thome, both left-handed hitters, played 66 and 58 games, respectively. Hafner hit .228 (50-for-219) with 12 homers and 34 RBI for the Indians. Thome, who played for the Phillies and Baltimore, hit .252 (41-for-163) with eight homers and 25 RBI.

Antonetti and Francona have several players coming to camp who would share time with such a hitter.

Among the right-handers on the 40-man roster are utility men Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles. Also on the 40-man are switch-hitting first baseman Mike McDade, left-handed hitting first baseman Chris McGuiness and left-handed hitting outfielder Ezequiel Carrera. McGuiness is a Rule 5 pick drafted off the Texas roster.

Ryan Raburn and Ben Francisco, two right-handed hitters with big-league experience, just signed minor-league deals with big-league invitations.

No matter what they do with the DH spot, the days of one man dominating the position are over in Cleveland, at least for this season.

The Indians will use the DH to rest regulars such as catcher Carlos Santana, infielders Mark Reynolds and Jason Kipnis and outfielders Nick Swisher, Michael Brantley and Drew Stubbs. Santana, however, is expected to spend most of his time behind the plate.

New guys: The Indians invited five of their own minor-leaguers to big-league spring training: first baseman Jesus Aguilar, right-handers Preston Guilmet and Matt Langwell, left-hander Giovanni Soto and catcher Roberto Perez. Aguilar strained a hamstring playing winter ball in Venezuela, but will be ready for spring training.

Award time: Francona received the Judge Emil Fuchs Award on Thursday from the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America during their annual awards dinner. Francona, who led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, received the award for long and meritorious service to baseball.

Past recipients include Ernie Banks, Bob Gibson, Warren Spahn, Henry Aaron, Marvin Miller, Bud Selig and Carl Yastrzemski. Last year's honoree was Boston Red Sox President Larry Lucchino.

Francona is also in New England promoting his new book: "Francona: The Red Sox Years."

joez wrote:There are good times, no doubt. Francona's relationships with his Red Sox players are almost all presented as positives (basically all except Manny Ramirez). Same goes for his relationships with most of the people who worked for the Red Sox, including general manager Theo Epstein.


Terry Francona said Wednesday on The Big Show on WEEI that he's heard from several players since he and the organization parted ways last week. He also heard from an unlikely former player by the name of Manny Ramirez.

"Manny called me, how about that?" Francona said. "I was very surprised. It was actually a very nice message and I appreciate it a lot."

Maybe some things can change....Maybe not !?!?!?

Not according to the article I just posted:

Manny Ramirez, another former Indian, is not under consideration. Tribe manager Terry Francona managed Ramirez in Boston and the two frequently butted heads. Ramirez played in the Dominican Republic this winter in an attempted comeback after not playing in the big leagues last year.

The Week Ahead: What of the unsigned free agents?

Bourn, Lohse, Soriano among those still available with Spring Training a month away

By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 01/14/13 10:00 AM ET

And then there were three. Or four. Or maybe a lot more than that.

And they don't even include Justin Upton.

The three we're talking about are the free agents who haven't signed yet but are widely regarded to be the top remaining players in each broad category: position player, starter, reliever.

In other words, outfielder Michael Bourn, right-hander Kyle Lohse and closer Rafael Soriano.

They have a lot in common, these three. They're all looking for lucrative multiyear deals. They're all represented by Scott Boras. And they're all, somehow, still looking for employment, even though there are plenty of teams out there who surely could use their contributions in 2013 and beyond.

Last week we learned that the Angels are most likely out on Lohse, who went 16-3 last year for the Cardinals, but that the Texas Rangers might be in.

"There is a reasonable chance that we could add somebody from outside," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "It could be someone on a Minor League contract who is part of the competition, but we could still add somebody on a guaranteed contract that will preempt the competition."

That might be cryptic, but it might be telling, and if the Rangers are to sign Lohse, they'll probably want to get it done sooner than later, considering pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Spring Training in about a month.

Sooner than later could be this week, not only for Lohse, Bourn and Soriano, but for many more free agents who haven't found homes.

While the pickings are slimming down, there's still intrigue out there.

