Jason Donald
Tribe Trades Choo to Cincinnati in Three-Team Deal for Stubbs and D-Backs’ Bauer
December 11, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
The Cleveland Indians have traded outfielder Shin-Soo Choo in part of a three-team deal with the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Indians dealt Choo and infielder Jason Donald to Cincinnati for Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs and Diamondbacks starting pitcher Trevor Bauer and right-handed relief pitchers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw. The Indians sent Didi Gregorius from the Reds, plus left-handed relief pitcher Tony Sipp, minor league first baseman Lars Anderson and cash considerations to the Diamondbacks
Choo, a right fielder with the Indians, is expected to become the Reds center fielder. Cincinnati hopes to recuperate what they will lose in Choo’s defense with his increased offense. Choo rebounded from an injury-riddled 2011 to hit .283, with 16 home runs and 67 runs batted in during 2012, primarily in the Tribe’s leadoff spot. It is expected that Cincinnati will insert him into the top of their order to hit in front of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce.
Donald’s Up and Down Act Should End at Up, With Cleveland
November 2, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
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 examine a player who is out of minor league options, meaning they must be on the 25-man roster.
By Craig Gifford
For the last three years with the Indians, Jason Donald has been a yo-yo. He has bounced between Triple-A Buffalo and Cleveland on numerous occasions. Next year, the up and down act will end, one way or the other.
Donald is now out of options and the Tribe cannot send him to the minors any more, without exposing him to waivers. For all the reasons that would be risky, Cleveland should figure on hanging onto the super utility player rather than letting him walk away. Donald is good enough that another team would surely grab him if given the chance. Read More
Tribe Steals Late Inning Victory From Chicago; Indians 4, White Sox 3
October 2, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Sometimes good isn’t good enough.
Jake Peavy pitched eight strong innings, but two pinch hits—including a Travis Hafner home run—helped tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Indians and Jason Donald’s two-out base hit in the 12th inning gave the Indians a win, 4-3. The late inning heroics stole the game and foiled a well-pitched game by Peavy.
“It was a good game,” Interim Manager Sandy Alomar said. “The bullpen did an excellent job. These extra inning games are taking a toll on them, but they keep doing a good job.”
Game #143: Cleveland Indians (59-83) at Texas Rangers (84-57)
September 12, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Only 20 games left.
At the beginning of the season the September schedule looked to be full of interesting matchups that could help the Indians with a playoff push, or matchup with potential playoff foe.
Instead, the Indians are playing out the string, counting the days until October 3 and the end of the season.
Only 20 games left.
Last night, the Indians were again tough to watch when Ubaldo Jimenez uncorked two wild pitches, Jason Donald made two errors—and could have been charged with a third—en route to a 6-4 defeat at the hands of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers hold just a three game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League Western Division. The Indians, meanwhile, kept pace with the Minnesota Twins for the worst record in the AL.
Harrison Silences Tribe Bats While Defense Goes Wild; Rangers 6, Indians 4
September 12, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Evan Matsumoto
Tuesday night marked the first game of the last series that Cleveland will play outside of the A.L. Central, signaling the impending end to a dismal season.
The Indians started the night tied with the Twins for fourth in the division at 17 ½ games back. The night ended in a loss for starter Ubaldo Jimenez, now 9-16 on the season, and the Indians dropping another game making their record 59-83.
A routine one-hop grounder to Kipnis proved costly in the bottom of the second. After fielding the ball, the throw to first got away from Russ Canzler to advance Adrian Beltre to second. David Murphy hit a fly ball to center that moved Beltre again before a Michael Young single drove him home.
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.
Masterson Six-Shutout Innings Starts West Coast Swing Right; Indians 6, Angels 2
August 14, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
It would be tough to blame Indians’ fans for going to bed early after a pathetic performance Sunday afternoon. If they hit the sack dreaming of well pitched games and timely hitting by the Tribe, hopefully they set the DVR.
Dreams do come true.
