Correction on J. Lewis: He would get about one-fourth of 650K salary if released, not one-third....

Correction on J. Lewis: He would get about one-fourth of 650K salary if released, not one-third. #Indians #MLB

Rosenthal confirms what Lastoria said: Jensen Lewis is on waivers. Stadium guns have apparently put Lewis fastball in the low 80s.

about 1 year ago afh4 56 comments 0 recs |

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Call Anaheim and tell them we’ll trade him straight up for Brandon Wood. Perhaps they both need a change of scenery.

by MooneysRebellion on Mar 21, 2011 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I think he’ll end up in Columbus. He had one summer, ’07, where he had a fastball that he could uncork when he needed to – it rose up and sometimes out of the zone, clocking at 93-94, and he could get swings and misses with it, especially effective when he saved it for two strike counts.

Not sure he had it before that, and he sure as heck hasn’t had it since. Without it, he doesn’t have a single plus pitch, even tho his stats aren’t that bad.

I’d guess one of the “O bros”, German or Pestan, will take the spot in the pen. Both have had very good springs.

by mcrose on Mar 21, 2011 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

Those were simpler times.

"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."

by USSChoo on Mar 21, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

But were they? This site was in crisis about the Indians’ extended hitting slump that year until, what, August?

by Gradyforpresident on Mar 21, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say so, a hitting crisis in a possible playoff year is a better problem to have than those that currently plague us.

"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."

by USSChoo on Mar 21, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Doubt someone claims him and his low80s fastball.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 21, 2011 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

I have a Major League DVD that has a short documentary talking to Indians players about the movie. Jensen is figured prominently, as he apparently has seen it 100 times and used to imagine himself being Rick Vaughn coming out of the bullpen to face Heywood.

by TheDanimal on Mar 21, 2011 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

Those extras appear to have been shot during Spring Training in 2006 or 2007 and also feature Paul Byrd and Grady Sizemore. Was Aaron Boone in it? Anyway, Jensen isn’t in a Tribe uni because he had yet to make the majors. He does display a clear command of the dialogue and scenes.

Before a game in 2009, Jensen was in the ’pen doing some kind of crunch things with one of those huge rubber bands, I yelled down, “Hey Jensen, I loved you in the Major League extras.” It made him crack up and briefly stop his stretching.

His 2007 post-season was pretty sweet until game 7 of the ALCS. Dude pitched out of his mind otherwise.

by PBH on Mar 21, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

… and the 40 man churn has started. Any idea what the count will be by July 1st? I set the over/under at 10 (60 Day DLs included).

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder

by jerseywahoo on Mar 21, 2011 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Tom Withers from the AP just said on Twitter that he was told that these reports are not true. That Jensen was working on the field with the team today. Take that for whatever it’s worth.

I’m a little angry at people getting my hopes up if it’s not true.

by cozmeesah on Mar 21, 2011 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

Of course he’s working out with the team still—he’ll go to Columbus if someone doesn’t claim him. The Tribe will still have him working toward being in the pen in Columbus.

by MooneysRebellion on Mar 21, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that’s what I said to myself when I saw Tom say that about him working out with them. That he would still be working out with them either way. But I posted mainly because he said he was told it wasn’t true. Who knows?

by cozmeesah on Mar 21, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s funny. I guess several folks would have had this reaction had it been Crowe.

by Jay on Mar 21, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

This rain delay is my fault.

I finally tricked my kid into waiting until 4pm to take his nap and this is what I get?

Sorry fellas.

by PBH on Mar 21, 2011 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

I’d only be upset if you were also responsible for the snow I’m getting

by APV on Mar 21, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Mine has turned back to rain. My shoulders dropped about 6 inches when I stepped outside this morning.

"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."

by USSChoo on Mar 21, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

So if the Indians were to poach someone’s roster cut, what position would you want filled? I could see starter, bullpen, or corner outfield as legitimate possibilities.

by APV on Mar 21, 2011 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

I could see any of those. I’ve also seen several articles indicating that Brandon Wood’s time at Anaheim may be running out.

"Magic would be getting productivity out of Crowe or Valbuena. I’ll admit we could use a little luck, but that’s not the same thing." - Jay

On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff

by woodsmeister on Mar 21, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Wood is interesting, but mainly because he has been so utterly terrible. 145 Ks and 13 BBs in less than a full season of plate appearances at the big league level!…ouch.

by APV on Mar 21, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that offensive production is beyond awful.

