Cleveland Indians' 2007 season built with character and conviction

Cleveland Indians' 2007 season built with character and conviction
Sunday, December 23, 2007Paul HoynesPlain Dealer Reporter
It's hard to be an idealist in Major League Baseball. To always look at the bright side of a game that bears so many scars, might call into question one's view of reality.

Mark Shapiro, Indians general manager, chooses to do so anyway. He knows all too well that this is not a perfect business plied by knights in shining armor. Yet he has always tried to build teams that stress character and chemistry. Some of that has been induced by one of the lowest payrolls in the game, but rarely are convictions and principles sidestepped to bow before the persistent drumbeat of victory.

On Sept. 23, Shapiro saw his convictions come to life when the Indians beat Oakland, 6-2, at Jacobs Field to clinch the AL Central Division. Shapiro has worked for the Indians since 1992, but this was his first division championship as a general manager.

In the locker-room celebration after the game, Shapiro, an AL Central Division championship baseball cap pulled tightly on his head to break the ever-flowing waterfall of champagne and beer, gazed at pockets of gyrating players and felt good about every one of them.

Steady Jake Westbrook pitched seven innings for the victory. Young lefty Rafael Perez, representing a productive farm system that saved the season, relieved and recorded two quick outs before Rafael Betancourt, perhaps the best set-up man in the league last season, pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the save.

Grady Sizemore, a rock Shapiro feels will support this team for seasons to come, had hits in his first four at-bats and reached base five straight times. Casey Blake, the model for manager Eric Wedge's grind-it-out ballplayer, hit a two-run double to start the decisive four-run fourth inning.

Shapiro had a memory for every celebrating player. Maybe it was about the scout who recommended C.C. Sabathia as a high school senior or how Fausto Carmona transformed himself from a failed closer to one of the best starters in the game.

It took nearly six hard years of work to see the Indians' locker room at Jacobs Field in such delirious disarray that day. Shapiro knew that it would never be this good, this pure, again. He drank it in like a thirsty man.

The Indians won seven division titles and reached two World Series from 1995 through 2001. Those teams were so talented, and often so arrogant in displaying that talent, that the sense of accomplishment from those in the organization was dulled.

Compromises were made. Heads were turned. Confrontations avoided -- all in the name of trying to win a world championship that never came.

When Shapiro became general manager in November 2001, the team was old and the farm system played out. He knew he'd have to start over, it was just a matter of when. But when the time came to win, Shapiro wanted to do it differently than before.

On Sept. 23, it happened. The Indians kept winning, finishing at 96-66 and tying Boston for the best record in baseball.

They upset the Yankees in the AL Division Series in four games. They took a 3-1 lead against Boston in the AL Championship Series, only to lose three straight. The morning of Game 7 of the ALCS, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tribe starter Paul Byrd purchased $25,000 of human growth hormone and syringes from 2002-05.

Reality has a way of bruising idealists, but Sept. 23 was perfect.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Names in the Mitchell Report

Names in the Mitchell Report
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday's release of the Mitchell Report, which investigated the involvement of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, had one headline name.

Roger Clemens, the greatest pitcher of his era, led a list of seven of baseball's Most Valuable Players and 31 All-Stars in the report. Indians pitcher Paul Byrd, who admitted to using Human Growth Hormone during the October playoffs, was the only current Indian named in the report.

Doping was widespread by stars as well as scrubs, the report said, putting a question mark if not an asterisk next to baseball records and threatening the integrity of the game itself.

Players connected to steroids, either use or possession in the report:

Chad Allen, Mike Bell, Gary Bennett

Larry Bigbie, Ricky Bones, Kevin Brown

Ken Caminiti, Mark Carreon, Jason Christiansen

Howie Clark, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford

Jack Cust, Brendan Donnelly, Chris Donnels
Lenny Dykstra, Matt Franco, Ryan Franklin

Eric Gagne, Jason Grimsley, Jerry Hairston

Phil Hiatt, Matt Herges, Glenallen Hill,

Todd Hundley, Ryan Jorgensen, Wally Joyner

Mike Judd, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch

Tim Laker, Mike Lansing, Paul Lo Duca

Exavier "Nook" Logan, Josias Manzanillo, Cody McKay

Kent Mercker, Bart Miadich, Hal Morris, Daniel Naulty

Denny Neagle, Rafael Palmeiro, Jim Parque

Andy Pettitte, Adam Piatt, Todd Pratt
Stephen Randolph, Adam Riggs, Brian Roberts

F.P. Santangelo, David Segui, Mike Stanton

Ricky Stone, Miguel Tejada, Derrick Turnbow

Mo Vaughn, Ron Villone, Fernando Vina

Rondell White, Jeff Williams, Todd Williams, Kevin Young, Gregg Zaun

The following players were cited under "Alleged Internet Purchases of Performance Enhancing Substances By Players in Major League Baseball" in the report:

Rick Ankiel, David Bell, Paul Byrd, Jose Canseco

Jay Gibbons, Troy Glaus, Jose Guillen, Darren Holmes

Gary Matthews Jr., John Rocker, Scott Schoeneweis

Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams, Steve Woodard

The following players were linked through BALCO in the report:

Marvin Benard, Barry Bonds, Bobby Estalella, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Benito Santiago, Gary Sheffield, Randy Velarde

Byrd, 16 former Indians named in report
Posted by Paul Hoynes December 13, 2007 23:14PM
Categories: Indians

Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer
Paul Byrd was the only current Indian named in the Mitchell Report.

Indians right-hander Paul Byrd, named in former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's report Thursday on the use of performance-enhancing substances in baseball, is scheduled to meet with MLB officials Monday as the investigation into his use of Human Growth Hormone continues.

Byrd was the only current Indian named Thursday. Sixteen former Indians, including David Justice and Juan Gonzalez, were mentioned.

It's unclear what, if any, discipline awaits Byrd. The pitcher, and his agent, Bo McKinnis, could not be reached on Thursday.

Kansas City's Jose Guillen and Baltimore's Jay Gibbons, who reportedly purchased HGH after it was banned by MLB in January of 2005, were recently suspended 15 days by Commissioner Bud Selig. They will serve the suspensions at the start of next season.

The San Francisco Chronicle, the day the Indians played Boston in Game 7 of the ALCS in October, reported that Byrd purchased $25,000 of HGH between 2002 and 2005. The Chronicle reported that Byrd made his last order from a revitalization clinic in Florida just before baseball banned the substance.

Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis, linked to HGH purchases from similar clinics, received no punishment from Selig because of insufficient evidence.

Mitchell, at the end of his report, told the media that he hoped Selig would not punish any of the players named in his report. Selig, who conducted his own press conference following Mitchell's, said he'd examine each case before deciding what, if any, punishment was necessary.

Former Indians named in the Mitchell report were Tim Laker, Jason Grimsley, David Segui, Mark Carreon, Glenallen Hill, Ron Villone, Kent Mercker, Chad Allen, David Bell, John Rocker, Matt Williams, Steve Woodard, Todd Pratt and Mike Lansing.

Former Indians GM John Hart and team doctor William Wilder were also mentioned.

Here's what the investigation uncovered about the former Indians. Years with the Indians noted.

Justice (1997-2000): Radomski said he sold HGH to Justice before he played in the 2000 World Series with the Yankees. Justice, who talked to investigators before being named by Radomski, said he'd never used steroids, but gave the names of several players he suspected of using steroids. Justice added that he had no direct knowledge of any player using steroids.

Gonzalez (2001, 2005): A duffel bag was found at the Toronto airport on Oct. 4, 2001 when Gonzalez was playing for the Indians. It contained syringes and steroids. Gonzalez said it belonged to his personal trainer. The trainer said at belonged to Gonzalez.

Laker (2001-2004, 2006): Laker, who managed Class A Mahoning Valley for the Indians last season, told investigators he used steroids from 1995 through 2000. Kirk Radomski, a Mets clubhouse worker who named many of the players in the Mitchell report after getting arrested, said he sold them to him. Laker, who had to cooperate with the investigation because he's employed by a big-league club, was replaced by Travis Fryman at Mahoning Valley, and will be a roving minor-league instructor for the Indians.

Grimsley (1993-1995): He was suspended for 50 games in 2006 after admitting to federal officers that he used illegal performance enhancing drugs after a shipment was followed to his Arizona home. Radomski said he was one of Grimsley's suppliers.

Segui (2000): Now retired, he publicly admitted using steroids and HGH throughout his career. Radomski said he was one of Segui's suppliers.

Carreon (1996): Radomski said Carreon purchased steroids from him when he played for the Mets.

Hill (1991-1993): Radomski said he sold Hill HGH in 2001. Hill, currently Colorado's first-base coach, told investigators he never used it. Hill said he purchased it because of "marital stress."

Villone (1998): He met Radomski through Colorado teammate Denny Neagle. Radomski said Villone purchased HGH in 2004 and 2005.

Mercker (1996): Radomski said he sold Mercker HGH in 2002.

Allen (2002): Told investigators he purchased steroids from Radomski to help heal a knee injury in 2003.

David Bell (1995, 1998): Named in a March 6, 2007 Sports Illustrated article for purchasing human chorionic gonapatropin.

Rocker (2001): Sports Illustrated reported in March of 2007 that Rocker purchased two parcels of HGH. A spokesman for the former pitcher said Rocker had been prescribed it following shoulder surgery.

Williams (1997): The San Francisco Chronicle reported Williams purchased steroids and HGH in 2002 when he played for Arizona.

