It's Tribe Time (2010 Indians)

[CatKnight]

petrel: An underground stadium could be fun!
*******

July 14, 2010

Needless to say there would be no All Star Game. America watched Oakland and San Francisco crawl out of the rubble. Not that many killed, thankfully, but it would take months if not years to clean up the damage.

For now the two teams are taking over stadiums in cities who have expressed interest in having a Major League team. The Athletics will play out of PGE Park in Portland, Oregon while the Giants will finish the season in Las Vegas' Cashman Field.

San Francisco ownership has stated that, one way or the other, they'll be back. Athletics' officials have been quiet on the question, stating only that they'll see how things look when the rubble clears.

After the first day or two, the steroid 'plague' seemed to die down. A handful of people were permanently mutated, but not as many as one would expect. A large number more suffered various ailments over the next few weeks. The Indians got off relatively lucky.

Phillies pitcher Jaime Moyer seemed to have the opposite happen. The 47 year old seemed invigorated and came out of the All Star break pitching like a man ten years younger. No one's quite sure whose idea it was, but Philadelphia announced that they signed Moyer to a twelve year contract. Moyer takes a substantial paycut - $2 million per - but he's guaranteed a job so long as he wants it. The terms include a no-trade clause in exchange for Moyer voiding his right to refuse minor league assignment.

This is an obvious play on Satchel Paige's longevity record. We'll see if Moyer really wants to pitch when he's 59.

We went home stunned by what was happening, but still hopeful about making a trade.

As of today, looking at our depth chart, our biggest strength should be second base. Asdrubal Cabrera (88/92) [24] is a perennial all star, and was our sole representative at the 'game.' Behind him are Valbuena (77/81) [24], Luis Rodriguez (or, as some are calling him since this began, L-Roid) (75) [30], and two kids in Rookie and A-ball who could be on the roster in a few years.

To make a long story short, I'm willing to trade Cabrera. He is one of my better players, but when his $400K contract expires next year he will probably price himself out of my league. Valbuena might still suffice, and if he doesn't cut it there's still free agency.

My biggest weakness? Bullpen. I get a surprising number of decent offers - some of the better ones from in-division rivals I'd rather not give a very good second baseman to. I've narrowed it down to three, and I'd like you to make the call.

Trade Proposal

Cleveland to ???
2B Asdrubal Cabrera (88/92) [24] (.299 5-28) - $400K through 2011

for...

Colorado (44-45) (4.5 GB of San Diego, 3rd in NL West)
* Matt Daley (82/83) [28] (4-0 2.39 ERA, 56K in 52.2 IP) - $400K through 2011 <Used as a short-reliever currently>
* Casey Weathers (75/85) [24] (AA-Tulsa) - Minor League Contract

or

Toronto (44-45) (7.5 GB of Tampa, 4th in AL East)
* Josh Roenicke (81/85) [27] (1-1 2.16 ERA, 48K in 41.2 IP) - $400K through 2011 <Short reliever>
* Daniel Farquhar (75/81) [23] (AA-New Hampshire) - Minor League Contract

(Two very similar offers. Colorado's is slightly better, but their players are slightly older as well. I'm not as worried about paying for Daley/Roenicke's renewal in 2011 as I would be Cabrera's)

or

ChiCubs (48-41) (5.5 GB of St. Louis, 2nd in NL Central) (0.5 GA of NY Mets, 1st in NL Wildcard)
* Carlos Marmol (88) [27] (4-4 2.16 ERA, 23 SV, 55K in 41.2 IP) - $2.1M through 2010 <Closer>
* Jeff Stevens (76/84) [26] (0-0 1.13 ERA, 13K in 8 IP) - $400K through 2011 <Short Reliever>
* Jeff Gray (66/68) [28] (0-1 3.86 ERA, 7 IP) - Minor League Contract through 2011, currently in AAA

(Here Gray's a non-factor. Even so, Marmol and Stevens are the best pair of the three. I'm nervous that Marmol's contract is up this year however and he might price himself out of my league... though at the moment I have money. On the other hand, Stevens has already proven himself in limited appearances as a 2nd reliver, while Weathers and Farquhar are question marks.)

