Ecosalon: The Green Gathering

AKRON — All-Stars Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee wouldn’t be on ghd iv style black the roster if the Indians hadn’t traded away ace Bartolo Colon. Travis Hafner and Franklin Gutierrez landed in Cleveland as parts of offseason trades. Even starting pitcher Jake Westbrook was one of the throw-in players when Cleveland shipped David Justice to the New York Yankees. Double-A prospect Matt LaPorta certainly has produced the kind of numbers that could have him joining the list of those acquired in trades who then developed into some of the top players in the big league clubhouse. LaPorta, 23, was the cornerstone of the trade that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee on Monday. Cleveland also picked up minor league pitchers Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson and a player to be named later, assumed to be either Class A third baseman Taylor Green or Double-A center fielder Michael Brantley — both considered top prospects in the Brewers farm system. “You just have to go out there and do your job, and you can’t worry about the expectations that people put on you,” LaPorta said during a Tuesday news conference at Akron’s Canal Park, home of the Tribe’s Double-A affiliate. “You have to go out there and stay within yourself and play hard every day.” The statement shows how unaffected LaPorta — a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder — is by the spotlight that has been shined in his direction, although he did admit, “it was neat to be part of such a big thing that’s going on right now in baseball.” While Cleveland is hoping for the power numbers it saw from former stars Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome, the Indians know they already have a standup guy in LaPorta, who is a devout Christian and enjoys working with charities and children. “I feel that little kids look up to guys wearing these uniforms,” LaPorta said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in Double-A, Triple-A or the big leagues. If you can mold one mind out of 100, that’s better than nothing. “That’s really all I care about — trying to help out as many people as I can along the way, because I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the help people gave to me.” LaPorta was a standout high school player in Port Charlotte, Fla., then was named the Southeastern Conference player of the year twice while at the University of Florida. He showed his sense of humor when asked if it would be tough for a former Gator to woo fans in Ohio. “You mean after we beat Ohio State all those times?” LaPorta said with a laugh. LaPorta was drafted as a catcher in the 14th round of the 2003 draft by the Chicago Cubs, and as a first baseman in the 14th round of the 2006 draft by Boston, but stayed at Florida. He was then selected by Milwaukee with the seventh overall pick in last year’s draft and has been one of the top hitters in minor league baseball. LaPorta, who is right-handed, has been especially impressive against right-handed pitchers, batting .301 with 15 home runs this season. He’s also solid in the clutch, batting .313 with runners on base and .307 with runners in scoring position. LaPorta will be the first to explain that the numbers are the result of ghd straighteners hard work. In college, the police arrived at the baseball stadium late one night because someone heard loud noises. They found LaPorta alone working on his swing, and he’s spent countless hours poring over video of major league sluggers’ swings. “I’m a perfectionist, and a student of the game,” said LaPorta, listing Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols and Ramirez as a few of his favorite hitters to watch. “There’s so many great players in the game … why not watch them? Why not try and figure out what they’re doing to become great? “I just try to do whatever I can to make myself the best that I can be.” LaPorta and Aeros ghd iv style pure teammate Wes Hodges will be part of the U.S. team in the Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday as part of the All-Star activities. Both players are also on the list of 60 players being considered for the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Beijing. “I’d love to play on the U.S. team, the Olympic team, and represent this great country — it’d be such an honor,” said LaPorta, who played for the national team in 2005. “But a lot of it has to do with the organization and what they feel, so we’ll see what happens.” While the people in Milwaukee got to see Sabathia pitch for the first time Tuesday night with the Brewers, the cheap ghd straighteners Akron Aeros and Indians fans will have to wait until tonight after Tuesday’s game with the Bowie Baysox — which LaPorta was scheduled to start in left field and bat third in the lineup — was rained out. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader today starting at 6 p.m. Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

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