tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post5382389627335198448..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: Opportunity Knocks - Shouldering the LoadPaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-82876804804843500272010-08-18T16:11:51.951-04:002010-08-18T16:11:51.951-04:00Oh, I don't disagree with you Paul. He most l...Oh, I don't disagree with you Paul. He most likely will be moved to LF for that very reason. However, Manny's not gonna move him unless they have a good inkling the knee won't take it... which they won't know until ST. If it is strong enough I could see them leaving him in CF at first.<br /><br />But my post was more in response to people (not necessarily you) thinking that he will automatically have the same kind of problems Beltran is having simply because they both have left knee cartilage problems.cozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17703415608367621002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-11881137743313870052010-08-18T15:29:55.507-04:002010-08-18T15:29:55.507-04:00Paul,
I'm guessing they read your blog :)Paul,<br /><br />I'm guessing they read your blog :)Halifaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712626480683595819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-15729047061830383112010-08-18T15:27:31.005-04:002010-08-18T15:27:31.005-04:00Speaking of Chiz and the 3B placeholder...
Call m...Speaking of Chiz and the 3B placeholder...<br /><br />Call me crazy, but being as young (but talented) as the Indians are and playing in a weak and aging division, I would suggest the Indians try something like this:<br /><br />Deal Lonnie Chisenhall/Cord Phelps OR Jason Kipnis/Beau Mills and Jeanmar Gomez to the Mets for 3B DAVID WRIGHT. The Mets are in shambles as an organization, owing huge contracts to Yohan Santana, the aforementioned Carlos Beltran, Oliver Perez, Jason Bay and Frankie Rodriguez who just punched his father in law.<br /><br />This would give the Mets an opportunity to get out from under a big contract and begin to rebuild with some youth. Granted, it's talented youth the Tribe can ill-afford to give up, BUT one thing they can afford is a big contract or two to proven veteran players who are a known commodity. Chiz and Phelps look to be solid MLB guys, but you never know if they'll ever make it big, and Wright is a STUD hitter, fielder and person in the clubhouse.<br /><br />Remember when the Indians turned down the opportunity to deal Jaret Wright for Pedro Martinez because Wright might someday be, um, Pedro?<br /><br />The proven commodity is always better than the unknown, that's why you trade three or four for one in these deals. And it hurts to give talent up but that's what it takes to get it back.<br /><br />I really can't see the Mets dealing Wright for anything, but the Tribe has the young talent and the low payroll to absorb his contract. Plus, you don't miss Chiz as much because you get Wright for the next three years/$45M.<br /><br />What happens if you do that, then sign Manny to stick him in the midst of your lineup, lengthening it and dropping the youngsters lower (ala Thome and Manny 1995). All of a sudden you have a chance to win in 2011, 2012 with Grady & Wright and Wright for 2013.<br /><br />Hey, it's the Central, win while you can. By the time the core players' contracts (Choo, Cabrera, LaPorta, Santana) get bigger, Wright will be in the last year or be gone.<br /><br />And you still have Phelps/Kipnis and Weglarz coming to bolster when Grady leaves. Gomez is a decent trade chip right now, do you think that'll play out? Their payroll would still be no more than $75M -- what effect would that have at the gate when people see you move for David Wright and bring back Manny?<br /><br />Plus, the team would win the division, because their pitching would be good enough. Watch Alex White and Carlos Carrasco develop into quality 2- and 3-hole pitchers.Halifaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712626480683595819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-28522649150562504862010-08-18T15:26:15.453-04:002010-08-18T15:26:15.453-04:00I like the idea of giving Hafner allotted days off...I like the idea of giving Hafner allotted days off to maximize his efficiency, as we've seen that he can be effective after rest over the past two days. Not sure that he would go for it, but given that his shoulder is going to need rest, maybe it's the way to go after it to get Pronk as often as we can.<br /><br />Manny's certainly an intriguing name and it's worth watching to see what the market will bear on him this Winter.<br /><br />coz, <br />The only comp that has even come close to Grady is that Beltran one and, while I realize that the 2 surgeries were different, I do think that Sizemore ends up in LF next year to protect that knee, similarity to Beltran or not.<br /><br />Halifax,<br />I did notice the Carrasco thing when I wrote this weekend:<br />"...he’s limited baserunners with a 1.24 WHIP and struck out 50 while walking only 19 in 54 IP over those 10 starts. If you’re unimpressed by that, here is Carrasco’s line over his last 5 starts:<br />Carrasco’s last 5 starts – 2.08 ERA, 0.80 WHIP with 24 K, 6 BB in 26 IP<br /><br />More importantly, Carrasco has given up only 1 HR given up in his last 37 IP after giving up 15 HR in his first 91 2/3 IP meaning that his proclivity for giving up the longball has diminished."<br /><br />Compare that to what the PD "wrote" this morning.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-52629182874586581532010-08-18T13:40:06.640-04:002010-08-18T13:40:06.640-04:00I don't know that Chiz is part of the picture ...I don't know that Chiz is part of the picture next year, but a Ramirez/Hafner platoon putting up above average splits would put a lot less pressure on whatever placeholder we stick at 3rd while we wait.BrainOfJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551292924147523486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-57175520958434945862010-08-18T13:29:48.802-04:002010-08-18T13:29:48.802-04:00By the way, anyone noticed how well Carlos Carrasc...By the way, anyone noticed how well Carlos Carrasco has pitched in the second half of the year -- actually, most of the year.