Open Thread: July 28, 2009
Going on right now:
Cliff Lee is still a Cleveland Indian.
Hector Rondón starts for the Clippers tonight.
Andy Marte is with the team in LA.
UPDATE: Since it's been asked a few times, I thought I'd clear up Andy Marte's contractual status.
He's back on the 40-man (major league) roster now as well as the 25-man (active) roster. Just like last year, he's still out of options, so he can't be sent down to the minors without being removed from the 40-man roster, which would require his passing through waivers. Obviously, given his Triple-A numbers, he would not clear waivers this time.
If we keep him on the roster, he will finish the current season with 2 years and 105 days of service time, or thereabouts. That means that he's under club control (not eligible for free agency) until the end of the 2013 season — again, as long as he stays on the roster. It also means that Marte will not be eligible for arbitration at the end of the year, so he'll make a little over minimum salary in 2010. He will be eligible for arbitration starting with the 2011 season. [Jay]
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My parents may be at the Clippers game tonight. I know they’re going to some games this series.
If so I’ll be sure to convey my dad’s Rondón impressions.
I saw him pitch last Thursday in Columbus. He was pretty dominating; gave up a few hits but 1 run, 8 K’s and no walks. I’m not much of a scout so I can’t really say much about his pitches other than he topped out at 93/94 on the gun.
by Buckeye Brad on Jul 28, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I just tried to text my dad to see if he’s there… but I’m not sure he knows how to do texting.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Ed Price at FanHouse, who broke the Garko trade, has this:
Source: #Rays still working on getting C.Lee, V.Martinez from #Indians
can they get richer?
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
does anyone have a preference with all the rumors out there of trades which team they would like to trade with the most. considering what we could be getting or what has been rumored we are getting. I liked the dodgers offer of kershaw loney and some prospects and if jared weaver was in the angels offer with howie kendrick. i wouldnt mind that. Thoughts? sorry if this is not the appropriate place to ask this.
Though at this point with Phils/Jays going nowhere, and the Rays falling in the standings, I’m starting to think Cliff will go to Philly for Happ, Carrasco, etc.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t do Vic for Buchholz straight up though, and Boston apparently doesn’t want to augment a Buchholz deal.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions
well, Kelly is probably untouchable, but yeah, something like Buchholz, Bowden and another prospect (Reddick for example)
You think Kelly is more highly valued than Buchholz?
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
No, probably not, but he won’t be included in any deal involving Buchholz imo. Maybe I’m wrong though — perhaps they would consider him more untouchable than Buchholz, or maybe they’d include him in a trade package.
Oh, I didn’t mean in addition to Buchholz — I meant if they didn’t want to add to a Buchholz package, maybe we could do a Bowden and Kelly package (and Bard? Please please?) instead.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Although that package would really do some damage to Boston’s “white guys with Massachussetts-sounding names” reserves.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
who knows? I don’t want to come off as some kind of expert with inside information, but judging from most reports, they’re reluctant to deal Kelly and Bard (and Buchholz, but not as much it seems).
Oh, really? Haven’t heard anything about Kelly, but I got the impression Bard has been discussed in various trade possibilities.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
They plan on having Bard in their rotation, I assume?
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
I don’t think anyone is jumping out of their seats for Morrow, but he wouldn’t be a bad choice as the secondary pitcher in the deal.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly. I like Morrow as a second non center piece pitcher. Davis, Morrow, and a decent low level prospect or two would be an amazing trade. Even if Morrow doesn’t get his command fixed he could still pitch out of the pen. More importantly, getting a top ML ready prospect and a young pitcher with filthy stuff would be huge additions to our rotation. Not including the other prospect we’d get from Lee/Vic which ever is not sent to Tampa
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions
i guess I’m assuming the three way trade only includes Lee or Martinez..
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I get the impression that most of you are medium on Morrow. Just a few of us are pretty high on him
Steel Nick
unfortunately I think the Morrow trade is highly unlikely. The logisitics don’t make any sense.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Tonight’s lineup, via Castrovince:
SS Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B Luis Valbuena, RF Shin-Soo Choo, C Victor Martinez, 3B Jhonny Peralta, DH Travis Hafner, CF Ben Francisco, LF Chris Gimenez, 1B Andy Marte. LHP David Huff (5-4, 6.39).
