Cleveland Sports Forum

No one's perfect

We all want "perfect"but we also want the FO to clean out the deadwood before it's obvious to even the casual fan.

Chris Perez has rotator cuff tendinitis
Updated: May 28, 2013, 5:59 PM ET

Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez will not throw for a week after an MRI revealed tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday before the Indians opened a two-game series in Cincinnati. He underwent tests in Cleveland, which showed "mild" tendinitis of his rotator cuff. The Indians said their plan is for Perez not to pick up a baseball for at least five days in the hopes that rest will reduce the soreness in his shoulder.

The test results are encouraging for the Indians, who feared they might be without the two-time AL All-Star for a longer period.

"It's structurally good," manager Terry Francona said before the final game of their series in Cincinnati on Tuesday night. "It's good news. So we'll give him five days of no throwing, then he'll be re-evaluated then. When they're completely gone -- the symptoms -- he'll start a throwing program."

Perez last pitched on Sunday in the ninth inning of a 6-5 loss to Boston. The right-hander was in the process of blowing a three-run lead when he felt a "pinch" in his shoulder and had to leave the game.

Perez missed almost a month during training camp in Arizona with soreness in his shoulder and it has lingered throughout the early part of the regular season. He felt discomfort on May 12 while warming up in Detroit and was not brought in for a save situation.

Perez will likely make a few rehabilitation appearances in the minors before he's activated by the Indians. He's eligible to come off the DL June 11.

While Perez is sidelined, Vinnie Pestano has taken over closing duties for the scuffling Indians, who have lost four straight and six of seven entering Tuesday's game against the Reds. Joe Smith will slide into Pestano's setup role.

Perez is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA and six saves in eight chances in 17 outings. In his last three games, Perez has allowed seven runs and five hits with five walks.

However, it's not just his pitching that has been an issue for the colorful reliever. He recently deactivated his Twitter account after two rough outings because of negative comments he received from some followers.

Perez issued a statement through the team last week saying he intended to focus on his performance and did not want to be a distraction to his teammates.

---

AP Baseball Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

Tom Hamilton: 'What's said is said'
Updated: May 28, 2013, 6:28 PM ET
Associated Press
RECOMMEND98TWEET22COMMENTS20EMAILPRINT
CINCINNATI -- Indians broadcaster Tom Hamilton isn't backing down from his criticism of Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman for a high-and-tight pitch to Cleveland's Nick Swisher and his on-air suggestion that there should be retaliation during the intrastate series.

Chapman threw two up-and-in fastballs to Swisher during the ninth inning of Cincinnati's 4-2 win Monday. The first went over the batter's head, the second was near it. Chapman and Swisher exchanged glares.

After the second pitch, Hamilton -- in his 24th season calling Indians games -- said on air the pitch was intentionally aimed at his head.

"What you'd love to see Swisher do here is knock it right off the temple of Chapman and see how much fun it is to have a ball coming at your head," Hamilton said. "That is bush league."

Later, Hamilton predicted the Indians would retaliate during the series, which moves to Cleveland for two games on Wednesday and Thursday.

"You just can't be throwing at people's heads," Hamilton said. "The first one may have gotten away, the second one did not. And there are three more games to go with the Reds. This isn't over yet.

"I'll guarantee you one thing: (manager Terry) Francona will make sure that this is settled on the field."

Francona brushed it off before the second game of their series on Tuesday.

"I didn't really think about it a whole lot then and I didn't today," Francona said. "I think when something like that happens, when a guy throws that hard, it gives you pause to think for a second. You could get killed."

Asked if there would be retaliation by the Indians, Francona said, "Naw, you just play the game."

Hamilton declined to talk about his comments on Tuesday, saying, "I don't want to be the story here. What's said is said."

As for saying he'd like to see Chapman hit in the head by a line drive, Hamilton said, "I'm not going to go over this. That sure wasn't the intent to mean it that way."

Reds manager Dusty Baker also declined to say much about the Indians' reaction to Chapman's pitch or what happens next.

"It's taken care of by me -- not for public consumption," Baker said Tuesday.

Last year, Baker and Derek Lowe had an exchange after the Indians starter got hit by a pitch from Mat Latos during a game in Cincinnati. Lowe gestured toward Baker, who shook his finger back at him.

Lowe hit Brandon Phillips with a pitch in the bottom of the inning, and both benches were warned. Baker later acknowledged having Latos throw inside to Lowe in response for Lowe hitting Joey Votto during a game in 2009.

Sounds like if there's a problem here, it's Dusty Baker.