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

If you're insistent on trading him, I'd take the Chicago offer. If not, I'd stand pat and see if you can get something better for him in the off-season or closer to the deadline or even next deadline.

[Big PLAYZ]

I like how you write. Simple, yet creative. I've been really enjoying reading it. Great stuff on the steroids too, made me laugh quite a bit.

You've got me wanting to make my own dynasty story if I can find the time haha.

On the trade though, I agree with YEAH DAAAWG, go with the Chicago trade or hold off for a bit longer. Marmol can be a bit wild at times but he's a strong relief pitcher and he's only 27 and Jeff Stevens looks like a reliable arm you can add to the bullpen. Gray is just... a career minor leaguer.

[CatKnight]

YEAH DAWWWG: Thanks!

Big PLAYZ: Glad you're enjoying it. Usually my writing's a bit more complex.

I had fun with the 'steroid' post. It's a variant on an old theme of mine: In almost all my dynasties I've found a way to kill off Bonds.
*******

With lineups and rotations thrown into chaos by the rash of mutations and other illnesses infecting Major League Baseball, most teams' lineups were thrown into chaos. It was a temporary problem however, with most people back within a week and everyone by September.

Meanwhile, we chose to take a chance and accept Chicago's offer. You may say I moved too soon on Cabrera, and you may be right...but Branch Rickey allegedly said it was better to trade a player too soon than too late. God knows what will happen in the next year. Cabrera could be injured or tank. Marmol's contract negotiation this autumn could make my life interesting, but we'll see how it pans out.

*******

July 16, 2010

Tigers 12 - Indians 2
WP: Zach Miner (4-2), LP: Alex White (1-2)
HR: (DET) Miguel Cabrera (19), Wilkin Ramirez (1), Clete Thomas (8)

Former Cubs Marmol and Stevens let us know why Chicago was willing to deal. (Combined 5 ER, 0.1 IP). They're going to fit right in here.


July 17

Tigers 4 - Indians 2
WP: Max Scherzer (7-7), LP: T.J. House (2-1), SV: Jose Valverde (17)

We lose Peralta at short for about a week. The good news is Russell Branyan (.141 3-6) is ready to rejoin the team.

Yes, that's the good news.


July 18

Tigers 1 - Indians 12
WP: Nick Hagadone (2-4), LP: Rick Porcello (2-5)
HR: (DET) Brennan Boesch (1), (CLE) Carlos Santana (4), Luis Valbuena (2), Michael Brantley (4), Jordan Brown (9)

Brown hits a grand slam, while Brantley goes 4 for 5 and misses the cycle by a triple. Now if we could just borrow some of those runs for other games...

*******

Thoughts:

Since I haven't posted for a few days, I thought I'd remind you of this year's general theme: We suck.

*******

Cleveland Indians (33-59)
Fifth Place, 16.5 GB of Detroit

*******

July 19

Indians 4 - Twins 3
WP: Justin Masterson (6-8), LP: Francisco Liriano (2-8), SV: Chris Perez (16)
HR: (MIN) Jacque Jones (6)

A pretty good game: We score 4 in the second thanks to Choo and Brown, then our bullpen (Perez and Marmol) keeps us ahead.


July 20

Indians 3 - Twins 9
WP: Scott Baker (9-4), LP: Fausto Carmona (4-9), SV: Clay Condrey (3)
HR: (MIN) Joe Mauer (16), Justin Morneau (16), Orlando Hudson (4)

The other pitchers I can forgive as rookies or nearly so. Carmona...79 overall or not, Carmona's really getting on my nerves.


July 21

Indians 2 - Twins 5
WP: Kevin Slowey (6-4), LP: Alex White (1-3), SV: Pat Neshek (10)
HR: (MIN) Joe Mauer (17), Delmon Young (6)

I think I just need to accept that my rookie 'dream team' pitchers are going to use the rest of this year to get all the 'really bad' out of their system. At least I hope that's the plan.

