All-Aught Indians--#2 Starter--Cliff Lee (2002-2009)

The top two starters for this All-Aught Indians team has been a given ever since the 2007 and 2008 A.L. Cy Young awards were given to CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee respectively.  Anybody who gives thought to putting a Westbrook or a Colon in these two thoughts, think again.  While Westbrook had three consistent seasons as an Indians workhorse, he was never able to show the brilliance that Sabathia showed year-after-year, and that Lee showcased during his out-of-nowhere 2008 season.  Bartolo Colon may have been as talented as the lefty duo, but his time during this decade was all to brief.

Now I could take the controversial approach and give the #2 slot to Sabathia, but it would simply be a lie.  While Lee undoubtedly had one of the best seasons as a pitcher in 2008, his career over the past seven seasons has been some kind of rollercoaster ride since the Indians acquired him in the Bartolo Colon deal in 2002.  While Lee would win 14, 18 and 14 games in his first three full seasons with the Tribe, he would find himself in the minors after struggling in 2007.  While those numbers alone place him in the same category as Jake Westbrook, his sublime 2008 season would see him dominate the A.L. from day one.  The All-Aught Indians #2 starter is left-hander Cliff Lee.

Walking through the playoffs with ex-Indians

The playoffs are here, and if you are a long-time Indians' fan, you know this is the time that most Tribe followers painfully walk the tightrope of rooting for and against former Indians' players. The fine line of how to support former members of the Indians' organization is always tempered by the fact that by leaving the reservation, this group was able to make it to the promised land.

There are varying degrees in this year's crop of ex-Indians participating in the 2009 playoffs. This list includes Angels utility-ace Maicer Izturis, who was dealt to the Expos while toiling in the Cleveland farm system. There are, of course, two former Cy Young winners, Cliff Lee (Phillies) and CC Sabathia (Yankees), who both were the game one starters for their respective teams. There are even a couple of players who were part of the Indians 1990's renaissance, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome, both of the Dodgers.

This diverse lot of players all left the Indians for many different reasons. There are those that left because they wanted more money (see Thome and Ramirez), those that left because they were shadows of their former selves (see Rafael Betancourt, Rockies), and those that left so they could fetch cheaper, inexpensive prospects (Lee, Sabathia, Martinez, Betancourt, Mark DeRosa of the Cardinals and the Dodgers Casey Blake). There are those that just didn't serve a purpose anymore (Carl Pavano of the Twins, Ben Francisco and Chad Durbin of the Phillies, Ronnie Belliard of the Dodgers, Matt Herges of the Rockes and Paul Byrd of the Red Sox). Regardless of the reasons, these players have managed a feat that has become too few and far between for the Tribe faithful: a chance at a World Series.

Nothing more clearly defines this pain than CC Sabathia's performance for the hated Yankees during game one of the ALDS.  He went 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) and eight hits.  No, they aren't Cy Young numbers, but they certainly would have been enough to give the Indians a chance at a World Series in 2007.  You couldn't help but listen to Sabathia's words in the post-game press conference and think back to the '07 implosion.

"We know what we need to do, we know that these are big games, they're always big games in the playoffs, and it just feels good to start it off the right way."

His winning in New York, for whatever reason, seemed to add salt to the already painful playoff wounds here in Cleveland. Sabathia, a Tribe product, who won the Cy Young in 2007, then imploded for the Indians in the playoffs, finds a way to win for the Evil Empire.

Charlie Manuel, in his folky fashion, seemed to apply a few more kicks when discussing his decision to start 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in game 1.

"I've been around the game quite a while.  I'm sure (Lee) pitched some big games somewhere along the line. And, if he hasn't, he damn sure has earned the right to pitch one."

Sure, Manuel is a rube, but the dig in that statement is clear, on purpose or not.  Lee acknowledged his lack of big game pitching earlier in the presser for the announcement.

"Last time in '07 with the Indians, I had to be a backup and sit there and watch other guys play," Lee said. "It was fun to be a part of, but also bittersweet in the fact that I didn't get to participate and try to help the team win."

