We're Losing Time and Games to the Royals!

So the later of that isn't such a big deal, and to tell you the truth, neither is the first one.

I actually want the weekend to be over as strange as that sounds.

What? The weather sucks, I've got really only two days of classes since everyone and their Mom cancels on Friday because of Spring Break.

I just want to get to NEXT weekend.

Yeah none of that makes any sense, I understand. There was a baseball game played yesterday from my understanding.

Does ANYONE want this fifth rotation spot?! I mean seriously?!

Aaron Laffey put forth his worst effort possible in just one inning of work. Giving up four hits, three runs, one punchout and two home runs.

The plan was for Laffey to go three innings, so much for that. But here is where Spring Training can deceive us unless we watch the game. Here is what Eric Wedge had to say about what Laffey did.

"I thought Laffey was more aggressive today," said manager Eric Wedge. "He was more aggressive with his sinker and that helped him with his slider. He showed better arm action with his change up. We saw some good things.

"One thing people have to remember, spring training isn't about results, it's about getting better and progressing."

I agree, but we'll see.. Especially with him in a battle for a roster spot.

Instead of Laffey going three, it was Zach Jackson finally stepping up and making something happen in these position battles. I don't think he will win the rotation spot, but if he keeps this up he'll win the bullpen spot.

Jackson went the three innings, gave up two hits, two walks and one run with a strikeout.

Jack Cassel went two innings, giving up four runs, boy does he suck. He gave up a couple of home runs.

Tony Sipp gave up a solo shot to Ryan Shealy, but he struck out two in his one inning.

Greg Aquino and Juan Salas let up two base-runners apiece in their innings of work, but got with no runs.

That's our awful pitching this spring, or it could just be the Arizona, who knows.

Because the Indians bats have no trouble scoring.

It wasn't a huge offensive output , but again they go double-digits in hits. Asdrubal Cabrera and Ben Francisco had four of those. Cabrera scored a run and Francisco knocked in two runs.

Matt LaPorta did his damage as well, going 2-4, with a double and his spring average now sits at .400.

Beau Mills was 1-3 with a solo shot off Kyle Davies. That's number two for Mills this spring.

The Andy Marte Experience went 1-1 with a run scored, wow.

Carlos Santana had the other RBI, going 1-2.

Anyway, there are some Indians in the WBC and we need to round that up.

It looks like Shin-Soo Choo isn't coming back anytime soon. He'll be back in the states, but Korea is moving on after their blowout of China.

Choo was 0-2 with no walks... Yet he scored twice. Yeah I'm not sure, China had two errors, he got on that way once, not sure the other time.

As I mentioned yesterday, Rafael Perez looked in mid-season form. He struck out two on just nine pitches in his one inning of work. The DR lost to the Netherlands of all teams and will take on Panama today.

Speaking of Panama, the Espino boys didn't have a good time against Puerto Rico. Damaso and Paolo Espino came in at the same time and Espino started to get tagged. He was pushed a little more since the game was out of hand and he actually showed some sort of poise to get out of the jams he was in.

With a runner on, Espino came in and intentionally walked Alex Rios. Ivan Rodriguez would then blast a home run off him. Those were his only runs given up. But he ended up throwing 39 pitches, walking two and giving up five hits total in his one and one third inning.

Damaso meanwhile struck out in his only at-bat.

Finally USA and Canada, Mark DeRosa and Nick Weglarz. DeRosa didn't see any action in the game, not even as a defensive replacement, but Weglarz played the full game.

Weglarz looked a little impatient at the plate, ended up leaving runners on in one situation, but he did walk twice. The United States plays Venezuela, who beat Italy, today for a spot in the next round.

With Taiwan being eliminated, Chen-Chang Lee and Sung-Wei Tseung will report to the Indians next week.

So, still left: Mark DeRosa, Rafael Perez, Nick Weglarz, Shin-Soo Choo, Damaso Espino, Paolo Espino. With Choo guaranteed to play another round.

Chris Gimenez has been on focus a little bit the past day after his home run in the game on Friday.

"I was drafted out of college as an outfielder," said Gimenez, 26. "The first day I got to Mahoning Valley [Class A] in 2004, they said I was going to be a third baseman. The next year at Class A Lake County, they said they wanted me to try catching," said Gimenez, "but I didn't catch the whole year. Last year was the first season where I caught a lot," said Gimenez. "It's been quite a transformation."

Wedge says he is "interesting" to him, which means he loves him. Gimenez meanwhile never caught until 2006, but it's always something his Dad wanted and something he's really taken to because of the way the position works.

That being said though, with Santana in the wings and two guys who could start for just about every MLB team behind the plate ahead of him, that versatility is what seperates him from someone like Wyatt Toregas.

"Any time I go to a position, I believe I'm the best person at that position," Gimenez said. "It's not cockiness. It's a confidence I have to have."

I really like Gimenez, you know sooner or later he'll be up in the major leagues. He may never be a regular starter everyday at one position, but that's the type of stuff that is said about the players who end up being everyday starters because their will is bigger than that. So I'm rooting for him.

One... how do I put this... belief I guess... Yeah belief... One belief of many people is that Rafael Betancourt is going to return to some success this year in 2009. I think we are kind of assuming that rather than banking on it because we really believe what happened to him in 2008 was a bit of a fluke because he was tired.

"I didn't have the time in the offseason to do what I need to do," Betancourt said. "I was out of pace, [in terms of] when to start throwing and working out. That's not an excuse for what happened last year, because I don't want to give excuses."

"I don't pitch winter ball, so I tried to keep my body in shape," Betancourt said. "Being healthy is the most important thing, and that's why I tried to take care of myself."

So... Let's hope that is the case. But Betancourt's emotion can't really be questioned.. I've never been much of a Betancourt fan, but he really does care and understand the position he plays as a relief pitcher late in the game.

"When I come into the game and do my job, that's the happiest moment I can have in my life," Betancourt said. "When I don't, that's the worst. When you have guys playing seven or eight innings and you come in for one inning and don't do your job, that's not good. That's why I take it so hard."

Happiest moment in his life?

Chela Betancourt and his kids, Raniel and Rafael Jr. would probably beg to differ... But whatever works for you man. I've got no objections, I'm just a fan.

Blah blah, new Hey Hoynsie.. Who cares? Really?

Why are people still talking about the "money he saved from CC, Byrd, and Blake"?

Was this money not used or something? What the hell is going on with these fans, don't they realize we are a month away from the season? WAKE UP PEOPLE!

AND this is probably the fifth mailbag straight where Adam Dunn's name has come up.

GIVE IT A REST!

I really believe our fan-base is smarter than this. In fact, I think maybe it's just Hoynes picking the stupidest questions in the bag so he can act like a curmudgeon.

Anyway...

Kerry Wood pitched a two inning simulated game yesterday. David Dellucci took part once again, with Armando Camacaro and yes, Grady Sizemore, who's supposed to DH in today's game.

Wood is on schedule to pitch in Tuesday's game.

Today though the Indians face Oakland we'll get to that later when the lineups are out, hopefully, but I think he's purposely saved up all the intriguing parts for one game for some reason.

Not only will Hafner and Sizemore be playing, but Jhonny Peralta is starting at third base.

"I just want to get him out there a few times in case we need him during the regular season," said Wedge. "He played there in winter ball. You still want to have that available as an option because you never know what's going to happen over the course of six months."

But Wedge and the Indians and even Peralta have made it clear, he's the shortstop.

Oh you can bet on it.. More on it later.

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