Indians suffer another major blow

[Guest Mariano Rivera]

At least that's what heard on TV, can anyone confirm this?

 

If so, I say Twins fans go reserve  orders your divsion champ gear right now..

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

http://www.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi/0,132...0371_52,00.html

 

March 5, 2002

SportsLine.com wire reports

 

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Cleveland Indians outfielder Alex Escobar is out for the season after injuring his left knee while making a catch in an exhibition game.

 

Escobar, the key player in the trade that sent All-Star Roberto Alomar to the New York Mets, will undergo reconstructive surgery after completely tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, the team said Tuesday.

 

"This is the worst-case scenario," general manager Mark Shapiro said. "We know injuries are part of the game. It is frustrating and disappointing, but we expect him back playing at 100 percent next year."

 

The 23-year-old got hurt Monday while running into the center-field wall at Bradenton. An MRI showed Escobar tore his ligament and sustained a second-degree sprain of his medial collateral ligament.

 

"I talked to Alex and he was proud of the catch," Shapiro said. "He said, 'It was a great catch.' He has been everything we expected -- a five-tool player with a quick bat, above average arm and speed."

 

Before getting injured, Escobar was 5-for-10 with two walks and two steals in five exhibition games.

 

Escobar's injury occurred just two days before Alomar is scheduled to play against the Indians for the first time since they traded him to the Mets on Dec. 11.

 

Escobar was one of five players the Indians got in the deal. He may not have made the club's roster this spring, but Cleveland is counting on big things from him in the future.

 

"Alex will rehabilitate in Cleveland because we want him to become an integral part of the organization," Shapiro said. "We won't let him get away from baseball. Hopefully, he will be ready to play some winter ball and come to camp next spring as he did this year, with a chance to win a starting job."

 

Shapiro said the surgery will take place in about two weeks, after swelling around the injury subsides.

 

Escobar's injury is the just the latest in a rash of setbacks for Cleveland this spring.

 

Last week, infielder John McDonald underwent an emergency appendectomy and bullpen coach Luis Isaac had 14 inches of his small intestine removed. Also, pitcher Jake Westbrook had elbow surgery and veterans Travis Fryman and Ellis Burks have been slowed by back spasms.

[Guest Bruin]

Well Shapiro has proven that he isn't truly managerial material. He's insanely green, and is going to be taken advantage of for the next 5 years or so. Too bad Cleveland is going to end up with him the whole time.. D'oh!

 

Seriously though, this is funny.. Cleveland traded a future hall of famer for an injured player. Lol, it just figures!

[Guest Eraser2K2]

Well obviously the Indians didn't trade for an injured Alex Escobar.  Escobar is an incredible prospect, and its just bad luck for a team that has had good luck for the last, what, 7 or 8 years?  Its not "being green."  With Alomar getting old, it was a great trade.  The bad luck here can't be considered when saying that.  

 

But yeah, Twins win the Central crown.  The White Sox, or maybe my hometown Tigers could make a small run.  Tigers for like half a year.  Could be interesting.

[Guest alkeiper]

The Indians will use Milton Bradley in CF now.  He's got about the same stats as Kenny Lofton does now, so he's certainly not bad.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

"But yeah, Twins win the Central crown.  The White Sox, or maybe my hometown Tigers could make a small run.  Tigers for like half a year.  Could be interesting. "

 

I really hate that.  The Tigers should be in the East where they belong.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Until the Tigers fire Phil Garner they'll be battling K.C. for last place in the Central.

 

The White Sox are talking trash about the Twins. The teams had some bad blood last year. This could be a great race.

[Guest DrTom]

How much Escobar was going to play hadn't yet been determined, so don't call this a big blow.  Cleveland's early plan was to play Milton Bradley in center, Matt Lawton in right, and Russell Branyan/Brady Anderson in left.  

 

The Alomar trade was moade for financial reasons, as the Indians have gone to a lesser payroll.  Alomar, even at 34, still has several years of productivity ahead of him.  They got a good deal for him, and a bad break when the centerpiece of what they got back ended up hurt.

 

Minnesota wins the Central, with Chicago and Cleveland duking it out for second place.  Don't get too optimistic about the other teams in that division.