Cleveland Sports Chatter

[POJO_Risin]

Unfortunately...it will be to late...if they know they are getting the money...they should be able to spend already...

[POJO_Risin]

Crisp getting dealt to the Red Sox?

I hope not...

not for either of those 2...

Crisp in the middle: Club looks to deal for OF
By Michael Silverman and Tony Massarotti/ Red Sox Notebook
Saturday, December 17, 2005 - Updated: 12:55 AM EST

The Red Sox are having ongoing discussions with the Cleveland Indians about a trade for outfielder Coco Crisp, with the pricetag expected to be either starter Bronson Arroyo or Matt Clement. The Indians are believed to have a preference for Arroyo, who is still arbitration eligible, while the Red Sox are more keen on giving away Clement, who is due $19 million the next two seasons and drew the Indians’ interest as a free agent last year.

A trade for Crisp would benefit the Red Sox on a number of fronts, regardless of the fate of free agent center fielder Johnny Damon and unhappy left fielder Manny Ramirez. With four years remaining before becoming eligible for free agency, the 26-year-old, switch-hitting Crisp can play center or a corner outfield position, has good speed on the basepaths, has displayed some power and has shown steady improvement in his last two full seasons with the Indians. He can bat leadoff and it is clear the Red Sox are entertaining thoughts of trading for him, especially as a fallback in case Damon does not re-sign.

Crisp made about $365,000 last season.

The Indians may not be willing to deal Crisp, however, unless they can land an outfielder themselves, and they are one of the four teams actively courting free agent Nomar Garciaparra, who would play the outfield in Cleveland. . . .

The Sox have not advanced much in their talks with free agent outfielder Juan Encarnacion, according to his agent, Eric Goldschmidt. The Sox did speak with the Mariners about outfielder Jeremy Reed, but the Mariners have little interest in Arroyo or Clement.

[POJO_Risin]

Cavs beat up on the Pistons at home...

now if we could translate that to some road wins...and win more consistently...but this is something to build on...

good win for the Cavaliers...

[POJO_Risin]

Also yesterday, there were ongoing conversations between the Sox and Indians aimed at bringing outfielder Coco Crisp to Boston. The deal, according to a major league source, probably would cost the Sox top prospect Andy Marte and probably would include multiple players changing sides.

Crisp, who hit .300 with 16 homers and 70 RBIs while making $365,000 last season, is seeking more than $3 million in arbitration. The 26-year-old has been atop the Sox' list for some time.


Well...I think Crisp is fantastic...power and speed...

but I wouldn't mind getting Marte...not a sure thing by any stretch...but certainly...a valuable commodity...

[POJO_Risin]

They want Coco:

The Red Sox have been persistent in their desire to get Coco Crisp to play center field since losing Johnny Damon to the Yankees. The Indians have been reluctant to part with Crisp because they don't have an outfielder to replace him.

The Red Sox reportedly have been tempting the Indians with infield prospect Andy Marte and setup man Guillermo Mota.

The Indians may have considered trading Crisp if they had been able to sign Brian Giles or Nomar Garciaparra to play the outfield. Manny Ramirez could certainly replace Crisp, but the Indians don't want to assume the last three years of Ramirez's eight-year, $160 million contract and his "Manny-being-Manny" attitude.

The Red Sox acquired Marte from Atlanta for shortstop Edgar Renteria at the winter meetings. They acquired Mota, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell from Florida.

Marte is a third baseman, but the Red Sox talked about playing him in the outfield this year. The Indians feel Marte will have to spend this season at Class AAA regardless of his position, which doesn't do them much good if they're going to challenge Chicago in the AL Central.

Of course, a third team always could be brought into the deal to provide the outfielder the Indians need.

[vheddyrmv8]

I agree with that, I personally think if the Indians were going after any Sox reliever, they should have gone after Tavarez, Mota is injury prone.

The AL Central will definately be tough, but the Indians should have no problem beating the Twins out for second place, after all of the talk of the Twins getting some "power" all they could come up with was Rondell White. I think the Twins need a new GM, not having a 30 HR hitter is a terrible thing, and though they signed Batista, he is a huge question mark.

[POJO_Risin]

No thanks on Tavarez...we had him once...don't need him again..he's still a head case...

used to be the Indians #1 prospect...a surefire #1 starter...

lmfao...that sure worked out...

and I'm not sure why you are talking about 2nd place...the Indians offense...is as good as it gets...

and their staff is underrated...

