Indians Insider: With a final flurry (and cash), Tribe signs three more draft picks before deadline

by Joe Maxse

Friday August 15, 2008, 9:00 PM

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerRyan Garko makes a full-body tag of the Angels' Erick Aybar to record a first-inning out Friday night at Progressive Field.

They announced the signing of No. 2 pick Trey Haley, No. 16 Glenn "T.J." House and No. 22 Bryce Stowell, all pitchers, before Friday's midnight deadline. The Tribe inked 30 of the 50 players selected in the June first-year player draft, including the top 16.

"Picking 29th, with no bonus picks, we knew we had to be creative," said Brad Grant, director of amateur scouting. "We felt we were getting talent way above [where they were picked] because of signability issues. We were substantially above our bonus budget."

Haley, 18, a right-handed pitcher from Nacogdoches, Texas, was ready to attend Rice University on a scholarship before the Indians convinced him to sign for an estimated $1.2 million. He went 8-2 with a 1.55 earned run average in 13 high school games, striking out 98 in 50 innings.

House, also 18, went 7-2 (0.82 ERA) as a left-hander at Picayune (Miss.) Memorial High. He had signed a letter of intent to play at Tulane, but will take the $725,000 to play in the minors. Both Haley and House will report to the Gulf Coast League.

Stowell, 21, went 8-3 (3.26 ERA) as a sophomore right-hander at UC-Irvine in 15 starts. He was 3-1 in six starts this summer in the collegiate Cape Cod League. Signed for an estimated $700,000, he will report to Class A Mahoning Valley.

All three are considered "above the slot" signings, meaning the Indians paid more than other players picked in that draft round.

More Masa: Even though he played nine seasons with Chiba Lotte in Japan, Masa Kobayashi is still feeling his way through his rookie season with the Indians. After getting off to a good start, he has struggled of late as his 51 appearances look to be exacting a toll.

"The pace is faster than in Japan," said Kobayashi, speaking through interpreter Ryo Shinkawa, a Baldwin-Wallace College senior and member of the Tribe's media relations staff. "That would be a lie if I said it wasn't so. But it's the same for every ballplayer this time of year. That's not what's affecting my pitching."

Kobayashi (4-5, 4.26 ERA) is 6-for-8 in save situations, but he has not seized the opening as closer. That's where he made a name for himself in Japan as the active save leader with 227. He said Japanese teams generally get an off day after six games, so the big-league schedule of 162 games has been a challenge.

"I've learned from my success and my mistakes," he said. "I know that comes with it, so I just look at every day as a new one."

Kobayashi played for Japan in the 2004 Olympics and knows most of this year's team in China. He said they have a shot at winning a gold medal.

Feeling better: Josh Barfield played three innings at second base and went 0-for-2 at Class AA Akron on Thursday night. He will play there through the weekend.

"It was pain free and a good first step," said Barfield, rehabbing his surgically-repaired left middle finger. Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford went on the disabled list this week with the same injury as Barfield.

Victor Martinez was the designated hitter at Akron on Friday as he comes back from surgery on his right elbow. Travis Hafner, who hit live pitching on Thursday, will hit again Saturday as he continues to strengthen his right shoulder.

Shortstop Jhonny Peralta, hit on the left wrist by Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera on Thursday, started Friday night.

Tell us about it: The first-place Angels took a hit as shortstop Maicer Izturis was lost for the season with a sprained left thumb. The one-time Tribe farmhand will have season-ending surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said Erick Aybar will take over for Izturis. Infielder Kendry Morales was called up from Class AAA Salt Lake City.