<br /><br />FROM THE PD:<br />RH starter Carlos Carrasco (10-5, 3.71) held Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) to one unearned run on five hits in seven innings, and the Clippers won the International <br />League game Tuesday in Columbus. Carrasco walked none and struck out six... <br /><br />Tuesday night's starting RHP, Carlos Carrasco, was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last five games, striking out 24 and allowing just 15 hits and six walks in 26 innings. Carrasco had given up one home run in his last seven starts, spanning 37 innings, after yielding 15 homers in his first 91 2/3 innings this season.<br /><br />The guy's coming on...Halifaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712626480683595819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-87982665379984516912010-08-18T13:25:06.659-04:002010-08-18T13:25:06.659-04:00First off, Duncan can't really be considered a...First off, Duncan can't really be considered as in the system at this point because he is a FA at the end of the year. As that goes, who really cares? If he enters into the conversation, you need to go looking outside the ORG.<br /><br />Grady should be the left fielder. His knee will always be an issue and his weak arm leads him along his Johnny Damonesque career path -- which doesn't mean he's a poor player, just not the one he was deemed to be three years ago. With powerful bats in left and right with Grady and Choo, Brantley can man center with Crowe backing up all. Wegz is a nice fallback for whatever ails, whether it be Pronk's shoulder, Grady's knee, Brantley's ineffectiveness or if the sky falls.<br /><br />I've thought the same thing about Thome, but MANNY is the better fit. He's the Eddie Murray, the future HOFer who can stabilize the lineup. When Pronk goes on an extended DL trip (he will) Manny can just be your main DH -- the question is, can he still do it, and are you willing to risk it and for how much?<br /><br />I vote yes.<br /><br />Brantley<br />Cabrera<br />Choo<br />LaPorta<br />Manny<br />Grady<br />Santana<br />Chiz/Goedert<br />Donald/Valbuena<br /><br />Sure lengthens your lineup and allows youngsters like Santana, Chiz, Donald to drop in the order with less pressure, via Manny & Thome circa 1995.Halifaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712626480683595819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-88543941806473598052010-08-18T13:04:00.201-04:002010-08-18T13:04:00.201-04:00Manny Ramirez would be available. Might be worth a...Manny Ramirez would be available. Might be worth an incentive-laden deal for a year, possibly a club option. Popular with fans, who seem to appreciate only these sorts of acquisitions, and it makes sense from a platoon standpoint. Maybe I'm underestimating what his value will be on the free agent market, but a city he's always loved, a Dominican manager, a chance to DH ... who knows? I wouldn't want to sign him to play every day, but maybe a deal like this works?BrainOfJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551292924147523486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-12221759505641410722010-08-18T12:47:04.021-04:002010-08-18T12:47:04.021-04:00Paul, I know you're not surprised that I'm...Paul, I know you're not surprised that I'm going to comment on one little paragraph in that entire entry. I'm very well aware of my reputation amongst Tribe fans, lol. But here I go anyway.<br /><br />It remains to be seen how Grady will come back from his surgery and where/how he'll play if/when he does. But it's not exactly fair to use Beltran as a gauge or a comp for Sizemore's return.<br /><br />Beltran merely had his knee cleaned out this past January, while neglecting to have microfx. As a result, Beltran is able to play but is still playing on a very arthritic knee with unstable cartilage. This is causing the effect on his play that people have described and to which you referred. It's also said by Will Carroll that Beltran's involves a weight-bearing part of the joint. It may turn out that he'd have been better off in the long run to have microfx from the get go.<br /><br />Whereas Grady did have the microfx right away which, if successful, will "regrow" tissue that is very similar to regular cartilage in strength and stability. Him electing to have that procedure probably prevented him from having to endure what Beltran is going through at the moment. Also (again according to Will Carroll) Grady's was done on the kneecap, which is not a weight-bearing part of the joint.<br /><br />People like to compare the two situations, but there are enough differences that it's not exactly correct to do so. As Will Carroll says, there's really no good comp in baseball for Grady's situation.cozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17703415608367621002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-38266760631577951252010-08-18T10:50:28.744-04:002010-08-18T10:50:28.744-04:00Hafner's return from the 15 day DL has shown h...Hafner's return from the 15 day DL has shown he still has the swing (with mean intentions) that made him one of the most feared hitters in the AL. More recovery and effort over the next two years should help him get back to being the PRONK..G'sonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00263455723344055198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-37257458941180362642010-08-18T09:13:11.313-04:002010-08-18T09:13:11.313-04:00Given Hafner's success when rested, might it m...Given Hafner's success when rested, might it make more sense to give him around 300 PAs instead of "maxing out" at the 400 you project? Sure, you lose some ABs to what is likely to be a weaker player, but you also might be able to maximize his effectiveness when he does play (while avoiding DL stints). This has worked exceptionally well with Jim Thome (different situation, I know), who is on pace for a bit over 300 PAs and has posted a .985 OPS (163 OPS+) to this point. Hell, if they weren't both LH, I might endorse signing Thome (sentimental reasons in play) to platoon with Hafner at DH. After all, Thome is only making 1.5 mil this season.<br /><br />Also, I know you went over this a bit during the draft, but any ideas on who the Indians signed or speculations on how they might project? I'm especially interested in your thoughts on the Indians going over slot (WAY over slot in a few cases) to sign a number of picks.Ryan Weplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07066019718655198410noreply@blogger.com