Morning Update: Choo's Military Problem Could Halt
Career

post from The Tribe Time Report on 24 July 2008 10:19:00 AM. © The Tribe Time Report

Hey quick news to pass along. Scott Elarton's season is effectively over. He got moved to the 60-day disabled list. Sounds like something is really going on with Elarton or his family. I hope everything is okay with Scott and nothing too serious is going on. He's a stand-up guy and he worked hard to get back to where he was with the Tribe. Best of luck to Scott and the Elarton family.

It's looking more and more likely that Shin-Soo Choo will be factored out of the Tribe's equation by a greater beeing. As we've chronicaled on here before. Choo can avoid this military obligation that he has to start serving by 2010 if he wins a gold-medal at the olympics or the Asian Games in 2010. He can't partake in the Olympics beccause South Korea won't take players on the 25 man roster away from the MLB. Choo can't go to the minors because he's out of options.

So.. Problemmmmm.

This has Choo really upset from what I can read.

"The Indians couldn't send me to the minors [to be on the Korean team] because I'm out of options," said Choo, who added "There's too much stress to worry about it now." (Plain Dealer)

I really feel for the guy.. He can become an American citizen and avoid it, but I'm not sure how long he's been here and been living in the states and if he'll have enough time under his belt before 2010 rolls around.

We'll see how this goes. This is like the Caleb Campbell thing with the Detroit Lions. These guys have a dream.. The only thing different here is Caleb Campbell choose to go to a school where he'd have to serve. Choo didn't, this is a requirement of every South Korean. If Choo doesn't do it, his country will probably have some hostile feelings towards him and he probably won't be able to ever go back. Not to mention whatever family he has there will probably get frowned upon.

Chinese basketball player Wang Zhi-Zhi went through that same type of thing.

Aaron Laffey's struggles have prompted the sudden question that maybe they should send him to the minors come Saturday. that's relief for Matt Ginter. It is a serious possibility at this point, Laffey has really struggled to find himself in these past few games. They want to work some things out in Buffalo and get him back up later. You never know.

Starting Pitching News All Around. Jake Westbrook's check up went well.

"It's stable," Westbrook said of his elbow. "I'm pleased with it. It's still a little achy and a little sore. Now it's a matter of letting it heal and doing some rehab." (Indians.com)

We talked about Casey Blake yesterday... Heres the thing though..

Hoynes suggested that Blake could garner a first or second round draft pick.

The problem is this.. If you offer Casey Blake arbitration money.. He might just take it.. Casey Blake isn't looking to go nuts. He will foil your plan ala Greg Maddux if you hold onto him and offer him arbitration. I tried to do some research on what Blake would yield us, but there simply isn't anything out there, YET. Coincidentially MLBTR brought it up today.

Let me say this though.

Trade Casey Blake. HIS VALUE WILL NEVER BE HIGHER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW!

Thank you..

I'll be back shortly with a little bit of Closer Talk..