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Do IT this week: Layering
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:42 p.m. EST, Nov 18, 2009
CLEVELAND: It doesn't take a professional pollster to know the Indians' most popular move of the offseason to date has been hiring Sandy Alomar as the new first-base coach and catching instructor.
Alomar spent 11 of the Tribe's most glorious seasons as the No. 1 catcher, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1990 and going to the All-Star Game six times. In his career, Alomar batted .277 with 92 home runs and 453 RBI while being a solid presence and a leader behind the plate.
Now 43, Alomar returns to his baseball roots and the city where his two children, Marcus and Marissa still live.
''I'm looking forward to the opportunity to come back to the Indians, and my family is very excited,'' Alomar said by phone Wednesday. ''My kids are in Cleveland, so that's part of the reason why I wanted to come back.''
The past two seasons, Alomar was the catching instructor for the New York Mets and also warmed up relievers in the bullpen. His status was about to be upgraded, when the Indians asked for permission to talk to him.
''The Mets offered me the first-base coaching job,'' Alomar said. ''But I felt like going to Cleveland was especially important. My family was there, and it's only a 41/2-hour drive to Chicago, where I live now. Also, I've talked to [manager] Manny Acta the last couple of years, so I know he's smart guy.''
Despite the positives inherent in making the move to Cleveland, the decision was not a slam dunk.
''It was a very difficult decision to leave the Mets,'' Alomar said. ''I enjoy the rush of New York. People have a lot of enthusiasm.
''All of this really developed last week. I talked to [Mets General Manager] Omar [Minaya] about it, about going back to where my family was and having the opportunity to work with young catchers who are very talented. It was a dream for me.
''I was kind of persistent about it, and Omar understood and granted me the opportunity to talk to [GM] Mark Shapiro.''
When Alomar was inducted into the Indians' Hall of Fame last summer, the topic of returning to the club never came up.
''I didn't have any idea about that,'' he said. ''Mark gave me no indication that he wanted me at that point. He was very professional. He didn't want to tamper [with someone under contract to another team].''
Alomar's first assignment with the Tribe will be to review tapes of the organization's catchers and report to Shapiro and Acta.
''I've seen [Wyatt] Toregas in Double-A, and I thought he did a pretty good job behind the plate,'' Alomar said. ''But I haven't seen [Lou] Marson or [Carlos] Santana yet.''
Toregas was a rookie called up late in the season and did a credible job as a backup. Marson, also a rookie, has a chance to be the everyday catcher next year; Santana is the club's No. 1 prospect who starred with the Double-A Aeros last season.
Though Alomar aspires to become a manager, he's in no hurry.
''If I'm going to manage one day, I want to really be prepared,'' he said. ''I don't want to rush myself.''
Miles to go
It's all about the pitching. If the Indians are to turn around their poor season of 2009, the rotation will have to become more consistently reliable next year.
Acta is hoping Jake Westbrook is finally healthy after recovering from right elbow reconstruction.
Acta will get a pretty good idea by the middle of December, when Westbrook is finished making five starts in the Puerto Rican winter league, building his arm up to 80 pitches.
However, Shapiro will at least consider signing a veteran starter, with the following cautionary note.
''It's been done in the past here, so you might see it happen,'' Acta said. ''But if Jake is healthy, he will be the guy to lead the young pitchers. And we are going to be very careful not to block any young pitchers.''
Acta will be looking at no fewer than eight candidates for his rotation: Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, David Huff, Justin Masterson, Carlos Carrasco and Hector Rondon, in addition to Westbrook.
Asked if the inexperience and youth of Rondon will prevent him from getting a chance to win a job, Acta said: ''If he can pitch, he can pitch. Age and makeup are totally different issues.''
With cost a likely bar to re-signing Jamey Carroll, the Tribe will be looking for a utility middle infielder and a hitter off the bench.
''Preferably, we'd like the hitter to be right-handed, because we're a little heavy on the left side,'' Acta said. ''We'd also like a guy who can play first in case Matt [LaPorta] isn't ready.''
LaPorta is recuperating from hip and toe injuries that might delay the start of his spring training regimen.
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.
CLEVELAND: It doesn't take a professional pollster to know the Indians' most popular move of the offseason to date has been hiring Sandy Alomar as the new first-base coach and catching instructor.
Alomar spent 11 of the Tribe's most glorious seasons as the No. 1 catcher, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1990 and going to the All-Star Game six times. In his career, Alomar batted .277 with 92 home runs and 453 RBI while being a solid presence and a leader behind the plate.
Now 43, Alomar returns to his baseball roots and the city where his two children, Marcus and Marissa still live.
''I'm looking forward to the opportunity to come back to the Indians, and my family is very excited,'' Alomar said by phone Wednesday. ''My kids are in Cleveland, so that's part of the reason why I wanted to come back.''
The past two seasons, Alomar was the catching instructor for the New York Mets and also warmed up relievers in the bullpen. His status was about to be upgraded, when the Indians asked for permission to talk to him.
