NOBL BLOG

What I've Been Doing

2007-11-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

(This guy is not me)

Not the most exciting 10 minute video you will see on your computer. I am part of a statewide commission that is looking at redrawing school district maps in our state. We have to file our report by December 31, and things have heated up quite a bit lately. It's kept me from participating in the finer things, like OOTP baseball.

Honestly, I'd rather be facing Ki-son fastballs.

Bonds: Hero or Villian?

2007-11-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

What happened
A federal grand jury indicted baseball slugger Barry Bonds on Thursday on charges that he lied to a grand jury when he said he never knowingly used drugs to boost his performance. Bonds has said the record he set in August "is not tainted," but the indictment sparked fresh criticism from fans and sportswriters who say Bonds doesn’t deserve to be recognized as professional baseball’s career home-run king. (The Columbus Dispatch)

What the commentators said
The indictment was “hardly surprising,” said Dave Sheinin in The Washington Post (free registration). He is the “most polarizing figure” in baseball, and “his transformation from lithe leadoff hitter in the 1990s to hulking slugger” has drawn suspicious sneers for years.

So go ahead and slap an asterisk next to No. 762, said Tom Verducci in SI.com.

[more from The Week Daily]

Bonds To Boycott Hall

2007-11-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Barry Bonds says he will boycott the baseball Hall of Fame if the museum displays his record-breaking home run ball, which has been branded with an asterisk.

Bonds told MSNBC in an interview that aired Thursday that he is prepared to be a no-show if inducted into the Hall; players are not eligible for election until five years after their retirement.

"I won't be part of it," he said. "I won't be there. You can call me but I won't be there."

Slayton Honored by League, Team

2007-11-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

Veteran Indians slugger James Slayton was named the American League Player of the Week for his performance at the plate. Slayton went 12 for 25 in 6 games last week against Texas, Pittsburgh and New York. Six of Slayton's hits were for extra bases, including 2 homers and 3 triples. He scored 9 and knocked in 9 while the Indians went 4-2 over that stretch.

James was accepting his award during a live pre-game telecast before the Indians-Yankees game on April 23 when teammates presented him with an award of their own. Slayton is currently leading Indians hitters with a .441 average and 5 homers through 17 games this season. The Indians are currently second in their division and fifth overall in the American League.

A Kinder, Gentler.... Billy?

2007-10-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

Boshears: Have Bat Will Travel

2007-10-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Michael Boshears has hit 399 home runs. One more dinger would put him with Ross Augustus (451) and Richard Boos (410) as the only players in NOBL history to surpass the 400 mark. Both Augustus and Boos retired at the end of last season.

Boshears's home run woes were highlighted near the end of last season. He finished 2017 with 9 homers for the New York Mets, well below his career average of 30. The Mets did not re-sign Boshears and he is currently a free agent.

Boshears's agent Greg Genske says the "future Hall of Fame candidate" is looking to play at least another season. "He went to nine straight All-Star Games. He's won Gold Gloves at two positions. He's about to hit his 400th home run. Michael can still play. Why someone has not jumped on him is beyond me."

Boshears was drafted back in 2002 by the Colorado Rockies before being traded to Philadelphia where he played for nine seasons. He played two years with Houston, including 2014 when he helped the .45's win the World Series. His two previous years, both disappointing, were with the Mets.

3 - 0

2007-10-27T22:51:00.001-07:00

Harry Nash

2007-10-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Harry Nash has been a very good player in the NOBL for a very long time.

How good?

This year, his fifteenth, he will surpass 2500 hits, 400 home runs, 1500 runs, 1500 rbis... and is quickly approaching 450 stolen bases. How will he rank against the all-time greats in NOBL lore?

Arguably 1-2 or 2-1 with Ross Augustus. There are seven MVPs and four World Series championships between them. While Nash played in more postseason games than Augustus, their numbers match up quite well:

Augustus: .336 AVG, 22HR, 79 RBI, 98 games
Nash: .339 AVG, 21 HR, 99 RBI, 130 games

Their career numbers are also somewhat similar, albeit Augustus was more power, Nash more speed. Augustus had career percentages of .319 AVG, .380 OBP, .538 SLG, .917 OPS. Currently, Nash has .323 AVG, .383 OBP, .534 SLG, .918 OPS.

If we could do it all over again, which would you take in the draft, Ross Augustus or Harry Nash? Check the poll on the right.

Cleveland Welcomes Kemmerer to the Reservation

2007-10-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

While his first start in an Indians uniform didn't end the way he would have liked, Michael Kemmerer still seems excited about his new home in Cleveland.

"This team is going to surprise a lot of people," he said at his official signing announcement during the offseason. "The new direction ownership is moving is a positive one. They brought in the talent. Now it's our turn to deliver."

The "talent" Kemmerer is referring to includes himself, outfielder Kevin Vandeberg and Cuban defector Ray Beltran. The Indians invested over $50 million of their payroll in those three and are hoping it pays off with a World Series ring.

Kemmerer will be out early before Monday's start against the Royals meeting fans and signing autographs. Cleveland will open the stadium up an hour earlier than normal to allow fans access to their new ace.

An opening day match-up saw Kemmerer face the Keith Brown and the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Both pitched well (Kennemer: 9IP, 2ER, 11K; Brown: 8IP, 1ER, 4K), but neither figured in the decision. Both aces were highly sought-after free agents this past year, and both will surely compete for the AL Cy Young Award this season.

Hope Springs Eternal

2007-10-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

I miss Shoe. Is it still carried in any newspapers?

Weil Impresses in Debut

2007-10-25T20:23:00.001-07:00

Indians rookie hurler Anthony Weil took the mound for his major league debut on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds and wasted no time in notching his first major league complete game victory. He scattered four hits and two walks over nine innings, striking out six en route to a 5-1 win in front of the Cleveland faithful.

Cleveland jumped out to a quick 4-0 league in the second when Reds pitcher Harold Argueta started the inning by walking Flori Figuera and Al Quinto. First baseman Greg Desjardins scored both with a double and later scored when Elmer Sweet doubled him in with two out.

With the signing of three high profile free agents in the off-season, the Indians have the league's third largest payroll at nearly $82 million. Cleveland's front office is counting on revenue from increased ticket sales to offset their bull market trading. At 1-3, things could have started out better.

Weil's solid performance came before a crowd of nearly 30,000 who had come out to Jacob's Field for Bat Day. But at 1-3 the Tribe is going to need to notch a lot more wins to bring out the fans with any consistency.

OPENING DAY!

2007-10-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping your team starts out hotter than the Indians did in '07.

Three Men and a Little Gravy

2007-10-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

Cleveland Indians 2018 FA signings

Michael Kemmerer
$23,650,000

Ray Beltran
$17,800,000

Kevin Vandenberg
$11,800,000

Total payroll $53,250,000

Player Privacy?

