Carlos Carrasco
Despite Struggles in Cleveland, Carrasco Thrives in Columbus
May 6, 2013 | Matt TravisCarlos Carrasco has struggled in Cleveland with control, not just over the baseball but over his emotions as well. During his only start this season in Cleveland, Carrasco was pitching poorly against New York Yankees when he gave up his second home run in less than four innings. The next batter, Kevin Youkilis, Carrasco intentionally hit and was ejected from the game and suspended for eight games.
After getting suspended for the second time for hitting a batter as an Indian, rather than take a roster spot serving his suspension, Carrasco was sent down to Triple-A Columbus, with the hopes he can pitch well and show that he is worth bringing back. So far he has pitched well, going 23.2 innings over five games, giving up only 14 hits, five runs, four walks and one home run while striking out 24 batters and earning a 1-0 record with one save.
Roster Shuffles and Injuries Make Consistency Tough
April 22, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | 2 CommentsEvery manager talks about it as the key to success in nearly every aspect of baseball. You can’t listen to a player talk about their game without mentioning it as a key. You can’t listen to a pregame or postgame press conference without hearing about its importance.
Consistency.
Through 17 games, the Indians are struggling mightily to find consistency and it shows on the field almost daily. Some of the Indians’ lack of consistency is due to bad luck and injuries. The rest of their inconsistencies are a result of their play.
Series Preview #4: Chicago White Sox (4-5) at Cleveland Indians (3-5)
April 12, 2013 | Bob TothTwo slumping American League Central teams will meet in downtown Cleveland and, unless Mother Nature continues to interfere, at least one of these teams will break their losing ways.
The Chicago White Sox are in the middle of a ten game road trip that got off to a rough start against the Washington Nationals during the week. After beginning the season with two off days in the first eight days, they have an awful span of 20 straight days with a game. They have yet to win a road game so far this season and return home in a week to begin a span of ten days of home cooking.
The Cleveland Indians were washed out of a pair of games in a four-game home series against the New York Yankees. The Indians are in the middle of what was supposed to be ten games in eleven days at home after starting the season with six on the road.
Carrasco Running Out of Second Chances
April 10, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | One CommentWhen you aren’t honest, you can only receive the benefit of the doubt for so long.
“I really want to say I’m sorry,” Carlos Carrasco said after last night’s 14-1 drubbing from the New York Yankees. “I don’t want to hit anybody. I’m coming from a six-game suspension, I don’t want to do anything real bad and I’m just telling the truth. That’s what happened.”
It sounds like a good story if you don’t know Carrasco. However, as he mentioned, last night’s game was his first big league game since Aug. 2011 after undergoing Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. His last appearance on Aug. 3, was while appealing a six game suspension from Major League Baseball for throwing at Kansas City Royals’ Billy Butler. On July 29, Melky Cabrera hit a grand slam home run into the right field seats in the fourth inning, giving the Royals a 7-0 lead. The next pitch sailed behind Butler’s head, Carrasco was immediately ejected and later suspended.
Battered, Ejected and Embarrassed by New York; Yankees 14, Indians 1
April 9, 2013 | Craig GiffordIn Monday’s home opener against the New York Yankees, Ubaldo Jimenez was asked by Tribe manager Terry Francona to leave the mound early, in the fifth inning. That was mostly due to ineffectiveness and the fact the visitors were lighting up the Progressive Field score board.
On Tuesday night, starter Carlos Carrasco (0-1) was equally ineffective against those same Yankees as the Indians were soundly defeated 14-1. He, however, was asked to exit the ball game early by home plate umpire Jordan Baker before the New York half of the the fourth was complete. Read More
Carrasco’s Suspension Not Just Impacting His Season
April 5, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | 3 Comments
By Mike Brandyberry
Thursday night the Cleveland Indians lost 10-8 in the series finale to the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite the loss, Cleveland won the first two games of the series and the new look Tribe open a series tonight in Tampa against the Rays.
The Indians and fans alike continue to be excited about the season in front of them and happy to leave Toronto with a series victory. Toronto is a popular pick to win the American League East Division.
In a game with many twists and turns, and 18 runs, certainly the Indians had their chances to win the game and sweep the series, but what if that series sweep was even closer than it appears? The Indians may have lost last night’s game, in part, from a decision they made over a week ago.
