tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118054012024-03-19T04:48:31.988-04:00The DiaTribeA Cleveland Indians BlogPaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger1235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-30535703793712543882016-11-06T12:52:00.000-05:002016-11-06T12:52:58.344-05:00Goodbye to Our Indian Summer on A Lazy Sunday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtj6dX4yMMmogHinh8hGVhY6ZhiOSHtboraXfmhYGV271PH9p4TY0d6cI4N6rjcHXTJS4PkmwLn8tvo5jGiuh3x4Z97wpV1koasjQTtqMSOJi7PVEq43Vw-Ve8HAyshCIrA1c/s1600/nl-baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtj6dX4yMMmogHinh8hGVhY6ZhiOSHtboraXfmhYGV271PH9p4TY0d6cI4N6rjcHXTJS4PkmwLn8tvo5jGiuh3x4Z97wpV1koasjQTtqMSOJi7PVEq43Vw-Ve8HAyshCIrA1c/s400/nl-baseball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The lighting lit up the sky to the west of Cleveland as I
drove away from the greatest baseball game I had ever witnessed, a seesaw
affair that left my head dazed and my legs sore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The wind whipped the leaves off the trees and
the rain began falling somewhere around Edgewater Park as traffic moved along
the Shoreway away from downtown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The storm that was coming would end the glorious weather on
the North Coast that accompanied Games 6 and 7, the violence and suddenness of
it jarring to take in as I drove on. The first tendrils of the storm had
caused the rain delay that may or may not have affected Game 7, but now it was
coming with its full fury. Barely able to see out of my windshield, cars
pulled over with their hazards on, and – as I drove on – all I could think was
that this was finally and officially the end of our Indian Summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Really, that’s what this all was for the Cleveland Indians
of 2016 – an Indian Summer, an unexpected extension of sunshine and happiness
until the harsh reality of winter comes around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Against all odds, the Indians persevered to extend our Indian Summer for
one more inning, one more game, one more series until the storm clouds were
literally gathering over the city, threatening to end it for good.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And ultimately, that’s what happened early on Thursday
morning after the Tribe inexplicably came back and came back and came back
against an unquestionably loaded Cubs team that had been coronated by the
national media throughout the series. The Indians pushed and pushed until
they had nothing left to give, no more strength to push, no more bullets in the
chamber. They came up on the short end of an Instant Classic, with plays that
will live in Cleveland lore…even if the result of the game left us all sad and
depressed. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arriving home, I went upstairs to find The DiaBride still
awake, talked about how my boys watched it with her (and for this I apologize
to their teachers) all the way to the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How she and the boys lived and died with every peak and valley the game
had to offer…and <a href="http://waitingfornextyear.com/2016/11/wfny-world-series-game-7-live-blog/" target="_blank">there were a lot</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
talked about the game, about how much fun it was, and how it was a perfect
night in more ways than one…up until that final out.</div>
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Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<![endif]-->When the alarm went off not too much later than we went to
bed (though at the same time it always does) on Thursday, we all roused
ourselves and went about our morning routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While walking into the kids’ bathroom, I came upon my 9-year-old son (who was once referred to here as the
DiaperTribe…if that passage of time can be believed), slowly brushing his teeth
– head buried in his elbow.
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Walking over, I gave him a hug – seeing too much of my own
fandom and my own self in his sad posture – and asked him what was the
matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He winced out, “I’m just having
the worst morning.”</div>
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Heart in my throat, I held him a little tighter and said,
“we all are buddy…we all are.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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At that moment, I realized that’s what this is all about –
fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, family and a shared love of baseball, riding the roller
coaster that is a baseball season and, hopefully and much more acutely, the
baseball playoffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there are ups
and downs…but in the end, you want to ride it again because of the
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While most Clevelanders
still think it’s all about the destination, it’s the journey that makes it
enjoyable and worthwhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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As Jonah Keri pointed out, this final game, this season,
this Indians’ team <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/absurd-cubs-indians-world-series-game-7-was-everything-we-love-about-baseball/" target="_blank">is why we love baseball</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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No, the Indians didn’t win the World Series, but they just
kept plowing through every roadblock put in front of them, overcoming an absurd
amount of injuries, suspensions, a rejected trade from an All-Star catcher, and
an apathetic fan base to get where they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Joel Sherman put it very simply (and you should read this), <a href="http://nypost.com/2016/10/31/the-cubs-cant-take-this-one-thing-from-indians/" target="_blank">“the Indians are a marvel”</a>.</div>
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</xml><![endif]-->And they are and there’s plenty of time to wonder who will be patrolling CF next year (hopefully someone that can catch, throw,
and hit), or whether Danny Salazar’s “injuries” are in his elbow or in his head
(and <a href="http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/around-the-diamonds/rumors-rumblings-rivera-hoffman-marvel-world-series-relievers/" target="_blank">after reading this…gulp</a>), if Brantley’s injury can stop reminding me of
the one that turned the monster once known as “Pronk” back into the mere mortal
known as “Travis Hafner”, who will be the starting catcher next year, or even
if Chief Wahoo will be returning in 2017. </div>
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<br /></div>
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</xml><![endif]-->For now, we saw Frankie Lindor emerge as a legitimate
Halley’s Comet…
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We saw Kipnis and Kluber write their name in ink among
Indians’ greats…<br />
We saw Jose Ramirez become some combination of Chone
Figgins’ defensive versatility, Jose Altuve’s bat-to-ball ability, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhtLTDK9yWA" target="_blank">George Jefferson’s swagger</a>…</div>
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We saw Francona manage circles around the rest of the league
and redefine how bullpens are implemented, not by how long he used these guys
but WHEN he used these guys – using his best relievers in the highest leverage
situations, regardless of inning or labels and roles…</div>
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Night after night, we saw magic...<br />
<br /></div>
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And yes, this <a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/208065784/indians-roster-to-remain-mostly-intact-for-17/" target="_blank">team remains largely intact</a> and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/clevelands-path-to-the-2017-playoffs/" target="_blank">the path to the playoffs can be laid out pretty clearly</a>, giving us that other aspect of
fandom – hope.</div>
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</div>
<br />
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That said, it is more than possible that they don’t go back for a while – or even with
this group – as the pain and the lessons of 2008 still loom large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this team still feels special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their resiliency, their determination, their
next-man-up mentality was impossible to ignore and contagious to everyone that
ever loved the Indians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends of mine
still bitter about that day that Victor sat crying in front of his locker, who
pushed the Indians away from their hearts for fear of being hurt again,
couldn’t help but be pulled in, to the point they they would fly in from all over the country to be back in their hometown for this World Series.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Once we were all pulled in, the fun lasted all summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right until that final out, when Michael
Martinez (MICHAEL MARTINEZ!?!) hit a soft dribbler to end the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never has there been a more apropos end, as the
Indians (who had long passed the point of being “short-handed”) had nothing left to go to than a player that was claimed off waivers in
mid-August of THIS year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had literally exhausted all their options until their last hope rested on a 34-year-old
journeyman because…well, because baseball.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And nobody faulted them for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they did all that any fan could have
asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They went down fighting with
everything they could have possibly fought with against teams they were given
NO chance to beat throughout the season and right through the playoffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave us a level of excitement that I’ve
never experienced in my life as a baseball fan.</div>
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They gave us phenomenal memories and moments of exasperation
and left us feeling exhausted.</div>
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They gave us something to share with our families – with our
mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers, our sons and daughters – all
while prodding each other on, all while giving us hope in the face of
everything to the contrary that said that they shouldn’t have even been there.</div>
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And isn’t that what this is all about anyways?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
But this is more than just my story, or your story, or <a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/208133074/anthony-castrovince-thanks-late-son/" target="_blank">a story so personal and heartbreaking</a> that you cannot help but wipe the tears from your cheeks. <br />
<br />
This is our story, our shared experience - one of hugs and high-fives with complete strangers, one of nervous nauseousness that seemed to last a month, and one of meaningful embraces with loved ones - both in ecstasy and agony. Our story that gave us almost everything we wanted…right until the very end.<br />
This was our Indian Summer. The one we will never forget.<br />
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</div>
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</div>
Paul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-50115962061812242742016-11-06T08:00:00.000-05:002016-11-06T08:00:00.723-05:00Coming to Grips on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqHhyJAYvCYs0o2EFPDubL9tkn_9HYAHyR6rwGJuO6K7ywCbe9f0RllEg3wNpcR90tU2CQfR8hNg2x4pbTwf9KQlDSopN61op_UnjoQ6UfLTC-5itar-JPE4cCVwFfBvslhOB/s1600/high+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqHhyJAYvCYs0o2EFPDubL9tkn_9HYAHyR6rwGJuO6K7ywCbe9f0RllEg3wNpcR90tU2CQfR8hNg2x4pbTwf9KQlDSopN61op_UnjoQ6UfLTC-5itar-JPE4cCVwFfBvslhOB/s400/high+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I…I still can’t believe it’s over. As I sit down and
put virtual pen to paper for the first time in far too long, I just can’t come
to grips with the fact that this team’s magical run through the playoffs has
actually come to an end. I’m still firmly in the “denial” stage of dealing with
the events of November 2, and keep expecting that game 7 will resume after a
rain delay or something. I’ve read a few tweets, responded to a few text
messages asking if I’m ok (I’m not) and managed to drag myself into work (late),
but I’m not really “here.” Not after last night. Not after Dexter Fowler’s
leadoff HR. Not after Kluber and Miller, gassed from giving all they had to
give and seeing a team for the 3<sup>rd</sup> time in 7 games, were just human
enough for the Cubs to stake themselves out to a lead. Not after Kipnis’
improbable scramble home from 2<sup>nd</sup> on a wild pitch, stirring the
echoes of the 1995 Indians juggernaut (that also fell painfully short at the
end). Not after Rajai Davis…RAJAI FREAKING DAVIS hit a game-tying HR, making up
for the run that the Cubs scored off of his throwing arm earlier in the game.
