The End of the Jack Hannahan, Plus Tribe News and Notes

By Mike Brandyberry

Did I miss something? Did the Indians let another great player walk out the door? I thought it was just Jack Hannahan?

Friday the Indians non-tendered third baseman Jack Hannahan, and left-handed pitchers Rafael Perez … Read More

Hannahan’s Time In Cleveland Should Be Over

After 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 analyze one of the many players facing salary arbitration this winter.

By Craig Gifford

Jack Hannahan‘s days in Cleveland are likely numbered. At least, they should be.

Hannahan, a journeyman third baseman, was picked up by the Indians before the 2011 season. He was tabbed to be a stop gap at the hot corner as well as a defensive specialist on a club seemingly with plenty of offense. Read More

Poor Start Too Much For Tribe To Fight Back; Athletics 12, Indians 7

By Craig Gifford

The Indians offense, little more than a rumor most of the season’s second half, proved to be a reality Thursday afternoon.

Unfortunately, for Cleveland, the pitching remained a mystery as the Oakland Athletics pounded Tribe hurlers for a 12-7 victory at Progressive Field. The A’s completed a four-game sweep, sending the bottoming-out Indians to their fifth straight loss, fourteenth defeat in 15 contests and 27th loss in the last 32 affairs.

“We had a lot better at bats today,” said Indians Manager Manny Acta. “We haven’t been very good at putting shut down innings up. We  had innings where we scored and gave the runs right back. The bullpen scuffled a little bit.”

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Kansas City Royally Frustrates Indians Offense Again; Royals 5, Indians 2

By Christian Petrila

The Indians started August the same way they ended July: The offense couldn’t get going and it resulted in another loss as Kansas City took the second game of the three-game series, 5-2.

Just like the previous game, Kansas City drew first blood in the bottom of the first. After Alex Gordon flew out to center, Zach McAllister walked Alcides Escobar on four pitches. A seeing-eye single from Lorenzo Cain moved Escobar up 90 feet. With Billy Butler batting, the Royals put on a double steal. Carlos Santana’s throw to third ended up being a throw to Johnny Damon in left. Escobar scored and Cain moved to third on the error. Butler’s at bat ended with an RBI groundout to Jason Kipnis. He then got Mike Moutakas to ground out to Kipnis as well to end the inning. Read More

Tribe Beaten and Embarrassed for Second Straight Night; Twins 12, Indians 5

By Mike Brandyberry

If the Indians management is looking for a sign as to whether they should be buyers or sellers, the sign has been clear over the last two days. After an embarrassing 11-0 defeat last night, the Indians followed it up with a 12-5 beating Saturday evening.

Justin Masterson started so promising, retiring the first 11 hitters he faced in the game, but couldn’t overcome questionable umpire calls or two out base hits.

It appeared as if the Indians had life in the top of the first inning when Shin-Soo Choo singled to right field and stole second base to start the game. After Michael Brantley walked, Jason Kipnis moved both runners to scoring position, Carlos Santana grounded to third base to score Choo and give the Tribe an early 1-0 lead.

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Offense Comes Alive to Spur Tribe To Victory; Indians 10, Rays 6

By Craig Gifford

So many times in the last two seasons, Cleveland Indians number one starter Justin Masterson has pitched so well only to take a loss or no decision due to a lack of run support. On Wednesday night in Tampa Bay, it was the Tribe offense that picked up its ace.

Masterson struggled through 4.1 innings. However, the offense awoke and hammered Rays pitching to the tune of a much-needed 10-6 victory. The win lifted the third-place Indians to 47-44 and to within three games of front-running Chicago in the AL Central Division.

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Is It Lopey Time, Yet?

By Bob Toth

The Cleveland Indians have not followed the usual protocol at the hot corner for the last few years. Historically, the prototypical third baseman has possessed an average bat with some good pop and is a decent defender with an above-average arm. For fans of recent Indians’ history, think early Jim Thome, Matt Williams, Travis Fryman, and even Casey Blake. Over the last several seasons, the Indians have utilized lighter-hitting corner infielders, better known for their gloves and arms than their bats. 

This year is no exception. Tribe third basemen are batting a collective .268, accounting for just seven home runs.

Jack Hannahan has been the incumbent third baseman on the team since beating out Jason Donald for the role during spring training in 2011. He has become a fan favorite for his spectacular defensive plays and his ability to make the clutch hit.

Hannahan started the year strong, hitting a three-run home run in the season opener. Power from Hannahan is not the expectation though, as can be seen by his three home runs on the season. For much of the first month and a half, he faired much better at the plate than other times throughout his career, batting between .280 and .300. For a guy who made the team based on his glove work, it was an added benefit that he was hitting as well as he was.

