santana to 3rd base? Seems like that is a favorite thing for the Tribe...players that can play multiple positions.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/cleveland-indians-carlos-santana-to-play-third-base-in-winter-ball?ymd=20131204&content_id=64387182&vkey=news_cle

Now we're looking to spend!

Ben Nicholson of Sportsnet.ca reports that the Rangers, Indians, Rays, Red Sox and Blue Jays are among the teams with interest in free agent Jamey Carroll.

Carroll is 39 years old and batted just .211/.267/.251 in 249 plate appearances this past season, but it sure sounds like he'll find a guaranteed major league contract. Carroll can play all around the infield. Talks are expected to heat up at next week's Winter Meetings.

Antonnetti "foresaw" the price increases this year.....
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/anthony-castrovince-indians-steer-clear-of-wild-winter-spending-spree?ymd=20131206&content_id=64455048&vkey=news_cle

HitsRus;1549440 wrote:Antonnetti "foresaw" the price increases this year.....
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/anthony-castrovince-indians-steer-clear-of-wild-winter-spending-spree?ymd=20131206&content_id=64455048&vkey=news_cle

Looks like this offseason ended early then.

Pitching is the central focus, because the Indians seem to feel good enough about the offense, now that Murphy is aboard as a left-handed bat, to let it ride.

well, it's official...the Indians won the Ubaldo for Pomerantz and White trade with the Rockies. UJ was good enough to be the main factor in the Tribe's surge to the Wild card last year, while White tuned out to be a mess for the Rockies and was jettisoned last year....and now Pomerantz has been dispatched to the A's, having produced next to nothing for the Rockies in his tenure with them.
http://www.purplerow.com/2013/12/11/5199146/closing-a-chapter-in-rockies-history-reflecting-on-the-ubaldo-jimenez-trade

The Rocks have acquired Brett Anderson for Drew...and a case could be made that Anderson could turn out to be something...but the fact is the Rockies received nothing of value in between.

Even though now that UJ is a free agent, the Tribe rode his brilliant second half 2013 performance into the playoffs....and at least some people think he could fall back into a Tribe Uni in 2014 if all goes well.

I for one...wouldn't mind him back at all.

HitsRus;1552759 wrote:well, it's official...the Indians won the Ubaldo for Pomerantz and White trade with the Rockies..

Where's footwedge?!

JK, I told that dumbf*ck from the get-go how likely it would be that we won the trade based on the statistical likelihood of pitching prospects panning out.

FWIW, here's the article I'm referring to.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jimenez-deal-forces-closer-look-082900068--mlb.html

^^^It's interesting to read that article in retrospect, and really, I think if you are honest, the Indians 'win' of that deal was almost by default....they didn't get the better of that deal because UJ was that great....but because Pomerantz and White turned to sh**. The Indians did get a good half a season from Ubaldo...and he carried them thru an exciting run at the wild card, for whatever that was worth. Certainly fans didn;t stampede the gates during the September run, and there is little evidence to suggest that Tribe season ticket holders will double for next season. Most likely, Jiminez will be gone (albeit with a good draft pick to show for it)....and whatever good feelings we got out of the run last year will dissipate at the first swoon of the new season.

So far, the Indians haven't done anything to this off season to create any excitment or hope for a better next year. They seem to be content to stand pat....much like 2008, the year after coming within a game of the World Series in 2007.

3 weeks ago, the Indians non tendered Tyler Cloyd and September hero Matt Carson making them free agents...today they re- signed them both. Lou Marson was also non tendered...he's still out there.

The Tribe solidified the bullpen today signing John Axford...reported terms are that it is a 1 year deal worth $4.5 million plus incentives....The Indians have not oficially commented, but I sure hope they got an option. [edit: tribe does not need an option as Axford has arbitration years left.]Axford is coming off a Jekyll and Hyde year where he sucked for the Brewers, was traded to the Cardinals and then finished strong. He has closer experience, and is expected to assume that role for the Tribe.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/right-hander-john-axford-nearing-agreement-with-cleveland-indians?ymd=20131215&content_id=64720546&vkey=news_cle

The Tribe also picked up another reclamation project, signing free agent starting pitcher Shaun Marcum formerly of the Mets to a minor league contract...a very similar deal to what was given to Scott Kazmir....which means if they can rehab him back to form, he'll be gone this time next year just like Scott.
Marcum has pieced together some pretty decent numbers over an eight year injury plagued career.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle/indians-to-give-shaun-marcum-a-shot-at-rotation-spot?ymd=20131216&content_id=66017692&vkey=news_cle

Soon after the Tribe deals were announced....the Tigers' Dave Dombrowski was seen at his desk....

