Let's Go Tribe!: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Headlines: BC Beats BU 4-3 in 58th Beanpot Championship

Unless Victor follows Sizemore to the DL, this must mean Hafner isn't coming back any time soon.

8 months ago Images_tiny odradek 57 comments 0 recs  | 

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I am very confused by this promotion…. .235 catcher coming up to replace Sizemore… I suppose that this only makes sense if Martinez will be going on the DL… Unless they plan on using Martinez as a strict DH and start Garko at first .. I am not very smart can someone explain this to me?

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Frankly, I worry that Victor’s knee will turn out worse than day-to-day. That was gruesome.

But yeah, if you think about it, Shoppach will replace Victor, and Giminez will replace Shoppach.

by fleerdon on May 31, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gimenez started off the season with a pretty wretched 0-fer. His May line is .289/.359/.542 – which is much more consistent with what he has done the past two seasons

by APV on May 31, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Plus he can lend at 1B, just like Vic the Stick.

"I gotta be honest, I dunno much about the climate in Japan." - Matt Underwood

by USSChoo on May 31, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

OKAY I guess Gimenez… can play the outfield too but Iguess they should have done this earlier and left Laporta up and he could have got regular at bats…

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

If Victor can play in a couple of days, then Gimenez will go down, and LaPorta will come up again. If Victor goes on the DL, then LaPorta will probably replace him.

by Ryan on May 31, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually, they could have called LaPorta up today to replace Sizemore on the DL, but they won’t be able to call him up in a couple of days just to replace the sent-down Gimenez.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 31, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It’s 10 days, though, right? So shouldn’t he be available by Thursday or Friday?

by APV on May 31, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’m assuming Victor will be sitting for at least 3-4 days, so by that time LaPorta can be recalled (I think it’s 10 days).

by Ryan on May 31, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

If my math is right:

Indians sent Laporta down on the 26th.

Today’s the 31st (5 days)

So if Victor doesn’t need to go on the DL, then LaPorta can be recalled on Friday (assuming Victor can go by then). If he goes on the DL, then LaPorta could be recalled immediately.

by Ryan on May 31, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That’s right, I just meant not in the next couple of days.

Do you really think they’ll recall him this quickly? I don’t. The Indians rarely send down a significant player for only a short stint.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 31, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sometimes I just question the timing of move lately

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

And I know you have to leave Laporta down for 15daysbut wouldnt this be the perfect opportunity to have him get everyday at bats

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

They can recall LaPorta now that there’s an injury.

by Ryan on May 31, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only thing I can think of is that Martinez is going to go on the DL

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

This really isn’t that hard to comprehend. Prior to the move, they had one able catcher on the MLB roster. Sure, Garko could catch in an emergency, but as of right now, they only had one player who could catch.

Also, with only three bench players, Gimenez adds versatility by being able to play the corner infield and outfield positions.

by TribeJay on May 31, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That makes sense thanks

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’ll also add that Gimenez was probably the last position player cut in spring training, and after an awful start at Columbus, his May line is .289/.359/.542

by TribeJay on May 31, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really want this kid to succeed and let’s be honest, he’s probably an Eric Wedge dream if he does.

"I gotta be honest, I dunno much about the climate in Japan." - Matt Underwood

by USSChoo on May 31, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yup. You hit the nail on the head.

I would think when Vic is able to don the tools of ignorance again (and that may be a little while) …. Gimenez will head back down.

by FallsTribeFan on May 31, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I bet Wedge doesn’t play him much in the OF because he seems obsessed with having a backup catcher ti sit on the bench at all times.

by odradek on May 31, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You know, some managers are really like this. We should count our blessings.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 31, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

????

Have you seen Victor play in the field this year while Shoppach catches?

;)

by TribeJay on Jun 1, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Of course. But once he has both catchers playing he’d never pinch run for Shoppach in a late inning. Heaven forbid he’d be down to one catcher for the final two innings of a game.

by odradek on Jun 1, 2009 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hadn’t realized you were serious. So what you’re saying is that, even though he frequently plays Martinez and Shoppach in the same game at the same time, often for nine innings, he wouldn’t play Giminez and Shoppach in the same game at the same time?

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 1, 2009 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’m semi-serious. No, I’m saying if he played both Giminez and Shoppach in the same game at the same time, he would be extremely reluctant to take either of them out of the lineup (and thus have only one available catcher), even in a late-inning and close situation where, say, a pinch-runner could significantly improve chances of winning. In other words, Garko really isn’t an emergency third catcher, and Wedge isn’t going to be flexible with his lineups.

by odradek on Jun 1, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I actually agree with this. Shoppach has been re-defined as a platoon or part-time starter, not just a backup. That explains the playing time. Also, Shoppach hasn’t played one single game at Victor’s expense (not that this is a criticism).