''The Mets offered me the first-base coaching job,'' Alomar said. ''But I felt like going to Cleveland was especially important. My family was there, and it's only a 41/2-hour drive to Chicago, where I live now. Also, I've talked to [manager] Manny Acta the last couple of years, so I know he's smart guy.''
Despite the positives inherent in making the move to Cleveland, the decision was not a slam dunk.
''It was a very difficult decision to leave the Mets,'' Alomar said. ''I enjoy the rush of New York. People have a lot of enthusiasm.
''All of this really developed last week. I talked to [Mets General Manager] Omar [Minaya] about it, about going back to where my family was and having the opportunity to work with young catchers who are very talented. It was a dream for me.
''I was kind of persistent about it, and Omar understood and granted me the opportunity to talk to [GM] Mark Shapiro.''
When Alomar was inducted into the Indians' Hall of Fame last summer, the topic of returning to the club never came up.
''I didn't have any idea about that,'' he said. ''Mark gave me no indication that he wanted me at that point. He was very professional. He didn't want to tamper [with someone under contract to another team].''
Alomar's first assignment with the Tribe will be to review tapes of the organization's catchers and report to Shapiro and Acta.
''I've seen [Wyatt] Toregas in Double-A, and I thought he did a pretty good job behind the plate,'' Alomar said. ''But I haven't seen [Lou] Marson or [Carlos] Santana yet.''
Toregas was a rookie called up late in the season and did a credible job as a backup. Marson, also a rookie, has a chance to be the everyday catcher next year; Santana is the club's No. 1 prospect who starred with the Double-A Aeros last season.
Though Alomar aspires to become a manager, he's in no hurry.
''If I'm going to manage one day, I want to really be prepared,'' he said. ''I don't want to rush myself.''
Miles to go
It's all about the pitching. If the Indians are to turn around their poor season of 2009, the rotation will have to become more consistently reliable next year.
Acta is hoping Jake Westbrook is finally healthy after recovering from right elbow reconstruction.
Acta will get a pretty good idea by the middle of December, when Westbrook is finished making five starts in the Puerto Rican winter league, building his arm up to 80 pitches.
However, Shapiro will at least consider signing a veteran starter, with the following cautionary note.
''It's been done in the past here, so you might see it happen,'' Acta said. ''But if Jake is healthy, he will be the guy to lead the young pitchers. And we are going to be very careful not to block any young pitchers.''
Acta will be looking at no fewer than eight candidates for his rotation: Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, David Huff, Justin Masterson, Carlos Carrasco and Hector Rondon, in addition to Westbrook.
Asked if the inexperience and youth of Rondon will prevent him from getting a chance to win a job, Acta said: ''If he can pitch, he can pitch. Age and makeup are totally different issues.''
With cost a likely bar to re-signing Jamey Carroll, the Tribe will be looking for a utility middle infielder and a hitter off the bench.
''Preferably, we'd like the hitter to be right-handed, because we're a little heavy on the left side,'' Acta said. ''We'd also like a guy who can play first in case Matt [LaPorta] isn't ready.''
LaPorta is recuperating from hip and toe injuries that might delay the start of his spring training regimen.
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.
Comments
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Cleveland, OH
Posted 08:27 AM, 11/19/2009
I love the move too, glad to see him back....
But since when is Chicago only a 4.5 hour drive from Cleveland?
Either he's going 85 the whole way or he's taking into account the time change, lol
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:34 AM, 11/19/2009
Who cares 120 losses is within reach!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:18 AM, 11/19/2009
Hiring him is great but to get better we need better players. Not resigning Jamie Carroll is a big mistake!
Paradise, Oh
Posted 09:19 AM, 11/19/2009
Just the sight of Sowers name in the pitching mix gives me shivers.
Sowers should be assigned to Akron. I really believe he could help the Aeros.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:56 AM, 11/19/2009
Last time I checked a 43 year old first base coach can't win you any games. Boycott this team until they get a real owner!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:59 AM, 11/19/2009
Mebbe they can also hire the head of Ted Williams to coach at third. Yea, that'll help.
This franchise has become an insult to Tribe fans.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:18 AM, 11/19/2009
GREAT CHOICE! Welcome back, Sandy!!!
Cleveland, OH
Posted 10:42 AM, 11/19/2009
First, brining back Carroll would be the mistake. Why pay somone who only plays as a backup more than both your starting middle infielders combined?!?
That makes little sense, and even less so when you consider 2010 is a rebuilding year.
Last time I checked, Dolan and the Indians had a HIGHER payroll than both the Cardinals AND Rockies on Opening Day last year.
Dolan is not the problem people.
Cleveland, OH
Posted 10:43 AM, 11/19/2009
O and considering Sowers absolutely dominates AAA hitters, why on earth would you send him to AA?
After June 1st he was actually one of our better pitchers last year.
Posted 08:29 PM, 11/19/2009
Indians will always suck until cheapskate Dolan sells the team
