New Sully Baseball Video - "A Message for Cleveland Fans"

In the latest Sully Baseball video, I borderline beg Cleveland fans to avoid watching the NBA playoffs and pay attention to the young Indians team that just happens to be in first playoffs...

As always, the video is shot, co written and directed by my wonderful wife, Lisa Zambetti.

Enjoy the video.

BELIEVE IT! The Indians are the best team in the American League!

Is it early?

Sure.

But the White Sox just dropped a week of games and the Twins are banged up (and lost to Baltimore).
And oh yeah, Justin Masterson is 4-0 and making the Victor Martinez trade look worse for the Sox. (Hindsight being 20/20.)

If the Tribe wins tomorrow, they will have taken 3 of 4 from the Royals. Usually that doesn't mean anything, except that they were the best teams in the A.L. when the series started.

Start watching, Cleveland fans. Something cool might be happening.

Sal Calanni joins The Sully Baseball Show

Cleveland's own Sal Calanni joins me on today's edition of The Sully Baseball Show.

We talk a little about the 2011 Tribe, working at Jacobs Field, the pain of being a Cleveland Sports fan and whether or not Chief Wahoo is racist.

Listen in

Listen to internet radio with Seamheads on Blog Talk Radio

Let's see some good crowds in Cleveland this week

OK. I realize that it is a mid week series in April against Kansas City, so I understand if it isn't standing room only at The Jake. (Sorry Progressive... it's the Jake.)

But there SHOULD be some buzz and excitement in Cleveland this week.
The three game losing streak means they are no longer the best team in the American League (the defending AL Champion Rangers have that honor.)

They ARE still on top of the AL Central, and the Royals are still in second. Last week the two teams met up for a thrilling 4 game set. And on Tuesday, Justin Masterson is taking his 4-0 record to the hill.

Embrace this team! Who knows what they will do this year? And in a way, that doesn't matter. In April they are playing an exciting brand of baseball and are giving Cleveland fans a little bit of hope.

They very well might not be contending in August or September and the games will be dull "playing out the string" affairs.

Wouldn't it be more fun to see them play when you can say "Who knows? Maybe they CAN do something!"?

Get on the bandwagon NOW!
The best case scenario is you are rooting for the team than finally delivers a title to Cleveland.

The worst case scenario? You see a fun baseball game.

Sounds pretty good to me.

Show up Indians fans... it's fun so far.

The Indians are the best team in the American League right now. And if you missed the game against the second place Royals, then you missed another fun back and forth affair.

Sin Soo Choo broke it open with a 7th inning homer. Matt LaPorta is showing that the CC Sabathia trade might finally be paying dividends. Grady Sizemore's comeback is in full swing. Jack Hannahan, he of 18 career homers going into yesterday's game, hit 2 out last night.

And oh yeah, Justin Masterson won his 5th game.

Show up! What if THIS is the team that does what Bernie Kozar, LeBron James, Albert Belle and CC Sabathia couldn't do?

What if THIS is the team that finally wins it?
Don't you want to at least know their names?

Yes. An April Twins/Indians Series is BIG!

It seems counter intuitive to call any series in April big. The Indians will have 144 games left after today and the Twins have lots of time to recover from their injuries.

But I will argue this is a big series for both teams.

Cleveland is off to a hot start. Is this an April fluke, like the Royals in 2009? Remember how the Royals were in first place in Mid May? You probably don't. They finished the season with 97 losses.

Or is this a team like the 2008 Rays, whom EVERYONE thought was a fluke until they won the American League pennant!

If the Indians keep winning, they might lean more towards the Rays than the Royals. And winning games against the Twins, the team many people picked to win the Division, goes a long way. These are the head to head games that actually DO matter more in the standings.

They improve the Indians and keep the Twins down.

And if the teams are tied and need a one game playoff, the head to head match up would determine home field advantage.

The Twins need to dust themselves off and take out the upstart Tribe and right their ship.

If these teams are going neck and neck throughout the year, the team that lost this series will look back and think "Man, why didn't we win in April?"

Big series.

Watch it, Twins and Indians fans.

Hey Cleveland fans! Don't watch the NBA... support the Indians

Seriously. Don't watch the NBA Playoffs. You will just grind your teeth and get angry. And haven't you done that enough since the Browns won the 1964 NFL Title?

