On Belcher, Rest of the Staff and Free Agents

"As I mentioned, I think it was just a matter of him making the commitment to be on the field. It was not just the Cleveland Indians, but the whole baseball industry waiting for the moment to have a guy like him because we think he is a special guy."

That was Manny Acta on Tim Belcher, the newest pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians.

According to Mark Shapiro and Acta, Belcher comes well recommended, well respected, well known and well equipped.

Just read some of those quotes courtesy of Prospect Insider.

Let's tackle some questions though. I raised the concern about him having experience as a coach.. Well even though he was a special assistant, he did plenty of teaching as Shapiro will explain in this one.

"He was a pitching coach at I want to say at almost every level in the minors. He filled in at Triple-A, Double-A and A-ball, but throughout the eight years being here he has been a pitching coach both at Instructional League and spring training and filled in at almost every level throughout the farm system."

So yeah, he's done it before. Not in a full-time role, but he isn't walking into something blindly.

Alright so let's here from the man himself.. How is he going to help?

"I am familiar with this staff. I have been involved heavily in spring training with the big league side each of the last eight years. In varying degrees I have a relationship with really every pitcher in our organization from Kinston up, and some significant relationships."

And what is his philosophy as far as the position is concerned?

"I am not a guru. I think one of the things that too many people make the mistake about is I think that coaches at all levels in all sports get way too much credit when things go well and way too much blame when things don't. It is essentially the players on the field that have to perform and to have success in order for your team to be successful. Coaches in all sports in my mind are there to facilitate. If there are changes that need to be made you facilitate by providing the right information, enough information, and timely information for a particular player to get better."

I'm big on the hire so far. I'm reading nothing but good things. Of course it is all from the Indians, but with all the talk of how other teams wanted him at different points, you know there is mroe than just the Indians liking him there. This is someone who's patiently waited for the right situation as well. He's not just some guy who is getting thrown into the fire and taking the first good job that came his way.

Look at John Farrell. He was in a front office-type position before taking the job in Boston and now look at him.

Let's see if Belcher can follow down that path.

What's next though?

Well according to Mark Shapiro and Manny Acta, they're closer to names on the rest of their staff than "We all think." And as for the bullpen coach goes, it sounds like they're aiming for someone who's had experience in the pen... Which fits Scott Radinsky.

481 innings all out of the pen in Radinsky's career. Scott would be a nice guy to have in the pen as it would essentially be two pitching coaches on one staff as, this guy was in consideration for the pitching coach job and some believe he'll be there one day.

That's still unknown though, so we'll back off.

Acta is a busy man lately. He's everywhere... It sounds like he'll be in Cleveland soon and that's probably when they'll finalize the rest of the staff in that period.

"I am going to spend a couple of days here at home and will interview some more people and then I will fly up to Cleveland and spend about a week over there. Then I have to fly to some other places. I will probably go see some of our players in Venezuela, probably go see Jake Westbrook in Puerto Rico, and some of our players in the Dominican, so it is non-stop until Goodyear."

I'm sure a lot of his travels has to do with him getting to know his players now that he's their new manager, but I don't even know if there is another manager that would take this much initiative this quickly.

For the next three months, the guy is going to be going everywhere, it's amazing.

The Indians made another move yesterday that went by the wayside with the hiring of Tim Belcher.

They hired Ramon Pena as their new Director of Latin American Operations, replacing Lino Diaz.

“We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Ramon’s experience, track record and influence join our organization,” said John Mirabelli, Indians director of scouting, in a statement. "We are excited to add Ramon and feel he could impact our organization in a very positive way.”

Pena has been with the Mets, under GM Omar Minaya and you can bet with Shapiro's relationship with him, he comes well recommended and Shapiro respects that. Before his three years as special assistant to Minaya, Pena spent many many years in the Tigers organization and he has a track record.

He's signed studs such as Jair Jurrjens and Francsico Cordero. This guy has some good influences.

As for the guy he's replacing, Lino Diaz, brother of former Tribe catcher Einar Diaz, he's still in the organization. He will be, what is being described as someone who is "helping transition the Latin Players to playing in the United States."

Finally....

This happened yesterday... With it being really the first big day of the offseason, trades happening, free agents filing, all sorts of fun stuff.. The Indians had two players file for such.

One is Jamey Carroll, who we all know and the other is Tomo Ohka. Bahaha.

Shapiro says that Carroll will be under consideration for that open utility role the Indians have, but they seem to be fixed on going internal and young with that.

However, I don't think Carroll will come as expensive was we originally thought.

Let's remember this economy sucks and last year, baseball felt that.

Players like Orlando Hudson and Orlando Cabrera signing late and for one year deals. What is Jamey Carroll going to garner? Certainly not the millions he would have a few years ago. If the Indians did want to get Carroll back, I don't think he'd come at a steep price. However I don't think the Indians are in a position to bring back a veteran at that spot.

While this team needs a veteran, one like Carroll may not be the answer.