Cleveland Indians Report

July 30, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Hmmm...

From the (Jayson) Stark Market on espn.com..."Clubs that have spoken with Cleveland over the last couple of days report that the Indians are still aggressively trying to win, but also trying to be creative in marketing players people wouldn't expect them to deal. One of them happens to be their trusty closer, Wickman. And there was talk Friday he could end up in Boston -- or even be spun elsewhere in a three-team deal. The Indians also have been willing to talk about Kevin Millwood. But they've been telling teams they'll move him only for a young player who can be an every day player, a starting pitcher or a potential closer for them by next year. So while that probably won't happen, the sense is that the Indians are attempting to pull off something big this weekend. And if they do, Wickman almost certainly would be involved."

Posted on 7/30/2005

July 25, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Rumor Mill Turns

The Seatte Times notes this morning that "a recent report that the Yankees had a scout here watching (Randy) Winn is not exactly correct. New York had two scouts at Jacobs Field all of last week, watching Grady Sizemore, among others, on the Cleveland club. But a man from another club that has interest in Mariners pitchers noted that 'the Yankees paid a lot of attention when Winn came up to hit." I can't see the Indians trading Grady Sizemore under pretty much any circumstance, can you? Hey, you can look, but you can't touch. While the Yanks were likely lustfully watching Sizemore and, to a lesser extent, Coco Crisp, I suspect they were also in town to check out Arthur Rhodes, not to mention yesterday's starting pitcher Kevin Millwood, who certainly didn't help his trade value with another strong outing.

Meanwhile, NewsDay counts the Mets among those interested in Arthur Rhodes should the Indians decide to move him. This is the type of "sell" move I could see the Indians making. With Scott Sauerbeck remaining from the south side in the 'pen and Bob Howry (.191 BAA), and Rafael Betancourt (.217 BAA), and David Riske (.228 BAA) all having success against lefties this season, I could see the Indians using this as an opportunity to free up the $3 million plus owed to Rhodes next season. What they would/could get in return for Rhodes remains to be seen and may likely be determined by how much of his salary the Indians would be inclined to absorb this season and next.

Posted on 7/25/2005

July 24, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Rumor Mill

The Newark Star-Ledger notes that "Philadelphia is trying to package Ugueth Urbina and Vicente Padilla for a starter such as Cleveland's Jake Westbrook...". Ummm, no.

Newsday reports that "Damon Oppenheimer, a Yankees vice president of scouting, is in Cleveland this weekend for the Indians-Mariners series. If the Indians have a tough week, they could be sellers, and they have several pitching chips, including Kevin Millwood and Arthur Rhodes.". Of course, the Mariners also have some chips that could be moved, most notably Randy Winn as rumored for centerfield in the Bronx. But hey, weren't Tribe brass down in Columbus recently?

The Baltimore Sun says the "Orioles have also contacted the Dodgers about right-hander Jeff Weaver. Another possibility is Cleveland's Kevin Millwood". Sounds like speculation here.

Joel Sherman speculates in the New York Post that the Indians should trade Kevin Millwood to the Rangers for triple-A first basemen Adrian Gonzalez (actually, he was just called up to the bigs on Saturday). Gonzalez, the former #1 overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Marlins, was hitting .316/.379/.502/.881 with 14 doubles and 13 homeruns for triple-A Oklahoma City and is blocked by Mark Tiexiera and a host of corner outfielders in Arlington so you would presume he would definitely be available in trade. However, Gonzalez is a left-handed stick which the Tribe leans heavily towards and the Indians are also apparently grooming Ryan Garko for a shot at first base next spring with today's note in the PD that Garko is playing five games at first for every two behind the dish. The right-handed hitting Garko is hitting .283/.365/.476/.841 with 16 doubles and 13 homeruns for the Bisons. This one's not likely to happen.

Posted on 7/24/2005

July 21, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Tribe wins 10-1

It's a final. 10-1 Tribe. A seven-run seventh and a solid outing from Jake Westbrook gives the Tribe a split with the Royals. Seattle's up next with three games over the weekend.

