Cleveland Indians 1997 update

Bobbuttons · 12-11-2001, 02:50 PM

Report for June 1st, 1997

The 1997 Cleveland Indians began defense of their World Championship by letting '95 and '96 AL MVP Albert Belle become a free agent. Atlanta would sign him to a 6 year dear totalling more than $56 million. At the beginning of the '97 season, the Indians faced Boston with this lineup:

CF K. Lofton
SS O. Vizquel
RF M. Ramirez
1B J. Thome
3B M. Williams
LF B. Giles
C S. Alomar
DH R. Sexson
2B Q. Veras

The opening day starter was Mark Portugal, a 13 game winner in 1996. He would face off against lefty Zane Smith. The Tribe would go up 2-0 early, and Boston would pick up a run in the bottom of the 1st. Boston would not score again, as Portugal would pitch a beauty. Cleveland would win 5-1.

Big Trades through the first 2 months:

Midway through April, the Indians picked up Hideki Irabu off the free agent market for just over the minimum. That meant that one of the starters was expendable. The odd man out was Al Leiter, who contiued to underachieve through his first 3 starts of '97 (after an 8-9 record with an ERA of 5.64 and a 3 yr contract worth nearly seven mil a year). He was promptly traded to Colorado for a left handed relief prospect, Robbie Beckett.

The Padres showed great interest in Brian Giles, and on May 1st, a deal was made sending him to San Diego. In return, the Indians recieved future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and the true object of the trade, young OF Magglio Ordonez.

Hideki Irabu was no improvement over Al Leiter and on May 3rd, a blockbuster deal was made. Irabu was packaged with Chad Ogea and Richie Sexson (who I REALLY didn't want to part with) for lefty pitcher Randy Johnson in Seattle. Johnson (in the last year of his contract) was promptly signed to a 5 year, $62.5 million extension.

Finally, after hovering around the Mendoza line for the first 2 months, Quilvio Veras was traded back to Florida (for the same player he was traded for in '96), in return for Eric Young.

After a mostly injury free year in '96, the bug has started to hit the Tribe this year. On April 17th, the Indians lost starting pitcher Mark Portugal for more than a month. He just recently returned to the rotation. They lost one of their top relievers for a month, when Greg Olsen went down with a ruptured trivep tendon.

Rookie pitcher Bartolo Colon ruptured a disk in his back, and is sidelined until the end of July. And most recently, Kenny Lofton fractured his hand making a catch, and is out until July 1st.

Bartolo Colon started out brilliantly, going 7-2 with a 2.64 ERA before his injury. On May 15, he had a perfect game through 5 innings. Cecil Fielder would lead off the 6th with a HR, but Colon would allow no more hits, pitching his most dominating game of the year, striking out 8.

The Indians are 33-23, leading Kansas City by 3 games. Jim Thome seems to have put his dismal '96 behind him, as he has welcomed the cleanup role. He is batting .337, 13 HR and 47 RBI. He has already drawn 51 BB's, striking out only 34 times.

Catchers:
S. Alomar .259 5HR 36RBI
P. Borders .250 0HR 2RBI

Infield:
J. Thome .337 13HR 47RBI
M. Williams .245 15HR 42RBI
E. Young .286 3HR 11RBI
O. Vizquel .290 2HR 17RBI
A. Espinoza .323 0HR 4RBI

Outfield:
M. Ramirez .349 15HR 54RBI
K. Lofton .285 4HR 25RBI 22SB
M. Ordonez .290 6HR 22RBI (had 22g H strk)
T. Gwynn .302 3HR 32RBI
W. Kirby .294 1HR 3RBI

Starting Rotation:
R. Johnson 5-4 3.32ERA 12.3K/9
M. Portugal 3-1 4.33ERA
O. Hershiser 8-2 3.20ERA
C. Nagy 2-6 7.04ERA
J. Brewington 2-2 6.82ERA

