Morning Update: Nady Trade Could Make Blake Prime Target

Jamey Carroll left yesterday’s game because of a left hamstring strain.. Thank you for that!

Couple of cool stats.. The Indians lead the league in fielding percentage.. You don’t hear about the defense, and that is why.. They’ve been GOOD. Also pitching has been awesome.. 10 shutouts is right behind Boston for the league lead.

Also people are enjoying Paul Byrd’s book. I’m going to Barnes N Noble next week to pick up a college preview magazine… I think I’m going to pick up Byrdie’s book as well.

Speaking of Byrd, he seeked the advice of Twins announcer Bert Blyleven on his Curveball.

Casey Blake loves Cleveland very much. They took a chance on Casey and it paid off and I think he feels like he just fits here… It is his kind of town anyway. Well, last night Xavier Nady was traded and that might be the piece that needed to fall for Blake to go. I’m guessing that with Nady no longer available. Casey Blake is probably one of the prime targets for teams like Tampa Bay and the other New York team, who both lost out on the Nady sweepstakes.

Kelly Shoppach is benefiting from the Victor Martinez injury.

“I think he’s been pretty consistent,” Wedge said. “I feel like he needs to keep doing what he’s doing. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll continue to improve.” (Indians.com)

Glad Kelly has had this opportunity. It only justifies how important he is to this team as a back-up catcher and that we have no business getting rid of him.

The starting catcher is getting ready to begin baseball related activities though. Victor Martinez will pick up a bat on Monday and play catch.

In other injury news, Travis Hafner’s next strength test will be on Monday as well. We’ll find out how much he’s improved. Right now he has at 65% and remember it was said he needs to be at 75% before they think about letting him swing off a tee.

Fausto Carmona makes his return tonight and Carl Willis believes his wildness has been tammed.

“It led into the mechanical side,” Willis said. “He’d sit on his back leg and overthrow, and tend to push. That starts with his adrenaline and emotion level.” (Indians.com)

Expect Carmona to only throw anywhere from 85 to 90 pitches. They don’t want to push him in his first game back.

No word on who is getting sent down, or Released for that matter. The lockers of Ginter and Laffey are both in-tact but CastroTurf feels Ginter stays and Laffey gets sent down. I agree with it. You will never have a better chance. Get Laffey worked out.. It’s a whole lot better than releasing Ginter, letting Laffey make one more bad start and then having to call up someone like Jeff Weaver.