Granted, Lee didn't deserve to play in that series, but that doesn't take away the point that he went from a non-factor in a series that saw the Indians need pitching in the ALCS, to a game one starter for another club two years later.

For some reason, I find myself gravitating to the Dodgers. Perhaps it's Joe Torre, who was essentially banished from the Yankees, trying to show his former club he can win somewhere else. Most likely, it's just sheer Indians' numbers. The Dodgers have four former Indians' players on their roster, and they aren't the Yankees. It's likely that combination of a manager going up against the Evil Empire, and doing it with an unlikely mix of old and not-so-old former Indians as part of his troops. Maybe there's a small part of me that would like to see Jim Thome win a World Series before he retires, even if he did seemingly stab the city of Cleveland in the back.

Who knows...

I may just as likely turn on the Dodgers and apply the Curse of Thome dance. Ahhh, the life of and Indians' fan.

Indians toss away Meloan--DFA Winston Abreu

In one of the most confounding moves of the season, Mark Shapiro dealt away Jon Meloan on July 2, 2009 for a 32-year old reliever Winston Abreu. Adding more to the confusion, the Indians now have DFAed Abreu today, which essentially means they have 10 days to either work out a trade with another team, release him, or send him to Columbus if he should clear waivers.

Meloan was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last year in the Casey Blake deal that also brought the Indians Carlos Santana. Meloan has a mid-90's fastball, and a whole bunch of upside. On a team that has a bad habit of signing cruddy relief pitchers, Meloan seemed like an incredible get for Blake, especially when you consider that certain guitar wielding catcher the acquired with him. Sure, Meloan has struggled for much of this season, but certainly the upside for the then 24-year old (turned 25 on July 11) far outweighed his half season struggles.

Unless you're named Mark Shapiro.

You have to question the trade based on the simple logic that Meloan was 24, had a live arm, and upside. Abreu has played with about half the teams in the majors, is 32, and was having one of those seasons that makes scouts scratch their heads. He was pitching too good for a pitcher that's been a whole lot of bad. He was suspended for three games as an Indian, and really bad in the only three games he pitched in (23.14 ERA after giving up six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings over three appearances).

The move made so little sense, that many figured that Abreu had to fit into some other trade scenario with either the Rays, or perhaps as a fill in for another trade involving Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez. It turned out that Abreu wasn't dealt, although it is potentially possible that he was supposed to be moved based on the fact that the Indians dfaed him the day after the deadline. Perhaps he was a door opener for Shapiro with the Rays, who were interested in acquiring both Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez. Shapiro may have been looking to soften the Rays by taking a lesser player with the hopes of springing some of their slew of prospects. If that was the case, it obviously didn't work.

Either way, the Indians dump Meloan for Abreu, which is slang for acquiring a large pile of dung. Chalk it up to another screw up in a growing list of man for GM Mark Shapiro. Whether or not Meloan fit into the future plans of the Tribe, it doesn't really make sense dumping a live relief arm when you are trying to acquire LIVE RELIEF ARMS.

Blue Light Special at V-Mart

There's not much to mention on the V-Mart front, other than the fact that there has been a surprising silence since early this morning. The Rays apparently dropped out of talks with the Indians when Cliff Lee left the building. There were rumors that the Rays were willing to open up the coffers a bit to get both Lee and Martinez. V-Mart alone isn't nearly as enticing. The Red Sox have already apparently turned down a one-for-one deal that would have given the Indians Clay Buchholz. If they won't deal Buchholz, who has yet to find much success in the majors with any consistency, then I can't see a deal being made. The Mets also seem to be in the mix, especially with Omar Minaya under the gun. A deal for V-Mart could right the ship a bit for the bewildered GM. There are supposedly a few other teams knocking on the Indians door, but as of right now, nothing appears serious or imminent. As for the Indians...