When Shoppach was a backup, he rotted on the bench. When Bard was the backup, he rotted on the bench to an almost comical degree. If Gimenez becomes the backup, he’ll probably rot, too.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 1, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You actually agree?

by odradek on Jun 1, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes. Meaning, though it may surprise some.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 1, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I get it. I am among that cohort.

by odradek on Jun 1, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And I got your writing tweak. Actually.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 2, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

or someone is getting traded

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but this is Grady’s first career DL stint.

by Ryan on May 31, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I believe so

by APV on May 31, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Think so, the sprained ankle didn’t send him to the DL and thats what ended his streak.

"I gotta be honest, I dunno much about the climate in Japan." - Matt Underwood

by USSChoo on May 31, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The stupid Yankees did that. I know they didn’t actually sprain his ankle but that’s who we were playing and so I blame them. Another reason to hate Yankees.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on May 31, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, but at least he took C.C. deep on his way out the door. You have to think of the DL stint as just rubbing it in — "Not only am I a lefty, taking a power lefty deep, but I was injured and probably shouldn’t have been playing at all."

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 1, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Grady’s first homer came off Zack Greinke, and his most recent came off Sabathia. That’s pretty good.

He’s also one of two current Indians to have homered off Matt Herges, which means nothing at all, really.

by FredOx on Jun 1, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I do love that that’s how he went out. With a bang.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on Jun 1, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes this is the first

by NCTRIB on May 31, 2009 11:40 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

reply button

by Voltaire on May 31, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

this seems about right.

As I said in one of the game recaps recently – the Indians need to stay within shouting distance in the AL Central until after the All-Star break and they need to do so with the parts already in place. With the possible exception of a DeRosa trade, the Indians aren’t in a position to acquire anyone to help. These injuries don’t change that, they just make it all that much harder. Also, by staying within shouting distance, I don’t just mean games back in the standing but also place in the division. The Indians might, amazingly, only be 7.5 games out of first, but they are still in last place. Which means not only do they have to play very well, but all four of the teams ahead of them have to play worse. Best case scenario for the next three weeks is we stay right around 7 games back but somehow leapfrog one or two of the teams ahead of us.

by APV on May 31, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Boooooo. We shall call this The Summer Of Roster Moves.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 31, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I know that there’s not much rational behind this thought and a lot of people are sounding more sympathetic than I am but:

I am not prepared to give Shapiro et. al. the benefit of the doubt because of injuries. If anything, I feel like these injuries are going to be the excuse that is used to wallpaper over the larger problems with the club and we’ll all go into next year expecting to walk away with the Central all over again. My patience is gone.

by NickFantana on May 31, 2009 12:40 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The real problem is still the pitching and the problems there are not primarily the result of injuries. I guess you could point to Westbrook being out, losing Lewis and Miller right away, and then having Reyes, Smith and Laffey go down. But, Westbrook they knew about and Miller and Reyes were ticking bombs. So, no, Shapiro shouldn’t get a free pass. He hasn’t assembled a strong pitching staff this year and he deserves criticism for that (and he’s more or less taken the blame for it, to his credit).

by peter m on May 31, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

With Grady and Victor banged up, there were only 10 healthy position players without this move. Eventually they will have to move out one of the pitchers.

by palcal on May 31, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I really wish they had done this earlier. Grady says this has been bothering him all season. I rely think in this case someone needed to like two weeks ago tell him to get over it and go to the DL. He is insane and that is how you deal with that kind of insanity. If I had any pull with Grady this is what I would have done.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on May 31, 2009 6:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

They didn’t learn from Victor last year, which is just plain too bad.

"I gotta be honest, I dunno much about the climate in Japan." - Matt Underwood

by USSChoo on May 31, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don’t buy this idea that Grady was too much of a he-man to go on the DL, and that they eventually had to restrain him and drag him off the field under sedation. No pro team is going to allow a player to play if they feel he is impaired or risks further damage. It’s not likely that Sizemore tells Soloff and Shapiro when he’s going to play.