There is something fun happening at the Jake (or whatever the hell it is called now.)

Grady Sizemore homered today and if he is healthy, the Indians will plug an All Star into their lineup.

And guess what? The Indians have 10 wins already! Only the Royals and the Rangers have 10 wins in the American League. And here's another thing to think about.

The Twins are having bullpen and health issues. The White Sox are a veteran team that can age in a hurry and have a shaky pen as well. And I think the Tigers are overrated and are playing sub .500 baseball.

What happens if that continues?
What if the Twins health derails them the way that injuries cut down the perennial playoff participant Red Sox and Angels last year?

What if the White Sox can't get their act together all year?
What if the Tigers' weaknesses are exposed?

None of those are outlandish scenarios.

Where does that leave the American League Central?

It leaves the Royals, stacked with young talent and the Indians.

Don't look now, but the Indians are winning games that they don't have to make up for later in the season. You aren't dreaming, but the A. L. Central is winnable.

And if they make the playoffs, who knows?
Oh I am sure YOU had the Giants winning the World Series when the playoffs started in 2010!
I am sure YOU had the Phillies winning it when the 2008 playoffs kicked off.
No doubt when the post seasons of 2002, 2003 and 2006 began, you wrote Angels, Marlins and Cardinals in pen!

Start paying attention, Indians fans. This could be a very fun year.
Either way, there is at least hope.

You can't get that watching the NBA playoffs this year.

Break out your Indians hat! Any one of them.

These Indian Fans Get It

Progressive Field in Cleveland wasn't exactly packed for yesterday's game between Detroit and Cleveland.

But the fans who WERE there get to say they were on the bandwagon early.

They get to tell other fans that they were THERE when the Indians erased 3-0 and 5-2 holes and saw Asdrubal Cabrera hit a game tying homer and Carlos Santana crash a walk off grand slam.

If the Indians go far this year, last night's game will be prominently featured in any 2011 Highlight Reel.

These fans were there.

Pay attention Cleveland.
Something fun is happening.

Grady is the caretaker

I picked Grady Sizemore to be the AL Comeback Player of the Year in my preseason predictions and so far that is looking pretty solid.

But I am officially intrigued by this Indians team. First of all they are in first place with an eye popping 12-4 record.

Secondly they have come into the home park of another surprising team, the Royals, and won a solid extra inning affair to make it 4 in a row.

What if...?
Could they...?
Is Grady Sizemore the spark this team needs?

Yeah it is early, but we all kept saying "It's early" with the 2006 Tigers and the 2008 Rays until they were in the World Series!

I am just glad they are playing fewer and fewer games with the Chief Wahoo hats.

A few facts about the Indians

No matter what happens the next two days, the Indians will finish April in first place in the American League Central.

Today, the Indians were the only AL Central team to win. The stumbling Twins got blown out TWICE today and the Tigers couldn't beat the Mariners at home. The White Sox lost to the Yankees and the Royals lost to the Tribe.

The Indians are currently the best team in the American League and the worst they can finish the month is tied for second best in the American League.

They have the biggest lead of any current division leader. (4 1/2 games. 5 in the loss column.)

They are an exciting brand of baseball with good pitching, clutch homers and deep bench.

They are having trouble selling tickets.

Turn this around, Indians fans. The Tribe is 1/6 of the way there. Yeah there still is a lot of season to be played, but you can't ask for a better START than this!

Who knows? If the gap continues to widen and the rest of the division can't get out of their own way, there might me something to cheer for.

The facts are undeniable.

Wait a second... The Indians have won 8 in a row?

Suddenly the Red Sox being swept by Cleveland isn't so humiliating.

In fact when you consider the fact that the Rangers are 9-1 and the Indians are 8-2, maybe the Sox just ran smack dab into two hot teams to start the year.



Texas you can understand. They are the defending A.L. Champs and have a fine team.

But the Indians?



Yeah this could be a classic "team has its hot month in April and has the illusion that they are contenders."



But maybe not.



Remember how Tampa Bay got off to a better than expected start and were in first place by late April of 2008? Do you know who thought that was a fluke? The population of the Planet Earth.



Remember how the Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 start in 2006? Do you know who dismissed them as a fast start that would fade? Everyone who would eventually not take Tampa seriously.



Both teams made the World Series.

