Coming to you from... 10 PM On Tuesday! That's right, it's Past-Me..

I've had this post scheduled to go up at 10 because I'm going to be busy today, and I want something up. So while I'm busy reading about Romans names Romulus, you read about Indians named Garko.

I'm going to be saying days instead of yesterday and today because I'll end up blowing my brain up.

Tuesday was the first day of regular full-squad activities with the entire team in camp. Things are going to ramp up on Wednesday with live Batting Practice according to Anthony Castrovince.

Travis Hafner will not, he's going to continue taking BP in the cages with Derek Shelton. He's behind, but not by too much.

Anyway..

Hafner was questioned about the steroids thing earlier and we all know that. Of course Alex Rodriguez's press conference has sort of gotten everyone's attention and a few Indians spoke out.

Cliff Lee being the main guy, even in a funny way, as you can see in CastroTurf's entry. But he was pretty opinioniated about the issue.
"We had an agreement [with the union] that it's an anonymous test, and obviously it's not anonymous," Lee said. "There's still 103 other guys that could be leaked out. Part of me wishes they would just say all of them, and part of me wishes they would destroy it. It was supposed to be anonymous, and that's the way it should be. That's what our union stuff is for." Cliff Lee has been pretty outspoken about this issue, more than any other Indian. David Ortiz and Ozzie Guillen are a few guys to speak out recently as well, and for the record, Ortiz should tell the Union reps that, because they are the barrier from that happening, not anyone else.

But, all the Indians have been pretty tame about this and that's good, this is a fairly young team with some good people on it, I'm not sure there are many if any users around.

But, we don't know, so we refrain.

I will not refrain from speculating about what Eric Wedge told the team on Tuesday though.
"He fired me up," outfielder Matt LaPorta said. "I like that high intensity." We all know Wedge... When have we ever heard the words high intensity used to describe his actions? Sure he's had his moments when he's gone ape on some umpire or he's acted angry. He may be mentally intense, but he's firing people up now?

This might be awesome!

Either way.. Whatever it was, he said it in his annual address to his entire team.

Vinnie Chulk said it made him want to go out and get ready. So, I don't know if it was just with the guys who heard it for the first time or not.. But...

HIGH INTENSITY!?

Maybe as crazy as Ryan Garko in the outfield, which is becoming a silly joke that is no longer a joke damnit.

Ryan Garko has actually lost 10 pounds, and with Choo going out to play in the WBC, it looks like that left-field spot is going to be open a little bit more.

Said Garko, "I've felt better than I thought I would out there. I think losing the weight has helped me."

"Jeff Datz (outfield coach) and I are going to spend a lot of time together," said Garko.

Hey, more power to ya bud. I feel really good about Garko this year. People seem to keep writing him off and I'm not ready to. It's time like these guys can bounce back and remind you that they are there.

This might be that time for Ryan and I feel good about him doing it.

The newest gallery like pictures with the above, is now up.

You can also see an interview with Grady Sizemore. But for more.. Read on, cause I'm awesome.

Grady is kind of.. Well single.. As we know and many women celebrate to this day... So is it any surprise his house has nothing?

"I don't have a trophy room in my house. If I get a few more, I might put one on display. But right now it would look pretty out of place sitting on the mantle in the living room with nothing else beside it. No furniture, just a Gold Glove."

"I've got stuff," said Sizemore with a laugh, "but it's more of a bachelor pad than a furnished house."

Yes.. We are much more interesting in Sizemore's furniture than we are other things.

I think..

No really.. It can be said it's uneasy having any player playing for the WBC, but I've maintained I'm good with Grady playing, and now I think I actually think this will be good for him.
"I'm honored to be part of the team," he said. "I'm excited about playing against other countries. I'm looking forward to having that logo on my chest and playing for my country."This is going to be a nice little stage for him to showcase himself. I know he's not really a "superstar" in the sense that he could careless about the attention, but he's pretty much the face of this franchise.

And well... He deserves the exposure.

You can bet Carlos Santana is going to get some exposure as he continues his ascension up the Indians organization. Here is some of that.
"Carlos is extremely gifted offensively. He has a lot of bat speed and he's disciplined. Defensively, he has above average skills when it comes to catching and throwing. He still needs to refine his receiving skills, his game calling ability and his ability to lead a pitching staff."Hey I'm not going to Spring Training, I have this thing we call school. But if you are going down to Arizona, AC was kind enough to put a little guide together for you.

Here is a transaction for you.... The Indians have signed the first ever European Baseball player to a seven minor league deal. He is just 17 years old.

His name is Martin Cervenka and he's a Catcher.

This TOTALLY fits into my Roman theme for today (tomorrow), totally didn't plan it!

Cervenka is going to play in this European league for 2009 though, so he won't immediately be coming over.

This also gives me a chance to give some love to the Italians, because well, I'm Italian and I love them.

There is a nice following of the Indians over in Italy, as I'm sure you were not aware of. Well this is just a nice thing. Bendetto, whom I've conversed with over e-mail before, has a blog for the Indians, IN ITALIAN! So if you are Italian, and you like the Indians, but you can't read English, chances are you are utterly confused.

So I'll use what little Italian I know to say this..

Se siete italiano e voi realmente come i Cleveland Indians. Verifichi questo blog.

Okay.. I babelfished it.. I can only say a few words and translate from what my dad and grandparents say. Shut up...

Anyway, for the Italians out there, Bendetto has put together an Indians blog in Italian. So.. Feliz Navidad. Yes that's Spanish.. Buen Natale, that I know.

I know this is probably silly and it's like beating a dead horse, but look at this.



I could have said, hey look at the picture on one of those previous links. But that link sucks and look here.. Even though the picture has nothing to do with the title, seeing that picture under that title, I think someone is playing a little joke.

They know Eric Wedge's man crush is Casey Blake.

Come On Now.. That just isn't right.

Neither are the Romans.. Damnit...

In all seriousness though... The quote he said is right and it goes back to what I said earlier about this team.
"Character is such a loose term anymore. A lot of times there's not a lot of content to it. But when it comes to a professional sports team, if you want a definition of character, that's what that is."Even if there are 25-Casey Blakes.. Those are some valuable people.