Today Wedge compared Grady’s elbow to Victor’s last year. Remember how that started? No mention of Victor’s elbow, just a hamstring (or groin) injury. Then they start to talk about mild discomfort, then a public acknowledgment of the injury (while still concealing the extent of the damage). Then, after the surgery, there’s talk of all the loose bone fragments in his elbow, and boy, he must be pretty tough to play with his elbow shot all to hell. I think there’s a possibility Grady has a serious elbow problem, one that’s not going to go away after two weeks in a spa. Maybe the team is trying to see if they can work through the injury and avoid surgery that would lose him for the year.

The Indians have had a terrible record of reporting injuries. I know people here believe there is strategic value in concealing or obscuring injuries, that somehow this will lull the Tigers into keeping Dontrelle in their starting rotation or something. But this cloak-and-dagger stuff is more for marketing purposes.

Teams know Sizemore is hurt. Scouts talk about it. The Indians traditionally downplay every injury. “Day to day,” “he’ll be back in 15 days.” Scott Lewis has been out for, what, 45 games? If Laffey’s oblique injury is like others’ he won’t be back for a long time (a couple months?). And Joe Smith has been gone a while. And despite the team’s best efforts to spin Hafner’s injury, he’s been out for quite some time. Don’t expect Betancourt back anytime soon, and don’t be surprised if Grady doesn’t return for a long time. Victor may also miss real time. The Indians’ “minor” injuries rarely return when initially expected.

I think this is something to keep the fans interested.

by odradek on May 31, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Smith had his first rehab appearance at Columbus the other day.

by mcrose on May 31, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn’t really mean Grady was too “macho” to stop playing when they told him not to. I more meant that when someone is hurt they need to start putting them on the DL right away. I pretty much agree with everything you said but I really hope Grady’s elbow isn’t that bad. The thing is he has been getting better offensively so that gives me a little hope because Victor never got better offensively last year. I am hoping he is okay.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on May 31, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep, because no professional athlete has successfully played through an injury.

by world dictator on Jun 1, 2009 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is a little more serious than just an normal injury. You’ve seen Grady all year, tell me he’s playing through it well.

I become an expert simply by doing something.

by fwembt on Jun 1, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

All this tough-guy stuff is buncombe. Kirk Gibson and Curt Schilling, and the heroics of the injured athlete, who through force of will overcomes physical adversity, blah blah blah. I’ll take Grover Cleveland Alexander coming in with a hangover to face Tony Lazzeri.

Remember Hafner last year, grounding out to second over and over? Unable to hit the ball in the air or out of the infield? That’s playing through an injury. Dizzy Dean is playing through an injury.

by odradek on Jun 1, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Some injuries they can play through. I ma fine with playing him at the beginning of the season but after like a month when it still wasn’t getting better and in fact getting worse they should have sat him.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on Jun 1, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Constantly updated Indians news, lots of in-depth analysis, live in-game discussions — and more fanatical and thoughtful Indians fans than every other web site combined.
Start posting about the Indians »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

39135485-59af19dbb26654095f910f34176af094_4ae8a81e-scaled_small
Predictions Group
Small
I think we found our utility infielder
Small
Baseball in Japan
3444ant_black_small
Spring Training Trips
Hans_small
Trade Peralta?
3444ant_black_small
Beware the year of the Ox
Bos-fod_small
award-winning independent baseball documentary released
Calavera_small
Create your own 2010 BA Top Ten list (then sign Grady to an extension)
Img_0108_small
Jason Grilli Signs Minor League Deal?
Mariahcareyglitter_medium_medium_small
2009 AL Central Off-Season Transactions and Rumors

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Featured Poll

Poll
Who would you like to see hired to manage the Cleveland Indians?
Bobby Valentine
106 votes
Travis Fryman
41 votes
Manny Acta
113 votes
Don Mattingly
78 votes
Torey Lovullo
30 votes
Other
51 votes

419 votes | Poll has closed

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Lee has Foot Surgery
Jamey Wright Signed to Minor League Deal
2010 Cleveland Indians draft preview
Jim Ingraham Angers You.
BP Calls John Hart One of the, STRIKE THAT, BEST GMs of the 90s
Sizemore Addresses Offseason
Can we reach 1,000 on a post about Adam Kennedy?
"At this time, we're looking to make the biggest impact possible on the...
Casey Blake shaved his beard
ICBWDSTGFO550K

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

Sweet Baboo

Sweet Baboo, now with glitter


Managers

427px-nap_lajoie_1913_small Ryan

Dosequisman_small Jay

Authors

3444ant_black_small APV

47b8dd28b3127cceb64839d9746800000026102bauwjrq3za_small afh4