Cleveland Sports Forum

"If you're trying to win a spot or you're trying to make a good impression, you're obviously wanting to put up results. But having a year now and being confident in myself, I know that I've done that in the past where I didn't hit in spring, but I'll come out of the gates on fire, or something like that."

Maybe this quote will end this silly discussion. Spring training RESULTS are important for young kids and old guys trying to make impressions for the last few spots.

Otherwise it is practice for the season. And it is the same for every single team.

Giambi hit a HR today against the Mariners but he was playing with ourteam of minor league players in an away game.

Hey don't diss our minor leaguers! Lindor at SS, Naquin in CF, and Joe and TonyL's favorite Jose Ramirez at 2b led the rout. Along with the power from Phelps and old-enough-to-be-their father Giambi

Roster moves looming as Indians near camp's end

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 3/24/2013 4:23 P.M. ET

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Giambi's solo blast00:00:44
3/23/13: Jason Giambi clobbers a solo home run to deep right-center field, giving Cleveland its first lead of the ballgame in the third

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- With a rash of roster moves pending, including the status of veteran Jason Giambi by Tuesday, Indians manager Terry Francona said he expects to meet with general manager Chris Antonetti after Sunday's game against the Cubs at Goodyear Ballpark to strategize about the situation.

"Chris is coming back today and will get here about game time," Francona said. "We'll stay here after the game today and go over a lot of the stuff. I just told the players that we recognize it's the time of the spring where there's a lot anxiety. We'll do the best we can to make decisions as quickly as we can."

Giambi, 42, could be used as a left-handed bat off the bench and as a spot designated hitter against right-handed pitchers. The righty-swinging Mark Reynolds is projected right now as the regular DH. Giambi can become a free agent if the Indians don't place him on the big league roster by Tuesday.

"They haven't told me anything yet," said Giambi, an 18-year veteran and American League MVP in 2000 for the A's who played the last three seasons as a part-timer for the Rockies.

Giambi is batting .207 (6-for-29) with three homers and five RBIs in 14 games for the Indians this spring. He actually interviewed for the open Rockies managerial position this past winter after Jim Tracy resigned. Colorado eventually signed their own former shortstop, Walt Weiss.

Giambi is waiting anxiously on the bubble like a number of other players. Antonetti has been out of town, scouting college players, Francona said.

Asked if he had a gut feeling about Giambi, Francona refused to bite.

"Why would I say anything about that?" Francona said. "That's not fair. Why would I do that? I wouldn't do that publicly. That's not fair to anybody."

When it was noted that a decision was pending in two days on Giambi, Francona added: "I didn't know that. There's some days for a lot of guys and I'm not sure what every day is. We'll go over all that stuff tonight."

Aside from Giambi, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, catcher Yan Gomes and infielders Ryan Raburn and Cord Phelps are also all on the bubble. The Indians still have 40 players remaining in camp, 10 non-roster invitees. Many of them have been told already they have not made the team. Like every Major League club they must cut to 25 active players by Opening Day.

Cleveland Indians name Scott Kazmir as their fifth starter
Left-hander Scott Kazmir made a strong case to make the Indians' starting rotation. (Photo by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
on March 25, 2013 at 5:05 PM, updated March 25, 2013 at 5:14 PM Print

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians announced this afternoon that left-hander Scott Kazmir has been named the fifth starter, for now.

Kazmir will be added to the roster on April 6 in Toronto. Righthander Carlos Carrasco will start with the big league club and serve a six-game suspension.

In other moves, Jason Giambi was placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain. Pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Shaw will be added to the 25-man roster, along with utility man Ryan Raburn. Yan Gomes and Cord Phelps were optioned to Class AAA Columbus. Releiver Frank Herrmann was moved to the 60-day disabled list. Earlier in the day, reliever Matt Capps was released.

Kazmir signed a minor-league deal with the Indians on Jan. 8. He'll make $1 million with a chance to earn another $1.75 million in incentives.

