Two Steps Back

One of the hardest parts about trying to rebuild a team is that you occasionally run into setbacks.  The Tribe’s future plans for the starting rotation took a step back the other day when Hector Rondon went under the knife for some Tommy John surgery.  He had been battling an elbow strain since May.  Had he elected for surgery then, we might have seen him late next year.  Now we probably won’t see him rehabbing and on a mound again until 2012.

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Tags: Cleveland Indians, Justin Masterson, rotation, starting pitching

Fighting the Doldrums

Mid-August is upon us.  Many of us have already started learning how to say, “Montario Hardesty” and analyze the strength of the Browns schedule.  So in case you ignored the Tribe after the All-Star Break, here’s a few insights into what you’ve missed.

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Tags: 2nd half, Cleveland Indians

Silver Lining

The Tribe come back home tonight to open a 3-game set with the Twins.  They just finished a 14-game stretch against the AL East where they went 6-8.  Not great, but certainly respectable, especially considering that they didn’t play the Orioles in that stretch.

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Tags: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians, Jeanmar Gomez, Jordan Brown, Josh Tomlin, Shin-Soo Choo

Taking Advantage

A great microcosm of the Indians season occurred in the top of the 3rd tonight at Fenway.  Facing Jon Lester, Andy Marte led off with a walk.  Trevor Crowe singled to left and the Tribe quickly put 2 runners on to start the inning.  The 9th place hitter, catcher Lou Marson, hit a tapper back to Lester, but the Red Sox lefty threw the ball away.  Marte scored on the error and Crowe ended up on third with Marson on second.  All this with nobody out.

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Tags: Andy Marte, Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians, Jason Donald, Lou Marson, Shelley Duncan, Shin-Soo Choo, Trevor Crowe

Indians Takers

I’m not going to sit here on my high horse and pretend that running a Major League baseball club from either a financial or personnel standpoint is easy in any way.  Its complicated.  Its messy.

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Tags: Austin Kearns, Cleveland Indians, Jake Westbrook, Kerry Wood, MLB, rant, salaries

All Hands Abandon Ship

Even with the albatross contract, I’m almost surprised we haven’t heard Travis Hafner’s name bandied about in trade rumors.  Jhonny Peralta is gone to the Tigers.  Austin Kearns is a Yankee.  Now we’re simply waiting on the official word that Jake Westbrook is off to the Cardinals.

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Tags: Austin Kearns, Cleveland Indians, David Huff, Jake Westbrook, left field, rotation

Beautiful Bemus-ed Belicose Brantley

Un-know-ing

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Tags: Cleveland Indians, Michael Brantley, outfielders, Shelley Duncan, Trevor Crowe

The Case for Jayson Nix

What exactly has Jason Donald done to earn so much love from the Tribe front office?

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Tags: Cleveland Indians, Jason Donald, Jayson Nix, second base

RIP James Gammon

Actor James Gammon passed today at the age of 70.

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Gotta Wear Shades

The team’s vote of confidence was overwhelming.  Knowing that young Jeanmar Gomez was making his MLB debut and that he hadn’t exactly the most promising of seasons going in AAA this year, the Tribe chose to designate infielder Anderson Hernandez for assignment rather than send a pitcher down to AAA.  Gomez did a wonderful job of making the front office’s precautionary move look entirely unnecessary.

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Tags: Cleveland Indians, Jeanmar Gomez, Jess Todd, pitching, rotation