And not after the rain delay, after which the Cubs would rally in the 10<sup>th</sup>
to finally put the Indians season to bed once and for all. It was an incredible
game at the end of an </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">incredible season, and the Cubs were the best team in
baseball in 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Indians trials and tribulations were well
documented throughout this postseason, but indulge me if you would while I
rehash some of the more noteworthy obstacles overcome by this club in 2016:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Michael Brantley, arguably the Indians
best hitter and inarguably their best outfielder, missed all but 11 games this
season while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. If Brantley is healthy
for the playoffs, Michael Martinez isn’t even sniffing the playoff roster.</span></li>
<li>Starting catcher Yan Gomes is limited to
just 74 games after dealing with a multitude of injures, including breaking a
bone in his hand during a rehab appearance juuuuuust prior to rejoining the
club in September.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Due to the Gomes injury, backup catcher
Roberto Perez is rushed back from his own injury without a proper rehab
assignment, struggling at the plate to the tune of a .096/.244/.137 line in his
first 30 games this season. Perez would hit .263/.326/.438 in his final 31
games, all the while providing excellent defense and handling the pitching
staff to rave reviews.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">All-Star and #3 starter Danny Salazar
battled arm issues throughout the 2<sup>nd</sup> half of the season and was
unable to make a start in the playoffs. After a blistering 1<sup>st</sup> half
that saw him post a 10-3 record with a 2.75 ERA and 118 K in 104 IP, Salazar
made just 8 starts in the 2<sup>nd</sup> half of the season, going 1-3 with a
7.44 ERA in 32 2/3 IP.</span></li>
<li>With Salazar’s availability for the
playoffs already in doubt, #2 starter Cookie Carrasco suffered a broken finger
on Sept. 17 in a start against the Tigers, putting him on the shelf for the
rest of the season. Carrasco was 11-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 146 1/3 IP, striking
out 150 hitters. This was the injury that prompted <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2016/09/sept_17_the_day_cleveland_indi.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“the
column”</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> from Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes.</span></li>
<li>With the season winding down, ace Corey
Kluber left his last start with a “minor” groin/quad injury. Kluber would be
ok, but unable to start game one of the ALDS against Boston. The Indians turned
to Trevor Bauer who would go on to beat the Red Sox with a little help from his
bullpen friends.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Speaking of Trevor Bauer, the guy who
began the season in the bullpen but who was our #2 starter in the playoffs (not
because he’d pitched his way up but because of the attrition in front of him),
we were all introduced to the surprise danger of drone repair. That’s because
Bauer injured his pinky finger in a drone repair mishap during the ALCS. It was
almost funny at first, but the Indians had to move Bauer back to game 3 of the
ALCS, and in that game Bauer was unable to work out of the first inning due to
the blood flow from the injured finger. Naturally, the Indians bullpen would
come in and shut down the Blue Jays to stake the Tribe to a 3-0 lead in the
series.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That list is provided not to make excuses as much as
to give you an opportunity to lean back in your chair and think to yourself
about how much this team managed to overcome just to get to last night. They
swept the mighty Red Sox (opening day payroll $198 million), then took out the
powerful Blue Jays (opening day payroll $137 million) just to have an
opportunity to face off against THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL, the 103-win NL
Champion Chicago Cubs (opening day payroll $171 million). I’ve added the
payroll figures here for context, and remind you that your Cleveland Indians
clocked in with a $96 million payroll on opening day of the 2016 season. The
Indians were <i>already</i> the underdogs as
far back as April. Suffering through the bumps and bruises of a 162-game season
is never easy, but it’s a lot easier to weather the storm when your #4 starter
makes $13 million (looking at you, Clay Buchholz). I’m not typically a “silver
lining/moral victory” type of guy, but to not appreciate what this team did
with the players in that locker room is doing them a disservice. </span><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/11/3/13506800/cubs-world-series-champions-results"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll
direct you to the always-fantastic Grant Brisbee of SB Nation for some context:</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>Stop for a moment and think about what
the Indians were trying to do. They had one super starter. They had one super
reliever and one super-super reliever. They had some exciting hitters, but
fewer than you might expect from a team about to win the World Series. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Indians were hoping no one would
figure out that they shouldn’t be there, that their magic rotation was hurt,
and that almost every reason they expected to win the pennant back in March was
turned upside down. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>What if Michael Brantley were playing
in Game 6? Don’t know if he would have been in left or center, but if he were
in center, could he have fielded just a touch better than Tyler Naquin? And
what if Carlo Carrasco were healthy, if he didn’t get hit in the damned hand by
a one-in-a-million shot up the middle? What if Danny Salazar were tuned up and
ready to be one of the tri-aces he was supposed to be when the Indians were AL
Central favorites in spring training. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>What if, what if, what if. The Indians
had more what-ifs than any other team. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="letter-spacing: 3.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="letter-spacing: 3.0pt;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>And the Cubs had the fewest. Forget
the payroll disparity (which was </i><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">massive</span></em><i>) or the talent disparity (also substantial). Just look at the injury
disparity. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Pitchers get hurt. Pitchers tire.
Pitchers are Ferraris driven through sand dunes and dropped off at the
mechanics when they, huh, that’s odd, don’t work anymore. And yet the Cubs had
everyone healthy. Every danged pitcher. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Look at the lineup. All healthy. They
won the division without Kyle Schwarber, and that was a nifty trick, but then
they reached into the top hat, and there was a beefy rabbit surprise. Schwarber
was healthy, against all odds. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In the first inning, Schwarber beat
out an infield hit and then stole a base before the catcher got the ball. Yep,
he seems fine. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>That was the Cubs. They had the best
IR list of any postseason team I’ve ever seen, and even then, they got their
secret weapon back at just the right time. <o:p></o:p></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Seemingly lost in all of this 3-1 series lead hubbub
(memes) is the fact that the Cubs are really, really good. Following the Civil
War, Gen. George Pickett was frequently asked why the South lost the Battle of
Gettysburg. His response was generally recorded as <i>“I've always thought the Yankees had something to do with it.”</i> The
Indians scratched and clawed and fought against the best team in baseball,
undermanned and outgunned. They built a 3-1 series lead primarily off the backs
of some timely hitting, a strong bullpen, Corey Kluber and the magic of Terry
Francona. What was their reward for that 3-1 lead? The right to face three
straight Cy Young caliber starters from Chicago in the form of Jake Arrieta
(2015 NL Cy Young), Jon Lester (top-4 in Cy Young voting in 2010 and 2014) and
Kyle Hendricks (odds-on favorite for the 2016 NL Cy Young). All rested and
ready to go. And who did they have to oppose this troika of arms? Trevor Bauer
on short rest with a bad finger on his pitching hand (wasn’t in rotation at the
beginning of the season), Josh Tomlin on short rest (#5 starter out of Spring
Training) and Corey Kluber on short rest after pitching on short rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We hear that “short rest” thing a lot, but really
don’t have an appreciation for how difficult it is for a pitcher. Not only is
he getting one fewer day for his arm to rest and recuperate, it completely
throws off his between-starts side sessions. Baseball players are creatures of
habit and routine, pitchers even more so than position players. </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2016/10/05/the-case-against-pitching-on-short-rest-in-mlb-playoffs/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Neil
Greenberg of the Washington Post took a look at pitchers starting on short rest
in the playoffs, and the results of his study are telling:</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since
1995, the first year the wild-card format was used in the playoffs, 77 pitchers
have started 121 playoff games on three days or fewer of rest, resulting in a
combined 35-40 record with a 4.35 ERA. Considering teams usually use their ace
in this way during the postseason, those results are not very encouraging.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
overall performance is just as bad when these pitchers are asked to go on short
rest in elimination games: 9-18 with a 4.34 ERA. Only 20 of these 45
performances ended in a quality start and just nine pitchers went more than
seven innings. The latest to do so was Clayton Kershaw in 2015, but before that
it had been 10 years since the last seven-inning performance by a player
pitching on no more than three days’ rest (Tim Hudson in 2005).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There’s a reason starting pitchers throw every 5<sup>th</sup>
day. Looking a little further at those numbers, there has been an average of
3.85 starts on short rest in every playoff season since 1995. The Indians were
starting more than that on short rest in the World Series alone. I’m struggling
to find a way to say this that makes sense, but the Indians were starting more
pitchers on short rest in the World Series than the yearly average of every
team in every playoff series from 1995-2015. That’s just insane. I couldn’t
find numbers from pitchers throwing back-to-back off of short rest who also
pitched off of short rest the series prior. I’m either not that good as a
researcher, or it’s never happened before. There was no ALCS/NLCS until 1969,
and it was a 5-game series until 1985, so don’t come at me with the “Old Hoss
Radbourn” arguments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With all of that being said, this loss hurt me more
than 1995, or even 1997. I was 16 in 1997, and had the benefit of the innocence
of youth on my side for that heartbreaking loss. I still remember exactly where
I was when Edgar Renteria singled just past the glove of Charlie Nagy into CF.
