Jim Ingraham at the News-Herald had a little blurb about what he reckons ails Travis Hafner.

He sites the offer Pronk turned down saying:

According to one source, the deal Hafner turned down from the Indians was for five years and $70 million. Another source said that's a little high, that the offer was actually one year and $10 million less than that.

Does the vacuum-like sound of money being sucked from Travis's theoretical future wallet during his (at this time) mediocre season drown out the inner-batting dialog that led to his previous success?  Or will Travis mash for the rest of the season and quickly make 5/70 or 4/60 look like chump change reserved for the likes of chumps and Trot Nixon?  Well, maybe not Pie Man, but you get the idea.

SportsTime Ohio airs a Spring Training Daily show.  According to the website it looks like it a half-hour program starting at 7 (all times pm).  The same show is re-aired at 7:30 and 10:00.

The part I saw featured Casey Blake wearing a camo-festive duck baseball hat.  Good stuff.  (They talked to Blake and then Delucci, standard kind of stuff).

Firstly, small sample size noted.  But since this is the interweb, it's time to take out your jump-to-conclusions mats.

My initial concern with Marte was that two (usually savvy) teams trading him in one offseason.  This is not to rehash all those old arguments; I understood why Atlanta and Boston needed/wanted to move him.  Ostensibly, it made sense, but personally it was still a point of concern.  I wouldn't say I was railing against the trade; I was willing to trust Shapiro to make the right move.

Having seen Marte, I can't say my concerns have been mollified.  I know he's only had a handful (or two) of at-bats, but his pitch selection seems really poor to me, especially on the breaking ball - not so much that he doesn't make solid contact, but that he can't differentiate between a strike and a ball.  And it looks like he has a pretty sizeable hole in his swing (Admittedly I'm no professional scout, just a watcher of baseball games).  Couple that with the Indians seeming reluctance to bring him up and the fact they're kind of "kid-glovey" with him (sitting him against certain pitchers and playing Boone instead - yikes) and I find myself increasingly worried.

Maybe that is my lot in life, worrying about the Indians or maybe I'm onto something.  So, I leave it to you, let's go tribe friends:  Is this bit of Marte's career a meaningless slump in an all-star-laden career or is it a portend of very bad things to come (or somewhere in the middle, even though that's usually right, doesn't it feel like a copout?)  

(Also, I'm wondering what his current projection is after factoring in this year's numbers.)

Would Let's Go Tribers be interested in organizing/attending a group outing to an Indians game?  I have attended a few events where you get a little hot dog reception before the game and then (obviously) seats.  It might be fun to get together in real life and argue the relative merits of Aaron Boone's calm clubhouse demeanor.  Or it might be boring and awkward - not sure, just trying to get a general idea of any interest.  (Come to think of it I may have suggested it during the compendium days, but that was a while ago.)

Of course all the Indians management that lurks around here looking for player personnel ideas will have to attend in disguise.

This is from something called Phillyburbs.com:

Michaels dealt to Cleveland.

He then goes on to say we're trading Crisp for Mota.  The fact that he's not mentioning Marte at all could mean he's getting information somewhat independently of the larger rumor.  OR it could he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Ha ha, now this must be some kind of joke as he then says, "Meantime, Michaels likely will get a chance to become the Indians' regular center fielder  . . . "  So you're telling me there's a chance?

Kind of funny, kind of true, little old, nothing new.  Not sure why I put a rhyme together there . . . via the onion.

This is the section where I "think" more because I need to have a minimum of 300 characters.  I have to think even MORE.  Ummm, I think I'm disappointed in this offseason.  I would have liked to see the Tribe improve the team in some way.  Doesn't look like that's going to happen.

Anyone have any idea if we had any interest in Reggie Sanders?  I didn't hear anything about the INDIANS having interest, though there was some interest expressed on the blog.

Was their some red flag that scared off the Tribe?  Was it too much money?  A year too long of a contract?  He would undoubtedly have been an upgrade in right, right?  Was the lack of any rumors a reflection on the possible trade talks that are going on?

I thought Reggie Sanders seemed like a Shapiro kind of guy, veteran, right-handed bat, won't break the bank, good character (at least not a raging lunatic), has access to the secret recipe etc.  Any thoughts?

So, did the Indians choke?

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Deary Diary,

Why wasn't the game sold out last night?  I have the moral high ground right now since I attended Thursday and Friday's games.  Both wins if I do say so myself.  

Incidentally, I have a post on my blog about why I hate the Yankees.  It's good fun to hate the Yankees.

Hmm, I need 300 characters to post.  Ok, so do we think Peralta will be able to turn it around or will he languish through the rest of the year?  It's not uncommon for such a thing to happen to a young player, but it'd be nice if he were hitting down the stretch.  He got thrown out twice at 3rd last night.  Both on bad decisions.  Ouch.

Dear Diary,

I was at the bar last night.  I know, but now's not the time to discuss my drinking habits.  Anyway, I got there after the Indians had won and while NY was still playing TB.  The crowd was really into it - cheering Cano's boot on the grounder to second and even cheering Baez on.  They knew the implications of the NY game and were pleased with the result.

I know it's anecdotal, but why doesn't this translate to attendance?

Really makes you think.

Dear Diary,

Do you watch ESPN?  I do, because, well, it's on a lot.  And the thing that strikes me is the utter lack of love for the Tribe.  While the Baseball Tonight crew will dish out the propers in between the analysis of the latest beaning, the Sportscenter crowd doesn't usually include them in their "wildcard highlights" bit (NY, Oak, LAA) instead saying they're "hanging in there" or whatever when they show the standings.  I mean, c'mon, they are what a game back?  I will not stand for the disrespect!  Maybe I'm imagining things diary.  Just wanted to see if you noticed the same thing.

Roger  

Dear Diary,

Jeremy Sowers's success reminds me of the meteoric rise and then humbling implosion of another Tribe first-round pick, Jeremy Guthrie.  Diary, do you remember Jeremy Guthrie?  He got a bunch of money signing with us out of Stanford and in his first pro year schooled everyone at A and AA.  He was then promoted to Buffalo where he was beaten like a rented mule.  Now he's back with the Tribe despite less than overwhelming numbers.

Sowers had a good first start at Buffalo.  Let's hope his success continues.

Roger