I can't wait until 2011, can you? That's supposedly when the Indians will catch wind in the Mark Shapiro rebuild 2.0. Can't you feel it Cleveland? Grady Sizemore will be firmly in his prime, and about to play in his contract year. Matt LaPorta will be dominating the majors with his power. Michael Brantley will be making everyone forget about Kenny Lofton in the outfield, leading off and stealing bases at will. Carlos Santana will be busy playing the guitar, and becoming the next great catcher in the majors. Hector Rondon, Carlos Carrasco and David Huff will be three of the top starters in the majors. Jason Knapp will be knocking on the door as the top pitching prospect in baseball. Luis Valbuena and Asdrubal Cabrera will have developed into to top middle infield tandem in baseball. Andy Marte will be attempting to top 40 homers for the second season in a row.

Just close your eyes, you can almost see it, can't you?

Of course, for most of you, I had you at Grady Sizemore about to enter his contract year. Sure, he'll be in his prime alright. He'll be prime pickings for Shapiro to dump him for several prospects that will allow the Indians to spin perennially into the abyss of rebuilds that will likely occur under the constraints of the Dolans and the economic marketplace.

Will there ever be lightning in a bottle for this team? Maybe, but I know it's getting less and less fun waiting for it to happen.

More on the VMart watch tomorrow...

Cliff Lee-ving

Cliff Lee has left the building, as the Cleveland Indians traded their ace to the Philadelphia Phillies for AAA RHP Carlos Carrasco, SS Jason Donald, C Lou Marson, and RHP Jason Knapp. I'm left...strangely...numb.

There was no doubt something afoot last night, when the Indians and the discussions for the Tribe lefty heated up. The Indians spent a bit of time last season rooting through the Phillies minor league organization before they dealt CC Sabathia to the Brewers. Nothing the Phillies had to offer, including Carlos Carrasco, interested Mark Shapiro enough to seriously consider the City of Brother Love as possible suitors. My how things have changed.

Lee leaving is a near-final admission by the Dolans and Shapiro that the Cleveland Indians are long done for 2010. Shapiro's rebuild 1.0 is a complete and utter failure, with the peak coming in 2007, one game from the world series, and the gutter coming, well, take your pick. The deal is staggering, in that it hinges on a 19-year old power pitcher in single A ball who was shut down this year because of a sore arm. Jason Knapp has the capability of topping out in the upper-90's. He also has injury concerns, and we all know how (Adam Miller) upside (Adam Miller) can (Adam Miller) sometimes (Adam Miller) go (Adam Miller) down (Adam Miller) the (Adam Miller) drain. Young power pitchers aren't a dime a dozen, but blown out arms are. Giving up Lee with this kid being the anchor of the deal is a monster risk for a club that has proven it can't take the next step once they HAVE players that can win a series.

The rest of the deal is a pure head scratcher.

Carlos Carrasco has a big arm, but has been lit-up by triple A pitching this year, and many scouts have questioned his head. Lou Marson is a catcher. He's a freakin' catcher. THEY TRADED FOR A FREAKIN' CATCHER? Sure, Victor Martinez will likely leave Cleveland in the next 48 hours, making Marson a likely fill-in. He's top five in the Phillies organization, so he's no slouch behind the plate. Here's the thing. Don't the Indians have Carlos Santana, Wyatt Toregas, Chris Gimenez and Kelly Shoppach? Now they have one more...for a Cy Young award winner with numbers in the ballpark of Roy Halladay. Oh yeah, they have Jason Donald, a SS that many can't figure out where he may play. He could be a second baseman, or a shortstop, or maybe he could play third base. Nice. They picked up a utility guy.

Oh, I'm sure I'll have to stomach some morons talking about how the Indians are a small-mid market team, and that this was the best they could do under the circumstances. That's garbage. Lee was a cheap asset over the next 1 1/2 years, and they had plenty of time to shop him for a package that might include the likes of a player like Kyle Drabek or Domonic Brown or Michael Taylor, who most, including the Blue Jays, considered the three potential gets that were guarantees for the majors. The Indians couldn't get a single one of them.

Well done Shapiro.