Got excited for a minute, I live in Auckland
One day I'll get over to watch the Tribe play
by new zealand tribe fan on Jul 28, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I thought about just writing “Auckland”, but I thought that wouldn’t be a realistic typo.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I assume he’s still puking.
I actually have no idea if he was ever puking but flu like symptoms may include puking.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Are you worried about him sir?
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
No. He’s a big boy I’m sure he can handle it. Plus (moving into creeper territory, be warned) his mother is not far away in the Pheonix area so I’m sure she could come and comfort him if he needs her.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
First. How come everything you say sounds kind of dirty
Second: WHY DO YOU KNOW WHERE HIS MOTHER LIVES?
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
He said it in an interview once. Despite what Logo says I have a good memory.
And I don’t mean to sound dirty. It really isn’t like me.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
You have pretty good memory for an old dude
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
probably still feeling under the weather.
by MooneysRebellion on Jul 28, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Has anyone in the FO explained why Marte will be used primarily at 1B? I mean, yes thats where we just created a hole, but you would think if they were serious about giving Marte a chance to be part of the future, they’d try him out at 3B.
Yeah, I get that much. I was just hoping to see Marte get serious time at 3B. Though I’m not sure how to really balance that against seeing Peralta at 3B.
I think before game #1, it’s a little early to complain about the lack of time Marte has seen so far at 3B.
Steel Nick
I think the reasoning is that Marte has already established himself as a good defensive 3B. His one and only goal is to prove he can hit major league pitching. So there’s no need to take away defensive reps from Jhonny who they still see as the 3B for the foreseeable future.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions
The big hypothetical would be, I suppose, what if Marte impresses in this 2 month trial.
Does that move LaPorta back to LF?
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s certainly the best-case scenario … gives Brantley more time to become whatever Brantley is going to be.
Would be truly stunning to enter 2010 with Marte as a starting 1B.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
No one has that LaPorta is moving to 1B. In fact they’ve consistently said the opposite. Many many times.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Gotcha … so this is just part of the effort to make sure they have some versatility?
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions
There’s a logjam of 1B and OF players. Its very plausible if not probable that enough players perform well enough that we’ll need to move a player or two around in order to fit them in the lineup.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh absolutely … I’m not against it at all …
For some reason, I just thought they were possibly leaning toward getting him more time at 1B than the OF.
Either way, too many good players is always a better problem than the alternative.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to hug him and tell him it’s not his fault. Robin Williams has nothing on me.
by JP_Frost on Jul 28, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Mrs. Martefire
He has to dress up like a fat old white woman just to get back into the clubhouse and trick Wedge.

Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
by westbrook on Jul 28, 2009 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
I mean, we’d want them to stay in it even if there weren’t trade implications.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
“It’s my Mar-tay and I’ll cry if I want to, CRY IF I WANT TO. You would cry too if it happened to you”
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Funny stat: The surname “Marte” has been used in more comments on LGT than that of any other player on the 40-man. 5,979 comments and counting.
Does that count “Choo” with arbitrarily large number of "o"s?
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions
It does not. But he’s still miles off.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe he’s under the weather with a case of the sucks.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Just got out of it … struggling a bit tonight though.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions
When he gets better stuff?
Kidding, but everything I have read says that is exactly what he has: average stuff. Guys can put up good numbers with average stuff in AA, provided they have good command.
I thought his fastball has a lot of sink?
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jul 28, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there a place to watch Minor League Games online?
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Falls linked a site that used to have Clippers games every day, but now it never does.
I hate you, Falls, for spoiling me.
Even when you aren’t trying you still pull an NYU.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Yeah, sorry about that.
The MLB games on that site dropped off for a couple days too … I thought a crackdown might have begun … but I guess it just might be who’s available to upload that stuff.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s cool. I noticed a handful of MLB games on there for today, but I have MLB.tv. I still use the site for the 24 hour King of Queens channel, however. So good came from it.
Those comedies they list are 24 hours?
Hm. Methinks I need to check those out!
