Morning Update: Jeff Datz better give up the Gopher Ball

With C.C. now gone all the attention has turned to Casey Blake and when, not if, he will be shipped out to another team.

“It could happen,” Blake said. “I’d be lying if I told you I don’t think about it quite a bit. But I really don’t have any control over that. If it happens, it happens. But I’m here right now to help our team win.” (Indians.com)

Count on Casey to keep the laughter flowing though.. I think you could fill a book with all his dry humor quotes. Here are some of his gems from the C.C Trade.

“I told him no one really liked him,” said Blake, “and that he wouldn’t be missed. I was just trying to make light of the situation. He was a good friend. You just liked being around him. You could never tell what was going on with his life. He was always smiling and laughing.” (Plain Dealer)

Is he going to be like Ichiro now and just have ‘CC’ on the back of his jersey?”

Blake also joked that he’d like to be referred to as “KC” instead of “Casey” from this point forward. (CastroTurf)

Cliff Lee probably had the best quote of them all though. Not humorous in anyway.

“When you’re 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds, you’re going to have a presence,” Lee said of Sabathia. “He wasn’t a rah-rah guy, but when he spoke, people listened. The team’s going to take on a different identity with him gone.” (Indians.com)

Speaking of quotes, Grady had a great one on his up-coming appearance in the home run derby.

“I’m just going to take my normal batting-practice swing,” said Sizemore. “If it goes out, fine. If it doesn’t, I guess I don’t win.” (Plain Dealer)

If you haven’t heard yet, Grady will be partaking in the derby next Monday. He will be using Jeff Datz as his pitcher and like he said he will be using his batting practice swing. I have to put some heavy chips on him because he’s a lefty and his uppercut swing is so effortless.

We’ve got a few roster moves here.. Juan Rincon will be called up here shortly to take the spot of C.C. Sabathia. Not sure what move the Indians will make on Saturday when they need someone to start the game. Jeff Weaver is not ready considering he hasn’t pitched in a while.

All indications are Matt Ginter will be called up to start the game. Ginter was yanked after three innings of his start last night with Buffalo, so it appears as if he will be the guy.

Not sure what is going up with Scott Elarton, but he was moved from the Restricted List to the 15 Day Disabled List with a non-baseball-related injury.

AND LOOK AT THIS!!!

Albert Belle is shooting his mouth off again.

“Imagine that, the Cleveland Indians trade away another great player because they didn’t want to pay him,” said Belle from his home in Arizona. “The saga continues.”

“When is Larry Dolan going to sell the club?” said Belle. “I could buy a piece of it. There are a lot of people on teams making a lot of bad decisions. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money. Look at what Billy Beane does in Oakland.”

Asked if he wanted to get back into the game, Belle said, “I want to be an owner. The Mariners called me and wanted me to come to spring training as a roving hitting coach. But they were going to pay me peanuts.” (Plain Dealer)

You know what Albert… You really get dumber by the decade don’t you? An OWNER? Are you serious? Pretty ridiculous if you ask me. You know absolutely nothing about this situation and you’ve made it plainly obvious with your boneheaded comments.. The Indians did try and pay C.C. They wanted to give him upwards of 18 to 19 million a year. BUT HE DIDN’T WANT IT.

When is this clown going to go away?!