*******

Thoughts:

Andy Marte (.264 4-21) will be back in six days. I never thought I'd be happy to see him, but I could use the extra infielder. Grady Sizemore (.266 11-38) comes back in twelve days. Sizemore still leads the team in stolen bases and is only two off the pace in home runs. We've made all our trades for the year unless the other GMs think of something beneficial in the next few days. We're just playing for honor now, and hopefully to lose less than 100 games.

*******

Cleveland Indians (34-61)
Fifth Place, 16.5 GB of Detroit

[OldYankFan]

Cat,
Always good to read your stuff.
I do miss some of the plot heavy stories you've done so well in the past.

Can you give us an update on some of the players the Tribe has jetisened this season?

[petrel]

The thread definitely needs to be bumped.

[CatKnight]

OldYankFan: Good to see you chum. Let's take a quick look at who's gone. (Stats through August 1)

1B Travis Hafner is on the Yanks DL for another six days. He's seen very limited action going 2 for 9 in 11 games. He has an OPS of 1.031 however, since those two hits are a double and homer.

SP Jake Westbrook was traded to the Dodgers on June 8. On the season (combined) he's 4-3 with a 5.86 ERA. He's currently enjoying life in AAA.

The Yanks stuffed C Mike Redmond in AAA, and there he's stayed. He's not doing badly there however with a .289 BA.

2Bs Tony Graffanino and Mark Grudzielanek retired the day I released them as did LF Gary Sheffield.

SPs Paul Byrd and Pedro Martinez are still free agents. With OVRs in the 60s however, I expect their careers are over.

After joining the Cubs, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera is batting .298 with 2 HR and 12 RBI - all marked improvements from his time here before I traded him.

petrel: Thanks

[CatKnight]

We have an off-day. This is good, as not only am I waiting for Marte (among others) to come back, but LaPorta and Peralta have some minor injuries to get out of their system. For those keeping track at home, this puts Chris Giminez at 1B and Jason Donald at SS.

The Kansas City Royals decide they want Shin-Soo Choo (83) [28] (.299 8-43) and are willing to give me two pitchers who have yet to see a day in the Majors. I have Choo locked up at league minimum for four years. On behalf of Choo, you can shoo.

*******

July 23, 2010
Rays 2 - Indians 3
WP: Carlos Marmol (5-4), LP: Grant Balfour (3-4), SV: Chris Perez (17)
HR: (CLE) Carlos Santana (5)

A very solid performance across the board. Marmol gets the win because it isn't until the eighth inning when Buscher and Donald bring home two runs. T.J. House (7 IP 2 R 0 ER) allowed only two hits while the bullpen gave up just one more.

July 24
Rays 0 - Indians 1
WP: Nick Hagadone (3-4), LP: Wade Davis (9-3), SV: Chris Perez (18)

Whoa! Santana's first inning sac fly scores leadoff hitter Michael Brantley and that's all we need. Hagadone struck out ten but left after seven innings... and 129 pitches.

July 25
Rays 2 - Indians 4
WP: Jensen Lewis (2-2), LP: Jake McGee (0-2), SV: Chris Perez (19)
HR: (CLE) Carlos Santana (6)

Perez earns his third save in three days lowering his ERA to 3.38. Santana goes 2 for 4 with 2 runs, while Donald anchors the bottom third of the lineup with a 3 for 3 performance.

*******

Now the Mariners want to know if I want two pitchers-who-have-never-played for Russell Branyan (79) [34] (.157 3-6). This is a closer call than KC's offer since Branyan's having a bad year, is aging, and at the end of his contract in the bargain. Hm. Ultimately their respective health decides it: Seattle's rookies are both average (75), while Branyan's fallen to 64. I think I'm going to take Branch Rickey's advice about 'better to trade too soon than too late.' I should have LaPorta next year, and if push comes to shove I can look for somebody in free agency. The two pitchers are nobodies who will never anchor my rotation or bullpen, but they're cheap nobodies so it won't hurt to let them try and develop.

Cleveland to Seattle
1B/DH Russell Branyan (as above)

Seattle to Cleveland
SP Steven Hensley (6878) [23] (8-11 4.79 in AA)
RP Josh Fields (64/74) [24] (3-2 3.22 18 SV in AA)
$500K

Andy Marte returns to our 25 man roster. He's not quite ready to play, but two games on the bench won't hurt him.

