Cleveland Sports Forum

That's what the minors are for.....to practice your clichés ala Nuke LaLoosh

message to welcome him to the team, too.




GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Dan Otero and his family had accepted the fact that their lives were going to be much different this spring. They added a newborn daughter in late October, the Phillies claimed him off waivers in early November and they had a temporary move to Florida for Spring Training to plan.

A week before Christmas, Otero's phone buzzed. First came a call from Indians general manager Mike Chernoff, informing the reliever that Cleveland had acquired him from Philadelphia via trade. A bit later, Indians manager Terry Francona shot Otero a text message to welcome him to the team, too.

"It was like, 'This is a pretty good Christmas present,'" said Otero, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. "That's the way I looked at it."

The Indians have a wide-open bullpen competition this spring for a handful of openings and Otero, coming off a rough season with the A's, is very much in the mix. The trade put Otero, who is out of Minor League options, on Cleveland's 40-man roster, which can help a player's case for Opening Day inclusion in the name of maintaining as much depth as possible.

When Francona summoned Otero to his office for an early-camp meeting, the team's message to the pitcher was a simple one. "They said, 'We think last year was a fluke, so we won't even bring it up again,'" Otero said.

How does Otero explain his uncharacteristic woes in 2015? "I don't want to talk about it," he said with a laugh.

Otero appealed to the Indians for three reasons: a strong ground-ball rate, elite strike-throwing ability and solid numbers against right-handed batters, especially in the Minors. After posting a 2.01 ERA in 125 2/3 innings across the 2013-14 seasons with Oakland, the right-hander turned in a 6.75 ERA in 46 2/3 innings last year. His home-run rate soared, along with his hits per nine innings (12.3 in '15, compared to 8.7 in the previous two years combined).

Chernoff noted that ground-ball-oriented pitchers can become susceptible to an inflated hit rate from time to time. In Otero's case, it certainly did not help matters that Oakland's defense (28th in the Majors with a minus 33.2 Ultimate Zone Rating) was one of the worst units in baseball last year.

"That can happen with a heavy ground-ball pitcher," Chernoff said.

Other than those areas, though, Otero posted similar statistics, or even better numbers, than in previous seasons. His 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the best of his career, as was his walk rate (1.2 per nine innings). He ranked first in the Majors with a 72.5 first-pitch strike percentage, among pitchers with at least 45 innings. His velocity was in line with previous years, as was his strike percentage, swinging- strike rate and foul-ball rate.

"[The front-office guys] looked at his peripheral numbers," Francona said, "and they were very similar to what they've been in the past. And, again, I think you also know that when somebody's ERA is that elevated, things didn't go right, probably on a number of fronts."

In this case, Murphy's Law was Otero's Law for six months.

"Baseball's a funny game. I felt good all year," Otero said. "I felt like I was making good enough pitches most of the time, but the times I wasn't making pitches, they got me. And then, you couple that with some misfortune, and all of a sudden you don't want to look at the back of your baseball card."

The biggest problem last year for Otero was home runs.

From 2012-14, Otero allowed only four home runs. Last season, the righty gave up seven long balls, including two off his sinker, two off his four-seamer, two off his slider and one off his changeup. Prior to last year, Otero had never given up a homer in the big leagues on his four-seamer or changeup. He believes one issue was that he did not command as well inside the strike zone as in the past.

"It doesn't matter if you're a strike-thrower or not," Otero said. "You still have to be able to command it in the zone -- not just throw strikes. Maybe that was an issue last year. I've tried to focus and hone in on it this spring."

Through seven Cactus League outings, Otero has a 2.57 ERA with nine hits in seven innings.

Francona is looking at more than the raw pitching line. "I don't know what his ERA in Spring Training is," said the manager. "But I don't think that's going to be the deciding factor."

Otero's numbers last season will not be the difference, either. "I don't want to hide from it," Otero said. "Yeah, I want to try to forget about it, but I also want to learn from it."

Anderson's curve may mean spike in success
Indians righty hoping pitch gives him leg up in club's rotation battle


By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | March 21st, 2016

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cody Anderson has heard for several years that he needs to develop a reliable curveball if he plans on sticking as a starting pitcher. In the Minors, he would sometimes flip one breaking ball over just to appease the evaluators monitoring his outings.

During a bullpen session while at Double-A Akron last season, Anderson decided enough was enough. He threw a pile of curveballs, testing out every grip imaginable. The big right-hander tried a four-seam curve. He tossed a two-seam curve. He altered the grips on both styles and threw and threw. He changed his arm angle. He changed it again. Nothing felt right.

"It's the most frustrating thing ever," Anderson said. "For four years, I've been working on a curveball."



In that mentally exhausting mound workout last year, Anderson also tried a spike curve, which involves bending the index finger with the fingernail digging into the seams. It is a difficult pitch to control, but Anderson liked how it felt out of his hand. The middle finger rests on the ball, serving as the stabilizer for commanding the challenging pitch.

Anderson threw it repeatedly. While he was not able to send the pitch where he wanted in that first test run, Anderson liked how it felt tumbling off his fingers. It stayed straighter out of his hand, rather than popping up before breaking down. If he could harness the pitch, it could be sharper and more effective down in the strike zone.
"I tried everything," said Anderson, who is competing against Josh Tomlin for the lone vacancy in the rotation. "I tried to figure out one that worked. I tried the spike and it felt great, but it was hard to control, because I had never thrown one with just one finger on the ball."

Cleveland's insistence on Anderson developing a curve is based on the fact that he only had two Major League pitches. Anderson throws a fastball, which has grown in velocity this spring, and an above-average changeup, which is his primary strikeout pitch.

Anderson also has added a cut fastball, but having a slower, more effective breaking ball is pivotal for him surviving in the big leagues.

"Having three solid pitches as a starter, it's necessary," manager Terry Francona said. "Good hitters, if they can, they'll eliminate a pitch. That makes it really hard."

Jordan Bastian
✔
‎@MLBastian

Cody Anderson tried every grip in book for his curve in Minors with little success. Settled on spike CB last year.
12:37 PM - 21 Mar 2016

Helping Anderson is the fact that closer Cody Allen throws the same pitch.

In search of a solid curve while pitching at St. Pete Junior College in 2010, Allen's twin brother, Chad, suggested the spike curve. Chad threw that pitch during his days as a player with University of West Florida and showed Cody the grip.

While it took time, Allen's curveball developed into one of baseball's best pitches. Over the past two years, hitters have managed a .122 average (22-for-180) with no home runs and a .144 slugging percentage off his spike curve, according to Fangraphs.com. Allen has talked to Anderson about the pitch and has stressed patience.

"When you first start throwing it, it can be kind of uncomfortable," Allen said. "It's going to eventually feel good coming out of his hand. The only advice I've had for him was just, 'If it's got good spin, if it's got good bite, stick with it. You'll get there.' And he has. It's becoming a pretty good pitch for him."

Cody Anderson throws curveball

This spring, Anderson estimated that he has averaged 10-15 curveballs per outing. Catcher Yan Gomes keeps calling for it and, rather than curse under his breath upon seeing the sign as was the case so often last summer, the young pitcher has started to fire the pitch with more conviction.

Gomes said that is the most important element to Anderson's development with the curve.

"As much confidence as I have in the pitch," Gomes said, "it comes down to having him throwing it with confidence. I can trust the pitch and believe in what it's going to do, but if he doesn't have conviction to throw it, we're back to square zero. I think it's going to be a big pitch for him."

Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway agreed.

"I always thought he could spin it pretty good," Callaway said. "But now it's a pitch that doesn't pop out of his hands. It's more of a power curveball that he's getting a pretty good feel for. It's definitely gotten better and better as the arm speed has gotten better."

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, follow him on Twitter @MLBastian and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Given how much time TJ House missed last season with a shoulder injury, a lot of things would have needed to happen this spring for the left-hander to open the season in the Indians' rotation. The stars did not align for House, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Monday.
"He was pretty realistic about it," manager Terry Francona said. "I kind of showed him the board. I said, 'You missed so much time last year. When you look at that board, it's kind of hard to just jump you ahead of those guys right now, but if you do what you do, you've pitched for us before and it was plenty good, you'll do that again.' And I fully believe that, and I think he does, too."
With House out of the mix, the battle for the fifth rotation spot is down to right-handers Josh Tomlin and Cody Anderson.

House, 26, posted a 5.59 ERA this spring in four games, including four shutout frames against the Mariners on Sunday. The lefty had a 3.35 ERA in 19 games for the Tribe in 2014, but his '15 campaign was marred by a left rotator cuff issue. House went 0-4 with a 13.15 ERA to open last season before being shut down for the remainder of the Major League season.

"He's got a very promising career ahead of that," Francona said. "I didn't want him for one minute to think we forgot about that. ... He needs to find some consistency. It was nice to see him throw like he did [Sunday], but repetition will be really good for him."

• Cleveland is holding a simulated game on Wednesday in order to allow left-handed bullpen candidates Ross Detwiler, Tom Gorzelanny and Joe Thatcher to face lefty hitters. Tomlin is penciled in to work five innings in a Minor League game on Wednesday.

• Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall has missed the past week of games due to right forearm tightness, but he said on Monday that he is much improved. Chisenhall was planning on heading to the Minor League side on Monday to get more at-bats than a player can get in a Cactus League game.

The Indians are keeping an institution at the microphone. Tom Hamilton, "the voice of the Indians" for three decades, has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the team. Hamilton began broadcasting Indians games in 1990 and has been named Ohio Sportscaster of the Year six times.
Hamilton, recently inducted into the Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame, has held the top spot on the Indians' broadcast team since Herb Score's retirement in 1998. Hamilton has called 69 postseason games for Cleveland, including all six games of the 1995 World Series and all seven of the '97 World Series.
The legend's stint came after a three-year broadcasting job with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers from 1987-89. Hamilton will continue to be paired in the booth with Jim Rosenhaus, who has been the other half of the Indians Radio Network broadcast team in each of the last four seasons.

Good for Tom. Tom and Hawk continue to be my favorite broadcasters. Tom for the home team and Hawk for the opposition.