Trevor Bauer's troubles in Columbus don't worry Tito: Cleveland Indians Insider

By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer




CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Trevor Bauer recently has struggled at Class AAA Columbus. The composite line from his last three starts is ugly by any standard: 16 1/3 innings, 17 hits, 18 runs, 16 earned runs, 14 walks, 10 strikeouts, six homers.

In Bauer's most recent start, May 29 at Louisville, he gave up seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The Bats hit four homers.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Friday not to read too much into Bauer's rough stretch, maintaining that it is the inconsistency that comes with the developmental process.

"I also know we've told him that, while he is developing -- and this is the case with a lot of guys -- to use certain pitches in certain situations," Francona said. "We're trying to make sure that, when guys get to the major-league level, they can execute what they're supposed to."

Last season, Bauer made changes in his delivery to compensate for a groin issue. In spring training, he told coaches that it was as uncomfortable as he ever had been while throwing. Bauer is attempting to get back to where he was mechanically before the groin injury.

"He's progressing, and I think he's excited about where he's going," Francona said.

Overall, Bauer is 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA in seven starts for the Clippers. He is 1-2, 2.76 in three starts for the Indians.

Tribe brass wants Bauer to narrow his pitching repertoire, from eight or nine to no more than five. It also wants him to focus more on pitching to contact instead of strikeouts.

Done deal: When the Indians-Reds series unfolded without incident Wednesday and Thursday at Progressive Field, some fans wondered why no fireworks in the aftermath of Aroldis Chapman vs. Nick Swisher on Monday in Cincinnati.

Indians players say the score was settled Tuesday night in Cincinnati, even if it didn't come with horns and trumpets.

In the ninth inning Monday, Reds closer Chapman threw a pitch high and to the backstop while facing Swisher. Evidently, Chapman did not appreciate Swisher's surprised look toward the mound, because the next pitch was in the neighborhood of Swisher's head. Swisher eventually flied out in a 4-2 loss.

The Indians fumed, believing the second pitch to be intentional. Chapman did not admit to anything, of course, but he and his teammates knew the Indians would get even. Both clubs agreed that it happened Tuesday night. With a runner on second and none out in the fifth inning, Tribe right-hander Zach McAllister drilled Brandon Phillips in the ribs with a 2-0 fastball. The Indians trailed by two runs.

The Tribe lost, 8-2. After the game, McAllister said the pitch simply ran too far inside, and that "there was no carryover." But Reds right-hander Mat Latos, who earned the victory, said he was "100 percent" convinced McAllister plunked Phillips on purpose.McAllister's teammates said that the right-hander sufficiently answered Chapman by plunking a player the caliber of Phillips. They said it did not matter that McAllister publicly said there was no carryover.

"What do you expect him to say -- that he did it on purpose?" one Indian said Friday. "Of course he's not going to say that. He took care of it, and Phillips knew he took care of it. Phillips didn't react. He knew."

McAllister's teammates insisted that no one needed to mention the Chapman-Swisher incident before the game. They were certain that the coaching staff didn't say anything, either.

"Ultimately, it's the starter's call, and everybody knows it," another Indian said. "And if he doesn't find a spot for it, it's the next guy's call. I'll tell you what: Mac showed me something. He didn't hit Phillips out of any kind of frustration and make a scene. He hit him as part of the game, then got out of the jam."

He's back: Right-hander Chris Archer, fifth-round pick of the Indians in 2006, will start for the Rays Saturday afternoon against Ubaldo Jimenez.

Archer spent three years in the Cleveland system. He was traded to the Cubs, along with right-hander Jeff Stevens and left-hander John Gaub, for Mark DeRosa on Dec. 31, 2008.

Archer, 24, was traded to the Rays in January 2011 and made his major-league debut last season. He went 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA in six appearances, including four starts. He is making his first appearance for the Rays this season after going 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA for Class AAA Durham. He entered 2013 as Baseball America's No. 2 prospect in the Rays organization behind outfielder Wil Myers.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon with Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson opposing McAllister.

The Indians will not face former teammate Roberto Hernandez. The man formerly known as Fausto Carmona, pitched superbly in a victory over Miami on Wednesday. He is 3-5 with a 4.87 ERA in 10 starts.

Langwell called up to reinforce 'pen; Barnes optioned

CLEVELAND -- Matt Langwell got the call early Saturday morning.

It came from Triple-A Columbus manager Chris Tremie, who asked Langwell to report to Cleveland, as the Indians had selected him to help reinforce a tired bullpen.

"It's great. I was really excited," said Langwell, who's yet to pitch in a Major League game. "I'm just really looking forward to getting out there and getting an inning under my belt."

The right-handed reliever takes the place of lefty Scott Barnes. Barnes was optioned to Columbus a day after giving up five runs in an inning during the Indians' 9-2 defeat, which lasted until 3 a.m. because of rain delays and saw the Tribe use five relievers.

Langwell, 27, has gone 2-1 with a 2.30 over 20 appearances (including one spot start) for the Clippers this season. He has a save to his name, and he held batters to a .243 batting average. Right-handed hitters hit just .186 against Langwell, who also averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Cleveland picked Langwell in the 11th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

While there's no guarantee that his big league debut will happen on Saturday, Langwell said, "I'm sure I'll be one of the guys in the mix if we need that."

[Langwell wasn't on the 40-man roster. Someone was removed or 60-day-DL'd to make room.]

Well I still only count 40, so perhaps they had an empty spot before today. Thata must have opened when Huff went away.

Plenty of flexibility remains with Omir Santos a AAAA catcher still on the 40. And if necessary Fedroff, Phelps, Juan Diza, Trey Haley or TJ House could be optioned away without great regrets.

Indians statement on rain-delayed game Friday night

The Cleveland Indians released this statement on Saturday morning regarding Friday night’s rain-delayed game at Progressive Field against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tribe fans:

Thank you to all those who endured the rain delays from Friday night’s (May 31st) series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field.

For those who were unable to remain at the ballpark, we apologize for the inconvenience of the delays and subsequent re-start of the game after midnight.

There was a multitude of extenuating circumstances that led to what we recognize was a challenging experience for our fans:

At the time of last night’s game, there was considerable uncertainty within the remainder of this weekend’s weather forecast

Last night’s weather forecast continually changed throughout the evening leading to the unfortunate after midnight re-start

Our ability to play at a future date was limited by two factors of significance: Tampa Bay does not return to Progressive Field in 2013 and as outlined within the terms of the basic agreement there are no viable mutual off days in the future to reschedule

We value each and every one of our fans. We want to thank the fans that did stay for some or all of the game for their loyalty, patience and perseverance. Our fans were incredible last night.

While we did our best to ensure that those who stayed had a great experience, we realize that the weather related circumstances from Friday’s game presented difficulties for many fans to have a memorable ballpark experience.

We are always looking to provide our fans the best experience possible at Progressive Field and in the near future reach out to last night’s fans to make it right.

Thank you and Go Tribe!

Jim Ingraham: Michael Brantley is Indians' quiet leader

Published: Friday, May 31, 2013



It’s almost like Michael Brantley is on a mission.

He’s trying to single-handedly salvage the CC Sabathia trade. That’s not going to happen, of course, but Brantley is at least taking the sting out of the Matt LaPorta LaPhlop.

Others on the team may have gaudier numbers in selected categories, but you could make the case that Brantley has been the Indians’ Most Valuable Player over the first two months of the season.

All he does is everything. Quietly. Efficiently. Professionally.


He’s the kind of player managers love, so it’s no surprise that Terry Francona gushes profusely about Brantley every chance he gets. Granted, Francona — the quintessential players manager — gushes about all his players every chance he gets, but it’s easy to see what makes Brantley such an appealing gushee.

There’s a lot to like, to borrow one of Francona’s pet phrases.

Having Brantley on your roster is almost like having 11 players in one.

He can play left field, center field, or right field. He can hit first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth in the lineup. Brantley not only can do all that — he has done all that for the Indians in the first two months of the season.

Quietly, efficiently, professionally.

Colorfully? Uh, no. That’s not really him. Brantley is about as colorful as February. He doesn’t have any signature moves, or gestures or dramatic flourishes to his game.
He doesn’t have a “thing.”

After hitting a home run, Milton Bradley would stand at home plate and un-Velcro the straps on his batting gloves before beginning his home run trot. “Everyone has a thing,” Bradley said. “That’s my thing.”

Brantley, who is as much the anti-Bradley as a player could possibly be, doesn’t have a thing. Doesn’t want a thing. He doesn’t have Nick Swisher’s 24/7 high-beam smile, or Jason Kipnis’ horizontal bat setup. He doesn’t have Carlos Santana’s toe-tap or leg kick, or Ubaldo Jimenez’s old-school, high-rider baseball pants, showing lots of baseball sock.

Brantley is just a ballplayer. For him, that’s enough. That’s plenty.

He never says or does outrageous things. He’s not a “They said it” kind of guy. His quotes are endlessly cascading clichés, delivered in a snooze-inducing monotone bubbling up, it seems certain, from some internal wellspring of humility that is surely responsible for the “Why would anyone care what I think?” tone of his answers.

