INDIANS-5/11/02

LATEST TEAM INFO:

The Indians season is looking like it will turn out to be one long roller coaster ride. After only one month of the season the Indians have reached an absolute high (a 10 Game Winning Streak), and well lets hope an absolute low (losing 15 of 17 games). It looks like we are not going to be able to judge this year’s squad for a while. They stand now at a mediocre 17-18.

The past week they have showed improvement only to blow two leads in the eight inning, and fall apart Friday night. The first loss was to Baltimore on Tuesday, and was the result of Paul Shuey blowing a two run lead in the eight inning. A Ricky Gutierrez error allowed the second run of the inning to score on what should have been an easy double play and kept Melvin Mora at third. Instead of the double play Gutierrez had the ball come flying out of his glove on the throw from Travis Fryman, and Mora scored easily. On Thursday night the Indians had a 3-2 lead going into the eight inning when starting pitcher Bartolo Colon grooved the only real threat in the Royals order, Mike Sweeny a fastball which he hammered for his second homerun of the game. Sweeny, a lifetime Tribe killer, is also the only real threat in the Royals order, yet the Indians are willing to pitch to him in a one run game in the eight. This I don’t understand.

Friday, everything just seemed to fall apart. Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes put it best; “The right fielder can’t throw. The designated hitter can’t run. Last years hot rookie pitcher has flame out.” In a 9-0 loss to the Royals Friday, the Indians managed to get only three runners into scoring position. The bats were almost non-existent. C.C. Sabathia had nothing going his way. In the sixth inning, Sabathia started the inning by striking out Mike Sweeny only to have the ball get past catcher Einar Diaz, and Sweeny trot down to first-base. Next, Carlos Beltran hit an infield single to short and Sweeny went all the way to third. Beltran stole second and Randa hit a two run blooper into right. Matt Lawton who has been playing with a separated right shoulder couldn’t make the throw home, which enabled Sweeny and Beltran to score, and Randa to go to second. Later in the inning Randa scored on a fielder’s choice. Only one ball was hit hard which was Berger’s single. As a pitcher that is when you know things aren’t going your way.

Ellis Burks was welcomed back to the lineup Wednesday by getting nailed by a Scott Erickson fastball in the ribs. Ellis who had been nursing a strained hamstring along with his many other aches and pains hadn’t played since April 28th. Thursday he seemed to be just fine going two for four, scoring two runs, and driving in two runs. He is second on the team in hitting with a .324 average.

LOCAL PROSPECTIVE:

All around Cleveland radio show host, TV hosts and most of all the fans have been knocking manager Charlie Manuel, and in my opinion this is with good reason. This year the Indians do not have the offense they have had the last seven years, and everyone knows this. That means the Indians will have to do all of the little things in the game, which include making smart decisions with the pitching staff. In Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Orioles, Manuel decided to take out starter Chuck Finley after seven strong innings while he gave up only one run, and needed only 85 pitches. Finley showed no signs of tiring, and hadn’t given up a run since the first inning, yet the book says to take your starter out after seven innings and then put in your setup man, followed by your closer. Charlie Manuel seems to like the book. Since he has taken over the team Indians fans have forgotten what a hit-and-run is supposed to do. Manuel also stopped Kenny Lofton, Omar Vizquel, and Robbie Alomar, all 30 plus stolen base people from doing just that, stealing bases. Manuel needs to loosen up the team and take a few more risks.

Managers are supposed to stick up for their players and have their backs. Manuel has refrained from talking, not even arguing but, talking to umpires about questionable calls. Thursday night was a prime example of this. Mike Sweeny hit a ball down the left field line that was called a homerun and tied the game at three in the eight inning. Even Mike Sweeny stopped half way to first base as if thinking the ball was foul. However, Manuel sat on the bench and just bobbed his head. On replay the ball was clearly foul, and obviously changed the whole complexion of the game. Had Charlie come out of the dugout and asked the home-plate umpire what he saw, maybe he would have called it differently then the third base umpire, but we shall never know. Bartolo Colon didn’t pitch the same the rest of the game. Manuel’s comment after the game was, “I didn’t see it”. So much for managers backing their players.

