Training Camp Invites

LaPorta
Brantley (article says he'll play some 1B, interesting)
Huff
Edell (why haven't I heard much about this guy?)
Hodges
Head
Mills
Brown
Aubrey (already announced)

about 3 years ago Ryan Kelsey 46 comments 0 recs |

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clearly Shapiro is not excited about Ryan Garko and it sounds like if one of these guys shows they don’t need to be in AAA, he’ll find a way to get them on the field in Cleveland

by APV on Jan 15, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions

That and we have a lot AAA 1B prospects.

by world dictator on Jan 15, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think Brown or Aubrey really count as prospects

by APV on Jan 15, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

certainly not Aubrey. I’ll give Brown the year to try to reestablish himself. He only just turned 25 and last year was his first time struggling. Certainly his ceiling isn’t great, but I think he has a chance to be a major league contributor.

Still, prospect status doesn’t seem to be why they selected all the 1B guys to go to spring training. Is it to motivate Garko? Something more practical (is there a reason you need a bunch of first base types during drills? I can see wanting extra catchers, but I don’t know why 1B)… oh well.

by Ryan Kelsey on Jan 15, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

I have been slow to throw in the towel on Brown, but his power numbers in 2007 were very poor, considering he was a 23-year-old first baseman in Double-A. Last year was not his first year struggling, he came in already in need of a bit of a bounce-back season, and it definitely did not happen. He is 5% prospect and 95% suspect at this point.

by Jay on Jan 15, 2009 7:02 PM EST up reply actions

You might be on to something here. http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090114&content_id=3744326&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

by Ryan Kelsey on Jan 15, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

ugh….all that talk about runs batting in makes my eyes ache.

by hans on Jan 15, 2009 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.

—Rogers Hornsby

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 15, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions 6 recs

rec

by Ryan Kelsey on Jan 15, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

I’m really starting to get antsy. Paul’s got a countdown clock to pitchers and catchers reporting over at the DiaTribe.

by APV on Jan 15, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

His is off by two days compared to the one on the Indians official site. Usually I trust the DiaTriber, but in this case I’m going with the team’s calculation based on pure want.

by PatBordersHelmet on Jan 15, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll get the IT department on that immediately.

by The DiaTriber on Jan 15, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

I have this on my facebook quotes

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Jan 15, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

I just added it to mine

by Ryan Kelsey on Jan 15, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

I hate quotes, but this is an inspirational quote.

by joeee on Jan 15, 2009 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

Hate is too strong, I am skeptical of excessive quote-love. But anyway, that quote captures obsessive determination in a really awesome way.

by joeee on Jan 15, 2009 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

It makes me think of that poor sap from last year’s STO commercials.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 16, 2009 8:18 AM EST up reply actions

That was such a great ad. We were all that poor sap.

by SuddenSam on Jan 16, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

Here’s the guys they are bringing in from outside the organization on minor league deals to ST:

Aquino- RHP
Saarloos- RHP
Ohka- RHP
Damaso Espino- C
Andy Cannizaro- IF
Jesus Merchan- IF
Wilson Valdez- IF
.

by Ryan Kelsey on Jan 15, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions

Without meaning to incite religious turmoil…I’m rooting for Jesus. He’s had a good winterball season.

by APV on Jan 15, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

seems like he’s put together a couple nice little seasons thanks to high BA. How’s his glove supposed to be?

by Ryan Kelsey on Jan 15, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

imagine the photoshop possibilities if he gets a mid-season callup.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Jan 15, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

oh yes

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Jan 15, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

But can he hit a curveball?

by cleveland teamer on Jan 15, 2009 10:57 PM EST up reply actions

Are you saying Jesus Christ couldn’t hit a curveball?!?!

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Jan 16, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

Jesus was the Franklin Gutierrez of Nazareth… He made his own bats though, which is kind of cool.

by Logodaedalus on Jan 16, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

I’m going to start proactively rec’ing all of your posts.

by supermarioelia on Jan 16, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions

Even this one?

by Logodaedalus on Jan 16, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Sure, not like I’m paying by the rec here.

by supermarioelia on Jan 16, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

You’re flooding the market.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 16, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

not a problem for Jesus

by Logodaedalus on Jan 16, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions

So, just as a general rule, every punchline is Jesus now?

by NickFantana on Jan 19, 2009 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

…and Vinnie Chulk!

by PatBordersHelmet on Jan 15, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

I’m with you – who is Edell?

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Jan 15, 2009 3:10 PM EST reply actions

Edell is a not altogether uninteresting AA pitching prospect. He, along with Frank Herrmann and Kevin Dixon were the rotation constants for Akron last season. Edell isn’t over-powering, as evidenced by his pretty weak K-rates (16.5% K/PA last season), but he showed outstanding control last year (3.5% BB/PA) – right up there with Huff and Lewis in that category. Like Lewis, he’s prone to fly-balls, so home-runs could be a problem against better competition. He’s not young, but it’s conceivable he could show up in Cleveland sometime in the next few years in a Brian Slocum/Jason Stanford type role.

by APV on Jan 15, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions