Tomahawks On Their Way Up From The Cellar
As the Tribe finally wins a series against the AL Central leading (well, kind of) KC Royals, perhaps now would be a good time to release some Tomahawks as 80 degree weather is on the way to the North Coast, as are the first rung to climb on that AL Central ladder to the top…the 4th place Minnesota Twins.
And with that optimism setting the tone, release away:
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After another good outing by Ant Reyes today, the Indians’ starters look as if they finally may have turned the corner…and not a moment too soon.
Want an indication of how important the turnaround in the Indians’ rotation has been?
First 8 outings (Team’s Record: 1-7)
37 1/3 IP, 42 ER, 53 H, 18 BB, 31 K
10.12 ERA, 1.90 WHIP in 8 games with an average of approximately 4 2/3 IP per start
Second 8 outings (Team’s Record: 5-3)
59 1/3 IP, 16 ER, 45 H, 22 BB, 28 K
2.42 ERA, 1.13 WHIP in 8 games with an average of approximately 7 1/3 IP per start
Obviously, the bullpen remains a concern and the struggles of ¡Fausto! (10 BB to 8 K in 14 IP) bear serious watching, but the rotation has shown signs of stability after what can charitably be described as a train wreck of a start to the season.
And that…well, that’s an awfully good thing to see finally rectify itself.
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On the topic of the starting five, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the rotation when Scotty Lewis is ready to return from his DL stint as his spot was filled by Aaron Laffey, who has put together two excellent starts thus far, sporting the best ERA on the team for anybody not named Tony Sipp and being the first starter to throw a pitch in the 7th inning (much less finish the 7th) on Tuesday.
Given the volatile nature of the rotation to this point (although things certainly feel more settled as evidenced above), I can’t see how the Indians stand by their previous stance that SLewis will simply be handed his spot in the rotation once he’s healthy. To date, Laffey has been the Indians’ most consistent starter (yes, I know it is just two starts) and maybe I’m colored by my opinion that he’s probably the 3rd best starter in the organization right now in terms of MLB readiness and repertoire, but the idea of sending him down to Columbus after his appearances for the parent club to call up Scott Lewis doesn’t hold any water.
A much more palatable arrangement would be to send SLewis back to the rotation in Columbus once he’s healthy (call them “rehab starts”…I don’t care) to allow him to ease himself back into the mix and wait for the Indians’ rotation to have that glaring need (via injury or ineffectiveness) that is likely to come down the pike.
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Realizing fully that the offense has not been this team’s problem (although the last two days have shades of Opening Day in Texas), let’s take a quick look at the OF on the team not named Grady and Big League:
The Ben Francisco Treat
.250 BA / .327 OBP / .409 SLG / .736 OPS with 1 HR and 4 RBI in 44 AB
Trevor Crowe
.179 BA / .258 OBP / .214 SLG / .472 OPS with 0 HR and 4 RBI in 28 AB
Yes, it’s only 15 games and real evaluations of players still seem awfully premature, but both of these guys have always looked a lot like 4th OF in terms of their versatility in the field and their shortcomings at the plate. The Frisco Kid continues to evoke a feeling of “meh” and Crowe’s MiLB mediocrity has translated like you think it would have to MLB…which is to say, not well.
Look, these two are both players who fill a role on a team (and while it may seem like it is wildly premature to say this), it’s just that it shouldn’t be a starting role. But…but…but…Francisco thrived in his debut month last year and Crowe just needs some time to adjust to MLB.
Fine, I’ll give you that Frisco had a nice debut and maybe Crowe needs to adjust to MLB, but neither of them are going to ever be any more than what they look like…4th OF.
If you don’t believe me, check out their career MiLB stats:
Frisco
.291 BA / .356 OBP / .459 SLG / .815 OPS
Solid? Sure…but nothing that indicates that the now-27-year-old has that one skill that sets him apart, other than consistently being average.
Crowe
.275 BA / .361 OBP / .394 SLG / .755 OPS
For a now-25-year-old whose OPS in the minors, by year, has been .653, .798, .694, .867, show me where the evidence is that he’s suddenly going to break this cycle of being an average hitter.