Woodard (2000-2001): A New York Daily News story on Sept. 7, 2007 said Woodard received steroids and HGH from a Florida rejuvenation center.

Pratt (Rule 5 pick 1987): Radomski said he sold steroids to Pratt in 2000 or 2001.

Lansing (Class AAA Buffalo, 2002): Radomski said he sold Lansing testosterone and HGH in 2002.

Mitchell investigators sought to talk with Byrd, Bell, Rocker, Williams and Woodard, but they did not cooperate. Mitchell did not have subpoena power and the players association told players to not cooperate.

Wilder, the Indians' former team doctor, was interviewed about a 1998 memo he wrote to former General Manager John Hart and assistant GM Dan O'Dowd following the winter meetings. Mark McGwire hit 70 homers that year to break Roger Maris' record. McGwire admitted to using androstenedione, a steroid precursor, which had yet to be banned by MLB.

During a presentation at the meetings, a doctor representing MLB said there was nothing wrong with players increasing their testosterone levels. This disturbed Wilder and many others, who felt like it was a green light for players to use steroids.

Wilder suggested to Gene Orza of the players association that data should be sent out warning players against performance-enhancing substances. Orza said more study was needed on supplements.

In the memo, Wilder questioned whether testosterone belonged in athletics even if it improved performance. He felt the players association was stalling.

"I just thought it was crazy what the players association and Gene Orza were doing," said Wilder. "John and Danny read the memo, but their hands were tied. They were concerned about the team's finances. The players association was so strong . . . it was a collective bargaining thing."

Mitchell criticized owners, players, management and the players association for letting baseball's steroids problem get out of control. In 2002, after Hart had left the Indians to become GM in Texas, he signed Gonzalez, who left the Indians through free agency.

By that time, Angel Presinal, the strength coach who said it was Gonzalez's duffel bag that was found at the Toronto airport in 2001, had been banned from every clubhouse in the big leagues. Presinal, according to the Mitchell report, was a frequent visitor to the Rangers clubhouse to see Gonzalez even though Hart had knowledge of what had happened with the Indians.

MLB finally banned Presinal from the Rangers clubhouse.

Said Indians President Paul Dolan, "The Cleveland Indians are in full support of Commissioner Selig's response to the Mitchell report. Our organization has been committed to eliminate the use of performance-enhancing substances from the game of baseball."

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Terry Pluto: Selig must take some action
Posted by Terry Pluto Plain Dealer Columnist December 13, 2007 19:18PM
Categories: Terry Pluto columns

George Mitchell said he didn't want any of the 80 current and former major-league players charged as cheaters in his report to be disciplined.

Commissioner Bud Selig said he "would take action," and do it on a "case-by-case" basis.

Good for him, that's the right approach.

Just because a player's name appears in the Mitchell Report doesn't convict him of anything. But the report also contains cancelled checks and other documentation pointing to athletes buying steroids and Human Growth Hormone.

That can't and should not be ignored. Some legal types will scream, "That's circumstantial evidence." Yes, it is, and people go to jail on that type of proof every day. If one player or former trainer names another -- and that's all they have on the guy -- then there should be no punishment. But a solid paper trail demands a verdict from the commissioner.

So should the fans, who probably have a sense that nearly everyone was cheating. You have the greatest hitter of our generation in Barry Bonds and the best pitcher in Roger Clemens being fingered for steroid use. Other names in the report included former Most Valuable Players Miguel Tejada, Mo Vaughn and five others. That's right, seven of baseball's MVPs are named as cheaters in this report appearing under the name of former U.S. Senator George Mitchell.

The report was tilted toward New York because information came from former Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee and former Mets clubhouse man Kirk Radomski.

That means this is just a partial list, Mitchell admitting he was being conservative. He talked about a lack of cooperation from the Players Association. Now there's a shock. The union has been gutless on this issue from the beginning, preferring to protect the guilty than listen to the innocent members who wanted a clean game. That very well could have convinced other players to order up some HGH after arm or knee surgery to promote healing.

It had to be discouraging for athletes playing it straight to compete with guys who obviously had an unfair advantage.

The union should be embarrassed by its history of fighting drug testing and other attempts by baseball to control the problem.

And management should be ashamed for knowing that something was wrong in the 1990s, that players were getting so big, so fast and the steroid whispers were growing more frequent -- yet the owners were thrilled to be see fans packing the stands after the 1994 strike to watch Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Bonds and the rest assault home run records.

Mitchell verbally spanked the union, but barely even issued a warning to the owners and front offices. Could it because he has been a director for the Boston Red Sox? Nah. For years, scouts and front office executives would mention how this player was "a 'roids guy," and to be careful about committing a long-term deal to him because of the injury risk. Seldom did you hear anyone mention the fact that the guy was a cheater.

