Travis Hafner News

It's the holiday season, money's a little tight, and I've got Bath & Body Works gift cards to buy for all my relatives.

Carl Pavano could have accepted and won a potential $9 million to $10 million one-year contract through arbitration if he would have stayed with the Indians.

Manny Acta is nearing the end of his first month on the job as the Indians' manager.

Would Travis Hafner have been an MVP if he didn't break his hand in 2006? Is Nap Lajoie the greatest Indian you've never heard of? Is Manny Ramirez one of the best Cleveland outfielders in the history of the franchise? More importantly, which Indian had the greatest ever offensive season at his position? Major League Baseball has been asking fans ...

While one Indians fan is contemplating ways to clear salary space to extend Grady Sizemore's contract, Paul Hoynes asks the obvious questions --- does Sizemore want to be here past his contact in 2012? Hey, Hoynsie: I think the Tribe won't be good again until 2012.

Now the White Sox know how other teams feel. The Cleveland Indians stole a page right out of what the White Sox thought was patented, their how-to-win book.

The Cleveland Indians' best chance at a World Series ring in recent times was when they were leading 3-1 in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

Manny Acta, the Indians' new manager, says he knows he is not a big shot. He also politely wondered what caliber of reputation Joe Torre had when he began managing three decades ago with the New York Mets.

Indians fans are frequently thinking of bringing back stars of the 1990s to help build interest in the team for 2010.

Matt LaPorta limped his way through the final weeks of the 2009 season because of a lingering left hip issue.

The argument has been made that September statistics are fundamentally different than statistics from the rest of the year.

It's an annual ritual for a baseball team. The day after a season ends, the guys go to the locker room in jeans and sweatshirts and clean out their lockers.

The Cleveland Indians just concluded their worst season since 1991, finishing with a 65-97 record, which included a 7-24 disaster from the first of September through the end of the campaign.

The White Sox's fortunes Thursday night sank in the sixth inning, and they lost any remaining comfort in the seventh.

Earlier this month, the Dodgers signed Andruw Jones. His signing, and the renewed Pierre-bashing which arose, and the question of just how much Pierre had helped or hurt the Dodgers arose.

Josh Beckett looked rough in the first two innings, then blanked the Indians for the next three.

BOSTON: Nobody wants to confront grim reality, but sometimes it's unavoidable. So how bad will the Indians be next year? Forty wins? How about 55? Do I hear 60? The perception is that 2010 will be the ideal season for all but the most hard-core fans to turn an apathetic ear to the Tribe.

This day began seven years ago. There's your home truth for this sad morning. This day began in October 2002, in the gladdest professional moment of Eric Wedge's life.

Fausto Carmona allowed one run in seven strong innings, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the White Sox, 5-1, in the first of two games Wednesday at Progressive Field.

Clubhouse confidential: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera batted leadoff Saturday against Baltimore in place of outfielder Michael Brantley .