On the position-player side of things, Delmon Young, Kelly Johnson, Carlos Lee, Travis Hafner, Juan Rivera, Freddy Sanchez, Luke Scott, Ryan Sweeney and Scott Hairston are looking for summer jobs.

Shaun Marcum, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Carl Pavano, Jeff Karstens and Joe Saunders headline the available starting pitching, while veteran closers Brian Wilson, Jose Valverde and Francisco Rodriguez are out there in the relief column.

Wilson reportedly worked out for the Mets, so we'll see relatively soon if the man who nailed down a World Series for the Giants in 2010 will bring his beard to Citi Field.

As for big bats whose names have been bandied about the seemingly daily trade discussions, it remains to be seen what happens to the most-talked-about of that group, Mr. Upton.

Last week, Upton reportedly invoked his no-trade clause to shoot down what would have likely been a blockbuster deal with the Mariners. Word had it that Seattle was ready to give up a nice package of talent. So, if that's the case, where will Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik turn next?

Maybe to Upton once again, if the young outfielder has a change of heart? Who knows, but stranger things have happened. Meanwhile, rumors have Seattle, among other teams, possibly in on Detroit right-hander Rick Porcello, but Porcello isn't known for his slugging percentage.

And then there's Atlanta, which signed Justin's brother, B.J., earlier this offseason and whose GM, Frank Wren, just might have the notion that trading for Justin could get his team over the top.

According to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the Braves could try to match the talent level put forth by the Mariners by offering Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado, Eric O'Flaherty or Jonny Venters, shortstop Nick Ahmed and likely either J.R. Graham or Zeke Spruill.

Bottom line: Something's gotta give with Justin Upton, and it might very well give this week.

Meanwhile, in the same National League East, talk seems to have cooled regarding Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins don't seem particularly interested in trading the man who hit 37 home runs in 123 games last season.

Stanton, meanwhile, is set to be named to the United States' stacked team for the World Baseball Classic, another event to watch out for this week.

Already we've learned that Joe Torre's squad should include Stanton plus David Wright, Ryan Braun, Joe Mauer, Adam Jones, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Mark Teixeira and Brandon Phillips, plus starters Andy Pettitte and R.A. Dickey and relievers Craig Kimbrel, Luke Gregerson, Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano.

In Boston, the Red Sox continue to wait on Mike Napoli. He was supposed to have been signed while we were still luxuriating over holiday meals. Now it's a new year and contract details are still being discussed.

It seems fitting for the rest of the baseball world as we sit and wait to see how the rest of the puzzle pieces will fit before Opening Day to pay heed to what Boston GM Ben Cherington told a fan when asked when the club would finally sign Napoli.

Cherington said, "Hopefully soon."

The article above is a couple weeks old. Justin Upton is now a Brave:

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks talked about a divorce three years ago with All-Star outfielder Justin Upton, and finally, after numerous ups and downs, name-calling and finger-pointing, they called it quits.

The Diamondbacks and the Atlanta Braves have finalized a seven-player trade with Upton as the centerpiece, sending the All-Star to Atlanta, where he'll man the outfield with older brother B.J.

And just like that, nearly seven years to the day Upton signed with the Diamondbacks as the No. 1 pick in the country, becoming a two-time All-Star and the face of the franchise, he is gone.

The only question was who was more ecstatic by the news, the Diamondbacks or the Upton family? Justin joins B.J., for the first time in their professional careers. B.J. signed a five-year, $75 million free agent contract in November, meaning the Braves will be paying $113.5 million to the Upton brothers. Justin is owed $9.75 million this year, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015.

The Diamondbacks also sent third baseman Chris Johnson to the Braves for pitcher Randall Delgado, infielder-outfielder Martin Prado, minor league shortstop Nick Ahmed, pitcher Zeke Spruill and third baseman Brandon Drury.

JR.......

The "changes" I was posting about was of that between Ramirez and Francona, not some writer's opinion.

I was just very impressed with Ramirez this winter.

From the following article, Manny is working hard to try and win a major league job somewhere. He appears to be transformed into the Manny we used to know and love.
Chemistry. The charismatic Manny Ramirez "plays" with The Aguilita, the mascot of all the Cibao Eagles in a game transcuro this baseball tournament.

