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Hannahan's Indians teammates have his back
Posted on: August 16, 2011 4:45 pm
Edited on: August 16, 2011 5:21 pm
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Log-in to rate:Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: By C. Trent Rosecrans

After a couple of days of talking about Carlos Zambrano, let's look at the other side of the good teammate spectrum -- the tale of the Cleveland Indians and Jack Hannahan.

Hannahan is in his first year with the Indians, and after a hot start is hitting .214/.301/.331 with five home runs and 23 RBI in parts of 86 games. He's one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, and by all accounts a really good guy and teammate. However, he's not alone in the "good teammate" category in Cleveland.

Earlier this month the Indians were in Boston and Hannahan's agent Joe Speed got a call from Hannahan's mother that his wife was having contractions and my go into labor in a matter of hours.

Jenny Hannahan had been regulated to bed rest for nearly a month at this point, despite being barely in her third trimester of pregnancy. With Jack Hannahan and the Indians in Boston, it was apparent that the night was near.

So even while Hannahan was at bat in the game, Speed booked the first flight in the morning out of Logan airport in Boston back to Cleveland, even knowing that would likely be too late. His next step was calling about private planes. They were available, but they cost $35,000. Even though Hannahan has a contract for $500,000 this year, $35,000 is still seven percent of his annual salary -- that's a lot of money on a gamble that it would be the night Jenny gave birth.

After Hannahan was notified after the game of what was going on, he considered that, because it was the only way he'd be getting back to Cleveland before the morning. However, the price tag was just too high for the fiscally conservative Hannahan.

At some point after the game, teammate Justin Masterson asked Hannahan what was happening and as soon as Hannahan told him, Masterson told him get the private jet.

"Book it," Masterson told Hannahan, according to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press. When Hannahan balked, Masterson insisted.

At that point, Masterson passed around a hat, getting donations from teammates. And pretty quickly, they had the $35,000 covered -- call it a baby shower gift from his teammates.

Hannahan booked the plane and once it landed in Cleveland, there was a limo waiting for him at the airport to take him to the hospital. Hannahan finally got to his wife at 3 a.m. and just 15 minutes later, John Joseph Hannahan V was born.

Although the youngest Hannahan was born prematurely and weighed just two pounds, 11 ounces at birth, Speed said son, mother and father are all doing well now, even though Hannahan's son has yet to come home.

These days you don't often get stories about the good guys -- instead I'll spend 10 hours writing 12 different stories on the actions of jerks -- but every once in a while you get a story like this, a good guy being helped out by more good guys. The Indians are two games back in the American League Central going into Tuesday night, but it's hard to think they're anywhere but first (or at least tied for it) in class.

Good story. Brings tears to the eyes.

Tazmanian guys always are friends with Irish guys.



I hope our Tribe Guys own up on those IOU's they dropped in that hat.


Yep, super nice story.


Save that one to read again in late October......

Indians in Detroit for 1 vs. 2 showdown

By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 8/19/2011 2:18 AM ET

There's plenty to be decided in the race for the American League Central crown, but this weekend's series between the Indians and Tigers could serve as a piece to a puzzling question: Which team will be the last standing in the division?

The White Sox will have something to say about the race as well, but for much of the season, it's been a battle between Cleveland and Detroit. Josh Tomlin (12-5, 3.97 ERA) and Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37 ERA) will settle the first score on Friday at Comerica Park.

The Tigers currently lead the Indians by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central.

"These games are important both ways," Tribe skipper Manny Acta said. "You try not only to reach the Tigers, but you're also trying to separate yourself from the people trying to catch you. These games have double-meaning."

Scherzer has faced the Tribe twice this season. On April 29, he allowed five runs and walked five in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-5 loss at Progressive Field. He fared better before his home fans, limiting the Indians to two runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-2 win in Detroit on June 16.

Scherzer is coming off an outing in which he struck out a season-high 10 batters during a 6-5 win against Baltimore. He allowed five runs (four earned) in seven innings and didn't walk a batter.

