Entirely impossible, but using your best judgements, hunches, and predictions, what do you honestly think this team will look like next season? From wily veteran free agents, to anticipated prospects, to off-the-radar guys, the team should have a new look next year.

SP's- Cliff, Fausto, Laffey? Huff? Sowers? Miller?

RP's-Raffy L, question mark, question mark, question mark, etc, etc, Miller?, question mark,

MIF- Asdrubal, Carroll, Barfield?, Peralta?

Corner IF- Garko? Blake? Marte? LaPorta? Hodges? Victor? J-hon?

Corner OF- BenFran? Crowe? Gutz? LaPorta? Choo?

Question marks abound on this team, and I'm interested to see what some of you guys think this team will look like at this point next year, and what upcoming players everyone is high on and who you think will be destined for 4A ball for years until they become an All-Star with the Cardinals in 2014.

Byrd vs Kennedy

Sizemore
Cabrera
Hafner
Martinez
Peralta
Garko
Dellucci
Gutierrez
Marte

Marte already has an error on a pretty routine ground ball from Jeter. Hamilton is ripping him pretty bad.

Now Hamilton is saying Marte didn't give enough effort for a foul ball that landed only 2 rows back.

Byrd gets through the first with no problems.

Has been invited to spring training, per ESPN.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3234213

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Donnelly had Tommy John surgery last August, so the Indians are taking a flyer on him in the hope he can provide some late-season bullpen help.

In 27 games, all in relief, with the Boston Red Sox last season, Donnelly was 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA. He went on the 15-day disabled list on June 17 because of what the team said was a strained right forearm.
---

from rotoworld via San Jose Mercury News

The San Jose Mercury News believes Andy Marte is a "strong possibility" to join the Giants as a candidate to start at third.
Marte, who is out of options, is believed to be available in trade talks. He's the kind of youngster the Giants should be looking to gamble on in a year in which they'll have little chance of contending.
Source: San Jose Mercury News

whole article linked below, here's just a few sentences from it. And yes, I'm obviously joking about the diary title.

Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees on Sunday that he's opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned.

The Yankees were preparing an extension to his current contract for either five or six years, believed to be for close to $30 million annually. However, team officials said Boras has politely declined to meet with them in recent days, and they never presented the offer.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/specials/playoffs/2007/10/28/rodriguez.contract/i ndex.html

Great article in the NY Times today, talking about the the new Heritage Park at the Jake, the oddities of this season, and the rise of Astro Cabrera.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/sports/baseball/10chapman.html?ex=1192593600&en=bafebfa4769946 d7&ei=5070

I don't want to cut and paste any parts of the article, so just click on the link above, the read isn't that long.

I would like to hear what you guys think about Westbrook taking the hill tomorrow, and what you expect out of his start, realistically. On the plus side, as has been pointed out on this site, since the All-Star break, he has been one of the top pitchers in the American League. On the down side, he hasn't really fared well against the Yankees or in Yankee Stadium in recent years. Some numbers

Jake, post ASB: 5-5, 3.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .269 BAA. He had an unreal August followed by a highly respectable September

Jake, vs Yankees career: 2-4, 5.29 ERA (47.2 IP), 8 HR

Jake, at Yankee Stadium, career: 1-4, 7.50 ERA (24 IP), 32 H, 20 ER, .317 BAA

Individual Yankees vs. Westbrook:

Abreu: 1-5
M Cabrera: 1-11
Cano: 4-8
Damon: 2-9
Giambi: 6-14, 2 HR, 5 BB, 2K
Jeter: 8-25, 2 2B, 0BB, 2K
Matsui: 5-11, 3 2B, 2BB
Mientkiewicz: 5-21, 1HR, 3BB
Posada: 5-13, 2HR, 9 RBI, 3K
Rodriguez: 9-24, 1HR, 4RBI, 2BB, 4K

Giambi and Matsui both have good career numbers against him, but one of them will probably be on the bench, unless they bench Mientkiewicz, who is a far superior defender than Giambi.

As for Clemens, we all know his resume, but the guy is 56 years old, has all the "mystique" and is also coming off some elbow (?) problems. I could easily see him getting either torched or him doing very very well against us, using his big-game experience (TM), the hostile Yankee Stadium to a bunch of young playoff newcomers, and a lot of the guys on our team not facing him before.

Individual Indians vs. Clemens:

Blake: 3-9, 1K
Hafner: 1-3, 1K
Lofton: 14-62, 10BB, 19K (.342/.290/.633)
Martinez: 0-2, 1K
Peralta: 0-5, 2K
Cabrera, Garko, Gutierrez, Sizemore: Never faced

And so, I'm interested in hearing everyone's realistic predictions for tomorrow. As for myself, I don't think this game will be decided by the 2 starters.