I’m not trying to discount either of these guys as MLB players as Frisco has some pop in his bat, but he’s a defensive liability without hitting enough to overcome that while Crowe has speed and is a solid defender with versatility, but he’s a slap hitter without a lot of power or outstanding on-base ability.
No, the reason this is relevant is that for the first time in a long time, measured mediocrity is not the ceiling the Indians are shooting for in LF. For the first time in a VERY long time, the Indians have a legitimate corner OF prospect on the cusp of the Majors, practically banging down the door in Columbus for someone to open it for him.
The Indians have Matt LaPorta.
Matt LaPorta, he of the .285 BA / .382 OBP / .577 SLG / .958 OPS career minor league line, is positively crushing AAA pitching.
How badly is LaPorta trying to hit his way off the Clippers?
.362 BA / .423 OBP / .660 SLG / 1.083 OPS with 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR and 9 RBI in 31 AB
And here’s where the alleged conundrum comes in – is the move really that necessary when the offense is playing as well as it is? It seems that the usage patterns for particular players are working as a whole, so wouldn’t this just be a move to make a move?
I suppose that’s valid on some level, but adding a guy like LaPorta (especially if he’s taking AB away from Frisco and Crowe) immediately improves an already very good lineup, allowing the Indians to put one guy in LF and being able to keep a guy like Crowe around for defensive purposes and pinch-running appearances ONLY (this cannot be stressed enough), thus strengthening the bench that already looks too thin in terms of versatility.
When the Indians netted LaPorta from the Brewers, he was purported to have a “near MLB-ready bat” and his performance in Columbus (yes, it’s only 13 games) has done nothing to dispel that notion. If the Indians were waiting to see how LaPorta reacted to his first taste of AAA pitching after scuffling down the stretch in AA after the CC deal, I’m pretty sure that they have their answer. The 24-year-old is proving that AAA is beneath him, just as he proved that AA was beneath him last year.
Is it too early?
For some perspective on early season call-ups, Evan Longoria got called up on April 12th in 2008, in time for the Rays’ 11th game of the season and Ryan Braun got called up on May 25th in 2007, in time for the Brew Crew’s 48th game of the season.
With the players ahead of LaPorta struggling (or at least doing their best imitation of a Replacement Level Player) and LaPorta obviously seeing the ball well in AAA, what reason is there not to bring him up soon?
How soon?
If I were a betting man, I'd put LaPorta’s ETA somewhere between those two dates from Longoria an Braun, which would put him in a Tribe uniform during the first week of May…or in about two weeks.
Yeah, he’s that impressive and the reasons to keep him there are get less compelling with each passing AB by Ben Francisco and Trevor Crowe for the Tribe and each AB by LaPorta in Columbus.
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As a quick aside here, there’s been a fair amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth over what the Indians do with The Looch when he completes his rehab assignment in Columbus. I think that the argument goes, “how could they call him up…he’s terrible…he’s a waste of money…they should just eat his contract and cut him…”
Most of which I think have quite a bit of merit, but let’s look at this rationally:
Dellucci is LH…
Nobody on the Indians’ bench is LH, unless you count the switch-hitting Crowe…
Most of the Indians that you would pinch-hit for are also RH…
Thus, the Indians need a LH option on their bench.
And as detestable as the idea may be, The Looch would be that LH option off the bench. Am I saying that he’s a GOOD LH option off of the bench?
No, but at least he’s LH and, frankly, on a team carrying too many pitchers in the bullpen and too many RH non-hitters on the bench, he can’t be much worse than the other pinch-hitting options.
OK, he can be worse, but maybe he can’t be MUCH worse…at least he wouldn’t get used that much.
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Speaking of usage patterns, anyone notice that Trevor Crowe has more AB than Kelly Shoppach?
Sure, the “platoon” of Shoppach and Garko around Victor is supposed to depend on the pitcher and the match-up, but isn’t this the same Kelly Show Pack who posted the 10th best OPS in the AL from June 1st to the end of the year?
It’s not as if he’s struggling wildly (.799 OPS) or that he’s a defensive liability, so the answer as to why he’s not playing more must have something to do with the fact that the players who ostensibly block Kelly from every day playing time (Victor and, to a lesser degree, Garko…Polo) are both off to hot starts.
That is not a problem for Crowe in LF.
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Who else has their Tony Sipp jersey en route?