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
To use it I have to sign off of the Mac part of my computer and sign on to the Windows side. Too lazy.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Installing windows on my mac seemed like such a good idea once upon a time. I haven’t used it in almost a year, I’d estimate.
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
For real. I should have realized that the engineering studnets were the only ones who needed therefore it was a waste of my time and memory.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
The latter being a precious resource at your advanced age.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Hm. No, it can be wiggy depending up the uploaders I think.
You kid of have to take what you can get.
My Yanks-Rays game seems to be humming right along.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions
We had a few more deliveries around 4am, but no one was biting.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Do people really appreciate being suggested names?
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
It was more of me asking whether they had names picked out, then when they told me the names I left it at that.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Although, funny story, I went to take a history at 430, and the dad had a Stanford Cardinal jacket on. He enjoyed the irony of the Garkoness.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
My forgetting to put Marquis in my lineup is not looking so bad.
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
Why do minor league teams have silly names like Mud Hens and Iron Pigs?
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
At least the Mud Hens name is historic, going back to 1896, when they played in a park next to a marshland inhabited by mudhens
There was a big push to name the Akron team the Canal Rats … but I don’t think the city fathers approved.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Well there’s a legitimate reason. But seeing as there is probably no real animal called an iron pig I don’t think LeHigh has a similar reason.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
named after “Pig Iron”, for the steel mills that used to be there.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
There was a fan contest to name the mascot a couple years ago. Initially, a 7-year-old’s entry, “Pork Chop” was selected, but it turned out that was a racist slur for Puerto Rican steel workers, so they went with the runner up, “Ferrous”. Which is better anyway.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I can top that.
The Akron Aeros, when the announced the team name at a press conference, said the team name would reflect Ohio and Akron’s links to the aeronautic and space industries and all of those brave heroes.
Then the announced the team … the Akron Blast … with their mascot … Kaboom!
Keep in mind, Akron was Judy Resnik’s hometown.
Needless to say, the name lasted about 10 minutes … and they had a contest to rename the team and the mascot.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions
The story behind the Albuquerque team is worthy of making them my favorite.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Tucson Sidewinders. Picture a rattlesnake coiled around a baseball bat. They moved to Reno and became the Aces. The current team in Tucson is the Toros.
Yes … the Springfield team is the Isotopes, and there was an episode where Albuquerque was trying to steal them away.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 28, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Candiotti is absolutely insufferable tonight. I am rapidly losing my patience here. Arrrghhh.
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Force quit and move to trash.
Does he just stand there and talk to you about the Indians?
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
“Yammers” is more like it. I get in a word or two in edgewise.
DUDE HE’S A SLUGGING FIRST BASEMAN!
CONSISTENCY? HE’S BATTING .285!!
THE BALL CLUB IS WEAKENED TODAY!!
100 RBIS!!
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Force quit and move to trash.
LOL. There is actually a customer here talking sense to him. You can see the smoke coming out of this guy’s ears.
NO! GIMINEZ IS A HACK!
MARTE = HACK!
AAA IS NOT THE MAJOR LEAGUES!
WE DIDN’T GET ANYTHING FOR GARKO!
NAME OUR FIRST BASEMEN OF THE FUTURE! GO AHEAD! (SO I CAN CALL THEM ALL HACKS)
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Force quit and move to trash.
GARKO IS AN RBI MACHINE! THE BEST IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES! HE HAS A BETTER RATIO THAN VICTOR MARTINEZ!
I wish I was recording this.
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Force quit and move to trash.
I’m picturing Tom Candiotti throwing knuckleballs at you.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions
That would be more fun.
Meanwhile, the hits keep on coming …
THEY MARGINALIZED HIM! A CORE PLAYER AND THEY MARGINALIZED HIM!
WEDGE RUINED HIS SWING!
THIS IS A TEAM THAT ONLY KNOWS HOW TO LOSE!
VALBUENA HAS BLOWN 10 GAMES THIS YEAR! THIS IS OUR FUTURE?!?
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Force quit and move to trash.
