Indians Confidential

The Indians always seem to find a middle of the road relief pitcher to give a shot to in spring training, and usually by this time of the year they find out why that pitcher was available on the open market. Hello Jorge Julio. The former D-Back, Rockie and Marlin is the latest in a string of bad relief pitchers to make a stop in Cleveland, and Tuesday night the Indians bid him “so long” as they dumped him in the call-up for Jake Westbrook. Juilo this season was 0-0 with an ERA of 5.60. In 17.2 innings he allowed 11 runs on 18 hits with three homers.

The nail in the coffin came Friday night when in relief for Fausto Carmona he allowed five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings in an eventual 13-9 loss to the Rangers in a game the team could have rallied to win if Julio was able to keep the team in the game. Instead he pitched like a guy that wanted to be released, and he got his wish. Add him to the scrap heap of guys like Guillermo Mota (1-3 with a 6.21 ERA in 34 games in 2006), and Arthur Rhodes (3-1, 2.08 ERA before leaving the team out of nowhere in 2005) for relievers that didn’t pan out.

Gas prices going up, disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, and the Indians offense putting up about 1-3 runs and 4-8 hits. These things in life you can count on these days, as Wednesday night in Chicago once again the offense did nothing to give fans confidence that there is going to be October baseball in Cleveland in 2008.

Now yes, it may seem harsh, but following the latest setback, 7-2 to the White Sox, the Indians now sit entrenched in third place in the AL Central, 3.5 back of the White Sox, who are rolling winners of seven straight. Following an impressive homestand in which they went 6-1, the wheels have come off in a hurry. They have dropped five straight, their longest losing streak of the season, and in those five losses have scored a whopping 12 runs. In the 6-1 homestand it looked as if they were finally getting the bats warmed up, as they scored 31 runs in 7 games.

Wednesday night, the team did build a 2-0 lead and seemed to be doing just fine behind starter Paul Byrd, who threw only 55 pitches till the sixth and didn’t allow a hit till Nick Swisher singled in the fifth. Then the bottom fell out, as in the 6th Byrd allowed a single and a walk, and then it was back to doing what he unfortunately does best right now - give up a home run. The latest blast belonged to Jermaine Dye, whose three-run shot made it 3-2.

After a Jim Thome single and Paul Konerko single, Byrd was done for the night. Jorge Julio came in, and didn’t fare much better, allowing a Joe Crede double that made it 4-2, then after an intentional walk, a sac fly by Alexei Ramirez made it 5-2, ending the night on the scoresheet for Byrd. Chicago kept on the hitting parade, hitting two solo homers in the 6th as Dye and Thome each went deep off of Julio and Craig Breslow to make it 7-2.

The offense didn’t do much against White Sox starter Javier Vazquez, putting up two runs on four hits. Michael Aubrey hit his second homer since his call-up, and Travis Hafner showed signs of life with a double in the 6th that made it 2-0 until the Sox finally woke up. On the night the team put up seven hits, drew two walks, and struck out nine times. If it seems like you’ve heard this story before - you have.

Thursday night the teams wrap up their three-game set, as Aaron Laffey (2-2, 1.35) tries to stop the bleeding for the Indians vs Mark Buehrle (2-5, 5.27) for the Sox at 8:11pm.

You know it’s bad when even Cliff Lee can’t stop the bleeding.  Sunday in Cincy, Lee was hit hard for the first time all season, allowing a couple of homers and six runs as the Indians were swept by the rival Reds 6-4 at Great American Ballpark.  Lee lost for the first time all season, allowing six runs, five earned in 5.2 innings.  He gave up 10 hits, walked one and struck out two.  He falls to 6-1 on the season, and his ERA finally moves over 1, at 1.37.

There were able to get a few runs off of Reds starter Edinson Volquez, who came in at 6-1.  The Indians got to hiim for two runs on four hits on 6 innings.  They got two more runs in the bottom of the 6th when it was 6-2 Reds, as Jamey Carroll and Victor Martinez got singles off of the Reds pen to make it 6-4.  The bullpen for Cincy was able to close it out, giving them their 21st win against 23 losses.  The Indians fall to 22-22 on the season.

The offense pounded out nine hits in the loss.  Carroll was 2-for-4, while seven other players each had one hit.  The pen did a good job, as Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and Jorge Julio held the Reds to just one hit over the last 2.1 innings.  They did allow two walks, but neither were able to score, so they meant little.

The road trip continues for the Indians as they move to Chicago for a three-game set vs the White Sox on Monday night.  C.C. Sabathia (3-5, 5.47) takes on Jose Contreras (4-3, 3.35) at 8:11pm.

In their first interleague game of 2008, the Indians offense went back to sleep walking, having one big inning with fireworks, but otherwise taking the night off in a 4-3 loss to the Reds.  Falling behind early 3-0, the Tribe rallied behind three solo homers in the 6th, as Casey Blake, Travis Hafner and Jhonny Peralta all went deep to tie the game at three.