Matt Albers has signed with the Astros....

Ugh...Tribe deals Stubbs to the Rockies for left-handed relief pitcher Josh Outman. I liked Stubbs, but I cannot say the Tribe and Francona knew how to utilize his speed. Quite frankly, I bitched all season about them not being aggressive enough when he was on base. There were plenty of opportunities lost when he could have attempted to steal and get in scoring position, only to see him wither on first base. As a guy who loves the running game, I'm sorry to see him go, but I understand that it just doesn't fit with Tito's in game managing. The Tribe gets a good match-up lefty out of the pen. I'm okay with it.

Thought I would break up 5 posts in a row by our Tribe Man, Hits.

Your optimism is an inspiration to me.

WTF...I just keep putting the stuff out there but all the Tribe fans are silent. Plenty of Reds fans talking, but you'd think Cleveland fans would turn to baseball as the Browns are in the tank .

HitsRus;1555035 wrote:WTF...I just keep putting the stuff out there but all the Tribe fans are silent. Plenty of Reds fans talking, but you'd think Cleveland fans would turn to baseball as the Browns are in the tank .

These moves just do nothing to excite me. I'm still pissed they didn't insert a club option on kazmir. That was fucking stupid.

Also I'm in favor of the Stubbs trade. We essentially now traded choo for another guy in our pen, and a prospect. I like that.

like_that;1555039 wrote:These moves just do nothing to excite me. I'm still pissed they didn't insert a club option on kazmir. That was fucking stupid.

Also I'm in favor of the Stubbs trade. We essentially now traded choo for another guy in our pen, and a prospect. I like that.

This. I just don't think there was room for Stubbs. with him gone we don't need to shuffle the line up every day to get people playing time.

^^^ I don't disagree with any of that..."These moves just do nothing to excite me. I'm still pissed they didn't insert a club option on kazmir. That was fucking stupid."

....and yet they still did the same thing with Marcum. Mickey Callaway will rehab another guy and he'll be gone next year like Kazmir (that's if we are lucky and Marcum does well)...either way he'll be gone next year. SMFH. It's a no win strategy.

...and I agree with the the unexciting moves...they are lateral moves....replacing the guys we lost, and nothing more. The Stubbs trade is a little more 'exciting" but in a negative way. It just reminds me of how underutilized our team speed was last year. It's hard to criticize Tito....but to me, it was a weapon that he never employed.

This feels like the winter of 2007 all over again.

They had a touch of success and are nibbling around the edges assuming they will have the same good fortune again and don't need to tangibly improve the ballclub.

The Dolan's have always talked about being ready to spend when it was time to win, and now that we are coming off a playoff season they will be content again to cash in on the extra ticket sales/enthusiasm heading into next year without putting out any extra money in payroll.

I am just so over the "woe is me we're one step from poverty" tale that Shapiro/Dibiasio/Antonetti try and sell every single year when it is completely ridiculous and false.

I just don't think this team was good enough (with the guys we were losing) to think that going into next year largely unchanged is going to lead to an improvement in the win total.

I think the pitching is going to be an issue next year. They were actually relatively healthy, with 5 starters making 24 or more starts (3 of the 5 had 29 or more starts). What are the chances really that it holds up like that again?

Much of the hitting was smoke and mirrors stuff. We still don't have that middle of the order power bat or run producer we have needed for too long. We got contributions from a bunch of guys (which is good) but there is just no one in this line-up that strikes fear in people's hearts. Not one guy hit over .300. Our team average wasn't terrible, but everything is just middle of the road.

I am ready for pitchers and catchers to report already just because I like having baseball around. I am hoping my enthusiasm picks up in the next 6 weeks as it gets closer.