The best part about it is that the Indians not only gave up Lee for the package of overrated garbage, but they had to give up Ben Francisco as well. Now, I'm not sad to see Francisco and his fourth outfielder stats gone, but it's funny that the Indians had to give up TWO players for their less than standard haul. It's like shooting a dog in the neck with a BB gun, then kicking him in the ass on his way out the door. I could get into the Francisco piece, but at least this should get Matt LaPorta up to the big club, so I'll just leave it alone. I guess keeping Francisco as insurance for Grady's injury was like everything else Shapiro spews out of his mouth.

You know, I get this team is constrained by the market. I get it. The problem I have is that unless they align every planet, and every prospect works out in the next five years or so, this team will never win a series. The ONLY way to win is to spend when you are on the precipice. No, the team may fail to make money for a few seasons, but a World Series trophy would certainly curtail that. The Indians mantra continues to be "just not enough."

Shapiro was jerkin' everyone around today, mumbling about how this team was better off than when he took over in 2002. You've got to love the irony. The Indians are hunting for a future ace, by trading away an ace. Make that two.

See you around Cliff...

More tomorrow after the Indians deal Victor Martinez for a can of corn.



Great posts on the trade at Tony Lastoria's Indians Prospect Insider and Paul Cousineau's The Diatribe. Here's another from Paul as well.

Chopping the Wood in Cleveland

I missed most of the game tonight.  I missed Cliff Lee pitch eight shutout innings, giving up only five hits, and striking out five.  I missed Tim Wakefield throw a one-hitter, while walking four and striking out five of his own in seven shutout innings.

No, I turned on the game at the start of the ninth inning, with the score set at 0-0.

What I didn't miss was Kerry Wood walk Dustin Pedroia on a 3-2 pitch.  What I didn't miss was Kerry Wood give up a single to David Ortiz, putting two runners on with nobody out.  What I didn't miss was Jason Bay, once rumored to be prized by the Indians in a deal for Cliff Lee, park a three-run homer off of Wood to give the Red Sox the lead, and ultimately the victory.

Oh, Cleveland managed to get a rally going of their own in the ninth inning, with two lead-off singles by Shin-Soo Choo and Ryan Garko.  After Jhonny Peralta struck out looking (gotta love the bat on the shoulder in the ninth), Mark DeRosa drove in Choo with a single of his own.  Yeah, the winning run actually came to the plate with only one out against Jonathan Papelbon.  That's where it ended, when Kelly Shoppach struck out, and Ben Francisco popped out to end the game.

If only my cable was out all night...

Wakefield has been awesome this year, lowering his ERA to 1.86 in the no decision.  In a normal game, I wouldn't be surprised that Wakefield has shut down the Indians early in the year, but the Indians slump didn't exactly help matters.  The fluttering knuckle ball proved to be too much for the Indians' bats.  Like I said, I'm not surprised.

Wedge ejection
Is it a coincidence that Eric Wedge was thrown out of the game the same day as he laid out his team to the media?  I still haven't seen why he was tossed, and there likely was a good reason, but I'm sure there was a statement in there somewhere.  There always is.  Wedge took his veterans to the shed for their lack of offense, and re-iterated that this is now a veteran club. I couldn't agree more.

On a personal note, it's really good to be back blogging about the Tribe.  I'm not here to take anything too seriously at this point in my life.  I love every nuance of every game, win or lose.  I was scrolling through my blogroll the other day, reading several different blogs, and there are a lot of good ones out there that are related to the Tribe.  I actually got an e-mail today from a new viewer asking why I promote other blogs, and I had to reply with the truth.  "I Love them all."  It's funny.  Over the years, I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of Indians' blogging.  I've been part of all three, and proud of it.  That said, everyone's got something to say.  I watched Wood tonight get lit up throwing a 99 MPH fastball.  Some will say it's not a big deal.  Some will scream that it's the return of JoeBo.  Some will blame inactivity.  Some will blame back-to-back games.  Some will stop watching for a week.  Others won't be able to wait for game two.  There will be some data to support it all.  What's my point?  It's baseball, and it doesn't get better than this...

...other than a win...

...and a record over .500...

...and beating the Red Sox...

...and...    

