http://www.yardbarker.com/content/team/8 Recent articles about the Cleveland Indians en-us Wondering who made the All-Star team from your favorite team? We've got the American and National League rosters broken down team-by-team so you can easily see who was selected. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:44:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286327 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286327 Yes, Brewers fans, celebrate the night away! CC Sabathia is now a Milwaukee Brewer pending paperwork and an exchange of medical records. Sabathia is expected to start his first game for the Brewers on Tuesday night versus the Rockies. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:57:57 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286320 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286320 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt is now reporting that the deal of CC Sabathia to the Brewers for outfielder Matt LaPorta and two other prospects is done - pending completion of paperwork and physicals. Earlier in the day the story was reported as done, by MLB.com, which later backed off that report. Also, some thoughts on the perfect new home for Jhonny Peralta. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:45:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286319 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286319 CC Sabathia is on the verge of being traded to Milwaukee for Matt LaPorta Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:12:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286312 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286312 Though slated as the starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Anthony Castrovince's MLB.com blog reports that an unconfirmed deal has been made. According to a Major League source, the Indians and Brewers have completed a trade in which Sabathia, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, would be sent to Milwaukee for Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta and two other prospects. But that rumor could not immediately be confirmed. So, until this is confirmed by someone in the organization, let's sit here and hope that "two other prospects" are Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar. Pipe dream, most likely. But hey…why not? Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:52:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286296 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286296 The 2008 MLB All-Star rosters were announced today. The All-Star Game will be played on July 15, 2008 at Yankee Stadium, with the league winner securing home field advantage in the World Series. We'll take a look at these rosters, and pick them apart - Who doesn't deserve to go? Who got the snub? Because we know most of our readers likely suffer from ADD, we'll do this in two parts. This article will address the American League roster, and later we'll address the National League roster. So here's how the AL roster looks....... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:00:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286285 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286285 The Cleveland Indians lose their eighth straight and Kelly Shoppach blames his bat. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:51:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286283 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286283 While there was an inkling of thought that Anaheim's Joe Saunders and his 12 wins would be starting for the AL squad in the upcoming All-Star game, a report at Sports Illustrated gives the nod to our very own Cliff Lee. And deservedly so. Cliff Lee, who had to fight for a job in Cleveland's rotation this spring, will be the starting pitcher for the AL, the Post reported. Lee is 11-1 with a 2.26 ERA. He'll go against Arizona's Brandon Webb, who will be playing in his third consecutive All-Star game and getting his first starting assignment. Given near-normal run support, Lee would be closer to 14-1 than his current record shows. To think that he was actually "fighting" for that fifth spot in the rotation - and was nearly traded for Pittsburgh's Jason Bay in the off season - is absolutely insane given the way this season has gone. His return from elbow issues has been amazing, and it would be a travesty if Lee wasn't in the Cy Young talks at the end of the season assuming that he keeps pace. Grady Sizemore and his league leading 22 home runs will have to wait on the coaches to see if he'll have a spot in the mid-summer classic. Ichiro, Manny Ramirez and Texas' Josh Hamilton will be starting for the American League. Can the second worst team in the league get two players aboard the All-Star team? ** Update: Sizemore did in fact get named as a reserve. He'll be making his third All-Star appearance. That Colon trade looks better and better every day. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:17:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286266 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286266 Written by Consigliere It's that time of year again when we hear "buyer" and "seller" in every other baseball story. July 31st marks the non-waiver trading deadline and teams begin to analyze each plate appearance, each pitch thrown and each contract on the books. Some teams are in the hunt and must decide if they are willing to dump prospects for a rental player that could help them reach the postseason. Other teams are hoping that they can find a trading partner willing to take a huge contract off their hands while giving up some young prospects. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:10:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286253 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286253 Matt Underwood loosely uses the word "ballsack" as the Cleveland Indians lose again to the Minnesota Twins. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:38:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286127 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286127 While C.C. Sabathia's trade value continues its assent with every strikeout, we're seeing a nearly perfect negative correlation with Paul Byrd. At one point, Byrd and then closer Joe Borowski were also considered tradable assets. Well, we've seen JoBo's designation; and while doing the same with Byrd would not happen, his performance is not exactly what is keeping him rostered at this point. Another start for Byrd, another first inning home run. Cincy's Adam Dunn, I can understand as he is a 40+ home run guy year in and year out. Nick Punto, on the other hand? Inexcusable. It was his first home run in over 350 at-bats, dating back to last season. The Twins are the least powerful team in the league, and coupling a three-run shot by Delmon Young, we managed to make them look like the second coming of Mantle and Maris. The road has just been brutal for Byrd, as he drops to 1-8 in 10 road starts. I'm not sure if it is just scheduling or what, but we need to start maximizing this guy's home starts if we are going to get anything for him in a trade market. Being "nice" can only garner so much in return. One point of contention that I have with last night's game, that you may not hear about anywhere else came in the sixth inning. Ben Francisco leads off with a solo home run, making the game 5-3, Twins. Jhonny Peralta follows up with a double and Shin-Soo Choo walks. Two on, no outs. What would an in-game coach do at this point? If you said bunt the runners over, we're on the same page. But what did we do? Casey Blake struck out looking, failing to even swing the bat in the entire AB. David Delluci flied out to center - which would have brought in a run, mind you. Then Ryan Garko slammed the door shut with a soft grounder to the third baseman, who simply had to step on the bag. Not to reach here, but Buscher would have had to at least make a throw given a bunt by Blake. Just saying. Of course, none of that matters when your "new, revamped" bullpen gives up six earned runs in two and two-thirds innings. If its any consolation, Brian Slocum had been doing well out of the bullpen in Buffalo. Let's just hope he can transalte some of it to the big league level, as yesterday was not the best way to start. Can Aaron Laffey get us off the schneid? Let's just hope he keeps the ball in the park. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:55:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286063 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286063 Step aside Morgan Ensberg, we have a new underachiever in town. Typically, I would be excited to hear that the Indians signed a former first-round draft choice. However, with the recent news, I can't help but be less than thrilled… The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP JEFF WEAVER to a free agent minor league contract. He will report to AAA Buffalo. Who's next? Kris Benson? Can I get a R.A. Dickey? For a team that had their wallet padlocked in the off-season, they sure are tossing out all sorts of coin at guys who are likely posting classified ads on Craigslist. Yes, it is the same Weaver that won 14 games back in 2005, and actually helped a team in 2006 when he won three postseason games with the St. Louis Cardinals. But it's also the same Weaver that has a career record under .500 (93-114) and had an ERA of 6.20 last season. Couple that with him being cut by the Brewers after pitching simply awful baseball (5 innings, 64 hits, nine home runs) for their Triple-A affiliate, and this reeks of a move that is just filling recently vacated roster spots (Slocum, Lewis). Fun fact: Weaver was selected six spots ahead of C.C. Sabathia back in 1998. Oddly enough, it was six years ago today that Jeff Weaver was traded to the Yankees for Ted Lilly in the deal that netted the Tigers Jeremy Bonderman, and would eventually land Carlos Pena in Tampa Bay (via Oakland et al). Something tells me that the Yankees wouldn't mind getting that one back. The fact that Paul Hoynes is even considering the journeyman Weaver to be C.C. Sabathia's replacement is just scary. I guess all we can hope for is that he could provide something better than what Paul Byrd or Jeremy Sowers have shown us over the last month. At least we can still look forward to David Huff. Right? Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:53:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286062 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286062 Who would have thought that the Cleveland Indians would be in last place this year. They are twelve games back of the of the Chicago White Sox. As you might of heard the Indians are thinking about the trading last years Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia. As far as I am concerned the L.A Dodgers and Milwakee Brewers have been talking with the Indians. So far this year he is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:09:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286050 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286050 The Cleveland Indians sign Jeff Weaver to a minor league deal. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:01:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286020 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286020 The groundwork appears to be laid for a trade of C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee drafted Matt LaPorta with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft, and he appears to be the centerpiece of this possible trade. The Brewers would hate to part with him, but they want to win now. www.rawsportsblog.com Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:05:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285981 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285981