I remember the looks on my friends faces, but I also remember thinking that
they’d be back. The mid-90’s Indians were a juggernaut. Power hitting, power
pitching, come at me bro attitude on the field combining with sellouts in the
Jake every night providing the biggest home field advantage in baseball. Surely
they’d be back in the World Series soon enough, right? They even went out and
re-signed Kenny Lofton before the 1998 season! But baseball, particularly
playoff baseball, is a fickle mistress. The ’98 Indians ran into the 114-win
Yankees in the ALCS. The ’99 Indians collapsed against the Red Sox when Dave
Burba went down in game 3 of the ALDS. The 2000 iteration won 90 games but fell
one painful game short of the playoffs, which was our first hint that this run
might not last forever. In 2001, they pushed the 116-win Mariners to the brink
of elimination in the ALDS but fell agonizingly short. And just like that, it
was over. The rebuilding process began in 2002 in earnest, and the 8-year run
of sustained success that many Tribe fans grew up on was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Indians would not play on baseball’s biggest
stage again until 2016, where they met a Cubs team that hadn’t been there since
Truman’s first year in office. These Indians are a solid ballclub with
outstanding starting pitching and are in excellent position to contend for the
pennant in 2017 and beyond. But this is baseball. Nothing is guaranteed.
Injuries and unexpected slumps can and will occur. They could be right back in
the World Series next year, or they could miss the playoffs entirely. Being old
and jaded as I am, I recognize that it’s entirely possible that the Indians
could go another decade or more without playing a World Series contest, let
alone one where they enter the bottom of the 9</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in game 7 with a
better than 50-50 chance to win it all. That’s why this one hurts so badly,
despite the wonderful ride and sense of pride I feel for cheering for this
club. I’ll never forget the 2016 Indians. The 14-game winning streak, Kluber’s
dominance, the Andrew Miller (and almost Lucroy) trade, the emergence of
Francisco Lindor as a bona fide superstar, Kipnis scoring from 2</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
in game 7, Rajai’s HR, JRam the Goat, Naquin's walk-off inside the park HR, Uribe’s cup, #PartyAtNapolis…it was a special
season, that’s for sure. That it came up one run short in the end stings right
now, but that will fade in time and we’ll be left with the good memories down
the road. So I’ll suck it up and figure out a way to progress through all the
stages of grief in the near term, and look forward to the levers that Chris
Antonetti and company decide to pull this offseason as they prepare to defend
the American League Pennant in 2017.</span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-46104889948026568062016-04-03T07:00:00.000-04:002016-04-07T15:07:03.437-04:00Ready for Baseball on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnajRZAqGZjh4g7LtE5DEiNpAlr-1PYr-0jotG8iY81Ght__HpOwo_Xi4n8SHRO47-I4WZpolimrRLz0CGptusXQp8E5w7zK3tUGqRnibBeK8Um_xQLQLlo4CaRKgP5KvRoWi/s1600/opening+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnajRZAqGZjh4g7LtE5DEiNpAlr-1PYr-0jotG8iY81Ght__HpOwo_Xi4n8SHRO47-I4WZpolimrRLz0CGptusXQp8E5w7zK3tUGqRnibBeK8Um_xQLQLlo4CaRKgP5KvRoWi/s400/opening+day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Back again for the second week in a row here on a Lazy
Sunday! I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for reading and for the
(universally positive) feedback I received after finally posting an article
last week. You guys and gals are the reason I’m writing again this week.
Knowing I’m doing a small part to fill what appears to be a void in otherwise
excellent Indians coverage feels good, and the fact that people are reading and
appreciating it makes it all worthwhile. Well, that and the fact that opening
day is tomorrow(!) This offseason has somehow managed to both drag on and fly
by. It feels like last week that I was watching the Mets fall to the Royals,
and yet it feels like 10 years ago that the Indians last took the field in a
meaningful contest. A lot has happened since then, both on and off the field,
and I cannot wait for real, actual baseball at the corner of Carnegie and
Ontario again. Through an unfortunate quirk in scheduling, I’ll actually be in
Cincy on a work trip for Opening Day tomorrow, but I’ll also be in Cleveland
for game two on Wednesday. If you think I’m not going to be at the stadium for
that game, well, you really don’t know me very well. If anyone wants to meet up
for a cold one at the Corner, I’ll be around Wednesday night. First round is on
me. I should mention that I’ll be there with local television celebrity Jeff
Nomina (among others), so if that makes you want to stay away, I don’t blame
you. Let’s just hope it’s not raining (or snowing). <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m eschewing the traditional “season preview” article
because, well, you can find that pretty much anywhere. But I wanted to take a look
at what I believe will be some of the keys to this season, a few things that
will help determine whether the Indians are on the baseball diamond in October
or setting up their tee times. Symmetrical lists are lazy and unoriginal, but I
think it’s instructive to break down these keys into potential strengths and
weaknesses. Since symmetry is bad, I’m going to look at four things that I’m
excited about, and three that give me pause heading into 2016.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first key to the season that I’m downright giddy about
is Francisco Lindor. When Lindor was called up to the Indians last season, it
stabilized both the infield defense (expected) and the top of the lineup
(didn’t see that coming). Lindor debuted as a pinch hitter on June 14 in an 8-1
loss to the Detroit Tigers. He collected his first major league hit, tripped
over 1B, and the Indians fell to 29-33. They went 52-47 the rest of the season
to finish at 81-80, and Lindor is a huge reason for that improvement. If you
want to play the “completely arbitrary endpoints game” (it’s fun! play along!),
the Indians were a full 10 games over .500 at 36-26 from July 29 through the
end of the season, a stretch during which the defensive wizard Lindor hit a
robust .350/.391/.554 with 8 HR and 36 RBI. When you combine that with Gold
Glove-level defense, it’s easy to see why people are so excited about Francisco
Lindor’s sophomore campaign. He’s also already a leader in the clubhouse by
virtue of his makeup and incredible work ethic.
His smile could power a small country. I could go on, but I’ve waxed
poetic about Lindor for many years in this space, and will likely continue to
do so for many years to come. Suffice to say, the 22-year old shortstop is one
of the primary reasons I’m excited about this team’s chances for contention in
2016 and beyond. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m also really excited that we get a healthy and
(hopefully) productive Yan Gomes back. Gomes was the 2<sup>nd</sup> most
valuable position player on the 2014 Indians if you go by WAR (not a perfect
statistic, but a nice consistent measuring stick for our purposes here). Gomes
was worth 4.2 wins, behind only Michael Brantley’s 6.8. Brantley, you’ll
recall, finished 3<sup>rd</sup> in the AL MVP race in 2014. Gomes was injured in
April last year and missed 38 games rehabbing his knee. Knees, as you’d imagine,
are somewhat important to a catcher. Gomes jumped right back into the lineup on
May 24 but was never quite able to get untracked at the plate. He finished with
just a .659 OPS (down from .785 in 2014) and popping a dozen HR (down from 21
in 2014). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gomes struggled behind the dish last year as well. After
assisting Indians pitching to the tune of 9.8 runs with his framing and 2.4
runs with his throwing in 2014, Gomes actually cost his staff 2.6 runs by his
poor framing and 0.2 runs with his throwing last year. Again, knees are
important to catchers, as is the relationship with his pitching staff. Both of
those suffered with the April injury, and both Gomes and the Indians scuffled
as a result. Gomes finished 2015 with just 0.8 WAR, a full 3.4 wins fewer than
in 2014. If you’ll permit me to round that figure up to 4 (it’s my site now, I
do what I want) and look at the final standings, adding those 4 wins that Gomes
could’ve delivered to the Indians final total shows they would’ve finished with
an 85-76 record. The mathematicians out there are no doubt wondering why that
number adds up to 161, and the answer is because of the unfinished game against
the Tigers that was never made up because it didn’t affect the final standings.
That game would now need to be made up, because the AL Wild Card winning
Houston Astros finished with a record of 86-76. In my fantasy world, the
Indians beat the Tigers in that game, take down the Astros in the 1-game
playoff for the 2<sup>nd</sup> Wild Card, beat the Yankees in a dramatic 1-game
Wild Card showdown in the Bronx and go on to…well, you get the idea. Is it possible
that a healthy Yan Gomes is all the Indians need to push themselves over the
hump and back into the playoffs for the first time since way back in…2013
(editor’s note; that’s not that long ago)? Maybe. Either way, I sure hope we
get to find out. As we were reminded last week with his sub-1.9 pop times
throwing to 2nd, Yan is an awful lot of fun to watch behind the dish. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes sports fans take expected excellence for granted.
The Indians 2016 rotation might be an example of that excellence turning into
complacency. The rotation is led by two players who are AL Cy Young Candidates
in Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. The #3 starter, Danny Salazar, is a
26-year old who has more career strikeouts (380) than innings pitched (347).