Tomlin, on the other hand, has yet to face the Tigers this season. He took the loss after allowing five runs and seven hits in Detroit on Aug. 21, 2010, just his fifth career Major League start.

He's been stellar in his last two outings, however, yielding just three runs and eight hits in 13 1/3 innings, good for a 2.03 ERA against Texas and Minnesota.

Indians: Jimenez ready for second start with Tribe

• Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to start Sunday's game against Detroit. In his second start with the Indians after being acquired before the non-waiver Trade Deadline from the Rockies, Jimenez allowed just three unearned runs in eight strong innings of a 10-3 win against the Tigers on Aug. 10. In his last start, however, Tuesday against the White Sox, Jimenez left after allowing five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Tigers: Alburquerque improving after concussion

• The Tigers are hopeful reliever Al Alburquerque can return from the seven-day concussion list next week after he was struck with a line drive during batting practice last Friday. The right-hander played catch Tuesday without any trouble.

Worth noting

• Starting this weekend, the Indians and Tigers still play each other nine times, including six meetings in Detroit. The clubs meet the last three days of the regular season at Comerica Park.

• Detroit catcher Alex Avila made his 12th consecutive start behind the plate Wednesday. He is hitting .390 with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 10 runs scored and six RBIs during that stretch.

• The Indians are 6-3 against the Tigers this season and have outscored them, 41-34, in the nine games.

Division and conquer: Tigers, Tribe set to clash

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 08/19/11 12:15 AM ET

The out-of-town scoreboard at U.S. Cellular Field is located behind the right-field bleachers, out of sight for relievers sitting on the bench in the visitors' bullpen. The pitchers can only keep an eye on the game in front of them.

"That's probably best," Indians reliever Chad Durbin said.

It is getting late in the season, but not so late that teams should be paying excruciatingly close attention to the outcomes of their rivals' games. At least that's the way Durbin -- a veteran of three postseason runs with the Phillies -- sees things as the Tribe prepares for a critical three-game set with the Tigers on Friday.

"Someone asked me, 'Is it OK to scoreboard watch?'" Durbin said. "I said, 'It's not going to change anything.' I mean, it's OK to do it, as long as it doesn't affect how you go about your business."

This weekend, the Indians won't have to worry about watching the scoreboard.

Beginning on Friday, Cleveland and Detroit will engage in a three-game set that once again has the potential to influence the American League Central race. After a 4-2 win over the White Sox on Thursday in Chicago, the Indians now sit 1 1/2 games behind the Tigers for first place in the division.

The Tribe will send Josh Tomlin, David Huff and Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound, respectively, for the three games at Comerica Park. The Tigers plan on countering with Max Scherzer, Doug Fister and Rick Porcello. Barring a change, Cleveland can let out a sigh of relief at the prospect of missing Detroit ace Justin Verlander.

For the past 28 days, Detroit (65-58) has resided in the Central's top position, though the club's lead has never exceeded four games. Part of the problem has been Cleveland (62-58), which took two out of three against the Tigers from Aug. 9-11. On the season, the Indians have gone 6-3 against the Tigers, outscoring them, 41-34, along the way.

"We're not going anywhere," Indians closer Chris Perez said. "And I'm sure that the Tigers and White Sox are waiting for us to drop out, like, 'Oh, they're not supposed to be here.' We're not going to go anywhere."

Detroit manager Jim Leyland does not expect the Tribe to fade away easily.

"There's not a chance of [the Indians going away]," Leyland said. "They're too good. Their bullpen's fantastic. The rotation's got Jimenez. They've got some youth that they're playing now that's got huge energy. No, they're not going to go away."

Not until after Sept. 28, anyway.

Including this weekend's series, the Indians and Tigers will square off nine more times this season. That includes a season-ending three-game set in Detroit from Sept. 26-28 that could prove pivotal if the division race continues to go down to the wire.

Given the way the American League Central has played out to this point, the division might very well be decided in the season's final days. That is why Indians manager Manny Acta has stressed the importance of not getting too caught up in standings.

