Opening day is always a great day to be alive, and for the Nostalgia League it means the beginning of some exciting matchups in this nine-part series simulating some of the greatest Indians teams of all time against one another over a full 162 game schedule. On opening day in the league 378,815 fans jammed into three parks on the shores of Lake Erie to see 9 games with 18 teams. Luis Tiant squared off against the juggernaut offense of the 1999 Indians, Bob Feller squared off against the 1995 Indians....and more!
The Cleveland Indians announced the beginning of their final roster moves on Monday afternoon. While there are still some questions as to who will make up the final 25-man roster when they break camp next weekend, most were answered in a flurry of moves. Scott Kazmir was officially named the fifth starter, but won't be added to the roster until prior to his first start on April sixth. Here's a list of the moves made so far.
The Cleveland Indians have made dramatic improvements over the offseason, which turned what likely would have been a lost year into one of curiosity. The Detroit Tigers remain loaded, and may have the three best players in the American League, let alone the AL Central, and the Kansas City Royals have the most talent, and could be ready to take a Tampa Bay Rays-type move from a few years ago. I haven't even mentioned the White Sox or the Twins yet. Who wins the division?
Ubaldo Jimenez took the hill on Sunday afternoon for the Cleveland Indians in one of his last outings before the Indians break for camp at the end of the week. Jimenez was nothing short of spectacular in the outing, and while it's hard to look too much into a spring training start, it was good to see Jimenez do something good for a change. Join IBI's Arthur Kinney with the latest Indians' spring training recap.
Daisuke Matsuzaka initially accepted a demotion the Triple A Columbus after Tribe manager Terry Francona told the right-handed starter that he wasn't going to make the 25-man roster last week. This weekend, things changed quickly as the Indians announced on Sunday night that he was being released from his minor league deal. Is there a renegotiation going on, or is Matsuzaka moving on?
Have you ever wondered which Indians' team was the greatest of all-time? IBI contributer Rick Lamborn decided to tackle that topic. To do it, he has compiled 16 of the greatest Indians' teams, and utilizing Out Of The Park Baseball 13's baseball simulation game, he's done just that. Can Bob Feller dominate some of the 90's hitters such as Manny Ramirez and Kenny Lofton? Can Lou Boudreau lead his team to the ultimate prize? Tune into the Nostalgia League to find out...
The Cleveland Indians will be breaking camp in a week, and while most of the roster seems set, there may be more players in the mix than initially thought. Here's a detailed look at the Indians remaining position battles in Goodyear over the final week of spring training. The only question left is, will the players that deserve to make the roster, actually make the roster? Take a trip to Arizona with this week's Tribe Happenings...
The bats were as scorching hot as the Arizona sun Saturday in Peoria as the Indians and Mariners combined for 15 runs off 34 hits with the Tribe doubling up Seattle 10-5. Scott Kazmir struggled for the first time in Cactus League play this spring, but isn’t expected to lose much ground in the race for the fifth starting rotation spot, which is expected to be decided between him and Carlos Carrasco this week.
It was a rough night for the Big Club at Goodyear ballpark as a pair of defensive miscues spelled doom for an otherwise solid ballgame which included good nights from starter Justin Masterson as well as several other Wahoos. Join the IBI's sleep-deprived Arthur Kinney as he tries to stay awake and recap this fielding error fiesta. Cue the circus music...
With the start of the regular season less than a week and a half away, it seems as if things are finally becoming clear in regard to the Cleveland Indians' 25-man roster. One of the players who unfortunately may not make the Major League club is Cord Phelps, but that hasn't stopped the switch-hitter from leaving an impression at the plate. Join the IBI's Steve Orbanek as he touches on all of this past week's moves and recaps some top performances in the latest edition of the Spring Training Notebook.
On Wednesday, Trevor Bauer made his last case for a rotational turn in Cleveland come April, and on Thursday was optioned to Columbus. Carrasco made his last case for a rotational turn in Cleveland, but the cards are stacked against him with his suspension and injury playing a key part in the decision-making process. Jim Pete shares his spring training thoughts as the Indians take on the Diamondbacks in preseason action.
It wasn’t long ago that Lonnie Chisenhall was one of the true can’t-miss prospects in baseball. Armed with solid power, projectable defensive skills and a swing straight out of the movies, Chisenhall was atop many Cleveland Indians’ fans’ top prospects list. They weren’t the only ones enamored with Chisenhall. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued him some the past two seasons, and this is a big season him.
The Cleveland Indians reduced their spring roster today by optioning RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Corey Kluber and LHP Scott Barnes to Columbus. They also sent LHP Giovanni Soto, a non-roster invitee, to minor league camp. Jim Pete gives his thoughts on the roster moves the Indians made today, and what repercussions it could have on the Indians as they get set to break camp in a week.
The Indians Trevor Bauer took the mound on Wednesday for the Cleveland Indians in his quest to earn the fifth spot in the rotation. While Bauer hit a bit of a road block, the Indians' bullpen showcased how tough they can be. Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley also took center stage offensively, with some key hits in the Indians loss. Jim Pete takes some notes on Wednesday's Spring Training affair against the Angels.
A new season, a new team, and lots of new exciting things are happening at Progressive Field for the upcoming 2013 Major League Baseball season. From the dugout to the stands, many new features and improvements have been made at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. Jim Berdysz highlights them all...
The Indians head through March Madness with a zany amount of sanity with regards to their roster. While there are a bunch of questions regarding the staff, it appears as though the 25-man roster is set heading forward. Jim Pete explores the questions surrounding the rotation, the real Ubaldo Jimenez, Kyle Lohse sightings, the last guys cut, and whether or not a long-term deal is in the cards for Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley.
The 2013 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!
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