The Sunday Drive with the trading of Cliff Lee, the return of Jake Westbrook and the Cavs

Just in case you live under a rock, 'Trade Cliff Lee' rumors have begun circulating once again, thanks to an article by CBSsports.com.  This isn't anything new in the Indians community, since we have been talking about this very thing for the better part of the past two seasons.  Now, the perfect storm is in the air.

1. The Indians are 6-12 so far this year, in a division that many had predicted them to win.  They may still, but you know what a record like 6-12 can do to a franchise frantic to win.  You either start shaking things up, or start shutting things down.


2. Cliff Lee is struggling, leading many to say that he's far from a #1 starter.  He certainly will command #1 starter money when he becomes a free agent.  That's not until the end of next season, by the way.  That said, the "TCL" crew is saying that management doesn't want him at a hefty price, so sayanara.


3.  There isn't much to talk about with this team, because they have seemed to disappear.  Not only are they losing, but they are horrifically boring to watch.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm okay with boring...when you're winning.

Just to lay this to rest, the Indians aren't getting set to trade Lee.  Now, if a team threw a package of players similar to the CC Sabathia deal at the Indians, then the rumor becomes reality.

Why dealing Cliff Lee has been on my mind for two years,
Would I deal Lee if I were Mark Shapiro?  Yeah, it's true
that I've been a supporter of dealing the lefty for the past two
seasons, including during and after his Cy Young award year.  That
said, dealing him now would be a major PR mistake for the Indians, if
the rumors proved to be true.  The Indians starters are absolutely
horrid thus far.  Fausto Carmona barely resembles his 2007-self, and
seems to fight with every pitch.  Anthony Reyes scares the hell out of
me.  I keep picturing Dave Dravecky, or that House episode that had the
pitcher who's arm literally flew off during a pitch.  I'm a fan of
Reyes, but it's a bit like a train wreck.  Carl Pavano is a waste of
money, even if he made the league minimum.  He may have a moment or two
where you think it's all going to be fine, then you open your eyes, and
realize he hasn't been good since the Red Sox were still fighting the
curse, and that year was really his only good year.  Aaron Laffey is
the lone bright spot, but I've never been on the Laffey bandwagon. 
That he's the only current starter that has my attention says a lot
about this rotation.



So dealing Lee leaves the Indians with what for starters?  Is Laffey
then the #1?  Is Fausto Carmona moved to #1?  Is that the smart move
with him hovering on either breaking down, or breaking away?  Would the
Indians get a #1 for Lee?  Why would a team do that, if they need a
starter?  In other words, dealing Lee right now is vastly different
than dealing Sabathia.



First off, there isn't a Lee behind Lee, as their was behind Sabathia. 
Second off, Lee is scheduled to make only $9 million next season.  It
would make more sense to ride it out a bit longer.  Of course, the only
negative is that Lee won't have the season he had last year, and will
certainly command less on the market next year, than this year.



Still, that's not a reason to give up on the season yet.



So, no, I wouldn't deal him, and I actually thought I was going to say yes when I pondered this post.



I'm actually beginning to think that Jake Westbrook is the cog that may make or break the Indians season.  According to Terry Pluto, Westbrook is planning on throwing his first simulated game on May 12th.  If all goes well, he'll follow that up with three or four minor league starts.

If Westbrook does come back, and can somehow manage to be even a close facsimile of the guy that we saw at the beginning of last season, then the starters could right themselves.  Lee would remain the #1, Westbrook would be the #2, Carmona would be #3, Laffey would be #4, and either Reyes or Huff would be #5.  Personally, I could care a less about the #'s, but am okay with five of those six guys.  The only problem is that this rotation really reminds me of the Orel Hershiser, Dennis Martinez, Charles Nagy-led rotations of the 90's, that had a bunch of solid, middle-of-the-order guys, but no take charge guy.  I hate things that are cyclical.

I'm still not ready to give Westbrook the green light in June though (as though I had a say in it).  In all seriousness, how many pitchers rush back from something like Tommy John, and blew out their arms, or had major setbacks.  Why come back in June, if you can be even more healthy in July.  We also all know that getting your velocity back after the TJ surgery can take nearly two years.  We'll see, but it does always worry me when I hear that a pitcher is ahead of schedule with this surgery.