There are 17 former Indians mentioned, most either the Tim Laker, Todd Pratt bench types, or the notorious such as Juan Gonzalez, Jason Grimsley and John Rocker -- who had long been suspected. Paul Byrd's name appears, but only because it was mentioned in the San Francisco Chronicle story about his purchasing HGH.

For Tribe fans, there are no bombshells here. But more names may come from other sources.

Baseball has long battled scandals. The 1919 World Series was fixed. So were other games, but that often was ignored. In the 1960s and 1970s, players gobbled amphetamines (called greenies) before games. You also can throw in spitballs and corked bats, but those seem more like venal sins compared to the major offenses that are a part of chemical baseball warfare.

For baseball, it's a dismal day, no matter how Selig and Mitchell tried to characterize it. We truly have watched a Steroids Era. While not everyone who deserves punishment will get it, the commissioner should do his best to nail those who are truly guilty with significant suspensions.

It would be nice if the union would help -- and the membership demand it -- but don't count on it. There are still too many people in this story running for cover.

Masa in the Mix

Cleveland Indians sign reliever Kobayashi
Pitcher brought in to assist Borowski Wednesday, November 21, 2007Dennis Manoloff

The Indians looked to the Far East to bolster their bullpen, signing Japanese right-hander Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.

Kobayashi made history as the first Japanese professional ever signed to a major-league contract by Cleveland.

"Masa," as he is known to his friends, was introduced Tuesday at a news conference in Jacobs Field. He sat between Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro and interpreter Kenta Yagi.
Asked what he knows about Cleveland, Kobayashi said through Yagi: "It has a beautiful lake and the Indians."

Kobayashi is one of three pitchers in the history of Japanese pro baseball with 200-plus saves. He has 227. He is the only Japanese professional to notch 20-plus saves in seven consecutive seasons (2001-2007).

Joe Borowski need not worry. Barring injury, he will continue to be the Tribe's closer in 2008. Kobayashi will slot somewhere in front of him, but not too far.

"One of our primary off-season goals is to add depth to the back end of our bullpen," Shapiro said. "We envision Masa' having many opportunities to pitch in meaningful situations."

Shapiro does not foresee a problem with Kobayashi, who will have a full-time interpreter, getting comfortable in the Tribe clubhouse.

"Baseball right now is about playing in a multicultural environment," Shapiro said. "Our players will embrace him."

Kobayashi, 33, went 2-7 with a 3.61 ERA and 27 saves in 49 appearances last season for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League. He was Chiba Lotte's No. 1 pick in 1999.
In 2006, Kobayashi went 6-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 34 saves in 53 appearances. He said the dropoff from 2006 to 2007 had nothing to do with "neck irritation," reportedly the reason for a disabled-list stint in September.

"My neck is fine," he said. "I'm surprised the U.S. media would say I have neck trouble."

Kobayashi, who throws a fastball, slider and split from an overhand slot, declared free agency at the beginning of November. In search of a new challenge, he looked to the States.
"I know the Indians are one of the best teams in Major League Baseball, and they showed an interest in me," he said.

Agent Mark Pieper said negotiations unfolded as smoothly as could be expected for an overseas free agent. Because Kobayashi was an unrestricted free agent, a posting fee to Chiba Lotte was not required.

Under the direction of scouting director John Mirabelli, the Indians have increased their presence in Japan over the past several years.

At the news conference, Kobayashi held up Tribe jersey No. 30 - Andy Marte's number. Indians Assistant General Manager Chris Antonetti said not to read anything into it, that Marte remains in the mix. Kobayashi's addition brings the Tribe's 40-man roster to 40.

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Tribe finds bullpen help
Masahide Kobayashi, a right-handed closer from Japan, agrees to 2-year contract

By Sheldon Ocker Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007

CLEVELAND: As a celebrated reliever in his native country of Japan, Masahide Kobayashi speaks almost no English, but apparently he can cut to the chase in any language.

In a news conference to announce his signing by the Indians on Tuesday, Kobayashi was asked if he had formed any impressions of Cleveland, having been in the city not much longer than 24 hours.

Kobayashi didn't hesitate to answer through an interpreter, saying, ''It has beautiful lake and the city has Indians.''

Come to think of it, what more does he need to know? At least for now. Kobayashi will return to Cleveland in January with his wife and daughter for the grand tour. A month later, he will be exposed to the charms of Winter Haven, Fla., where the Tribe holds spring training.

Six weeks after that, General Manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge will begin to learn whether a reported $6.25 million investment in Kobayashi, a right-hander, is going to pay off. Kobayashi will earn $3 million in each of the next two seasons. The Indians hold a $3.25 million club option on his services for 2010. If they choose to decline the option, Kobayashi, 33, will receive a $250,000 buyout.

