Archive for October, 2009

This is per ESPN…and is definitely scary news for me to deal with today. Not long after I decided to like Torey Lovullo, this happens. I can’t see this being the big splash that Cleveland wanted and needed. Hopefully, Acta can prove me wrong. Acta hasn’t tasted winning in quite some time, and I don’t know how long it will take him to do that in Cleveland. On the positive side, he is young and can relate to the players. I am hoping that can translate into a positive clubhouse, similar to what Jim Tracy pulled off in Denver. I [...]

If it is broke, you fix it. Right now, the Indians must decide whether the parent club in Cleveland is broken, or if the system as a whole is flawed. For a while, I thought the latter. I thought the development of players was slow and unfulfilling compared to clubs we aspired to be like. I thought the club lacked those big name coaches. Even while attending games for the Bisons (at the time, Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate), I noticed something lacking…aside from offense. However, after talking with people closer to Torey Lovullo and the way he works, I am thinking [...]

Ooh, ahh! Mark Shapiro seems to have at least one more unnamed candidate after Angels Bench Coach Ron Roenicke was allowed to speak with the Indians’ front office. Nothing against Roenicke, because he has certainly been a part of something great in Anaheim…err…Los Angeles…nope, Anaheim. He has served as Mike Scioscia’s ”right-hand-man” for the past three seasons. He is currently in his ninth year with the Angels staff altogether. Here’s the problem: experience. Roenicke hasn’t managed since 1999, and that was in the minors. He has compiled a promising 346-283 record in five seasons, but that was all in the lower [...]

The cat seems to be out of the bag that current television studio analyst Bobby Valentine is a candidate for the vacancy in Cleveland. I will quickly say that I think this is terrific news. Bobby Valentine is the type of person who can inspire some fire in an organization that desperately needs it. A quick look back on his track record is also uplifting. Valentine last managed in the bigs (in American) from 1996 to 2002 as skipper of the New York Mets. Despite the infamous fake moustache/clubhouse attendant look, he guided the Mets to great times. The team [...]

Manny Acta has confirmed the informal phone interview with GM Mark Shapiro and Assistant GM Chris Antonetti. I don’t mean to sound pessemistic right off the bat, but how is this a step in the right direction? Cleveland is taking the “fresh start” approach by the trades of the previous season. They cleaned house enough with the players, and are in the process of doing the same with the field staff. Eric Wedge is done in Cleveland. And now…Manny Acta is the solution? Maybe it is unfair to judge him for being manager of the Washington Nationals. Could anyone win [...]

Not that this comes as a big surprise, but John Farrell has eliminated himself from contention for Cleveland’s managerial position. Farrell stated that he will honor his commitment as Boston’s pitching coach through the 2010 season, as his contract states. Farrell and his father both played in Cleveland for the Tribe. Farrell pitched for the Indians and served as farm director after his playing career. General Manager Mark Shaprio never confirmed that Farrell was on the list of candidates to be contacted by phone. However, Shapiro said he would like to name a manager at the conclusion of the World [...]

After playing the final games of the season favoring an aching left hip and a hyperextended left toe, Matt LaPorta is finally good to go…well, sort of. LaPorta had surgery in Vail, Colorado on Tuesday to patch up the two issues, but will need between four and six months to rehabilitate. LaPorta is expected to be a regular in the Indians lineup, especially after finishing the 2009 season on a positive note for what was otherwise, a negative situation. He batted .273 with 6 home runs, 12 doubles, and 17 RBIs in 39 games. However, his season ended a few [...]

Timely hitting and great pitching proved to be the undoing for the scrappy Minnesota Twins. Despite playing the Yankees close in most facets of the game, Joe Girardi’s bunch proved to be clutch at the plate. Alex Rodriguez momentarily has thrown the monkey off his back and to the floor. Mark Teixeira has also shown he is worth the price the Yankees paid for him. Between the game 2 and 3 heroics for both of them, the Yankees are in the ALCS for the first time since 2004. That is an eternity for Yankee fans, who enjoyed ALCS appearances every [...]

Partially because they played first today, and mostly because they took care of business in the late innings, the Los Angeles Angels advanced to the ALCS for the first time since 2005. That season, the Chicago White Sox ousted them in five games, en route to winning their first world championship in ages. Trailing 5-1 at one point, the Angels rallied to cut the deficit one, before Jacoby Ellsbury scored an insurance run for the Red Sox in the 8th.  Jonathon Papelbon came in with 2 outs in the top of the eighth, poised to get the Red Sox into [...]

Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro is narrowing his list of managerial candidates as we speak. Shapiro said he prefers a list of eight to twelve candidates, although several names have been thrown around by fans and media alike. Former Tribe Manager Mike Hargrove is a popular choice among fans, simply for his ability to turn the Indians fortunes around already. Hargrove managed the Indians during their hey-day in the 1990′s, and led Cleveland to two American League Championships (1995 and 1997). Torey Lovullo finished the past season managing Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate Columbus, with minimal success. However, double-A affiliate Akron [...]