Cleveland Sports Forum

FINAL! Tribe 11 Chisox 2.

Whatever Asdrubal is taking, I think he should share with Fukudome.

I love the potential of having Fukudome, Kipnis, and Cabrera hitting 1-2-3 next season.

Too bad Orlando Cabrera isn't still around to have the same tête à tête with Fukudome that he had with Asdrubal. Kosuke had power before he came to America. He did have a few 30 homer seasons in Japan. It's not like the bleachers are foreign objects to him. I would really like to see Fukudome pick his spots just like Cabrera is doing and take the big cut more often if he's around next season and I hope very much that he is.

CLEVELAND --

There was plenty of criticism to be found in the wake of the trade that brought Kosuke Fukudome to Cleveland earlier this season. The Indians needed offense and the outfielder did not look like the answer.

On Thursday night, Fukudome continued to look just fine in an Indians uniform while helping set the tone for the Tribe's 11-2 victory over the White Sox at Progressive Field. The wealth of offense -- also aided by a five-RBI showing from shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera -- offered sufficient support for another solid outing from Cleveland right-hander Jeanmar Gomez.

Fukudome has made quite an impression on the Indians (77-78) since being acquired from the Cubs on July 28, and he wasted little time on Thursday in showing those in attendance what he is capable of doing for Cleveland. Two pitches into his first at-bat, Fukudome launched a leadoff home run off White Sox starter Philip Humber.

Following Fukudome's first-inning blast, Jason Kipnis followed suit with a solo shot of his own, pushing Chicago (76-80) into an early 2-0 hole. It marked the first time that the Indians enjoyed back-to-back homers to open a home game since June 19, 1971. Cleveland's lineup later exploded between the fifth and seventh frames to stretch its lead to 9-2.

In the seventh inning, Cabrera launched a three-run homer off White Sox reliever Addison Reed, marking the 25th home run of the season for the Indians shortstop. That established a franchise record for homers in one year by a shortstop. One batter later, Travis Hafner collected his 1,000th career hit with a double.

Cabrera added a two-run single in the eighth inning to push the Tribe to an 11-2 advantage.

Fukudome, who had three homers in his stint with the Cubs earlier this season, has four homers this month for the Indians. Beyond his first-inning homer -- the eighth of the season for the 34-year-old outfielder -- Fukudome added a two-run single in the fifth before drawing a walk and scoring in the seventh.

In the fourth inning, Fukudome robbed Chicago's Adam Dunn of extra bases with a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.

Fukudome has proven to be valuable this season for Cleveland, which has had outfielders Shin-Soo Choo, Michael Brantley and Grady Sizemore each miss time due to injuries. Depending on what happens this winter, Fukudome might once again be on the Tribe's radar, through he will be eligible for free agency.

Gomez (5-2) earned the win for the Indians after holding the White Sox to two runs (one earned) over six innings of work. The right-hander ended the evening with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. His lone setback came in the fifth inning, when two runs (one helped by a throwing error by Cabrera) scored on a single by Juan Pierre.

Over his past five starts, Gomez has gone 5-0 with a 2.10 ERA, helping his case for a rotation spot next season.

CLEVELAND --

Do not expect more than a peep or two out of the "Bullpen Mafia" until next season. Indians manager Manny Acta said he will not push his workhorse relievers during the final week of the season.

"We're not in the race anymore," Acta said. "I have to be careful with those guys, because we have more baseball to play next year."

Rafael Perez (third), Tony Sipp (seventh), Joe Smith (eighth), Vinnie Pestano (15th) and Chris Perez (20th) all rank among the American League leaders in appearances. Entering Thursday's action, Smith had tied his career high for innings in a season, at 63 1/3, and Sipp, at 60 1/3, was three frames away from establishing a new mark. Rafael Perez has only topped the 61 innings he currently sits at once in his career, when he hurled 76 1/3 innings in 2008.

Acta said he will use his top relief options to preserve leads, but sparingly otherwise.

"When we have a chance to win the ballgame, when we're ahead in the game and the guys are rested," Acta said, "we're going to pitch our main guys. But we're not going to be throwing guys out there just to keep the game close."

For that, the Tribe will rely upon a slew of inexperienced hurlers it has called up in recent weeks. Nick Hagadone, Zach Putnam, Josh Judy and Corey Kluber have all stepped foot on a Major League diamond. Now Acta is waiting for them to get their feet wet.

"We brought some guys up," Acta said, "but those kids haven't had any success yet for us to trust them in any of those roles."

Smoke signals

• Fresh off winning the Triple-A championship, Columbus Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh has joined the Indians and will remain with the big league club through the end of the regular season. Sarbaugh said he would like to manage at the big league level one day. "I think your goal is you want to do the best you can at your job," Sarbaugh said. "I just try to take it one day at a time and one year at a time. That is a goal of mine, but I just take it one year at a time."

• Tribe designated hitter Travis Hafner has two RBIs in each of his last four games.

• Indians infielder Jason Donald is hitting .667 (8-for-12) over his last four contests.

