Hello Tribe fans everywhere!
They're weighing in the players at the Indians training camp and some guys are tipping the scales a bit too much. Not C.C. Sabathia, however, whose weight varies from that of, say, a Humvee to the northestern corner of the state of Alabama. In other words, Sabathia is huge.
Doesn't seem to matter, however, because the 26-year-old lefty has shown he can pitch. "No, C.C.'s just a big guy," said Tribe manager Eric Wedge.
Hector Luna, on the other hand, who would fit under Sabathia's crooked cap, apparently is catching a lot of flak for his weight. Packing on the pounds was a bad idea for Luna, whose slowness in the field infuriated the Tribe brass in 2006.
Shin-Soo Choo also took heat when he reported a bit portly in December. All of a sudden the Indians became interested in Trot Nixon, and now Choo seems destined for Buffalo. It's too bad, because he reported to Winter Haven looking fairly svelte. In this case, it was too much too soon.
The most important "thin man" on the club is Jhonny Peralta. Had he looked fat on the first day of camp,we might have heard the screaming in Erie.
When Gabe Paul was president of the Indians, he despised overweight players. Paul excortiated Rick Manning one spring early hin his career for showing up heavy at training camp. Manning had packed on a few pounds over the winter, which didn't help his surgically-repaired back, but you'd have thought somebody had shot Paul's wife.
Few people bellyached about Babe Ruth's ample girth, because he was leading the league in home runs every year. It's the Hector Lunas of the world who take the grief.
Actually, I hope Luna makes a great impression this spring because I want one versatile ultility man to make the club. If one guy can fill in at second, third and shortstop, it enhances Ryan Garko's chances of making the club. I'm a big Garko backer. I'm convinced his strong righthanded bat makes the Tribe a better club.
Thanks goodness Garko reported at a weight that satisfied all of the top bosses.
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The answer to yesterday's quiz is: David Delucci owns 8 career pinch-hit home runs, which is quite impressive.
Today's quickie quiz: Name the Tribesman who slugged four home runs in a game on June 10, 1959.
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-- Kevin Cuneo

