Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?

I am back from a couple weeks of vacations and family fun. Looks like a returned just in time to give my thoughts on the biggest Indians story of the season (of course, other than the fact that they are one of the two worst teams in the league).

C.C. Sabathia is no longer a member of the Indians. Traded away for a slew of Brewers minor leaguers. Matt LaPorta, Rob Bryson, Zach Jackson and PTBNL are all now members of the Indians organization. LaPorta and Bryson made their way through my town playing for the Pioneer League (Rookie Level) Helena Brewers last season. I was there when LaPorta hit a homerun in his first professional at-bat last season (he lasted only 7 games here in Helena. A power hitter is something this team is in desperate need of right now and in the future. Rob Bryson was also here last season, where he pitched mainly in relief. As a 19 year old he struck out 70 hitters in 54 innings, while walking only 12. Hopefully our closer of the future. Jackson doesn’t appear to be any good; not sure why we would want him in the trade. The PTBNL may end up being Taylor Green, a third-baseman in the Brewers system, who (according to Keith Law) the Indians are interested in moving to second.

C.C. has been with us since 2001 and it will be hard to see him in another uniform. I don’t blame C.C. one bit for putting himself out on the open market and getting as much money as he can. He has given a lot to this organization over the last 10 years; if they are not willing to pay as much as another team then he should move on. That is how life works. I wish him the best (except when he plays against the Tribe).

I will be back with more soon, including my take on Joe Posnanski’s piece on Grady the other day.