There is still more than a month to play.

"Every game means a lot," Acta said. "But there's so many games left that, if we're going to go day by day paying attention to that, I'm going to have a heart attack. We can't get away from it, because obviously that's a fun part of it and I know that you guys have to keep tabs on it."

Acta did admit that it has been fun for him, too.

"It is," said the manager. "This is what you play for. This is what you want to do. You want to be scoreboard watching. You want to be playing meaningful game. What were we doing last year at this time?

"We had six guys out there that were getting their first opportunity in the big leagues. We were sitting back, letting them play and teaching them. This is what it's all about."

And scoreboard watching is part of it.

"We see the scoreboards from the first day of the season on," Leyland said. "We've got our own jobs to do, but you certainly see the scoreboard. The scoreboards are all around the ballpark. But our job is to win games."

Kosuke Fukudome!!!

Looks like another fine acquisition by our management team.

One of the reasons I decided to end my "vacation" was the effort being put forth by the front office and dare I say ownership. Both are taking chances and doing what we expected them to do in years past. I also appreciate ownership for investing in the future.

I really like the Asian approach to hitting so I'm hopeful that Fukudome will become a valuable member in our lineup. Americans might not appreciate the Asian approach to hitting. I like it personally. They put the ball in play and don't try to do things they are not capable of. Basically, they stay within themselves for the most part. Tough outs! I have high expectation for Fukudome down the stretch run.

Yeah, KF has one of those unusual bats with the really long uniform taper. Is that what you mean?

{:>)--

Tigers take opener in key Central clash

By Chris Vannini / MLB.com | 8/19/2011 9:51 PM ET

DETROIT --

Without Justin Verlander pitching against the Indians this weekend, the Tigers needed other arms in the rotation to step up.

Max Scherzer did just that in Friday's 4-1 win over the Indians, throwing seven innings of one-run ball on a career-high 127 pitches while backed by three home runs.

The win gives the Tigers a 2 1/2 game lead in the American League Central and assures that they will be leading the division at the end of the series.

The Indians threatened early, when Shin-Soo Choo earned a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a ground out in the first inning, but Scherzer got out of the jam unscathed.

The first hit of the game wouldn't come until there were two outs in the third inning, when Michael Brantley hit a double down the left-field line. But Scherzer again didn't allow the runner to score.

The Tigers only had two singles off of Indians starter Josh Tomlin through the first five innings. After a one-out single from Ryan Raburn in the sixth, Austin Jackson hit a 392-foot blast over the fence in left-center field to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Scherzer found trouble in the seventh. After a leadoff single by Carlos Santana, Scherzer struck out the next two Indians. Lonnie Chisenhall reached on an infield single after a toss from Miguel Cabrera pulled Scherzer off of first, allowing Santana to reach third. Santana then scored on a wild pitch as the Indians cut the deficit to 2-1. Luis Valbuena grounded out to Cabrera to end the frame.

The Tigers then chased Tomlin in the bottom of the seventh, as Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta hit back-to-back first-pitch home runs and the Tigers took a 4-1 lead.

Joaquin Benoit pitched a perfect eighth inning and Jose Valverde picked up his 36th save of the year.