RUMOR MILL:
There was a rumor floating around last week about the Indians trading Bartolo Colon to the Cincinnati Reds for Danny Graves and Juan Encarnacion, but Indians general manager Mark Shapiro killed last week when he said he had no intentions of trading the teams best pitcher.

Shapiro also said he was interested in Florida outfielder Clyff Floyd, but so are most other major league teams. Also the moved would not make sense for the Indians. They already have two power hitting lefties in their lineup in Jim Thome and Russell Branyan.

INJURIES:

Milton Bradley-(CF) Status: DL
Bradley was placed on the 15 day disabled list a week ago Thursday, after a ball broke his eye socket when he was trying to make a play on it in the outfield. Jolbert Cabrera has been called up to replace him from Triple A Buffalo. Cabrera was with the Indians most of last year and played six different positions with the team while filling in for the injured Kenny Lofton. He remained at the big league level for the remainder of the year.

Ellis Burks-(OF-DH) Status: Back in Action
Ellis returned to the lineup Wednesday, after missing a week with a strained hamstring. Since returning Ellis is a combined 3-12, with two RBI, and two runs. While playing DH he should be ok, but that is just the problem, because in a little less than a month the Indians will go on a NL road trip where they will not be able to use the DH. As of right now Ellis couldn’t play the outfield but I will keep you posted, as we get closer to the NL road swing.

Matt Lawton-(RF) Status: Playing with Pain
Lawton has been playing with a separated right shoulder for over a week now and it seems to be getting worse. Lawton doesn’t seem to be troubled at the plate but his outfield play has been hampered greatly. Last night was a prime example when he couldn’t make the throw home and a blooper off the bat of Joe Randa, which allowed two runs to score. He will continue to play, as manager Charlie Manuel has made no indications of sitting him.

Travis Fryman-(3B) Status: Playing with Pain
Fryman has been nursing a sore groin and has been given days off by Manuel whenever possible but, the pain isn’t bad enough for him to see the DL. This year Fryman has been hitting horribly against right handed pitching, .098, and not much better overall, .205.

ON THE FARM:

Earl Snyder was sent back down to the minors after a brief stint with the big club while batting .188 with no RBI, no homers, and only one run scored. He will be playing 1B, 3B, and outfield while in the minors, but look for him to get called up if Travis Fryman goes on the DL, or is groin gets worse. Snyder has potential 30HR power, but didn’t do much in his brief stint with the Indians.

Relief pitcher Alex Herrera was called up, but should be sent back down once Ricardo Rincon is back from his personal business. The Indians need a left-handed reliever while Rincon was away.

QUICK VIEW:

Add:

Russell Branyan-3B/OF (new) If you can afford a hit in the average department but need power he will do the job. In a three game series with Baltimore he hit a homer in every game, giving him eight on the year.
Omar Vizquel-SS (new) He leads the team in average at .325, and steals with six. He also has an unexpected but pleasant 4 HR, and 18 RBI.
Danys Baez-SP (new) In his last four starts he has given up only seven runs and is 2-2 with one of the loses a tough luck lost. He only gave up three runs through seven innings.

Drop:

Brady Anderson-OF (new) Hitting .190 with one HR and only 5 RBI, and isn’t even playing everyday.
Travis Fryman-3B (new) He is playing hurt and hitting only .205.
Ricky Gutierrez-2B (new) No stolen bases at a position you need them, and only seven RBI.

Hold:

Bartolo Colon-SP(new) No explanation needed…I hope?
C.C. Sabathia-SP (new) He has nowhere to go but up and expect him to do so.
Jim Thome-1B (new) Among league leaders in HR, and RBI.
Matt Lawton-OF (new) His shoulder hasn’t effected his hitting.
Bob Wickman-RP (new) Solid for 35 saves plus.
Ellis Burks-OF (new) See how he does this week.