Cleveland Sports Forum

What is your claim to fame ?

1) I was the winning pitcher in the West Virginia State Semi Final Championship game for Wheeling Central Catholic. We went on to win the state championship that year. I had a pair of hits in the championship game.

2) I was on John Havlicek's team playing against Joe and Phil Niekro in a couple of basketball pickup games at the Lansing grade school play ground.

3) Went bowling with same.

4) Went grades 1-8 with Joe Niekro.

5) Played against Joe during Little League and Pony League. Play with Joe in the all-star game.

6) Caught a 7 1/2 lbs small mouth bass on 6 pound test line.

7) I could go on but I don't want you guys to feel like I'm bragging or sumptin'

Oh! I forgot to mention that when Joe Niekro went on to play college ball at West Liberty State College in West Virginia, I tried out as a walk-on for the Bobcats my freshman year waaaaay back in 1962.

Bob Wren was coaching at that time, so I got to meet coach Wren. Jim French was my warm up catcher at a couple of practices. I also got to pitch batting practice against Jim. Jim went on to play for Washington. I never made the cut.

Funny! While I was playing high school ball for Wheeling Central Catholic Maroon Knights in West Virginia, Joe was playing his baseball for the Bridgeport Bulldogs in Ohio. Joe played his college ball in West Virginia while I tried to make a go of it in Ohio.

When we were playing legion ball, I would pitch and Joe would play shortstop. When Joe was pitching I would play shortstop. I also caught and played centerfield.

Brings back some very old memories.

I had a scrap book filled with memories which I lost in a hotel fire that I was living in while going to night school here in Chicago. I was working during the daytime hours. The only clippings I had, which were very few now, were located in my high school year book.

Sad day that was!

Aren't you glad you asked ?

Not Bad, Different


From SI:

The Cleveland Indians lost 94 games last season playing in one of the most tortured sports cities in America, but after the hiring of a new manager and some Yankees-like offseason spending, senior writer Albert Chen says that the club has improved and could even be October material.

Chen compares the new-look Indians to their fictional counterparts from the movie Major League, who after a horrible season rebounded to win the World Series with a tribe of eccentric personalities. There’s new manager Terry Francona (a Cleveland native), the signing of Nick Swisher (The highest paid free agent in Indians history), the late signing of speedster center fielder Michael Bourn, and the acquisition of young pitcher Trevor Bauer, who a year ago was thought to be the future of the Diamondbacks rotation. The Indians were “The boldest team in the American League this winter” a rival executive tells Chen. (PAGE 52)

When Bourn signed three weeks ago, the Indians sold more season tickets than they did in any other single month over the last four years. “There weren’t many scenarios where we thought we would get both Swisher and Bourn, but we saw an opportunity that we had to take,” Says Indians GM Chris Antonetti. (PAGE 54)

After four straight losing seasons, maybe this is the kind of team that will bring winning back to Cleveland. “I tell these guys, let’s start winning and bring the magic back. The city is so hungry for this,” says Jason Giambi, who is trying to make the team at age 42. (PAGE 55).

So far in spring training, this new tribe has been refreshing, eccentric, and entertaining. Nick Swisher, a guy who constantly spreads good karma around the clubhouse will give the Indians lineup that was ranked second to last in the league last season the punch it needs. “This is just the beginning,” Swisher says, “of another great made-for-Hollywood story, bro.” (PAGE 55)

Giambi still 0-Spring Training.

SD starting pitcher threw 7 pitches to first 7 Indians hitters. Must have been swing at the first pitch day.

Tribe pitching stinks...period.

This team ain't going nowhere unless that changes.

This article is nauseating.

Sounds like Giambi is already locked in even though he's still 0-Spring Training.

No wonder Francona didn't see the beer and chicken in the Boston dugout.

With Terry Francona in charge, Jason Giambi a good fit with Cleveland Indians: Bud Shaw
By Bud Shaw, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer
on March 03, 2013 at 5:12 PM, updated March 03, 2013 at 10:26 PM


Jason Giambi says he has long respected Terry Francona and jumped at the chance to play for him when he didn't get the manager's job in Colorado.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Terry Francona doesn't bother with the hypothetical when he talks about Jason Giambi. It can only curb his enthusiasm.

"He's not going to play against left-handers this season," Francona said Sunday before Giambi batted third in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Josh Beckett.

Nothing's final roster-wise, just more evidence of how much the manager wants Giambi in the dugout and clubhouse this season.