2007-10-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

This is an old report (1989) considering the age old question: information or invasion of privacy. Many of those involved have since then been in the spotlight for off the field antics... including the reporter, Marv Albert.

The $300 million bargain?

2007-10-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

You have to read this.

The New York Yankees' star third baseman, already the highest paid U.S. athlete in professional team sports, is likely to sign a new multi-year contract soon that could be between $300 million and $400 million.

Pre-Sweep

2007-10-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

Colorado took a commanding 3-0 lead for the National League pennant tonight, winning 4 to 1 over the Diamondbacks.

I wonder if anyone here in Arizona noticed.

"Looked like a strike anyway"

2007-10-13T22:08:00.001-07:00

Scene from Major League

Murderer's Row

2007-10-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

From the Ken Burns documentary, Baseball.

Indians Sign Kemmerer, Vandenberg -- Double Their Payroll

2007-10-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Before the ink was dry on the deals the Cleveland Indians had gone from a payroll of $29,000,000 to $64,500,000. And they claim they are not done yet.

The Indians won the Michael Kemmerer sweepstakes by signing the former Cy Young Award winner to a $23,650,000 contract for five years. In all, Cleveland has invested nearly $120,000,000 in the hurler. Other clubs interested in Kemmerer included the Mets, Phillies, Marlins, Cubs, Yankees, Twins, and Mariners.

"Obviously, we are very excited to have Michael join with us," beamed Indians owner Joe Thomas. "There were three good starters in free agency this year, but Michael was our choice from the start. He is a dominating pitcher, and he will lead our team to a series of championships."

Michael Kemmerer was originally a first round draft pick of Cleveland's back in 2010 before being traded to Seattle in 2011. In seven years with the Mariners Kemmerer won both a World Series and a Cy Young Award and compiled a 120-62 record with a 3.08 ERA.

Cleveland also managed to reach agreement with 2009 Rookie of Year Kevin Vandenberg. Terms of the deal are reportedly $11.8 million for 3 years. Vandenberg will join 2017 Rookie of the Year Elmer Sweet in the Indians outfield. The Aussie has hit .293 and stolen 434 bases for the Twins and Yankees over his nine year career.

The value of not being broke

2007-10-11T15:01:00.001-07:00

The minor hubbub yesterday during the draft when Atlanta was forced to make a worse selection than they otherwise would have because of a lack of funds to pay a signing bonus put me to thinking. What is the overall difference in potential value between the pitcher that they did draft, Orlando Andrade, versus the pitcher they could have drafted who was subsequently selected by St Louis, James Mitchell? It also gave me a 15 minute break from end of quarter spreadsheets, while allowing me to screw around in a spreadsheet so it didn't look like I was screwing around.

A couple of big caveats ... I was bored enough to not bother looking at standard evaluations and instead wandered along my own random thought process. I ended up deciding to look at how effective a starting pitcher was at suppressing runs scored based on the number of baserunners allowed, i.e. how good they are at assisting their defense in preventing runs from scoring once they reach base? Second, I was too lazy to dig up very detailed stats, so I used just a basic set; IP, hits, runs (not earned just total runs), homeruns allowed, walks, and strikeouts. Third, I do believe that pitchers can influence the outcome of balls put in play. See this article from Diamond Mind Baseball for a detailed analysis on why this is true, even if it is usually a very minor difference between one average pitcher and the next. Without going into too much detail on the contents of the article, I will point out that the difference between a good pitcher and an average pitcher may be small, but an average pitcher is actually going to be a pretty good pitcher. Average pitchers stick around, have prosperous careers, and are valuable. What we really want to look at is how much of a difference can a pitcher provide over a replacement level player, or that VORP stat that v6.5 doesn't calculate. This was slightly difficult as most NOBL teams didn't really have any replacement level starting pitchers on their 2017 staffs that saw significant playing time in 2016 from which I could calculate the baseline stats, but luckily for you I persevered and just aggregated up a couple of duds who shall remain nameless to save their GMs the embarrassment.

On to the analysis, after which you can all feel free to point out the severe flaws in my logic. Before I could look at the actual value for two pitchers who probably won't even make a major league appearance for another 3 or 4 seasons, I had to find similar contemporaries with enough data to crank through. Enter Alvin Aybar and Dustin Harrison. Neither will be an exact match to Andrade and Mitchell, respectively, but they are pretty damn close; Andrade will probably be not quite as good as Aybar, and Mitchell will potentially have much more movement on his pitches than Harrison which could have a large impact on improving his chances. As an after thought, I added World Series MVP Michael Drexler to the calculations as another potential match for Mitchell. Their stuff and movement are close, but Drexler does have control issues which hurt his overall stats. Mitchell is probably going to be a mix of Drexler and Harrison; Drexler's nastyness with stuff that offers plenty of movement, but the slightly better control of Harrison. Of course, this entire premise is based on Andrade and Mitchell both actually developing to their talents, but why not ... it could happen. To round out the eval, I then aggregated a couple of our duds, and added in Yoo Ki Son as well just to see what an extremely dominant pitcher's stats would look like.

To start with, I did a quick and dirty pro-rating of every one's stats to equalize all innings pitched while maintaining the respective starters personal ratios for the remainder of the data. I used Aybar's 1622 innings pitched as the baseline, largely because until I added Drexler at the last minute, he had the most innings pitched. This extrapolation does potentially negatively effect Harrison, who as a younger pitcher will be more adversely effected by his youthful wildness whereas his total walks when he does reach 8 seasons of his own work may be lower than the projection, but probably not by much. Aybar is also a safe bet as the baseline as he has not seen a significant drop off in performance in his later years, so he has a good solid 8 seasons of reliably consistent ball when it averages out.

Equalized on innings pitched, the stats look pretty much as would be expected. Aybar surrenders fewer runs and homeruns than the Replacement Pitchers (RPs) but more than Harrison. He did actually give up more hits than anyone else, more than one per inning, but made up for that with a very good walk/inning ratio that was better than Harrison by a long ways. The RP pitchers are appreciably worse in every category, although they did strike out more hitters than Aybar by a negligible amount, and Ki Son was significant better in every area than the others.

