http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/1044 Recent articles about Anthony Reyes en-us Talk about a slump buster. Batting just .190 (with one home run) during the month of August, Grady Sizemore rolled in to dollar dog night and appeared to have been shot out of a metaphorical cannon. Sizemore went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run that helped blow the lead wide open - even enough for two earned runs off of our bullpen. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:26:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309574 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309574 Anthony Reyes had a short night yet his pitch count was rather low. What is Eric Wedge up to now? Plus Victor Martinez has a good night in Buffalo, Grady Sizemore is busting out of his slump and Ryan Garko is knocking in a whole lot of runs for the Cleveland Indians. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:08:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309535 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309535 The Cleveland Indians put a 1-9 effort forth in beating the Kansas City Royals. Grady Sizemore, Ryan Garko and Shin-Soo Choo go deep and Anthony Reyes turns in another decent start. Plus, has Rafael Betancourt turned a corner? Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:12:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309378 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309378 The Cleveland Indians winning streak comes to an end thanks to former Tribe pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:48:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/305666 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/305666 It's been only three days since my last post (why does that sound like I'm in a confessional?), but a lot has happened with the Tribe. Paul Byrd and Ryan Garko both seemed to have learned a lesson, but in different ways. Byrd threw a complete game against Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays, for his fourth win in his last five starts. His ERA during that period is 1.80 and all of those starts have been quality starts - a least as defined by MLB's statisticians (at least 6 inning, no more than 3 runs). The veteran got a little remedial help with his curveball from the master of the pitch - Minnesota broadcaster and former MLB and Tribe pitcher Bert Blylevin. Whatever Blylevin told him, it seems to be helping. Byrd reportedly has cleared waivers and can be traded. I would not be surprised to see the Tribe hang on to him though and bring him back next year if it can be done at a reasonable price. Byrd is now 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA and has last year's post-season success to add to his appeal. How many fifth starters in the league offer anything more attractive than that? Add in his veteran presence on an otherwise young staff, and the idea may not be as dumb as many of you are thinking it is as you read this. Meanwhile, Ryan Garko seems to have learned another kind of lesson - don't dog it when you're barely holding on to your spot on the roster. After being benched for one game and most of another for failing to run out a dribbler down the line, the Tribe 1B got his chance to get back into the lineup Saturday. Garko went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. He also sprinted down to first after getting hit by a pitch. That may be a bit over the top, but it's clear Garko did not enjoy his couple of days in the Eric Wedge doghouse. Newly acquired starter Anthony Reyes is getting kudos for his first outing with the Tribe. He went 6 1/3 innings Friday night against the Jays, allowing just 1 run on 7 hits and striking out 4. Reyes' fastball topped out at about 90 and was mostly in the 88-89 range - just a bit shy of what the Tribe had been expecting apparently. He mixed in a breaking ball and change-up, which he used to get some lazy flyball outs when he needed them Reyes appears as though he's going to be a pitch-to-contact kind of pitcher who will need his control to do well. Think a young Paul Byrd. Better yet, don't think of that at all, because one Paul Byrd is plenty, thank you. Better to say we can expect Reyes to be a finesse pitcher, who may live or die by the flyball. There have been a zillion pitchers in the history of baseball who have been quite successful with that approach. So far, with his work in Buffalo and Cleveland, it appears Reyes has a chance to add to the list. Speaking of lists, the one listing the names of Cleveland closers for 2008 just got one name longer. Jensen Lewis, coming off a solid 9th inning save Friday night, apparently is the latest member of the Tribe's frightening bullpen to be given the opportunity to close out games- at least for this minute, which is longer than Ed Mujica lasted in the role. This is pure speculation (wishful thinking?), but ESPN reported Friday that a non-contender put in a claim on Oakland closer Houston Street, who is having a bit of an off-year. Any chance that it could have been the Tribe? The only other team that could have beat them out on a claim would have been Seattle. Under rules governing revocable waivers teams in the player's own league get first dibs if he is claimed by multiple teams. The point is moot though, since - according to ESPN's Buster Olney - the As and the other team - whoever it was - couldn't work out a deal. Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:05:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303838 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303838 After getting benched for lack of running, Ryan Garko has picked himself up and is attempting to turn around his season. Paul Byrd's performance should be garnering some interest, shouldn't it? Plus more news and notes on the Cleveland Indians. Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:28:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303695 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303695 Anthony Reyes has a successful debut with the Cleveland Indians and Jensen Lewis had his turn in the wheel of closers and it was quick and painless. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:19:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303326 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303326 Jhonny Peralta isn't just knocking in a whole lot of runs, he's starting to boost that average up too. Plus new Cleveland Indians call-ups Anthony Reyes and Brendan Donnelly will be with the team to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:53:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302986 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302986 Well the Tribe is giving thier fans a break today, after the twin disasters in Tampa on Tuesday and Wednesday. There's no game tonight. Thank God! Even better, there's a Browns' preseason game to view - something to take our minds further away from the Tribe. What can you say about the last two games?. It's clear the Tribe has no bullpen to work with for next year. None. There is only one guy - Raffie Perez - who can be counted on for next year. (That's using that term loosely - since there were about six guys who could be 'counted on' in April for this season.) There are lots of other developments with the Tribe as well. Two new faces will be in Tribe uniforms when the torture resumes Friday night. Newly acquired Anthony Reyes will get his first start for the Tribe against the Jays in Toronto after two impressive outings at Buffalo since his acquisition from St. Louis. In addition, Brendan Donnelly - who has been rehabbing on the Tribe's dime all season long - will be joining the so-called bullpen. Donnelly has been impressive in eight minor league appearances since returning from elbow ligament surgery - which was done in 2007. The good news about Reyes is that his audition for next year will count for something. He is on a one-year contract, but his lack of time in the big leagues ties him to the Tribe for 2009. Donnelly, on the other hand, has no such obligation. The Tribe signed the former Angels standout prior to this season in the hopes that he'd be ready right about now to bolster the pen with a fresh arm as the team was heading into the playoff stretch run. Some stretch run. Hopefully Donnelly will do the decent thing and accept a position with the Tribe next year if they make a reasonably competitive offer. But this is 21st Century baseball, where there word 'loyalty' doesn't exist. The bullpen Donnelly will join is in its most chaotic state to date - having been beaten to a pulp in the final two games of the three-game series in Tampa. Raffie Betancourt got his head handed to him Tuesday. No big surprise. On Wednesday it was Ed Mujica and Masa Kobayshi's turn. Kobayashi has been decent in a set-up role but inconsistent (being kind) in the closer role. Mujica had been feted recently for his run of 10 or so good outings. But his first crack at the closer position blew up in his face. He had similar blowups earlier in the year in other roles (does anyone truly have a role in this pen?). So it kind of makes you wonder if his recent effectiveness was just a hot streak. As a result of the failures of Betancourt, Mujica and Kobayashi, Tom Mastny was sent back top Buffalo. Makes as much sense as anything else that has happened out in the pen this year, no? Actually, except for that one memorable inning in last year's ALCS against Boston, Mastny has shown little in the past three years. His act has worn thin and I really don't blame Eric Wedge for being hesitant to use him this season - which only added to his ineffectiveness. So what does that leave in the pen? Not much. We've been looking at the lame-duck portion of the schedule as a place to find answers for next year. In the case of the bullpen the answer is resoundingly negative. We would be remiss if we didn't mention Ryan Garko's indiscretion yesterday - standing at home plate, watching his foul dribbler turn fair. I didn't see the play, but right from coaches pitch league we are taught to run it out until the umpire says it's foul. That said, Garko's took the right tack after the game saying it was a stupid mistake that won't happen again and that he is fine with Wedge's decision to take him out of the game. Still, with Garko struggling to hold on to his position and his place in the Tribe's 2009 plans, it's the kind of move that sticks out in management's mind. The most ironic part about the whole Garko affair is the fact that Wedge finally called someone on the carpet publicly by removing Garko from the gain, but found himself forced to play Sal Fasano at 1B when an injury to Asdrubal Cabrera later in the game forced massive infield position changes to avoid the loss of the DH - the position where Garko started the game. Only 49 more to go!! Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:12:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302517 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302517 Anthony Reyes has been called up and will get the nod for the Cleveland Indians on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Plus injury updates galore on Travis Hafner, Asdrubal Cabrera, Josh Barfield, Victor Martinez and Eric Wedge's big issue with Ryan Garko. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:47:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302431 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302431 The Cleveland Indians make two post-loss roster moves. Anthony Reyes and former world series winner Brendan Donnelly were called up the Cleveland Indians active roster. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:00:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302049 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302049 How amazing is it when one pitcher provides over 30 percent of a team's wins? Maybe amazing is the wrong word, as we could also use "depressing' in there as well. Becoming the first AL pitcher to reach 15 wins, Lee has won exactly 30.6 percent of the 49 games that the Tribe has managed to come out on top. Arizona's Brandon Webb (15-4), for comparison purposes, has been responsible for 26.3 percent of his team's wins. Amazing. While Lee wasn't even very Lee by only striking out two batters while walking the same number, allowing eight hits in seven innings. But you know who was very Lee-like? Rafael Perez, who earned the rare two-inning save. Through said innings, Perez threw 15 pitches - 12 for strikes - allowed zero hits, zero walks, and fanned two. Talk about in the zone. While we continue to find our closer of the future, I just hope that Perez can somehow become a little more consistent. That would not only end our search, as we're looking at a kid who just turned 26-years old, but it would give us something to build around. Turning to the minors, reports are circulating that have newly