Although Kobayashi was a successful closer for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, for whom he played for nine years, Shapiro is not counting on him to save games for the Tribe.

''If we're a good team, there will be many opportunities for him to pitch in meaningful situations,'' Shapiro said. ''With his experience as a closer, if we need him to save games because of an injury (to Joe Borowski), he can be an option. But one thing we
expect him to do is pitch in meaningful situations.''

Get the picture? Neither Shapiro nor anyone else associated with the team is willing at this point to pick a specific job for Kobayashi and be totally confident he can be successful. After all, he has not facedmajor-league hitters, at least not with any regularity. Twice, in 2000 and 2002, he pitched against big-leaguers for the Japanese national team, and Tribe operatives have scouted him.

''He pitches aggressively with his fastball, which comes in at 90 and sometimes gets up to 94,'' said scouting director John Mirabelli, who has watched Kobayashi throw. ''His out pitch is a wipeout slider, and he throws a split, which is more of a forkball.''

One thing that Shapiro emphasized is that Kobayashi throws strikes, unlike many pitchers who have come from Japan and prefer to nibble at the corners of the plate as if they were afraid to throw a strike.

The Indians' financial commitment and two-year deal indicate that club officials like Kobayashi's chances of ''adding to our back-of-the-bullpen depth,'' as Shapiro put it.

It's likely that Kobayashi will be worked into the bullpen pecking order slowly, behind Borowski, the closer, and Rafael Betancourt, the setup man.

For the Lions, who were managed by Bobby Valentine, the former big-league skipper, Kobayashi was 2-7 with 27 saves and a 3.61 ERA in 49 appearances last season, when he walked only 12 and struck out 35 in 471/3 innings. Kobayashi is accustomed to closing out games. He began to pile up saves in his second season with Chiba Lotte and amassed a total of 227 along with a career ERA of 2.79.

Injuries are not an integral part of Kobayashi's history.

''I don't remember going to a doctor or a hospital the last 10 years,'' he said, a neck injury last season being the exception.

Kobayashi declared for free agency on Nov. 2, the first day allowed under Japanese rules, and the Indians were among a group of teams that expressed interest. Kobayashi said other teams were in the hunt but would not reveal which ones.

''Several teams made offers, but I couldn't say which,'' he said. ''The Indians showed me the most interest. I know the Indians are one of the best teams in the major leagues, and I was impressed that they had interest in me.''

Asked if his offseason search for relievers is at an end, Shapiro said: ''I don't think we'll ever be satisfied with our bullpen, because of the volatility of relievers. So we'll continue to try and reinforce things there.''

Despite the limitations imposed by Kobayashi's lack of familiarity with English, he gave the language a gallant effort to get one important message across: ''My name is Masahide, but call me Masa,'' he said without the help of the interpreter.


Tickets on sale

Tickets for the March 31 home opener (3 p.m.) will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, as will those for the following two games of the opening series against the Chicago White Sox on April 2 and 3, and select ''six-pack'' ticket packages. Most tickets have increased in price by $1 or $2 from the 2007 season.

Tickets can be bought online at http://www.Indians.com, at Indians gift stores, through Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 216-241-5555 or 866-488-7423.


New uniforms

The Indians will wear uniforms with slight style and color changes in 2008.

The biggest difference will be the home alternate design. It will feature a cream-colored top with block ''INDIANS'' across the chest in red and Chief Wahoo on the left sleeve. The jersey will be worn with a blue cap with a red block ''C.''



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.

CLEVELAND: As a celebrated reliever in his native country of Japan, Masahide Kobayashi speaks almost no English, but apparently he can cut to the chase in any language.

In a news conference to announce his signing by the Indians on Tuesday, Kobayashi was asked if he had formed any impressions of Cleveland, having been in the city not much longer than 24 hours.

Kobayashi didn't hesitate to answer through an interpreter, saying, ''It has beautiful lake and the city has Indians.''

Come to think of it, what more does he need to know? At least for now. Kobayashi will return to Cleveland in January with his wife and daughter for the grand tour. A month later, he will be exposed to the charms of Winter Haven, Fla., where the Tribe holds spring training.

Six weeks after that, General Manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge will begin to learn whether a reported $6.25 million investment in Kobayashi, a right-hander, is going to pay off. Kobayashi will earn $3 million in each of the next two seasons. The Indians hold a $3.25 million club option on his services for 2010. If they choose to decline the option, Kobayashi, 33, will receive a $250,000 buyout.

Although Kobayashi was a successful closer for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, for whom he played for nine years, Shapiro is not counting on him to save games for the Tribe.

''If we're a good team, there will be many opportunities for him to pitch in meaningful situations,'' Shapiro said. ''With his experience as a closer, if we need him to save games because of an injury (to Joe Borowski), he can be an option. But one thing we
expect him to do is pitch in meaningful situations.''