Red Sox Lineup:

1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
   
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
   
3. David Ortiz, DH
   
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
   
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
   
6. J.D. Drew, RF
   
7. Jason Varitek, C
   
8. Coco Crisp, CF
   
9. Julio Lugo, SS

1. Chone Figgins, RF
   
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
   
3. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
   
4. Garret Anderson, LF
   
5. Macier Izturis, 3B
   
6. Casey Kotchman, 1B
   
7. Howie Kendrick, 2B
   
8. Mike Napoli, C
   
9. Reggie Willits, CF

Not sure if we'll get enough activity just for this one game or if it will be conversing for all games, but as a Philadelphian, though not really a Phillies fan, I'm excited to see the Phils in the playoffs. Should be a good game.

Matsui 2B
Tulowitzki SS
Holliday LF
Helton 1B
Atkins 3B
Hawpe RF
Spilborghs CF
Torrealba C
Francis P

Rollins SS
Victorino RF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Rowand CF
Burrell LF
Helms 3B
Ruiz C
Hamels P

From the Canton Rep
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=374200&subCategoryID=28

Andy Marte, Juan Lara, and Mujica were all called up today.

No Choo, Sowers, or M Miller.

Lara appeared in nine games for Cleveland last year, but had not pitched in a game this season. Mujica was called up for the fifth time this summer. He has allowed 12 runs in 12 2/3 big-league innings (8.53 ERA). Marte began the season as the Indians' starting third baseman, but was optioned to Buffalo on May 28 and never returned. He batted .267 with 17 doubles, 16 home runs and 60 RBIs in 96 Triple-A games.

Claimed off waivers from the Orioles. Official press release says he'll be put on the 25-man tomorrow

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070809&content_id=2 139449&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

Gomez, 36, hit .302 (51-169) with the Orioles in 2007 with 10 doubles, one triple, one home run and 16 RBI in 73 games. The versatile infielder has made starts at all four infield positions, making 18 starts at third base (25G), 10 starts at shortstop (10G), nine starts at first base (36G) and five starts at second base (6G). Gomez has hit .310 (31-100) off RHP, .290 (20-69) off LHP and .329 (23-70) with runners on base. He is also hitting .310 (18-58) in the second half.

Pronk to the DL? Astro or Barf to Buffalo?

Cleveland Indians send Branyan to Philadelphia Phillies for cash

The Indians traded Branyan to the Phillies for cash considerations today after signing him to a minor league contract on Tuesday following his release from San Diego. Branyan will join Philadelphia's big-league club later today.

--
He went 0-4 with 3K's last night and bought the Bisons post-game spread, then left for Philly.

Has failed another drug test, per AP/ESPN

"DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez was suspended for 80 games Friday after testing positive for a third time for a banned stimulant.

Perez was suspended for 25 games on July 6 when he tested positive for a second time. Under baseball's labor contract, a player who tests positive for the first time is sent for counseling.

Perez has been the only player suspended by baseball for stimulants since baseball banned them before the 2006 season."

With no Tribe game and no new trade rumors popping up, let's focus in on the Bisons, there's a few newsworthy things happening tonight.

We're in the bottom of the 3rd, and its 2-2 right now. Aaron Laffey has gotten his last start before joining the Tribe. He gave up a double to start the game, a sac bunt and ground ball later it is 1-0. The cleanup hitter hits a home-run. 2-0 Syracuse. The last out is recorded via flyball to Devil Ray killer Ben Francisco.

Syracuse goes down easily in the 2nd, with 3 ground ball outs. Good stuff.

In the Syracuse 3rd, a bunt out, a walk, and a 4-6-3 double play gets Laffey out of the inning.

On the offensive side, Asdrubal Cabrera is leading off, and lined out to short in his first AB. His at-bat in the second was an inning ending double play. His third at-bat he grounded out to first. Oh well.

Buffalo has scored on a bases loaded walk and a sac fly by the immortal Keith Ginter.

So to summarize for those keeping score, through 3.5 innings, Laffey: 3IP 2H 2R 1BB 0K 7GB outs

Cabrera: 0-3

from rotoworld:
Brewers acquired RHP Scott Linebrink from the Padres for RHP Will Inman, LHP Joe Thatcher and LHP Steve Garrison.
It seems like a very high price to pay to get a setup man for 9 1/2 weeks. However, don't think for a second that both sides weren't also factoring in just how much the draft picks that Linebrink will bring at the end of the season are worth. Linebrink has struggled of late, and now that he's out of Petco, his tendency to give up homers will become a bigger problem. Still, he's durable and he'll induce fewer heart attacks than Derrick Turbnow. Besides improving the bullpen, this frees up Turnbow in case the Brewers want to use him to acquire a hitter (Jermaine Dye?). Jul. 25 - 6:21 pm et

I know Ryan didn't include Linebrink in his Summer Shopping post, but I think he would have been a solid pickup, though I'll admit I don't know the quality of prospects San Diego got in return.

Does this guy have more upside than Sowers? All I know is they are both lefties who don't light up radar guns, but what makes Huff different/possibly better than JS?

Apparently he's a guy who is going to be fast tracked, and has a 31/9 K/BB ratio in 8 starts so far this year.

Please enlighten me to what we could possibly be looking at. Is he our #3 starting prospect?

