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Deal means Andy Marte will receive another chance with the Tribe
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009
Andy Marte will get one more opportunity to show that he belongs in the big leagues before he runs out of chances with the Indians, or they run out of chances with him.
With the completion of Monday night's trade of Ryan Garko to the Giants for Class A left-hander Scott Barnes, the door is open for Marte to move up the ladder from Columbus.
''Marte will get the first opportunity,'' General Manager Mark Shapiro said, just before the Tribe engaged the Angels in Anaheim. ''He has worked at third base and first. This is a way we can find at-bats for him.''
It's been a while since the Tribe liked anything that Marte did, and for good reason. Marte
received playing time with Cleveland in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and compiled an aggregate batting average of .219, with nine home runs and 48 RBI in 150 games. After last summer's trade of Casey Blake to the Dodgers, Marte was the Indians' regular third baseman the last two months of the season without much success.
But something clicked at Triple-A this year, because Marte is batting a lusty .327 with 18 home runs and 66 RBI in 82 games (300 AB).
''Many guys in his situation would be making excuses, blaming other people for their situation,'' Shapiro said. ''He's taken responsibility. He's shortened his swing; he's worked very hard. Now we want to see if his stellar year in Triple-A translates up here.''
Marte is out of options, which means unless he is on the 40-man roster, he can be a minor-league free agent.
Until the trade of Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals a few weeks ago, Garko was receiving only inconsistent playing time. But since DeRosa left the team, Garko has been in the lineup almost every day and taken full advantage of the opportunity, especially lately.
In the first six games of the Tribe's current trip, Garko is batting .375 (9-for-24) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI and four runs. Overall, he is batting .285 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 239 at-bats.
Garko will be eligible for arbitration after the season, leading to speculation that he was traded because he might receive a large raise.
Shapiro didn't deny the reality of that issue, saying, ''In every decision we make, there are a multitude of factors.''
However, he made it clear saving money was not the primary reason for making the deal.
''This was not as much about Ryan as it was about having alternatives,'' the GM said. ''Also it was a chance to acquire a pitcher we liked.''
Garko felt conflicted about the deal.
''It's pretty tough, bittersweet,'' he said. ''I came up with this team in the minors. It's the only team I ever played for. But I'm happy to go to a team like the Giants, who are in the thick of things.''
By alternatives, Shapiro was speaking of minor-leaguers such as Marte and Matt LaPorta, who plays left and first base at Columbus.
Barnes, 21, is 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA at San Jose of the ''high'' A California League. In 98 innings, he has allowed 82 hits and 29 walks while striking out 99. He has a .227 batting average against.
He leads the league in wins and is second in ERA. Before the start of the season, he was ranked the Giants' ninth best prospect by Baseball America.
''At some point this year, we'll move him up to Double-A,'' Shapiro said. ''But he'll start at Kinston.''
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 03:41 AM, 07/28/2009
Well what do you know, Garko's stats were great when he was allowed to play everyday.
I've said it all year.. Stop moving players around so much, they can't get comfortable with the game.
With the Garko trade the Tribe will call up Andy Marte, but in typical Shapiro/Wedge fashion they do it with a twist. Marte will play 1B instead of 3B where he normally plays.
Marte has played almost all year at 3B in the minors, he’s comfortable there. SO PLAY HIM AT 3B! Now you’re putting a hot hitter at a different position which could completely throw off his mental game. Marte will now have to THINK TOO MUCH instead of just play ball at 3B which is what he’s been doing all year long.
Every year under Shapiro/Wedge has been a perpetual Spring Training Season, they always trying this, and tweaking that.
This is the regular season, you put your best players in their best positions.
I just don’t understand the thought process with this management. They ALMOST do what makes sense and justify it with some off the wall nonsense like, “Its make our roster more versatile”.
Case in point, calling up LaPorta to ride the bench. The club was more versatile, but both the team and LaPorta lost precious playing time.
They need to suck up their pride and send Peralta to the bench. He looks like he’s swinging a 6ft/300lb bat up at the plate, getting him a shorter/lighter bat might help shorten his swing and create bat speed but hey… Shelton knows best.