Painful weekend capped by Travis Hafner's sore foot; MRI set for Monday: Indians Insider
Published: Sunday, August 21, 2011, 8:33 PM Updated: Sunday, August 21, 2011, 8:34 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
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A dejected Travis Hafner sits in the dugout after injuring his right foot on an RBI single Sunday against Detroit. Diagnosed with a sprain, Hafner will have an MRI Monday to evaluate the injury.
DETROIT -- Travis Hafner left Sunday's game with a strained right foot after his sixth-inning single scored the Indians' final run in a 8-7 loss to the Tigers.
Manager Manny Acta said Hafner will have an MRI Monday in Cleveland. "Then we'll make a decision," said Acta.
If Hafner is placed on the disabled list, it will be his second trip this year. Hafner has been struggling offensively -- his single broke an 0-for-16 slump -- but the Indians need as much offense as they can find if they are to stay in the AL Central race.
"We've gotten to where we are without Shin-Soo Choo for two months. Without Grady Sizemore for however long he's been out and with Hafner missing a month earlier in the year," said Acta. "You have to keep on playing. These are occasions where heroes are born. Maybe someone will step up and make a name for themselves."
Hafner has had problems with his right foot since making a slide home at the end of April. In the sixth inning, he drove a ball to the wall in right to score Asdrubal Cabrera to make it 8-7. When Hafner tried to make it to second, the foot gave out and he was tagged out limping back to first.
"I think the injury is a little different," said Hafner. "In my first at-bat I fouled one ball off my foot and one ball off my ankle. So the foot was sore and swollen.
"Now that we've iced it, it's feeling better."
Acta unhappy: In the third inning, Cabrera sent a fly ball down the right-field line that just missed being a home run. He stood at the plate watching the ball and Tigers starter Rick Porcello didn't like that.
Porcello's next pitch was behind Cabrera's back. Cabrera took a couple of steps toward Porcello, but nothing escalated. Crew chief Joe West then instructed plate umpire Paul Schrieber to issue warnings to both teams.
"I thought that was handled very poorly," said Acta. "Everybody, including the vendors in the stadium, knew he threw at him. When that happens in a game, you don't need a warning, you need to throw the guy out of the game.
"If you don't throw the guy out of the game, you should not issue a warning because we're not getting our shot. Carlos Carrasco didn't get a warning the other day at home. He got thrown out right away."
Carrasco was ejected for throwing a pitch at the head of Kansas City's Billy Butler on July 29. He was later fined and suspended for six games, a suspension he still has to serve when he comes off the disabled list.
If Porcello was trying to be a tough guy, Acta was unimpressed.
"That doesn't show me any bravado," said Acta. "Guys who do that in the American League, all they're doing is putting their teammates in jeopardy because they don't hit.
"Guys in the National League who hit guys, those guys show me something, because they have to get up to the plate and hit. And none of these guys want to fight. The game has changed so much it's a joke. Just watch BP, they're all hugging and joking. Look on the bases, you've got three or four guys talking to each other. So guys who do that are just putting their teammates in jeopardy.
"The guy was just standing there looking at a foul ball. A foul ball."
Acta added that after Delmon Young hit a three-run homer against Ubaldo Jimenez in the third, he went to the mound to tell him not to retaliate.
"If he hits somebody after a warning, there is going to be a suspension and I need him to pitch," said Acta. "I need him to pitch every five days. There's always a time and a place for everything."
Instant replay, please: The biggest play in Sunday's game came in the fourth inning. Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson beat out an infield single and stole second with one out.
Catcher Lou Marson made a perfect throw to the bag. Cabrera was there for the catch and tag, but second-base umpire Tim McClelland called Jackson safe. Young followed with a single to give the Tigers their eighth and final run. It turned out to be the game winner.
"Asdrubal had him," said Acta. "I guess eventually we are going to have to go with that buzzer and use instant replay."
Cabrera, Marson and Acta argued with McClelland. After Young's single skipped into center field, Cabrera pounded his glove on the dirt behind second. McClelland stared at him, baiting him into saying something until second baseman Jason Donald stepped into McClelland's line of vision to cool things down.
Finally: The series drew 132,239 fans, a three-game record for Comerica Park. Unfortunately, the Indians didn't put on much of a show. ... Tigers manager Jim Leyland was ejected in the sixth.
On Twitter: @hoynsie

Then the umps blew one right back the other way when a Tiger runner was allegedly thrown out at third--replays showed he was safe.

Ubaldo Jimenez falls flat; Tigers complete 3-game sweep of Cleveland Indians with 8-7 victory
Published: Sunday, August 21, 2011, 4:50 PM Updated: Monday, August 22, 2011, 7:39 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

DETROIT -- When the Indians acquired Ubaldo Jimenez from the Rockies on July 31, it was their chance to see how the other half lived.