I am just tired of Tribe fans being the kid at Christmas every year who gets no toys. We get socks and underwear. That may be practical and functional, but it's not fun.

I think the pitching is going to be an issue next year. They were actually relatively healthy, with 5 starters making 24 or more starts (3 of the 5 had 29 or more starts). What are the chances really that it holds up like that again?

The pitching was good last year because of the emergence of Kluber and McCallister, along with the rebirth of Ubaldo and Scott Kazmir....and Joe Smith was a bulwark out in the pen. Matt Albers was pretty decent ,too. Now 3 pieces of that are gone for sure replaced by lesser qualities. Ubaldo has to fall back into their lap just for sideways movement in quality. I probably could be more forgiving if Justin Masterson was inked for a few more years...we'll be waiting to see what happens.
It is interesting to contrast the movements of the Tigers ( the team to beat in the divsion), and the Royals( the other team to watch)....those teams have made real movements to stregthen their weakness and for the long term. The Indians are at best, treading water....trying to patch holes where the talent is leaking away.

IggyPride00;1555143 wrote:
I am just tired of Tribe fans being the kid at Christmas every year who gets no toys. We get socks and underwear. That may be practical and functional, but it's not fun.

Great analogy!

You know, I wish that someone who has a fantasy baseball mindset and a crapload of money would buy the team lol. Heck, I have a financial mind. Anyone got $350M+ that they could lend me? I'll make you a contender!

IggyPride00;1555143 wrote:This feels like the winter of 2007 all over again.

They had a touch of success and are nibbling around the edges assuming they will have the same good fortune again and don't need to tangibly improve the ballclub.

The Dolan's have always talked about being ready to spend when it was time to win, and now that we are coming off a playoff season they will be content again to cash in on the extra ticket sales/enthusiasm heading into next year without putting out any extra money in payroll.

I am just so over the "woe is me we're one step from poverty" tale that Shapiro/Dibiasio/Antonetti try and sell every single year when it is completely ridiculous and false.

I just don't think this team was good enough (with the guys we were losing) to think that going into next year largely unchanged is going to lead to an improvement in the win total.

I think the pitching is going to be an issue next year. They were actually relatively healthy, with 5 starters making 24 or more starts (3 of the 5 had 29 or more starts). What are the chances really that it holds up like that again?

Much of the hitting was smoke and mirrors stuff. We still don't have that middle of the order power bat or run producer we have needed for too long. We got contributions from a bunch of guys (which is good) but there is just no one in this line-up that strikes fear in people's hearts. Not one guy hit over .300. Our team average wasn't terrible, but everything is just middle of the road.

I am ready for pitchers and catchers to report already just because I like having baseball around. I am hoping my enthusiasm picks up in the next 6 weeks as it gets closer.

I am just tired of Tribe fans being the kid at Christmas every year who gets no toys. We get socks and underwear. That may be practical and functional, but it's not fun.

With last year's attendence, tribe fans deserve a shit product. And a shit product they will get.

Footwedge;1556091 wrote:With last year's attendence, tribe fans deserve a shit product. And a shit product they will get.

So you're saying we need to line the Dolan's pockets more than we have before we're allowed any better players to watch?

Do car companies build a better car in hopes they get your business, or do we give them a bunch of money first and hope maybe they will build one that doesn't fall apart when leaving the lot?

The Dolan's business model is ass backwards.

He put a good product out on the field last year and nobody came.....not until the last week. I do agree that he needs to follow up on that a bit. If he can bring back Ubaldo and extend Masterson, I'd be damn happy.

HitsRus;1556256 wrote:He put a good product out on the field last year and nobody came.....not until the last week. I do agree that he needs to follow up on that a bit. If he can bring back Ubaldo and extend Masterson, I'd be damn happy.

I agree about last year, but unfortunately there is so much built up resentment toward the Dolan's for their years of penny pinching ways that it is going to take a sustained period of that for people to ever think of trusting them again.

They have no credibility in the city of Cleveland, and when entertainment dollars are already stretched people are loath to give their money to people like the Dolans.

It is too bad that when he was holding yearly fire sales he didn't think of the long term damage he was doing to the Indians brand. That kind of thing is not turned around in just one year.