CLEVELAND --

For nine years, they spent most cool, breezy September evenings putting the finishing touches on an American League Central crown.

Now, another nine years have elapsed since Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel both donned the same jersey bearing the script "I" or the Chief Wahoo. As they close out another season in the twilight of their careers, they participated in an exchange that elicited an aura of nostalgia throughout the Progressive Field crowd.

In a nightly routine typically executed by the bench coaches, Thome and Vizquel swapped lineup cards at home plate prior to Thursday's first pitch between the Indians and White Sox.

"To be able to still play and to be able to take the lineup card and have him do it as well," Thome said, "is very special, especially here in Cleveland, where we played during the golden years of our career. To have fun with that is great."

No longer are Thome -- a part-time designated hitter for the Indians -- and Vizquel -- a utility infielder for the White Sox -- the potent threats on the diamond they once were.

Still, between them, Thome, 41, and Vizquel, 44, have accounted for eight All-Star appearances and 11 Gold Glove awards, and more than 5,000 hits and 600 homers. They secured a sizable portion of those accolades beside Lake Erie while tallying six American League Central titles and two league pennants.

"You don't realize what kind of team and what kind of teammates you have until you see it now from where we are," Vizquel said. "Now, you look back and say, 'Wow, those guys were amazing. We had one of the greatest teams ever.'"

Their admiration for each other has not worn off, despite nine years in different dugouts.

"He's just an amazing human being," Vizquel said. "I'm so glad he's still around. He's a guy who has been so honest and truthful to the game. He's the image people want to follow. He keeps out of trouble, and he really cares when he asks how you're doing. You can tell the guy means it."

Thome remains in awe of Vizquel's ability to man the infield at such a steep age.

"To be that age at that demanding a position," Thome said, "he's taken very good care of himself."

Tribe first-base coach Sandy Alomar, who played with the duo in Cleveland for six years, can't believe Thome and Vizquel are still suiting up.

"It's weird to see guys you played with from the beginning," Alomar said. "I'm excited for them, though. They've accomplished a lot of things that many other players haven't accomplished."

Neither Thome nor Vizquel is quite ready to pull the trigger on retirement just yet. Vizquel declared Wednesday his intentions to return in 2012, whether with the White Sox or elsewhere. Thome remained unsure about his future endeavors.

"You have to get phone calls to play next year, so that process still has to happen," Thome said. "We'll reflect and look back at this year, sit down with my wife and we'll see where we're at."

The Indians acquired Thome from the Twins on Aug. 25, as they hoped he could serve as a jolt for a scuffling lineup trying to keep the team in playoff contention. The Tribe faded down the stretch, but Thome's impact has prevented the club from suffering buyer's remorse.

"He's so open to sharing information and knowledge," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "These guys, a lot of them were not even in high school when Jim was in the prime of his career here, but they idolize him and respect him."

Thome made his mark outside of the clubhouse as well. The Indians attracted more than 100,000 fans the weekend of his return to Cleveland. That speaks volumes to the power of nostalgia brought about by the '90s Indians.

Manny now wants to come back just bring em all back they could call themselves the geezers

More like the roiders.

rusty2 wrote:More like the roiders.

When it comes to Cleveland Sports, I appreciate possible fantasies.

At present, I'm most concerned about Manny Ramirez getting a contract so he can play ball in the Dominican Republic.

Who needs Manny?

rusty2 wrote:More like the roiders.

Wait a second. You wouldnt be insinuating that omar and thome are PED users. Oh the blasphemy. Can you imagine when the geezers run out of the dugout for the first time. Joey could have a ball in his hand an wing it hard at a five year old as he runs to get the roid rage so he can concentrate on hitting. What a sight that will be. Carlos Baerga will be partying hard like it is 1995. Orel Hershiser will be thanking god for letting him pitch. Manny will micturate on home plate and the be told what outfield position to take. el presidente will take the mound.

CLEVELAND --

Travis Hafner collected the 1,000th hit of his career with a seventh-inning double in Cleveland's 11-2 win over the White Sox on Thursday.

The Progressive Field crowd of 21,487 gave the designated hitter a standing ovation, lauding the slugger's accomplishment after several injury-plagued seasons.

"It feels great," Hafner said. "I really appreciated the crowd. It feels awesome. It was a special moment."

"To get 1,000 hits up here, it's still a pretty good accomplishment," Indians manager Manny Acta said, "especially for a guy who has missed so much time due to injuries that he can't control."

Notching the feat gave Hafner a greater appreciation for milestones such as 3,000 hits or 500 home runs.

"You can look at 3,000 hits, and that's 200 hits for 15 years," Hafner said. "It's just unbelievable. Five hundred homers is 25 homers for 20 years. That's just mind-boggling. Or it could be 100 homers for five years."

3-2, Twins now. top of 3rd
Thome had an RBI double.

Chisenhall with a couple of jewels on defense on back-to-back batters. Too bad LaPorta is a lousy firstbaseman. Inability to make the pick cost a run. LaPorta giveth a run and LaPorta taketh away a run.