OK, diving in ... what I really wanted to look at was on average, how many outs does their defense record compared to the number of runners that are actually scoring. I removed homeruns and strikeouts from the calculations because they don't impact what I'm looking for; the pitchers interaction with their defense. A run is guaranteed to score on a homerun, and other than the extremely rare circumstances of an outfielder turning a homerun into an out or the inside the park homerun, there is no opportunity for defensive interaction on the longball. I am looking primarily at hits plus walks minus homeruns, and how that compares to runs allowed minus homeruns over the 4866 total outs minus the strikeouts presented in our rationalized 1622 innings. It would seem that these calculations would give a reasonable representation of 1) how good the pitcher is at avoiding successive baserunners (which WHIP also covers), 2) how good the pitcher is at avoiding extra base hits (other than HR) which are proportionally more likely to lead to runs, and 3) how good they are at putting balls in play within range of their defenders. All of this assumes that these ratios are based on skill as opposed to luck or excessively great defenses, which will always play into it as well but the better pitchers should have better ratios.

The RPers are as bad as could be expected at recording defensive outs per run. They only convert 1.7 defensive outs for every baserunner they allow, and are only retiring 4.85 hitters for every runner that crosses the plate. They are, if the data set means anything like what I'd hope that it means, really bad at helping their defense out. They put too many men on base via the free pass and balls in play manage to elude defenders. Not shocking in any way, but it allows us to set the baseline.

Aybar is appreciably better at recording outs in lieu of allowing the batter to reach, with defensive outs at 2.17/baserunner and 6.02/run. Every third batter still results in someone standing on a bag scratching themselves inappropriately, but they score much less frequently than a RP. A full 27% improvement in baserunners, and a 24% improvement in runs allowed per defensive out.

Harrison is actually worse than Aybar at preventing baserunners per defensive out, entirely because of the free passes. It's hard for your defensive to work effectively when they are watching batters stand there with the bat on their shoulder. Harrison generated only 1.83 defensive outs per baserunner, which is still better than the wilder Drexler who could only muster a 1.73 ratio. Harrison is only 8% better than the RP pitchers in this aspect, but is a massive 45% better than the RPs at preventing those runners from scoring, generating 7.07 defensive outs per run. Harrison is almost twice again as effective as Aybar at allowing his defense to get him out of his own jams. He might put more people on base, but when batters do put the ball in play, his stuff is keeping them from driving runners home.

So what does this potentially mean for Atlanta, when we transpose these numbers on to the future Andrade and Mitchell? Andrade is not going to be a bad pitcher by any means. Significantly better than a replacement level pitcher no matter how you look at it, and much more congenial with his defense. However, the same nasty stuff that makes Mitchell so much more effective at two things I didn't loop in, generating strikeouts and preventing homeruns, also will allow him to make life much easier on his defense. In a game of trading outs for runs, Mitchell will have an extra defensive out in hand for every run allowed, or 2/3 a run per 27 outs. If every ball were put into play with a defensive opportunity, Mitchell would be need 15% less offensive support per game, allowing only 3.8 runs per 27 outs to Andrade's 4.49. 10 runs a season in defensive outs alone, down the tubes because they couldn't afford a signing bonus.

Welcome to the Reservation

2007-10-10T23:33:00.001-07:00

The Indians trade SP Silas Horak and the rights to their first round draft pick (#8 overall) to the Cincinnati Reds for the rights to the Reds' first round draft pick (#2 overall).

With the second pick in the 2018 amateur draft, the Cleveland Indians select 3B David Betancourt.

2018 Draft: Round One Recap

2007-10-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

NOBL Owners Size Up, Select Prospects

With round one complete we can take a look at where some of the top recruits from 2018's highly talented class ended up. Here's a quick glance at the first five players selected.

C Fred Oquendo, San Diego Padres
It surprised many that Oquendo was the first player taken overall. Scouts do not doubt his immense talent, but many looked to hurlers John Brooks and Dizzy Ballester or sluggers David Bettencourt and Howard Wilson to go first. In Oquendo the Padres acquire a rocket arm behind the plate who has the potential to develop into a solid performer at the plate as well.

3B David Bettencourt, Cleveland Indians
The second surprise of the night was not Bettencourt, but who drafted him. The Cincinnati Reds pulled the trigger on a last minute trade that sent the rights to their #2 selection to Cleveland in exchange for the Tribe's #8 spot and minor league pitcher Silas Horner. Cleveland must obviously be happy to land one of the top players in the draft. Bettencourt shows tremendous potential, but at 17 has a lot to prove.

SP Telmo "Dizzy" Ballester, Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays acquire the young phenom from the Venezuelan national team who won the Pan Am games when it was hosted in Los Angeles in 2015. The right hander keeps hitters off-balance with good movement on all four of his pitches. He's probably 2 years away from the majors, but could be part of a devastating 1-2-3 with Earl Husted and David Raby.

CF Alvin Camacho, Houston Colt .45s
Houston decided to go with speed and defense in their first selection of the draft. The switch-hitting Camacho has the tools to develop into a top notch lead off hitter. At only 18 years he possesses a smooth stroke and a veteran hitter's eye, and he is likely to be the first of this year's rookie class to see playing time in the majors. His sprinter's stature (he set the Iowa state record in the 100 meters his senior year) will severely limit his power numbers. The .45's will have to make due with Camacho's speed, stellar defense, and sharp eye at the plate.

C Howard "Terminator" Wilson, Chicago Cubs
Some were surprised Wilson fell to fifth in the draft, but the Cubs were happy to take the power-hitting backstop. With Tony Mazur at the major league level, the Cubs will have the luxury of giving Wilson time to develop his skills in the minors. Once matured, he may become one of the more feared sluggers in the league. He has both home run power and power to the gaps.

So long to Nunez

2007-10-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

Strange to have emotion tied into an online league, but I find it satisfying that Oakland was able to take their first championship before we had to put Jackie Nunez out to pasture.

It would be hard to imagine him receiving much notice outside of Oakland, but for the better part of 16 seasons he provided exactly what you want in a middle reliever; he ate innings like a madman (8 seasons of 80+ innings, plus 2 more of 70+), was always available (8 seasons of 78+ games including an NOBL record 103 appearances in 2008, and the career record of 1,048 by a pitcher), and he closed out games whenever it was asked (46/46 SVO in 2016, 50 straight including the end of 2015/beginning of 2017).

Other than the amazing run of saves in 2016, he was never spectacular or dominating, but he finished out his career with a very respectable 1.23 WHIP. He was usually not the designated closer for the A's, even though he was probably the more effective reliever than his long-time teammate, Daniel Kellam. The Athletics often used both of them as setup men, with no designated closer and they would each close out 15-20 games on the year, but on his own Nunez probably would have been good for 300 saves over his career.

His postseason performance in 2016 as the A's ran to with a single game of the championship was remarkable as well, with 7 saves in 9 appearances, allowing 3 walks and 3 hits in 8.2 innings while striking out 8. He also played a crucial role in one of the more bizarre series endings ever, brought in to preserve a tie in the bottom of the 10th with a man on first in game 7. A sacrifice hit, wild pitch and a balk later saw the Dodgers head home with the championship, and ended what looked like Nunez's best shot at a ring.