He’s never baffled by a question as much as he seems surprised that anyone would want to ask it of him.

In other words, while Swisher has no “off” button, Brantley has no “on” button.

Until game time.

For Brantley, the game’s the thing. That’s another reason why he’s such a Francona favorite.

In the Indians’ 7-1 win over the Reds Thursday night, Tribe hitters were being dominated by Reds starter Homer Bailey in the first three innings. The Indians finally got something going in the fourth, but the rally was flickering — two outs, two on — and it looked like the Indians might not come out of it with anything.
Bailey got ahead in the count to Brantley at 0-2.

Bailey’s next pitch was a nasty, dive-bombing breaking ball that dove low into and perhaps out of the strike zone — a perfect 0-2 pitch.

Brantley, slashing at it like Rory Mcllroy, trying to keep a 2-iron shot low to avoid an over-hanging branch, drove the ball into center field, a screaming line-drive single that knocked in a run and re-ignited what would become a seven-run Tribe rally.

It was an astonishing piece of professional hitting.

It was another day at the office for Michael Brantley.

How many players in the majors are capable of hitting fourth or eighth — the grail and the gutter in a baseball lineup — much less agreeing to do both without any ego-induced histrionics?

Well, there’s Brantley. That’s probably the entire list. He also moved quietly from center field to left field to make room for Michael Bourn. No whining about that, either.

If he was any more low maintenance, Brantley would be a stack of towels in the corner of the clubhouse.

He is the son of a ballplayer (his father Mickie played for the Mariners in the 1980s), so he’s been around this stuff, this environment, all his life. He gets it. From a very early age, he’s seen how major leaguers are supposed to act — and how they are not supposed to act.

He’s chosen to come down on the side of class, not crass.
He’s boring, colorless, mature, selfless, efficient, productive, and professional.

In this era of noisy, nosey, me-first ego-maniacal millionaire professional athletes, Michael Brantley is a breath of fresh air.

Go ahead. Inhale.

So Ingraham still doesn't understand the Sabathia trade, or is just writing what his readers want to read?

Surging Jason Giambi lifting his Cleveland Indians teammates -- literally


By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer
Follow on Twitter
on June 01, 2013 at 8:07 PM, updated June 01, 2013 at 8:08 PM



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here comes Jason Giambi.

Giambi, the Indians' grizzled designated hitter, is 5-for-9 with three homers and seven RBI in his last three games.

The fun began May 27 in Cincinnati, when Giambi pinch-hit for Ubaldo Jimenez in the eighth inning and hit a mammoth homer off Mike Leake. It snapped an 0-for-24 slide and pushed his average to .164.

Giambi did not play the next game, then went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI against the Reds in Cleveland on Wednesday. After two more games off, he went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in a 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon.

"I'm doing all right," he said. "I'll take it. Unfortunately, at 42, you need to have everything right to make it happen. I'm just grateful that I'm swinging the bat and helping the ball club out."

Overall, Giambi is hitting .203 (14-for-69) with five homers and 19 RBI in 21 games. He has nine extra-base hits and is batting .471 (8-for-17) with two homers and 15 RBI with runners in scoring position.

"G's presence at the plate is very impressive," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He's always been a run producer."

True enough. Giambi has 434 homers and 1,424 RBI in his career.

"To see what he's doing -- everybody in this locker room couldn't be happier for him," first baseman Nick Swisher said. "When G goes deep, we get pumped up. He's showing he's still got that thump. The guy gives the greatest hugs on the planet. He hits a home run and he's picking up everybody else in our dugout."

Swisher led off the second inning against Rays right-hander Chris Archer with an eight-pitch walk. Giambi got ahead, 2-1, and belted a change-up deep to right to give the Tribe a 2-0 lead.

Swisher and Giambi, whose lockers are within feet of each other, finally have gotten a chance to be teammates -- and they are thoroughly enjoying it. They have brought back the congratulatory forearm slams, a la the "Bash Brothers" in Oakland. They willfully bruised each other again Saturday.

"I've been waiting to do this for years," Swisher said. "Big bash with the G-man. You gotta bring your A-game when you're going in for that one. That's a big man."

On a more cerebral level, Giambi credited Swisher for working Archer directly in front of him.

"Swish always has been that guy," Giambi said. "That's what he does best. He works walks, gets deep in counts, lets everybody behind him see pitches. That's huge when you're facing a guy for the first time like we were."

