- The Tribe has optioned Josh Barfield to AAA Buffalo. Asdrubal Cabrera will start the season at 2nd base.
-The Tribe has released LHP Aaron Fultz, who turned out to be a bust. He gave up 11 ER in 8.1 IP this spring. That, combined with a disappointing 2007 season, makes for a good decision to release Fultz. The Tribe added RHP Jorge Julio to the 40 man roster in Fultz' place.
-Cliff Lee has won the 5 spot in the Tribe rotation. After an impressive spring, let's hope Lee will bounce back from a disappointing 2007, and back to the man who won 18 games in 2005. Either way, though, Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers will be waiting in AAA Buffalo in case Lee falters.
-Even after a great spring, Ben Francisco will start the year in Buffalo. Can't say I agree with Wedge on this move, considering David Delluci has had a disappointing spring, but look to see the 2007 International League batting champion in an Indians uniform, starting in LF with Jason Michaels by the end of May at the latest. I don't think Delluci will last long.

Oh, and let's hope opening day will be without snow. Right now, its supposed to be 47 degrees with a chance of rain. But with Cleveland weather, we might have opening day in Milwaukee, again.

AP Story

1.Borowski lead the AL with 45 saves. While he did blow many  saves and left Tribe fans on pins and needles consistently, he got the job done when he needed to. There is no doubt in my mind that Borowski is the veteran leader of the Tribe bullpen. He has the ability to bounce back from a blown save from the night before and finish off the game the day he is playing. That sort of experience is not something one can learn overnight. Many of my readers have often criticized me for being a Borowski advocate, but why fix a ship that is not broken? It makes no sense.

2.If Borowski falters, the Tribe picked up Masahide Kobayashi this offseason for that reason. He’s been Japan’s most consistent closer in recent years and will hopefully have a smooth transition to MLB.

3.Transitions into the closer role can often be the hardest to make. My example of this is Fausto Carmona in the closer role during the ’06 season. Sure, Carmona was younger than Betancourt, but his example shows what can happen when you move someone to a closer role when they already have a defined role. Carmona is a starter. His record this year proved this to be the case. Betancourt, on the other hand, is a setup man, and in my opinion, the most solid setup man in MLB.

Also, the Tribe can’t seem to get over their obsession with Pirates outfielder Jason Bay in the Winter Meetings. Like I’ve said in previous entries, the Tribe does NOT need corner outfield help. They need to resign CC. Michaels, Francisco, Dellucci, even Choo (if he recovers from the Tommy John surgery) will step it up next year and fill in the missing hole in the outfield. There’s enough solutions internally which will solve the corner outfield hole, that the Indians do not need to give up Cliff Lee and Kelly Shoppach for Jason Bay. Ok, Cliff didn’t perform last year, but he did go a respectable 14-11 in 2006 and a very good 18-5 in 2005. There’s still a good possibility he’ll bounce back and be the pitcher we know he can be. And Kelly is too valuable with his defense to give up. Bay, like Lee, struggled last year while he had a respectable 2005 and 2006. He bated .247 last year and that alone is not worth both Lee and Shoppach. Maybe Lee alone, but not both. But I digress. Luckily, though, it looks like Shapiro isn’t going to budge on Bay which will be the smartest move in the end. Lee is still under contract, and a hefty one at that. I wouldn’t want to deal him prematurely. If Lee still isn’t performing in July, then deal him. But there’s still enough potential in him to be the pitcher he was in ’05 and ’06. I know all the hay sayers are yelling but oh, we have Aaron Laffey and ADAM MILLER, but, Miller was hurt last year and is unproven in the majors and Laffey, though had a good few months last year, did have just that, a few months. That isn’t enough to constitute being dependable. Then again, Lee didn’t either but he has a more proven track record then Laffey or Miller and I wouldn’t want to trade him so quickly for a guy like Bay, especially if they want Shoppach too.

But now, let’s recap what the Tribe has done since CC won the Cy Young.

First, I would like to extend my hardy congratulations to Eric Wedge, the AL Manager of the Year. He truly was the best manager in baseball. He turned around a team which in 2006 struggled with a 78-84 record, to a 2007 team which turned in a 96-66, tied for the best record in MLB. Wedge worked with a low payroll and helped to bring out the best in his young players, which is alone a major accomplishment. Wedge commands the respect of his players and in return got the results this team needed so badly. Hopefully, next year the Tribe will continue its winning trends.

Also, Asdrubal Cabrera and Aaron Laffey won the two top honors minor leaguers can win within the Tribe organization. Cabrera took home the Lou Boudreau award for the top minor league position player and Laffey took home the Bob Feller award for the top minor league pitcher.  Both Cabrera and Laffey made big contributions to the Tribe down the stretch and will likely continue to do so when they enter into their first full year in the majors.

Prayers go out to Tribe pitcher, Juan Lara who is on the Tribe 40 man roster. Lara was involved in a car accident in the Dominican Republic last week. Lara suffered major brain trauma, though his condition is said to be improving. My prayers go out to him and his family for his speedy recovery. A full story is here.

In good news, though, the Tribe signed relief pitcher Masahide Kobayashi from Japan. This is the first player the Tribe has signed from the Japanese system. Kobayashi is the Japanese baseball league’s all time save leader. He should provide much help in the back end of the bullpen either as a setup man when Bentancourt cannot do it, or a closer if Borowski falters this season. While it is always a risk to sign someone who doesn’t have MLB experience, Kobayashi is a proven veteran who has dominated the Japanese league for years. This season will soon show how Kobayashi performs. I think, though, he will provide even more depth to a bullpen which is already, arguably, one of the best in MLB.