SCRAPPERS NOTEBOOK From Cafaro Field

Saying good-bye: Scrappers players will go their separate ways. Some will return home for a short rest before off-season conditioning. Others will head to the Indians' instructional league in Winter Haven, Fla., where coaches will provide further assistance to raw talent. "It's always tough when you're with a bunch of guys for a long period of time and all of a sudden it stops," manager Ted Kubiak said Wednesday night of the season ending. "In an hour there won't be anybody here. Everybody scatters." Kubiak will assist in the instructional league, where he'll mostly work with infielders. "These are guys who can use that extra time," he said.
Down early: Dan Cevette (0-2) had a rocky second start for the Scrappers on Wednesday. He allowed four runs in the first inning, resulting in a deficit Mahoning Valley couldn't make up. "I was hoping we'd finish up on a better note than we did. The first inning started out disastrous," Kubiak said. Cevette had been called up from Rookie-League Burlington and wasn't pitching like he should have been, Kubiak said. "He was throwing too many changeups, too much offspeed stuff, because he was afraid to throw his fastball," the manager said. "A lot of guys are that way at this level." The Scrappers closed the gap behind the play of Brad Snyder, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
Ouch: Things got so bad for the Scrappers early in the game that catcher Ryan Garko beaned Cevette while trying to throw out a baserunner stealing second. The throw caromed off Cevette's legs, allowing Cole Seifrig to advance to third and Frederick Bastardo to score. Garko took the brunt of the punishment in the sixth inning when a foul ball glanced off him, forcing him to the ground. He shook off the pain and returned to the game.
Big league player: Former Scrappers pitcher Chad Durbin made his debut with the Indians on Tuesday night in Detroit. Pitching in relief of starter Cliff Lee, Durbin took the loss after allowing one run on three hits in three innings. A right-hander, Durbin started the season at Mahoning Valley, working his way back from elbow surgery. In two starts with the Scrappers, he went 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
Closing it out: Lee Gronkiewicz, a closer at Class-A Kinston (N.C.) of the Carolina League, is the winner of the Rolaids Relief Man award in the minor leagues. The Indians signed Gronkiewicz as a free agent after going undrafted in 2001. In his first three seasons in the Cleveland organization, the former South Carolina standout has totaled 75 saves. The last 10 of those came in August, propelling the 25-year-old to the award. Gronkiewicz now has won back-to-back Rolaids awards. He captured the South Atlantic League title while at Class-A Columbus (Ga.).
-- Brian Richesson