The Kerry Wood Signing

This off season has been almost exactly what I thought it was going to be like for the Tribe: making one key signing, a trade or two, and then nothing else. It is hard to be active in the off season when the GM has such a small budget to work with. You have to give Shapiro credit he is doing the best he can with very little resources, he has crafted a team that can win now, who knows whether or not they will.

Now onto the off season move.

The Kerry Wood signing

I really like this move for the Tribe. When I look back on the 2008 season the tribe had to major issues: closing out games, and scoring runs. The signing of Kerry Wood gives the Tribe a legitimate closer with the poise and stuff that we have needed in Cleveland for a long time.

The Starting pitchers will also feel more comfortable knowing that they have a closer and now overall a stronger pen to take over for them. It takes some pressure off the offense as well they don't have to score as many runs to ensure the that the game is in hand.

Why are you so high on this guys stuff you might ask?

Well let's see here he did strike out 24 batters in one game once. If you don't get the magnitude of that there are only 27 outs to get. So he so 24 of 27 outs were through strike outs....That's insane. His stuff can be down right dirty.

Let's look at some of his career stats.

• 3.65 ERA
  
• 1.25 WHIP
• .215 BAA
• 10.4 K's/9IP

Those were mostly accumulated as a starter now look at his stats as a closer:

• 3.26 ERA
• 1.09 WHIP
• .219 BAA
• 11.5 K's/9IP

Those numbers really do translate well into being closer. Players don't get to base often and they don't make it around to score even less. Exactly what you want in a closer. Plus is his stuff is damn near terrifying. All things that are needed in closer.

I don't know how you feel about the Wood signing but I am definitely buying a Kerry Wood jersey. Hey I need some pitcher to root for now that CC is raking in the dough.

The Draft

Well the draft has come and gone, and well all I really know about are the first two round draft picks.

Number 1 draft pick for the Indians at pick number 29 was Lonnie Chisenhall, player third base at Pitt CC a Juco school in North Carolina. He played Third base in college but well he isn't exactly a third baseman. So, in actuality he is just a hitter without a position. He will be playing somewhere in the infield though by the time he gets the call. He is a line drive hitter and that is about it. He doesn't posses the Elite power you would like to see, but he makes contact and gets on base. Scouts believe that he was mostly taken far above his talent. He is a bat, but not at a position we truly need right now, he is also not the best player available. I am truly puzzles by this actually. I hope you know something I don't mark Shapiro.

Second round was a big H.S. pitcher from Texas i believe. nothing special, but will be solid. that is about all I have on the guy.

signed,
Chengy

6/2/08 @ Texans 13-9 win

AAAHHHH what a great sight for sore eyes an Indians win.

It was a great offensive game for the Tribe. They hit 4 2-run homers. And had a man on base in every inning, and scored multiple runs in multiple innings. This is a great sign for a team that his been struggling all season long with the bat. This just wasn't a little slump it literally lasted all season long, it is good to see this happening.

Casey lake went absolutely crazy, 2 2-run homer, and a base clearing double for a total of 7 rbi woot man he is been good all year.

Some other game notes:

• Shin Soo-Choo was on base every time he was up to bat
• Grady Sizemore didn't get a hit nor a run yet they still scored 13 runs (reminds me of last year)

The one problem that we had last last night was at Starting Pitching. Aaron Laffey has been pitching very well this whole season, then he hit a wall last night and gave up 8 runs. I do not think that this is a bad sign. The Texans are the best offensive team in all of baseball and on an incredible hot streak. Plus he had a huge lead so it wasn't like he had to be perfect. He wasn't. The one thing I have noticed about Laffey is that he is best when the pressure is on, I.E. the playoffs last year, he shut down the Red Sox.

Alright this where we stand:

• 26-31 for third in the division and 4.5 games behind the White Sox, the Sox have been having a lot of issues as of late.
• 5 in the MLB in total pitching
• The offense is in the lower half of the league still.

Game tonight At the Texas Rangers.
Starting pitchers.

Tom Mastny (10.80) vs. A.J. Murray (3.38)

Holliday and Atkins to the Indians?

Yes I know it sounds crazy but I think that it is a very real possibility. The Indians will probably go after just one of the those two; however, I believe they can get both.

