Bye Bye, CC...

Well, the Indians and their 2nd worst record in the AL went to drastic measures this weekend. They got rid of last years' Cy Young winner, CC Sabathia. This is a sad, sad day. It was very difficult to see him in a Brewers uni when he was being interviewed on Monday. I can imagine how it would feel to be playing for one team, for as long as he played with the Indians, and then have to walk out on the field for the Brewers.

And the Indians got some prospects in return. And from what I hear, these prospects are real good. I sure hope so, becuause CC was, and is, that good.

It's always tough to see a player you like to watch on your favorite team get traded. But it's a necessary evil. This trade had to happen. It was a matter of time, and the Indians management made the correct decision. And anybody who thinks otherwise is out of their mind.

This season is over, it was over about 2 weeks ago. And this is sad. The hopes for this team were real high, after the season they had last year, everybody coming back and healthy, a Cy Young winner, the best 1-3-4 hitters in the game... This should have been a huge season, but it couldn't be any worse.

They've dealt with injuries and guys just not performing. The list is pretty unreal. Cabrera was a complete waste at the plate, Garko can't hit, Hafner was hurt, Martinez lost all of his power, Blake can't make contact... Look at this lineup and you barely recognize anybody!!

So, this season was lost, CC was gone at the end of the season. They needed to get something out of a trade for him. And they did exactly that. They got some real good prospects, their future is bright.

But look at the pitching the Indians have right now. The cupboard is hardly bare. Starting out with the 11-1 Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers, and Aaron Laffey. They've got some very solid youth. And if some of these prospects they have traded for, and Hafner/Garko/Martinez remember how to hit again??? They aren't that far away from being very good again.

But it's very depressing to see a favorite player get traded, even if it is the right move.

He's still on my fantasy team, and I'm pretty happy he's going to be getting 2 starts this week...

Out of his Misery

Looks like Hafner is finally headed to the DL. Apparently he has had some shoulder problems that a cortizone shot wasn't able to heal. Since he's not the only weak link in the Indians miserable batting order, this is going to be a good thing for both him and the team. They're hitting a putrid .236 at the plate. That's good enough for worst in baseball. I can't imagine it's too far off of the major league record for worst ever.

The real sad part of this is that the pitching is lights out. From CC in the 1 spot to Laffey in the 5. They've been solid. Especially in the last month. It is a shame that it's all being wasted because they can't get anybody on base.

I think the semifinals of the NBA thing are over. If the Celtics won tonight it's goign to be the Lakers and Celtics in the Finals. I'm sure I won't be tuning in. But this matchup reminds me of the wonderful days of Lakers vs. Celtics on the Sega Genesis. Back in the day when the NBA was watchable. That was such a great game. Such epic battles. Oh the memories.

Back to the Indians. I think they've won 3 games in the last 3 weeks. That includes a 5-4 victory over the Royals tonight. And they're still within earshot of the AL Central leading Sox. Who I think are leading by default. The AL Central, which was supposed to be the best division in baseball, is probably the worst. The Indians and Tigers were supposed to be title contenders. The Tigers, and their $137,290,196 payroll, are 9 games under .500. That's sick. The Indians just suck. Their $78 million payroll is meager in comparison.

Speaking of payrolls, the Yanks are in the top spot, $207,108,489, and bringing up the rear is the Marlins, no surprise there, at just over $22.5 mil. I would also like to add the A-Rod and Giambi are both making more than the entire Marlins roster. Read that again. A-Rod is making $28 mil this year. That is over $4 mil more than the ENTIRE MARLINS ROSTER COMBINED!!!!!

That makes me sick.

I don't even want to get started on Giambi. All I'm going to say is that he's getting paid over $23 mil and he's not even hitting .250 with 27 RBIs. Hope he's enjoying himself.

I guess it's tough to hit when you're off the juice.

It sucks having no time...

I have been real busy lately. Working 2 jobs, getting paid like I'm earning unemployment. So is life. I guess this is becoming a weekly recap of the big stories instead of a daily. Whatever, I don't think there's anybody reading anyhow...

First, the Indians haven't won since late May. I don't think they've scored over 2 runs in a game since early May, so I should consider them lucky. They've got a 3-3 tie against the Sox tonight, and I'm already considering it a loss since they can't seem to score more than 3 in a game. So I'm sure the pen, probably Borowski in his first appearance off the DL, will earn the loss. Should be exciting.

No Hafner in the lineup again. No Garko. The Indians are just wasting good start after good start because they can't get any offense going. I blame Wedge for this. At this point, he has to resign to the fact they have to manufacture some runs. Tonght they have 3 solo homeruns. Victor hit a double. I don't think it's possible for him to hit the ball any further.

Martinez still doesn't have a homerun.

And Jim Thome is still getting booed every time he steps up to the plate. Hopefully he hits a homerun here...

I was gone all day yesterday and when I got home I really wanted to see some highlights. I turned on SportsCenter. All they had were press conferences from the NBA game and hockey highlights. I find nothing more miserable than and interview with Kobe Bryant telling the media what he was thinking when he made that ju mper in the 2nd quarter to cut it to a 2 point deficit. Miserable.

