Cleveland Sports Forum

count me in as a statistician!

Right on cue!

Like to keep UD around. How bout we put his name on this jersey.

This just makes sooo much sense.


Juan Uribe - 3B - Mets

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Indians continue to target free agent infielder Juan Uribe.

The two sides were linked about a month ago and it's still a possibility with spring training just a couple of weeks away. If the Indians were to sign Uribe, he'd likely share playing time at third base with Giovanny Urshela.

Uribe turns 37 in March and batted 253/.320/.417 with 14 homers and 43 RBI in 119 games last season between the Dodgers, Braves, and Mets.

Uribe could actually be the new Aviles. Can play other positions (not SS).

But we have Jose Ramirez for that.

Ramirez played some third in September. Don't know if he has the arm? Otherwise he'd be adequate in my book.

Bob Feller Act of Valor Award
Sign our petition to have Feller recognized with Presidential Medal of Freedom!


The Indians have launched a campaign to have Bob Feller recognized by the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The petition, available at the link below, needs 100,000 signatures within 30 days.

The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States, given "for especially meritorious contribution to 1) the security or national interests of the United States, or 2) world peace, or 3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

Feller, of course, was the first baseball player to enlist in the U.S. Navy after the bombings of Pearl Harbor. He could have asked for a deferment, as his father had terminal cancer, but Feller insisted upon serving his country.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/co ... 6104914520

Annual story about the equipment trucks leaving for ST:

http://tribevibe.mlblogs.com/2016/02/05 ... 6104914520

Snow expected this week in NE Ohio. Another sure sign of spring training.

The Indians have added veteran reliever Craig Stammen from Washington. I think this might be a nice pickup.

He;s a righty. They're supposed to be looking for lefties.

He must have been hurt most of last season, he only pitched four innings. His numbers the previous three years were pretty decent. His WHIP and ERA are inversely related:

2012 3.45 ERA 1.200 WHIP
2013 2.82 ERA 1.286 WHIP
2014 3.19 ERA 1.266 WHIP

I hope the great NEOMG just recycles the story of the equipment truck and puts a new year on it rather than have to pay someone to actually write it. A cheap outfit like NEOMG could use the extra cash. What I dont understand is why they even bother having Hoynseee actually go to spring training? Couldnt he just stay in Cleveland and make up some stuff about how if one of the standard retreads that the tribe signs each year has a season which equals there 1 good statistical outlier season from 15 years prior the team could possibly contend with the other teams in their division who have payrolls significantly larger. I remember Pete Franklin spouting this gibberish in the 1970's. Nothing has changed.

NDEPENDENCE-- At TribeFest last week, the Indians insinuated that they weren't done making moves.

On Monday morning, those statements proved true, as Cleveland added veteran right-handed reliever, Craig Stammen, to the team on a Minor League deal with an invite to Major League Spring Training.

Stammen, 31, missed the overwhelming majority of the 2015 season after undergoing surgery last April to fix a pair of torn flexor tendons in his right forearm.

Having not pitched since, the North Star, OH native was non-tendered by the Washington Nationals-- the team for which he spent seven seasons pitching-- in December, but told the Washington Post that he feels better than ever.

"I feel extremely healthy. I’ve been throwing and I’m ready to roll," Stammen said, after the news of his non-tender. "I’m excited to start a new chapter in my baseball career and get ready to pitch and compete for a championship with another team.”

While that team, of course, will be the Cleveland Indians, Stammen had a bit more to say to the Post about the Nationals and their decision to cut him loose him.

“I think they were operating in the dark a little bit,” Stammen said. “But I think they decided they can find somebody on the free agent market that is as good if not better than me. That’s kind of the decision that they’ll make. It is what it is. I’m thankful for the opportunity to pitch for the Washington Nationals and to be with one team as long as I have been was truly a special honor. They treated me fairly throughout the whole process. It’s sad to see it end like this. But definitely, on the other end, I’m excited for a new start. I know that everything does happen for a reason."

Amidst those seven seasons in Washington, Stammen compiled a career 3.91 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP in 490.2 innings pitched.

While just four of those innings came in the 2015 season, Stammen had ERA's of 3.84, 2.76 and 2.34 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

In 2012, arguable the best season of Stammen's career, he notched a 6-1 record and a career-low 1.20 WHIP, allowing just 70 hits in 88.1 innings of work.

Stammen's 2013 season wasn't far behind his 2012 effort, however, as he actually posted a better FIP (2.82) than he did in 2014, while allowing just 78 hits in 81.2 innings.

With Stammen joining the team on a Minor League contract, the Indians have officially added five veteran relievers to the organization on non-roster deals.
Those four include Stammen, lefty Joe Thatcher, righty Tom Gorzelanny, righty Ross Detwiler and righty Joba Chamberlain.

The Indians also added veteran reliver, Dan Otero, in a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies this offeason.

Otero, however, is on the 40-man roster.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Indians will continue to add to their bullpen, or to their roster in general, but the team begins its Spring Training on February 17, when pitchers and catchers are set to report to Goodyear, AZ.