Indians Confidential

In a move that the team announced to us yesterday, the team today called back up Jeremy Sowers, while they have designated Jason Tyner for assignment. Here is the release from Bart and the team.

CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has recalled LHP JEREMY SOWERS from the AAA Buffalo Bisons. To allow room for Sowers on the Major League roster the Indians designated OF JASON TYNER for assignment.

Sowers will make his second Major League start of the 2008 season tomorrow night in Cincinnati vs. the Reds. The Louisville, KY native made a spot start for Cleveland on Saturday, April 26 vs. the New York Yankees in Progressive Field (ND, 5.1IP, 7H, 3R/ER, 1BB, 3K) and was optioned to Buffalo the next day. He has made every other turn in the rotation at AAA Buffalo where he has gone 2-2 w/a 2.21 ERA in 7 starts (40.2IP, 34H, 10ER, 14BB, 26K, .231 avg against). His 2.21 ERA ranks 5th in the International League at present. Since his return he has made 3 May starts and is 2-0 w/a 1.00 ERA (18.0IP, 16H, 2R/ER).

Tyner has appeared in 1 game in Cleveland after being promoted from AAA Buffalo on May 11.

The Indians announced their latest roster move moments ago, as Jason Tyner gets the call up to the big league roster for pitcher Tom Mastny. Below is the release on the move:

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has purchased the contract of OF JASON TYNER from the AAA Buffalo Bisons. To allow room for Francisco on the Major League roster the Indians optioned RHP TOM MASTNY to AAA Buffalo.

Tyner has spent the entire year to date in AAA Buffalo where he has hit .234 (22-94) with 16 runs, 4 2B, 1HR & 7RBI in 31 games. He has also stolen 6 bases in 6 attempts and has 13 walks against just 6 strikeouts on the year. He is hitting .370 (10-27) in May w/4RS & 1RBI in 8 games and for the season is hitting .254 (16-63) off RHP. Jason was a non-roster invitee to Major League camp this spring after being signed to a minor league free agent contract on February 21. He wears #16. Tyner spent the entire 2007 season in the big leagues with Minnesota and hit his first Major League homer in July in Progressive Field.

Mastny has been with Cleveland since April 15 and has appeared in 2 games (1.2IP, 2H, 2R/ER).

Matt Loede sits down and talks with Canton Repository beat reporter Andy Call about the Tribe and the latest with the team.  Among the topics talked about include the offense and their latest surge, the lineup as it stands, the start for Aaron Laffey and his options, the latest roster move with Tom Mastny and Jason Tyner, and if the team may make a move for a hitter at some point.  Click below for the interview with Matt and Andy Call.

The Indians today announced they have signed 30-year old light hitting Jason Tyner to a minor league deal.  Tyner is a pretty funny story, as he went 1,220 Major League at-bats without a career homer, and finally hit his first MLB homer off of – Jake Westbrook, back when he was with the Twins against the Tribe on July 28th of last season.

Tyner is not going to really do much else other than play every couple of days in the Tribe outfield, but he can steal a few bases and is basically a slap, singles hitter that will be able to move runners over with bunts and sac outs now and then.  Below is the short presser from Bart on the move:

The Indians today signed OF JASON TYNER to a minor league contract.  He will report to early minor league camp in the coming days.  Tyner, 30, spent the entire 2007 season with the Minnesota Twins where he hit .286 (87-304) with 14 2B, 2 3B, 1HR, 22 RBI and 8 steals in 114 games.  It was his first full season in the big leagues as he hit his only homer in 1356 Major League at bats (439 games) on July 28 in Progressive Field off Jake Westbrook.  He hit .338 (23-68) in August and hit .299 (73-244) against RHP.

Tyner owns a career Major League batting average of .275 (373-1356) with 41 2B, 11 3B, 1HR & 94RBI in 439 games with the Mets, Devil Rays and Twins.  He was the first round pick (21^st overall) of the New York Mets in 1998 out of Texas A&M University.  He spent 38 games in AAA Buffalo in 2004 where he hit .345 (48-139).  He spent the last 3 seasons in the Minnesota organization and appeared in the Big Leagues in each of those seasons with the Twins.