OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES

MANY PLAYERS MADE THEIR SEASON DEBUT YESTERDAY WITH A NEW TEAM. HERE IS HOW SOME OF THOSE PLAYERS FARED.

MARK TEIXEIRA (YANKEES): 0-4 WITH A WALK
C.C. SABATHIA (YANKEES): 4.1 IP 8 HITS 6 RUNS 5 WALKS AND NO STRIKEOUTS
J.J. PUTZ (METS): 1 IP 0 HITS 0 RUNS 1 WALK 1 STRIKEOUT
FRANKIE RODRIGUEZ (METS) : 1 IP 1 STRIKEOUT 1 SAVE 10 PITCHES THROWN
MARK DEROSA (INDIANS): 0-3 WITH A STRIKEOUT AND A WALK
KEN GRIFFEY JR. (MARINERS): 1-3 WITH A HOMERUN AND A WALK
JOE CREDE (TWINS): 1-4
IVAN "PUDGE" RODRIGUEZ (ASTROS): 0-4 WITH 2 STRIKEOUTS
ADAM DUNN (NATIONALS): 2-4 WITH A HOMERUN AND 4 RBI

OPENING DAY: TEXAS 9 - CLEVELAND 1

The Cleveland Indians opened their season yesterday against the Texas Rangers. Last year's Cy Young winner Cliff Lee started for the Indians and gave up 7 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings. Former Indian Kevin Millwood started for the Rangers and gave up just 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings. He also got 10 ground-ball outs. For the Indians, their 5 hits were scattered throughout the game and in big spots both Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner grounded into inning ending double-plays. Last year's breakout player, Kelly Shoppach, went 0-3 with two strikeouts. Newly acquired 3B Mark Derosa went 0-3 with a walk.

Today is an off day for the Indians and tomorrow they send out Fausto Carmona. Hopefully he will show that last year was just an injury-plagued season and that he will bounce back this year.

San Francisco Giants 10 Cleveland Indians 7

The first game of the spring is over and the Tribe lost 10-7. Jeremy Sowers, who is looking for a spot in the starting rotation started the game and in 2 innings gave up 1 run on 3 hits with 2 strikeouts. Newly acquired Mark DeRosa hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning to give the Indians a 3-1 lead. In the top of the 6th inning with the score tied at 3, right-handed reliever Edward Mujica gave up 4 runs on two home runs to Travis Ishikawa; who went 3 - 3 with 2 home runs; and Nate Schierholtz who had 2 RBI's. The Indians tried to make it a game with solo home runs by Stephen Head and Michael Aubrey, but to no avail as it was too little too late.

Now I won't be writing after every game but I do intend on writing every once in a while and giving some inside the box-score information. So here it goes:

• Grady Sizemore went 1 - 3 with a run scored
• Victor Martinez started at catcher and went 0 -2
• Matt LaPorta (acquired last season from the Brewers in the C.C. Sabathia trade) went 1 - 3 with a run scored
• Rafael Perez pitched one inning and gave up a run
• Matt Herges struck out 2 batters in a scoreless 9th inning
• SF left 2 men on base while the Indians left 8 men on base

With off-season pick-ups Kerry Wood and Joe Smith, players like Mujica need a good spring if they want any chance of making the club. We'll see how they fare and in the words of Randy Quaid in the beginning of Major League II "This is the year we go all the way, ALL THE WAY! ALL THE WAY!"

GO TRIBE!!!!

2009 Cleveland Indians Preview

With the Indian's first Spring Training game starting in a little bit over an hour it's time to take a look at some questions that need to be answered for the Indians to be successful this upcoming season:

1. How will Victor Martinez & Travis Hafner come back from injuries?
2. How will the new acquisitions (Mark DeRosa, Kerry Wood & Carl Pavano) fare with their new teammates?
3. Will Fausto Carmona pitch like he did in 2007?
4. Who will be #3-5 in the pitching staff and how will they do?
5. Will Kelly Schoppach get the at-bats needed to have as good a season as last?
6. Will Trevor Crowe, Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley be able to make an impact on the Major League squad?