Francona was especially upbeat Sunday, talking about the scooter he was seen riding around the spring-training complex. He said because he will live within a block-and-a-half of Progressive Field he plans to ride the scooter to games "unless we're playing really bad."

He sounds almost that cheery every time Giambi's name is mentioned. The way Francona talks about him, Giambi would have to accidentally get run over by a Vespa peloton not to make the Indians' roster out of spring training.

"He has a presence about him," Francona said when asked about Giambi's at-bats in camp. "He doesn't swing at bad pitches ever. He'll take a walk. He still has his bat speed. I've been very impressed.

"If you watch him in batting practice, he hits till he feels good and then he gets out. It's a veteran knowing his body. He's smart about what he's doing . . . he's 42 years old. We didn't get him here to run a marathon."

Francona says he has wanted to manage Giambi forever. Giambi talks about playing against Francona in Double A Huntsville when Francona managed Michael Jordan in Birmingham for the White Sox. Then came years of shared Red Sox-Yankees drama.

"There's always been that [mutual] admiration," said Giambi, who flatly calls Francona the reason the Red Sox started winning World Series titles. "I had a high school buddy who played for Tito and said what an incredible manager he was. His boundaries are unbelievable. He can be your best friend yet you still know at the end of the day that he has to manage you."

Giambi has found the perfect situation. Well, check that. Ideally, he'd be managing the Colorado Rockies after interviewing with them last October.

The Rockies thought so much of him they gave thought to Giambi moving directly into the manager's office from the clubhouse where last year he played primarily as a pinch-hitter. After the Rockies hired Walt Weiss to manage, Giambi declined an invitation to become Colorado's hitting coach.

Next came the call from Francona. Giambi says he had no trouble thinking like a player again.

"I always thought of myself as still playing and then that opportunity to interview came about," he said. "I saw myself in the game maybe as a hitting coach and someday moving into the manager's office. To have a chance to jump right to the forefront [as a manager] I couldn't pass that up."

Now, he can't lose. He has a manager who wants him around, a manager he wants to be around. He gets to produce for Francona while learning from him as he transitions to a staff position in baseball.

His role is clear. Left-handed bat to spell Mark Reynolds at DH. Late-game pinch-hitter. Full-time clubhouse presence.

"Help the kids. Help some of the veteran guys like Swish [Nick Swisher] and Reynolds [get] further into their careers," Giambi said. "They're in their primes. [Help] especially [Jason] Kipinis, [Lonnie] Chisenhall, [Carlos] Santana, guys who are in the younger part of their careers."

A fan heckled Giambi in Goodyear Saturday, hollering "HGH" at him during his last at-bat. Giambi admitted to using PEDs in the early part of the BALCO scandal.

There's no statute of limitations on heckling but, really now, that was a decade ago. He owned his mistake to a federal grand jury in 2003. The Rockies couldn't have cared less about his PED use. Put the Indians in the same category.

The only concern for Francona is how Giambi making the team will affect his decision on other extra players. He admitted his bench would need to be even more versatile than normal.

The mix includes Giambi, Ryan Raburn, Ezequiel Carrera and Yan Gomes. The Indians will likely keep two of the four to go along with backup catcher Lou Marson and infielder Mike Aviles.

It's an open competition.

So long as you think of Raburn, Carrera and Gomes as the three guys who aren't Jason Giambi.

It appears leaders are more important than performers ?!!? Too bad he can't play on defense. Does he do pies in the face ???

Long way to go fellas. Forget about our PH for goodness sake! It's all about the starting pitching. Glad even sea finally learned something about the game

Wouldn't be surprised to see Giambi go back on the juice. What's he got to lose? If he gets caught, like Manny, he just retires.

Sounds like he is gritty and respects the game and is a grinder.

You are two managers behind, kenm.

seagull wrote:Wouldn't be surprised to see Giambi go back on the juice. What's he got to lose? If he gets caught, like Manny, he just retires.

Might lose his chance to be the next manager hired.

Legendary Indians Outfielder Albert Belle Opens Up About His Tribe Career
Mar 02, 2013 -- 3:23pm
By T.J. Zuppe




Photo/WireImage

One of the most legendary Cleveland Indians from the mid-90’s was slugging outfielder Albert Belle. During a stretch from the mid-to-late 90’s, nothing struck more fear in opposing pitchers around the game than the right-handed swing of Belle.