Posted on 7/21/2005

CIR UPDATE: Tribe Pouring It On

Victor Martinez just blasted a three-run homer and it's 10-1 Tribe in the bottom of the 7th. This was a must win game for the Tribe and it looks like this one is going into the "W" column.

Posted on 7/21/2005

CIR UPDATE: Blake goes deep, Tribe up 4-1

Casey Blake just went deep. It's 4-1 Tribe in the bottom of the 7th.

Posted on 7/21/2005

CIR UPDATE: Peralta puts Tribe up 3-0

Jhonny Peralta belted a two-out, three-run homer to give the Tribe a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th against the Royals. With the blast, his 12th of the season, Peralta is now hitting .294/.348/.528/.873. That .873 OPS ranks third among AL shortstops, trailing only Miguel Tejada and Michael Young and ahead of Bobby Crosby (.859), Derek Jeter (.804), Edgar Renteria (.719), and Orlando Cabrera (.659). And, he just turned 23 in May. 3-1 Tribe through five.

Posted on 7/21/2005

July 20, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Sowers and Head are HOT

Jeremy Sowers (#17) and Stephen Head (#18) crack the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet.

Posted on 7/20/2005

July 19, 2005

CLEVELAND INDIANS REPORT: Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Where Ryan Ludwick and Josh Phelps have gone before, so now goes Jason DuBois, power-hitting corner outfielder and potential solution to the Indians right-handed power woes. DuBois was acquired from the Cubs late last night after the Indians rain-shortened, but much needed, 6-2 victory over the Royals in exchange for Jody Gerut. The 6'5", 225 lb, 26-year old outfielder will slide into the outfield rotation and I would not be surprised to see him receive a considerable amount of playing time in right field over the next couple of weeks. If he can deliver some pop, DuBois could be a nice complement to Grady and Coco in the outfield.

Drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round of the 2000 draft out of VCU, DuBois debuted professionally in the MidWest League with Lansing in 2001 where he hit a robust .296/.366/.562/.928 with 28 doubles and 24 homeruns. Moving up to high-A Ball and Daytona of the Florida State league, DuBois continued to mash, posting averages of .321/.422/.562/.984 with 25 doubles and 20 longballs. Left unprotected in the offseason by the Cubs, DuBois was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Blue Jays but was returned to the Cubs where he moved up to double-A and hit .269/.367/.458/.825 with 31 doubles and 15 homeruns in 2003. He followed that up with a stellar campaign in the Arizona Fall League where he earned MVP honors. Moved up to triple-A last year (are you noticing the one level at a time movement), DuBois absolutely mashed against PCL hurlers, hitting .316/.389/.630/1.019 with 26 doubles and 31 homeruns while posting a decent (alright, it wasn't bad at least), BB/K ratio of 41 walks to 97 strikeouts. The Cubs rewarded him with a brief cup of coffee in the bigs where he belted his first major league homerun and hit .217 (5-for-23). Given a chance to share left-field with Todd Hollandsworth in the Friendly Confines this season, DuBois hit .239/.289/.472/.761 with 12 doubles, 7 homers, and 22 RBIs for the Cubs before he was demoted to triple-A last week. Note that he didn't let the demotion bother him as he's raked at a .500 clip (9-for-18) since being sent down.

Numbers look good, yeah? So what's wrong with him? Well, for one, he doesn't have great speed or range which limits him to a corner outfield position or first base (where he has seen some time). Note that he does have a decent-to-strong arm and pitched in college at VCU. He also struck out a Branyanesque 49 times in 142 at-bats this season for the Cubs, although his minor league numbers do not forecast such a horrendous ratio. Perhaps he was pressing in his first crack at the bigs. It's telling (perhaps) that despite the guady numbers, the Cubs moved him up one level at a time and never in mid-season. Perhaps this is an organization philosophy in Wrigleyville. Because of that, DuBois would generally be considered old for his age in pretty much every league he played in (23 in FSL in '02, 24 in AA in '03, etc) which diminishes the numbers in most prospect watchers eyes. That's likely one of the reasons that DuBois failed to show up on any of the Cubs top 10 prospect lists until this past season when he obliterated triple-A pitching. That, and a very deep Cubs farm system. Not that those lists mean anything but they help to explain why DuBois hasn't had a higher profile despite posting impressive numbers in the minors. Also, keep in mind that the Cubbies had Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou patrolling the corners for the last three seasons so the need to rush a young corner outfielder through the system wasn't as urgent as it may have been in other systems. So, all that said, we've got a later round draft pick flying under the radar whose shown good power skills everywhere he's played but has struggled in his first taste of extended major league pitching.