They traded CC Sabathia on July 28, 2008 and watched him go 11-2 in 17 starts to carry the Brewers to the postseason for the first time since 1982. They traded Cliff Lee on July 29, 2009 and watched him go 6-4 as the Phillies not only reached the postseason, but the World Series, where they lost.

Now it was the Indians' turn to take a bite of that apple. Jimenez didn't own a Cy Young as Sabathia and
Lee, but he won 19 games and finished third in Cy Young voting last year.

But what happens if the apple has a worm in it?

Jimenez gave up eight runs, seven coming in the third inning, as Detroit completed a three-game sweep of the Indians on Sunday with a 8-7 victory at Comerica Park. The sweep leaves the Indians 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Tigers in the AL Central.

The deficit is the Indians' biggest of the season. They have 39 games left, including six against Detroit, but this felt like a turning point.

When Sabathia joined the Brewers, he won his first nine decisions. When Lee joined the Phillies, he won
his first four. In his four starts with the Indians, Jimenez is 1-1 with a 7.29 ERA. That's not the jolt GM Chris Antonetti expected when he sent No.1 picks Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, along with two other players, to the Rockies for Jimenez.

After taking two out of three from Chicago to start this six-game trip, the Indians arrived in the Motor City 1 1/2 games out of first. Jimenez, however, didn't pitch well in Chicago and pitched even worse Sunday.

In those two starts he went 0-1, while allowing 12 earned runs on 12 hits and four walks in eight innings. He threw 105 pitches in 4 2/3 innings in Chicago and 84 in 3 1/3 innings against the Tigers.
That's an indication of a pitcher who doesn't know where the ball is going.

Manager Manny Acta says Jimenez is healthy.

"The MRI came back squeaky clean," he said, referring to the lengthy physical Jimenez went through
before the Indians signed off on the trade.

Yet in the pivotal third, Jimenez threw only 92 and 93 mph. He did hit 95 in the first two innings, but PitchFX data said his two-seam fastball averaged 92.99 mph and his four-seam fastball averaged 93.09 mph.

"So what?" said Acta. "Josh Tomlin throws 87, 88 and he throws seven or eight innings."

The Indians didn't sell the farm for Tomlin. They drafted him.
Cleveland Indians Kosuke Fukudome is tagged out at home plate by Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila during the 9th inning on Sunday, August 21, 2011 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The double play ended the game. The Tigers won, 8-7. (Diane Weiss/Detroit Free Press/MCT)


Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who walked, doubled and scored a run in the third, faced Jimenez when he pitched for the Rockies.

"He was throwing 97 to 98. Now he's maybe 94 to 95. Sometimes that can make a difference," said Peralta.

Acta said the Indians will discuss Jimenez's situation Monday before they open a four-game series against
Seattle at Progressive Field. Jimenez says he's healthy, but the Indians have only seen 97 and 98 readings from him in his first start against Texas after the trade.

"The difference between this year and last year is my command," said Jimenez. "Last year I was ahead of almost every hitter. This year I've been pitching from behind."

Trailing, 7-0, after the third, the Indians spent the rest of the game rallying. They took their final run in
the ninth, but saw center fielder Austin Jackson catch Matt LaPorta's attempt at a game-tying sacrifice fly and throw home to get Kosuke Fukudome on a great block of the plate by catcher Alex Avila.

The double play allowed Jose Valverde to escape with his 37th straight save. Fukudome opened the ninth with a walk. Valverde hit Jason Donald in the back with a pitch and Jack Hannahan advanced the runners with a bunt.

"No guts, no glory," said Acta, when asked about third-base coach Steve Smith sending Fukudome. "You have to do it. He made a good throw."

Travis Hafner on DL, could Jim Thome be on his way? Cleveland Indians daily briefing

Published: Monday, August 22, 2011, 4:50 PM Updated: Monday, August 22, 2011, 5:49 PM

By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Travis Hafner is the latest Indians player to go on the disabled list. Could Jim Thome take his place?