Watching him go 1-2-3 in his appearance in relief of C.P. Lee on Wednesday (answering questions quickly as to how he’ll be used) was such an oasis in the desert of failure that is the bullpen that I’m irrationally enthusiastic about Sipp.
In fact, I’m already lining up potential endorsement deals for him…how about as a pitchman for Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Commodore Perry beer?
You know the one…it says “Don’t Give Up the Sip” on the label.
We all remember so fondly another young Indians’ reliever who became a pitchman for a local establishment serving up the cold ones, so why not Sipp and GLBC?
I know…it’s only one appearance.
Fine…I’ll hold off on the irrational exuberance…while WEARING my new Tony Sipp jersey and drinking my Commodore Perry!
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Did you notice the Royals institute “The Shift” for Victor when he was batting LH against their RHP? You know the one…the one that everyone uses for Hafner, Thome, and Big Papi that moves the infield to the right side of 2B. While the wisdom of that strategy is questionable at best, given Victor’s ability to do…well, whatever he wants with a bat this year, are we just waiting for the time when “The Shift” gets employed on Grady and Choo?
According to my handy-dandy IA2K9, both Grady and Choo hit over 50% of the balls they struck last year to the right side of the field and given what each has done in the early going, I wouldn’t be surprised if some sort of defensive adjustments were made for the erstwhile MVP and for The BLC
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On this week’s edition of “Smoke Signals”, Tony Lastoria and I were fortunate enough to be joined by Indians.com beat writer Anthony Castrovince, who spoke at length about the life of a beat reporter and his experience in dealing with the Indians’ brass and their tendency to read from the same script, as well as taking us into what it was like to be in Arizona for ALL of Spring Training.
The interview (which hit on the bullpen, Lewis over Laffey in Goodyear, Carmona, among other topics) was an interesting look into the opinions of someone who sees this team every day, talks to this team every day, and remains attached to his BlackBerry everyday to stay on top of Indians information for you.
If you’re not getting your Indians news from AC at The Official Site or at CastroTurf…well, frankly that’s your loss because once you start reading him, every other Mainstream Media news source that you used to rely upon for you Indians’ fix (outside of Terry Pluto) just fades into oblivion.
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Finally, if you’re going to be anywhere around Lakewood on Saturday (or just want to go to a fun party), TheClevelandFan.com is throwing a Draft Day Party at The Winking Lizard. Yours truly will be there, attempting to do the whole “Beers of The World” tour in one night.
No, I’m just kidding…but it is going to be a blast to pore over the minutia that is the NFL Draft Day and to convince ourselves that this…THIS…is the year that the Browns turn it all around and this…THIS…is the day that serves as the jumping point for the imminent renaissance of the Browns’ organization.
Maybe this is overselling it, but join me at the Lizard to celebrate for such an historic occasion…
Posts
11 comments:
LaPorta is far superior to Francisco and especially Crowe with the bat, but Keith Law said in his chat yesterday that he's a -20 with the glove in the outfield (I've read this before other places). Francisco is average with the glove (at least according to fangraphs) and I wonder if LaPorta is really that much of an upgrade over Francisco considering his defensive deficiencies. I think that LaPorta is more likely to spell Hafner occasionally at DH and play a fair amount of 1B in Cleveland.
can someone explain to me why having an awful LH bat on the bench in dellucci is better than not having one? what redeeming quality does he have other than his left handedness? and can that be considered a redeeming quality if he does not use it for good?
dumping him would allow another perhaps less useless body to take his place (perhaps we can carry yet ANOTHER pitcher!) AND the indians would have to bring one less pair left handed sissors on road trips.
i can't understand what the difference between his terrible LH stats are vs righties a RH bat's equally terrible stats against righties? plus, the RH bat can at least hit lefty pitching better! oh, and did i mention he's slow and can't play D...probably smells too. an equally awful RH hitter at least may be faster just in case a miracle occurs and he puts the ball in play. and can likely play a little D.
a little help please? and please don't tell me his mere presense on the bench as a pinch hitting threat causes opposing managers to go all tony larusa on use and overstatergize.
can't spell today...too fired up about the thought of dellucci coming back to the team. you can't see it, but i was spitting on my monitor when i was writing that...
you forgot to mention that Delluci throws like a right handed girl throwing lefty.
lets start the promote laporta viral campaign!
