August 1-4, 2011

Fenway Park

Scouting Report

• Cleveland – The struggles continue. It could have been a lot worse. It SHOULD have been a lot worse. The Indians dropped two of three to the Royals and barely escaped with a 5-2 victory on Saturday night. The Indians continue to make mistakes that playoff teams should not make. Base running errors, lack of production with runners in scoring position were key yet again in the series against the Royals. In the first inning of Sunday’s loss to the Royals, Asdrubal Cabrera was picked off TWICE. The first time he lucked out when Carlos Santana was granted time. One would think that would make Asdrubal a bit more weary. Duffy throws right back over and nabs Cabrera again. Bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded? NADA. Three pitches, three strikes: good morning, good afternoon, good night for Lou Marson. Bottom of the third? Brantley leads it off with a lead-off single. Picked off. Playoff teams don’t run themselves out of innings, especially when they are struggling to score runs such as the Indians. They have lost eight out of their last ten and have struggled mightily on offense. The Tribe has their work cut out for them against the AL East leading Red Sox to kick off the week.

• Boston – The Red Sox are feeling good as the trade deadline comes to a close and they embark on the second half of the season. they feel even better that they sit atop the American League East and the Yankee’s didn’t further bolster their lineup at the deadline. Boston’s pitching has really stepped up after the losses of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. It was revealed today that Buchholz is most likely done for the year, which likely prompted the trade for Bedard yesterday.  When Buchholz is on he’s got dominating stuff, and having him out of the rotation definitely hurts Boston. Adrian Gonzalez has been money for the Red Sox all season and continues to make Theo Epstein look good by making the move. Carl Crawford was beginning to heat up as the weather did in Boston, before going down with an injury that forced him to miss a significant amount of time. But he’s back in the lineup now and has found a home in the number 6 spot in the lineup and he appears to have become comfortable with it. (more…)

Victor was an icon with Cleveland; a true leader for the Tribe. The Big Chief (sorry Eric Wedge) if you will…but it is tough. I respected Cliff Lee, and was greatful when he won the Cy Young. His great 2005 season earlier in his career was derailed by serious arm issues, and the guy simply responded with the Cy  in 2008…after the trading of CC to Milwaukee. As tough as losing Lee to Philly was, Victor’s departure stings much more.

Nothing against Ryan Garko, but he is no Victor, much less Cliff Lee. He was a nice fixture at The Jake (yeah, I said it), but not exactly the fan favorite that a Grady Sizemore…or Victor…is and was. 

This trade deadline was tough for all Indian fans. Sure, the new faces offer some hope, which has been a problem recently looking at the gate for Progressive Field. However, new faces and prospects aside, Victor Martinez in a Red Sox uniform sickens me.

I would rather see him play in New York…honestly. And by New York, I mean with the Yankees. Boston is the team that ruined our 2007 World Series hopes, and dismantled us in 1999 after a 2-0 ALDS lead was claimed by the Indians. I understand the Yankees were a fierce rival for the old Indians’ era, with good teams that is, but the younger generation can forget that after the dominating Tribe teams of the 1990′s.

At least the Yankees act like they have won before, which they have, quite often. When Boston wins the series, they simply make themselves look like idiots. I guess Johnny Damon was on to something, eh? The fans insist on flipping cars and burning them. You would think that in 2007, after crushing our hearts, and those of Rockies’ (a team I enjoy following in the NL) fans, they would be used to the whole ‘winning’ thing. Now, the crab-eaters feel as though their right is to win the series every year, where at least the Yankee fans can justify the same claim with a much higher number of titles.

I am not completely sure on where I am going with this, other than I hate the Red Sox and it is a true shame to see Victor Martinez representing that club. I am, however, glad he gets his shot at playing for a contender. He does deserve that. Good luck Victor!

Victor Martinez heads to Boston where he will be gone, but not forgotten in the hearts of Indians' fans.

Before Friday’s trade deadline hit, the Indians made one more significant move to bolster their pitching for the future. Unfortunately, Victor Martinez bobblehead night on Saturday will certainly take an emotional toll on fans in Cleveland.

Mark Shapiro fired one more shot into the air during a frenzy-filled trade week…or month. Victor Martinez was sent packing to Boston for Justin Masterson, Bryan Price, and Nick Hagadone. Hagadone and Price come in as the Class A prospects, while Masterson moves over directly from Boston.

Hagadone, a twenty-three year old lefty pitcher, stands at a rather large 6-5, 230 pounds. In ten games, he sports a 0-2 record, but a 2.52 ERA and a miniscule .152 batting average against. Despite pitching only 25 innings, he has struck out 32 batters while walking only 14, to go along with only 13 hits given up on the season. In his first full season (2007) with the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League, Hagadone tossed 23 consecutive scoreless innings after a rough start. During this stretch, batters hit .103 off of him, with just one extra base hit. This stretch lasted over a month, and contributed greatly to his 1.85 season ERA and his 12.2 K/9 IP ratio.

Bryan Price is a 6-4, 210 pound right-hander from the Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League. He currently sports a 4-8 record, 4.67 ERA, and a .260 BAA. Price has struck out 97 hitters against just 31 walks over 96 1/3 innings. He began the season in Greenville of the South Atlantic League before moving up to Salem where he has gone just 1-6 with a 6.54 ERA.

Justin Masterson is the lone major leaguer of the trio and can certainly provide immediate relief to the Cleveland bullpen. He is a twenty-four year old righty who stands at 6-6, 250. A 3-3 record and 4.50 ERA certainly don’t jump off the page, but neither do the numbers from anyone else currently residing beyond the outfield fence at Progressive Field. Masterson has given up 72 hits in exactly 72 innings with the Red Sox this season, and has whiffed 67 batters against 25 walks. He has been somewhat shaky this season, but could fill one of several voids on the Indian pitching staff.

In losing Martinez, the Indians lose a clubhouse leader, a general on the field, and a great teammate. Victor has played significant time at catcher and first base, and was the team’s lone representative at the All-Star Game this year in St. Louis. The 30-year old Martinez also served as a mentor to the team’s Latin American players, and acted as a captain throughout his time with the Indians.

The Indians continue to become younger, and more small-market, with these moves. However, will they become more competitive? The team seems to be headed for a time period with inexperienced, but high-ceiling pitching talent and young hitting talent, albeit, established hitting talent.