New Thriller?

2007-10-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

CONGRATS OAKLAND!

2007-10-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

2017 NOBL CHAMPS!

Congrats Dave!

Four Tribesmen Earn Awards

2007-10-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

When the league announced the Gold Glove winners this week, three Indians found themselves among the league's best fielders.

Right fielder Ulises Moinelo won his first award, two-bagger Randy Gonzalez won his second ('14, '17), and veteran first baseman Marcos Hernandez received his sixth ('11, '12, '14, '15, '16, '17).

"Defense is often overlooked in this game, but it is something a player brings with them every time they suit up," acknowledged Indians owner Joe Thomas. "I can guarantee you the pitching staff appreciates the work these guys do."

Another Indian honored this week by the league was closer Trinidad Preble. His 41 saves led the American League and netted him the Rolaids Relief Man Award. The twenty-six-year-old won five games and lost four while maintaining a 1.98 ERA-- second only to Pittsburgh's Harold Wall (1.90) among AL closers.

Preble appeared in 71 games, pitching 72.2 innings and surrender only one home run. That single shot was delivered by Minnesota's Ken Buffington on May 29.

Sweet Named AL Rookie of the Year

2007-10-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

The Baseball Writers Association of America named Indians center fielder Elmer Sweet the American League's 2017 Rookie of the Year. Elmer hit .279 with 17 home runs and swiped 45 bags. He tied for the NOBL league lead with both 51 doubles and 82 extra base hits.

"I'm honored to receive the award," Sweet told reporters who attended an Indians press conference to announce the news. "I want to thank the Writers Association and the Cleveland fans who make this game great to play."

The Indians drafted Sweet 4th overall in the 2015 amateur draft. He worked his way quickly through the Tribe's minor league system hitting .350 at AA Akron and .312 at AAA Buffalo.

He did not disappoint once he made the major league roster. He hit the first pitch he saw into the gap in right-center for a lead-off double on Opening Day against Texas.

Elmer was also voted into the 2017 All-Star Game, starting in left field for the victorious American Leaguers.

Four Double Plays

2007-10-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Each one of them costly for the Cubs.

Oh well, there's always next year.

Actually, 2009 would mark 100 years since they had won a Series.

Maybe next year will be better.

You believe, don't you?

Go D-Backs!

Kirk

2007-10-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was never a fan of Kirk Gibson, but he did have possibly the most famous home run in the past 30 years. Joe Carter's was not off Eck.

Playoffs Good for Merchandise Sales

2007-10-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Combine popular players, big markets, a team on a hot streak and a trio of long-suffering cities desperate for a World Series champion and what do you get? If you're Major League Baseball, a problem. But at least it's a good one to have.

The traditionally moribund Phillies, the lovable loser Cubs and the sometimes hapless Indians are in the playoffs. So are the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels while the Colorado Rockies are riding a furious late-season rally and flying high off a win in a wild-card tiebreaker.

And their merchandise is selling so fast that Major League Baseball is having a hard time keeping up.

[rest of article]

Fans Pick Red Sox to Win Series

2007-10-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

Rasmussen Reports has asked the baseball fans to pick the winner of this year's World Series and 23% say they expect the Boston Red Sox to come out on top, 18% think it will be the New York Yankees, 13% are siding with the Cleveland Indians and 13% say the Chicago Cubs. The rest of the field is the Los Angeles Angels with 8%, the Philadelphia Phillies with 6% and the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies each get 3% and 13% are not sure.

When they asked which team they were actually going to root for, 20% said Red Sox, 19% are for the Cubs, 18% are rooting for the Yankees and 14% want it to be the Indians.

When they asked the fans of a specific team if they thought their team would win it all, 81% of the Red Sox fans said they would do it, 72% of the Yankee fans have confidence in their team. With all of the other teams, less than 50% of their fans think their team will do it.

Getting off of the World Series for a while, they also asked who they thought would be the champs of each league and 32% said the Red Sox for the American league, while 21% said the Yankees, 20% the Indians and16% the Angels.

On the National League Side, 28% pick the Cubs, 27% the Phillies, 12% the Rockies and 10% pick the Diamondbacks.

This has been one of the strangest baseball seasons in recent memory, with records being set, teams who were thought to be sure to be in the playoffs not making it and it is the first time a game is scheduled to be played in November. It happened once before, when baseball shut down for a week after 9/11, but that was sure not on the schedule.

Fo those whose team is not in the race, it if four months until the beginning of spring training and for the rest it will be three.

But the winter should be just as interesting as the season, almost anyway, with players like Barry Bonds not attached to any team. And there is plenty of talk of other trades already, so in many cases the teams we see in the spring, will not have much to do with the teams who went home in the fall.

The participants in the survey were 631 baseball fans and they were polled on October 2, 2007. The margin of error in the survey is + or - 4%

Post Season at Wrigley

2007-10-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

My Diamondbacks play Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cubs at Wrigley today. This is the first time since 2003 a playoff game has been played in Wrigley Field. Of course, we all know what happened the last time games were played there.

Remember the 2003 National League Championship Series between the Cubs and (eventual World Series champs) Marlins?

In the eighth inning of Game 6, a fan interfered with Moises Alou (right) in what would probably have been the second out of the inning. The "curse" now invoked, the batter walks, later an easy double play is muffed when the shortstop cannot field the ball, and the Marlins go on to score 8 runs in the inning. They win the game 8-3 and win the NL pennant the next night.

Poor Cubs.

Poor Steve Bartman, the lifelong Cub fan who cost his team the out, and some would say, the game, the pennant, the Series... even redemption.

I wonder whatever happened to him.

I wonder if he will be watching the game on TV today like me.

Or will he be at the game?

Who knows?

Go D-Backs.

Baseball Will Not Add Insult to Injury

2007-10-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

From MSNBC

Baseball will not suspend Milton Bradley for his role in a bizarre incident last month with umpire Mike Winters, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The San Diego Padres outfielder, who was arguing with Winters, was held back by manager Bud Black and injured.

Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, told the newspaper that Black prevented Bradley from receiving a suspension.

"He didn't make contact with the guy, thanks to his manager," Watson told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday. "If his manager hadn't gotten him, we're talking a whole different situation."

Winters was suspended for the indcident after baseball officials determined he inflamed the situation.

Bradley is out for the year with a torn ACL.

Bug Spray

2007-10-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

CLEVELAND - Gnats were out in force, bats were not and the Cleveland Indians ended up with a stranglehold lead in their American League Division Series with the favoured New York Yankees.

With unseasonably warm October temperatures bringing out swarms of bugs for several innings, Cleveland pitchers Fausto Carmona and Rafael Perez held New York's league-leading offence to just three hits in a 2-1 Indians win that put the Yankees down 2-0 in the best-of-five series.