Get the picture? Neither Shapiro nor anyone else associated with the team is willing at this point to pick a specific job for Kobayashi and be totally confident he can be successful. After all, he has not facedmajor-league hitters, at least not with any regularity. Twice, in 2000 and 2002, he pitched against big-leaguers for the Japanese national team, and Tribe operatives have scouted him.

''He pitches aggressively with his fastball, which comes in at 90 and sometimes gets up to 94,'' said scouting director John Mirabelli, who has watched Kobayashi throw. ''His out pitch is a wipeout slider, and he throws a split, which is more of a forkball.''

One thing that Shapiro emphasized is that Kobayashi throws strikes, unlike many pitchers who have come from Japan and prefer to nibble at the corners of the plate as if they were afraid to throw a strike.

The Indians' financial commitment and two-year deal indicate that club officials like Kobayashi's chances of ''adding to our back-of-the-bullpen depth,'' as Shapiro put it.

It's likely that Kobayashi will be worked into the bullpen pecking order slowly, behind Borowski, the closer, and Rafael Betancourt, the setup man.

For the Lions, who were managed by Bobby Valentine, the former big-league skipper, Kobayashi was 2-7 with 27 saves and a 3.61 ERA in 49 appearances last season, when he walked only 12 and struck out 35 in 471/3 innings. Kobayashi is accustomed to closing out games. He began to pile up saves in his second season with Chiba Lotte and amassed a total of 227 along with a career ERA of 2.79.

Injuries are not an integral part of Kobayashi's history.

''I don't remember going to a doctor or a hospital the last 10 years,'' he said, a neck injury last season being the exception.

Kobayashi declared for free agency on Nov. 2, the first day allowed under Japanese rules, and the Indians were among a group of teams that expressed interest. Kobayashi said other teams were in the hunt but would not reveal which ones.

''Several teams made offers, but I couldn't say which,'' he said. ''The Indians showed me the most interest. I know the Indians are one of the best teams in the major leagues, and I was impressed that they had interest in me.''

Asked if his offseason search for relievers is at an end, Shapiro said: ''I don't think we'll ever be satisfied with our bullpen, because of the volatility of relievers. So we'll continue to try and reinforce things there.''

Despite the limitations imposed by Kobayashi's lack of familiarity with English, he gave the language a gallant effort to get one important message across: ''My name is Masahide, but call me Masa,'' he said without the help of the interpreter.

Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia wins AL Cy Young Award
Indians' Sabathia voted AL Cy Young Award winner Wednesday, November 14, 2007Story by Paul Hoynes

He has grown up right in front of us. Now that he's primed and polished and has the American League Cy Young Award trophy sitting in the back seat, will C.C. Sabathia drive right out of Cleveland?

Sabathia became only the second Indians pitcher, and first in 35 years, to win the Cy Young on Tuesday by a surprisingly easy margin in a vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Sabathia, named on 27 of the 28 ballots, received 119 points. Boston's Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27 ERA) was second with 86 points and the Los Angeles Angels' John Lackey (19-9, 3.01) finished third with 36.

Fausto Carmona, Sabathia's teammate, was fourth in his first full season in the big leagues.

Manager Eric Wedge could be the next Indian to be honored. The BBWAA's AL Manager of the Year will be announced today, and Wedge is one of the favorites.

Sabathia received 19 of 28 first-place votes and eight second-place votes. Beckett received eight first-place votes, 14 second-place votes and four third-place votes.

Lackey received one first-place vote. The points were based on a 5-3-1 tabulation system as two writers in the 14 AL cities voted.

Beckett, baseball's only 20-game winner this year, beat Sabathia in Games 1 and 5 of the AL Championship Series, which Boston won in seven games. Sabathia's postseason failings held no sway with the voters because the Cy Young is decided by regular-season performance.

Sabathia went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA.

He led the big leagues in innings pitched with 241.

"The last couple of weeks, people kept asking me, did I think I had a chance," said Sabathia from his home in Fairfield, Calif. "I definitely thought it would be close, and I definitely thought Josh Beckett could have won it. I'm glad it worked out this way."
The Indians, in 1998, drafted Sabathia out of Vallejo (Calif.) High School. He was tall and too heavy, but he was left-handed and threw hard.

Then manager Charlie Manuel, against the wishes of the player development people, put him in the big-league rotation in 2001.

"I like him," said Manuel. "He looks big out there on the mound."
At 6-7 and 300 pounds, Sabathia had no choice in looking big. He won 17 games, his best season until this year.

Between then and now Sabathia lost some bulk, got scared out of running the streets by having a gun pointed in his face during a robbery, lost his father to cancer, got married, became a father and learned that it is not necessary to throw every pitch 98 mph to win.

"One of the joys of this job is watching a player go from teenager, to young man, to a man and a leader on this team," said Tribe General Manager Mark Shapiro.