*******

July 26
Yankees 2 - Indians 6
WP: Fausto Carmona (5-9), LP: Javier Vazquez (7-5)
HR: (NYY) Mark Teixeira (15)

Deprived of A- "Lizardman" Roid, the Yankee offense really can't get it going. Peralta returns to the lineup and goes 3 for 4 while Valbuena goes 3 for 5.

July 27
Yankees 4 - Indians 3
WP: A.J. Burnett (7-6), LP: Alex White (1-4), SV: David Robertson (6)
HR: (NYY) Mark Teixeira (16), (CLE) Carlos Santana (7), Matt LaPorta (14), Shin-Soo Choo (9)

Well, our streak had to end sooner or later. Three solo homers aren't enough as my rookie pitcher struggles...then gets hurt. (Un)fortunately it's not really enough to warrant a trip to the DL, so he'll sit there like a dead weight in the heart of my rotation while missing two starts.

July 28
Yankees 8 - Indians 9
WP: Jeff Stevens (1-0), LP: Alfredo Aceves (3-4)
HR: (NYY) Mark Teixeira (17), Randy Winn (9)

Teixeira hits his third homer in three games. We meanwhile put together a very ugly performance with six double plays and three errors. Fortunately the Yanks hit into six double plays as well, and Andy Pettite (0 IP 4 H 2 BB 3 ER) is simply awful. A ninth inning RBI single by Peralta leaves us the last team standing.

July 29
Yankees 5 - Indians 1
WP: C.C. "Traitor" Sabathia (10-6), LP: Nick Hagadone (3-5)
HR: (NYY) Nick Swisher (20), (CLE) Jhonny Peralta (4)

What do you mean that's not his nickname?

*******

Atlanta: Would you like two pitchers who have never seen time in the Majors for Choo?

Me: KC put you up to this didn't they?

*******

Marte's back! Except...Manny Acta doesn't want him. Brian Buscher (.253 2-18) wins his bid to be our starting 3B for the forseeable future.

*******

July 30
Indians 4 - Blue Jays 8
WP: Mark Rzepczynski (5-4), LP: Justin Masterson (6-9), SV: Jason Frasor (25)

I wonder if Poles and Slavs need to go back and forth three or four times to make sure they're spelling English names right.

July 31
Indians 3 - Blue Jays 2
WP: Carlos Marmol (6-4), LP: Scott Downs (3-2), SV: Chris Perez (20)

Right. Baseball. Carmona gives us 7 good innings but allows the Jays to tie it up in the eighth. Peralta once more gets a ninth inning single to bring home the winning run.

August 1
Indians 8 - Blue Jays 12
WP: Ricky Romero (8-4), LP: Jensen Lewis (2-3), SV: Jason Frasor (26)

We score three in the first. They score six. We try again and score three more in the third. They score five. In layman's terms I believe this is called "getting smacked around." Bright spots? Santana goes 3 for 5 - all doubles - scoring two runs and three RBI.

So where does that leave us? Right.

*******

Cleveland Indians (40-65)
Fifth Place, 14 GB of Detroit

[AthleticsFan2k8]

petrel: An underground stadium could be fun!
*******

July 14, 2010

Needless to say there would be no All Star Game. America watched Oakland and San Francisco crawl out of the rubble. Not that many killed, thankfully, but it would take months if not years to clean up the damage.

For now the two teams are taking over stadiums in cities who have expressed interest in having a Major League team. The Athletics will play out of PGE Park in Portland, Oregon while the Giants will finish the season in Las Vegas' Cashman Field.

San Francisco ownership has stated that, one way or the other, they'll be back. Athletics' officials have been quiet on the question, stating only that they'll see how things look when the rubble clears.

Well as i say that both cities in the bay area did crawled out of the rubble but for next season here's my plans

San Francisco Giants: Keep Playing AT&T Park next season and on.
Oakland Athletics: Don't Play in the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (because it is destroyed) and move to the team to Alameda, CA (because where i live) and build a new stadium and call it the Alameda Athletics or keep the way it is.