Indians Confidential

The Cleveland Indians today signed CA KELLY SHOPPACH for the 2009 season, avoiding arbitration.

Shoppach hit .261 (92-352) in 2008 with 27 doubles, 21 home runs and 55 RBI in 112 games (.348OBP/.517SLG/.865OPS). He led all American League catchers in home runs, also finishing 3rd among big league catchers with his 21 round trippers. His 55 RBI were the 4th highest total among AL backstops despite having at least 100 fewer at bats than the top 3 RBI finishers. Shoppach is currently training in Goodyear, Arizona in preparation for the 2009 season.

Shoppach was the club’s only member of the 40-man roster who was arbitration eligible.

AUBREY OUTRIGHTED TO AAA COLUMBUS

The Cleveland Indians today announced that INF MICHAEL AUBREY cleared waivers and has been outrighted to AAA Columbus. He has been invited to Major League camp as a non-roster player. Aubrey was designated for assignment on January 6 when Carl Pavano was added to the 40-man roster.

The Indians have made a roster move to put another arm in the pen, as today they called up Tom Mastny and sent down Michael Aubrey. Here is the official presser:

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has recalled RHP TOM MASTNY from AAA Buffalo. To allow room for Mastny on the Major League roster, the Indians optioned INF MICHAEL AUBREY to AAA Buffalo.

Mastny is 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA (14.1IP, 14H, 6R/5ER, 6BB, 17K) in 11 appearances out of the bullpen for the Bisons this year. He will be joining the Indians for the 2nd time this season as he was with the club from April 14 thru May 11 going 0-0 with a 10.80 ERA (1.2IP, 2H, 2R/ER, 3BB, 3K) in 2 appearances. After being optioned back to Buffalo on May 11th, he allowed just 1 run/earned in 9.0 innings (7G, 5H, 2BB, 8K) for the Bisons. He wears #40.

Aubrey hit .185 (5-27) with 2 runs scored, 2 home runs and 2 RBI in 9 games with the Indians. Each of his first two Major League hits were home runs.

Coming off their awful 0-6 road trip, the Indians look as if they will make some roster moves that could help the bullpen, and possibly the offense. Paul Hoynes’ Insider today says that the team will activate closer Joe Borowski today, this after he pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday night for Akron. Jo-Bo also looked close to ready when he pitched Monday night in Lake County. With the hitting null and void, the bullpen has also started to scuffle as of late, leaving the team hoping that Borowski, despite his issues already this season, can add a spark to the team. It’s been said all along that he’ll be the closer upon his return.

As for the offense, Eric Wedge also said that we could see our first appearance of outfielder Shin-Soo Choo in 2008 soon. Choo is on a 20-day rehab assignment in Buffalo, and could be with the team shortly. You can also expect Jake Westbrook to be back soon, meaning that Aaron Laffey’s spot in the rotation will be gone and he’ll likely be back at AAA Buffalo. As for who goes where when Borowski and Choo may be ready – Michael Aubrey, who showed some pop in his bat with two homers on this recent road trip, will probably go down. Hoynes also says that it could be time to cut the cord with Andy Marte. He has no options left, meaning that the team can’t send him down unless they designate him for assignment and he’d likely get picked up by another team.

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.

CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has recalled INF MICHAEL AUBREY from the AAA Buffalo Bisons. To allow room for Aubrey on the Major League roster the Indians optioned LHP JEREMY SOWERS to AAA Buffalo.

Aubrey, the club’s 1st round pick (11th overall) in the 2003 draft, will be making his debut at the Major League level. He began the year at AA Akron where he hit .277 (28-101) with 9 2B, 2HR & 16RBI in 24 games. At the time his 9 doubles were tied for 3rd in the Eastern League. He was promoted to AAA Buffalo for the first time on May 2nd and has hit .341 (15-44) with 4 2B and 5RBI in 11 games with the Bisons (hit safely in 9 of 11G). Combined on the year he is hitting .297 (43-145) between the two stops, has hit safely in 31 of 35 games and has hit .395 (15-38) with RISP. He will wear #23.

Sowers made his 2nd Major League start of the 2008 season last night in Cincinnati vs. the Reds (5.0IP, 5H, 3R/ER) and is 0-0 w/a 5.23 ERA in 2 starts for Cleveland (10.1IP, 12H, 6R/ER). He returns to 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.

The Tribe just sent out a presser about their first cuts of spring training.  Here are the five that have been moved:

CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has reduced their spring training roster by five (5) players. 

This morning the Indians optioned RHP ADAM MILLER & LHP REID SANTOS to AAA Buffalo and optioned INF MICHAEL AUBREY & LHP SCOTT LEWIS to AA Akron.  The club also reassigned LHP CHUCK LOFGREN to minor league camp.

Currently there are 56 players in Major League camp in Winter Haven, FL.  The Indians take on the Tampa Bay Rays today in St. Pete at 1:05 PM ET with RHP PAUL BYRD on the hill.