Cleveland Sports Forum

Cleveland Indians understand that seeing is believing when it comes to Michael Brantley's health

Zack Meisel, cleveland.com By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com

on January 11, 2017 at 10:15 AM, updated January 11, 2017 at 4:01 PM


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Chernoff understands that there might be some skepticism about Michael Brantley's ongoing recovery from The Great Shoulder and Biceps Injury of 2015-16.

Chris Antonetti agrees that no one will explicitly know the outlook for Brantley until he reaches the end stages of his rehab.

So when you mentally configure the Indians' 2017 batting order and you're not sure what to do with that All-Star left fielder, know that the Indians feel your pain. If Brantley doesn't feel that pain, it could mean Cleveland boasts the league's most potent offense, with an MVP finalist and an Edwin Encarnacion added to a group that ranked second in the American League in runs scored.

It's a wait-and-see game, though. Brantley has taken dry swings in Cleveland this month. That's about as exhilarating as it sounds. He'll eventually have to work his way up to actual batting practice and, ultimately, some spring training action.

"We're working through his tolerance," said Antonetti, the Indians' president of baseball operations. "We've been through it before, right? He's progressed through some things really quickly and other things really slowly. It's really difficult to have specific dates and times."

Last year, there wasn't as much hesitation. Brantley had shoulder surgery in November 2015, a procedure that was expected to sideline him for six months at most. In late January, at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, he declared his intention to return for Opening Day. He zipped through his rehab, belted a spring training home run and everything seemed perfect.

Then, he experienced shoulder fatigue and soreness. He returned to appear in 11 games in late April and early May, but that was the extent of his 2016 action. He underwent a biceps tenodesis procedure in August, which redirected his focus toward the 2017 campaign.

"We were really optimistic last spring," Antonetti said. "We all saw it: He came back, flew through his rehab, homered in his games, the quality of his at-bats were great. But, ultimately, that game activity and game speed ended up bothering him.

"We've relied on a lot of different opinions of a lot of different medical professionals who are familiar with this type of injury. We've seen at least three or four doctors who are in concurrence about the path that he's on and the rehab protocol that he's going through. That's the advice we'll continue to rely upon."


The signing of Edwin Encarnacion all but tapped out the Indians' financial resources, according to Chernoff. Rajai Davis, who served as insurance for Brantley last year, relocated to Oakland. If Brantley runs into similar setbacks this year, it could create an opportunity for Yandy Diaz, Bradley Zimmer or Giovanny Urshela.

"Part of our responsibility is to plan for as many contingencies as we can," Antonetti said.

With Brantley, the onus is greater.

"We cross our fingers and hold our breath on every player getting through spring training and being healthy," Chernoff said. "Obviously, a guy like Michael, who went through what he went through last year, you can't help but think those things. But based on the information, we're very hopeful and confident."

Being hopeful and confident, though, doesn't mean much until Brantley can complete his recovery without a twinge or an ache.

Said Antonetti: "I don't think we're going to have a great feel for it until after he passes that last hurdle."

Marlon Byrd? OH wait....

Indians News

· According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Cleveland Indians are in the market for a southpaw reliever. Some of the names mentioned are former Tribe reliever Craig Breslow, Boone Logan, Travis Wood, J.P. Howell, Javier Lopez and Chris Capuano. They have also been “doing background work” on veteran righty Joe Blanton.

David Schoenfield
ESPN Senior Writer

One reason teams have been slow in signing Mike Napoli: He hit .205 against fastballs, worst among qualified regulars, and just .144 against 93 mph and higher, also worst. He's smart enough to hunt out the slow stuff, but there have to be concerns about his bat speed.

No shit.

Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan, on Edwin Encarnacion's hefty contract: 'There's no better time than now'

Zack Meisel, cleveland.com By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Chris Antonetti mentioned the idea of acquiring Andrew Miller last summer, Indians owner Paul Dolan needed to hear a convincing sales pitch.

The price was four prospects, including a pair of former first-round draft choices, and Dolan was hesitant.

"That's not in our DNA, to give up that kind of talent," Dolan said Friday morning at Progressive Field.

What about awarding a 34-year-old free agent a guaranteed $60 million over the next three years? Does that match the organization's genetic code?

"I suppose contracts like [Edwin] Encarnacion are not in our DNA either," Dolan said, "but, it was the right time for us and we felt it was the right time to reach."