Closer:
Rob Nenn 0-0 1.52ERA 13S

12-11-2001, 02:50 PM	#1
Bobbuttons Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Picturesque Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio Posts: 3,708	Cleveland Indians 1997 update Report for June 1st, 1997 The 1997 Cleveland Indians began defense of their World Championship by letting '95 and '96 AL MVP Albert Belle become a free agent. Atlanta would sign him to a 6 year dear totalling more than $56 million. At the beginning of the '97 season, the Indians faced Boston with this lineup: CF K. Lofton SS O. Vizquel RF M. Ramirez 1B J. Thome 3B M. Williams LF B. Giles C S. Alomar DH R. Sexson 2B Q. Veras The opening day starter was Mark Portugal, a 13 game winner in 1996. He would face off against lefty Zane Smith. The Tribe would go up 2-0 early, and Boston would pick up a run in the bottom of the 1st. Boston would not score again, as Portugal would pitch a beauty. Cleveland would win 5-1. Big Trades through the first 2 months: Midway through April, the Indians picked up Hideki Irabu off the free agent market for just over the minimum. That meant that one of the starters was expendable. The odd man out was Al Leiter, who contiued to underachieve through his first 3 starts of '97 (after an 8-9 record with an ERA of 5.64 and a 3 yr contract worth nearly seven mil a year). He was promptly traded to Colorado for a left handed relief prospect, Robbie Beckett. The Padres showed great interest in Brian Giles, and on May 1st, a deal was made sending him to San Diego. In return, the Indians recieved future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and the true object of the trade, young OF Magglio Ordonez. Hideki Irabu was no improvement over Al Leiter and on May 3rd, a blockbuster deal was made. Irabu was packaged with Chad Ogea and Richie Sexson (who I REALLY didn't want to part with) for lefty pitcher Randy Johnson in Seattle. Johnson (in the last year of his contract) was promptly signed to a 5 year, $62.5 million extension. Finally, after hovering around the Mendoza line for the first 2 months, Quilvio Veras was traded back to Florida (for the same player he was traded for in '96), in return for Eric Young. After a mostly injury free year in '96, the bug has started to hit the Tribe this year. On April 17th, the Indians lost starting pitcher Mark Portugal for more than a month. He just recently returned to the rotation. They lost one of their top relievers for a month, when Greg Olsen went down with a ruptured trivep tendon. Rookie pitcher Bartolo Colon ruptured a disk in his back, and is sidelined until the end of July. And most recently, Kenny Lofton fractured his hand making a catch, and is out until July 1st. Bartolo Colon started out brilliantly, going 7-2 with a 2.64 ERA before his injury. On May 15, he had a perfect game through 5 innings. Cecil Fielder would lead off the 6th with a HR, but Colon would allow no more hits, pitching his most dominating game of the year, striking out 8. The Indians are 33-23, leading Kansas City by 3 games. Jim Thome seems to have put his dismal '96 behind him, as he has welcomed the cleanup role. He is batting .337, 13 HR and 47 RBI. He has already drawn 51 BB's, striking out only 34 times. Catchers: S. Alomar .259 5HR 36RBI P. Borders .250 0HR 2RBI Infield: J. Thome .337 13HR 47RBI M. Williams .245 15HR 42RBI E. Young .286 3HR 11RBI O. Vizquel .290 2HR 17RBI A. Espinoza .323 0HR 4RBI Outfield: M. Ramirez .349 15HR 54RBI K. Lofton .285 4HR 25RBI 22SB M. Ordonez .290 6HR 22RBI (had 22g H strk) T. Gwynn .302 3HR 32RBI W. Kirby .294 1HR 3RBI Starting Rotation: R. Johnson 5-4 3.32ERA 12.3K/9 M. Portugal 3-1 4.33ERA O. Hershiser 8-2 3.20ERA C. Nagy 2-6 7.04ERA J. Brewington 2-2 6.82ERA Closer: Rob Nenn 0-0 1.52ERA 13S __________________ Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do....cause they're fast! Gibson swings, and a fly ball to deep right field! This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, 5 to 4; I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!