"We projected it would take two years for him to be adequate at that position," Farrell said. "When we looked at the pace he was on as an offensive player, we weren't willing to slow that down."

There's also talk about Aubrey, Peralta, and Carmona in the article. Interesting how Crowe will be playing left because of Ellsbury. This is also good because there's a man named Grady in center in Cleveland.

This is a lot of wishful thinking but..what if Mastny ends the season perfect or almost perfect in save situations? Hamilton has said the past two nights that he probably won't be (which is realistic) the closer next season.

Well, what if he is lights out the next 6 weeks? Are they really going to overpay for an Eddie Guardado? The closers market doesn't have a BJ Ryan this year. He may not have the most dominant stuff, but what he does do is throw strikes, has composure (which Carmona/Cabrera/JD do not) and throw from various arm angles that make it hard for the hitter to see the ball. The guy's always had solid numbers and K/BB and K/9 ratio everywhere he's pitched.

Just some wishful thinking during the dog days of August :)

Trevor Crowe has made his second base debut tonight in Harrisburg.

Crowe started the game in centerfield, and the Aeros have blown the game open, currently leading 11-3. Crowe moved from CF to 2B in the bottom of the 8th inning, with Valdez taking his spot in the outfield.

Between Crowe's first game at 2nd and Miller's first game in AAA, quite an eventful off day for the big league club and the organization.

This is great news, and to anyone with the video subscription to milb.com, he's supposedly starting this 2nd game of the doubleheader starting soon (it's currently 8:15pm EST).

He didn't have his best stuff his last start in Akron, but this is exciting none the less. In the first game of the night, Buffalo lost to Scranton 6-4. This upcoming game is a virtual must win for the Bisons playoff chances, it'll be nice to see Miller's first start with some added pressure in a playoff race.

No game tonight from the big league club got me thinking of potential lineups for this year and beyond. When scrolling through message boards, what stumps me is everyone's free agent fantasies is that we are looking for a power-hitting first baseman. In my opinion, I believe we already have one in the making, in the form of Ryan Garko.

In my mind, Garko was suffering from the blues that so many minor leaguers go through in repeating a level of the minor leagues. In an attempt to grab the front office's attention, Garko was swinging for the fences, thus the decline in his overall average/OBP/SLG. I've seen him play at Buffalo, and already in his brief stint in Cleveland, he already has a presence at the plate. His BB/SO rate isn't overwhelmingly impressive, but acceptable for a power-hitter. He's always flirted with the 20-25 homer mark throughout the minors, and it's easy to see 25-30 homerun potential with 500 plate appearances in a season. Both he and Victor are converted catchers, and in my opinion, Garko's defense at first base is better than Martinez's.

One thing that is a theme with almost every World Series champion is quality defense up the center of the diamond. Kelly Shoppach is a fine defensive catcher with a rifle of an arm. Though they obviously haven't had the same amount of chances, Shoppach has gunned down close to 50% of would-be basestealers, in comparison to Victor's below 10 percent. Shoppach currently has a line of .262/.314/.431 for a 745 OPS, which if held up through an entire season, would rank 7th among everyday catchers in the American League. Victor is obviously 2nd in OPS of catchers behind Joe Mauer.

Of course, Victor cannot throw a runner out to save his life, is possibly the slowest runner in the league, and currently ranks 3rd in the league in grounding into double plays (was 1st in this category less than a week ago). In terms of ERA of who's catching, it's pretty much a toss-up with Victors CERA of 4.58 and Shoppach's 4.54. For defensive sabermetric statheads, Shoppach also has a higher zone factor than Martinez.

This leads to the conundrum: IF Garko pans out to what many of us (have) projected him to be, and IF Shoppach remains a great defensive catcher with even decent pop with the bat, what do you do with Victor Martinez? DH? Unlikely, as one Mr. Pronk will hopefully be vacating that spot for the forseeable future.

My opinion if those possible "IF's" (and they are IF's), happen? Trade Victor Martinez. A good-hitting catcher in a sport for the most part that is lacking them? He should have very good trade value, and would allow the team to fill some other holes in the big league club and throughout the minor league organization. I would surely take the offensive hit of Shoppach over Martinez if it meant above average defense behind the plate and a power stick at first base.

Sorry to those Victor lovers about the post, or those who couldn't think about trading our "cleanup hitter", but I was never a huge fan of keeping or trading "core players", especially ones like Martinez who has his fair share of flaws.

Just some food for thought during an off-day for the Tribe :)

According to the Akron Beacon Journal today, Trevor Crowe took batting practice and was running the bases at full-speed, and now could be back as early as Thursday. Considering this originally looked really serious, this is very good news!

``His recovery is going very well,'' said Antonetti, who was on the field for batting practice monitoring the Tribe's first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2005 draft.

``He ran the bases today full speed, so we'll see how he responds tomorrow and go from there. Barring any setbacks, he could be back in the lineup by the end of the week.''

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/baseball/minor_league/akron_aeros/15178439.htm