[rest of article]

Not a spoiler.... yet

2007-09-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Glavine: .1IP 5H 2BB 0K 7ER 1E

AL Playoffs Set, NL Determined Today... Maybe

2007-09-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

4 Teams fight for 2 playoff spots on final day (MSNBC)

NL tiebreakers scenarios (Sporting News)

Mets, Phillies tied for NL East lead on final day of season (Bloomberg)

Final Sunday a fan's delight (MLB)

Mets collapse, Phillies surge (Boston.com)

What has to happen? Playoff possibilities (RockyMountain News)

NL's finish makes for logistical nightmare (Toronto Star)

NL could produce a World Series surprise (MSNBC)

Big Weekend for MLB

2007-09-29T16:31:00.001-07:00

A few stories worth reading as this weekend plays out.

This is baseball's best final weekend - ever (MSNBC)

What to watch: Baseball runs down to exciting finish (San Antonio Times)

X and y mark the vacant playoff spots for NL contenders (Guardian Unlimited blog)

Cubs clinch NL Central baseball title (AFP)

Mets fall into tie with Phillies (NY Times)

A Partisan Moment

2007-09-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

Can you tell who the team is below?
Angels? Phillies? Astros? Nationals?

I sure miss our ugly purple and teal. At least we were different then.

Diamondbacks will play in October.

Brandon Webb pitched seven stellar innings and Conor Jackson homered as the Arizona Diamondbacks clinched a postseason berth with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

Behind Webb's performance, the Diamondbacks improved to 90-70 and clinched at least the National League wild card. They reduced their magic number to two to clinch the NL West. Division rivals San Diego are still in the hunt afa 6-3 victory over Milwaukee.

Playoff tickets for where I used to sit when I had season tickets..... $115 each.
I believe I will watch from home.

National League Most Valuable Player

2007-09-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

2017 Candidates

Isais Rodriguez is a phenomenal hitter, and if the league were to outlaw southpaws he might be a perennial MVP candidate. The Venezuelan-born outfielder put up solid numbers against lefties (.294 in 68 AB), but tore into right-handers at a .327 clip. The Houston hitter led the NL in average (.323), but failed to crack the top 10 in any other offensive category. This may prevent him from winning the award.

Brad Ferron really came into his own in 2017, his third season in the league. He posted a .313 batting average and hit 16 home runs, which is more than respectable for a gold glove shortstop. He added 46 doubles and drove in 98 for the Nationals. Ferron absolutely clobbered left-handed pitching (.378), and at only twenty-four years of age looks to be a presence in the league for years to come.

Scott Dizon is a prototypical power-hitting middle infielder. He clubbed twenty-four homers for the Red Sox while maintaining a .310 batting average and driving in 98 runs. Dizon is solid all around. He's the sort of foundational player you anchor a championship team to. This offensive machine was on the trading block prior to the deadline. Boston may be very happy they kept him as he has an outside chance at winning the NL MVP.

Arthur Guzik provided a lot of offense for the Mets this past season. The "Beast" bounced back from a horrible season in 2016 to hit 31 homers and maintain a consistent .303 batting average. His 133 runs batted in led the Mets and were good enough for second in the NL. Guzik had a tremendous season, but a lack of at bats suppressed his overall numbers and may keep him from taking home the NL's top hitter award.

Florida's Jerry Mudge proved to be one of the league's most feared hitters in 2017, smashing out 81 extra base hits and driving in a league best 148 runs. Mudge slugged 36 home runs, second only to Dodger George Schlosser's 39, while ending the year a few points under the 300 mark, with a .295 batting average. He led the league in total bases (354) and was second in slugging percentage (.545). Judge won the MVP in 2013 and is a strong candidate to repeat this year.

Tommy's Tough Love

2007-09-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

Did anyone ever see these?

NOBL Great - Roy Hobbs

2007-09-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

One of our earliest, best players.

A classic scene from the movie.

Red State Update: Bonds and Vick

2007-09-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you have never seen these two before, prepare to either laugh or be offended. I apologize in advance. Sometimes they are pretty funny. Sometimes, well...

Two Farewells

2007-09-23T18:53:00.001-07:00

In the news tonight I see that two "lasts" are about to occur. First, the Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos) played their last game in RFK stadium today.

Sunday's final baseball game at RFK Stadium drew the Nationals' largest crowd of the season, 40,519. And the home team, which is near the bottom of the standings, gave the fans a winning sendoff. Washington scored a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, a team in contention for a playoff berth.

The Nationals are moving to a new stadium located closer to the Capitol building. The yet-to-be-named stadium is expected to be completed by Opening Day next year.

K Street Stadium or Post 9/11 Field are my early guesses... I hope I am wrong.

In other news, Barry Bonds looks to be playing his last season as a Giant. The ball club told the most prolific home run hitter of all time that they did not have him in their plans for 2008.

Bonds says he understands that baseball is a business, but wishes he could have had more time to say 'good-bye' to the fans that have watched him for his 15 seasons by the Bay.

In an on-line journal for his fans, Bonds wrote:

I would have loved nothing more than to retire as a Giant in the place where I call home and have shared so many momentous moments with all of you, but there is more baseball in me and I plan on continuing my career. My quest for a World Series ring continues.

Where do you think that quest will take him? Will he finally cross over to the American League and become a Designated Hitter? Will he cross over the bridge to Oakland and lead the A's to another World Championship?

Will he become a Yankee? Can you imagine Bonds playing in the stadium Ruth built? How would the fans react?

For the Fans

2007-09-22T22:17:00.001-07:00

NOBL Playoffs

2007-09-22T22:00:00.001-07:00

Slow Motion

2007-09-22T16:20:00.001-07:00

Indians: Down on the Farm

2007-09-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

End of Year Report

Baseball America ranks the Indians farm system 8th in the league. While a good deal of the system was in a dysfunctional state for part of the season, there are a few players who put up impressive numbers. One of them was supposed to be Venezuelan phenom Juan Urias, but after breaking his knee during spring training Juan spent the season rehabbing at Winter Haven, Florida and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Of the rest of the system, four players stood out, all of them at AAA Buffalo-- shortstop Robert Ruano and starters Anthony Weil, Leon Vanmeeter, and Matt Donaldson.

Infielder Robert Ruano was impressive for the Bisons, hitting .281 and playing in all 138 games. His speed on the basepath and work with the glove will earn him a spot on the big league club sometime next year, but he looks only to back up Gonzalez and Quinto up the middle. If the quick-footed switch-hitter can increase his contact he might challenge for playing time. He showed great power to the gaps with 67 extra base hits in Buffalo, including 14 triples. Ruano also managed 25 steals in 33 attempts.