Encarnacion landed the most lucrative free-agent contract in team history. He'll earn $13 million this year, $17 million next year and $20 million in 2019, with a $25 million option for 2020 or a $5 million buyout, and a $5 million signing bonus spread over the first three years of the deal. The Indians also forfeited their first-round draft selection for this summer.


"There's no better time than now," Dolan said.

It helps that the Indians advanced to Game 7 of the World Series, the culmination of a postseason run that galvanized the fan base and spurred ticket sales. Dolan estimated that the team has increased its season-ticket base to 11,000 from 8,500 since the end of the 2016 campaign.

Antonetti, the Indians' president of baseball operations, admitted earlier this month that he didn't anticipate the club would be in the running for Encarnacion's services, which include the frequent placement of baseballs on the other side of outfield fences.

A handful of teams turned elsewhere for first-base help. Other clubs didn't match the length of the Indians' commitment, which will keep the slugger in Cleveland through at least his age-36 season.

Still, the process required weeks of dialogue between the front office and ownership. The Indians have long sported a low-end payroll. This sort of move didn't fit the organization's modus operandi.
Indians' Chris Antonetti on signing Edwin Encarnacion

"They are always looking for those kinds of opportunities," Dolan said. "More often than not, they don't manifest themselves into large free-agent signings, but we're always exploring where there's an opportunity to get value, and particularly when the value fits into the timing with the club."

It all circles back to the timing aspect. If this were a year ago or a year from now, the Indians might not have pounced.

Instead, they capitalized on a situation that unexpectedly fell into their grasp. They took a roster that proved championship caliber and improved it, albeit at a significant cost.

That might not fit the club's DNA, but this isn't an exact science.

"We're coming off the World Series almost-win," Dolan said. "With the core talent that we have in place, there's absolutely no better time to make that reach than now."

Baseball, Indians working on solution to debated Wahoo logo

Associated Press
By TOM WITHERS
2 hrs ago

CLEVELAND (AP) Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has discussed a possible solution to the club's divisive Chief Wahoo logo with Indians owner Paul Dolan.

Manfred and Dolan have had multiple meetings on the touchy subject, including one on Friday that included Indians minority owner John Sherman, before the team announced it will host the 2019 All-Star Game at Progressive Field.

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The club has come under increased pressure to permanently remove the red-faced, smiling logo, which has been labeled offensive and racially insensitive.

Dolan said nothing has been resolved and he intends to meet again with Manfred, who would not divulge his preference for an outcome.

''I'm not going to speculate about what I want the end of the process to be,'' Manfred said. ''I think that Paul has been fantastic about engaging in conversations. I want those conversations to continue, and I think we'll produce a result that will be good for the Indians and good for baseball. What exactly that is, I don't want to speculate right now.''

RELATED: CLEVELAND TO HOST 2019 ALL-STAR GAME

Manfred would not say if a timetable for a solution has been set.

When the Indians made the World Series last season, the national spotlight increased debate over the logo, and Manfred indicated he wanted the club to make a change.

''I know that that particular logo is offensive to some people, and all of us at Major League Baseball understand why,'' Manfred said before Game 2.

The Indians have been slowly phasing out the Wahoo logo in recent years, replacing it with a block ''C'' logo on some of the team's caps. However, the logo remains on the sleeves of some jerseys and hats.

While sensitive to the feelings of others, Dolan has stated in the past that Wahoo is part of the team's history and legacy. There are others who see it as a symbol of civic pride, perhaps ignoring how the caricature of a Native American, can be viewed as demeaning.

Every season, protesters gather outside Progressive Field before the home opener to decry the team's use of the logo. However, recently there have been an equal number of fans pushing to retain Wahoo, which the club has used in various forms since the 1940s.

Indians manager Terry Francona, Mike Chernoff open up about what team culture really means


CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona and General Manager Mike Chernoff both attributed a focused team concept within the entire organization, not just the players on the field, for their success.

"We have a great setup here," Francona said. "I wanted to be in a place where you can speak your mind and be respected. It's made me a better baseball person; I actually think it's made me a better person. I wouldn't trade this for anything."

What Francona won't trade is what Chernoff calls a "collaborative culture" in the Indians organization. He credits his manager for being a catalyst in creating that environment, for maintaining a "deep caring for people and direct communication with players."

"The younger guys in the organization have the ability to make us think," Francona said. "I love that."

