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Jason Michaels
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Torrid Michaels rises up - Three-run homer saves day for Tribe in come-from-behind win against A's
Jun/29/07 11:05 AM | Permalink
CLEVELAND - Jason Michaels is the Indians' hitter with a hot hand, or maybe two when he grabs a bat.

It was Michaels' three-run homer in the seventh inning that propelled the Tribe to another come-from-behind win against the Oakland Athletics, this time 4-3 on Thursday afternoon at Jacobs Field.

Michaels is sneaking up on the public consciousness as a guy who counts. That was not the case last year, when he generated little excitement, a natural consequence of a .267 batting average, nine home runs and 55 RBI in 494 at-bats.
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Michaels' three-run homer ignites Indians' offence in 10-3 rout of Royals
May/25/07 01:35 AM | Permalink
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Jason Michaels capped a five-run first inning with a three-run homer, and the Cleveland Indians avoided a sweep by beating the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Thursday night.

Casey Blake added a three-run triple and also doubled for the Indians, who have the majors' best home record at 17-4 but are still two games under .500 (11-13) on the road. Ryan Garko had three hits for Cleveland, including a two-run single in the first.

Starter Jeremy Sowers (1-4) earned his first victory since beating Toronto 7-2 on Sept. 5, 2006. Sowers went seven innings, giving up one run and six hits with one strikeout and one walk before Roberto Hernandez relieved him to start the eighth.

Hernandez gave up Shane Costa's RBI single and left after walking Alex Gordon to load the bases with two out. Aaron Fultz walked Ryan Shealy, forcing in a run that got Kansas City within 10-3.
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Michaels relaxed, hopeful, rewarded
Mar/15/07 12:45 PM | Permalink
WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - What do you make of this? Jason Michaels' role has been reduced to playing left field against left-handed pitchers, yet the Indians rewarded him with a two-year contract?

Is this a great country or what?

``I guess I'm their kind of player, not just on the field but in the clubhouse,'' Michaels said. ``It really instills confidence in you. It's awesome. After five one-year contracts -- which is kind of nerve-racking -- I'm excited.''

Michaels also is excited about the season. Hey, why not? The Tribe has not lost a game, but Michaels, 30, has been around long enough to know the difference between reality and wishful thinking.
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Michaels sees right fit in left
Jan/18/07 09:09 AM | Permalink
Outfielder Jason Michaels will come to Cleveland on Monday to take a physical which should make his new two-year, $4.25 million contract official.

Michaels was one of four Indians who filed for salary arbitration last week. Right-hander Jason Davis is the only one who hasn't reached an agreement.

The Indians signed free agent David Dellucci to a three-year, $11.5 million contract in December. At worst he is going to platoon with Michaels in left field. If Dellucci shows he can hit lefties, he could play every day.
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Indians reach deal with Miller, preliminary deal with Michaels
Jan/15/07 11:14 PM | Permalink
CLEVELAND - Outfielder Jason Michaels and the Indians reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $4.25 million, two-year contract and reliever Matt Miller and Cleveland agreed to a $560,000, one-year deal.

Michaels, who hit .267 with nine homers and 55 RBIs last year, gets a $100,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this season and $2.15 million in 2007. Cleveland has a $2.6 million option for 2009.

In addition to his salary, he could earn $600,000 annually in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 350 and 400 plate appearances, $100,000 each for 450 and 500 plate appearances and $150,000 each for 550 and 600 plate appearances.
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Michaels wants to return in ’07
Sep/24/06 10:55 PM | Permalink
ARLINGTON, Texas - Jason Michaels wants to stay with the Indians. He also wants to be an everyday player.

Can he do both? That is a question that will be on Michaels’ mind as he waits to see what direction Cleveland’s front office will take this winter.

“I know I would be a better everyday player next year than I was this year,” Cleveland’s left fielder said Saturday. “I’m not saying that to be arrogant. I’m saying that because I know it in my heart. I’m confident of it. I will be better next year, without a doubt.”
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Tribe's chastened Jason now hastens to serve - His legal obligations met, Michaels happily keeps giving to kids
Sep/12/06 10:05 AM | Permalink
When outfielder Jason Michaels received the Roberto Clemente Award from the Indians last week, it showed that good can come from bad.

Michaels, while he played for the Phillies, was arrested for assaulting a Philadelphia policeman outside a nightclub at 3 a.m. on July 3, 2005. Michaels, already in an anger management program, was sentenced last January to six months probation and 100 hours of community service through the Police Athletic League.

A week later, Michaels was traded to the Indians to replace left fielder Coco Crisp. The obligation followed him.

"I wasn't sure what I'd have to do," Michaels said.

When Michaels found out he could work with children, he told John Carter, the Indians' director of community affairs, to put him on his speed dial.

"Jason turned out to be my go-to guy," said Carter, responsible for keeping track of Michaels' hours.

Michaels, 30, never became too involved in the Philadelphia community in his four seasons there. He had no choice with the Indians, and started working with the Boys and Girls Club in Winter Haven, Fla., in spring training.

"The kids came from some pretty tough family lives," Michaels said. "I talked to kids from 10 to their early 20s. They didn't have a whole lot.
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Notes: Adjustment goes on for Michaels
Sep/08/06 11:04 PM | Permalink
CHICAGO -- Jason Michaels has been in the Majors for parts of the past five seasons.

But at times this year, he's felt like just as much of a rookie as the young kids he is now surrounded by in the Indians' clubhouse.

Between taking on an everyday role for the first time in his career and moving to the American League, Michaels has found 2006 to be a challenge.

"This whole year has been a big adjustment," he said. "I'm just trying to figure it out."
Acquired by the Phillies over the winter to replace Coco Crisp in left, Michaels has had sporadic success at the plate in the No. 2 spot of the order.

He's currently in an upswing, having hit in 11 of his last 15 games entering Friday, batting .333 (19-for-57) with eight RBIs in that span. He's now .
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Michaels donates time to community - Indians outfielder nominated for 2006 Clemente Award
Sep/06/06 02:56 PM | Permalink
The thinking was that a visit from a Major League ballplayer would perk up some of the kids at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital.

In reality, quite the opposite happened.

"They inspired me," said Indians left fielder Jason Michaels of the kids. "That's basically what it came down to. They inspired me."

That June visit to the hospital, which treats children with cancer, heart trouble, cystic fibrosis and other illnesses, was far from Michaels' only endeavor to help out in the community.

So when it came time for the Indians to select their nominee for the 2006 Roberto Clemente Award -- given annually to the player who best demonstrates the values Clemente displayed in his commitment to the community and helping others -- Michaels was an easy selection. This might be just his first year with the club, having been acquired in a winter trade with the Phillies, but he hasn't wasted any time making an impact on the Cleveland area.

"Coming to a new team," he said, "it's a good chance to get out in the community."
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