Archive for January, 2011

SportsTime Ohio was seen as a new, great way for Indians fans to watch their team. It would be Indians baseball 24/7 with games and analysis around the clock. The network has gone in a different direction since its inception in 2006. Looking at the Indians schedule this year I noticed something that angered me. Many of the Indians Wednesday and Thursday afternoon games aren’t on STO. The first one is May 12th against the Rays. As I looked through the schedule I noticed that there are a total of 7 games that will not be broadcasted on STO. Two [...]

Please don’t sue me, Adam Richman/Travel Channel. While the Indians aren’t making much offseason noise, here in Akron the Aeros are at least trying to grab the attention of the locals. The new Canal Park food director, Jason Kerton, is introducing a new signature food each month that will be sold at the home of the Indians AA club, and the offerings are not for the faint of heart (seriously). This is what I love about minor league baseball. In order to draw fans, the teams turn the game into a gimmick-filled experience that makes the game enjoyable for all [...]

I have waited far too long to say this. Congratulations Roberto Alomar. His long awaited call from Cooperstown finally came on January 5, 2011. Unfortunately, I think his wait was a year too long and that he should have headlined the class a year ago. My only qualm here is that the first ballot players are held in a little different standing than other hall of famers. Roberto Alomar should have been in that distinct class. Tim Kurkijen places him as the fifth best second baseman of all time and best since Joe Morgan retired. He was a key member [...]

The Indians town hall meeting was earlier today and the front office was there to answer questions from fans. I’m assuming that Dolan said nothing that offered any hope at all. On the other hand, Manny Acta and Chris Antoinetti most likely had a positive outlook on this season. As I recall from last years town hall meeting, Dolan was very excited about the new sushi option at the ballpark. This is the guy who runs a multi-million dollar company. I know many questions that I could have asked the team, but I am most curious about the answer to [...]

First, allow myself to tell you a little about, well, myself. I’m Jon Rudder,  a sophomore at Ye Old West Virginia University, where greatness is learned and couches are burned. I am the biggest oxymoron that you will come across, seriously. I grew up in eastern Ohio, go to school in West Virginia (I know, like you didn’t know West Virginia University was in West Virginia) and work (well, intern) in Pennsylvania. My two favorite sports are hockey and baseball. I love snow and the beach and hate school but love college. I played baseball as a kid and immediately [...]

Would the Indians consider trading Grady Sizemore or Fausto Carmona this offseason? Logic says ‘no,’ for a variety of reasons, but Yahoo! Sport’s Scoup du Jour is publicizing a rumor that the Indians have had conversations with the Washington Nationals about trading both. What I think is happening here is the Nationals made a check-in phone call about the players, and the Indians’ didn’t immediately say “no.” Therefore, it’s being reported like they’re busy hammering out a deal. This may very well happen, but until I see some names of players the Indians are interested in, I’m not buying it. [...]

The Indians have not had a solid player at third base since Casey Blake. And of course, with all talent the Indians possess over the age of 25, he was traded.  This trade was done to give International Leauge MVP Andy Marte time at third.  That did not work out too well. The most at bats he ever had in a season was 235 which he had in 2008. He only played in 80 games and ended up with a .221 average. He finally ran out of options with the Indians and is now in Pittsburgh. If he ever becomes decent, [...]

If you’re new, I’m going to make this real simple for you. The Cleveland Indians HATE arbitration. No, seriously. After signing OF Shin-Soo Choo, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, and relievers Chris Perez and Rafael Perez to one year deals between yesterday and today, the Indians have successfully avoided arbitration since 1991 (Jerry Browne and Greg Swindell). Choo ($3.975 million), C. Perez ($2.25 million), Cabrera ($2.025 million) and R. Perez ($1.33 million) join relievers Jensen Lewis ($650,000) and Joe Smith ($870,000, plus incentives) as the Indians’ arbitration-eligible players, and Lewis and Smith signed earlier this offseason. Now that everybody’s signed, the payroll [...]

I don’t know where to start. This is a common problem whenever I try and write something. I’ve learned several tricks to help work my way through; start from the middle, or what you know you want to write about, and fill in the rest later. It usually comes naturally after that. Or, try and get all the important info out of the way, and then work from there. But here, I think I’ll just start from the beginning, when I saw a Twitter post last January about a site needing an Indians blogger. “I love the Indians,” I thought. [...]