Next year will be Sabathia's 11th with the Indians. It could be his last because he'll be eligible for free agency after the season.

The front office is working on a contract proposal to show ownership. If ownership OK's it, it will be sent to Sabathia's agents. Shapiro would like to have the matter resolved, one way or the other, by Feb. 15, the day training camp usually opens.

This is going to be an expensive proposition.

Sabathia will make a base salary of $11 million next year. He received a $2 million bonus -- his 2008 base salary jumped from $9 million to $11 million -- for winning the Cy Young. On top of that, he received another $250,000 for winning the award.
We have the utmost respect and appreciation for C.C. and have a strong desire to keep him here," said Shapiro. "C.C., I think, shares that desire.

"The only question is can we find a business deal that works for the Indians organization and C.C.? We're going to take the next three months to find that out."

Sabathia told XM Radio: "I've been an Indian my entire career. I grew up here, and I've been here since I was 17 years old, so I really can't see myself leaving the organization. My agent is meeting with the team, and hopefully they can get something done real soon."
Will he stay or will he go will be known soon enough. Here's a hint: If Sabathia wants $20 million a year to stay, it's not going to happen.

Another question of equal magnitude is just where Sabathia, 27, stands in his career. The Cy Young is nice but guarantees nothing.

Gaylord Perry, the only other Indian to win the Cy Young, was 34 when he won it after going 24-16 in 1972. He won his second Cy Young six years later in 1978 for San Diego.

"I watch C.C. every time he's on TV," said Perry. "He's got great stuff. He just has to learn how to harness it. If he does, he could be one of the greats."

Roger Clemens won his first two Cy Youngs at 24 and 25 for Boston in 1986 and 1987. He was 42 when he won his seventh while with Houston in 2004.

Bartolo Colon, a former Sabathia teammate, was 32 when he won the Cy Young for the Angels in 2005. This winter he's a free agent with a bad arm.

Arizona's Brandon Webb won the 2006 NL Cy Young at 27. He followed that by going 18-10 with 236 1/3 innings pitched this year.

Sabathia, who has never had a serious arm injury, is 100-63 in his career with the Indians. He's won 11 or more games in each of his seven seasons.

"I feel strongly that this season wasn't just a spike in C.C.'s career," said Indians pitching coach Carl Willis. "It's taken him a few years at the major-league level to find out what works and what doesn't work.

"He has always had that great fastball, but he's learned to pitch effectively and efficiently without it. That bodes well for what he can do in the future."

Just where the future takes him has yet to be decided.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Cleveland's Winning Ways in Business

Cleveland Indians' way of business is gaining respect throughout baseball Terry Pluto . Thursday, November 15, 2007

The Cleveland Indians are doing a lot right, that's what all the postseason awards should be telling you.

The latest is Eric Wedge being voted the American League Manager of the Year. That comes after C.C. Sabathia winning the AL Cy Young Award, center fielder Grady Sizemore being voted a Gold Glove and Mark Shapiro being named the Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.

Some Tribe fans tend to view the team through a microscope. They find some trade that backfired, a managerial decision that blew up, a comment made by the manager that just made no sense. It's sort of like dwelling on a few dents in a race car, missing the fact that the motor is humming that the driver has it running with the leaders.

That's what Wedge did with the Tribe this season.

Forget about the Indians being in the bottom third of major-league payrolls, the bottom line was 96 victories - tied with Boston for the most in the majors. And being the only team to even win a game against Boston in the postseason. And having a group of players who do "respect the game," as Wedge says over and over. They play hard. They don't embarrass themselves or the fans.

And they were the second-best team in baseball, period.

If you can agree that the team overachieved, the manager had something to do with it. So did the front office.

“From Mark [Shapiro] to Eric [Wedge] to the rest, those guys have their courage of their convictions,” said Mike Hargrove, the Tribe’s manager from 1991 to 1999.

Hargrove said a key to the Indians’ success was Shapiro believing in Wedge, and not taking the easy way out by changing managers when things on the field didn’t meet expectations.

“This organization doesn’t point fingers,” said Hargrove. “I appreciate how Eric doesn’t hang his players out to dry. There are times when you as a manager know a player screwed up. You called the right play, but he missed it. You deal with that in private. But with the media, you bite your lip and shoulder the blame. That can be real tough.”

A manager does that because players will soon turn on a boss whom they believe does not have their back. That’s also why Hargrove, Wedge, Joe Torre, Terry Francona and most other successful managers don’t throw fits in the dugout where the cameras broadcast it to the fans. Players believe that a manager kicking a helmet or screaming after an error is, in Wedge’s words, “showing them up.”

Hargrove then recalled a game sitting in Shapiro’s box, “It was in 2004, and some fan was calling Mark every name in the book. Mark just took it. He manned up. That’s what I like about Mark and Eric, they act like men. They don’t pass the blame.”

