http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/players/andy_marte/4128 Recent articles about Andy Marte en-us As an Indians fan watching the team get off to a tremendous start, I find myself spending the majority of my time trying to pick holes in the roster that could eventually be our downfall or equalizing force. Attempting to find players who are so far outplaying their capability that regression both as a player and as a team is inevitable. This is not to say I am not thoroughly enjoying every moment of Tribe baseball but merely that I am hesitant to heap unfair expectations on this exciting and altogether exuberant team. During this process of attempting to find holes in the Indians roster and specifically the starting nine, there was one thing in particular that I could not get past. Drew Stubbs is hitting ninth. The Indians have a 15 homer, 30 steal guy hitting ninth in the lineup, offering plus defense in right field. Shelley Duncan, Jose Lopez, and even the legendary Travis Buck hit in the top six in the order at points the last two seasons. Wow. Perhaps this idea has been reitera... Sat, 18 May 2013 09:41:37 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/trend_spotting_the_value_of_stubbs_and_a_dilemma_at_third/13644397 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/trend_spotting_the_value_of_stubbs_and_a_dilemma_at_third/13644397 Trend Spotting: The value of Stubbs and a dilemma at third http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/trend_spotting_the_value_of_stubbs_and_a_dilemma_at_third/13644397 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As an Indians fan watching the team get off to a tremendous start, I find myself spending the majority of my time trying to pick holes in the roster that could eventually be our downfall or equalizing force. Attempting to find players who are so far outplaying their capability that regression both as a player and as a team is inevitable. This is not to say I am not thoroughly enjoying every moment of Tribe baseball but merely that I am hesitant to heap unfair expectations on this exciting and altogether exuberant team. During this process of attempting to find holes in the Indians roster and specifically the starting nine, there was one thing in particular that I could not get past. Drew Stubbs is hitting ninth. The Indians have a 15 homer, 30 steal guy hitting ninth in the lineup, offering plus defense in right field. Shelley Duncan, Jose Lopez, and even the legendary Travis Buck hit in the top six in the order at points the last two seasons. Wow. Perhaps this idea has been reitera... Sat, 18 May 2013 09:24:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/trend_spotting_the_value_of_drew_stubbs_and_a_dilemma_at_third/13644337 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/trend_spotting_the_value_of_drew_stubbs_and_a_dilemma_at_third/13644337 Trend Spotting: The value of Drew Stubbs and a dilemma at third http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/trend_spotting_the_value_of_drew_stubbs_and_a_dilemma_at_third/13644337 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Today the Indians got their man, in the form of a shiny new four-year $56 million contract to secure the services of Nick Swisher. Swisher is known to most for his ebullient and outgoing nature both in the clubhouse and with fans. But to me, he’s most known as Dandy Marte’s lone strikeout victim in a career of otherwise spectacular failure.  Marte (née Andy) was once touted as the best hitting prospect in baseball, but by mid-2010 he was a failed experiment on his last legs with the Tribe.  In the ninth inning of a blowout loss to the visiting Yankees, Marte was asked to pitch in order to save what was left of a tattered bullpen. Swisher batted second, and, well, this might be my favorite video ever: [Related (my favorite recap I've ever written): Yankees 11, Indians 4: Where Andy Marte Pitches and I Go Insane] Sun, 23 Dec 2012 11:40:01 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/flashback_video_dandy_marte_strikes_out_nick_swisher/12499141 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/flashback_video_dandy_marte_strikes_out_nick_swisher/12499141 Flashback Video: Dandy Marte Strikes Out Nick Swisher http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/flashback_video_dandy_marte_strikes_out_nick_swisher/12499141 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/0/10b7a22d550bc10aa8a00fd5b959a4d5a71bcdc7/mini/2009_World_Series_1678.jpg While Prince Fielder was winning the MLB Home Run Derby last night in Kansas City, Valentino Pascucci was making some noise of his own at Coca Cola Field in Buffalo where Scooch hit 22 home runs to win the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby. A crowd of 17,224 at Coca-Cola Field chanted Pascucci’s name as he hit six of those homers in the final round to secure the title over Charlotte’s Dan Johnson. Pascucci became the first Bison since third baseman Andy Marte to win the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby. Marte won the 2006 Derby in Toledo. Here is the video of his final at-bat, and of course you can read more about it at Bisons.com. Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:53:08 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/val_pascucci_crowned_triple_a_home_run_derby_champ/11192197 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/val_pascucci_crowned_triple_a_home_run_derby_champ/11192197 Val Pascucci Crowned Triple-A Home Run Derby Champ! http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/val_pascucci_crowned_triple_a_home_run_derby_champ/11192197 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Matt LaPorta, the slugger who hits with power and consistency in AAA, is currently with the Indians but not getting a real chance. They are many of us who feel that he is better than Shelley Duncan at the plate and in the field. Brandon Phillips is an all star player that the Indians gave up on too soon. Andy Marte is the forever promising third baseman, who the Braves were smart enough to get rid of, who never made it successfully in the majors. Which one is LaPorta? The player who needs a change of team and a strong chance or an over hyped player who will never be a major league regular? Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:35:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/is_matt_laporta_brandon_phillips_or_andy_marte/10981607 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/is_matt_laporta_brandon_phillips_or_andy_marte/10981607 Is Matt LaPorta Brandon Phillips or Andy Marte? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/is_matt_laporta_brandon_phillips_or_andy_marte/10981607 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/f/3feb29389e561aa35dcf6892a27722fe47e848b6/mini/Royals_vs_Indians_ee29.jpg After a few weeks of spring training where it feels like Indians starting pitchers are getting hammered, I’m suddenly relieved. My brother went to Vegas a couple weeks ago and I handed him a crisp $100 bill and told him that I was going to make the entire Indians season more worthwhile than it is to me most normal years. The over / under on the number of wins for the year was 75 and I was feeling good about it. That was before spring training officially started and I was really excited about the Indians pitching staff. It’s just spring training when guys are working on specific things and not necessarily pitching how they would during the regular season, but I’m having doubts now. Last year, I didn’t have any expectations for the Indians really. The Tribe was coming off of a 69 win season in 2010. Manny Acta came in and the results weren’t good from a team that was an awful mix of young and old. Russell Branyan for 52 games and Andy Marte for 81. There wasn’t any way to expect the I... Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:44:10 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_indians_over_bet_that_wasnt/10365562 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_indians_over_bet_that_wasnt/10365562 The Indians over bet that wasn’t http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_indians_over_bet_that_wasnt/10365562 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Congratulations to Joe in Wooster for winning yesterday’s contest and the Tribe prize pack. Strange, no votes for Chisenhall yesterday. A few for Andy Marte though. In case you’re new to the contest, here’s how it works- Every weekday from now until Christmas Eve, we will give away a Cleveland themed prize. To enter, you need only to respond in the comment section in the appropriate manner. The winner each day will be randomly selected and notified by email. (Which means you better make sure that the email address you use to comment here is a legit one.) I cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas. Some of the prizes (like tickets) haven’t even been printed and mailed to us yet. We’ll do our best with the things we have in hand though. Only one member of a household can enter each day, and only one winner per household during the length of this contest. Just spreading the love around. Today’s Prize- Today’s winner will get a Cavaliers prize pack, including a copy of Joe Tait: It’s Be... Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:24 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/12_days_of_a_cleveland_christmas_day_4/8706895 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/12_days_of_a_cleveland_christmas_day_4/8706895 12 Days of a Cleveland Christmas: Day 4 http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/12_days_of_a_cleveland_christmas_day_4/8706895 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76466ccc6bf76a2c5dfc2d4ce57178498bc23c2b/mini/Mew_York_Yankees_75eb.jpg Congratulations to Joe in Wooster for winning yesterday’s contest and the Tribe prize pack. Strange, no votes for Chisenhall yesterday. A few for Andy Marte though. In case you’re new to the contest, here’s how it works- Every weekday from now until Christmas Eve, we will give away a Cleveland themed prize. To enter, you need only to respond in the comment section in the appropriate manner. The winner each day will be randomly selected and notified by email. (Which means you better make sure that the email address you use to comment here is a legit one.) I cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas. Some of the prizes (like tickets) haven’t even been printed and mailed to us yet. We’ll do our best with the things we have in hand though. Only one member of a household can enter each day, and only one winner per household during the length of this contest. Just spreading the love around. Today’s Prize- Today’s winner will get a Cavaliers prize pack, including a copy of Joe Tait: It’s Be... Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:24 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/12_days_of_a_cleveland_christmas_day_4/8707750 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/12_days_of_a_cleveland_christmas_day_4/8707750 12 Days of a Cleveland Christmas: Day 4 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/12_days_of_a_cleveland_christmas_day_4/8707750 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76466ccc6bf76a2c5dfc2d4ce57178498bc23c2b/mini/Mew_York_Yankees_75eb.jpg Pirates’ players and friends in Sunday’s winter league action:   VENEZUELAN  LEAGUE Caribes de Anzoategui  2,  Tigres de Aragua  1 Wil Ledezma took the loss as Los Caribes broke a 1-1 tie with a 7th inning home run.  Ledezma also gave up a single in the 6th, but promptly picked that runner off base.  LF Jorge Cortes had 2 hits in the game, including an RBI single in the 2nd inning to drive in Los Tigres’ only run.  He also singled in the 7th inning.  SS Ronny Cedeno, 1B Hector Gimenez, and CF Jonel Pacheco were all hitless in the game.   Leones del Caracas  5,  Cardenales de Lara  4 Ramon Cabrera lined an RBI into center field to drive in a run for Los Leones in the bottom of the 4th inning.  Los Leones added one more run, which would turn out to be the winning run in the 6th, on two singles with a sacrifice bunt.  Corey Wimberly played both second base and left field, and went 1-for-3 at the plate.   Aguilas del Zulia  7,  Bravos de Margarita  3 Los Aguilas posted 13 hits on their wa Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:13:10 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1127_marte_back_on_the_field/8363032 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1127_marte_back_on_the_field/8363032 Winter Leagues 11/27 — Marte Back On The Field http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_1127_marte_back_on_the_field/8363032 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76466ccc6bf76a2c5dfc2d4ce57178498bc23c2b/mini/Mew_York_Yankees_75eb.jpg Friday’s Winter League action for Pirates’ players and friends:   DOMINICAN LEAGUE Tigres del Licey  5,  Leones del Escogido  0 3B Andy Marte had one of Los Leones’ 6 hits — a single in the 2nd inning, when Los Leones loaded the bases, but left all three runners stranded.  That was the closest Escogido came to scoring in the game.  Licey scored 2 runs in both the 2nd and 6th innings, and one more in the 8th.   Estrellas de Oriente  11,  Toros del Este  1 Los Toros were held to just 5 hits, and 3 of those were by LF Esteban German.  Their only run came in the 4th inning, on a solo homer.  1B Matt Hague went 0-for-3 for Los Toros.  Los Estrellas batters poured it on with 12 hits, and took advantage of 3 Toros’ errors.  They scored a run in the 3rd on a walk, and two throwing errors on a stolen base.  Then they nearly scored again when three walks loaded the bases, but a ground out ended that inning.  New Pirate 1B Jake Fox had one of those walks, but was otherwise 0-for-4.  Two single Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:58:15 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1125_wins_for_martis_and_figueroa/8330158 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1125_wins_for_martis_and_figueroa/8330158 Winter Leagues 11/25 — Wins For Martis And Figueroa http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_1125_wins_for_martis_and_figueroa/8330158 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/c/5c9cbcaa71aab9477fba66610bcedfe7449994e6/mini/MLB_JUN_21_0166.jpg Winter league action for the Pirates’ players and friends on Saturday night (or Sunday, for the Aussies) MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Mayos de Navojoa  2,  Venados de Mazatlan  1 Rogelio Noris got back into a game for Los Venados after a few days off.   Los Mayos scored 2 runs in the 7th inning, aided by a throwing error Mazatlan.  Los Venados scored their only run with two outs in the bottom of the 8th.  C Miguel Ojeda doubled, then Noris came on to pinch hit, driving in Ojeda with an RBI double.  But that was all Los Venados could get that inning, and they went down in order in the 9th.   VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Caribes de Anzoategui  2,  Cardenales de Lara  1 Los Caribes scored first, with a run on a double and a single in the 3rd inning.  Los Cardenales tied the score in the 6th, with a single, a bunt, and an RBI single.  Los Caribes threatened to break the tie in the 7th, when Dmitri Young led off with a walk.  Gorkys Hernandez entered the game to pinch-run for Young.  A bunt moved Hernandez to sec Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:09:06 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_115_rbi_double_for_noris_2_hits_for_hague/7898008 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_115_rbi_double_for_noris_2_hits_for_hague/7898008 Winter Leagues 11/5 — RBI Double For Noris, 2 Hits For Hague http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_115_rbi_double_for_noris_2_hits_for_hague/7898008 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Looking at some Pirates’ players and friends in Winter League play.   DOMINICAN LEAGUE Aguilas Cibaenas  8,  Leones del Escogido  1 Los Aguilas put up 5 runs in the 3rd inning and 3 more in the 4th.  A 3-run homer aided Los Aguilas in the 3rd, and a triple brought in two of the runs in the 4th.  Los Leones’ only run came on a solo homer in the bottom of the 3rd.  3B Andy Marte went 0-for-3 with a walk for Los Leones.  