And while the Twins and my pick of the White Sox will probably wind up winning the division, there always seems to be a surprise team every year.



Why not Cleveland? This winning streak has included wins against three teams that I picked to go to the postseason: The White Sox, Red Sox and Angels.



Plus they acquired Orlando Cabrera, who had played in 6 of the last 7 post seasons. He has made the playoffs each of the last 4 seasons but with a different team each year. Why not 5 for 5?



I am not saying the Indians ARE going to contend. They could drop like a rock. But what if the Twins do indeed take a step back? And the White Sox veterans don't click? And the Tigers can't get their act together? And the Royals don't have the goods?



That would leave Cleveland.



The Cabreras up the middle (Orlando and Asdrubal) look solid and Travis Hafner seems to have found his stroke again. If Shin Soo Choo can start hitting and Grady Sizemore can come back... and Josh Tomlin and Justin Masterson and Mitch Talbot continue their nice start... and the combination of Chris Perez, Tony Sipp, Chad Durbin and Rafael Perez make for a good bullpen...



Dare to dream.

If nothing else, it will distract the people of Cleveland from the Miami Heat playoff series.



Wouldn't that be a wonderful way for it to finally happen in Cleveland? A team catching the city and everyone else off guard.



Just do something about the hats.

Did anything GOOD happen tonght?

OK, the Red Sox are 0-4. You really can't do worse than that over 4 games. And oddly, Carl Crawford has hit in 5 different spots in the lineup. I could be wrong about that, but I don't think I am.

So, not to pull a "Besides that, Mrs. Lincoln how did you like the play?" but can we take anything positive from this?

Well, Beckett pitched OK. Not great, but you can totally pin this loss on him.

The bullpen looked good.

Saltalamacchia drove in a 2 out run.

Hey! Those are all cool.

And while a lot of people are bringing up the fact that no team has ever started the season 0-4 and gone on to win the World Series, I will point out that no team ever was down 0-3 in a best of 7 baseball series and wound up winning it.

There are 158 games to go and it takes one winning streak to make that all work out. Plus the Rays are 0-4 and the Yankees blew a late lead last night, so it is not like they are in an insurmountable situation. It isn't even MID April.

Maybe the Red Sox should play ONE home game before we panic.

And remember, over their first 5 games, the 1998 Yankees were 1-4. They finished OK.

So relax.

But I will update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 0

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 2

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 5 - 3-1 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox drop their 4th straight as the bats are dead in Cleveland.)

OK, -2 so far.

Let's rattle off 4 in a row and put this in the rear view mirror.

How can the Red Sox expect to score against a legend like Josh Tomlin?

Seriously, it's not fair. How can the Sox line up, a rag tag bunch of misfits, possibly get MORE than a run when Cy Young favorite Josh Tomlin is on the hill?

No wonder they sent J. D. Drew to the plate when he was thrown out. Runs are at a PREMIUM when Tomlin is on the hill.

The only question is will he win 30 games this year.

No shame in being completely shut down by him.
It's like facing Maddux in his prime. It is to be expected.

Josh Beckett... the earning of $15.75 million begins NOW

Seriously, it is time for Josh to be Josh again.

In my Star Trek movies to Josh Beckett chart, we should be due for Star Trek VI, which was good. (No really, it was.)

So let's get going... it's off to Cleveland, the site of Beckett's greatest triumph as a member of the Red Sox.

Remember? In 2007, he became the American Bad Ass! The Sox were down 3-1 and Cleveland was on the verge of winning the pennant and CC Sabathia was on the mound.

Beckett calmly and carefully reduced the Indians to rubble, forcing the series back to Boston.

He didn't care that the Indians ace was on the hill.
He didn't care that Kenny Lofton tried to pick a fight with him.
He didn't care that they brought out his ex girlfriend to sing the national anthem.

He just won.

The stakes are not as high right now, but a streak stopping loss will go a long way to putting some confidence in Beckett.

Live long and prosper, Beckett and on to the Undiscovered Country!

For the second year in a row, I am writing about the Indians hats

Last year I asked the Indians to just PICK A HAT! They had so many varying caps last year that I wondered if they were going to change hats in mid game.

So what was the Indians' solution?
THEY CAME UP WITH ANOTHER HAT!

Now I still think that they should go back to the "Tomahawk C" cap that they wore in the 1970s.

