So there are some things I want to cover.

But today is an off-day and that means Photoshop Off-Day and really the other day I had a stroke of brilliance for it.

Unfortunately, it must have not been that brilliant, as I've forgotten it already.

This rain bites. I was going to wash my car today just to kill some time. At least I didn't do it yesterday and then get it rained on, ha suckers.

I'm not even going to bother with last night's game, because we all know by now that the Indians suck. Right? Right? Good.

I will post this quote though from Wedge's comments last night.
"Right now, we're in a little bit of a rut," Wedge said. "We've got to make sure we come in here and expect good things to happen and control the ballgame. I'd like to see us jump out early offensively and try to give us a chance to control the ballgame and let the starting pitcher roll with it from there."You think? A little bit of a rut? We've been in a little bit of a rut all year dude.

Paul Hoynes was actually a little more harsh, calling Wedge's definition of a rut, the Grand Canyon.

Ouch.

Anyway let's tackle this stuff.

The title of this one... "Tribe's Garko ready for expanded role."

What is he, a 2-month rookie?

He's a three year veteran, he should have had an expanded role to start the year.
"I want to play every day," Garko said. "I certainly think I can handle it. I've handled it in the past."

"It's hard to get hot when you don't play every day," he said. "When you're hot and you sit a day, you kind of lose it. And when you're not swinging well, you're searching for it either way."Everyone is like, BAH GARKO Sucks and I'm like, no Garko doesn't play, that's why he sucks. The guy hits a home run one night and is on the bench the next. I think I can handle it? Look what Wedge has done to the guy, making him look like not an everday player when he certainly is and he should be.

An update from yesterday.

Rafael Betancourt did throw his session yesterday and everything checks out and he feels good. He's going to start his rehab assignment on Friday if he woke up today feeling good. I have a feeling people just like saying Dr. Chicken Dances name because they say it as if, hey look at the sound of this name.

They call Lonnie Soloff just Lonnie, why don't they call Dr. Chicken Dance, Mark?

Anyway, Raffy said his tendon pretty much exploded. That's something that doesn't provide a great image, but exploding tendons are the name of the game. I have no clue what I just said.

He'll join Laffey in Columbus, who will start on Friday.

Columbus will only have one starter of their normal rotation starting though, which isn't a bad thing the way they've been going. Fausto Carmona is scheduled to join them to pitch on Sunday. If he does what he did with Akron and Lake County, he could be ready to go for the big show the next time around.

Uh Bill Livingston did something about change and how it never happens with this team. I'm not really reading it right now. You can if you want.

Finally, what I really want to talk about, the International Free Agent signing day is on Friday.

I posted a link for background information yesterday that was done on IPI and now the Plain Dealer has put out a story regarding last year and what some of the plans are for the Indians this year.

As you know, last year the Indians brought in a Taiwan pitcher, good old CC Lee, who's in Kinston right now. Their big signing was a 17 year old by the name of Jose Ozoria, which just sounds made up if you ask me.

It turns out that Ozoria is actually 20 year old Wally Bryan. Wally Bryan? That sounds made up too, no wonder he changed his name.

Anyway the Indians spent a good chunk of change on Jose Wally Ozoria Bryan, over a half a million to be exact.

That was before they learned he was actually 20.

The Indians held onto Bryan though and he's been playing in the DSL. He's hitting .270 right now, not half a million dollars worth by any means.

This is a tricky time of the year, no one has any clue of anything because these guys just want to get to the major leagues anyway they can. That or they just want to make a buck.

The big signing though was catcher Alex Monsalve, who I pointed out in the minor league update this morning as being one of the best hitters at the DSL right now. They gave him a $750,000 bonus to sign and he's making good on that.

The Indians are expected to match or come close to that 2.4 million they spent last year on international talent and one of their big singings could be one of the Cuban defectors, Noel Arguellez and Jose Iglesias. They are 19 years old, Arguellez is a lefty and Iglesias is a shortstop. We've also talked about Miguel Angel Santo before and the Indians interest in him, but he's probably the most sought after IFA and he'll command a hefty bonus.

John Mirabelli said the Indians will offer four to seven players contracts. How many they sign, who knows.