Still no word about Starling Marte.  Could he have strained something while making a play in the outfield?  Or hit himself with a foul ball on one of the first few pitches he saw?   VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Bravos de Margarita  11,  Caribes de Anzoategui  3 A pair of 4-run innings gave Margarita the big edge over Los Caribes.  Gorkys Hernandez entered the game as a defensive replacement in center field in the bottom of the 6th.  Hernandez had two plate appearances — a fly out and a walk.   AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE Games begin on Thursday night (Australian time).  Several Pirates’ min Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:07:38 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_112/7836190 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_112/7836190 Winter Leagues 11/2 — http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_112/7836190 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/5/c55f14f995fa463321c8ace92a3bf39c87054a0d/mini/Mew_York_Yankees_efb6.jpg After the Caribbean leagues took their usual Sunday off, they’re back in action, with a few Pirates’ players and friends: DOMINICAN LEAGUE Leones del Escogido  3,  Gigantes del Cibao  2 Starling Marte started this game in center field for Los Leones.  Los Gigantes scored two runs, both coming in on RBI singles up the middle, which Marte handled.  Marte made the third out of the inning on a fly ball.  Then, after one out in the bottom of the inning, Marte’s spot in the batting order came up — and he was replaced by a pinch hitter.   Not sure what was going on, and no more info available at this point.  Escogido scored a run in the bottom of the 4th, and took the lead with 2 more runs in the 6th.  Andy Marte pinch hit for Escogido in the bottom of the 7th, and walked.  Another walk, the third of the inning, loaded the bases with Leones.  Former Pirate farmhand Juan Perez came on in relief for Los Gigantes, and he ended the inning with a ground out, leaving the bases loaded.   Toros del Este Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:57:31 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_111_marte_exits_early/7812763 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_111_marte_exits_early/7812763 Winter Leagues 11/1 — Marte Exits Early? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_111_marte_exits_early/7812763 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Checking in with Pirates’ players and friends in Winter League action: DOMINICAN LEAGUE Toros del Este  6,  Estrellas de Oriente  3 Los Estrellas took an early lead with solo homers in the 1st and 2nd innings, but Los Toros answered beginning in the 4th inning, when they scored on a single, an RBI triple, an RBI ground out, and a solo homer by Pirates’ 3B Matt Hague.  Los Toros added a run with a solo homer by LF Wilkin Ramirez in the 5th.  Two hit batters and a single by Hague loaded the bases for Los Toros in the 8th.  Two runs came in on a single through the hole into left field.   Tigres del Licey  4,  Leones del Escogido  3 The Big Cats battled it out, with each team scoring 3 runs in back-to-back innings.  Los Tigres scored their 3 runs on a double and four singles in the bottom of the 4th.  Los Leones tied it up with 3 runs in the top of the 5th, with a double, a walk, and two singles — one for one RBI and one for two RBI.  A walk and a triple by Los Tigres in the bottom of the 6th b Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:43:20 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1029_hague_homers/7723744 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1029_hague_homers/7723744 Winter Leagues 10/29 — Hague Homers http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_1029_hague_homers/7723744 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png A few Pirates’ players and friends in winter league action: DOMINICAN LEAGUE Aguilas Cibaenas  5,  Toros del Este  2 Starter Aaron Thompson, who pitched for both Altoona and Indianapolis in 2011, made his Dominican League debut tonight, joining manager Dean Treanor’s Toros.  Thompson got off to a good start, allowing just one single over the first two innings.  He gave up two unearned runs in the 2nd, on a throwing error at third base, and an inside-the-park home run by Aguilas’ Hector Luna.  Thompson gave up a walk and a single in the 4th, but got out of the jam with a double play.  He gave up two singles in the 5th, though picked one of the runners off base.  Thompson was relieved with one out and one on.  That runner came around to score another unearned run on a stolen base and a throwing error by his catcher.  Los Toros posted their two runs in the top of the 6th, when the first three batters of the inning singled, singled, and doubled.  But Los Aguilas got the two runs right back in the Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:03:39 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1026_thompsons_debut/7677802 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/winter_leagues_1026_thompsons_debut/7677802 Winter Leagues 10/26 — Thompson’s Debut http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/winter_leagues_1026_thompsons_debut/7677802 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/0/e016f433f98514f535865acaa1f6a5cfab4ae361/mini/PicImg_MLB_MAR_01_3bea.jpg