Sliding into the #4 slot in the rotation is a 25-year old righty who exceeded
all expectations in his debut last season, going 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 15
starts and winning AL Pitcher of the Month in September. Anderson is
also…seriously…in “the best shape of his life” and is a groundball machine on
the mound. Being a groundball inducing SP at the beginning of 2015 would be a
red flag in front of an Indians defense that was…well, really bad, but 2016
will open with defensive improvements at 3 of the 4 INF positions, so that’s
now a positive rather than a concern with Anderson. The #5 starter is a bit of
a surprise, but Josh Tomlin is what he is; an athletic strike-thrower who is
prone to the longball, but they’re usually solo shots because he rarely walks
anyone. He struck out 19 hitters in 17 1/3 spring IP, including 10 in his final
tune-up against Seattle. That leaves Trevor Bauer headed to the bullpen to open
the season. Bauer had a better spring than either Anderson or Tomlin, lowering
his walk rate and picking up a tick on his already plus fastball. Personally,
I’d have put Bauer in the rotation and moved Tomlin to the bullpen, but that
option can always be exercised later in the season if it becomes necessary. Add
to that group guys like Mike Clevinger and T.J. House, and the Indians go
8-deep when it comes to legitimate SP options. It’s a talented group that is
arguably the best starting corps in the American League, and could rival the
Mets group of flamethrowers for best in baseball before the 2016 season is
over. The Mets made the World Series on the strength of their starting pitching
last season (with help from an insane hot streak by Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel
Murphy doing a Reggie Jackson impression in October), and it’s not a stretch to
think that the Indians could do the same this year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The last thing I’m going to cover in this section is
something I’ve alluded to a few times above already; the vast improvement in
the club’s defense from 2015 to 2016. <a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-cleveland-indians-historic-defensive-turnaround/">Jonah
Keri wrote a fantastic article last year chronicling the Indians rise from the
worst defensive team in baseball last April/May to one of the best by the end
of the season</a>. Not coincidentally, that defensive rise coincided with the
promotions of Francisco Lindor and Gio Urshela from AAA. Lindor will be around
for a full season this year (God willing) and while Urshela is ticketed to
begin the season in Columbus, he’s just a phone call away. Juan Uribe will
start at the hot corner, and he should be at least a league-average defender
this year. Lonnie Chisenhall went from a negative at 3B to an almost
unbelievably effective defender in RF (although he’ll begin 2016 on the DL).
Mike Napoli has saved 20 runs as a 1B, a pretty big step up from Carlos
Santana’s -9. How a 1B can give away that many runs is beyond me, and speaks to
Santana’s utter indifference as a defender. Tyler Naquin is going to start in
CF; he’s fast and has an absolute cannon for an arm, despite lacking major
league experience. Michael Bourn was a former Gold Glover with experience for
days last year, but was neither fast nor had the ability to throw a baseball
through a glass window. By the end of the season, I think that the Indians will
be improved defensively at no fewer than 6 positions this year (CF, RF, 3B, SS,
1B and C). If they managed merely league-average defense for the entirety of
2015, the Indians may have made the playoffs. League-average is the floor for
this year’s defense, and that bodes well for the prospect of playoff baseball
on the North Shore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that we have the sunshine and roses out of the way,
let’s look at three things that concern me heading into 2016. The first,
ironically, is Francisco Lindor. I’ll forgive your confusion, as you’ve seen me
wax poetic about Lindor for the past several years now, including in this very
article a few paragraphs above. What concerns me about Lindor are the sky-high
expectations surrounding his hitting in 2016. I fully believe that no matter
what happens, he’ll be a valuable member of the team by virtue of his glove
alone. But Lindor hit better last year than at any stop along the way in his
minor league career. He never hit more than 11 HR in any minor league season,
then popped 12 in 99 MLB games. He never hit higher than .303 in the minors,
but wound up with a .313 AVG in The Show. His highest MiLB OPS over a full
season was .787, and he far outpaced that with an .835 mark in Cleveland. You
get the idea. It’s possible that this is the new normal for Lindor; after all
he’s only 22 and has added strength and size as he’s made his way up the
organizational ladder. But this is Cleveland, so we’re generally expecting
something to go wrong at any moment. Lindor’s BABIP (batting average on balls
in play) was a robust .348 last year, a mark that’s higher than league average
but not an insane outlier. That number will probably come down as luck evens
out. He did strike out 69 times against just 27 walks, showing some (expected
and totally understandable) struggles against major league breaking balls. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All this isn’t to say that I expect Lindor to be a weakness
on the 2016 team; far from it. I just wouldn’t be shocked if his 2015 batting
line didn’t carry over into 2016. If the 2015 Lindor we saw at the plate is for
real, he’s going to be a legitimate MVP candidate down the road. Voters are
predisposed to offense and tend to ignore defensive value when voting for
awards (even the Gold Glove awards to a degree), which is probably why Carlos
Correa and his 22 HR won the AL Rookie of the Year Award over Lindor despite
Lindor’s higher WAR (4.6 to 4.1). So even if Lindor’s bat does regress in 2016,
he’s still going to be a very important and valuable player to the Indians. I
just think we should be prepared for that possibility, that the 22 year old
defensive wizard isn’t ready to carry a major league lineup at this point in
his career. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My second concern heading into 2016 also focuses on the
offense, particularly the offense supplied by left fielder Michael Brantley.
Brantley was one of the best players in the AL in 2014, posting an .890 OPS,
compiling 6.8 WAR and finishing 3<sup>rd</sup> in the AL MVP voting. He was
well on his way to another excellent season in 2015 before suffering a shoulder
injury, and still managed to lead the league in doubles despite playing in just
137 games. He’s been their most consistent and valuable position player over
the past two seasons, and when he’s in the 3-hole in the lineup, the Indians
are a solid offensive team. Unfortunately, Brantley isn’t going to start the
season in the lineup as he’s dealing with the lingering effects from offseason
shoulder surgery. Brantley was injured diving for a ball on September 22, and
after initially trying to strengthen the shoulder through rest and rehab, went
under the knife in early November. Prior to the shoulder injury, Brantley had
been battling back soreness throughout the season, so it’s almost remarkable he
was able to put up the numbers that he did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Brantley had a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder. As
someone who has had surgery to repair a torn labrum, I can tell you firsthand
that the surgery and recovery are no joke. Shoulder injuries have sapped the
power and effectiveness from Indians hitters in the past. Travis Hafner’s torn
labrum accelerated his decline, and Jason Kipnis dealt with a shoulder injury
that derailed his 2014 season before it could even get untracked. While it was
understood at the time of the surgery that Brantley was not expected back in
the lineup for opening day, he teased Tribe fans earlier this month by playing
(and homering!) in a Cactus League game. That had fans and teammates
understandably excited, but Brantley felt discomfort in the shoulder after
playing, so the Indians shut him down for the remainder of the spring. It’s
tempting to call that a setback for Brantley and many did, but when you
remember back in November that Brantley wasn’t expected to resume baseball
activities for 4-5 months, you realize that he’s not so much behind schedule
now as he was ahead of schedule when he appeared in a big league game last week.
I was always afraid that Brantley would rush back too quickly and either
re-injure himself or be ineffective in the lineup the way Kipnis was in 2014.
Hopefully that little “setback” that he endured last week was more of a reality
check than anything, and Brantley will continue to strengthen his shoulder and
come back when he’s ready to perform at a high level again. Even if that’s not
until mid-April or even May, I’d much rather have 130 games of 2014 Brantley
than 155 games of 2014 Kipnis-type performance. If the Indians are going to
contend for a championship in 2016, they’re going to need a healthy and
productive Michael Brantley in LF. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The third and final area of the team I’m concerned with
heading into 2016 is the bullpen. Cody Allen is more than solid in the back of
the pen, coming off of a season where he saved 34 games, struck out 99 and
posting a 2.99 ERA in 69 1/3 IP. Before that though, there’s a significant
amount of uncertainty. Jeff Manship was otherworldly last year, allowing a
miniscule 0.92 ERA in 39 1/3 IP (469 ERA+!!!), but prior to last year he was
nothing short of awful as a major league reliever. His ERA in 139 1/3 IP prior
to last season was a robust 6.46. I sure hope he’s the guy we saw last year,
but to count on that seems silly. Bryan Shaw was solid last year with a 2.95
ERA in 64 IP, but he’s made 224 appearances over the last three seasons and the
28-year old’s right arm might actually fall off this year if he is called on to
make another 70+. No one really knows what to expect out of Joba Chamberlain,
but he finished last year with a 4.88 ERA (and a 5.37 FIP) in 27 IP last year.
Zach McAllister has the potential to be a weapon in the back end of the
bullpen, and was solid there last season with 84 K and a 3.00 ERA in 69 IP. The
only lefty in the bullpen is Ross Detwiler, and he has a 5.56 ERA in the last
two seasons since becoming a reliever. As much as Tito Francona loves pulling
his RP levers in the late innings of games, I’m a little surprised that the
Indians are breaking camp with just a single southpaw. I fully expect to see
Kyle Crockett in Cleveland at some point in 2016, especially if Detwiler
struggles early on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Manship, Shaw, Detwiler, McAllister, Chamberlain and Dan
Otero might pitch effectively in 2016. But that’s not something I’m comfortable
counting on. I like McAllister a lot in the bullpen and think his stuff plays
up there, and it sure seems like Shaw is able to bounce back year after year
despite his heavy workload. But the rest of the bullpen has me a little
worried, and the fact that there’s only one lefty out there can’t leave Terry
Francona feeling too comfortable. The wildcard in all this is Trevor Bauer,
who’s slated to start the season in the bullpen after losing out to Cody
Anderson and Josh Tomlin for a slot in the rotation. There’s been some
speculation that Bauer or another starter could be flipped for a bullpen arm
but that seems silly as starters are much more valuable than relievers by
virtue of their work rates if nothing else. Can Bauer, with his complicated and
intricate warmup routine and control issues, pitch effectively out of the
bullpen? How long of a leash will Tomlin (who’s pitched out of the bullpen in
the past) and Anderson have with Bauer waiting in the wings? It’ll be
interesting to see, and something to keep tabs on early on this season.</div>
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This is the final Lazy Sunday of the offseason, and
depending on what time you’re reading this, there could be less than 24 hours
until Corey Kluber toes the rubber at The Jake and takes on David Price and the
Boston Red Sox. Opening Day is always full of excitement and wonder about the
season to come, but the season will quickly settle into the day in and day out
routine of the Indians doing what they can to win as many baseball games as
possible. If they can stay healthy (always a big IF), I think they can make the
playoffs in what should be a competitive AL Central. And if they can get into
the playoffs, their rotation gives them a chance to compete against anyone.