As the son of a player, Francona grew up around ballparks. It's in his blood. He and Chernoff spoke on a range of topics at The City Club in Cleveland on Friday. Francona, in his fifth year as Indians manager, has tallied 352 wins during four seasons here - all over .500. Last year, the team never lost more than three consecutive games while earning Cleveland's first shot at a World Series title since 1997, Chernoff said.

Chernoff credits Francona with always moving forward, keeping an open mind with anyone in the organization, not just players.

"With everything Tito has accomplished it would be easy to be complacent," he said. "This is a person who is motivated to get better."

Francona and Chernoff addressed the team's culture, players and other topics:

Francona

* On what being a 'player's manager' means: "It means we are asking more of every player on the field than anyone has ever asked while at the same time caring about them more than anyone has."

* On the approach to working with young players like Francisco Lindor: "Respect. We treat them like young men and we except them to act like respectable young men. Last year I didn't do any baby-sitting."

* On dealing with millennials: "Young people are changing, their expectations are changing. We have to recognize that, but we don't sacrifice our principles."

* On Lindor: "What you see is what you get. He is a joy to be around. I am not sure I like his haircut."

* Single biggest improvement fans didn't know about: "Mike Napoli signing with us. We got really good numbers from Nap. We got leadership. His leadership was incredible. ... We were tougher because of him. Even though he's not going to be back I think our guys are tougher because of him." Francona added: Some players looked up to him, some were afraid of him.

* On signing Edwin Encarnacion: "When we signed Edwin my first phone call was to Napoli."

* On this week's announcement of Cleveland being awarded the 2019 All-Star Game: "I didn't grow up here, but I've been here long enough to care. It's a celebration of baseball, but I think it's a celebration of Cleveland."

* On Michael Brantley, who missed most of the 2016 season: "Brantley has lived in Cleveland the past two years. He hasn't missed a day at the ballpark."

* On empty seats in Progressive Field: "As much as we would love to have a full house every night, I don't think I have the right to tell people how to spend their hard-earned money."

* On improving: "You try to learn every day. If you don't you're kind of missing the boat. ... If you think about yesterday too much you kind of get that hangover feeling. If you think about tomorrow you miss what's in front of you."

Chernoff:

* On helping young players: "How do we develop a player as a whole person, not just a player? How do we give him the resources so he can take ownership of his career?"

* On Lindor: "He's motivated to get better."

* On the All-Star Game: "This has been in the works a long time, putting in a bid for this. This catapults the momentum even further, to continue the positive energy we've seen."

I'm so sick of reading crap like that.

Look, anybody that wants a 230 hitter who strikes out 200 times batting clean up in their order is a moron, and that includes Tito.

But that does not include Tito, cause if they really wanted him back he'd be back. But instead they made a move that is somewhere between very unusual to totally unheard of for the Indians. They spent a TON of guaranteed cash for his replacement.

Tito is too classy to bash a man behind his back when he's out the door, especially one that he likes, but that is the truth.

It sure would have been nice to get some production, any production, out of that spot in the order during the last few games of the World Series. Or in the postseason period. He hit 167. Played crap defense too. He simply can't get around on a good fastball anymore. Or a pretty decent one. And that is the rest of the truth.

They had the same problem coming to grips with Giambi and his loss of useful Major League skills. They justified his taking up a spot on the roster because of his "leadership" qualities.

Hillbilly wrote:I'm so sick of reading crap like that.

Look, anybody that wants a 230 hitter who strikes out 200 times batting clean up in their order is a moron, and that includes Tito.

But that does not include Tito, cause if they really wanted him back he'd be back. But instead they made a move that is somewhere between very unusual to totally unheard of for the Indians. They spent a TON of guaranteed cash for his replacement.

Tito is too classy to bash a man behind his back when he's out the door, especially one that he likes, but that is the truth.

It sure would have been nice to get some production, any production, out of that spot in the order during the last few games of the World Series. Or in the postseason period. He hit 167. Played crap defense too. He simply can't get around on a good fastball anymore. Or a pretty decent one. And that is the rest of the truth.

I knew that would get you going, HB
But I think Tito is telling the truth, although I agree with you that he ran out of gas. It will be interesting to see how he does this year.

There must have been 50 articles the last few months with that, "we love his leadership", crap.

Oh yeah, if you loved him so much why didn't you bring him back?

Cause you want to win.

Why not drop the tag "Indians" and take CLE as our nickname?

Funny you should say that....I thought we should just be called "Cleveland". No logo on brown helmets, no nickname for our baseball team. In fact, I emailed the suggestion to the magazine that was running the contest.