Props have to go out to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  I've heard some grumbling about how the Cavs haven't slammed the Pistons in games #2 and #3.  Trust me, they have.  This team is pretty special.  Will they win the title?  That's up to the basketball gods, not me.  I do like the attitude the team brings behind LeBron.  They are going to be tough to beat.  Make sure you check out Amar and his crew over at Cavalier Attitude for playoff coverage.  Back in the day, I used to write over there, and they really do a tremendous job covering the best team in the NBA.

95,722 showed up for tOSU's spring game today, breaking Nick Saban's record last season in his first springer for Alabama.  Terrelle Pryor threw two 40+ TD passes in the game.  Football...already? 

This weeks SoG award for Tribe blog of the week goes out to Tony Lastoria and his crew over at Indians Prospect Insider.  For those that aren't familiar with Tony's past work, I began following his work at The Cleveland Fan, writing a weekly column entitled 'Minor League Happenings."  He then took his work a step further by opening up a blog based soley on the Indians' Minor League system.  What I thought might be a site updated a couple of times a week, it turned out to be updated daily, an more often than not, multiple times.

TL's work isn't heresay either.  Nearly every post is 'from the source,' and nine times out of ten, dead on.  This isn't a site that begs, borrows and steals from other websites.  Tony is outsourcing the writing as well, and has acquired a solid staff of writers that continue to provide multiple daily postings.

Tony also puts out a yearly Top 100 Prospects book that you can purchase, and posts updating scouting reports on nearly every Tribe prospect worth a hill of beans.  It's not only the cream of the crop as far as minor league sites go for the Indians, but is likely one of the best, IF NOT THE best minor league site in the entire league.  Check it out for yourself, if you haven't already.

Have a fantastic final week of April, and don't forget to check the rearviewmirror for the Indians offense.  It's way back there with their defense...somewhere.

Oh, and is it me, or do you feel like trading down. 

Cliff Lee out-dueled by Indians-killer, Brian Bannister

Brian Bannister continued to own the Cleveland Indians as he led the Kansas City Royals to a 2-0 shutout victory over Cliff Lee and the Cleveland Indians.

Cliff Lee continued to look more like the Cy Young award winner from 2008, and did everything he could to win the game.  Lee leapfrogged Aaron Laffey's seven-inning performance last night by going eight innings of his own.  Lee's workhorse outing saw him throw 122 pitches, 85 of which were strikes.  He gave up nine hits, two runs, walked one, and struck out five in his best performance of 2009. 

Unfortunately for Lee, he faced off against Cy You...er...Brian Bannister, who seems to have made a career out of pitching well against the Indians.  As mentioned yesterday, Bannister was 3-1 career against the Indians, with a paltry 1.91 ERA, including an even better 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in Cleveland.  Make that 3-0.  He actually improved upon that today in going six innings, giving up only four hits, two walks, and striking out one.  He really seems to have the Indians' number, and to think this kid was just called up the other day from AAA Omaha.  My guess is he's earned at least one more start.

Sons of Geronimo officially endorses Tony Sipp as its favorite player, and wasted opportunities, after the jump...


Tony Sipp made a sterling major league debut tonight, perhaps
mirroring what his future may hold by pitching a perfect ninth inning. 
His first batter was Mike Jacobs, who he promptly struck out. 
It was a positive outing for the young future star, and if I'm a
betting man, I'd say that it's the first step in his line to closer. 
Tony Sipp is the real deal.  You may have not heard it here first,
since I first started clamoring for this kid when I wrote over at Tribe
Report, but I'll certainly be the loudest.  This kid is going to be a
good one...count on it.



The Indians had a chance to win this game in the ninth.  A
walk by Jhonny Peralta, and a single by Shin-Soo Choo put runners on
first and second with one out.  Kelly Shoppach ripped a first-pitch to
left field in which David Dejesus caught while stumbling around like a
drunk.  Both runners would advance on a wild pitch, but Trevor Crowe
struck out looking to end the game.  Too bad for Lee, Sipp and the
Indians, who could have used this win as a stepping stone.