This is a Major League Baseball Team, not a high school squad. Give me a break, these coaches are a joke.
Canton, OH
Posted 05:43 AM, 07/28/2009
Good Move. .Garko is a one tool, slow footed liabilty on defense. . .
Scotty Barnes is sweet. . .Props to the surging Tribe. . .
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 05:50 AM, 07/28/2009
Typical Tribe move by Shairo at trading deadline as directed by his Cheapskate boss Dolan. Garko was an up and comer who needed to play more. He'll be a star in SF. Tribe fans take it in the shorts again. Another prospect who may never play well????
Oh to dream of an Indians owner who is willing to spend money to win a WS championship!!!
Posted 06:23 AM, 07/28/2009
for a single a pitcher.... nice. this guy will never pan out.... when is browns season allready
Stow, OH
Posted 06:24 AM, 07/28/2009
How can this NOT be considered a salary dump? We give up a major league player batting .285 for the Giants 9th best prospect.Single A means nothing,my brother in-law played AA and never sniffed the big leagues in 10 yrs.
When are great Tribe Development gets done with him this kid will be lucky if he can hit the backstop anyway. It is obvious to me The do nothing owners plan on keeping Shapiro on to wreck havoc and make trades that will have no bearing for years to come ,if at all. I choose to stay home until Dolan sells the team or I die first which ever comes first.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:37 AM, 07/28/2009
Scrub for scrub typical shapeeroo deal.
NEW FRANKLIN, oh
Posted 07:50 AM, 07/28/2009
ryan was promoted to the bigs!
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 08:09 AM, 07/28/2009
Remember when the Browns dumped Eric Metcalf for no apparent reason? That's what this feels like.
The Tribe needs to quit being a farm system for the big-market teams and start raising their OWN talent, not somebody else's hot prospect. If this guy pans out he'll move on to bigger and better things... if not, Cleveland gets the short end of the stick. Sounds like a no-win to me!
Akron, OH
Posted 08:39 AM, 07/28/2009
Folks, it's all about economics. I'd compare it to when you have an old, dead appliance or a junker car and you're looking to upgrade... if you put it on the curb or on a hauler, you're not going to get anything for it. Instead, you part it out and try to capture any sunken value that the item may have. Even if the only thing you sell off the car is the back bumper, and all you get for it is $20 bucks, that's $20 more bucks than you would have had if you took the easy way out or just got rid of it.
It's a good financial move... Garko was going to be in the market for quite a raise this offseason, especially if they have him start (Even if its not everyday)... The Tribe obviously feels that he's not going to be worth that added value... I mean, it's been the same Dog and Pony show with him since he got called up. They're placing their chips on Matt LaPorta being the next true 1B for this team (unless Lee gets traded for James Loney of LAD), but I think this is the right move.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:51 AM, 07/28/2009
I swear if I didn't now better I think it's 1985 again.
Posted 10:23 AM, 07/28/2009
It's one thing to work with a low budget,but please get a manager in here next year that will find his starters in the 6 weeks of spring training. It's alright to platoon at a position or two,but c'mon.. Garko will be allowed to play everyday in SF and he will blossom into a 30hr-100 rbi guy.
Posted 12:49 PM, 07/28/2009
So all we get is a class A pitcher for a one of our few proven RBI men....doesn't seem right
akron, oh
Posted 02:40 PM, 07/28/2009
Oh well, it not like the Indians are going to the
world Series this year.
Posted 05:54 PM, 07/28/2009
Wedge did the same thing with Guiterrez. Sat him on the bench against right handers and played over the hill Dellucci. Now Franklin is starring in Seattle. The tribe got little in return. Garko will hit a ton if he get to play every day. Wedge's platooning system is killing the tribe. Get a knowledgeable manager, please!
Posted 08:04 PM, 07/28/2009
Go Tribe! (and take the Browns with you!)
Posted 08:05 PM, 07/28/2009
When are they going to trade Wedge and Shapiro?
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 09:13 PM, 07/28/2009
Garko will be in the All-Star game next year.