It is distinct, it brings out the Native American theme and yet doesn't have a crazy racist image on it.

And yeah... sorry... I'm not the most politically correct person you will ever meet... but Chief Wahoo is kinda sorta racist.

I personally don't find the NAME Indians to be racist nor do I think the Indians should change the name.

But the logo is dated and should go. And I must say, these new red caps are kind of cool.

I still think the C is a little boring, but hey! They've tried everything else. Why not a boring C, a red cap and an off white uniform?

Maybe THAT will help the Indians win.
OK, after seeing their pitching the last few days, they maybe need more than a new cap. But if they are going to be get their butts kicked, they might as well sport an inoffensive cap.

Their pitching is offensive enough.

Rest in Peace, Bob Feller

Baseball lost one of its greatest figures tonight when Rapid Robert, Bob Feller, passed away in Cleveland, Ohio.

His biography reads like a slice of Americana that Norman Rockwell would say "Oh come on... that's too much."

The farm boy from Iowa whose father builds him a baseball field.
The star pitcher who was signed for a dollar and a signed baseball.
Striking out 17 batters as a 17 year old.
Throwing harder than anyone had every thrown before.

And of course leaving the game in his prime (and stopping any chance at 300 wins) to serve in the Pacific Theater. As a Naval Officer on the USS Alabama he earned 8 Battle Stars in his four years in service.

And oh yeah, returned to baseball better than ever and did what must now seem impossible:
He led the Cleveland Indians to the World Series title.

He also barnstormed with black players before integration and pitched in Cuba. He pitched along side Satchel Paige when they were both in their primes. And later when Satchel was past his, they were teammates on the 1948 Indians.

Feller also was ahead of the curve in physical fitness and kept himself in terrific shape. And you could see it as he entered his 90s with all his faculties and able to throw out first pitches and reminisce in wonderful interviews.

He was a real American heirloom and one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

There weren't many like him and now he is gone.
Rest in peace. You were an original.

I actually am happy for Cleveland fans this off season

Why do you ask?

Imagine if Cliff Lee was still with the Indians and he was the bad ass Cy Young winner and hope for any World Series title by the Lake.

Then imagine if he was going through this whole footsie with the Yankees, Rangers and the Indians this off season and EVERYONE trying to guess where he is going to go.

Will he stay here.

Will he take the big bucks elsewhere?

Will he go to New York?

And each team makes a desperate pitch and the entire off season is paralyzed until a decision is made.

Didn't Cleveland JUST GO THROUGH THAT with LeBron?

Doing that TWICE in one year to them would have been just cruel.

I would love it if Cliff Lee said "I am going to take my talents to South Beach" just to catch the Marlins off guard.

Maybe LeBron can help him pick out a subtle new home.

Reviewing who was traded for Cliff Lee

As the baseball world focuses on Arkansas for the first time EVER and wonder where Cliff Lee will go, one thing is certain:

One team will be grumbling when the season begins that all of their courtship yielded nothing.

Well, if he goes to New York, the Rangers will get a pair of draft picks.
And if he goes back to Texas, the Yankees will still have the money and some prospects to try and make another deal.

But I started thinking about the Indians, the Phillies and the Mariners... all the other teams to have employed Cliff Lee since winning the Cy Young Award in 2008.

None of them are currently involved in the mating dance for Lee... but each team has players who were brought in exchange for him.

Let's review who they are.

THE CLEVELAND INDIANS' COMPENSATION FOR CLIFF LEE

The Indians sent Cliff Lee to the Phillies along with outfielder Ben Francisco on July 29, 2009. In return they got:

CARLOS CARRASCO

The 23 year old right handed pitcher had a rough cameo with the 2009 Indians. But he had a solid 2010 in AAA Columbus and looked more like a big leaguer when he was recalled in September. His best game came on September 11th when he pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings against the Twins, matching Nick Blackburn inning for inning. He looks ready for the show.



JASON DONALD

Every single baseball fan and many non baseball fans saw the most famous moment in Jason Donald's career. According to the official record, he got an infield hit off of Armando Gallaraga to break up his perfect game this June. Of course he was out. The replay showed it. But why rehash that? Let's look at the positive! He showed he can hustle!