Justin Masterson pitched his second straight ace-like effort, pitching seven strong innings and benefitted from three double plays to defeat C.J. Wilson and the Los Angeles Angels, 6-2 on Monday evening. The win against a southpaw is only their 14th win of the season and comes just a day after the Red Sox Jon Lester embarrassed the Tribe, striking out 12 in six innings.
Game #113: Boston Red Sox (55-58) at Cleveland Indians (52-60)
August 10, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Thursday evening the Indians used a leadoff home run from newly recalled Jason Donald, a three-run fifth inning and 10 strikeouts from Ubaldo Jimenez to take the first game of the series from the Red Sox, 5-3. A clean-shaving Chris Perez closed out the ninth inning for his 30th save. The victory is the second straight for the Indians after losing 11-consecutive games and playing their way out of playoff contention.
Despite the Tribe playing their way out of contention, they have been making news off the field with daily transactions. Over the last ten days the Indians have designated four veterans for assignment and yesterday relieved pitching coach Scott Radinsky of his duties. Radinsky was in his first year as pitching coach, replacing Tim Belcher. The staff will be overseen by Ruben Niebla, the Columbus Clippers pitching coach, on an interim basis.
Game #112: Boston Red Sox (55-57) at Cleveland Indians (51-60)
August 9, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Mike Brandyberry
Wednesday afternoon the Indians snapped their 11-game losing streak, defeating the Minnesota Twins 6-2. Justin Masterson pitched seven strong innings, earning the Tribe’s second straight quality start, and Shin-Soo Choo recorded four hits to pace the Indians to the win. The victory snapped the Wahoo Warriors’ skid just one game shy of tying the team record for consecutive losses, set in 1931.
The Indians embark on a four game series with the Boston Red Sox. It is the only trip to Progressive Field for the Beantowners as they struggle through a disappointing season of their own. Under new manager, Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox have wandered through the season with poor pitching and injuries, leaving the team on the outside looking in at the playoff race. Valentine declared yesterday that he thought the Red Sox were good enough to make the playoffs. The Red Sox will have to start putting together wins soon if they plan to chase down a spot in October.
Game #10 – Cleveland Indians (5-4) vs. Seattle Mariners (6-6)
April 18, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Matthew Van Wormer
What If?
What if Jason Donald stepped in for our All-Star shortstop, Asdrubal Cabrera, completed a comeback and drove in the game winning run after the Tribe was down 8-1?
That’s exactly what happened last night and it’s a four-game winning streak that the Indians will look to extend tonight as they play the fifth game of their nine game road trip. If you turned off the game after the bottom of the fourth inning, you probably weren’t alone. It’s inevitable that hundreds of Tribe fans woke up this morning, checked the box score and rubbed their eyes three or four times to make sure it was real.
Indians Welcome Minor League Affiliate With Whacking; Indians 13, Mudcats 0
April 4, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Kevin Schneider
Asdrubal Cabrera, Jason Donald, and Shelley Duncan all homered Tuesday as Cleveland blasted its new minor-league partner, the single-A Carolina Mudcats.
Derek Lowe added three scoreless innings as the starter for the Tribe as 6,362 attended in the 6,500-seat stadium in Zebulon, N.C. for an afternoon game. Indians Manager Manny Acta pulled most of his starters after the fourth inning on the way to a 13-0 Tribe win.
The score didn’t matter much. In fact, left-handed pitcher Scott Barnes donned a navy Indians uniform as he started for the Mudcats. The big-league club touched him for 4 earned runs, 5 hits, and 3 walks in 4 innings.
Donald’s Versatility Gives Tribe Value Off Bench
April 2, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry
By Craig Gifford
If Jason Donald could play only one position, there likely would not be a spot for him on the Cleveland Indians’ Opening Day roster. However, because he can and has played all three infield positions at the Major League level, the third-year utility man is looked at very favorable by the Tribe brass and as someone who can fill very important role off the bench.
Last season, Donald’s year was derailed by injuries. He was hurt in Spring Training and never really got to do much to help Cleveland until late in the season, when the Tribe was out of playoff contention. Still, in just 39 games at the big league level, Donald showed his range in the field and actually provided a better bat than most would have expected.