Top lefty prospect Anthony Weil had a solid if unspectacular season, going 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 25 starts. Weil continues to show great poise and leadership on the field. His ability to take it to the next level when he needs a tough out will make him an instant Tribe favorite. He has developed a nice arsenal of pitches, but his pinpoint control of his slider and curveball are what have impressed the scouts for years.

Leon Vanmeeter started 30 games at Buffalo, ending the season 14-3 with a 2.60 ERA. While his stats are exceptional, the biggest question mark about Vanmeeter is control. He walked 105 in 180 innings. If he can lower that even by a small amount he could provide another young arm for the Indians.

Matt Donaldson also put up solid numbers for the Bisons, earning six wins against 2 losses while maintaining a 2.04 ERA in 79 innings pitched. After correcting a hitch in his delivery that was tipping hitters off to his changeup, Donaldson looks to fight for the fifth spot in Cleveland's rotation.

NOBL Playoffs Are Coming

2007-09-20T20:52:00.001-07:00

Explosive Fastball

2007-09-20T20:45:00.001-07:00

Not sure where this is, but here's hoping they're all safe.

I guess this is funny...

2007-09-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

I don't think I ever saw that one on American TV.

"Wee" Willie Ichiro?

2007-09-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

Drago AL Player of the Week

2007-09-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

The American League has named Tim Drago as Player of the Week for his recent performances against San Diego and Oakland. Drago was a combined 2-0 and 0.53 in those efforts, picking up seven strikeouts in 17 innings pitched.

On September 4th Drago gave up one run over eight innings in a win against the Padres. On September 9th Tim shut out the A's on 6 hits, striking out 4.

Tim has gone 3-3 with a 5.19 ERA since moving from the bullpen to the rotation. His nine starts have been erratic, being completely in command for five of them (3-1, 1.78), and completely shelled in three (0-3, 26.51). He took a line drive off his jaw in his most recent start, but had given up only two hits over the first 2 and 2/3.

The Indians salute his efforts as well with their own award (right). Use one to ice your jaw, Tim.

Urena, Indians Reach Impasse

2007-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Team officials are denying it, but it appears that Benji Urena and the Indians are parting way after twelve years together. Sources report the ball club and six-time All Star are too far apart on numbers to hammer out an extension.

Urena is being honored tonight during pre-game ceremonies for his work in the community, and that irony is not lost on Urena's agent, Slade Mead.

"With one hand they are giving him an award, and with the other they are showing him the door," Mead stated. "Benji wanted to end his career in a Cleveland uniform, but it looks like that is not going to happen now. That's too bad for the fans who have followed Benji all these years."

Cleveland drafted the left-handed outfielder out of Chihuahua, Mexico back in the first round in the 2004 amateur draft. Besides six All-Star Games, Urena has amassed over 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs, and 400 stolen bases. He is in the top 20 all time for those categories in addition to doubles (437), triples (98), and average (.319).

Bat Boy + Steroids = ??

2007-09-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

In the news today is this New York Times piece reporting that a federal judge has decided to keep sealed a list of twenty-three names of baseball players who reportedly used performance-enhancing drugs.

The judge denied a request by two major news organizations who wanted to see and, I assume, report on those names. The names were provided by a former bat boy, Kirk Radomski, who worked a plea deal for money laundering and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs in exchange for helping Representative George Mitchell in his Congressional investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

The story reminded me of the earlier Dog and Pony Show held in Congress just before the 2005 season. The hearings were called "Restoring Faith in America's Pastime" and subpoenaed witnesses included Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Frank Thomas, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, and Curt Schilling. Commissioner Bud Selig and a handful of other MLB officials also answered questions.

What most people remember, of course, is Mark McGwire peering over his reading glasses and saying, "I'm not here to talk about the past."

And they hated him for it. How could the man who we all cheered for as he broke one of the most sacred single-season records in the game not simply answer as to whether or not he did so using steroids?

I was disappointed, too, but not only in McGwire. The whole process was a sham. We were deeply involved in two wars, Iraqis were showing us their purple fingers, North Korea was giving us the nuclear finger, and Terry Schiavo's feeding tube commanded the talk shows.

And Congress is questioning major league baseball players about using steroids. Dog and Pony.

If they are going to ask whether or not players are using steroids, are they going to ask why they are using them? Jose Canseco gave them the answer without being asked.

“Why did I take steroids? The answer is simple. Because myself and others had no choice if we wanted to continue playing. Because MLB did nothing to take it out of the sport. ...

“Baseball owners and the players union have been very much aware of the undeniable fact that as a nation we will do anything to win. They turned a blind eye to the clear evidence of steroid use in baseball. Why? Because it sold tickets and resurrected a game that had recently suffered a black eye from a player strike [in 1994]. The result was an intentional act by baseball to promote, condone and encourage the players to do whatever they had to do to win games, bring back the fans, and answer the bottom line.”

Why would Congressmen not pursue Canseco's line of reasoning? Was it their promised sky boxes at RFK Stadium where the Nationals would open play in less than a month? Possibly, but this is Congress, so one must look to politics to find most of the answers.

Canseco's explanation could not be taken as the truth for more than the simple reason that it might require Congress to shift the blame to baseball owners-- a group who regularly make campaign donations. No, Canseco could not be seen as a credible witness because of another allegation he made. In his book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ’Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big, the former Texas Ranger mentioned that one of the part-owners of that team must have known about the rampant steroid use by the players.

And that is one place a Congressional committee was not going to go less than two months after his second inauguration.

Certainly this does not alleviate blame or shame on the players who did use substances. We must, however, remember that players in any sport play by the rules.

Some rules are just unwritten.

Your thoughts? Click on comment.

I have no idea

2007-09-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

Comments?

2007-09-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

Nice kid.

Seriously, the comments work and everything...

Leave a thought.

Indians Preble May Win Relief Award

2007-09-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Trinidad Preble is part of the young nucleus of players Cleveland fans are hoping will bring the glory days back to their city. The twenty-five-year-old righty is known for a biting slider and a no-nonsense approach on the mound.

He's also known for getting a lot of saves, enough to lead the American League .

"When Trinny comes into the game, he works quickly and just gets hitters out," commented Indians catcher Florentino Figuera. "His fastball moves in on hitters, but his out pitch is his slider. Nasty."

Nasty enough to save 37 of the Tribe's 67 wins.

Preble's stats (5-3, 2.10) are not dominating, but he is in only his second major league season. After being called up in the second half of 2016, he pitched well enough (3-4, 2.30, 13 Saves) to be named the team's closer as a rookie. He was represented Cleveland in the All Star Game earlier this year.

Busy

2007-09-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

Been busy the last few days doing this.
More fun stuff shortly.

Famous Broken Bats

2007-09-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

OK. The movie got me thinking about broken bats. Don't ask why. As I was thinking, I began to recall a few broken bats of notoriety. So...