He also showed that he could play every day as he started 44 games at shortstop before manager Manny Acta made him the regular second baseman. In order to keep that gig, the 25 year old infielder will have to hold off switch hitting Cord Phelps who tore up AAA. But his flexibility could make the 25 year old a valuable reserve infielder.


JASON KNAPP

The 19 year old righthander pitched in the South Atlantic Legaue following shoulder surgery. He struck out 29 in only 16 innings and looks like a solid prospect.



LOU MARSON

A 24 year old catcher, he will compete with another young prospect in Carlos Santana. He played 87 games with Cleveland last year and looked over matched at the plate, but he's young and evidently handles pitching staffs well.

Was considered a top prospect before the trade, he may become a serviceable reserve catcher.

THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES' COMPENSATION FOR CLIFF LEE

The Phillies sent Cliff Lee to the Mariners on December 16, 2009. In return they got:


PHILLIPPE AUMONT

Listed as one of the top 100 prospects by Baseball America in 2008, 2009 and 2010, it is unlikely that he'll make it four years in a row after a subpar first season in the Phillies organization. The Quebec native and former first round pick started the season in AA Reading, thinking he was on the fast track to Philadelphia. Instead he was demoted to the Florida State League after a brutal start to the season.

He was unimpressive this year, but he was only 21 and could rebound. And could also develop into a good reliever. Time will tell.


TYSON GILLIES

Gillies was the 21 year old hitting stud who tore up the California League was supposed to be on the fast track to joining Domonic Brown as the new young center pieces of the Phillies outfield.

Instead he had a terrible season in AA, had hamstring issues and was arrested for cocaine possession.

It is safe to say that the Phillies weren't happy. But hey! How can 2011 be WORSE for him?


J. C. RAMIREZ

Like Aumont, Ramirez is a 21 year old right handed starter. And like Aumont he was unimpressive in both Clearwater and Reading in his first year in the Phillies pipeline. He has decent stuff and maybe with a good pitching coach he could be a serviceable big league pitcher. But as of this writing, he has yet to raise his head above AA.

THE SEATTLE MARINERS' COMPENSATION FOR CLIFF LEE

The Mariners sent Cliff Lee to the Rangers along with reliever Mark Lowe on July 9, 2010. In return they got:

BLAKE BEAVAN

A huge pitcher (6'7", 250 pounds) he 21 year old was terrific in AA and made 7 starts for AAA Tacoma. He was the Texas League pitcher of the year and figures to be one of the Mariners best pitching prospects going into 2011. And with the team rebuilding, a good year in AAA could land him in the majors.

And hey! He has a Fan Club!



MATTHEW LAWSON

The 24 year old second baseman tore up the Southern League pitching after arriving in the Mariners organization.

Where he fits in the long term plans of the Mariners is unknown with middle infielders Nick Franklin, Dustin Ackley and Carlos Triunfel also in the organization.

But hey! A little competition never hurt anyone.




JOSH LUEKE

An exceptionally talented reliever, Lueke put up terrific numbers wherever he went. So why isn't a feel good story?

Well because in 2009 he only played in four games in the Rangers organization.
When the Mariners inquired why, Rangers GM Jon Daniels basically said "Oh there was some legal trouble, but he got acquitted."

Turns out he wasn't. He was in jail for some lurid incident with a woman in 2008. I have no clue what actually happened, but the fact that "false imprisonment" was the LESSER charge that was in the plea bargain, it makes me shudder.

When word got out of his past, both the Mariners and Rangers did the whole "I'm shocked! SHOCKED!" routine and the Mariners scouting director got fired.

Obviously he wasn't acquired as a "good character" guy.

JUSTIN SMOAK

The centerpiece of the Cliff Lee deal, Smoak may not have been a Rookie of the Year candidate. But he has a sweet left handed swing that was good enough to get 13 homers in 397 plate appearances.

One of Baseball America's Top 25 prospects in 2009 and 2010, he has nothing left to prove in AAA. He is the Mariners starting first baseman going into next year. The Mariners hope he will be an All Star before long.




It's too early to tell who got the best deal.

Carlos Carasco and company could thrive in Cleveland or fizzle.
The Phillies prospects look like busts now but they could turn it around.
Justin Smoak could be the next great hitting prospect or he could be Dave McCarty.

One thing is certain: When Cliff Lee's inevitable 7 year contract is up, some of these players might be filing for free Agency.

THEN we can really see what team got the best out of the deals.