In six appearances this spring, including two "B" games, Kazmir struck out 23, walked three and allowed eight earned runs and 29 hits in 21 innings. He'd been nearly flawless until Saturday when Seattle scored five runs on 13 hits against him.

Kazmir has not pitched in the big leagues since 2011 and has not taken a regular turn in a big-league rotation since 2011. Last year he went 3-6 with a 5.34 ERA in 14 starts for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League.

Carrasco missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He's 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in five Cactus League appearances, including four starts.

Giambi, 42, signed a minor-league deal with the Indians on Feb. 9. He is scheduled to make $750,000 plus incentives.

This spring, Giambi is hitting .207 (6-for-29) with one double, three homers and five RBI. He is expected to DH against right-handed starters a couple of times a week. He enters the season with 429 homers and 1,405 RBI.

Giambi spent the last three-plus seasons with Colorado.

Raburn signed a minor-league deal which will pay him $1 million with a chance to earn $750,000 in incentives. He's had a great spring, hitting .359 with four HRs and 11 RBI, and is expected to play second and third base and left field.

Jason Giambi was placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain.

Giambi, 42, signed a minor-league deal with the Indians on Feb. 9. He is scheduled to make $750,000 plus incentives.

This spring, Giambi is hitting .207 (6-for-29) with one double, three homers and five RBI. He is expected to DH against right-handed starters a couple of times a week.

WoW! A typical organizational decision. I thought these days would be over. Guess not. I don't get it I guess clubhouse presence trumps production.

If you've been reading Francona's comments on Giambi all along, it's really not a surprise.

J.R. wrote:If you've been reading Francona's comments on Giambi all along, it's really not a surprise.

Not surprising, but still a silly move IMO.

How many people buy into this "veteran presence" crap when the guy in question has little else to offer the team?

You'd think the Indians could have given Giambi a coaching job if they really wanted him around the team.

So what happens with Carrera?

Hi Lou!

I was just logging on to respond to JR's post. Truth be known, I thought it was pretty silly for Francona to make up his mind up concerning Giambi so early in spring training.

Good question Lou---

I much prefer Ezekiel Carrera to Giambi. At least Carrera is a threat coming off the bench as a pinch runner in the late innings. Carrera is a good substitute for late inning work in the outfield. Carrera is a much better hitter than Giambi at this late stage in his career. This roster spot makes absolutely no sense to me.

We're going to have our players peeing in a cup all season long

Zeke now gets to play for someone that thinks they could use a versitile outfielder that can play any position and create havoc on the bases.

The Tribe will try to trade him but teams can just wait for him to be released.

What a shame.

Giambi will hit the wall before June just like Lowe and Wheeler last year.

Money down the drain and loss of a player that may have a little Lofton in him.

I made similar suggestions early on TDU. I just don't see how a player that admitted using PEDs to a San Francisco grand jury can be such a great influence in the dugout especially for all our younger ball players.

I agree Seagull. It is a damned shame to lose such a great utility ballplayer like Carrera. When I think of a strong bench, I think of versatility and athleticism. Carrera can do it from both sides of the white lines. Bad move in my opinion. I don't think Carrera will have a hard time finding another job, expecially in the national league. He'd be a perfect fit.

# Indians have told Ezequiel Carrera and David Huff, both out of options, that they won't make the club and they will try to trade them.

Paul Hoynes


Once again Joe must own a lot of shares in Kleenex because all he wants to do is cry and blow his nose.

How could they get rid of Carrera ? He would be a great national league player. Buzz word for can not hit worth a crap and runs the bases like a chicken with his head cut off.

Joe, since the organization is so terrible and can not draft how could the Indians be getting rid of anyone with any value ?

Joe singing the "Brian Barton, Jody Gerut, and Hector Luna " blues.............

I'm not sure how people can't see the value of having a player (not coach) who other players look up to "buy in" to the program and support Tito around the clubhouse. This is the case with every team sport. You need leadership in the form of vets who kids look up to. Regardless of whether Giambi deserves respect in the clubhouse, he gets it.

As for his actual playing, he would do the exact same role Thome did. Lefty bat off the bench and part-time DH. Same role.