Who can name all of these famous broken bats? [ed note: ok, one of them was more illegal than broken...]

How Bats Are Broken

2007-09-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

And here is how you break bats.

How Bats Are Made

2007-09-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

Smoke Signals

2007-09-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

Indians Attendance Increases

Jacobs Field is not selling out, but there is at least a recent upsurge in attendance to Cleveland games. It is due in part to a renewed marketing effort aimed at reaching out to the once proud baseball town.

On July 31st the Indians began their effort by honoring the achievements of longtime Cleveland slugger Marcos Hernandez in a special pre-game ceremony.

Hernandez has always been a fan favorite, amassing five Gold Gloves at first base and three All-Star appearances in his career with the Tribe. The fans gave Hernandez a standing ovation, many holding up signs saying "We'll miss you, Marcos!"

When reached for comment Hernandez played down the idea that this was his last season with the Tribe.

“I have no idea what those signs were about. Don’t call it a retirement ceremony,” he began. “I’ve worn an Indians uniform for twelve years. I aim to play out my contract. After that, who knows?”

Two other fan appreciation nights, Rawlings Glove Night and Elmer Sweet Bobble Head Night, were tremendous successes according to team officials. On Glove Night the Indians scalped the Twins 18-1. On Sweet Bobble Head Night the Tribe faithful had to wait until the 10th inning for the 1-0 victory.

Cleveland signs Ross Augustus
League officials confirmed today that perennial All-Star Ross Augustus has come out of semi-retirement to sign a contract with the Indians. The former Marlins and Mets standout amassed 2600 hits, 450 home runs, and over 1500 runs batted in before sitting out most of this season.

Tribe Re-signs Abdullah
Team officials and Jesus Abdullah reached agreement on a deal that will keep the former Rookie of the Year winner with the Tribe through his career.

Abdullah will receive $3.8 million for three years. That is a significant reduction from his current salary, but sources close to the situation said that the amount is more reflective of Abdullah's future role with the club.

Indians Deny Gonzalez Deal
The Cleveland Indians are rushing to deny rumors that second baseman Randy Gonzalez was part of an 11^th hour trade which fell apart between Boston, the Indians, and division rival Kansas City just before the league trading deadline. The rumors held that Gonzalez (.305-10-157) would go to the Royals in exchange for Boston infielder Mathew Beauregard (.315-0-22). The remainder of the deal varied according to source, but did seem to center around the Royals Mario Murillo (12-9, 4.48).

“Randy Gonzalez is our second baseman. Period," scowled Indians PR man Albert Belle in a prepared statement.

Yoo Sit Down

2007-09-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

Oakland ace Yoo Ki-son struck out 15 Blue Jays on August 16th, then stuck out 15 Tigers in his very next start on August 21st.

In the Blue Jay game Ki-son did not receive a decision. He was lifted with two outs in the 9th inning with the scored tied 0-0. The A's would win the game in the bottom of the 11th on a two-out single to left field by Wesley Lotts.

Yoo scattered six hits in the game against the Tigers, but was firmly in control the entire night, striking out the side in the 4th.

Yoo is 13-1 so far this season with an ERA of 1.70 and 224 K's.

......................IP..Hits...Runs...ER...BB's...K's
08/16/2007 TOR..8.2...1......0......0.....1.....15
08/21/2007 DET..7.1...6......2......2.....1.....15

Disappearing Ball

2007-09-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

You only need to watch the first :50.

Indians Name Director of Public Relations

2007-09-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Cleveland Indians today called a press conference to name their new director of public relations.

Former All-Star Cleveland outfielder Albert Belle has been appointed to the post. Belle was a Cleveland standout before his career ended prematurely with an arthritic hip.

Mr Belle did not attend the press conference.

NOBL Up And Comers

2007-09-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

Developing a steady stream of major league-ready players to replace aging veterans is not simple. It requires an eye for talent, a knack for trading, and a lot of patience.

And too often, it requires a truckload of ROLAIDS to ease the heartburn of yet another failed prospect. We all have our stories; Steve (HOU) could actually write a book.

But when ability reaches potential, when those blue stars turn gold... and there are still five of them... it is a thing of beauty. You then have an impact player in the league. A player who may rewrite the history books. A player that might lead his team to championships.

Here, we'll take a look at some of the 18-year-old prospects in the league. These boys are fresh out of high school and carry with them the promise of future wins for their ball clubs. Below are five can't miss prospects, in no particular order, who will soon impact the league.

Can't miss? Well, better have the ROLAIDS nearby.

Just in case.

Douglas Ciprian, Atlanta, First Base
Doug is a tremendous athlete. He combines power with excellent defense and good speed on the basepaths. However, his inconsistency prevents him from being a top-tier prospect. He swings for the fences on every pitch, and this will severely limit his impact in the league. If Atlanta can improve Ciprian in this one area they will have a solid contributor for years to come.

Joseph Belt, Florida, Reliever
Joe Belt could be a dominating pitcher in the league. His upside is huge, but he is a long way from it. Potential alone demanded this young hurler be drafted in the first round. Now Florida must patiently move Belt through their minor league system. Some scouts were nervous about Joe's stamina standing up to the stresses of professional baseball, and is very likely why he fell to the Marlins so late in the draft. Should he prove them wrong, this big righthander will shut down major league hitters.

Craig Brown, Houston, Center Field
Prospects have had a rough time in Houston, but the Astros have managed to place some excellent ballplayers on their major league roster, Kyle Giusti and Don Griffie being two examples. Crag Brown may not have that same level of talent, but he could provide some much needed power in a future line-up. He has a very good glove in center field, solid speed, and has hit close to .300 at both Ft. Lauderdale and Long Island. Anyone who can give you power and defense in center field is worth taking note of.

Robert Woodson, Milwaukee, Starter
Robert Woodson is the youngest member of a very talented minor league system in Milwaukee. He already has pinpont control and needs only to work on finding the right location to keep the ball away from the hitters. Woodson looks to develop into a workhorse for the Brewers. If he can make the big league roster in two years, he would be part of a formiddable rotation including Alan Johnson and Roy Lebrun.

Silas Horak, Cleveland, Starter
Cy is a competitor and has good movement on his fastball. That has gotten him this far. To be a productive major league pitcher the young Indian will need to develop better control and learn to keep runners off the basepaths. He will never dominate, but may develop into a reliable if unspectacular member of Cleveland's rotation.

Quick Survey

2007-09-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

There is a survey on the right-hand menu. Please take a moment to fill it out.

Remember, feedback is a gift ;)

Worst Call Ever: When Doves Cry

2007-09-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

But a pretty amazing clip.