Danica Patrick whined like a little bitch after she got hit on pit row in yesterday's Indianapolis 500. Again the little 5 year old had a hissy fit after something bad happened to her in a race. She tried to go after the guy, I don't even know who it is, that bumped her into the rail and put her out of her misery.

For starters, I'm not a race fan. I do, however, find myself watching the 500 every year. I have done so since I was little. I was always a Bobby Rahal fan, because of course he is from Ohio.
It's a race where cars are going over 200 mph. Things are going to happen. Tony Kanaan got knocked out by one of his teammates. And yes, he was a little salty in the post-race interview. Who wouldn't?? But he didn't go stomping his feet like a 5 year old?? Little Bitch Danica got out of her car and tried to confront the guy that knocked into her.

Now, what the fuck was she going to do when she got there??? Seriously??? Was she going to try and pick a fight?? She said in her post-race interview that "...it's a good thing I didn't make it down there..." What??? What was she possibly going to do?? Pick a fight with the guy and his pit crew?? What happens if she tried to throw down and this guy knocks her on her ass?? He's thrown out of Indy, fined, women's groups would be all over him, he would be chastised in the media... I couldn't imagine??

I understand that she was bent out of shape when she got knocked out. I get it. I'd be pretty upset too. But the fact that she got out of the car, started stomping her feet like a 5 year old? Grow the fuck up. Learn how to check your emotions. You look like a fucking loser acting that way. I have a 6 year old daughter. She does not stomp her feet when I tell her that she can't have that plastic crap they sell at Toys R' Us if something doesn't go her way. If she does, she gets a very stern talking to and assures me it will never happen again.

Was she seriously going to throw a punch when she got down there?? Grow up. Bad things happen. And in the words of Denis Leary, "Life sucks, wear a helmet."

Oh wait, I'm watching the Indians offense, there is something on TV more miserable than Kobe talking to the media....

Cabrera just Kd swinging at a ball way out of the zone with guys on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, score tied at 3, in the bottom of the 8th. Hey Wedge, ever hear of a squeeze play?? Or is Asdrubal supposed to hit that 3 run homerun? Figure it out Wedge?????

Best Lineup In Baseball?

I have the time today, the tourney is starting on Thursday, I have to work tomorrow, so I figure I have nothing better to do today than check out the Indians lineup for this upcoming season.

Leading off will be Grady Sizemore. He should be able to build on the All-Star season he had last. He's probably the only true 5 tool player they have in the lineup. Hopefully he will steal some more bases than he did last season. He stole 33 bases last year, up from 22 the previous, but he's really the only speed the Indians have in the lineup. It would be nice to see him steal close to 50 this year.

The 2 spot should be filled by Asdrubal Cabrera. I really think this kid is the real deal. He was fantastic in the field teaming up with Jhonny Peralta up the middle and if he can hit around .300 this season, he will be very effective getting himself on base and moving Sizemore into scoring position for the meat of the lineup.

In the 3rd spot should be Hafner. Hopefully he's a little upset about his dismal performance in the playoffs when I'm still convinced he couldn't see the ball. Although his homerun totals and his average were down considerably last year, he still knocked in 100 runs. Which would tell me that he got some key hits when he needed them. Travis had a wrist injury last season, and I remember Jim Thome had a wrist injury and had a horrible season in the year following but was able to bounce back in a big way the next. Let's bet on Travis having a year like he did in 2006!

Hitting Cleanup will be Victor. Arguably the best hitting catcher in the bigs, he put up some solid numbers last year .301/25/114. I'm guessing he's going to get some more time at 1B to try and keep the knee problems down to a minimum. He should have another big season.

Behind Victor will be Ryan Garko. He had a pretty solid 2nd half of the season and can hopefully take the next step in protecting Victor in the lineup. The more good pitches Martinez gets to see, the better off the Indians are going to be.

Next up will be Jhonny Peralta. After a dismal 2006 both at the plate and in the field, I think he put to rest the thoughts of trade/release/move to 3rd/demotion with the way he played last year.

Casey Blake will be hitting in the 7 spot. This is another guy that put to rest the demons last year. With the acquisition of Andy Marte to play 3rd, and Gutierrez/Michaels/Delucci/Nixon to play the outfield last year. There was a real possibility of a short future in Cleveland. But, we found out that Marte sucked, and we needed a 3rd baseman. He filled in so well that there's really no question about who will be at 3rd this year. Hopefully a little stability will be good for Blake

The 8 spot will be filled with Delucci/Francisco/Michaels. Whoever is playing in the OF that day. I would really like to see them go after a power hitting outfielder this season. Maybe they can give up some pitching to get another big bat in the lineup?

And the end of the lineup will be shored up by Franklin Gutierrez. Another young guy that should hopefully build on the succes he had last year. He had moments of "...We don't need another guy in RF, Gutierrez is our guy!!!" and "...Why is this guy even in a major league lineup???"

Solid lineup from top to bottom. A good mix of vets and younger guys. Let's hope that they can build on last season. Let's hope that they have a little more desire after how last season ended. If nothing else, this should be a very entertaining team, they should have a very good shot to win the AL Central. Times are looking good at Jacob's Field. I'm really looking forward to this season.

I will never call Jacobs' Field, Progressive Field.

And I took these pictures at at Sox-Indians game at US Cellular last season. I know, they're really good....