The offense managed two hits after that, but could not put a run across, as the Reds put together a rally of their own to put across the winning run vs Jensen Lewis in the 8th.  Brandon Phillips drew a walk with one out, Joey Votto smacked a double to left that put runners on second and third. Edwin Encarnacion drew a walk to load the bases and then Adam Dunn drew yet another walk to win the game.  Lewis did get out of the inning, but the walks haunted him and the Tribe was not able to generate any offense whatsoever.

Jeremy Sowers started for the Tribe, getting the call up earlier in the day.  He was not as effective as his prior start, going five innings, allowing three runs at five hits.  He gave up two homers (Phillips and Dunn), and walked two and struck out two.  The three relievers used were good minus Lewis, as Jorge Julio and Rafael Perez went 2.1 innings, not allowing a base runner and striking out four.

The offense struck out 12 times, left seven men on base, and the top four in the lineup went a combined 1-for-14 with four strikeouts and six men left on base.  It was not the best of nights at the plate to say the least.  On the positive side it was good to see Hafner hit his first homer since April 17th vs the Tigers.  The team falls to 22-20 on the season, the Reds improve to 19-23.  Saturday in game two of the three game set it’s Fausto Carmona for the Indians vs Aaron Harang at 3:55pm.

The team made a variety of roster moves yesterday and today, and here are the official pressers from Bart and the team on the moves:

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has purchased the contract of RHP JORGE JULIO from AAA Buffalo. To allow room for Julio on the 40-man roster the Indians today designated LHP AARON FULTZ for assignment.

Julio, signed on January 31 to a minor league contract with a non-roster invite, has posted a mark of 0-1 w/a 1.64 ERA in 9 relief outings for the Indians this spring (11.0IP, 11H, 2ER, 7BB, 13K, .234 avg). Julio, 29, spent most the 2007 season with the Colorado Rockies, posting a mark of 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 58 appearances (52.2IP, 50H, 23ER, 20BB, 50K). He owns a career Major League record of 13-33 with 99 saves and a 4.35 ERA in 411 relief appearances.

Fultz appeared in 7 games this spring for the Indians (8.1IP, 16H, 14R/11ER).

Also today, the Indians optioned INF JOSH BARFIELD to AAA Buffalo and re-assigned RHP SCOTT ELARTON to minor league camp. The Indians spring training roster now contains 32 players.

The Indians this morning optioned RHP TOM MASTNY to AAA Buffalo.

The Indians Major League roster now stands at 27 players.

Raul Casanova had a pair of hits and drove in a run as the New York Mets beat the Cleveland Indians, 3-1, on Wednesday night. Aaron Laffey started for the Indians and allowed just one run on five hits over five innings. Jeremy Sowers followed and allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits over three innings. Both are battling with Cliff Lee to be the fifth man in the starting rotation. The Indians lone run came on a solo homer by Jason Michaels. The Indians will continue exhibition play this afternoon as they will be in Winter Haven to host the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch at Chain of Lakes Park is set for 1:05 p.m.

Jorge Julio is expected to throw this afternoon against the Rays. Julio had to leave Monday’s exhibition game against the Phillies because of a blister on his right index finger. Julio said he felt good after being able to play catch on Wednesday. Julio, who’s in the running for the final spot in the Indians’ bullpen, is 0-and-1 with a 2.57 ERA this spring.

Each Day in the Spring PR stud Bart Swain at the Tribe sends the media updates on what’s going on.  We will do our best to post them as we get them.  Here is today’s edition of “Spring Training Daily” from Winter Haven.    

What went on: Eric Wedge held a 9AM staff meeting this morning with his Major League coaching staff and the 20 minor league managers/coaches/coordinators that are assisting with big league camp.

Seen and Heard: Players already in camp include, Masa Kobayashi, Jake Westbrook, Scott Elarton, Matt Ginter, Tom Mastny, Dave Wallace, Shin-soo Choo, Jordan Brown, Chris Gimenez, Jeff Harris, Scott Lewis, Aaron Laffey, Wyatt Toregas, Jeff Stevens, Reid Santos and Victor Martinez, who has been here since Feb 5 and is looking fighting trim.

Lara Update: Juan Lara was in Cleveland yesterday, February 12^th, for a post-operative follow-up examination at the Cleveland Clinic. Drs. Jeff Lawton and Doug Orr reviewed x-rays and examined Juan. Juan is progressing well and will begin formal occupational therapy at Lutheran Hospital today.

Julio Delayed: RHP Jorge Julio will be a few days late as he secures his work visa out of his native Venezuela. Julio was unable to begin the visa process until he officially signed with a US team (signed with the Indians on 1/31).