It actually begins with the Dolan family, which turned the team over to Shapiro after the 2001 season. They stuck with him during a demanding and sometimes frustrating rebuilding plan. Shapiro believed he could field a winner primarily through signing and trading for prospects.

Sabathia and fellow 19-game winner Fausto Carmona were both signed and developed by the farm system. Sizemore was a Class A player hitting .258 with zero homers in 256 at-bats when the Indians obtained him as part of the Bartolo Colon deal with Montreal. Wedge managed at every level of the Tribe farm system before Shapiro brought him to Cleveland in 2003.

Having managed the Indians to AL pennants in 1995 and 1997, Hargrove knows what it’s like to be Wedge. He also knows what it’s like to manage elsewhere, having worked in Baltimore and Seattle after leaving the Tribe.

“People in baseball notice what the Indians have built and the character of the people running it,” said Hargrove. “That’s why they have such a great reputation around the game.”

To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com, 216-999-4674

Best I've ever seen: RHP Jack Morris

Best I've ever seen: RHP Jack Morris
Sunday, October 28, 2007Paul HoynesPlain Dealer Reporter
The best right-hander I've ever seen isn't in the Hall of Fame and I have no idea why.

He won 254 games and on Oct. 24, 1991, pitched one of the greatest games in World Series history. Anyone who saw it, especially the Atlanta Braves, would have to agree.

Jack Morris pitched 10 innings in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series to lead the Twins to a 1-0 victory over Atlanta. Morris, 37, threw a 126-pitch shutout on three days' rest after starting Games 1 and 4.

Twins manager Tom Kelly told Morris he was done after the ninth inning. Morris changed his mind.

"I talked to him, told him I had a lot left," said Morris. "I told him, 'We don't play tomorrow.' "

Kelly relented, saying, "What the hell, it's only a ballgame."

Some ballgame.

Morris struck out eight, walked two and allowed seven hits in 10 innings. Wrote a Minneapolis sportswriter, “Morris could have outlasted Methuselah.”

The 6-3, 200-pound Morris was not the warm and cuddly sort. He wore a bushy mustache and was constantly in need of two things — a shave and an attitude adjustment.

Morris won 198 games for the Tigers, but manager Sparky Anderson hated to take him out of a game. Not because Morris would complain vocally, but because he’d slam the ball into Anderson’s hand when he came to the mound. Anderson said it hurt.

He was rude to reporters, male and female alike. He was cocky, too.

Morris was one of the first pitchers to master the split-fingered fastball. Tigers pitching coach Roger Craig taught it to him.

Once when the Indians were playing Detroit, Morris said Ty Cobb couldn’t hit the splitter.
Morris said he’d seen old films of Cobb and could tell by the way the Georgia Peach held and swung the bat that he couldn’t hit the splitter. What Morris was really saying was that Cobb, the greatest Tiger in history, couldn’t hit him.

Morris liked to throw at Indians leadoff hitter Kenny Lofton’s legs. After one particular game, in which Morris made Lofton dance for much of the afternoon, Tribe manager Mike Hargrove expressed his displeasure to reporters.

When the reporters relayed the information to Morris, he growled, “Tell Mike those are sliders. The same sliders he couldn’t hit when he faced me.”

In short, he was just what every manager wanted from a No. 1 starter — snappish, mean and talented.

Morris started 14 opening days and at one point made 500 consecutive starts without missing a turn in the rotation. He was on the disabled list twice in an 18-year career.

He won 162 games in the 1980s, the most by any pitcher.

He threw a no-hitter against Chicago on April 7, 1984. From 1979 through 1992, according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Morris won 233 games compared to Nolan Ryan’s 168 when both men were in their prime.

Ryan is in the Hall of Fame.

Morris is still on the outside looking in.

The Indians signed Morris in 1994 for their first year at Jacobs Field. They were looking for veterans to season a young team that would dominate the AL Central for the next seven years.

Morris still had his temper and splitter, but he was 39. He’d injured his right shoulder in 1993 with Toronto and the end was near.

During a tight spot in one game, second baseman Carlos Baerga came in to check on Morris at the mound.

“What do you want?” snapped Morris. “Get back to second base.”

It soon became clear that Morris had other things on his mind besides baseball. Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., went to the mound once to see what was bothering him. Morris was crying because his girlfriend had broken up with him.

He started leaving the team between starts so he could help get the wheat harvested on his farm in Montana. Management tolerated it for a while, but Morris’ conditioning and performance suffered.

“Hey, it’s crunch time on the farm,” said Morris.

To which Hargrove replied, “It’s crunch time here, too.”

The Indians released Morris on Aug. 10, 1994. He won 10 games that season, his last in the big leagues.