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Game Preview #69: Cleveland Indians (36-32) at Houston Astros (28-41)

By Mike Brandyberry

Wednesday evening the Indians completed a six game home stand and a three game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with an 8-1 victory. Justin Masterson recorded his fourth career complete game and is showing every sign of being the ace of the staff again. The Indians were able to keep their one-half game lead over the Chicago White Sox. Both teams were idle yesterday.

Today, the Indians embark on the beginning of a three city, 10-game road trip. The first leg of the trip takes the Tribe to Houston to take on the lowly Astros. The Astros are in fifth place in the NL Central and 10.5 games behind first. They are in the midst of building a young team for a move the American League West division next season.

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Game #61: Cleveland Indians (32-28) at Cincinnati Reds (33-27)

By Mike Brandyberry

In a series that opened with one team getting hot and the other struggling, you would not have been able to tell which team was supposed to fill each role when the Reds dominated the Indians last night, 7-1. The Indians entered the series as winners of four of their last six, the Reds had lost five of their last seven.

Derek Lowe (7-4, 3.72 ERA) will look to get the Indians back on the winning path and remain hot on their nine game road trip. Lowe allowed seven runs in five innings last Thursday in a 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers. During his time as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, Lowe compiled a 3-3 record and 4.57 ERA in seven starts against the Reds. Lowe will be looking for his team-high eighth win of the season.

The Reds will counter with Mat Latos (4-2, 4.85 ERA). Latos was acquired by the Reds through a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres last December. The Reds sent Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger and Edison Volquez to the Padres to acquire the 24-year old right hander. Latos moves up a day in the rotation to replace Mike Leake, who is sick. Latos is 4-0 in his last nine starts, but with a 6.35 ERA, so the opportunity is available for the Tribe to capitalize offensively.

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Game #60: Cleveland Indians (32-27) at Cincinnati Reds (32-27)

By Mike Brandyberry

Baseball is a game that often finds itself being symmetrical. Despite being at different ends of the state, the Indians and Reds are mirror images of one another in several ways. The two teams enter the three game series in Cincinnati with the same record and each in contention for the lead in the Central Division. The Indians enter the series one-half game out of the American League Central Division, the Reds are tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League Central Division lead.

The three game series is the final leg for the Tribe on a key nine game road trip. Jeanmar Gomez (4-4, 4.97) will look to get back on track for the Indians. He has had three consecutive rough starts, despite beating the Detroit Tigers in his last outing, 9-6. Gomez has allowed at least five runs in each of his last three starts. The right hander will look to return to spotting his fastball and using his slider as a strikeout pitch, something Indians manager Manny Acta raved about a month ago.

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Game Preview #48: Kansas City Royals (19-27) at Cleveland Indians (26-21)

By Mike Brandyberry

The road was not kind to the Cleveland Indians this weekend.

The Tribe headed to Chicago after a three game sweep of the Detroit Tigers looking to put some separation between themselves and the rest of the division. Instead, they were swept by the White Sox, their pitching staff allowing 35 runs over the weekend. The sweep leaves the Indians with just a one-half game lead over the White Sox and a three game lead over the Tigers.

Instead, the Wounded Wahoos return home for Memorial Day to open a three game series against the Kansas City Royals. The Tribe played without Travis Hafner in Chicago, who remained home to receive treatment on an irritated right meniscus. He will be evaluated prior to today’s game. Asdrubal Cabrera was removed from the game Friday evening with left hamstring tightness. He is listed as day-to-day, but is not expected to play today. Cabrera does think he will play in the series, however.

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Game #45: Cleveland Indians (26-18) at Chicago White Sox (23-22)

By Mike Brandyberry

The Indians were in first place three days ago, but now it carries a little more swag behind it. Fresh off their three game sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the Tribe heads to Chicago to take on the second place, White Sox. At season’s end, this week may be one of the first signs of the Tribe asserting themselves ahead of the rest of the division. That assertion can continue with another solid three game series this weekend.

Tonight, Jeanmar Gomez (3-2, 3.19 ERA) will take to the mound for the Tribe. Gomez has not allowed an earned run in 16 innings or any run in 10.1 innings of work. He is fresh off a six and one-third inning performance against the Miami Marlins last Saturday afternoon. Tonight will be his third appearance against the White Sox in 2012. Prior to his start against the Marlins, the White Sox defeated Gomez and the Tribe 8-1 on May 9. Gomez allowed six runs in an inning during that outing.

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