(Train of thought stopped, to be continued tomorrow)

(Begin random thoughts on the trade)

On the plus side, this could also be a potential cost savings move for next year. Gerut may be eligible for arbitration while DuBois would likely play for somewhere around the minimum. A savings of $500k-$1 million would not be out of the question (I'll hazard a guess) if Gerut is arbitration eligible.

Coincidentally enough, two 14th round picks from the 2000 draft have made it the big leagues, DuBois and former Indian, and current Washington national, Ryan Church.

Let the speculation begin for the "right-handed power stick" of 2006. It was Ryan Ludwick (for Ricardo Rodriguez) in 2003, Josh Phelps (for Eric Crozier) in 2004, and now DuBois for Gerut. Who will it be in '06?

Fausto Carmona, a day removed from his one-day taste of the big leagues, tossed eight innings of one-run ball last night in his return to triple-A. Despite the stellar performance, the Bisons took it on the chin, losing 1-0. Carmona struck out six while walking none and scrattering six knocks. In four starts for the Bisons, the right-hander has a 2.17 ERA and has issued just two free passes in 29 innings while striking out 19 and allowing 25 basehits.

Jason Stanford is a week away from a rehab assignment after throwing two innings of a simulated game yesterday.

Reds GM Dan O'Brien told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he is "not close with Cleveland" on a trade.

The Indians signed UW-Platteville catcher David Reifenberger to a minor league contract and he's begun his pro career in the Valley. Reifenberger hit .293 with three homeruns and 29 runs batted in this year while also posting a 1.65 ERA with four saves coming out of the bullpen. For now, the Tribe has him working behind the plate.

Posted on 7/19/2005

CIR UPDATE: Gerut Traded to Cubs

After the Tribe's 6-2 victory over the Royals last night, the Indians dealt Jody Gerut to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Jason DuBois. DuBois is a right-handed, power-hitting outfielder who has had a lot of success in the minor leagues but not so much in the bigs. More in the next CIR.

Posted on 7/19/2005

July 18, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Betancourt Reinstated

As expected, Rafael Betancourt was reinstated from the suspended list and added to the Indians roster. Fausto Carmona was optioned back to Buffalo to make room for Carmona on the Indians roster. More in the next CIR.

Posted on 7/18/2005

CLEVELAND INDIANS REPORT: Monday, July 18, 2005

Message Received, Chicago. Thank you. See you in late September.

Despite the woodshed beating over the weekend, despite losing five in a row, despite losing nine of ten, the Indians still remain just three games out of the wild card. Of course, there are five teams ahead of them, which is just as important as the number of games behind, but with 71 games still to play, the Indians are just three games out of the playoffs. With 11 of their next 14 games against Kansas City (32-59) and Seattle (41-50), the Tribe has a golden opportunity to right the ship and move back towards the top of that wildcard chase. Coinicidentally, the end of this 14-game run will put us right up against the trade deadline on July 31. This should be a very interesting next couple of weeks.

