tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post7650729954205718872..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: A Hot Topic Lazy Sunday at the Hot CornerPaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-80225276113004421492012-03-26T12:53:30.083-04:002012-03-26T12:53:30.083-04:00Once again, it might make sense to talk to the Ath...Once again, it might make sense to talk to the Athletics about Coco Crisp. He could be a fit, both at the top of the order and in center field. He's not too expensive ($6 million this year, $7 next plus a $1 million 2014 buyout). I know his name gets tossed around a lot, but it never hurts to ask. As far as pitching goes, the Yankees are trying to unload Freddy Garcia ($4 million). We probably can't hope for somebody as good as Lannan.MTFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14410882434875111748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-21075576698281838742012-03-26T10:35:20.634-04:002012-03-26T10:35:20.634-04:00Not sure if the attention to the article is due to...Not sure if the attention to the article is due to the topic, or the fact that we're less than 2 weeks out, but...<br /><br />I have to agree with the camp that has The Chiz heading to AAA to start out the season. Something I tend to forget when I get into these conversations is that Acta/PoloMafia are not only managing projections and stats, but also people. Judging by The Chiz's production, and the quotes coming out of spring training, something isn't quite right. <br /><br />If the kid can go down, mash on some AAA pitching, come back up after everyone has been shown that Supermanahan's second half was a fluke, and save the season... <br /><br />I'll take that over forcing a kid to work out his problems against MLB pitching in what needs to be a contending season. I think I'm ok with giving Hanahan some rope to prove us wrong, and that his "heavier bat" really was the key to making him a major league hitter. <br /><br />For this season to work out, we're going to need some things that don't make any sense to occur. On paper, we are not one of the top 5 teams in the AL.Spillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08413824903442574052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-66817485704249282552012-03-25T15:34:31.848-04:002012-03-25T15:34:31.848-04:00Of the Duncan / Hannahan / Kotchman triumvirate, m...Of the Duncan / Hannahan / Kotchman triumvirate, my biggest objection would be Casey at the Bat. <br /><br />Hannahan is mejor league, Chiz isn't quite a finished product, so I see little harm in letting him play in Columbus. He'll be there if needed.<br /><br />When Shelley comes up to bat, it's a good idea to pay attention, as he does not get cheated with that swing of his. He's as strong as Big Blue, and I think he could blow up this year.<br /><br />Kotchman, well, the Indians need more than 48 RBI out of the 1B hole. That's not going to get it done.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250692498856757151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-74830579851465458762012-03-25T15:31:06.404-04:002012-03-25T15:31:06.404-04:00The only thing that prevents me from getting behin...The only thing that prevents me from getting behind the 1/2 Columbus-1/2 Cleveland thing is this "window", in terms of wanting Chisenhall's development to move along as quickly as possible and sending him to Columbus for 1/2 the season doesn't do much to allow him to make adjustments.<br /><br />Ultimately, Chiz's offensive upside outweighs Hannahan's defensive stability, particularly in light of the offensive concerns elsewhere in the lineup.<br /><br />Not sure who you're confusing me with MTF, but I've been skeptical of Brantley since about the middle of last year and the fact that CBS' Danny Knobler is putting out word that the Indians are out looking for an outfielder AND pitching depth speaks to your valid point.<br /><br />Maybe they look to move Chiz for a more permanent solution in the OF, but this glut of non-1B infielders who all look to be "about" MLB-ready (Kipnis, Chiz, Donald, Phelps) on top of Asdrubal and all of the NRI depth they built up leads me to believe that they'll be dealing from that "strength" to shore up the weakness in the OF, and perhaps in the rotation.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-20060707781653667402012-03-25T13:27:43.141-04:002012-03-25T13:27:43.141-04:00If they really believe that this is a 2 year windo...If they really believe that this is a 2 year window thing and all reasonable projection systems have Chisenhall out OPS-ing Hannahan by what 20 or 30 pts with inferior defense. Should we go for broke and dangle Chiz for a better LF upgrade than Dominic Brown?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05616234794123067951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-37893173476446900452012-03-25T13:26:36.112-04:002012-03-25T13:26:36.112-04:00Speaking of infielders, what's up with the nea...Speaking of infielders, what's up with the near radio silence on Cord Phelps this spring? I realize he's well behind Kipnis, Jason Donald, and even vets like Jose Lopez/Christian Guzman/Andy LaRoche on the depth chart and that he flopped in his big league tryout last season. But he was a high draft pick (3rd round?) not too long ago. And he's done nothing but hit at each level of the minor leagues.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963784967856666364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-6773921437714288012012-03-25T12:08:28.592-04:002012-03-25T12:08:28.592-04:00Paul, your article raises a point beyond Chiz that...Paul, your article raises a point beyond Chiz that needs to be emphasized, specifically on pitching and Slowey/Huff. Neither of these guys have had good spring outings and, while spring numbers don't matter for established players, these outings are very concerning. The Indians probably cant count on Hernandez pitching for them, and we need better 6 and 7 options. With legitimate worries about Tomlin cropping up every year and rotation injury concerns, I wish they were in the running for Oswalt (never, I know) or some similar guy.