Indians Today, August 8, 2006

The Indians have signed LHP Cliff Lee to a three-year contact extension through the 2009 season worth $14 million, with a club option for the 2010 season at $8 million, plus incentives that might total another million dollars.  The deal buys the Indians out of Lee’s first two years of free agency.  This is the sixth Indians player to be signed to a long-term deal since April of 2005.  “This signing is a continued demonstration of the commitment in maintaining the present core of Cleveland Indians players,” Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. “Cliff’s willingness and concern to complete a new contract demonstrates his desire to be a part of that core.” Lee, 27, has a lifetime 44-25 record with a 4.47 ERA and is currently making $406,200.  Lee was acquired with Grady Sizemore from the Montreal Expos in the Bartolo Colon trade in June of 2002. 

RF Casey Blake is going on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle.  He suffered the injury on Saturday in Detroit while trying to avoid a double play.  AAA Buffalo’s 1B Ryan Garko is a candidate to replace Blake on the roster. 

Jason Davis and Rafael Betancourt will likely share the Indians’ closer job while shell-shocked former-closer-for-a-week Fauto Carmona hones his craft in middle relief. Carmona took 3.57 ERA into his first game as the team’s official closer.  In his next four outings, Carmona allowed 8 hits, 4 walks, 2 homers and 11 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings, blew three saves and lost four games.  “In general, we’re going to take a step back with Fausto,” said manager Eric Wedge. “We’re going to let him catch his breath. We’re going to use him in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.” Carmona also has the support of his teammates.  “He’s been pitching great for three months,” SP Paul Byrd said. “There’s not a lot of 22-year-olds who can pitch up here, but he can. He’ll be fine. He’s too good of a competitor, and his stuff is too good not to be.” Carmona may still get some more save chances before the end of the season. 

Jeremy Guthrie, for most of the year at AAA Buffalo, is likely to get a very brief callup to pitch one of the games in this Saturday’s day-night doubleheader. 

In retooling the Indians during the 2006-2007 off-season, Shapiro believes that team’s $55 million payroll will “take a major jump,” although it is not likely to reach the major league average of $82 million.  He likes the Tribe’s rotation of Sabathia, Lee, Byrd, Westbrook and Sowers but still to start his spending with the pitching staff.  “We have a lot more in place than we’ve had before,” he said, “but to say we’re just going to tweak this club is not true.”

The Plain Dealer‘s Paul Hoynes can’t decide on a metaphor for the season (is this season like a virus or like an out of tune band?).  However, he does know is that AL Player of the Week Travis Hafner’s knowledge helps him produce.  So, where does Hafner’s discipline come from?  “After I was in Class A ball with Texas one year, I played winter ball in Puerto Rico,” Hafner said. “R.A. Dickey, one of our pitchers, told me that I’d be facing a lot of guys with Triple-A and big-league experience and that they’d try to expand the strike zone on me. So I wouldn’t swing until it was 2-0 or 3-1. I was amazed at the number of pitches I’d see before I had to swing. I always thought that to drive in runs you had to swing the bat. But if you get a good pitch to hit, you’re going to be more successful.” Hear that, Mr. Hollandsworth?

Zach Zilka of the Akron Beacon-Journal profiles the Indians’ newest reliever, the vagabond Brian Sikorski.  After a bright beginning, the former Texas Rangers prospect found himself playing in Japan.  ``Initially, I thought three months, and I’ll be right back over here,’’ Sikorski said. ``Then three months turned into five years. I think it helped me baseball-wise, becoming a better pitcher.’’ ``He’s quickly worked himself towards the back end of our bullpen, said manager Eric Wedge.  “He’s a guy that has a lot of experience over in Japan and really hasn’t had much of an opportunity over here, but he’s getting one now.’’