Call me crazy for agreeing with Roger Brown but if the Reds are willing to deal Adam Dunn for CC Sabathia, I would make that trade without a second thought. Quite honestly, I can't believe that the Reds would not want more than just CC for Dunn, but that's just me. The opportunity to acquire a bona fide 40 home-run threat with outstanding on-base skills does not come along everyday. True, he's left-handed and the Indians could use a right-handed stick. True, he's a left-fielder (who can also play first base, mind you) and the Indians could use a right-fielder (although who's to say Dunn couldn't make the switch to the opposite corner). And true, he's due to make some big bucks in arbitration the next two years. But, again, the opportunity to acquire a legitimate 40-home run threat with on-base skills does not come along everyday. Nor does the opportunity to acquire a .950 OPS threat at the plate. Even though he's not signed like CC for the next two years (the cost certainty GMs love), his salaries should come close to what CC is scheduled to earn so the actual dollar difference might not be as large as you would think. I would love to see the Indians grab Dunn, stick him in right or at first-base and then use prospects and/or Ben Broussard and Jody Gerut to add an arm for the rotation this year and next. Don't forget there's also Jason Davis available to slide into the rotation so it's not like the Indians don't have a reasonable backup plan. I'm not soured on CC, but he's not an ace, he's not the best pitcher on the Indians staff, and if I have a chance to grab a legit 40-homer guy, I'm willing to part with the big fella and his potential. By the way, is just me or is it strange to talk about potentail when a player's been in the big leagues for five years? I admire CC for wanting to be the leader, for wanting the ball every fifth day, for wanting the ball in big games, and for speaking out against the Twins and White Sox, but sooner or later, you have to back it up with performance on the field. It's doubtful such a scenario would play out but I'm glad to see the Indians mentioned in the pursuit of Dunn.

JD Martin is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery today in Birmingham and will miss the next 9-14 months. Under that timetable, I would suspect he'll begin a throwing program next spring and it's possible he could begin a rehab assignment in the Valley next June and start to work his way back up through the system. Despite pitching in pain, Martin was enjoying his best season (save for his '01 short-season debut) with the Tribe, posting a 2.38 ERA and .201 BAA in 10 starts for the Aeros, striking out 63 adn walking just 8 in 56.2 innings. JD had worked himself into position for 40-man roster consideration this offseason but I would be surprised if the Tribe uses a roster spot on a TJ rehabee given their other options. If they do expose him to the Rule 5, it will be interesting to see if another team selects him and then stashes him on the DL all season while he recovers.

Of the much-hyped "Big Five" righthanders of the 2001 draft, Martin is now under the knife, Travis Foley (4.08, 28.2 IP, 17 K) has battled elbow problems and is working out of the 'pen in Akron, Jake Dittler (3.30 ERA, 114.2 IP, 119 H, 64 K) has battled back problems and hasn't been the same pitcher since his 2003 breakthrough, Dan Denham (3.33 ERA, 119 IP, 98 H, 90 K, .224 BAA) has made impressive strides since this year in Akron, and Alan Horne spurned the Tribe for the University of Mississippi, blew out his arm, and may sign with the Yankees as a 11th round college junior pick out of the University of Florida.

It hasn't taken long for Stephen Head to begin his move up the organizational ladder. Less than one month into his pro career, Head has been promoted from Mahoning Valley to Kinston after the lefty demolished NY-Penn League pitching to the tune of a .432 BA and 1.037 OPS with four doubles and six longballs. In four games with the K-Tribe, Head has stayed hot with six hits in 16 at-bats (.375).

Fausto Carmona's big league debut will come at another time as the right-hander is expected to be sent back to Buffalo today with Rafael Betancourt being activated off the disabled list. Note that Betancourt served his restricted substance suspension while on the DL. While it works out well for the Indians, you have to question how that's allowed to happen. Anyway, Carmona was called up as a temporary replacement after Kaz Tadano worked four innings of one-run relief on Saturday. Since he was already on the 40 and his year one option clock started ticking in March when he was optioned to Akron, the move did not effect his option status.

Thanks for bearing with me during this latest absence. Without boring you with details, I'm just swamped at work and at home. So many projects, so little time. Hopefully, a lightning of the load will come in August and the CIR will return to a more regular publishing schedule. Until then, thanks as always for your patience and support.

Posted on 7/18/2005

July 17, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Fausto Carmona called up

The Indians called up Fausto Carmona today and optioned Kaz Tadano to Buffalo.

