Lazy Sunday Looking Forward

After watching Jeremy Sowers show some promise (no, I didn’t watch it…thanks, FOX!) yesterday in what are inexplicably probably my favorite Tribe uniforms of all time, it’s time to get going on a Lazy One:
Starting off with a piece that appeared on Friday, Terry Pluto has his thoughts on what the Indians’ lineup should look like for the second half of the season. Some of it is fairly obvious (and Pluto admits as much), but to me the evaluation of position players as this season winds down breaks into two groups fighting for 2009 jobs.
I look at it this way – the only givens (assuming no trades are made) for 2009 in the Tribe lineup would be Grady in CF, Hafner (if healthy) at DH, and Victor, Peralta, Cabrera, and Francisco (with the caveat that he finishes the year well and The BLC sticks around as insurance) with positions as yet to be determined.

Their positions and the remaining positions, then, are going to be determined by a few convoluted “position battles” to see what pieces fit where for 2009 and where help from the outside may be needed (other than LaPorta’s eventual ascension to the middle of the lineup).
I got into one last week that had to do with the C/1B/LF “battle”, but to repost what I said last week -
“If Shoppach keeps hitting at the pace he is, he becomes the de facto C, with Vic at 1B and LaPorta in LF.
If Garko can come close to his 2007 (finding his 2006 isn’t happening), Vic stays behind the dish and LaPorta goes to LF.
If Chootierrez AND The Ben Francisco Treat show enough to merit them taking up BOTH corners of the OF (and I think that The Frisco Kid has claimed one spot for 2009 with his play this year), Vic dons the tools of ignorance once again and LaPorta mans 1B.”

The other “battle” is essentially to determine what ¾ of the infield looks like next year with the Indians having to determine what they have in Josh Barfield and Andy Marte in the last half of 2008. As it stands now, I think that the 2009 infield composition really comes down to whether either (or both, ha!) are legitimate options to play every day in 2009. Depending on what we see with Barfield and Marte, then Jhonny and Asdrubal fall into line accordingly at positions dictated by the performance of Barfield and Marte in 2008 and what can reasonably be expected for either in 2009.

If Barfield plays well enough to merit a look at 2B for 2009, Asdrubal and Peralta make up the left side of the infield (though Jhonny’s bat is not quite as valuable as a 3B) next year. If Marte establishes himself as a viable candidate for 2009 (and, really, I can’t even put numbers down that makes this happen), Jhonny stays at SS and Asdrubal stays at 2B.

If both Barfield and Marte excel…well, I suppose you cross that bridge if it presents itself. If they both fail, then you look for the piece that holds either 2B or 3B (Orlando Hudson, Mark Grudzielanek, Mark Ellis, etc.) that bridges the gap to Akron 3B Wes Hodges for 2010 without blocking him, with the flexibility of Peralta and Cabrera falling in line accordingly.

Sheldon Ocker has a similar piece to Pluto of what should be done, etc…with similar conclusions, in Sunday’s paper. He also touches on the Jhonny Peralta trade rumors that seem to be floating out there (after saying that he doesn’t think that Peralta can play 3B, which is a factor that needs to be determined heading into 2009 for reasons listed above) with Cabrera playing SS in Buffalo.

I’ve avoided the whole “Trade Jhonny” thing for the most part (outside of the Dodgers connect-the-dots insinuations), but it bears addressing as if you’re really considering trading Peralta, you have to get AT LEAST one position player who is ready to contribute now who is at least as many years away from Free Agency as Jhonny is. Moving Peralta is not unloading an unnecessary piece of the Indians’ team, particularly given his age, his production (albeit streaky), and his contract. Despite his flaws, Jhonny is an offensive presence in an Indians’ lineup that is short of them at the moment and for the immediate future.

A quick reminder on Jhonny’s remaining contract:
2009: $3.65M
2010: $4.85M
2011: $7.00M club option
You’re telling me that you’re going to find comparable production for those salaries over the next three years? Unless you’re filling a gaping hole with a comparably productive player ready to step right away who is further away from FA working under such a club-friendly contract, I don’t know how you can justify moving him, given his hitting and affordability.