Um, I appreciate that you’re going through hell there, but just readin that is kinda bringing me down. Only positivity tonight.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
It occurred to me a few moments ago: listening to “Candiotti” rant is like kind of like hearing the voice of the Anti-Jay: pretty much every single point Jay (and others) made in the Garko thread about RBI’s, I heard the exact opposite from “Candiotti” for a solid half hour tonight. Seriously, It’d be almost comical hearing him go on if he weren’t so relentlessly convinced that the Idiot Stats are right and everyone else is wrong.
The thing to remember about this guy is that 95% of his half-crazed fury is exclusively based on the fact that he bought season tickets for 2008 and 2009. In the end, I did get “Candiotti” to admit that he had not purchased those seats, he wouldn’t be obsessing over all of this with such, uh, pure emotion. “I’d be taking all of this more like you are,” he told me before he left, “with a shrug and a one-liner.”
Perhaps there is hope for him yet. ;-)
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Force quit and move to trash.
Can you get him to register for LGT today? I just want to ban him and get it over with.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 29, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
*excited.
Maybe the excitement is from alcohol intoxication.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I almost made this my fb status but didn’t because I realized we hadn’t lost since the last thing I wrote on there period.
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
Now that you’ve realized that, we’re clearly losing tonight.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 28, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah thanks Westy.
My Facebook status: HAHAHAHAHA (732): They say rihanna has been dating several mets players. They go on to say that she feels safe with them because they can’t beat anybody
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
best fb status I’ve seen in a while from a friend: “Turns out MJ died of food poisoning. He ate a 12-year old weiner”
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously though, between the 5-game win streak, and the Mgarte, I haven’t been this pumped since opening day.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
ESPN.com with the unfortunate headline “Favre Passes”
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
No, I know what it’s from. I love that movie and it’s underrated. But come on, actual people and everything.
by NickFantana on Jul 28, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Favre? I mean I guess.
All right, all right. And yes that movie has not been seen by enough people.
Steel Nick
No, not Favre. Jim Johnson was the D-Coord for the Eagles until last year. He died of cancer today. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
by NickFantana on Jul 28, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes I know. I meant the reference was towards Favre, who is very much alive, which I thought would be the slightly safer person to make fun of, not to mention the joke slipped in there that he is not in fact an actual person.
Once we start breaking down my posts like this it’s best to just continue.
Steel Nick
Yeah, this got really ugly. I take most of the blame…..but really, it’s mostly the bourbon talking. I’ve got three days of work left at this job. So there’s drinking.
by NickFantana on Jul 28, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Well that’s what you might do. careful. I’m purposely not watching even though I really want to.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
On one hand, I want to watch broadcast from the team that’s pitching the no hitter, but on the other hand, Hawk Harrelson is the most obnoxious announcer in all of baseball (Fox/Espn excluded).
i’m gonna do the same thing i did 5 days ago. away feed.
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
Fox/ESPN included he is still the worst actually.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
There’s actual competition from Joe Buck, Steve Phillips, etc. though. I have yet to come across a local announcer even close to Harrelson.
Joe Buck is awesome. You just don’t understand him.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Joe is nowhere near his father but he is still awesome and you will have a hard time convincing this St. Louisan differently. He is much better calling Cards games. I can see how those who have only heard him call games (including Crads) on National TV may have problems with him but I remember him when he was still predominantly calling Cards games for FSN Midwest.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I can’t believe we let you hang out with us.
by supermarioelia on Jul 28, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to agree with CG that Hawk is worse than any of the national guys, even Joe Morgan.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
and the world. I mean, Toronto’s guys aren’t fantastic, but c’mon.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 29, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions
re: Ankiel vs. Rasmus, statistics, coin flips, crystal balls, slumps & hot streaks, etc, but I wanted to make sure people saw this, so I figured I’d just post this here….arguments on each side were very interesting and thought provoking, but seemed to me to completely miss the larger point. And I can’t really think of a better way to say this than to post this:
Baseball players are human beings, not coins or dice. Psychology can’t be modeled statistically (unless Billy Beane knows much more than he lets on). It might be a cliche, but the game gets played on the field and the fickleness of the Gods of Baseball is well known.
Just my $.02….
by nota bene on Jul 28, 2009 6:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Indiansfan is on VEB too? He’s sneaky that one.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

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