Posted on 7/17/2005

July 07, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Indians Trade Cora to Red Sox

In a swap of backup infielders, the Indians traded Alex Cora to the Red Sox for Ramon Vasquez today. The Tribe then sent Vasquez to triple-A and called up Brian Tallet, giving Eric Wedge 13 pitchers for use in Yankee Stadium in the final series before the break. The move does free up a little money for the Indians (no money changing hands was reported) and it does open up a roster spot for someone after the break, given the expectation that the Indians would return to a 12-man staff. Hmmm, does this hint at another deal in the near future? More in the next CIR.

Posted on 7/07/2005

July 05, 2005

CIR UPDATE: Crowe headed to the LC

2005 first round draft pick Trevor Crowe was promoted to Lake County today and is likely to make his Captains debut on Wednesday. More in the next CIR.

Posted on 7/05/2005

CIR UPDATE: Cabrera Up, Davis Down

As expected, Fernando Cabrera was called up from Buffalo today and Jason Davis was optioned to triple-A. More in the next CIR.

Posted on 7/05/2005

CLEVELAND INDIANS REPORT: Tuesday, July 5, 2005

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Random thoughts from a tremendous baseball weekend...

Halfway through the season, the Indians have the 7th best record in baseball at 46-36 (.561). Only the White Sox (55-26, .679), Cardinals (52-30, .634), Angels (50-32, .610), Nationals (50-32, .610), Twins (46-34, .575), and Red Sox (46-35, .568) are off to better starts then the Tribe.

Given that, the only division in which the Tribe would be in first place is the NL West (1-1/2 games ahead of the Padres).

Since when is the AL Central the best division in baseball?

I've heard a lot of talk about Kevin Millwood pricing himself out of Cleveland with a strong season but what about Scott Elarton? After yesterday's shutout against the Tigers, Elarton now has a 3.32 ERA in his last nine starts (2.81 ERA if you remove his 6/29 start against the Red Sox in which he allowed one run through five innings before allowing back-to back two-out homers to Doug Mirabelli and Mark Bellhorn). For the season, the right-hander is 5-3 with a 4.79 ERA but has a solid 1.335 WHIP with just 23 walks in 88.1 innings. Of course, if teams take into account his home/road splits (3.67 ERA/.736 OPS at home versus a 6.18 ERA/.824 OPS on the road), the Tribe may be the only team bidding for him. All kidding aside though, the better Elarton pitches, the more money he is likely to command in the off-season. If he continues to pitch as well as he has these last months, the Indians could be faced with a difficult decision on Elarton this winter.

I would be very surprised if Fernando Cabrera is not recalled from Buffalo today (with Jason Davis being optioned back to triple-A).

Brandon Phillips is day-to-day in Buffalo with a sprained right wrist after he was hit by a pitch on Saturday. The IL All-Star is hitting .258/.318/.409/.727 with 16 doubles, 11 homeruns, 24 walks, and 63 strikeouts in 325 ABs for the Bisons.

Filling in at short for Phillips has been super-sub Joe Inglett, who last played shortstop in high school according to the Buffalo News. Inglett, who doesn't get much attention but consistenly produces, had back-to-back multiple hit games over the weekend and is hitting .329/.377/.471/.848 with 10 doubles, 2 homeruns, 10 walks, 18 strikeouts, and 6 stolen bases in 140 at-bats while playing all around the field.

Reinforcing the Bisons infield (Mike Kinkade has also been day-to-day with an injured quad) is Jose Morban who was promoted from Akron to Buffalo. The veteran infielder was hitting .254/.321/.414/.735 with 11 doubles, 8 homeruns, and 75 strikeouts for the Aeros.

Adam Miller has begun his climb through the Indians system as the right-hander was moved up from Mahoning Valley to Kinston over the weekend. Although the numbers aren't impressive (5.06 ERA, 10.2 IP, 17 H) in the Valley, the Indians were pleased with his velocity and mechanics. Entering the season, Miller seemed likely to be in Akron (or Buffalo) by years end. Now, I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish out the year in Kinston.