<br /><br />As far as left field/center field options go, I've never been the believer you are in Brantleys offense- I'd rather see him at 9 than 1 in the order, and he is starting the year with a hamstring issue (does any injury eventually turn chronic more frequently than hamstrings?), so I think our problem is bigger than the mediocre offense we are getting from so many of the disappointing contenders this spring. We are almost at the desperation point in our need to find a better option for the outfield than we have or might find by dangling Jason Donald (and Domonic Brown looks like Alex Escobar v.2 to me).MTFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14410882434875111748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-70403199847997173982012-03-25T10:43:06.268-04:002012-03-25T10:43:06.268-04:00I have to think that age is a big separator btween...I have to think that age is a big separator btween Kipnis and Chisenhall. Lonnie will be 23 all season and Kipnis turns 25 on April 3rd. Those two years can be huge in baseball development.smaynorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02599815698359370344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-17043833553947202882012-03-25T10:04:14.320-04:002012-03-25T10:04:14.320-04:00In retrospect, I should have pressed KG more on th...In retrospect, I should have pressed KG more on the Chisenhall question and gotten a more specific response as to why he thinks he should start in Columbus. I'm new to this sort of thing. Presumably, if Chisenhall goes to Columbus, it will be with some specific instructions on what he needs to work on from the Cleveland coaching staff. I think the larger point, though, is that Chisenhall is still a guy in development much more than Kipnis. Kipnis, who may or may not meet significant struggles, is here to stay. For Chisenhall, this is a year that is still a developmental one. As such, I'm not opposed to him splitting the year between Columbus and Cleveland.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801782543541822390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-87802361113501804312012-03-25T09:48:51.212-04:002012-03-25T09:48:51.212-04:00I'll never understand how the same fan base th...I'll never understand how the same fan base that consistently crucified Casey Blake is this in love with Jack Hannahan. The guy is what he is; a great defender who can't hit. The only way that Chiz is going to learn to hit major league pitching is going to be by trying to hit major league pitching.Al Ciammaichellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-70773863425866090602012-03-25T09:35:54.277-04:002012-03-25T09:35:54.277-04:00That's terrific insight Adam (and I've lov...That's terrific insight Adam (and I've loved the KG interview) as it really boils down to what adjustments need to be made and who they need to be made by. The comment that he was "exploited by scouting reports on him" seem to suggest that the onus is on him (or is it the Indians' scouts/coaches) to make the proper adjustments.<br /><br />Chiz's comments to Laurila in the off-season were telling to me in terms of that he knows that he needs to adjust to MLB pitching and whether he believes that he can may be just as relevant as whether he can.<br /><br />That said, the only way for him to get that confidence in MLB and it needs to happen sometime for him to thrive at 3B in CLE. I'd like that "sometime" to be sooner rather than later.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-78069948598962385112012-03-25T09:11:50.686-04:002012-03-25T09:11:50.686-04:00Paul's response is why I asked the follow-up q...Paul's response is why I asked the follow-up question about Chisenhall. If his problem is big league scouting reports on him, seems to me the place he needs to address that is Cleveland. But KG's response was the opposite, as he without hesitation said he would start Chisenhall in Columbus. His response, to me, suggests a confidence factor at play, that Chisenhall's ability to respond to the efforts against him are in part a product of his belief he can do so. <br /><br />This didn't make the interview transcript, but as an aside, KG referenced Jason Kipnis as a young guy who seems to already have made the adjustments that Chisenhall needs.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801782543541822390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-28380239026963015202012-03-25T08:54:11.131-04:002012-03-25T08:54:11.131-04:00Goldstein's answer that is the lead-up to that...Goldstein's answer that is the lead-up to that "relevant line" is more revelaing...to me, at least. He said that "Chisenhall was completely exploited by the scouting reports out on him when he arrived in Cleveland. The toughest thing for any young player getting to the big leagues is not the adjustments you make, it is adjusting to the adjustments made against you. That's where Chisenhall is right now."<br /><br />This led Adam to ask Goldstein whether he thought Chiz should start the season in MLB or AAA with KG's opinion (which I think very highly of) being that Chisenhall should start in AAA.<br /><br />I go in the other direction if "that's where Chisenhall is at right now" because I'd like to see him make those adjustments in Cleveland and don't see Hannahan as the acceptable place-holder that most others do.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-42003460198602039972012-03-25T08:06:43.659-04:002012-03-25T08:06:43.659-04:00This seems to be addressed in the recent interview...This seems to be addressed in the recent interview on LGT here: http://www.letsgotribe.com/2012/3/25/2898286/kevin-goldstein-interview-part-2<br /><br />with the relevant line:<br /><br />APV: Given that, would you rather see him start the season in Cleveland or Columbus?<br /><br />KG: Columbus. Get him comfortable, get him some success, then bring him back to Cleveland.Grigorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12991848194463008588noreply@blogger.com