The Obscure Indians Reference Team
When I was in college, my friend Ryan and I had a game where we would attempt to name the most obscure Indians players of our youth. Rich Yett always clinched a win for me.
With the Indians scuffling, almost in a retro way, I figured I'd make an All-Obscure Reference team.
Ground rules:
I was born 26 years ago, and started following the Indians about 20 years ago. Mostly, the game is limited from 1986-1993, while the Indians were still doormats. While the occasional Rene Gonzales and Terry Clark (who faced Randy Johnson in 1997 in perhaps the most lobsided pitching matchup ever) would make the list, the idea was to remember the not-so-memorable Tribesman who sat on the bench in the cavernous Cleveland Stadium. Also, thank goodness for www.baseball-reference.com . The names come from memory, but the stats from the web.
Let's go:

C- Tom Lampkin (1988) - Played four games for the Indians in 1988, and went 0-4 at the plate. Was shipped to San Diego for Alex Cole in 1990.

1B- Luis Medina (1988-'89, '91) - Never played more than 30 games in a season for the Tribe, but somehow managed to hit six homers in 51 at-bats in 1988, getting fans excited. He finished his career with 10 homers.

2B- Tommy Hinzo (1987, 1989) - In 1987 the Indians lost over 100 games. The biggest benefactor may have been Hinzo, who somehow got 257 at-bats that season. You know what else? He wasn't that bad, managing a .265 average and three homers. He drove in 21 runs, but made nine errors. Somehow, GM Hank Peters figured he wasn't in the future plans, dealing him to Atlanta in 1990 for the infamous Jeff Wetherby and Miquel Sabino. I'd have Wetherby on my team, but honestly had no idea of his existence until I looked it up.

SS- Paul Zuvella (1988-'89) It really is shocking to me, looking this up, that Paul only played parts of two seasons with Cleveland. The way I remembered it, Paul was always playing with the Indians --in September, when the Indians finally accepted the season was over. Unlike most players, Zuvella appeared to thrive in Cleveland. He managed just two homers in his eight-year, four-team career. Both came in 1989, with the Indians. The Indians were so impressed by the power surge they released him in April of 1990.

3B- Tom Brookens (1990) This is not an easy choice, and not because there are so many choices. The Indians have been remarkably strong at third base, with Brook Jacoby (two-time all-star) giving way to Jim Thome, giving way to Matt Williams and so on. Brookens was a veteran the Indians signed away from the Yankees in 1990. I guess Peters decided the Indians didn't have enough mediocre talent to roam the bench that season. Jacoby spent most of the year at first base, and Carlos Baerga was not quite ready. The result was Brookens, who had been servicable to the Tigers, getting playing time. Brookens hit .266 and smacked one homer in 1990. He retired after the season, and the result was the beginning of strength at the hot corner for the Indians.

LF- Carmen Castillo (1982-1988) Carmen Castillo was more of a name from my youth. I imagined he had spent, at most, three years with the club. Imagine my surprise when I found out he spent seven years with the big league club, and over a decade in the Indians organization. Still, Castillo struggled to find time in the Indians outfield. He never played more than 89 games in a season, despite reaching double figures in homers three times. But he rarely drove in runs, and the Indians dealt him to Minnesota for Keith Atherton. No, I didn't remember him either. As for Castillo, he made over $2 million in his career, and attained a ring by playing with the 1991 Twins. Or maybe he didn't. He played 13 games that season.

CF-Dion James (1989-1990) I'm not entirely sure what James did well. I just remember he came from Atlanta for Oddibe McDowell. Oh, and while with the Braves, he hit a fly ball to left that struck (and I believe killed) a bird just unlucky enough to be cruising over Shea Stadium. James was so excited he clasped his hands as he reached second. He enjoyed far less notoriety in an Indians uniform, hitting just four homers with the team. The Indians released him after 1990.

RF- Brad Komminsk (1989) Brad has the distinction of being one of my brother's favorite players. I would make fun of my brother, but considering my favorite players included Cory Snyder and Beau Aldred, I really have no reason to joke around. Komminsk is known for not a game or a season, but rather for a play. It was in Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, and Cal Ripken hit a ball deep to center. Komminsk went back to the wall and jumped, snagging the ball, and falling over the wall in the process. It was ruled a homer, because I believe the ball came loose. Regardless, Brad hit eight homers in 71 games. Komminsk, a Lima OH native, was managing in Akron (the Indians AA team) in 2003. Here's an interesting twist: Komminsk was traded from Atlanta to the Brewers in 1987. Who'd Atlanta get? Dion James.

Starting Pitcher
Cecilio Guante (1990) Guante pitched for eight years, as a reliever for Pittsburgh, the Yankees and Texas. When he arrived in Cleveland, the Indians decided it was time to give Cecilio Guante a new role -- they started him. Here's what I remember: Herb Score, the Indians broadcaster, said he approached Guante and asked him how he felt about starting. Guante didn't know what he was talking about. Score told him he was starting, and Guante said "you're kidding." Guante's start was a bomb, and he was released soon after. The Indians couldn't even put pitchers in the right positions.

Relief Pitcher
Rich Yett (1986-1989) What can you say about Rich "Not ready for prime time" Yett? Not much, actually. The name says it all. He came to the Indians in a 1985 deal with the Twins that brought Bert Blyleven to a better team. As for Yett, he was just a guy the Indians got to go with Jay Bell and two others. I know what you're thinking: "Wow, Jay Bell! Great trade!" Well, it would have been had the Indians not unloaded Bell three years later for Felix Fermin, who had as much power as Tom Brookens. Of course, perhaps we should be thanking Yett--the deal eventually, indirectly, led the Indians to Omar Vizquel. That is, sadly, Yett's best contribution to the team. His earned run average was constantly over five, and my late. wonderful grandmother always groaned when the blond, moustached Yett made the trip from the bullpen. Usually with good reason.

Other Obscurities
Barely Mentioned goes to:
Beau Aldred (1989-1991) OF
Oddibe McDowell (1989) OF
Jerry Browne (1989-1992) 2B-OF
Junior Noboa (1987) SS
Ron Washington (1988) SS (Ron's probably wondering where that one write-in All-Star vote in 1988 came from. Look no further, Ronnie.)

Pitchers
Rod Nichols (1988-1992)
Jon Perlman (1988)
Dave Otto (1991-1992)
Scott Bailes (1986-1989)
Scott Scudder (1992-1993)
Jack Armstrong (1992)
Denis Boucher (1991-1992)
Mike Bielecki (1993)
Mauro Gozzo (1990-1991)
Jeremy Hernandez (1993)