News
Name game: Toregas has unique moniker
Cleveland (58-74) at Detroit (71-61), 1:05 p.m. ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
09/02/09 11:04 PM ET
DETROIT -- Here's a tidbit the Indians can hang their collective hat on. They have, on their active roster, one of the three greatest players with the first name of Wyatt in the history of Major League Baseball. Not that catcher Wyatt Toregas had much competition for this high honor. A search of baseball-reference.com and baseball-almanac.com revealed only two other Wyatts in the long history of the game -- Wyatt Lee, who pitched for the Senators and Pirates from 1901 to 1904, and Wyatt Snipes, who had one at-bat with the White Sox in 1923. But even Lee ("Watty") and Snipes ("Roxy") went by nicknames. So Toregas is actually one-of-a-kind. "That's pretty cool," Toregas said with apparent sincerity. So, how did Toregas get this rare first name? Well, it certainly wasn't handed down from a family member. Rather, his parents were having a difficult time deciding on a name for their son, so Toregas' father, Bill, offered a unique idea. "He said, 'OK, the next movie that comes on, we'll name him after [a character from] that,'" Toregas explained. And that movie, as it turned out, was "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," starring Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp. Good thing Toregas' parents went with the name Wyatt. After all, the big leagues already have a "Doc" in Roy Halladay. Of course, Toregas wants to make a name for himself in other ways. He's been with the Indians, who close out their three-game set at Comerica Park on Thursday afternoon, for a month, getting a feel for the club's Major League pitching staff and trying to establish himself as a potential backup for the 2010 season. The 26-year-old Toregas has been given a decent opportunity to do so, as he's received the start in 11 of the Tribe's last 28 games, including his start Wednesday against the Tigers. He entered Wednesday's game with a .212 average and six RBIs in 33 at-bats, but the Indians are most interested in seeing how he calls a game and handles a staff. "He's done a good job up here," manager Eric Wedge said. "He learns every day he's behind the plate, and that's important. I think he's handled himself well." Wedge views Kelly Shoppach as his regular starter behind the plate, but he's made an effort to mix up his matchups of catchers and starting pitchers. Chris Gimenez, the third catcher on the roster, has made just two starts behind the plate in the past month, as the Indians are grooming him to be a utility man. A fourth catcher will be added when Lou Marson gets promoted after the Triple-A season ends Monday, so that could further complicate matters. "If that happens, we'll do what we've been doing with the other guys and pick our spots," Wedge said. "There's always some of that in September." As far as next spring is concerned, Toregas hopes this trial run forces the Indians to remember his name when constructing their 2010 club. He already feels fortunate to have landed the name Wyatt, given some of the other options available in Hollywood. "It could have been some chick flick with all girls' names," he said with a laugh. Pitching matchupCLE: RHP Fausto Carmona (3-9, 6.20 ERA)
Carmona had pitched well since coming back from the Minors, but couldn't put it together in his last start, when he gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Orioles in a 13-4 loss. He looked good at times but couldn't pitch with consistent control, and often found himself behind in the counts and looking to find the plate. Wedge said he's a work in progress right now, and is hoping Carmona can get it all together. DET: LHP Nate Robertson (1-1, 6.84 ERA)
Though Robertson took the loss to Tampa Bay in his first start of the season last Saturday at Comerica Park, the Tigers are hoping it's a stepping stone on his path back to his old form after surgery in June to remove four tissue masses from his left elbow. His slider regained some of the movement that elbow tightness cost him over the past year, and his fastball clocked in the 90s, topping out at 91. He isn't guaranteed another start, but could get one if Armando Galarraga's elbow inflammation doesn't subside. Tidbits
Jason Knapp, the 19-year-old right-hander who was a key acquisition in the Cliff Lee trade, won't pitch again this year. Knapp, who was on the disabled list at the time of the trade, is still battling shoulder soreness. He had an MRI exam on the shoulder last week, but the Indians are mum on the extent of the injury because Knapp had not signed the form authorizing the club to discuss his medical condition. ... Michael Brantley might have a little more leeway on the basepaths than the average September callup. After all, he did swipe 46 bags in Triple-A this year. "We've got the luxury of working off Spring Training and seeing his feel and his breaks," Wedge said. "And we know what he was able to do in Triple-A. For a young player, he has very good feel." ... The Indians have now used 50 players this season -- 29 pitchers and 21 position players. ... Akron Aeros manager Mike Saurbaugh was named Manager of the Year by the Double-A Eastern League. The Aeros, with a league-best 83-53 record, have clinched their fifth consecutive postseason berth. This is Saurbaugh's second season at the helm. ... For more info and analysis, visit the CastroTurf blog at http://castrovince.mlblogs.com. Tickets
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• Friday: Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 5-9, 4.88) vs. Twins (Carl Pavano, 11-10, 5.11), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Indians (Justin Masterson, 4-6, 4.57) vs. Twins (Scott Baker, 12-7, 4.44), 4:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Indians (David Huff, 8-7, 6.57) vs. Twins (Nick Blackburn, 9-9, 4.16), 1:05 p.m. ET
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
