Gary Sheffield to the Tribe...(my own rumor)

[brianp]

Here is the one key factor, Alex, that will prevent Sheffield from ever coming here: If traded, Sheffield will demand a restructured contract. He will want more money, and if he does not get it, he will exercise his right to demand a trade after the one season here. It is the reason the Indians refused to trade Alomar to the Dodgers for Sheffield. According to the Akron-Beacon Journal, we rejected an Alomar/Finley/Branyan for Sheffield/Grudzaleinek/Gagne deal. Just look at that deal. We would have been able to get rid of Finley and Branyan, while getting Sheffield, a decent second base replacement (Grudzaleinek), and their top pitching prospect (Gagne). If we rejected that deal, it is obvious that we are not really high on Sheffield.

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[Alex]

I agree with you Brian P. Sheffield keeps hinting, er, bellowing, that he wants someone to show him they wuv him via a contract extension.

Well, Dolan proved himself useless in the Manny signing with his "Manny doesn't want to help us" comment.

Dolan needs to learn how to be a welcoming committee of one and warm up future Tribe Players...the way George Steinbrenner does.

That was an interesting trade between the Fodgers and Indians that you mentioned. I don't remember seeing that trade discussed in the LA Daily News.

I still think that Jaret Wright is destined to be a closer. I worry the guy may destroy his arm coming back as a starter one more time when he perhaps has a chance at having a decent career as a closer. I think LA would take a chance on him, Jaret has roots in LA, heck, so does Finley.

Jaret looks like the second coming of Steve Karsay, except I think he could close better than Karsay.



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Alex

[Alex]

Crank, I find your comments confusing.

The Dodgers SHOULD have signed Anderson, but they didn't, we did. How can they still get him, we have him.

Shuey is not that much of a question mark.

Year in and year out, he gets his innings in.

Wright and Shuey are not considered huge parts of the future. We signed Shuey last year BECAUSE we knew Karsay wanted out, and to show loyalty to him.

We are not weakened without either one as you state.

And if we don't include Martinez, give them Jolbert Cabrera.



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Alex

[The Crank]

Good chance the Indians will cut Anderson.

Wright is injured goods right now.

Cabrera -- might be our backup in CF.

And I really do not think the Dodgers will want Shuey.

Doesn't matter -- still dead set against getting Sheffield.



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[Alex]

By the way, character means less if you don't come through in the clutch.

Sheffield's saving grace is that he will perform even when hurt, yet he won't self-destruct his health the way Travis Fryman appears to be doing.


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Alex

[The Crank]

if Dolan proved himself useless in the Manny signing howcome Dolan was making an offer that was actually better than the Boston offer, one that would have damaged the Indians?

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[Alex]

Crankster, many people griped last year that Dolan's comment about Manny "not wanting to help us right now" really pissed him off.

Now, the fact that Manny didn't handle himself like a man in his response was a bigger problem than Dolan's comment, the fact remains Manny used that comment as his reason for not staying in Cleveland.

So, at some point, Dolan may find a little coddling goes a long way. In the case of Sheffield it would.

Although I could see Sheffield's kid could end up being the primary reason he wants to stay in LA the same way Matt Williams wanted to stay near the West Coast to be by his kids.

We got any amazing private schools to lure ballplayers with to Cleveland?

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Alex

[The Crank]

Sheffield is not coming to Cleveland. Period. End of sentence. The Indians do not want to deal with that prima donna.

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[srg]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alex:


Jaret looks like the second coming of Steve Karsay, except I think he could close better than Karsay.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Jaret looks like the second coming of Steve Karsay, except I think he could close better than Karsay.

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AlexJaret Wright does not compare to Steve Karsay in any way stuff wise. Karsay's secondary stuff is superior to any of the mediocre off speed junk Wright throws. Karsay has the 12/6 curve that can finish off hitters in addition to his improved splitter, both are above average pitches that compliment his 92-98mph fastball. Wright is vastly overrated by Tribe fans, other than his rookie year when he took teams by suprise he has done very little before he injured his shoulder. Wright had teams swinging at high pitches out of the strike zone in 1997 and used his mediocre curve to take hitters off his fastball. In 1998 the book was out on Wright that he couldn't dominate with his fastball like Colon could, hitters laid off his high fastball and ripped his curve. I do not see how he can close with basically one pitch, Wrights days of throwing 95-97 are over since his shoulder injury. He will have to learn how to be a pitcher not a thrower as he was as a rookie, he still has to learn a third pitch if he ever wants to be a serviceable starter. I will be shocked if he is here next season.



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[srg]

Jaret has a more serious shoulder injury than first believed, unlike elbow injuries that can be fused during TJ surgery that actually increases arm strength and velocity, shoulder injuries are never the same. The Indians deserve the blame on this with all the changes in Wrights delivery and mechanics. At one time in the minors Jaret had a very sharp break to his curve, while pitching at class A columbus he was voted as having the best fastball and breaking ball but for some reason saw it flatten out when he got to the big leagues. The Indians are going to bring him along slowly by bringing him out of the pen the way ST.Louis did with Matt Morris. This is a make or break year for Wright nonetheless.

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