Gil Meche goes up against Anthony Reyes tomorrow.  The "Will Reyes blow out his arm" watch will continue.  

Tribe Mosh Pit--April 29th, 2007

First and Foremost, I would like to send out my sincere condolences to Josh Hancock's family and teammates, the long reliever for the Cardinals who died early Sunday morning. Hancock was driving in the left hand lane on I-40 outside of St. Louis, when he struck a tow-truck, who was helping another car on the side of the road. Hancock wasn't a superstar, but he was an important piece of the Cardinals' bullpen. Last season was his most important as a player, as he set career marks in several categories, including innings, games and strikeouts. He started his career in Boston in 2002, went through Philadelphia and Cincinnati, before becoming a member of the Cardinals, and a World Champion, in 2006. Hancock was 29.



How about the umpires blowing the call on Saturday Night.I couldn't have been the only one that thought, "doesn't that run count?" With that being said, you CANNOT change the call three innings later, even if Trebelhorn noticed it less than an inning later. What SHOULD have happened was a public flogging of the umpires for blowing a call WE all learn in little league. The only thing we missed out on, was Eric Wedge storming out of the dugout like George Brett in the Pine Tar incident. So, the game is under protest. Do you want the Bad?...or the Worst? Worst case scenario? Cleveland loses the protest, and the game. The Bad? Cleveland has to remake a PARTIAL game, to go along with the Seattle series. Still, getting a win out of a loss wouldn't be a bad deal at all.



Fausto Carmona was as efficient today as any Cleveland starter in recent memory. Carmona had a shutout rolling for 8 1/3, when he gave up a ninth inning dinger to Aubrey Huff. He had scuffled a bit in the eighth inning, so you have to respect the decision by Eric Wedge to give him a shot for the complete game shutout after the Tribe packed on 3-runs to their 3-0 lead. How efficient was Carmona? He gave up six hits, two walks (both in the 8th), with one strikeout. Carmona induced 18 ground balls, 16 of which were outs, and only 6 fly balls. He threw 104 pitches, and 72 strikes. That makes three straight solid outings for Carmona, and 2 straight dominating games. He's finally looking like the pitcher we thought he was.



So where does that leave Eric Wedge, with Cliff Lee set to start next Thursday?Thursday is a long ways away, but my best guess is that Wedge has already made the decision to send down Carmona. To further along my hypothesis, I'm betting that Wedge had it all written down beforeFausto's final two outings. Wedge is the kind of guy that sticks to the plan. When asked today about it, Wedge seemed as though he knew what was going to happen, but not committed just yet:

"One way or another, we're going to have a tough decision to make," Wedge said. "We're not going to do anything today, let's put it that way. In a situation like this, we're going to take as long as we can."

So what are the possibilities? Many say deal Paul Byrd to the Yankees. He's pitching well, and the Yanks will pay for him. Sorry, that won't fly. Not yet. We have to hope that Byrd pitches well until July, then you move him then. Cleveland can get a lot for him, but I don't believe now is the time. Of course, with New York in a state of flux right now, you never know. You could move Carmona to the bullpen in long relief, but you can see that he tires right around the 85-90 pitch count mark now. His arm is just getting used to throwing 100 pitches. You cannot make him a long reliever. You could move Sowers to the pen, but he's done nothing to merit that. You could send Carmona down (which is what they are going to do), which is the best option mentioned, but it WILL screw with his head, and we saw what happened when he moved to the closer roll. Carmona is ALREADY thinking about it:

"I'm not even thinking about that," Carmona said through translator Luis Rivera, the team's first-base coach. "I'm not going to waste my energy thinking about things that I can't control."

So what do you do? Do you use a six man rotation, and send down Mastny? Do you rotate Byrd, Sowers and Carmona? It's a tough decision, but if you were to ask me, I'd probably move Byrd to the pen, and spot start him. I know it would KILL the potential for trading him, but when you have a 23 year old pitching as well as Carmona, you don't mess with him now. Of course, a lot can happen in four days.