Bring back Jimmy Dudley.... the string is out....it's going, it's going, it's gone....

but at my age I could no longer handle the excitement of Herb... throw to first back safely...[pause] [pause] throw to first back safely again ... [pause][pause]

I grew up listening to Jimmy.

"Hello, baseball fans everywhere,”........................ “Lotsa good luck, ya heah."

Indians giving Brantley time to rest shoulder
Left fielder will sit out for a couple of days, but Francona still 'pleased' with progress


GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Michael Brantley will be absent from the Indians' lineup for a couple of days as he gives his right shoulder time to rest. The left fielder, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, played in Cactus League games on Saturday and Monday, but his shoulder didn't rebound the way he or the club would have liked.

"Just wasn't quite bouncing back like he wanted to," manager Terry Francona said.

Overall, Brantley has been progressing well, and because he is still ahead of schedule, Francona wasn't worried about his status.

"I think we're still above and beyond pleased with where he is," Francona said.

Worth noting

• The Indians clarified their roster a bit Wednesday as Francona announced a few moves.

Infielder Michael Martinez was informed that he will start the season with Triple-A Columbus, but he will remain with the club in Major League camp. Catcher Guillermo Quiroz will also remain in camp, but he will start the season in the Minor Leagues.

Right-hander Felipe Paulino was also told that he will not make the team and was sent to Minor League camp.

Right-hander Craig Stammen has an opt-out clause in his contract for Sunday, but he plans to stay with the organization. Francona met with Stammen on Wednesday morning and both parties are pleased with the way things stand.

• Josh Tomlin, who is battling for the fifth spot in the Indians' rotation, surrendered seven hits and gave up five earned runs in five innings in a Minor League game Wednesday.

"He's really been working hard at trying to get his mechanics consistent, because sometimes his margin for error might not be as much as a guy that's throwing 97 [mph]," Francona said.

Tomlin posted a 3.02 ERA in 10 starts for the Indians last season. Regardless of what happens with the Opening Day rotation, the 31-year-old right-hander has showed enough for the club to reward him with a two-year extension.

"There's a lot of confidence in his ability to pitch, he's earned it. He signed a two-year deal, there's a reason," Francona said.

• Yan Gomes was sent home Wednesday as he, like several of his teammates, is battling the flu.

Club to extend safety netting in areas behind home plate in accordance with MLB’s Fan Safety initiative

Cleveland, OH—The Cleveland Indians have announced that the club will comply with Major League Baseball’s recently announced Fan Safety Initiative this season at Progressive Field.

Those plans include expanding the existing safety netting at the ballpark to meet recommendations set forth by the commissioner’s office.

“Our fans’ safety at Progressive Field has been and will continue to be a priority,” said Jim Folk, Indians Vice President of Ballpark Operations. “We’re pleased MLB and Commissioner Manfred continue to make safety a priority, and we’ll follow their recommendations on continuing to provide a safe environment for our fans.”

Safety netting will be extended to now cross the full length between the homeplate side of each dugout, while the canopy that protected seats behind home plate in previous seasons also will be extended.

While prioritizing fans’ safety with these new initiatives, the club also will employ the latest netting technology to minimize the intrusion on the live game experience at Progressive Field.

“We remain committed to delivering the best possible experience for our fans at Progressive Field,” Folk said. “We’re confident these measures will help us continue to provide a safe environment for our fans while also preserving the unique sightlines and accessibility of our ballpark.”

The Indians have begun a proactive communication process to alert all Indians Season Ticket Holders whose seats are affected by the expansion. Additionally, the club will continue to identify ways to educate fans attending games at Progressive Field about the dangers of batted balls and bats entering the stands. That will include in-park communication, ticket-back messaging and other avenues.

Michael Brantley will be absent from the Indians' lineup for a couple of days as he gives his right shoulder time to rest. The left fielder, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, played in Cactus League games on Saturday and Monday, but his shoulder didn't rebound the way he or the club would have liked.

"Just wasn't quite bouncing back like he wanted to," manager Terry Francona said.


I'm worried that Brantley might aggravate his injury because he wants to be back playing on Opening Day. I hope the Indians will use extreme caution with him, though. He is too valuable to risk losing for an extended period of time!

I think the fact that he will likely see only minor league games from now on is a signal that the Tribe will back him off. Then they can backdate that DL stint.

I am betting he starts the season on the DL.

Which I guess gives Cowgill or Butler a shot at a brief stint with the club before Brantley returns. Apparently Chisenhall with his 045 avg is ready to start playing again so he should be 'ready" for opening day to platoon with Byrd. If Davis is similarly going to platoon with Naquin then Joey Butler could round out the impressive opening day outfield.

civ ollilavad wrote:Which I guess gives Cowgill or Butler a shot at a brief stint with the club before Brantley returns. Apparently Chisenhall with his 045 avg is ready to start playing again so he should be 'ready" for opening day to platoon with Byrd. If Davis is similarly going to platoon with Naquin then Joey Butler could round out the impressive opening day outfield.

LOL at "ready".

This guy should be sooooo cut.

Pretty sure Naquin, Rajai and Byrd are sure things at this point. Then?