"I'm here because I like to play ball"

Manny Ramirez is going well with the Eagles

Freddy Tapia

Santo Domingo

The image of Manny Ramirez diving headfirst into third against Felix Pie in a past game against the Stars in the Tetelo Vargas Stadium, maybe better than his words to bear witness about how well he has been spending time in the Dominican League.

"I'm here because I like to play ball, I liked the competition and the Eagles team, "Ramirez argues, often accused of being distracted.

"The team has treated me well. Here there are no stars, all are equal, "says Ramirez, whose average -312, 555 homers and 831 RBIs in 19 campaigns have made him one of the best right-handed hitters in major league history, and a major celebrity who has played in the local tournament.

First experienced Dominican League

His experience now with the Eagles has been more rewarding than those that he lived with in the three previous occasions he wore the uniform mamey (1991-92, 1993-94 and 1994-95).

"When I first came I was a little boy, was only 19," he says.

"Now, the competition is better, almost at the major league level," says Ramirez. The young players show off their talent this year. Until yesterday with the Eagles was Oscar Taveras ("we say The Phenomenon"), Starling Marte of the Lions, and other young pitchers who smoke the ball names I can not remember because they are young.

"In each at bat you have to come at the plate with a different adjustment because pitchers launch straight balls over 95 miles," he says.

"I thought about it later. I never thought the Dominican League would be a godsend for me, "he confessed more than once to Carlos" Macaco "Ferreiras, his personal assistant.

His wife Juliana - a Brazilian who has come accustomed to Santiago - is defined as the main aguilucha fan.

"She loves and supports me. We are enjoying it, "notes the veteran player, who has a record of 382 - 1-3 in the Round Robin.

"So he feels good ss unusual. To live you have to be next to him, "said" Macaco "Ferreiras, 63.

Travel Companions

When not traveling with the team, Manny is accompanied by Juliana and Bernie Castro, whom he met in 2005 when he was a star with the Boston Red Sox and a utility player of the Eagles today also belonged to the Baltimore Orioles.

Ferreira also trained Ramirez as a player in 1985 when, at the age of 12 years, came with the family to Washington Heights from the Dominican Republic.

Almost always makes a stop to taste "Dominican food," white rice or spaghetti Patica and pork orejita at Jacaranda Square or at an inn there in Piedra Blanca, Bonao.

They also tend to stop for a snack in the "Parador El Tamarindo", in the eastern highway, when the club has games against the Stars or the Bulls.

"I'm Dominican" says the controversial player, whose personality, simplicity and humility have been the most prominent features of the Eagles player today.

Also the strenuous work routine that he develops every day. "He is tremendous person," Castro stressed. "A guy who does not think about what he has and what he has not done in baseball. He is humble and simple ".

"Manny is Manny. A common type, "says Alberto Castillo, the team's bench coach. "He is the first player that comes to play and I think it's a luxury to have him on the Eagles, but especially in the tournament."

His condition is simple. He is a shy man, who does not seduce red carpets and prefers to stay away from the limelight, as was evidenced during the long pauses that interrupted the baseball tournament during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Instead of going on vacation to a resort, chose to stay in the parking lot playing ball with his sons Manny Jr. and Luke, eight and nine years, respectively, and the other children of the condominium where he was staying while playing with the Eagles in Santiago. "Manny is a big boy," says "Macaco".

joez wrote:JR.......

The "changes" I was posting about was of that between Ramirez and Francona, not some writer's opinion.

Is it his opinion, or is it a fact? Hoynes doesn't say it's his opinion. So maybe he has been informed by the Indians, or maybe Tito told him directly. It's good that Manny seems to have changed. But all the reports I've seen say that the Indians aren't interested.

Obviously most of MLB has not been interested in Manny for quite some time.

Manny has been a "pain in the ass" for as long as he has been playing baseball. He was a pain in the ass for the Burlington Indians in his first major league stop.

Teams put up with it when he could hit. Now, if he is hitting, he is cheating. Who wants to put up with that with a player that is so lazy ? Not many.

If anyone should really know the bottom line about Manny it's Francona.

