Ezequiel Carrera
The Top of Indians Minors not Major League Quality
June 12, 2013 | Christian PetrilaBy Christian Petrila
The Columbus Clippers currently house the MiLB’s greatest collection of “4-A” players.
Definition: Players who always excel in AAA, but never live up to expectations in the Majors.
In fact, there are so many 4-A guys that had they produced well in Cleveland, the Indians’ struggles of late could be a totally different story.
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.
Some Players Running Out of Options
March 20, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry
By Christian Petrila
Every team has those guys who are out of options and quickly running out of time. For the Indians, that list is made up of David Huff, Ezequiel Carrera and Chris McGuiness.
David Huff is the southpaw wild card this spring for the Indians. At 28-years-old, he’s already lost out on the fifth rotation spot. Huff was a first-round pick back in 2006 and has been with the Indians his whole career. However, it’s an uphill battle if he hopes to stay with the team a little longer.
Huff’s numbers have never been overly impressive. In his 2009 rookie campaign, he did lead the team with 11 wins. Unfortunately for him, he also had a 5.61 ERA in 128.1 innings. His 2010 season was a disaster. He was a mere 2-11 with a 6.21 ERA. The lowest point of the season was on May 29, when in a game against the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez drilled a line drive square off of Huff’s head. After an unspectacular 2011 season, Huff got another shot to prove his worth in the rotation as 2012 wound down. He improved his resume a little bit, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
Carrera Running Out of Options with Tribe
March 9, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry
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 in a roster battle to earn a spot on the 25-man roster.
By Christian Petrila
On the Indians roster this spring, Ezequiel Carrera falls under the category of, “out of options, possibly out of time.”
Carrera, the speedy outfielder acquired by the Indians in 2010 from the Seattle Mariners for Russell Branyan, enters Spring Training at a young 25-years-old. However, that may not necessarily be an advantage due to the fact that he is already out of minor league options.
“We absolutely love him, but I don’t want to start talking about the roster yet because someone else could read something into it,” Indians Manager Terry Francona said this week. “If everyone stays healthy, we’re going to have some difficult decisions. And one decision may lead to another because we have to make our roster fit.”
Wahoo Watch Podcast #17, March 3, 2013
March 3, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian | 2 CommentsOn this week’s podcast Erik Pinkerman, Ronnie Tellalian and Mike Brandyberry talk about the injury to closer Chris Perez and how serious it is concerning the Tribe’s season and who could possibly replace him in the closer’s role if he … Read More
Carrera Could Fill Void that Has Been Left Field
October 30, 2012 | Steve EbyAfter a disappointing 2012 Cleveland Indians season the organization is at a crossroads to decide how to progress with the organization, not just for the 2013 season but several seasons to come. Decisions involve ownerships, the front office, managerial and coaching decisions and the players. For the month of October, we’ll look at how the Indians ended up in their current predicament, but most importantly, Where Do the Indians Go From Here. Today, we examine a player who is out of minor league options, meaning they must be on the 25-man roster.
Where have you gone Coco Crisp?
Not since the Indians traded the outfielder with the funny name to Boston in 2005 has the Tribe had a solid force in left field. Names like Shelley Duncan, Johnny Damon, Trevor Crowe, Austin Kearns, Ben Francisco, Jason Michaels and David Dellucci have all been given regular playing time in left since the Indians traded Crisp and all of the players underperformed or underachieved for the Tribe. Crisp batted .300 with 16 homeruns and 15 stolen bases in ‘05 and no left fielder has come even close to matching that production since.
“We have to examine what’s transpired, not just this year, but where we are organizationally moving forward because the mix we had wasn’t working,” Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti said. “We need to figure out ways to be better.”
Tribe Knocks Chicago Into Second Place In Division; Indians 6, White Sox 4
September 27, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Every season has gambles and Wednesday evening the White Sox gambled when manager Robin Ventura rearranged his rotation, pushing Jake Peavy and Chris Sale back a day and into the weekend series.
Time will tell if the gamble will pay off, but the short term results were sour when spot starter Hector Ramirez could not survive four innings and the White Sox were forced to use six relief pitchers while losing a back and forth contest to the Tribe, 6-4. Justin Masterson was less than stellar, allowing three runs in the first inning, but gave the Indians enough for the offense to come back in the game.
Cleveland drew first blood in the top of the first inning when Jason Kipnis walked with one out. After Asdrubal Cabrera popped out to second base, Kipnis stole second and Carlos Santana followed with a walk of his own. Russ Canzler kept his hot September going by lacing a single to center field to score Kipnis and give the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
September Call-Ups Are Overrated
September 23, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Bob Toth
In a normal season, the return of Travis Hafner would have created some excitement for the Cleveland Indians’ fan base.
This season has been far from normal.
A September return by Hafner, the senior member of the Tribe in terms of years of service with the club, time in the major leagues, and age, instead cuts into the playing time of call-ups Russ Canzler, Ezequiel Carrera, Lonnie Chisenhall, Matt LaPorta, Thomas Neal, Cord Phelps, and Vinny Rottino.
What point does it serve playing Hafner at this point, anyways?
Comebacks and Callups Mark Only Interest in Final Month for Tribe
August 31, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Craig Gifford
The Cleveland Indians have not given their fans much to be excited about over the past month. With 27 losses in their last 32 games, the Indians are 55-76 and will be in spoiler mode this September.
With a full slate of AL Central teams on the schedule, the final month does not appear that it will make the radar of a lot of the Tribe faithful. The one thing that could make things interesting is the annual September call ups and a certain injury comeback. Yes, a season that started with playoff aspirations has been reduced to a final month of prospect watching.
The biggest name to watch as the calendar flips to baseball’s final regular-season month is third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. The Chiz Kid has been out since late June with a wrist injury. At the time, the 2008 first-round pick seemed to be figuring out major league pitching.
Game #131: Oakland Athletics (72-57) at Cleveland Indians (55-75)
August 30, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Last night the Indians were able to take an early 2-0 lead behind a Jason Donald home run and Ezequiel Carrera triple, however, Corey Kluber could not hold it very long—allowing three runs in the next frame—and the Oakland Athletics were able to defeat the Tribe, 8-4.
The Oakland victory gives them sole possession of the top wild card spot and leaves them only four and one-half games behind the division leading Texas Rangers. What was supposed to be a year dedicated to development and youth, has turned to a season of pennant fever for the Athletics.
Futility Reaching New Depths With Indians
August 29, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Christian Petrila
Have the Indians reached a new level of futile?
It’s a sad, but harsh reality. After Tuesday’s 7-0 at the hands of the A’s, the Indians have lost three in a row, 12 of 13 and 25 of 30. The Indians are mired in a 22-inning scoreless stretch and have scored three runs or fewer in their last nine games. Not only that, but the Indians pitching has allowed three or more runs in 13 of their last 15 games.
Buchholz, Red Sox Frustrate Indians; Red Sox 3, Indians 2
August 10, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Christian Petrila
Clay Buchholz baffled Indians hitters not named “Asdrubal” all night, and he turned in a complete game gem as Boston won the second game of the four-game series, 3-2.
For the sixth consecutive game, the Indians got on the scoreboard in the first inning. After Boston starter Clay Buchholz made quick work of Ezequiel Carrera, Asdrubal Cabrera hammered a pitch into the seats in right-center to give Cleveland a quick 1-0 lead. The rest of the inning was uneventful, as Shin Soo Choo grounded out and Carlos Santana popped out. Read More