Sure it sounds like I am talking crazy but I am really not. The Indians as an organization has exactly what the Rockies need, pitching pitching pitching. This goes through every single level of the organization. Plus we have many other fairly good prospects to go along with the pitching.

The Rockies are not going to win this year nor next year, so why keep Holliday. I am sure that we all know that Holliday will walk after the 2009 season for a bigger contract, way of the game. So, you have to look at it this way. The Rockies are going to lose Holliday either way so why not trade him and get some good possibly great prospects. That will come fairly inexpensive.

Atkins is the same boat basically, except they have a highly-touted thirdbaseman, Ian Stewart, still waiting in the wings to take over, trading Atkins would allow Ian Stewart to take over, and make the move to the young players that the Rockies want to accomplish.

Here are the Players for the Indians I would include in the deal.

1. Jeremy Sowers- He had a little bit of a rough start last season but it looks like he is back, he pitched well in the two games he pitched in the majors, only 3 Earned runs in both starts. One against the Yanks (with A-rod and Posada) and against Cinci when they were getting hot. He also has a 2.08 in AAA with 60.2 innings pitched.
2. Adam Miller- The Indians number one pitching prospect, 1.88 era in just under 30 IP.
3. Brad Snyder- What looks like the most polished OF prospect down in AAA.
4. Shin Soo-Choo- Yes he is 27, but he can hit. He looks good and he still has a young everything. The Indians will have a hard time parting with him but it has to be done.
   
5. Ryan Garko- Sure the Rockies still have Helton, but he is getting older and Garko is a very solid firstbaseman, he still has the time to blossom into a great hitter.
6. Jeff Stevens- another great pitching prospect, a 2.51 era with 3o innings in AA ball
7. Randy Newsome- Yet another good pitching prospect, in the Indians Organization. He has a 1.09 era in 25 innings pitched in Class-AA.
   
8. A player to be named later.

Sure it looks like the Indians are giving up a lot to get Holliday and Atkins, but the tribe really needs some Offense. Even while losing all that pitching the Indians have some very good, pitching prospects down in Class-A and AA. This would be great for both teams, Rockies will get some Good to Great Pitching Prospects (something they have always wanted) and some everyday players.

Now if this deal gets made lets look at the Indians Batting Lineup.

1. Grady Sizemore- just a great player all the way around.
2. Ben Francisco- will be playing RF and get hit with the best of them.
3. Hafner- I am sure once he gets his shoulder fixed he will be back.
4. Martinez- Still a great player, still can hit, still has at least 5 good years left.
5. Holliday- A superstar enough said.
6. Peralta- a good hitting Shortstop
7. Atkins- this will cut down At bats but I am sure with this lineup he will still get a lot of ABs and RBIs
8. Beau Mills- Firstbaseman with great power, tearing up Kinston right now. (picture at the right)
   
9. Asdrubal Cabrera- the best place for him.

• Casey Blake might be gone but if not he will become a Utility player and good one at that.
• Franklin Gutierez- the 4th outfielder with great defense and speed.
• Jamey Carroll- Probably gone but still would be a serviceable MI who does all the small things.
• Michael Aubrey- a backup firstbaseman who will be great as a backup
• Shopach- Still need a backup catcher, and his defense is good if it isn't him then it will be Alex Castillo

The Starting rotation

1. Fausto Carmona- in contract for many years to come, will be the ace.
2. C.C. Sabthia- if he isn't gone (I don't think he will be)
3. Aaron Laffey- this guy is special
4. Cliff Lee- he won't repeat this year's numbers but he will still be more than solid
5. Jake Westbrook- worked on his breaking ball and changeup, both are strikeout pitches and he looks better than ever.

The bullpen

1. Jensen Lewis- 6th and long term
2. Rafael Betancourt- 7th possibly eight inning depending on if he rebounds.
3. Rafael Perez- 8th inning (set up guy)
4. Masahide Kobayashi- closer, Blowrowski will be gone.
   

That bullpen if they all return to form will be able to shorten any game, plus you want your better relief pitchers out their, the sooner to get to your closer.

I think that the deal would be great for both teams. In my opinion atleast.

Tell me what you think thank you.