For an Old Friend

2007-09-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

Yankees Morales Likely Out for Season

2007-09-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

Yankee pitching took a hit last Friday when right-hander Pedro Morales left the game against the Blue Jays early in the 4th inning. He had just surrendered a 395-foot homer to Toronto shortstop Luis Simmons before regroupinig to face Steven "the Spade" Stogner. He was able to get Stogner to ground out to third base, but landed awkwardly off the mound. He was unable to continue and left the game after giving up 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in 3 and 1/3 innings.

Yankee team physician Dr. Stuart Herson examined Morales over the weekend. An MRI revealed a herniated disk in his lower back. Dr. Hershon told the team not to expect Morales back this season, early October at the earliest.

After a difficult start to 2017 where he lost six of his first seven decisions, Morales has proven to be one of the best arms in the Yankee rotaton. In June he was especially hard on hitters going 2-1 in six starts with a 1.00 ERA in 45.0 innings pitched. That was good enough to be named Pitcher of the Month.

To replace Morales, the Yankees may turn to veteran Henry Nakagawa (4-3, 4.08), young hurler James Caffey (9-9, 4.38) or top prospect David Valentino (3-0, 4.91).

He's a Regular Hitting Machine

2007-09-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

And he hits better than half my team...

Indians Add Veterans

2007-09-06T05:09:00.000-07:00

The Cleveland roster just got a little bit older. The Tribe made room for several veteran free agents by releasing Albert Silva and some non-productive minor leaguers.

Cleveland added venerable outfielders Benji Urena and Edward Barbera. Urena (right) was a first round pick of the Indians back in 2004 and is obviously happy to be reunited with his old team. Barbera spent most of his time with Kansas City and Toronto before being released earlier this year by Boston.

The Indians also signed Howard "Snake Hips" Keeling, Chet "Gunslinger" Gans, Don Ameche, and Wilford Brimley.

Boshears in HR Drought

2007-09-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

Mets first baseman Michael Boshears needs only four homeruns to hit the 400 mark. He would become only the third player in NOBL history to reach the milestone. Ross Augustus is the NOBL all-time leader with 450; Richard Boos is second with 405.

The power-hitting Boshears was a mainstay in Philadelphia from '05 through '12 routinely hitting near .300 and 35-40 homers per season.

Boshears has not found the bleachers since a two-homer game back on June 7th against the Cubs in Wrigley.

Cleveland Pilgrims?

2007-09-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Silva Released, Evans to Buffalo

2007-09-05T20:53:00.000-07:00

The Indians front office optioned outfielder Bill Evans to AAA Buffalo early today and purchased the contract of second baseman Ernest Leachman from the Bisons. Evans seemed caught off-guard by the move, his only comment being, “New management,” as he left the clubhouse Monday night after the game.

Insiders say the move has less to do with Evans’s anemic offensive production and more to do with strengthening his ability to play in the outfield corners. Evans was previously the Indians DH as Elmer Sweet has the center field position locked up. Leachman looks to provide the big league club some depth up the middle and give Al Quinto an occasional rest.

Cleveland has also granted Albert Silva his outright release. Silva was hitting .160 in 50 games for the Indians. A player wishing to remain anonymous told our reporter that veteran starter Pedro Juarez is not happy with the move. Pedro and Silva are first cousins, and the same source revealed that Silva’s tenure with the club was guaranteed through a handshake deal between Pedro and former Indians management.

Indians owner Joe Thomas would not discuss the matter, citing privacy in such matters of personnel. "I hope Silva catches on with another club.

"Neither Pedro nor Albert could be reached for comment.

New Owner Looks to Restructure Indians

2007-09-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

"There's some talent on this ball club, but organizationally it's a mess."

Those were the first words out of the mouth of new Indians owner Joe Thomas at a press conference he called at Jacobs Field yesterday to announce his purchase of the club. "We plan to build a ball club that the fans in Cleveland can be proud of. We look to bring a World Series to this city within five years.

Big words, but how will Thomas move a club filled with veterans and only flashes of talent to the level he speaks of? He acknowledges the future will be difficult.

"At the major league level we are handcuffed by three or four contracts. They will make it challenging to restructure this team into the kind that fans will want to come and see. The league has a hard cap of $85 million, but we really only have about $70 million to work with; the other $15 is tied up in poorly laid plans."

"When you sign a 34-year-old former ace like Jesus Abdullah to a three-year, $36 million deal you are thinking you will someday be devoting a chunk of your resources to a 36-year-old. It's a risk, but it's a risk you take.

"But when you sign a 36-year-old to a four-year, $25 million deal... well, I have no idea what you are thinking."

Thomas was obviously referring to veteran starter Pedro Juarez who has more than two years and $15 million left on his free agent contract he inked with Cleveland back in 2016. The Dominican hurler will be almost 40 when the deal expires.

Not all of the Indians are old, however. Thomas indicated that Cleveland is talented and young up the middle. Centerfielder Elmer Sweet (.294, 12, 56) has blazing speed, stealing 25 of 28 bases this year. Second baseman Randy Gonzalez (.310, 7, 47) has complemented his Gold Glove rookie season by developing tremendous patience and discipline at the plate. Struggling shortstop Al Quinto (.261, 3, 43) is coming off back-to-back .300 seasons. If he can return to form the Tribe may have a solid core to build a contender around.

Most of Thomas's speech was focused on the future so a new-owner assessment of the Indians minor league system was inevitable. The AAA Buffalo Bisons seemed to take most of Thomas's ire.

"There are twenty-one pitchers in Buffalo. Twenty-one. We could play double-headers every day and go extra innings on the weekends. It's ok, really, because it's balanced out by the total of eight pitchers in the rest of our minor league system. That's just good planning."

Thomas indicated he would monitor and assess the rosters of his farm system over the remainder of the season and make significant off-season adjustments based on how the numbers crunch.

"You cannot trade for all of your needs. A healthy farm system is what takes teams to the next level. Look around the league. Where you see teams who every year compete for the pennant you will find minor leaguers making the transition from one level to the next.

“We need to fill our system with more players like Anthony Weil and Juan Urias and fewer like Buster Wiley and Zoilo Munoz. That means we draft smart, trade for what we need, and have a plan so that we don't end up with a backlog of mediocre pitching."

With only a sprinkling of talent at each level in their organization it will take more than bold words and obvious criticisms to right the ship here in Cleveland. New ownership has a lot to prove before anyone should start making plans for October.

Cleveland Plain Dealer

2007-09-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

This blog will be dedicated to musings about the National Online Baseball League.

I couldn't tell you what year I entered the league or even when I left it (somewhere between the second and third child).

I can tell you without hesitation that I have had more fun in it than I ever could have imagined, mainly because of the other participants. In the league we call you owners.

You know who you are. This effort is for you.