[POJO_Risin]

This team will be great for years to come...

great signing...

now have VMart, Peralta and Sizemore wrapped up for 7, 5 and 5 respectively...

and have CC and Hafner as well...through 08...

and are gunning for Cliff Lee....

these six...if they stay together for a long period of time...not only will win a series...but more than one..

Very nice signing today indeed...

[POJO_Risin]

Cleveland locks up another youngster in SizemoreAssociated Press


CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians locked up their center field position into the next decade, agreeing Wednesday to a $23.45 million, six-year contract with Grady Sizemore.

Sizemore's deal has the most guaranteed money for a player with less than two years of major-league service, $200,000 more than the Boston Red Sox guaranteed shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in a five-year deal agreed to in March 1998.

"I didn't expect it to happen this fast," Sizemore said. "Last year, I was just trying to make the team."

Sizemore's hustle and humility have made him a favorite with teammates and fans. The Indians' female fan base has taken a particular liking to him -- the team sold 200 "Mrs. Sizemore" T-shirts on the first day they were made available at Jacobs Field.

His new status as a millionaire shouldn't hurt his popularity. Sizemore gets a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $500,000 this year, $750,000 in 2007, $3 million in 2008, $4.6 million in 2009, $5.6 million in 1010 and $7.5 million in 2011.

The agreement includes an $8.5 million club option for 2012 with a $500,000 buyout. If the option is exercised, the deal would total $31.45 million over seven seasons, and the option price could increase to $10.5 million depending on whether Sizemore is an All-Star, Gold Glove or Silver Slugger or does well in MVP voting.

If traded, the option becomes Sizemore's decision and the buyout is forfeited if he declines the option. He would alsod get a $500,000 payment if traded, and the salaries in the remaining years of the contract would increase by 10 percent.

"I'm still going to play the game the same way," Sizemore said. "I want to be here for a long time."

Sizemore has played only one full season in the majors, but the 23-year-old outfielder did enough to impress the Indians.

"He plays the game hard. He respects the game. He's a good teammate, and he's pretty good as well," team president Paul Dolan said.

Sizemore batted .289 with 22 homers and 81 RBI in 158 games last season. He also scored 111 runs, had 22 steals and became the second Indians player to record 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. He was the only player in the majors to reach those numbers last season.

"We are committed to building and sustaining a championship team and Grady -- as one of the most talented young players in the game today -- is the kind of player and person that can help lead us to that goal," general manager Mark Shapiro said.

The length of contract mirrors that of deals the Indians gave to shortstop Jhonny Peralta (five years, $13 million) and catcher Victor Martinez ($15.5 million for five years).

"The unprecedented length and financial guarantee of this contract clearly illustrates the Indians' sincere belief in Grady as a player and person," said Sizemore's agent, Joe Urbon.

The Indians are also trying to sign Cliff Lee, who went 18-5 last season, to a long-term deal. Cleveland also has designated hitter Travis Hafner and left-hander C.C. Sabathia under contract through 2007 with club options for 2008.

"We have a championship-caliber core in place," Dolan said.

Cleveland acquired Sizemore in 2002 from Montreal in the deal that sent ace Bartolo Colon to the Expos.

Television ratings studies by the team indicated that female viewership of Indians games increased 200 percent in 2005.

Sizemore's contract is the longest agreed to by the Indians since shortstop Omar Vizquel's six-year deal in 1995.

[POJO_Risin]

Brandon Phillips to be traded...

the Colon deal was HUGE for the Indians...and Phillips was the centerpiece...

who'd have thought that Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore would be twice the player this guy turned out to be so far...

I think you'll see...if he gets a shot...

Phillips turn into a damn fine player...

[POJO_Risin]

Shapiro expects to trade Phillips
Move won't be made until final exhibition of season is completed
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - It won't be long before the Indians wash their hands of the failed Brandon Phillips experiment.

General Manager Mark Shapiro is almost certain he can trade Phillips in the next few days, rather than lose him to a team that makes a waiver claim. Because Phillips is out of options, he would have to clear waivers before the Tribe could assign him to Buffalo again.

``We will be able to trade Brandon, definitively,'' Shapiro said Thursday. ``There is a good possibility that we could have a trade in place by the last out on Saturday.''

If the GM can't make a deal by then, he will designate Phillips for assignment and have 10 days to trade him.

Shapiro was careful to specify a time for this reason: Phillips will not be traded until the Indians complete the entire exhibition season with all players remaining healthy.

``If there's an injury (to Jhonny Peralta, Ronnie Belliard or Ramon Vazquez) in the next 27 innings, Brandon will be on the team,'' the GM said.

