Yardbarker: Albert Belle

Indians Expected To Name Alvaro Espinoza to Staff

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:58:43 -0500

Manny Acta and the Cleveland Indians have announced a press conference for tomorrow morning where they will announce that Alvaro Espinoza has been hired to a newly minted position: On/Off-Field Coordinator With Regards To Preparing For A Mid-1990s Style Run Of Success. Acta was enthusiastic about the hire in a chat with the media on Thursday. "When we decided to create this position, there were a lot of big names that people threw out. Roberto Alomar's name came up. So did Albert B...

The Former Joey Belle Narrates The 2009 Cleveland Indians Highlights Video

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:14:21 -0500

“I disliked Belle more than any player I’ve covered. He was a bully, uncooperative and a constant pain in the neck.” This from the Plain-Dealer’s Paul Hoynes, who found former Tribe slugger Albert Belle so boorish, he willingly allows Hannah Storm’s least favorite interview subject to trash his old ballclub. “Tell Larry Dolan I won’t be [...]

Ringing the Belle

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:25:16 -0500

Albert Belle called reporter Paul Hoynes on the last day of the season. “Tell Larry Dolan I won’t be interviewing for the manager’s job,” said one of the most feared and ill-tempered hitters in Indians history. “How can you manage when you’ve got no players?” Manager Eric Wedge and his coaching staff were fired Wednesday by General [...]

Morning Update: This is it... Let's end it

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:45:00 -0500

Who's ready to put this season behind and move on?

:raises hand:

Hopefully you raised your hand.

It will be nice to put behind a year where we don't have to hear numskull's like Albert Belle chime in.

I mean really, what is this guy doing right now? Stalking poor innocent women in his free time, when he's not calling up Paul Hoynes to make stupid jokes about how the Indians suck?

"Tell Larry Dolan I won't be interviewing for the manager's job," said one of the most feared and ill-tempered hitters in Indians history. "How can you manage when you've got no players?"
"Every time I watch a game in Cleveland, there's nobody in the stands," Belle said. "I said, 'Damn, it's worse than the old place [Cleveland Municipal Stadium] where we played.'

"What do they call that park now, Progressive Field? They should call it Regressive Field."

OH HAHA! REGRESSIVE FIELD! Are you on Facebook Albert?

Seriously what is this guy doing?

"I might have to put a coaching staff of Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray and Wayne Kirby together," Belle said. "Charles Nagy could be our pitching coach. Then I'd go to Dolan and apply for the job as manager.

"I could bring back all those guys. Maybe that would help."

Does Charles Nagy even like you Albert?

Hell, does anyone even like you? Even the guy you are calling hates you more than anyone he's ever covered.

It should be mentioned that I disliked Belle more than any player I've covered. He was a bully, uncooperative and a constant pain in the neck. I know the feeling was mutual.

I have no idea why he calls me, but Belle was and always will be entertaining.

Apparently according to Hoynes, Albert is doing nothing but playing golf and watching the Indians from afar. He said he could manage the Yankees by calling in the lineup from the golf course everyday. Wow.. What an imbecile.

What sickens me is the fans that support this acrobat of lunacy. Yeah he speaks his mind. But it's out of spite. Belle must have more than just anger issues.

Whatever... This fool always likes popping up when things are bad for the Indians to spew his Anti-Cleveland hatred, because he secretly loves Cleveland and is hurt because no one, including Cleveland, wants him around the game anymore because he's a lunatic.

Whatever... Go enjoy the links.

Might as well finish Hoynes with the latest Hey Hoynsie.

Why do people keep bringing up Rick Manning for managing. First off, he's repeatedly said he does not want to manage. He's already grumpy enough anyway, can you imagine him as a manager?

Just because you like what he does on TV though doesn't mean he's a going to be a good manager either. That's not say he wouldn't be a good manager. People just take what they see at face value and go from there.. It's silly.

I give up... Really I do...

Let's talk to Terry Pluto. First about Eric Wedge... He had four things to say.

1. Wedge finishing the season speaks to his class and character.

2. The praise Wedge heaped upon the current situation when he could have blamed everything for the reason he was fired. He didn't.

3. Terry acknowledges the fact that the fans had a part in this, saying the Indians are battling every ticket sale. They need a new face for the fans.

4. Pluto says there is nothing negative to say about Wedge, but it was time for a change. He believes Wedge will be on a staff next year.

Hey what can I say. Pluto does it again. Spot on every point.

Pluto is back for his usual weekly doodad though.

He says the Indians will have to sell themselves to candidates, (one of whom won't be John Farrell, get to that later), and the young core of players like Choo, Cabrera, Brantley and LaPorta will be the key.

Brantley has done enough and Crowe hasn't to where it's kind of assumed Mike will be in left, and Trevor will be the fourth outfielder.

The Indians want Carroll back, but at a cheaper price. I know Carroll will come at a cheaper price, but I don't think it will be cheap enough.