Now for something completely different:
Anyone have any summer reading gems? Preferably contemporary fiction. Just finished "Lush Life"
highly recommended.
When are we gonna see Brantley? How is he doing?
I found myself defending wedge on the PD posts. They are just viscious.
Thanks
Alex,
That may be a valid point about defense, though I've never seen LaPorta play the OF (or any other position for that matter) to make an informed enough comment on it.
I do know that while Francisco's numbers in the OF are average, it always feels like crossing a rickety bridge to get to that point of being merely "average". And maybe that term "average" is what I'm tired of after so many years of it in LF when finally a better option is on the cusp with LaPorta.
Maybe he does DH or play 1B a little bit to offset the defensive deficiencies...but his bat is ready and this team may need as much offense as it can get, given the tenuous nature of the pitching staff.
Cy,
Gotta tell you, I debated whether or not to include that DD thing in there because of such a response. But I DO think that simply by him being LH that he fills a hole on this team, whether he's good at it or not.
I guess what I'm saying is that Crowe and Francisco seem redundant as bench OF and Barfield doesn't add anything that those two doesn't. At least a guy like The Looch adds something different in that he's LH.
Like I said, he's probably not going to be anything great, but what are we getting so upset over?
4 AB a week?
3 AB a week?
Does it even really matter?
no way lewis can take laffey's spot. i might get thrown under the bus for this, but i personally dont see why laffey wasnt a lock for the 5th starting spot before the season even started. this kid pitched in 16 games last year and in only 2 of them did he have bad outings. one against texas, in texas and the other against the angels, in anaheim. take those 2 games out and he post a 2.95 ERA in 08. unreal! that on top of in my mind not being able to find a more composed/level headed pitcher for his age. and like PC said, he's been the best we've got up until this point in the season pitching 2 games and only giving up a total of 10 hits and 3 earned runs.
i see it as nothing short of ignorance that there is question by the indians organization on whether or not laffey should be our number 5 guy (if not better) in the rotation.
and just to throw it in there...bring up la porta. quick. trevor's at bats are grueling to watch. except for when he shatters bats over his knees. thats pretty cool.
Well let's hope that LaPorta pulls a Ryan Braun is SO good that it doesn't matter if he's lousy in the field. It would nice to have big power production from a traditional corner outfield spot. Did anyone else notice that last year we had 3 players hit 20 HRs: our centerfielder, our shortstop and our backup catcher.... I doubt that's ever happened before.
PC, if you fill a hole with a hole, its still a hole. Does Mayor Daley having you fill the potholes in Chicago?
You're right in that Looch adds something different, in that he's a lefty. By that rationale, why don't we get a guy in there with one arm? Or a hermaphrodite? Thats different? Or a hipster with tatoos and tight jeans and a band that i've never heard of t-shirt? They'd be different and try their best to stay different.
Different isn't always good when you don't change the factor that is the reason for the change, which is SUCKAGE.
Plus, all the players you mentioned, while not having a materially different suckage quotient, are way more versatile. The Looch can't even make pies and be a clubhouse presence.
Mr. Dellucci, At no point in your awful, disappointing play were you even close to anything that could be considered a different in a good way. Everyone on the team is now dumber for having watch you play. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Needless to say, him receiving any at bats a week is wrong. Why would you choose a worse option, even if its just for a few at bats a week, just a little bit?
I really like ice cream, but I don't eat poop every once in a while, because....hey, its only once in a while and poop is so plentiful and free.
So to answer your question, yes, it does matter! Its POOP, for crying out loud! There's ice cream in your freezer!
WOW...
How do you really feel?
I guess I have to figure out someone else to give the custom Dellucci jersey that I had made for you that was going to be your housewarming present when we came up to Chicago for the Cubs-Tribe series.
Anyone want a Tribe jersey that says, "THE LOOCH" on the back...because Cy's obviously out.
Seriously, though - this team needs a LH bat on the bench and DD is GOING to be that LH bat at least for a little while. The alternatives are Aubrey (who is crushing the ball in AAA) or Jordan Brown.
How's Dellucci look now?
Just get ready for the ascension of The Looch, because it's coming, however brief it may be.
enjoy your poop blizzard.
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