Shapiro also wanted to make it clear not to expect a windfall in talent for Phillips.

``We can get value for Brandon,'' Shapiro said. ``But the value would be what he is worth now (rather than his potential), and there are multiple teams interested.''

Teams that appear to be Phillips pursuers are Tampa Bay, Washington and maybe Kansas City, for starters. The club that acquires him must add him to its 25-man roster or put him on waivers.

It wasn't supposed to come to this. Phillips was Shapiro's primary target when he traded Bartolo Colon to Montreal -- in a deal that also brought Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore -- in June 2002.

At that time, Phillips was considered a can't-miss prospect at shortstop (or second), someone who not only made acrobatic plays in the field, but also possessed a lethal bat. Scouts viewed him as a player who would hit line drives in the gaps, not towering fly balls over the fence.

Phillips apparently had other ideas. He kept his swing long and took overly hard hacks in case he hit the ball.

He fell in love with the idea of hitting for power. No matter how much time coaches and managers spent with him, he could not be persuaded to tighten his swing.

``This is a player we felt extremely strong about, and it didn't work out,'' Shapiro said. ``So you can't help but feel disappointed.''

The GM wasn't certain of the results of the post-mortem.

``You can talk about Brandon's (career) path,'' Shapiro said. ``Maybe we shouldn't have kept him in the big leagues as long as we did. Maybe the failure was ours, maybe it was shared.''

Shapiro's reference is to the 2003 season. Phillips won the everyday second-base job in spring training, and for more than three months he made all the plays in the field but stumbled badly at the plate. When he finally was optioned to Triple-A in mid-July, he was batting .210.

Phillips never again received an extended chance to play in the big leagues, and as Shapiro tellingly said Thursday, ``We didn't see anything different this spring than we'd seen before.''

It probably would be counterproductive to Phillips' career if Shapiro didn't make a deal for him and he cleared waivers. Phillips already has spent the better parts of four seasons at Triple-A. Another is unlikely to benefit him. Sometimes a change of scenery helps a player.

Phillips still has the potential to be successful.

``The guy is going to be a very good major-league player,'' Shapiro said. ``But the time frame didn't align with the way the team matured.''

Shapiro revealed that Einar Diaz and Steve Karsay have committed to going to Buffalo if they don't latch onto a job on a big-league roster in the next few days.

Diaz lost the backup catcher job to rookie Kelly Shoppach on Wednesday, and Danny Graves beat out Karsay, Jason Davis (and earlier, Andrew Brown) for the final bullpen berth.

``We have a long-standing relationship with both players,'' Shapiro said. ``We're not about to stand in the way if they can get big-league jobs.''

Considering the usual rate of attrition among relievers, it would be no surprise if Karsay were to earn a promotion to Cleveland within weeks.

Karsay might have claimed a spot on the roster during camp had he been a little sharper from the start. He has pitched fewer than 50 innings the past three years after undergoing shoulder surgery, however, and needs more work to regain his edge.

``I didn't think my spring was half-bad,'' Karsay said. ``It's not the best spring I ever had, but it's also not the worst. I wasn't that good early, but the last 10 days, I think I got a lot better, my last outing especially.''

[POJO_Risin]

Cavs win their first playoff game since 1998...

Lebron has a triple double in his first playoff game...

the start of a fantastic playoff career...

[POJO_Risin]

On a sidenote...and something a bit more scary...on Lebron's future...

The Cavs can sign him I think after August to a max...5 year...75 million dollar deal.

Nobody can match it...but if he says no...he can become a restricted free agent at the end of next season...

Jay Z is a good friend of Lebron's...someone Lebron calls family...

and he's a part owner of the Nets...

who are moving to Brooklyn soon...

Lebron in Brooklyn...

"The King of New York anyone?"

fuck...

[Unchainme]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
On a sidenote...and something a bit more scary...on Lebron's future...

The Cavs can sign him I think after August to a max...5 year...75 million dollar deal.

Nobody can match it...but if he says no...he can become a restricted free agent at the end of next season...

Jay Z is a good friend of Lebron's...someone Lebron calls family...

and he's a part owner of the Nets...

who are moving to Brooklyn soon...

Lebron in Brooklyn...

"The King of New York anyone?"

fuck...

:PUKES AT THE IDEA OF THAT:

[POJO_Risin]

The rumblings are already there that Lebron fully intends to sign the max deal in Cleveland BEFORE he can become a free agent...

you don't normally hear rumblings like that FROM THE PLAYERS AGENT this far in advance...