It also bears mentioning that Peralta is YOUNGER than both Francisco and Garko, who are still trying to establish themselves as viable MLB players (something Jhonny has done) and is 7 months older than Barfield, who is also quite an unknown quantity.

While he may not be the ideal SS in many people’s minds due to his defensive deficiencies, he is a known quantity offensively at a young age, working under an affordable contract for the next three years. If you’re looking to move him, a player who is as equally established, under the same club control timeline is the baseline to deal with. Throw in the fact that moving him means that all four IF spots for 2009 will consist of players trying to establish themselves and I’m not sure why we’re looking this gift horse in the mouth.

Elsewhere, it looks like Jeff Stevens and Matt LaPorta have made the US Olympic team, which will keep them busy until August or so. Maybe both can parlay some international success into some North Coast success as the leaves start to turn come September, as long as it does not throw the 40-man decisions off or unnecessarily affect their service time.

While I’m not sure who this “LaPorta” guy is who made the US Team (if you don’t know I’m kidding, welcome to the site), here’s a fantastic piece on Jeff Stevens, the PTBNL in the infamous deal involving “The Franchise”. My favorite part of it is Buffalo pitching coach Scott Radinsky’s quote on Stevens’ even-keeled temperament, which may suit him one day in the back end of the Tribe bullpen. Quoth Radinsky, "He can go out there and get his [butt] kicked and give up a tying run, but he's fine. He'll go back out there today and strike out the side. He's got that ingredient you just don't teach, and he's got 'it.'”

“Even Stevens”, anyone?
By the way, the “Seinfeld” episode is the reference there, the one where things always even out for him, not the Disney Channel tween show that Google reports is the most oft-referenced “Even Stevens”.

Outside of Cleveland, another starter finds himself in need of some new return address labels, as Joe Blanton is headed to the Phillies for a package built around 2B Adrian Cardenas. This is not very relevant here as Blanton and CC occupy completely different planes in the MLB Starting Pitching Pecking Order and the Indians damn well better have gotten better players for CC, right?

Absolutely, but let’s put Cardenas (the centerpiece of the return for the Athletics) in perspective by way of names you may have heard of fairly recently (and seeing how all they’re in the Florida State League with Cardenas) with some 2008 numbers from A-ball:
Adrian Cardenas (Age 20)
.309 BA / .374 OBP / .444 SLG / .818 OPS
Taylor Green (Age 21)
.288 BA / .370 OBP / .421 SLG / .791 OPS
Matthew LuCroy (Age 22)
.319 BA / .374 OBP / .500 SLG / .874 OPS
Where is the line sitting currently for the PTBNL, and when do we find out the official list of (gasp) 4?

Speaking of prospects, serial FanPoster APV over at the LGT did a nice mid-season update on Jay Levin’s definitive preseason list of “Prospects that Matter”, which can be found at the sidebar at any time for a quick refresher or for enlightenment.

Back to the unending topic that is the CC deal, Ken Rosenthal is sticking to his guns that Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt vetoed a deal for Sabathia, despite McCourt’s denial of such claims. Interestingly, in the same piece he mentions that the Brewers may be trading JJ Hardy because Alcides Escobar (a SS whose name was thrown around in the CC rumors) is “untouchable” as a trade target.

Apropos of nothing having to do with this season, one of my favorite writers, Joe Posnanski, begins his rundown of AL stadiums no longer in use with his homage to the ballpark of his youth – Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

Finally, after professing my love for the throwback jerseys that the Tribe wore against the Padres (on the night K2 hit the granny off them to win it…ahem), I was told that they sold the jerseys at the Team Shop. After hitting the team shop, I learned that the smallest size they carry “in-stock” is a 56, which would be like me swimming in a pool of polyester…what with my current suit size at 38R (you think I joke when I say I tip ‘em at $1.50 soaking wet).

But the jerseys that the Indians wore yesterday…Sowers at the top and The BLC below…MY GOD! If someone can tell me where to score one of these jerseys…well, I just don’t know what I’d do.