Kazmir to Disabled List, Bauer to Start Saturday
April 4, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | 2 Comments
By Mike Brandyberry
The Cleveland Indians announced Thursday afternoon that Scott Kazmir has been placed on the 15-day disabled list and Trevor Bauer will make his scheduled start on Saturday in Tampa against the Rays. Kazmir is expected to miss two to three starts.
Mickey Callaway confirmed Bauer will start on Saturday during SportsTime Ohio’s All Bets Are Off show with Bruce Drennan. Bauer was 1-0 in 14 innings during the spring.
“He’s got enough stuff to go out there and compete any night he’s on,” Callaway said to Drennan. “We’re hoping he comes in and is ready to go.”
Roster Moves on Monday the First of Many
March 27, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry
By Christian Petrila
One of the busiest offseasons in Indians history is winding down, but the roster shuffling is far from over for Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti.
The Indians announced their Opening Day 25-man roster on Monday, but anyone could see that the roster the team announced would be far from final.
The first order of business for Antonetti is to figure out how to add Scott Kazmir and Ryan Raburn to the 40- and 25-man rosters.
Kazmir was announced as the team’s fifth starter on Monday, but he still isn’t on either roster. However, he likely won’t be officially added to the roster until Apr. 6–the day of his first scheduled start.
Indians Name Kazmir Fifth Starter, Make Several Roster Decisions
March 25, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | 2 Comments
By Mike Brandyberry
The Indians made several roster decisions on Monday afternoon, including naming Scott Kazmir the team’s fifth starter. However, Kazmir will not begin the season on the team’s Opening Day 25-man roster.
Cleveland informed Kazmir he has won the fifth starter’s job, but will not be added to the Indians roster until his first scheduled start. They also informed Jason Giambi he has made the roster, but he will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list and will not be eligible to be activated until April 9, one day after the team’s home opener against the New York Yankees. Ezequiel Carrera was designated for assignment to make room for Giambi on the 40-man roster.
Kazmir will make his first start for the Indians on April 6 in Tampa Bay, the team that he had so much success with from 2004-2009. He was an All-Star with the Rays in 2006 and 2008 and led the American League in strikeouts in 2007. He struggled in 2010 with the Los Angeles Angels before being released in 2011. Last summer he pitched with the Sugarland Skeeters of the Independent Atlantic League.
Competition for Rotation Begins with Varied Success in Split-Squad Victories
February 25, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Sunday declared the start of the competition for the fourth and fifth rotation spots on the Indians’ starting staff. While no spots can be won or lost quickly, the race is officially under way after all five serious contenders for the final two spots saw action yesterday.
With the starting rotation being the Indians’ most serious concern entering exhibition play, Manager Terry Francona and General Manager Chris Antonetti set out this winter to create a deep and competitive field for the final two spots. The field of competitors consists of an incumbent, along with injury reclamation projects, free agents and trade acquisitions.
“If you have a lot of questions going into the year, sometimes the answer is no,” Francona said prior to Sunday’s games. “That’s why Chris and I talked about trying to add depth this winter.”
Wahoo Watch Podcast #16, February 24, 2013
February 24, 2013 | Ronnie TellalianOn this week’s podcast Erik Pinkerman, Ronnie Tellalian and Mike Brandyberry discuss the Cleveland Indians starting rotation. The crew discusses the importance of bounce back seasons from Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez and what to expect from Brett Myers and … Read More
Carrasco Healthy and Looking to Get Back Into Rotation
February 19, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | 4 Comments
During Spring Training the DTTWLN staff will profile and examine the coaches and players that make up and are vying to be part of the 2013 Cleveland Indians—A Team With A New Direction. Today, we examine one of the players on the 40-man roster that is on the mend this spring.
By Craig Gifford
There seems to be no question as to the health of Carlos Carrasco. According to Cleveland Indians coaches and front office personnel, the right handed pitcher is full go this spring and expected to compete for a spot in the rotation coming out of training camp.
Carrasco, a 26-year-old, had his career derailed in August 2011. On August 3, that season, he made his final start before going on the disabled list for the second time with elbow soreness. In September, the decision was made for the young pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery ending any hope of a return that year, as well as canceling Carrasco out for the 2012 campaign.
Now, Carrasco is in Goodyear, Arizona looking to resume a career that appeared to be going on the right path before the injury. Read More