I’ll take Kluber/Carrasco/Salazar against any top 3 in baseball, even the Mets
3-headed monster of Harvey/Thor/DeGrom. Getting to the playoffs is going to be
hard enough as it is, so hopefully the Indians can avoid another slow April
start like the ones that have plagued them for years now. The 2012 Indians were
11-9, the last time the club finished over .500 in the seasons’ first month.
There’s an old saying that you can’t clinch a playoff spot in April, but you
can lose one, and while that’s not exactly true it sure doesn’t help to dig a
hole that you spend the rest of the season trying to dig out of. So while you
shouldn’t get too wrapped around the axle about one game, and try not to let
the small sample sizes early in the season convince you that a player is a
bum/all-star, these games do count in the standings. Here’s hoping the Indians
get off on the right foot with a few wins, the fans come out to support the
team, and there’s sunshine and warm weather on the North Coast this April. <o:p></o:p></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-15132122359410474692016-03-27T07:00:00.000-04:002016-03-27T07:00:09.689-04:00Back in Action on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hi. Remember me? I used to write stuff about Indians
baseball. People read it and everything, it was really great. Unfortunately,
the last time I wrote anything about Indians baseball was…June of 2015. Wow,
that’s embarrassing to actually see in print. When Paul Cousineau stepped away
from the interwebs (for good, it turns out) in September of 2012, the one thing
I wanted to do with this site is to carry on his legacy and keep the DiaTribe
alive in a form that he’d be proud of. Paul hasn’t said anything to me about
it, but I can’t help but feel like he’s disappointed with where the site is
today. Without boring everyone with the details of my personal life, I’ve
welcomed a DiaBaby of my own to the world this past November, and being a
first-time parent is every bit as challenging as my wife and I expected, and
more. He’s healthy and (usually) happy, and we’re incredibly blessed in that
sense. I can’t imagine how parents deal with a legitimately sick child, as
every time he sneezes my wife and I hold our breath, worrying that there’s
something wrong (the veteran parents out there are no doubt chuckling to
themselves right now). Adding the kid to a work schedule that has involved both
a promotion and more travel than I ever expected makes writing at the level worthy
of this site a difficult proposition at best. I already struggle to replicate
the quality that you became accustomed to with the great Pauly C. in the best
of circumstances. Writing with an increasingly hectic work and personal life
became a difficult proposition, and whenever I did finally put virtual pen to
paper, I was never satisfied that the result was worth publishing on this site.
The DiaTribe has always been high quality, long form journalism. That high
standard handed down by the Godfather isn’t easy to live up to, but it’s something
at which I’ve always made a legitimate effort. For those that are still
reading, I’d love to hear from you via e-mail, twitter or in the comments
section as to whether that’s something that you still value in this day and
age, or if you’re more attracted to shorter, more frequent pieces. Articles of
more than a couple of pages are rare these days, and if the demand isn’t there
for that, then I’ll quit worrying about satisfying the (non-existent) desire
for more long-form stuff. This is all a very long-winded way for me to do three
things; 1) apologize to those who frequented the site and didn’t want it to go
away 2) tell you that I’m going to make a better effort to write more this
season and 3) try to determine the appetite for articles on this site. Look
forward to your feedback, and hopefully spending many a Lazy Sunday with you
this year and in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I didn’t feel comfortable writing a prospect
countdown this year because I just haven’t seen the guys throughout the org the
way I have in years past, so I’d primarily be regurgitating others opinions on
players. If you’re looking for original prospect coverage right now, check out </span><a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/indians/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">IBI</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">,
</span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Baseball
Prospectus</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> and the new </span><a href="http://2080baseball.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2080 Baseball</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.
I’ll get back out and start checking out the affiliates this year, but missing
out on spring training makes it tough to see the new guys and also to get a
read on the improvements made by the veteran players in the org. But I do want
to talk about one guy that I’m really excited about this year, a guy that has
flown under the radar over the past year or two due to his age and injury
history. Mike Clevinger was originally a 4<sup>th</sup> round pick by the Los
Angeles Angels back in 2011, and was dealt to the Indians in 2014 for Vinnie
Pestano. Clevinger had thrown just 5 2/3 innings in 2013 coming off Tommy John
surgery, and was getting knocked around the Cal League with high-A Inland
Empire (5.37 ERA in 55 1/3 IP). But the Indians focused on his peripherals (58
K) and projection, and figured he was worth a flier. Clevinger responded with a
legitimate breakout as a 24-year old in Akron last year, going 9-8 with a 2.73
ERA, 145 K and 40 BB in 158 IP for the Rubberducks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Clevinger has a starter’s body and repertoire,
throwing four pitches that project to be at least average at the major league
level. His fastball sits comfortably in the mid-90s, and he compliments the
fastball with a slider, curveball and split-change a-la Danny Salazar.
Clevinger’s split-change is of course not in Salazar’s class just yet, but I’d
be shocked if the two weren’t exchanging notes on the pitch throughout
Clevinger’s time in big-league camp this spring. </span><a href="https://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=28681"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adam
McInturff of Baseball Prospectus saw Clevinger in action earlier this month and
came away impressed:</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Clevinger’s fastball ranged between 93-97 mph, sitting
consistently at 94-95. It’s a straight four-seamer, but he consistently showed
the ability to power the ball past hitters and get swings and misses. He showed
progressively better feel for a slider at 82-85 that flashed solid-average (if
not a tick better) at its best, and looked like a reliable second pitch. His
third pitch was a hard splitter at 87-90, though it was too firm (almost
looking like a two-seam fastball) at the higher end of velocity band. Clevinger
rattled off some better splitters during his second inning of work, though,
flashing a </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">handful with pretty nasty life bottoming out and running away from
left-handers.”</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s still early, but if Clevinger becomes even a
serviceable back of the rotation SP, the Pestano-Clevinger deal will become
another in a long line of under the radar steals by the Indians front office.
If he becomes a solid #3 or even #2 (which seems possible based on his frame
and stuff), it’ll fall into “Yan Gomes for Esmil Rodgers” territory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Moving on to players who have already been
contributing to the major league roster; it’s no secret that Francisco Lindor
was a force in his rookie season last year. Lindor played the sparkling defense
that we all expected from him upon getting the call to Cleveland, but his bat
produced at a higher level than anyone expected. A career .279/.354/.384 hitter
across 5 minor league seasons, Lindor hit .313/.353/.482 with 12 HR, 51 RBI and
12 SB in 99 games at the major league level last year. That’s a big leap for a
21 year old in his first exposure to major league pitching. Ken Rosenthal of
Fox Sports wrote a really nice piece on Lindor, and I’d like to focus on a
couple of Ken’s points, if I may;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“…</span></i><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">consider
that Lindor immediately established himself as an elite defender — and that he
batted .205 with a .492 OPS in his first 90 plate appearances with the Indians,
.342 with a .927 OPS in his next 348.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">~snip~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Indians
hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo mentioned to the team's front office that Lindor's
at-bats actually looked good, even if the results indicated otherwise. The
front office, after examining Lindor's exit velocities, determined that he
indeed was hitting into poor luck, general manager Chris Antonetti says.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Van
Burkleo relayed that information to Lindor, who appreciated that the coach did
not try to alter his mechanics.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">~snip~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He decided that he would bunt more out of the No. 2 spot,
putting runners in scoring position for No. 3 hitter Michael Brantley. Francona
didn't necessarily like the idea. But he, too, declined to suggest anything
different to Lindor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I was getting caught in between," Francona
says. "I was like, 'The kid is trying to do what he thinks is right.' But
he's such a good hitter, I didn't want him to give himself up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I never really said anything to him. I thought,
'You know what? Let's see where it goes.' Sometimes you've got to just let 'em
play a little bit."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All these months later, Lindor believes that bunting was
pivotal to his later success. He would track the ball, follow its progress to
his bat. In subsequent plate appearances, he would see the ball better and
swing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">His batting average rose. His confidence followed.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reading the entire article (which you should’ve done
by now anyway), you can’t help but come away even more impressed with Lindor
than before (which I thought was impossible, but there you go). The fact that a
21-year old could come up, struggle, be trusted by the coaching staff and
organization to make his own adjustments then come out and have a borderline
historic half season tells you so much about Lindor’s talent, maturity,
leadership and makeup. And you really have to hand it to the Indians as well;
trusting Lindor to work his way through his own struggles was absolutely the right
decision. Too often a hitting coach can artificially tinker with a young player
and wind up creating bad habits where none existed to begin with. The Indians
know what they have with Lindor, and they (correctly) trust him to get the most
out of his considerable talent. This does not mean that Lindor is infallible
and will never need coaching, of course. But knowing when to coach up a player
and when to leave him alone is important, and it’s a difficult line to draw
when working with a 21-year old rookie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The player who moved aside to make room for the
21-year old Lindor has been making waves this spring, as Jose Ramirez has been
impressive both at the plate and at various stops around the diamond
defensively. Ramirez was handed the SS job out of spring training last year,
and stumbled to a .180/.247/.240 line in 46 games before being sent down to AAA
Columbus. Ramirez was clearly pressing and looking over his shoulder, knowing
uber-prospect Lindor lurked just behind him and that he may be getting just one
shot at the SS job in Cleveland. Ramirez was recalled to Cleveland on August 3,
and from then on to the end of the season he served as a super-utilityman,
playing all over the diamond and producing much more effectively at the plate.