Belle's career was highlighted by one of the best single-seasons a hitter has ever had -- when he turned in a 50/50 (50 home runs, 52 doubles) 1995 campaign. However, following a disappointing end to the 1996 season, Belle left Cleveland to sign a free-agent contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Belle joined the Hooligans on ESPN 850 WKNR (podcast) with Bruce Hooley, Greg Brinda and T.J. Zuppe to discuss his career with the Indians, the regrets he had leaving after the 1996 season, the iconic point to his bicep and what really happened to the thermostat that earned him the nickname “Mr. Freeze.”

What really happened to the smashed thermostat in the clubhouse?

“I’m still trying to solve that because I don’t know how I got blamed for that," Belle said with a sly smile. "It’s an urban legend. I am trying to remember where I was at the time.”

On the iconic shot of him pointing to his bicep in the 1995 playoffs

“That was kind of our rallying cry for the city. That was one of the highlights of my career.”

Was it tough to leave Cleveland after the 1996 season?

“It was. I will admit my first year in Chicago was a tough year. I had talked to my family and it was a tough decision. I was thinking about my future. I was hoping things would work out… I wish I would have stayed here longer. I wish I would have stayed my entire career here.”

Do you ever think about what would have happened if you did not leave the Indians?

“There’s definitely a lot of what ifs. We traded away some great players. And I know for a fact that if we stayed together for at least another five years, we would have brought a championship to Cleveland.”

Why did a wedge form between yourself and the media?

“It was a time back then as we kind of started winning, we were getting a lot of attention from media people around the country. Some were good to me, some were not so good to me. I think the bad apples spoiled it for everyone else. I was focused on winning. I wanted to win. As you are successful, people want to know your secrets and I wanted to keep my secrets to myself. I was pretty defensive about that.”

What about not getting winning the MVP award in 1995?

“I didn’t get an MVP from the media, but I was voted most valuable player by the players. That meant a lot to me because they face you every day. For your peers to vote you as the most valuable player, I thought that was a great honor. As I look back on my career, could I have done things differently, yes. Maybe this is the time where I can come back and reunite and maybe help turn the franchise around.”

How incredible was the 1995 season?

“It was pretty magical and I think it started in the 1994 season. We started winning. The fans started rallying behind us. It started to give us some confidence. It pretty much carried over into the ‘95 season. From the first day of the season, we thought we were going to go to the World Series. We played with a chip on our shoulder. We played with a lot of confidence. I think a lot of teams took that as being cocky. But I think that worked to our advantage. They knew that, especially in our home ballpark, they were going to be in for a big battle.”

What was your reaction when Cleveland fans threw money at you when you returned in 1997?

“I figured I wasn’t going to be getting a standing ovation. That’s part of the game. That was a long time ago. Life has changed since then. I just know these fans are die-hard fans. They just want to see the Indians put together a winning team.”

What was your favorite walk off shot with the Indians?

“I like the walk off grand slam against Lee Smith. That was a time where our team was just confident. It didn’t matter what team, what pitcher, we knew, as long as we weren’t down and out we had a chance to come back. The thing about that team, everybody rooted for each other. There was no selfishness going on. We knew if somebody couldn’t be the hero, somebody else would be the hero. It was a magical year.”

Have you ever thought about getting into coaching?

“I’ve thought about getting back in the game. I went on a couple interviews with a few teams. But I’m at a point in my life where I waited until my career was over to get married and have kids. So I have young kids. They keep me busy all the time. I love being at home. I really don’t like to travel as much as I used to. Maybe in the near future, someday I’ll slowly probably get back in the game.”

To listen to the entire interview, click here

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_ski ... &f=1144381

Scott Kazmir can opt out of his minor league deal with the Indians if he isn't on their Major League roster by April 2, ESPN's Buster Olney reports (via Twitter). Daisuke Matsuzaka, another Tribe minor league signing, also has an opt-out date "about the same time."

Dolan said changing the top of the front office -- President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Chris Antonetti -- "was never on the table. . . We have a high degree of confidence in them."

He said the first decision was finding a new manager, "because the atmosphere in the clubhouse was not conducive to winning" during the final months under former manager Manny Acta.

"In every discussion about a new manager, Terry (Francona) was always at the forefront," said Dolan. "I knew him (from 2001) when he was a special consultant with us. Mark and Chris know him very well."

Dolan gave an immediate green light to hiring Francona, and never really interviewed him.

"We talked for about 20 minutes when I was driving to the airport," he said. "I knew him and I knew he'd be a great hire for us."

Terry Pluto