GM Chris Antonetti said before Monday's game against Seattle that Hafner, the Tribe's veteran DH, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right foot. Right-hander Josh Judy was recalled from Class AAA Columbus with the Indians scheduled to play a day-night doubleheader against the Mariners on Tuesday.

Hafner's right foot has been bothering him since the end of April. He re-injured it in the sixth inning of Sunday's 8-7 loss to Detroit. He singled home the Indians' final run, but when he made the turn at first in an attempt to reach second, he pulled up and was tagged out as he limped back to the bag.

"Travis is going to be out for a little while," said Antonetti. "This foot injury is related to what he had before."

Antonetti said Hafner will be out a minimum of two weeks.

"We're in the process of getting it evaluated and getting some other opinions to determine the extent of the injury," he said. "And we're looking at other treatment alternatives."

Head trainer Lonnie Soloff will give an update on Hafner on Tuesday.

Hafner is hitting .281 (79-for-281) with 14 doubles, 11 homers and 49 RBI. He had a terrible trip through Chicago and Detroit. The single in which Hafner aggravated his foot injury broke an 0-for-16 slump.

This will be his second trip to the disabled list. He missed over a month with a strained right oblique muscle and has not been the same hitter since his return.

The Twins have reportedly put Thome, who just hit the 600th homer of his career, on waivers. Antonetti was asked if the Indians had interest in Thome, in light of Hafner's injury and the Indians' shaky standing in the AL Central race. Antonetti said, "I'm not getting into specific guys. To the extent that we can help the team, we will continue to try."

Thome, of course, is the Indians' all-time home run leader.

ESPN reported that the Indians claimed Oakland right-hander Rich Harden on waivers and tried to make a deal for him. When an agreement couldn't be reached, the A's pulled Harden off waivers.
"We've been aggressive with the number of claims we've put in on players," said Antonetti.
"Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find the right fit to improve the team.

"A lot of teams have just withdrawn the waiver claim and not even engaged in the process of trying to
find a fit (trade). They've said they prefer to keep them. In a couple of cases, we've actually engaged to try and find that fit, but were unable to agree on value."

For a player to be eligible for the postseason, teams have until Aug. 31 to make trades. But any player acquired must pass through waivers.

Hafner joins center fielder Grady Sizemore and second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list.
Here are tonight's lineups:

Mariners (53-72): RF Ichiro Suzuki (L), CF Franklin Gutierrez (R), 2B Dustin Ackley (L), LF Mike Carp (L), DH Casper Wells (R), 3B Adam Kennedy (L), C Miguel Olivo (R), 2B Brendan Ryan (R), LF Trayvon Robinson (S), LHP Jason Vargas (7-11, 4.37).

Indians (62-61): LF Michael Brantley (L), 2B Jason Donald (R), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Carlos Santana (S), RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), DH Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), C Lou Marson (R), CF Ezequiel Carrera (L), RHP Fausto Carmona (6-12, 4.89).

Umpires: H Phil Cuzzi, 1B Tom Hallion, 2B Bill Miller, 3B James Hoye.

Lefty-righty: Lefties are hitting .276 (83-for-301) with nine homers and righties are hitting .244 (65-for-266) with five homers against Carmona. The Mariners have five lefties in the lineup, including one switch-hitter.

Lefties are hitting .268 (41-for-153) with four homers and righties are hitting .260 (120-for-462) with 15 homers against Vargas. The Indians have five right-handers in the lineup, including two switch-hitters.

Lineup note: Shin-Soo Choo was scratched from the Tribe's lineup to be with his wife, who just gave birth to their third child.

Him vs. me: Cabrera is hitting .571 (4-for-7) with one homer and one RBI against Vargas. Kennedy is hitting .364 (4-for-11) with a homer and three RBI against Carmona.

Quote of the day: "Well, my dad (Ken Griffey) taught me that there's three parts. There's hitting, there's defense, and there's baserunning. And as long as you keep those three separated, you're going to be a good player. I mean, you can't take your defense on the bases, you can't take your hitting to the field, and you can't take your baserunning at the plate. But defense, is number one," former Seattle great Ken Griffey Jr.

Next: The Indians will play a day-night doubleheader against Seattle on Tuesday. Justin Masterson will start the first game at 1:05 p.m. Zach McAllister will be recalled from Columbus to pitch the second game at 7:05 p.m.

GM Candidate: Mike Chernoff

By Tim Dierkes [August 23 at 7:36am CST]

MLBTR's list of general manager candidates introduced 20 people who were identified by their peers as potential Major League GMs. We’re bringing you closer to the candidates with a series of pieces. Today the series continues with Indians assistant GM Mike Chernoff, who ranked seventh on our list.

Mike Chernoff has had at least one game of catch every month with his dad since he was six years old. Chernoff's bond with his father was strong enough to break a childhood allegiance to the Yankees, as Mike switched allegiances when his dad accepted a Mets-related job at WFAN. He went on to attend Princeton, majoring in economics and playing ball there as well. Chernoff went into college expecting to eventually land a job in finance or teaching, but a Mets internship during that time changed his mind. After college former Mets GM Jim Duquette helped Chernoff score an internship with the Indians.

Chernoff moved up the ranks in the Indians' front office, gaining a dual education managing pro scouting and analytics. He became director of baseball operations in 2007 and then assistant GM last year. As an AGM, Chernoff continues to have a hand in all aspects of baseball operations, but with more authority. I spoke with him Monday afternoon.

On his mentors in the Indians' front office:

From very early on in my time here I was put in contact with our pro scouting department, which evolved into managing that department, which was one of the best things for my development. I basically talked every day with Steve Lubratich, who has been influential in mentoring me in that side of the game.

From the time I first got here, Chris [Antonetti] has been unbelievable in the opportunities, feedback, and development he's given me. I've learned a lot from watching Mark [Shapiro] interacting with him but also just watching him and how he leads people. I've been lucky to be around some quality people in this front office - Mike Hazen, Steve Lubratich, Chuck Tanner, Neal Huntington, DeJon Watson - they've made a huge impact.

The trades of which he's most proud:

It's been really fulfilling to see guys like Carlos Santana and Justin Masterson develop into the players they've become. Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin-Soo Choo - guys that were in what seemed like smaller trades at the time that have turned into real impact players in our organization.

Thoughts on Moneyball:

I think the mindset of Moneyball is a really important one in any business. You have to always be looking for that next competitive advantage or inefficiency. I think that mentality has been really important to how we operate here. In other ways I think it's almost created this conflict between scouts and the SABR world. There's no reason not to combine the two. It's a funny conflict that's out there that there's really no need for. I think it's pitted in the media in some ways and from that book as much more confrontational than it really is.

Buster Olney Blog

High demand for Jim Thome
August, 23, 2011

It was only about 20 months ago that Jim Thome was struggling to find a job, to find more at-bats in his pursuit of his 600th homer, and when he did eventually sign with the Minnesota Twins, he wasn't promised playing time. But over the next eight days, he might be the most coveted player in the majors; he's already the subject of a whole lot of discussion in executive circles that has nothing to do with his 600-homer milestone.

Thome was placed on waivers by the Twins on Monday, and presumably, there will be many teams placing a claim on him. Travis Hafner may not play again this season, after being placed on the disabled list Monday, and so the Indians would be a natural fit for Thome, at DH. The White Sox could place a claim on Thome to block him from getting to the Indians. The Blue Jays could place a claim on Thome, in their never-ending quest to collect draft picks; if Thome were to play in 2012, it's possible that he would be worthy of draft-pick compensation this winter, and as we know, Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos loves draft picks the way a 10-year-old loves M&M's.

To read more about the Jim Thome waiver situation, including a scenario in which the slugger could land in Philadelphia and anger several other MLB teams, you must be an ESPN Insider.