The rest is just as we've been expecting though. The people in the mix for everything are the one's we're assuming.

The ultimate question now though, as we start to put the Eric Wedge era to bed, is who's going to be pulling the strings on the mixing and matching.

Looks like it won't be John Farrell.

According to Buster Olney, John Farrell has already told the Indians, Thanks, But No Thanks.

What a kick in the teeth that is. Maybe.

Olney says the Indians have interest in Bobby Valentine, who just signed back on with ESPN after he was not retained by his Japanese Professional team due to his high price tag.

Whaaatever.

I'll believe it when I see it.

All around in fact. I'll believe John Farrell has removed his name when the Indians don't hire him. Let's just say.... I don't totally buy it. Biggest case for this was made by Paul Cousineau in his usual Lazy Sunday column, which is a must read every Sunday morning if you haven't been doing so.

Also pointed out is the eerie similarity between what happened when Wedge was hired and now.... Ooooof

We'll probably see all this unfold by the end of October though.

According to Hoynes, Shapiro's timetable will have someone hired by the end of the World Series.

And Shapiro will do more than just name the candidates when he gets them.

"I'm not going to be naming names. But when we get down to the final three or five guys, I'm not only going to announce them, I'm going to put them in front of the media."

Oh about the grand slam yesterday.

Fantasy points, baaaaby.

Specially Choo, who finally hit his 20th homer to become a 20-20 player. Congrats Chooster!

Need to give props to AC for his intro to CastroTurf yesterday. They're always good, but this one was especially fun.

In the final link... Two important notes.

The first one on serious matters. Dave Wallace, one of the bullpen catches, was not fired. Dan Williams, I guess is. But Wallace will either be back in the bullpen, or in the minors managing if the new manager doesn't want him there. Really, it's a bullpen catcher, who knows.

Some of the costumes the Indians rookies had to wear, sucked.

A whoopee cushion? A box of Wheaties?

I mean, original, yes. Very good on originality. But embarrassing? No. I'd be the talk of town if I ran around as a box of Wheaties and not in the bad way. I'd be the king.

The Pirate rookies dressed up as female construction workers and in dresses. Sure unoriginal, but very embarrassing.

Come on now!

And with that... The Eric Wedge-era will end... With Tomo Ohka of all people.. Jesus, you couldn't have scripted it any more fittingly. Could you?

"When tomorrow comes and goes, we'll move onto the next chapter."-Eric Wedge

Amen Wedge... Amen

Albert Belle calls in advice: don't trade your stars

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:15:29 -0500

So what else could be missing from this fine Indians season that ends today? What about a phone call from former Tribe slugger Albert Belle to tie all the loose ends together?

Albert Belle Was “Just an Angry Black Man”

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:00:17 -0500

Imagine being a beat writer for a team that was supposed to compete for American League playoff contention, but has failed miserably at almost every part of the game. You are heading to St. Louis to catch the All-Star festivities - you know, actual good baseball players - and your phone rings. On the other end [...]

Albert Belle Was “Just an Angry Black Man”

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:00:17 -0500

Albert Belle: Not ‘Roid Rage, Just an “Angry Black Man”

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:35:26 -0500

Albert “Joey” Belle: Remember that nutjob? He of the corked bat and the perpetual anger? “And what about those 101 players who tested positive and haven’t been named yet? I say release all their names so we can get done beating this dead horse.” He made sure to mention his baseball tantrums in the 90s [...]

Albert Belle: ‘I was just an angry black man.’

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:40:37 -0500

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer caught up with former MLB slugger and volatile human being Albert Belle recently to discuss, among other topics, whether or not the outfielder had ever used steroids during his playing career. And Belle’s answer was, well, vintage Belle: “I never did,” said Belle. “I didn’t need to. All you have [...]

Albert Belle: ‘I was just an angry black man.’

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:40:37 -0500

Someone Please Give Jerry Manuel The Memo!

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:17:14 -0500

Last week Jeff Wilpon spoke to reporters and said, "None of our baseball people have ever approached me about Manny Ramirez. Our baseball people are not interested in Manny Ramirez" Omar Minaya strengthened that stance when he said he was only looking to sign a low priced corner outfielder on a one year deal. The very next day, the Mets signed outfielder Cory Sullivan. The message is loud and clear... No Manny! Somebody in the front office has really goofed up. It seems that Mets m...

Casey at the Bat, Lines 13 & 14

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:56:11 -0500

Grady Sizemore: History In the Making

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:26:27 -0500

We've already waived the white flag, and even went on to punctuate it. If we could photoshop a giant fork into an Indians logo, we would. But as many losses as this team racks up in what is turning out to be one of the most frustrating seasons on record, you can't help but cheer on the guys that are actually doing their job. They are easy to name, as there are only a handful: Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia (despite the rough start), and Ben Francisco would be easy candidates. But one that n...