He didn’t set the world on fire, but he put up a .259/.337/.438 line with 5 HR
in 50 games. More importantly, he walked (19) more times than he struck out
(15) over those final plate appearances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ramirez was never going to be a 1<sup>st</sup>-division
everyday SS in the major leagues. He’s not a great defender at SS, and was
never going to out-hit his defensive deficiencies enough to play the position
at a high level. What he can be however is a Mike Aviles type utilityman,
playing SS, 3B, 2B and even OF as needed. He’s a switch hitter, so he can give
Kipnis a break against tough lefties, play 3B when there’s a good RHP on the
mound, plus he can pinch hit and pinch run as necessary late in games when he
doesn’t get the start. Ramirez can still be an incredibly valuable part of a
major league roster, despite failing to prove he can handle SS. He’s still just
23 years old and is under club control for at least four more seasons. Take
these with an enormous grain of salt, but as of Friday he was hitting .390/.422/.780
with 4 HR in spring training. If he can ride that wave into the regular season
in a clearly defined utility role, Ramirez can be one of the most important
position players on the roster this season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8Z0ZD8yFyx9D4HG_oFDEN5HCl5ISLi2w9giJNe8B51lDmhpLdh2kZaNp5m4V7chcHj4A1cE9iaSJheRmqTx8O57hXDBw0p0v71W1m7gazJbPN2c7R-d3Go0od_arAG7rgjqS/s1600/naquin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8Z0ZD8yFyx9D4HG_oFDEN5HCl5ISLi2w9giJNe8B51lDmhpLdh2kZaNp5m4V7chcHj4A1cE9iaSJheRmqTx8O57hXDBw0p0v71W1m7gazJbPN2c7R-d3Go0od_arAG7rgjqS/s320/naquin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another player who opened some eyes in camp this
spring is CF Tyler Naquin. Naquin was thrust into the competition for the
opening day CF job when the Abraham Almonte suspension was announced, and he’s
responded with his best stretch of production as a professional hitter. With
our spring training and small sample size alarms blaring, I’ll just note that
Naquin is hitting a robust .447/.500/.842 with 2 HR, 3 3B and 3 2B in 15 games
(38 AB). In addition to the solid performance at the plate, Naquin is the best
defensive CF on the roster right now, and will offer more defensively than his
competitors for the role. Naquin has good speed and takes good routes to the
ball in CF. Add to that a plus-plus arm that’s among the best in all of
baseball, and you have an above average defensive CF, a guy that’s going to add
value to the lineup even if he doesn’t hit. I certainly don’t expect Naquin to
carry over his spring production if he does get the nod to start the season in
Cleveland, but his bat won’t be completely empty. He’s not going to hit for
much power, but he’ll put the bat on the ball, take a walk and (yes) he can
bunt if the situation calls for it. He hit a combined .300/.381/.446 between
Akron and Columbus last year, and has a career minor league OPS of .777. If I
had to pick someone on the current Indians roster to start the season as the
everyday CF, it’d be Naquin. The Indians have already announced that Naquin
will make the opening day roster, and I doubt they’re taking him north just to
sit. I expect him to be patrolling CF on April 4 when Tom Hamilton finally
announces that we are UNDERway at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This offseason, the Indians finally signed a pair of
veterans who it feels like they’ve flirted with for a decade now. This site has
advocated for the Indians to go out and get Juan Uribe and/or Marlon Byrd since
Paul Cousineau himself was writing the articles. Uribe and Byrd were cheap,
low-risk signings that serve to improve on areas of the team that were…let’s
just say poor last season. Gio Urshela came up and showcased a fantastic glove
at the hot corner, but the then-23 year old hit just .225/.279/.330, not enough
to lock down the position for 2016. Uribe meanwhile has posted OPS+’s of over
100 in each of the past three seasons in the National League (116, 120, 105),
meaning he was better than league average at the plate. He’s also 37 years old
and very much on the downside of his career, but signed to a 1-year, $4 million
contract there is really no risk here to the Indians. If it turns out he’s lost
it at the plate and in the field, they release him and give Urshela another
shot. If he can produce at a level even commensurate with 2015, then it’s a big
step forward in filling a void at 3B. He’s a popular guy in the clubhouse and
will help provide veteran leadership to a young infield. It’s a solid signing,
even if it would’ve been better three years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The other vet flying his way to the North Shore is
outfielder Marlon Byrd. Byrd is even older than Uribe at 38, but has probably
been more productive over the past few years. The right handed hitting Byrd has
hit 24, 25 and 23 HR over the past three seasons, respectively. He’s posted a
combined .268/.313/.469 line with a 116 OPS+ since 2013, pretty solid numbers
for a guy closer to 30 than 40. Signed to a minor league deal to augment an
uncertain outfield corps, Byrd carries even less risk than Uribe, and even more
upside. Here’s a list of Indians players who hit more HR than Byrd last season;
N/A. That’s right, Carlos Santana led the club with 19 dingers. Santana’s 27 in
2014 would’ve been more than Byrd that season, but no one else hit more than
his 25. Not to belabor the point, but Byrd also would’ve led the AL Wild Card
winning 2013 Indians with his 24 HR (2 more than Nick Swisher’s 22). Power has
been in short supply at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario for the past few
years, and especially with Brantley’s injury concerns, there’s no one in the
Indians outfield that projects to hit more than 15 or so HR this year. Adding
Byrd to the mix on a minor league deal could end up being a significant move.
It’s entirely possible that the Indians just signed the guy who’s going to lead
the 2016 club in HR, and they did it in mid-March. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sincere thanks for those of you who are still reading,
and hopefully you’ll stick with me through another year of what will likely be
somewhat inconsistent posts. It’s good to be back, and I really think this
could be a special season for Indians baseball. The pitching staff (which we
really didn’t even talk about this week) is one of the best in all of baseball,
and the lineup and defense are going to be better than they were last year. Is
that going to be enough to propel the club to meaningful October baseball? Time
will tell, but I think they’re built to contend this year, and potentially make
a run deep into the playoffs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-46065747761254642862015-06-14T07:00:00.000-04:002015-06-14T07:00:06.226-04:00Talent Infusion on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVFTSP8evExGPZwSRCNYujLEkmoeOmoP1O1YNEqT1Pfd8U39Rr3yye6sAx0Y15m0Qlp9c_BUY6WwDpPNg-uNe2jpR9Q-I2trsMy1bEAzVGZv8Lk9Btmuv7rnWLJgHzfNehFdq/s1600/Ryan-Raburn-Cleveland-Indians2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVFTSP8evExGPZwSRCNYujLEkmoeOmoP1O1YNEqT1Pfd8U39Rr3yye6sAx0Y15m0Qlp9c_BUY6WwDpPNg-uNe2jpR9Q-I2trsMy1bEAzVGZv8Lk9Btmuv7rnWLJgHzfNehFdq/s400/Ryan-Raburn-Cleveland-Indians2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two steps forward, one step back. One step forward,
two steps back. That’s what the Indians season has felt like lately. Every time
they seem poised to break out and cross the .500 Rubicon and go on an extended
winning streak, the offense disappears for a couple of games. Or Trevor Bauer
has his worst start of the year. Or both occur in the same series. So here we
sit in mid-June, and the Indians still haven’t been over .500 since they took 2
out of 3 from the Astros in the seasons’ opening series back in April. Stop me
if you’ve heard this before, but the main culprit continues to be the Indians
subpar defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To help illustrate just how bad the defense has been
(and how good the starting pitching has been), I’m going to enlist some
assistance from the good folks over at Beyond the Boxscore. </span><a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/6/8/8571111/cleveland-indians-tragically-unlucky-starting-rotation-era-fip-babip?utm_campaign=beyondtheboxscore&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ryan
Roman of BtB penned a helpful piece this week explaining how the Indians
starting pitchers might be the unluckiest group of souls in the history of
baseball.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If that sounds like hyperbole to you, I don’t
really blame you, but bear with me for a second and you’ll see why that is
Roman’s hypothesis. As of Friday, Indians pitchers have struck out 9.96 hitters
per 9 IP. That’s a remarkable number, over a full strikeout higher than the 2<sup>nd</sup>
place Cubs 8.92 K/9 mark. The league leaders in 2014 were these very same
Indians, who posted an 8.92 K/9 ratio over a full season, a number that they’re
on pace to far surpass this year. They also lead the league in another category;
BABIP against. The Indians pitchers have been victimized by a .329 BABIP, well
above the league average. That isn’t just luck (although luck does have
something to do with it); it’s reflective of very poor defense. If both of
those numbers hold up for the rest of the season, the Indians will be the first
team since William McKinley’s (an Ohioan!) election to “achieve” that feat. The
2014 Indians were close, but they had “only” the 2<sup>nd</sup>-worst BABIP
against in MLB. So for the last season and a half, the Indians have been
historically good at missing bats, while simultaneously historically bad (and/or
unlucky) at ranging to balls hit in play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These numbers almost can’t remain consistent, except
for the fact that they have. With over 220 games of data in our sample, we’re past
the point where #SSS is an issue, and we’re starting to eliminate bad luck as
the primary culprit. The Indians just don’t have the range to field baseballs
that other teams do at this point. Fortunately, the Indians have made one move
to correct this issue, bringing up slick-fielding 3B Gio Urshela from Columbus.