Swisher said: "I just wanted to get him in the center of the plate, and I was able to have some long ABs and maybe wear him down a little bit."

With one out in the third, Jason Kipnis doubled. He moved to third on a groundout. Swisher walked, this time on seven pitches. Giambi again got ahead, 2-1, and drove in Kipnis with a single to center. Giambi struck out in his final two at-bats. Even though he did not play Friday night, he felt the fatigue from a game that ended at 2:53 a.m.

"I'm delirious," he said. "I feel like Pinocchio with no strings. My last two at-bats, I thought about bunting because of the bat speed I had. But then I said, 'I've got to run.' So I was done."

Giambi has embraced his role as a (grand)father figure and leader in the clubhouse. He knows it is easier to lead when balls are jumping off the bat.

"I love doing what I do off the field, which is helping the guys," he said, "but it's nice every now and then to contribute and kind of walk the walk. They all tease me that there wasn't video around when I was younger, so they don't know how good I was."

High praise: Archer, 24, Cleveland's fifth-round pick in 2006, allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings of his season debut with the Rays. He walked three and struck out four.

Giambi and Swisher looked past the stat line and focused on an electric arm.

"That kid's got a big future," Giambi said.

"Topping out at 99 mph, snap-dragon hook, good change-up," Swisher said.

Pluto's Sunday notes:

About the Tribe...
gomes-tribe-2013-midswing-cc.jpgView full sizeYan Gomes has been the Indians' best defensive catcher so far this season, and hasn't exactly been a slouch in the batter's box, either.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

1. If you think Yan Gomes does a better job behind the plate than Carlos Santana, the numbers are on your side. Gomes has thrown out eight of 13 attempted steals, compared to 3-of-25 for Santana. When it comes to passed balls, Gomes (1) has the edge over Santana (4), as he does on wild pitches (25-4, Santana). Heading into the weekend, Santana had caught 289 innings, Gomes 166.

2. So the Tribe has a very pleasant situation, because Gomes (.319, 5 HR) also is hitting. This allows Terry Francona to use Gomes at catcher, with Santana playing first or DH several times a week. That also keeps Santana fresher, as he seems to taking a beating behind the plate.

3. Some fans are concerned about a healthy Lou Marson taking Gomes' roster spot. If Gomes continues to play well, it won't happen. Marson has a minor-league option left. Gomes is becoming an important part of the team.

4. They can continue to find chances for Gomes to play as long as Mark Reynolds remains at third base. Reynolds opened the season as a DH/first baseman. After Lonnie Chisenhall faltered and was sent to Class AAA Columbus, Reynolds moved to third. That leaves Nick Swisher, Jason Giambi and Santana to cover first/DH. Giambi is strictly a DH who's limited to no more than three games a week because of a cranky back and neck.

5. Reynolds is below average at third, but his fielding percentage (.931) is the same as Chisenhall had this season. The Indians believe they are OK with Reynolds at third, and they also have Mike Aviles there.

6. The Tribe rated its 2012 outfield defense as the worst in the American League. This year, Fangraphs.com rates them No. 3 -- the same as the team's internal stats. The addition of Drew Stubbs and Michael Bourn not only made the team more productive at bat, but faster and more athletic. Even when Ryan Raburn and Swisher are in the outfield, it's an upgrade over the many players who were out there last season.

7. Trevor Bauer has struggled since returning to Columbus. In his last three starts, he's allowed 16 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings, walking 14. He is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA for the Clippers. The best pitcher is Carlos Carrasco, 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA.

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=27706725

Nick Swisher being interviewed by MLB.

Romero Opts Out With Nats; Nearing Deal With Indians


By Steve Adams [June 3 at 4:15pm CST]


Left-hander J.C. Romero has opted out of his minor league contract with the Nationals and is working to finalize a new minor league deal with the Indians, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

Romero, who turns 37 tomorrow, had a 2.84 ERA with 16 strikeouts and four walks in 12 2/3 innings for Washington's Triple-A affiliate this season. According to Rosenthal, Romero would likely be ticketed for Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus. Amanda Comak of the Washington Times notes (on Twitter) that Romero is on the minor league disabled list.

In parts of 14 Major League seasons, Romero has a 4.16 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 5.1 BB/9. He's held opposing lefties to a .220/.314/.298 in his career. Most of his 661 1/3 career innings were spent with the Twins, who selected the Puerto Rico native in the 21st round of the 1997 draft. Romero is the only player with a significant MLB career to come from that round, although outfielder Mike Colangelo saw some brief time in the big leagues as well.

Happy Anniversary!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... d=tab4pos1