TRIBE Indians will stay in Winter Haven

The club exercised a four-year option to stay in Central Florida.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians' search for a spring training home has ended where it began, in Winter Haven.
Barring an upset, the Tribe will be returning to the Central Florida community next year, exercising one of the club's four, five-year options.
A prospective deal to take over the complex formerly used by the Rangers in Port Charlotte never really got off the ground. Texas trained at the facility until moving to Arizona in 2002.
The Indians submitted a list of improvements to Charlotte County officials, who studied the request and came to the preliminary conclusion that the county would not pay the entire $9.3 million cost.
According to a spokesman for the Charlotte County board of commissioners, the sticking point was a new clubhouse/office building to be constructed at a cost of $3.5 million.
Commissioners were receptive to renovating the stadium ($1.6 million), an existing clubhouse and practice fields ($1 million) and purchasing new furnishings and equipment ($2 million). Who would pay other costs was uncertain.
Little consideration
Though negotiations hadn't progressed far with Port Charlotte, it is believed the Tribe was willing to make a 10-year commitment but also wanted an escape clause after five or six years. The team probably would have assisted financially.
Winter Haven officials have talked about turning the Tribe's training facility, Chain O' Lakes Park, into an entertainment and residential development. But because the Indians have a series of options on the property, the team could delay those plans for 20 years.
There has been speculation that with financial help from the state and Polk County, Winter Haven would be willing to construct a new complex, including a stadium, a few miles east of Chain O' Lakes, adjacent to a golf club and touching a major north-south highway.
However, officials in Winter Haven recently have said they would not build the team a new training facility.
Presumably if government officials maintain that position, the Indians will continue to search for a new spring home. And this time, they will have five years to find the right location, either in Florida or Arizona.
Changing roles
Minor-league baseball fans grudgingly get used to losing their team's top players, as prospects make their way up the chain trying to reach the majors.
Yet, one thing fans never seem to understand is role changes among players, especially those who are doing well and routinely helping the team win.
Take Akron pitchers Rafael Betancourt and Fernando Cabrera, for example.
After the Aeros tried a couple of others in the closing role at the beginning of the season, Betancourt was given a shot on May 15, and instantly took to the position.
The right-hander was so dominating, he promptly rung up 13 straight saves and shot to the top of the Eastern League rankings. Then without notice two weeks ago, Betancourt suddenly wasn't being used in save situations.
Fans moaned. Some even booed. What the heck was going on?
After being skipped over in the save situations, Betancourt was called upon in middle relief, where he struggled in a June 14 loss to Portland.
Since then, Betancourt has been used as both a middle reliever and a closer. Although his statistics remain sterling with a 0-0 record, 16 saves and a 1.22 ERA, bouncing him around in the bullpen has affected his dominance.
"It's all about preparing him to be in the bullpen in the big leagues," Indians Assistant General Manager Neal Huntington said. "He won't be a closer here, so he needs to get used to throwing more than a few pitches every outing."
Like Betancourt, Cabrera's role has recently changed. After beginning the season as one of the club's top starters with a 7-2 record, 2.47 ERA and league-leading 79 strikeouts, the right-hander finds himself a member of the Aeros' bullpen.