Urshela should have at least a playable bat (his HR that cut through the
Cleveland wind on Thursday was particularly impressive) but more importantly,
should have an above-average glove right away. He’s being asked to replace
Lonnie Chisenhall’s poor glove and .585 OPS, so it’s not as though he has an
insurmountable bar to clear. The Urshela promotion is the first move that the
Indians can make to shore up their infield defense and help some of that batted
ball “luck” normalize for their outstanding pitching staff. The second move is
of course promoting SS Francisco Lindor (hitting .400/.429/.600 in June!), but
I’m not going to beat on that dead horse this week. Let’s just enjoy the
Urshela experience for what it is, and know that there are further defensive
reinforcements on the horizon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jason Kipnis put the finishing touches on an
incredible month of May a couple of weeks ago, but can we really expect that
sort of production from him over a full season? Well, no. He’s not going to hit
.429, and probably won’t post an OPS north of 1.200. But now that he’s back
healthy, Kipnis is again an all-star caliber 2B, and we can expect him to
produce like one moving forward. <a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/6/6/8733569/jason-kipnis-indians-healthy-good-may">I’ll
again refer you to Beyond the Box Score, where Murphy Powell took a deep dive
into batted ball numbers to show the difference between Kip v.2014 and this
year.</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You
may know that Kipnis lost a bit of last season with a strained right oblique.
And because those often linger for a while, I’m perfectly content in finding
that the May version of Kipnis was just a healthy version of Kipnis. Really,
that seems like a pretty reasonable conclusion, given his batted ball
distances. In 2013, his average distance was nearly 193 feet, good for 72nd in
the league. There was a pretty sizable drop in 2014, however, when Kipnis saw
his average batted ball distance sink to 177 feet following his oblique injury
in May of that year. That average put him deep in the lower third of the
league, ranking 230th out of 300 listed players on Baseball Heat Maps. Now that
Kipnis is (presumably) healthy again, that number has hopped back up to 191
feet.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 2014 Kipnis was hitting more fly balls and
hitting them shorter than at any point in his career. He was pulling the ball
more, hitting fewer line drives, and in general just struggling to drive the
ball with any kind of authority. That all goes back to the strained oblique,
and how difficult of an injury that is to recover from in mid-season. Kipnis
admits that he felt pressure to live up to the big contract that he signed
prior to the 2014 season, and as such he didn’t want to take enough time off to
allow the injury to fully heal. Now that he’s back healthy, we can expect him
to remain in all-star form for the foreseeable future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUk2kK4OvADeVQSGwGC4Y6i18v1tl1UqifEa1a1ds_LlidkdZ_o75ECtquZxQEnBRqeFmEuHvpv4GSZ9XOyXlRLWMIQqbQa_py87LYku9nGHQPAcAuo0gO_LvQzzqRL2aidFv/s1600/Aiken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUk2kK4OvADeVQSGwGC4Y6i18v1tl1UqifEa1a1ds_LlidkdZ_o75ECtquZxQEnBRqeFmEuHvpv4GSZ9XOyXlRLWMIQqbQa_py87LYku9nGHQPAcAuo0gO_LvQzzqRL2aidFv/s400/Aiken.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaving the big league club for now, the Indians
made even more headlines that one would expect with their 1<sup>st</sup> round
pick last week, selecting an injured and rehabbing prep lefty by the name of
Brady Aiken. Aiken was the 1<sup>st</sup> overall pick of last June’s draft by
the Houston Astros, but did not sign with the Astros after a downright bizarre
series of events following his selection. If you’re not familiar with the
Aiken/Astros story (or just need a refresher, like I did), </span><a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/2015/6/10/8756867/brady-aiken-astros-1-pick-contract-dispute-elbow-injury"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
highly recommend this article from our good friends over at Let’s Go Tribe.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Jason Lukehart of LGT wrote up a nice synopsis (below) and also talked to Ryan
Dunsmore of Crawfish Boxes, the LGT equivalent SB Nation site for the Astros
(including a FANTASTIC quote from a scout that you’ll have to click on the link
to read):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two
days after he was drafted, Aiken and the Astros agreed to a $6.5 million
signing bonus, pending only a physical. That physical reportedly revealed a
smaller than normal UCL, which is the ligament that has to be repaired by Tommy
John surgery. The Astros then cut their offer all the way down to $3.1 million,
which was the minimum they could offer and still receive a replacement pick in
this year's draft (if Aiken declined). Many believed they wanted him to
decline, preferring to get the #2 pick in this year's draft (which they did),
rather than running the risk of paying millions to a pitcher they were no
longer confident in. On the day of the signing deadline, the team apparently
upped its offer to $5 million, but no deal was reached.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The whole thing is worth reading, as it gives pretty
good perspective as to what happened, who was to “blame” for Aiken not signing,
and what it might take to bring him into the fold before signing day this year.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz_Uq3MmUtXjHWBEy2g6WmrjidfpYzn7ACGpOeLq21dZ5Wn8fJlOswLBD_2l98ymwWxCVpjl9TGgANzHt7xGt5_6VwmEGfq9UFlRGny6KTLvjfxkrU-7gYIioi9WsBl4KOXx_/s1600/Aiken+arm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz_Uq3MmUtXjHWBEy2g6WmrjidfpYzn7ACGpOeLq21dZ5Wn8fJlOswLBD_2l98ymwWxCVpjl9TGgANzHt7xGt5_6VwmEGfq9UFlRGny6KTLvjfxkrU-7gYIioi9WsBl4KOXx_/s400/Aiken+arm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When he’s on the mound, Aiken is a stud. He was
drawing comparisons to guys like Andy Pettitte and Clayton Kershaw when the
Astros were conducting their pre-draft evaluations in 2014. Aiken was
considered the #1 prospect in the 2015 draft until he went down with the elbow
injury in March. His sinking fastball sits 92-94 and touches 97. He has an
excellent curveball that needs to be a little more consistent, and a changeup
that scouts assess will be a future plus pitch. He has three potential 60-70
MLB pitches, which is crazy for a high school lefthander. I’m not going to
belabor the finer points of Aiken’s arsenal, because the talent level is pretty
much a known commodity at this point. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=26595"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
scouting reports like these that prompted Baseball Prospectus’ draft/prospect
guru to the following assessment following the pick:</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Seriously, I'm
not sure anyone is better at the draft right now than Cleveland is. When
healthy, Aiken is the best player—not just pitcher—in the draft, with three
plus pitches and command/feel for pitching that would make a veteran envious,
much less a kid who still is a teenager. There are obvious questions here that
make him a high-risk selection, but the reward is a future ace. Getting one at
the 17th pick is amazing. Great job, Cleveland.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prior to the draft, I didn’t think there was any
chance the Indians would take Brady Aiken.</span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/lazy-sunday-with-president-v2015.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
I was flashing back to my pre-season interview with Indians team President Mark
Shapiro,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> where he stressed that the Indians were not a club
who could risk millions of dollars on high-risk talent coming out of Cuba.