"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."

by USSChoo on Mar 21, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

PTBNL to the Pirates for YouKnowWho.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 21, 2011 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Currently 5th on the Pirates in preseason OPS among players with more than 5 ABs

by supermarioelia on Mar 21, 2011 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Spring Training fastballs will do that.

"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."

by USSChoo on Mar 21, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Now that’s something to put on a resume.

by cleveland teamer on Mar 21, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Another interesting guy who’s development has been totally messed around by his club. His minors numbers are very impressive. He has 479 career plate appearances (admittedly, very bad) in the bigs. Here’s how it breaks down by year:

2007, 22 years old: 33 PA.
2008, 23 years old: 157 PA.
2009, 24 years old: 46 PA.
2010, 25 years old: 243 PA.

Here are his MILB OPS for those same years (plus 06):

2006, 21 years old, AA: 522 PA, .907 OPS
2007, 22 years old, AAA: 488 PA, .835 OPS.
2008, 23 years old, AAA: 448 PA, .987 OPS.
2009: 24 years old, AAA: 428 PA, .910 OPS.

I’m on board.

by Gradyforpresident on Mar 21, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe the high k rates reveal that he’s overmatched. But he had super high K rates in the minors and it didn’t prohibit him from putting up quite good numbers at a young age/level.

by Gradyforpresident on Mar 21, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s well documented that exactly that trick gets much harder to pull off in the majors.

by Jay on Mar 21, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

But he hasn’t really gotten a chance to prove that’s the case.

by Gradyforpresident on Mar 22, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Does he deserve a chance to prove that he’s a rare, nearly unprecedented statistical anomaly?

by Jay on Mar 22, 2011 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

In an organization with nothing to lose? Sure. (It may not be the Indians, but some crap team out there has the at bats for him.)

by Gradyforpresident on Mar 22, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

But it’s tough for a team that has been in contention or winning its division each of those years to give someone like that an extended chance. At some point the player has to show SOMETHING at the MLB-level.

by TribeJay on Mar 23, 2011 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s probably Hannahan.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 21, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Not necessarily a roster cut, but like Andrew said a few days ago, if Chris Davis is available for a reasonable price, he is an option that should be really, really explored.

by Gradyforpresident on Mar 21, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

And now I see the game is cancelled

by APV on Mar 21, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

YAY!

(no injuries today!)

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 21, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

An interesting read on Jensen Lewis and the hope to restore his velocity:

http://setpro.com/forums/entry.php?5-Chris-O-Leary-quot-Mechanics-Analyst-quot-Part-3-The-quot-Challenge-quot&goto=prev

Driveline Baseball - Advanced Training for the Baseball Athlete (located in Seattle, WA)

by Kyle Boddy on Mar 21, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

that’s not interesting. that’s petty.

by supersizeme on Mar 21, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Bastian says that he’s still with the team.

by supersizeme on Mar 21, 2011 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

Right. He’s on waivers. If he clears them, he goes to Columbus. If he’s claimed, the claiming team must pay 1/4 of his salary.

by afh4 on Mar 21, 2011 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Is that right? We’d pay him $487,500 for coming to ST and the claiming team gets him for only $162,000? That seems flipped.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 21, 2011 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s right, I believe.

by afh4 on Mar 21, 2011 11:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

What? I don’t think so. If you claim a guy on waivers, you pay his whole salary. You’re claiming the contract.

by Jay on Mar 21, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry misunderstood Rosenthal and failed to think for myself. Indians pay 1/4 if he’s not paid, right?

by afh4 on Mar 21, 2011 11:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Right, that’s if he’s released.

One thing I’m not clear on is if an arbitration guy can be on a split contract. I think he can be and probably is, but I’m not sure.

by Jay on Mar 21, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Do arbitration contracts only become fully guaranteed once you’re on the opening day roster like football ones do?

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 21, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Claimed not paid.

by afh4 on Mar 22, 2011 7:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Something’s happening with him this morning. Don’t know if it’s a waiver claim or if he was outrighted. Both Bastian and Hoynsie say he’s packing the clubhouse and getting handshakes from teammates.

by cozmeesah on Mar 22, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

The suspense is killing me!

by PBH on Mar 22, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I would assume that means waiver claim—because otherwise he’d stay in camp. gotta be an NL team.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Mar 22, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Bastian says he is gone….to Columbus roster. Reports he has cleared waivers, so apparently he is cleaning out of his locker in major league camp and moving next door.

by APV on Mar 22, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions