Looking Back at the Draft: 1985

The year is 1985. Ronald Reagan is sworn in to begin his second term as president. "We are the World" is recorded and released to raise awareness for problems in Africa. Mikhail Gorbachev becomes premier of the Soviet Union. Mike Tyson makes his professional boxing debut, winning by knockout. Wrestlemania I is held at Madison Square Garden. Villanova wins the NCAA basketball tourney as a #8 seed. The Coca-Cola company releases (and rescinds) New Coke. TWA flight 874 is...

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Managing Service Time Vital For Indians And Other Teams

With the Indians making the announcement this week that with the signing of Russell Branyan he would become the everyday first baseman, it came as a surprise to many. As a result, it has sent a shockwave which is going to be felt by either first baseman/outfielder Matt LaPorta or outfielder Michael Brantley where one opens the season at Triple-A Columbus. Now, things can always change as spring training is long and injuries crop up. There is no guarantee that Branyan, LaPorta,...

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Indians Top 50: #19 Jeanmar Gomez

Jeanmar Gomez - Right-handed Pitcher Born: 02/10/1988 - Height: 6'4" - Weight: 190 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right YearAgeTeamLvlWLERAGGSIPHERHRBBSOAVGBB/9K/9WHIP 200517DSL IndiansR531.33131061.04792946.2101.36.80.92 200618GCL IndiansR432.4811954.1501521234.2382.05.71.15 200719Lake CountyA1174.802727140.215275194694.2783.06.01.41 200820KinstonA+594.552727138.1154701446110.2833.07.21.45 200921KinstonA+222.634424.01772515.2021.95.60.92 200921AkronAA1043.432222123.1117471140109.2492.98.01.28 Totals37283.7110499541.253722350158408.2592.66.81.28 History: ...

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Indians Top 50: #20 Carlos Rivero

Carlos Rivero - Shortstop Born: 05/20/1988 - Height: 6'3" - Weight: 220 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right YearAgeTeamLvlGABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBAvgOBPSLGOPS 200517DSL IndiansR6623721616003112267.257.295.283.578 200618GCL indiansR3713417386022210200.284.338.373.711 200618BurlingtonR166631430175110.212.264.303.567 200719Lake CountyA1154365911426076247841.261.332.369.701 200820KinstonA+1084114611627186436841.282.342.411.753 200921AkronAA1324805011624275850731.242.309.344.653 Totals47417641964599232524416029810.260.318.349.667 History:...

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Smoke Signals 2/25: Infield Talk & Jason Kipnis

Paul Cousineau and I are back on the cyberwaves tonight with another edition of Smoke Signals from 9:30-10:30 PM EST.  This week we will focus on the infield as we discuss The Branyan Effect with regard to top prospects Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, Louie V. at second base and how the Indians will use him this year, Jhonny Peralta at third base and him being potentially traded, and a potential All Star year in the making for Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop. ...

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Indians Top 50: #21 Jess Todd

Jess Todd - Right-handed Pitcher Born: 04/20/1986 - Height: 5'11" - Weight: 210 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right YearAgeTeamLvlWLERAGSVIPHERHRBBSOAVGBB/9K/9WHIP 200721BataviaA-412.7816058.1481821469.2232.210.71.07 200822Palm BchA+301.657127.11850735.1842.311.60.92 200822SpringfieldAA452.97170103.07934122481.2162.17.11.00 200822MemphisAAA113.974022.2191041120.2324.58.11.35 200923St. LouisMLB0010.80101.232122.37515.015.04.17 200923MemphisAAA422.20412449.0391231359.2142.410.81.06 200923ColumbusAAA000.00314.010007.0770.015.80.25 200923ClevelandMLB017.4019020.231173718.3563.18.01.88 MiLB1692.698826264.1204792169271.2142.49.21.03 MLB017.6620022.134194920.3583.78.11.95 History: ...

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IPI Inbox: Salcedo Saga Nearing End

It is time for another edition of the IPI Inbox, one which will be broken up into two pieces with part one today and part two tomorrow or Saturday. Today's piece will concentrate more on questions pertaining to the big league team, while the second edition will answer some questions about the farm system. One quick note and correction to my Russell Branyan piece from over the weekend, and that is to note that in the comments section I made mention that I did not believe...

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Indians Officially Sign Branyan

The Indians announced today that they have officially signed free agent first baseman Russell Branyan. He is signed to a one year $2 million contract which includes up to $1 million in incentives, and it also includes a mutual option for 2011 for $5 million.  To make room on the 40-man roster for Branyan, infielder Chris Gimenez was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus. Also, the Indians purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Anthony Reyes as they added him to the...

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Indians Top 50: #22 Scott Barnes

Scott Barnes - Left-handed Pitcher Born: 09/05/1987 - Height: 6'4" - Weight: 185 - Bats: Left - Throws: Left YearAgeTeamLvlWLERAGGSIPHERHRBBSOAVGBB/9K/9WHIP 200820AZL GiantsR013.38305.1320411.1677.119.41.37 200820Salem-KeizerA-004.76215.2630111.2501.719.01.35 200820AugustaA321.386632.21550741.1332.011.50.68 200921San JoseA+1232.85181898.0823172999.2272.79.11.13 200921KinstonA+002.133312.21431610.2804.47.41.64 200921AkronAA225.686631.2352071429.2924.08.41.57 Totals1783.103834186.0155641561201.2263.09.71.16 History: ...

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Indians Top 50: #23 Jason Donald

Jason Donald - Infielder Born: 09/04/1984 - Height: 6'1" - Weight: 195 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right YearAgeTeamLvlGABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBAvgOBPSLGOPS 200621BataviaA-632133356142124234212.263.347.362.709 200722LakewoodA5119741619343029392.310.409.447.856 200722ClearwaterA+83293488822584135703.300.386.491.877 200823ReadingAA92362571111941454478611.307.391.497.888 200924GCL PhilliesR926461101251.231.286.346.632 200924Lehigh ValleyAAA51208264915111614536.236.297.332.629 200924ColumbusAAA103510920113111.257.350.400.750 Totals359133421938082162916715330636.285.369.436.804 History:...

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Indians Top 50: #24 Josh Judy

Josh Judy - Right-handed Pitcher Born: 02/09/1986 - Height: 6'4" - Weight: 200 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right YearAgeTeamLvlWLERAGSVIPHERHRBBSOAVGBB/9K/9WHIP 200721GCL IndiansR120.639014.11110814.2045.18.91.35 200721Mahoning VyA-000.004111.070037.1942.55.70.91 200822Lake CountyA1213.5135174.1602962580.2233.09.71.15 200822KinstonA+001.937014.01230117.2260.610.90.93 200923KinstonA+000.00534.240007.2350.015.00.95 200923AkronAA433.10361149.1351721863.1983.311.51.08 Totals1762.689616167.212950855188.2133.010.11.10 History:...

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Looking Back at the Draft: 1984

First off, let me correct an error in last week's article on the 1983 draft. John Farrell was indeed selected by the Indians in the 16th round of the 1983 draft, but he did not sign with the club until selected in the 2nd round of the 1984 draft. The year is 1984. Ronald Reagan is re-elected president, carrying 49 of the 50 states in the electoral college. Transformers are introduced to the American public for the first time (more than meets the eye!) The Apple Macintosh...

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