It was good seeing Jaret Wright today.Every time I see him, I think about his 2-hit gem in game seven against Florida in 1997 (was it that long ago?). If only he had stayed in the game. Still, it was ironic that Cleveland hammered the bookends today in Wright and Guthrie, two former Indian #1's. Three runs against Wright, and three runs against Guthrie. I guess it doesn't pay to pitch against your former team, against another future star. Yeah, I'd say it was a game full of irony alright.



Cliff Lee has a new slider that he's going to start using this week. If the pitch WORKS, it could put Lee over the edge from a pedestrian lefty, to a dominating one. I don't know how smart it is though to come of the IR throwing a pitch you've never really thrown before, but then again, what do I know. I'm a Lee fan, and think that he still could be a top-end starter. Hopefully, this is the pitch that does it.



I'm an optimist, so I tend to see the good in Peralta,when others don't. He had a costly error yesterday, that is for sure. Still, you can't help but see flashes of 2005 in EVERY game these days. His fielding IS better, and at times, downright sparkling. No, he's not going to confuse anyone of Omar Vizquel, but face it folks, he's a once in a lifetime player. What has impressed me, over the past few games, has been his timely hits. He still strikes out too much, but he seems to be turning the corner. Let's just hope that Peralta finds a way to be as patient as his teammates. He's got time. It's not like Cleveland has anyone to push him. Of course, rumor has it that Byrd is available!



Barfield continues to show the Indians that it's not (just) a bat they traded for when they sent K2 to San Diego. Hey made a couple of plays today look easy, that Ronnie Belliard would have missed diving. One was a ground ball up the middle he grabbed and still beat the runner by 5 steps. An inning later, he made another fantastic play the OTHER way. He made it look easy. If you blink hard enough, it looks a lot like Roberto Alomar out there. At the plate, he still looks like my five-year-old most of the time, but it can't get any worse. It will improve, and look at it this way; Kouzmanoff is batting .127 with 1 dinger and 4 RBI. Barfield is batting .155 with 1 homer and 9 RBI. Who has the better stick?



Speaking of decisions, what is Wedge going to do when Marte is ready to play?Do you send down Shin Soo Choo, who shouldn't have been sent down in the first place? Do you keep Choo, and keep Marte at AAA until he gets his groove back (sorry Stella)? It really doesn't make a whole bunch of sense to keep Choo, which would give Cleveland four lefty outfielders (along with Dellucci, Nixon and Sizemore). Of course, mentioning Sizemore is plain silly, but with Dellucci healthy (he isn't going anywhere), and Nixon playing exceedingly well, it's hard to put up a defense, baseball-wise, that Choo needs to stay. He's good, but you just can't keep that many lefty bats. Choo will be heading down, where he'll find a brother-in-arms with Carmona. I would pay money to see what those two would have to do to find a way to talk to each other.



I hated the Nixon signing, I'll admit it.Mainly because of Choo, but also because of his injury-issues. Still, I have no problem with him shoving my opinions down my throat. If Choo never sees Cleveland again this year, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING. If Nixon continues with timely hits, he is a fantastic signing. It's a long season though. It seems to me that Cleveland really has some tradable commodities, especially with the Yankees struggling. Wouldn't that be ironic.



Finally, Cleveland's hitters are third in the AL in strikeouts with 174 (behind Kansas City and Tampa Bay--yeah, I know, scary).. Cleveland is third in the AL in walks with 97 (behind Boston and Chicago). So, does that make Cleveland more selective? Yeah, roll around with that one for awhile.



Is there anyone that believes Cleveland couldn't and shouldn't be playing any better? They can, and will.



Next up...C.C. Sabathia vs. A.J. Burnett on Tuesday in Cleveland. Burnett recently smoked the Yankees with seven shutout innings. Of course, the Yankees aren't the Indians.



No, I'm not really sure what that means either...



It's a beautiful day for baseball...isn't it?