acquired Anthony Reyes ahead of Aaron Laffey for the next call-up. In his most recent start for Triple-A Buffalo, Reyes tossed a five-hitter in eight innings of work to take his record to 2-0. His struggles at the major league level are well-documented, but the brass apparently feels that he deserves another shot. While that decision is being made, Buffalo took one from the Indianapolis Indians yesterday thanks to a four-run seventh inning. Ironically, Laffey was the starting pitcher in this one, and allowed seven hits and three walks through six innings. He wound up with the no-decision. Trevor Crowe reached base twice, scoring once and is currently hitting .289. Jordan Brown's pinch-hit, three-run double was the biggest hit of the day - his 25th two-bagger of the season. The Aeros shut out the Altoona Curve thanks to a career-high 10 strikeouts from lefty starting pitcher Scott Lewis. He allowed one-hit and walked two in five and two-thirds, and is now 6-2 with a 2.60 ERA for the Bisons. The former Ohio State Buckeye struck out 123 batters (while walking 28) two seasons ago, and rang up 121 Ks just last season. At the plate, Wes Hodges went 1-for-4 with a run scored while catcher Wyatt Toregas went 2-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and a RBI. Toregas is batting .336/.419/.672 at the Double-A level this season. Now if he could only translate that to the Triple-A level, where he hit .219 through 155 at-bats. The Kinston Indians were pounded by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but first baseman Beau Mills went 2-for-4 on the day. Catcher Carlos Santana (from the Casey Blake deal) went 1-for-4 with a run scored, and is hitting .364/.400/.545 through his first eight games. And finally, the MV Scrappers topped the State College Spikest thanks to a huge 4-for-5 day from second baseman Cord Phelps, scoring twice and driving in two. Shortstop Isaias Velasquez went 1-for-3, taking his league-high hitting streak to 14 games. First round draft pick Lonnie Chisenhall did not play, but surprisingly played short in the previous game; he drove in two, and scored twice in a 2-for-5 game. He's hitting .267/.328/.426 in 176 at-bats for the year. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:32:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301148 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301148 The Tribe sent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera back to Buffalo in early July to get him refocused at the plate. At the time he went down his stats were dismal. In 158 ABs, Cabrera was hitting .183; .247 (SLG); .285 (OBP); .532 (OPS). He had scored 16 runs and had 13 RBIs. He's been back in the bigs since July 18. For the most part the commentary I've heard and read is that Cabrera's glove is to die for, but his hitting may not justify full-time employment next season. That is an easy impression to get, looking each night at Asdrubal's stats - still weighed down by his awful first half. But it seemed to me his bat has gotten better-enough (if you will) to earn his keep. Here's what I found. Since he's been back with the Tribe, Cabrera has had 52 ABs, or roughly 1/3 as many as he had before being sent out. He's got 9 runs scored and 4 RBIs since his July 18 return to the lineup, so his runs-scored pace is a little better, and ribbie level about the same. But Cabrera is getting on base with more regularity and with a little more pop - not a lot, but some. Cabrera is hitting .269, up from .183; .383 (SLG) vs. .247 and .372 (OBP), up from .285 prior to his demotion. That raises Cabrera's OPS to .755 after his recall from Buffalo from a dismal .532 before being farmed out. With his homer tonight, he's had two since coming back, compared with one before being sent down - much too small a number to make any judgment on, but I bring it up because it's there. I am biased in favor of defense and I say when you have a potential wizard with the glove you play him - if his numbers justify it at all. In Cabrera's case I think the numbers - since his return at least - are encouraging. But we've still got two more months (almost) to get a better feel. By the way, to illustrate my point about defense being as important (or more so) at keeping runs off the board as offense is in putting them on, tonight's two runs for the Rays scored due to Jhonny Peralta's lack of range.Peralta's bat has convinced me we need to keep him, but we need to see what he's all about at 3B - especially since Andy Marte has disappeared again and - to me - has pretty much shown he has nothing. Reyes on the way? MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports we may be getting our first look at one of the guys who recently joined the Tribe during all of the trade-deadline activity. Anthony Reyes, picked up from St. Louis, is 2-0 at Buffalo and Castrovince reports there are strong hints coming from the big-league club that we may see Reyes the next time the Tribe needs a starter on Aug. 12. Oh ya! The man Cleveland fans love to hate - David Dellucci - had another 2-run dinger tonight. The game winner in fact. Does that mean I want to see more of him? Of course it doesn't. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:37:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300968 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300968 A week ago, it was suggested that the Yankees "beat" the Mets to Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte (they did, for the record). Then out of nowhere, Brian Cashman pulled a second highway robbery in acquiring future Hall of Fame catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez for streaky reliever Kyle Farnsworth. In the meantime, the Phillies upgraded their rotation with Joe Blanton, the Angels acquired Mark Teixeira from the Braves for Casey Kotchman, the Dodgers picked up Casey Blake, the Indians grabbed Anthony Reyes, and the Astros, of all teams, added Randy Wolf to their rotation. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:21:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298555 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298555 Newly acquired Cleveland Indian pitcher Anthony Reyes made his debut for Triple-A Buffalo. Beau Mills' increased his league leading RBI total and could warrant a call-up. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:46:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298002 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298002