As Fausto Carmona heads for his first All-Star Game, Indians first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. remembers his all-time All-Star moment.
In the moments after his two-run homer in the 1997 All-Star Game, Sandy Alomar Jr. was pushed out for a curtain call from the adoring Jacobs Field fans by AL teammate Ken Griffey Jr. "When I was running, I couldn't even believe it," Alomar says now of the experience. "I said to myself, 'my Goodness, I don't even know what I've done here.'"INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: The scouts noticed it and so did manager Manny Acta. In Saturday night’s game, left-hander Aaron Laffey wasn’t throwing real hard.
One scout was clocking his fastball between 80 mph to 86 mph. Laffey can top out at 90-91, but Acta said he usually averages between 86 to 87 over the course of 100 pitches.
“His velocity was down,” said Acta. “He told us he feels good. We just found out that when he’s starting he takes something off that two-seamer to get some movement.
“A lot of times he throws the two-seamer like a batting practice fastball and lets it run away from right-handed batters. That’s how he gets a lot of ground balls.”
A scout who watched the Indians said it did not appear that Laffey had a sore arm.
Replacements: Should the Indians trade Jhonny Peralta in the second half, their top two options to play third base would be Jayson Nix and Andy Marte.
Stat of the day: The Indians went into the All-Star break at 34-54 compared to 35-54 last year.
— Paul Hoynes
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Will Fausto Carmona have a Sandy Alomar Jr. moment at Tuesday's All-Star Game at Angels Stadium? It can't happen, not in Anaheim, Calif., but that doesn't mean the Indians' only All-Star can't enjoy himself.
"My advice to Fausto is to just go and have fun," said Alomar, the Indians' first base coach. "Do the same routine you do when you're playing. Don't change anything. When you pitch, do the same thing. It's not going to be any different."
Alomar went to six All-Star Games while playing for the Indians. He was voted into the starting lineup from 1990-92 by the fans.
In his first appearance in 1990 at Wrigley Field, he went 2 for 3. In the seventh inning, on a wet field, he slid into first base for an infield single and twisted his ankle. When he returned to Cleveland after the game, manager John McNamara told him, "Are you crazy?"
Alomar's All-Star moment came in 1997 at Jacobs Field. He made the team as a reserve and replaced starting catcher Pudge Rodriguez in front of his hometown fans. In the seventh inning, with the score tied, 1-1, Alomar hit a two-run homer to give the American League the deciding runs in a 3-1 victory. The All-Star catcher had hit the game-winning homer in his own ballpark. That's why Carmona can't duplicate Alomar's moment.
"That was an amazing feeling," said Alomar. "Just to have the opportunity to be there with the game on the line in your own home ballpark. That was a perfect scenario. I wasn't even thinking about [a home run]. Bernie Williams was on second base, and I'm just trying to bring the run in."
It became more than a pitcher-vs.-hitter situation when Shawn Estes tried to sneak a change-up past Alomar.
"That year I had a lot of clutch hits," said Alomar. "Shawn Estes threw a change-up and I was able to get out in front and drive it out of the ballpark. When I was running, I couldn't even believe it. I said to myself, 'my Goodness, I don't even know what I've done here.'"
As Alomar crossed the plate, the fans started chanting. It was a foregone conclusion that Alomar would be voted MVP of the night.
"It was a playoff atmosphere," said Alomar. "The fans were great. I was looking for the opportunity, got it and had a chance to deliver in that situation. It was a gift from God, I guess."
On the wall of the Indians' spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., leading to the big-league locker room, there are pictures of great moments in Indians history. One of them shows Alomar, wearing the chest protector with stars on it that Rawlings made special in the game, accepting the MVP trophy.
Alomar's son, Marcus, has the trophy and the catching gear Alomar wore that night.
"If a player says they'd rather take the three days off than go to the All-Star Game, that's bull," said Alomar. "Every player wants to be an All-Star.
"Every player should want to go to the All-Star game. It's a great experience."
Alomar played before the game's winner decided home-field advantage in the World Series. Alomar is not a fan of the change.
"They're trying to make it more realistic instead of an exhibition," he said. "I don't think it's fair. You might be exposing players that you might be playing against in postseason.
"I don't have a say, but that's my opinion."
All together: Manager Manny Acta sees a point in the second half, perhaps by the end of July or early August, where he could almost have his regular lineup intact with the return of Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo.
Cabrera, who broke his left forearm on May 17, is scheduled to start a rehab assignment Monday at Class A Mahoning Valley after working out this weekend at Tropicana Field. Choo is progressing faster than expected after spraining his right thumb on July 2.
The one player the Indians won't be getting back is center fielder Grady Sizemore. He underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee on June 4 and will miss the rest of the year.