His presence does reinforce a Kinston staff that has been decimated by callups to Akron. Jeremy Sowers was the first and he has now been joined by Rafael Perez and Bear Bay. Perez debuted on Saturday, allowing four runs in 6.1 innings while striking out 9. Sowers, meanwhile, combined with another recent callup, Mariano Goemz, for a two-hit shutout on Sunday. Sowers worked the first 6-1/3, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out eight and Gomez finished with 2-2/3 innings of one-hit relief with five punchouts.

With Sowers, Bay, and Perez joining Jake Dittler, Dan Denham, and Brian Slocum in Akron, who's the odd-man out in the rotation? JD Martin is excluded from the list as he was placed on the DL with a strained right elbow for the second time this year. The ABJ noted that HD will undergo an MRI today and they will be comparing it to MRIs from 2003 and 2004.

Travis Foley was activated off the Akron DL and rejoins the Aeros bullpen. Foley replaces veteran minor leaguer Steve Green who was traded to Detroit for a player to be named later. Green had a 3.45 ERA in 26 appearances for the Aeros (44.1 IP, 36 H, 23 BB, 45 K).

Paul Lubrano was moved up to Kinston. The southpaw had a 1.17 ERA (8K, 7.2 IP) in five games for Burlington.

Stephen Head didn't take long to adjust to minor league pitching as the recent signeee (and second round pick) belted a pair of homeruns on Saturday as part of a 4-hit and 7-RBI effort in the Scrappers 16-3 victory over Jamestown.

Trevor Crowe is also heating up in the Valley with five hits, including his first homerun, over the last two days to raise his averages to .255/.345/.392/.737. Crowe has also walked six times and swiped four bags.

Speaking of pilfering, nobody did it better yesterday than Scrappers outfielder Jose Constanza who stole four bases (second three times and third once) in the Scrappers 6-5 victory over Batavia. Constanza reached base five times thanks to three hits and a pair of walks and is now hitting .304/.394/.393/.787 in the Valley. Impressively, he also has nine walks versus 10 strikeouts which follows an encouraging pattern he displayed earlier in the season at Lake County where he had 15 walks versus 13 strikeouts. The ability to control the strike zone is often an indicator of (potentially) better things to come.

Roman Pena (9th round, OF, California HS), agreed to terms with the Indians and will begin his pro career in Burlington. Pena's signing means the Indians have now inked their first 14 picks and 19 of 52 overall.

Posted on 7/05/2005

July 04, 2005

CLEVELAND INDIANS REPORT: Monday, July 4, 2005

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IN CONGRESS,
July 4, 1776.
A DECLARATION BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
IN GENERAL CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government,and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assentto Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a longtime, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by amock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas,ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Happy Birthday America!!

Declaration of Independence

Posted on 7/04/2005

July 01, 2005

CIR UPDATE: BA Chat

Some interesting Tribe notes from former Kinston Free Press writer (and now the Daily Disher for Baseball America), Chris Kline in a BA Chat today....

"(Chuck) Lofgren was unreal in extended" ...and he's carried that over into low-A ball for the Captains (1.42 ERA, 31.2 IP, 17 H, 17 BB, 20 K, .159 BAA).

"and while Barton is a little old for the CL, he's raking so far. He'll be on a fast timetable to go to Double-A depending on what happens with other movement in the system"...Barton is hitting .269/.367/.577 with two homeruns for the K-Tribe in 26 at-bats.

"Mulhern was a big time home run hitter in college at South Alabama, and he was one of the better bats I saw in ST this year. Everyone in the organization was saying if he could just put it all together, good things would happen. Looks like he did that, though he too was a little too old for that league. We'll see how he fares in Double-A."....Mulhern is hitting .226/.294/.484 with 2 doubles, 2 homeruns, and 10 strikeouts in 31 double-A at-bats since his promotion from Kinston.

In regards to Michael Aubrey's back..."this time he tweaked it on a slide and it's just gotten worse. They have him on inflammatories, and the Indians say there is no structural damage, but there are some in the organization who have expressed major concerns. Hopefully he can just rest it and there hasn't been any indication of surgery at this point, but as for him playing again this season--that's something that remains cloudy at best."

Great stuff as always from BA.

Posted on 7/01/2005

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