Which Cleveland major pro sports team will be the 1st to win a championship? (poll)

By Plain Dealer staff


CLEVELAND, Ohio - On Thursday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at the Renaissance, Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff asked some of the distinguished guests which Cleveland major professional team they think will win a championship first:

The past several years have been especially painful.
Since LeBron James made "The Decision" in summer 2010, the Cavaliers are a combined 51-140, the Browns 14-34 and the Indians 217-269 (including the full 2010 season). LBJ's 2009-2010 Cavs are the most recent Cleveland team with a record of .500 or better.

. . . A straw poll of luminaries and fans at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Thursday night leaned heavily toward the Browns, by a 2-to-1 margin, to win the Super Bowl before the other teams reach their respective championship series.

St. Ignatius football coach Chuck Kyle picked the Browns, but he said fans will have to be patient:

"It's going to be a while for all three of the teams, because they're all still rebuilding," Kyle said. "I like the Browns because of the leadership at the top and a young, talented roster. They've got cap room, and their division is getting old. It's tougher for the Indians, who are in the small-to-mid-market situation and have the tight windows before the good players sign elsewhere. The Cavs are young and have Kyrie Irving, but they keep getting injured."

So which Cleveland pro sports team do you think will be the first to hoist a championship trophy?


Which Cleveland major pro sports team will be the first to win a championship?

Cleveland Browns 47.25% (1,426 votes)

Cleveland Cavaliers 27.93% (843 votes)

Cleveland Indians 24.82% (749 votes)

Total Votes: 3,018

I think Mark Shapiro's Dad must have been present to stuff the ballot box for his east coast elite Ivy League do nothing kid in that survey.

Any Cleveland Indians team with Mark Shapiro involved should have received less than 5% of the vote with a comparison to true sports guy fans owners and key decision makers like Gilbert and Haslam, when included in the same voting.

I can't believe how mesmerized some here seem to be with the now multitude of Mark Shapiro inspired Cleveland Indians losership seasons and offering of bleak futures.

Mark Shapiro has now been around for about one quarter of a century, with the full reigns for well over a decade.

Maybe Mark's shiksa wife is working on a piece of art to honor his Cleveland fandom fun and hope sucking.

I've purchased the MLB broadcast packages since first available.

I'm saving the money this year.

How has ballgame attendance done in the years with Mark Shapiro at the Progressive Field (Flo Park) helm?

To keep this politically correct, I think Dolan is far dumber than Mark Shapiro.


And I'm Irish.

I have many travels now scheduled during the 2013 Cleveland Indians season.

My wife inquired as to if a late September/early October trip she's booking might possibly interfere with me watching any Cleveland Indians playoff baseball.

I first laughed, and then gave her a hug for being a tad naive in this sports fandom instance.

Anyone else waiting for the burp ?

I must ask, are you in love with Mark Shapiro ? Are you a jilted lover ?

Please seek help because you and your constant obsession with Shapiro is getting old.

rusty2 wrote:Anyone else waiting for the burp ?

I must ask, are you in love with Mark Shapiro ? Are you a jilted lover ?

Please seek help because you and your constant obsession with Shapiro is getting old.

Rusty, I had a late edit of that last post to add the part about hugging my wife as she was understandably naive about Cleveland Indians Fandom as the new season approaches with little hope for now or the future.

You need a hug.


Shapiro has been given the keys to the Ferrari we all once might have wanted to drive, but haven't yet. Mark Shapiro stalls it regularly with his keys, at least when he does not hit walls or run out of gas.

It's been a frickin' long time that Mark Shapiro has held the keys, with minimal results and even less hope.

Why the heck does Dolan keep handing him the keys?

Why??

You, as an ardent Mark Shapiro lover should be able to answer quickly.......if you really believe he is the best guy to be Cleveland Indians President and our Indians sports fandom guy we need to believe in.

Hint....don't start with profits for Dolan.

I guess you thought that adding the edit would make you look less pathetic. Did not work.

Don't you think that anyone that posts here already knows of your envy for Shapiro's dad, education, and job. Do you think we might have got it after your 1000 posts about it ?

No, so you have a few drinks and guess what ? I think I am going to post it again.

Ahhhhhhh! That's easy! None.