Naturally, the Indians took Aiken, making me look even dumber than I usually do
(and that’s a challenge). That’s when I went back and re-read my own interview,
and realized I had missed the point of Shapiro’s original comments. I’ll
re-post the relevant question and answer for clarity, and bold Shapiro’s key
sentence for emphasis:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Seeing the opening of Cuba as a market, more so that before with defectors, as
both the Indians President and a guy on the competition committee, what do you
think of some of the big deals that are getting thrown to the Cuban guys that
are coming over? Do you ever see an international draft because of some of the
factors in the market down there?</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Well, it’s a
little bit, probably, Indians-centric of me as a judgement, but I’d like to see
some adjustment that allows access to that talent. As it’s currently being
distributed, we are going to be marginal to non-players in that area just
because of the level of risk, and that risk comes from lack of information. We
just don’t know much about these guys. Unless there’s information being
illegally obtained, they’re being signed largely from a tryout environment. I
understand, and I’d probably take that risk if I ran a large-market team, but
we don’t have that luxury. It’s not an area we can play in. <b>We can’t risk tens of millions of dollars
on players that we have far less information on than players in the draft that
cost a lot less.</b> So it’s just a very tough market for us to play in. I
would like to see something that allows access to that talent on a more
proportional basis, that’s not so market-based.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This isn’t like Cuba; the Indians HAVE information
on Aiken. It’s in Aiken (and his agent’s) interest to provide medicals to teams
pre-draft, otherwise it looks like they are hiding something. So I’m sure the
Indians had a chance to look over a pretty detailed report concerning Aiken’s
surgically repaired elbow. Now that they’ve selected him, they’ll have the same
opportunity that the Astros had to put him through a pre-signing physical to
ensure that there are no further concerning anomalies before they offer him
upwards of $2 million. If Aiken clears that final hurdle, the Indians will have
a chance to bring in a potential lefthanded ace with a mid-1<sup>st</sup> round
draft pick. Those chances don’t come along every year, and it’s both exciting
and a little bit scary that they took that shot this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The best-case scenario for what the Indians are
trying to do here is currently playing out in Washington, where Lucas Giolito
is a top-10 pitching prospect in all of baseball. Giolito was in the mix to be
the first prep righty ever selected #1 overall in the draft back in 2012 before
an elbow injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery (and bonus concerns) pushed
him down to the #16 overall pick. Giolito signed at the deadline for $2.925
million ($800,000 over slot) and began his rehab as a member of the Nationals
organization. Giolito blew out his elbow in 2011, and pitched 2 innings with
the Nats Gulf Coast affiliate in 2012. The Nationals handled him with kid
gloves in 2013 (as expected), as he pitched just 36 2/3 innings between the
rookie league, short season and low-A. In 2014, Giolito was allowed to throw 98
innings in low-A, striking out 110 and walking 28. He’s already pitched over 70
innings here in 2015, and could be a member of what’s already a very formidable
Nationals rotation as soon as 2017 (more likely 2018). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The worst-case scenario for the Aiken selection is,
ironically enough, also taking place in our nation’s capital. The Nationals
selected TCU righthander Matt Purke in the 3<sup>rd</sup> round of the 2011
draft and signed him to a major league deal worth $4.15 million. Purke had a
shoulder injury at the time, but had been one of the top pitchers in college
baseball and was considered a potential #1 overall pick. Instead of succsessfuly
rehabbing the shoulder and slowly increasing his workload as Giolito did,
Purke’s shoulder got worse, eventually requiring surgery. He then hurt his
elbow in 2013, which required Tommy John. Purke is now a 24-year old starter in
low-A, and has pitched just 149 2/3 innings since he was drafted 4+ years ago.
The Nats basically lit $4.15 million on fire, and wasted a 40-man roster spot
to boot. Hopefully Aiken turns out more like Giolito than Purke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO0h7m8vw-EnEs44hnmXL7_djTNUlg9Grken2igxb-cyzJNyqcVSj2YVQlJzPiP9zfN2ko3ubddD3jKtaqjmh7p8yw5NUyE8Qzv_gnx1WMGktz27DTIzJn95mnOylzoZl1yfe/s1600/Perez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO0h7m8vw-EnEs44hnmXL7_djTNUlg9Grken2igxb-cyzJNyqcVSj2YVQlJzPiP9zfN2ko3ubddD3jKtaqjmh7p8yw5NUyE8Qzv_gnx1WMGktz27DTIzJn95mnOylzoZl1yfe/s400/Perez.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the 12<sup>th</sup> round of the draft, the
Indians made Terry Francona the happiest man on the planet when they selected
switch-pitcher Ryan Perez out of Judson University in Illinois. Oakland
reliever Pat Venditte brought national attention to the existence of this
phenomenon when he made his major league debut for the A’s last week. Indians
media asked Tito about Venditte, and Francona responded that it was a “dream
scenario” for the bullpen aficionado, adding that he’d “wear him out” if he had
Venditte on the roster. </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/129872678/tribe-drafts-switch-pitcher-perez-in-12th-round?partnerId=as_cle_20150611_47344306&adbid=608967069543993344&adbpl=tw&adbpr=52861612"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
Jordan Bastian details here, Tito had a predictable reaction when Mike Chernoff
informed him that the Indians had selected a switch pitcher in the draft:</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"I thought
he was kidding," Francona said on Wednesday. "He might not even go to
the Minor Leagues. I don't care if he gets anyone out -- just the idea that he
can go both sides. I thought they were messing with me."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perez learned to switch pitch thanks to his dad, who
would encourage him to skip rocks with his left arm growing up in addition to
his right. This is hilarious, as my friends and I frequently joke that for any
of us that have sons, we’ll tie their right arms behind their backs so they can
grow up as southpaws and have a better shot at pitching in The Show (or at
least getting college paid for). Perez’s dad didn’t go quite that far, but he’s
given an idea to wannabe MLB dads everywhere. Don’t just make your kid switch
hit, get him to switch pitch as well. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=26623"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chris
Crawford of Baseball Prospectus projects Perez as a middle reliever who can be
effective against hitters on both sides of the plate,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
but does note that he’ll need some mechanical adjustments from the right side
(which is ironic considering he’s a natural righty). He sits 92-94 from the
left side with a solid curveball, which is probably enough to get by as a
reliever. Regardless, it’s a fun story, and he’ll be an interesting guy to
monitor on his way up through the system (if Tito doesn’t force him onto the
MLB roster the day he signs). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-90359633850608335392015-05-24T07:00:00.000-04:002015-05-24T07:00:01.378-04:00A Memorial Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o9V9gAqaxHcyHNpXIExCsFGdT_OM4IuL-LgYMYp41g50nNXuUEfTGPW-gHum644tf_kkg4h8a806wfU8ISoQB_FlAT9iRTB6P_giPGHmop7As-F38dRACnWKpBGmYdbhzl2v/s1600/denny+green.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o9V9gAqaxHcyHNpXIExCsFGdT_OM4IuL-LgYMYp41g50nNXuUEfTGPW-gHum644tf_kkg4h8a806wfU8ISoQB_FlAT9iRTB6P_giPGHmop7As-F38dRACnWKpBGmYdbhzl2v/s400/denny+green.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nearly two months into the 2015 major league
baseball season, the Indians pretty much are who we thought they were. That
“we” even encompasses those (myself included) who thought they were a playoff
team in 2015. They’re a decent team with exceptional starting pitching, a solid
(if unspectacular) lineup, a below-average bullpen and a dumpster fire
defensively. Again, this is more or less what we saw coming into this season.
If anything, the starting pitching has actually been better than expected, and
a bounceback season from Jason Kipnis has helped propel the offense to the
upper half of the AL. But the defense has been worse than anyone could’ve
possibly imagined, dragging the club down in the AL Central standings like an
anchor. To help illustrate that point, I’m going to have to throw some
“advanced” stats at you, so bear with me here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Indians team ERA sits at a rather pedestrian
4.31 (all stats as of Friday). That is “good” for 24<sup>th</sup> in all of
baseball. Pretty poor, really, and if you’d asked someone in 1994 if the
Indians pitching staff was good, they’d say “absolutely not.” But you and I,
we’re smarter than that. We watch the games. We see the Klubot, Cookie, Bauer
and Salazar striking out hitter after hitter, only to see soft groundballs
somehow leak through the infield with nary a glove nearby. We watch Mike Aviles
(sorry to bring this one up) try to track down a ball in center, coming up
empty and wondering what he was even doing in CF to begin with. We know that
the Indians starting pitching has been outstanding, but with the team ERA being
what it is, we don’t really have a way to quantify that in a single,
all-encompassing stat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fear not, fellow frustrated fan. We DO have a stat
that looks at every aspect of what a pitcher can and cannot control and assigns
a value to what he and he alone does on the diamond. No, I’m not talking about
WAR. WAR is nice, but it’s not really predictive and isn’t as useful in such
small samples. I’m talking about cFIP, or contextual fielding independent
pitching. An improvement over the traditional FIP, cFIP accounts for everything
going on in a game; the pitcher, hitter, defense, umpire, catcher framing,
ballpark, hot dog race participants…everything. </span><a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/fip-in-context/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s a
complete primer on cFIP from Jonathan Judge of Hardball Times if you’re
interested in learning more</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, but I’ve snipped a couple of key
excerpts here that help us understand why it’s such a useful stat:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">cFIP has
multiple advantages: (1) it is more predictive than other pitcher estimators,
especially in smaller samples; (2) it is calculated on a batter-faced basis,
rather than innings pitched; (3) it is park-, league-, and opposition-adjusted;
and (4) in a particularly important development, cFIP is equally accurate as a
descriptive and predictive statistic.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The last
characteristic makes cFIP something we have not seen before: a true pitcher
quality estimator that actually approximates the pitcher’s current ability. I
recommend both its use and its further refinement.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~snip~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When is a
pitcher quality estimator actually isolating true talent? My answer is this:
when there is a substantial similarity between the estimator’s descriptive and
predictive power. If an estimator is truly isolating a pitcher’s talent, there
should not be much difference between the two. If an estimator is doing well in
one aspect and poorly on another, then it is not estimating a pitcher’s true
ability: rather, it is over-fitting past results to better explain what
happened (primarily descriptive) or under-fitting past results to minimize
future error (primarily predictive).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So now that we’ve established that cFIP is an
excellent tool for both analyzing past performance and predicting future
success, where do the Indians rank in terms of cFIP?</span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1831645"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Why, first in all of baseball, with a cFIP score of 82</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
(like OPS+, cFIP is scored so that 100 is exactly average. Lower cFIP is better
than higher). That number is especially remarkable when you consider that the
next-closest club is the Clayton Kershaw-led Dodgers at 92. That 10-point
difference between the Indians and Dodgers is the same as the difference
between the #2 Dodgers and #22 Atlanta Braves. The Indians have the best
pitching in baseball, and it’s really not even close. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68A7l8a6bJBsUR7e42negSb9AuYiSU8_hAvwS7_VV-8w0xqnnY2bskc_c-fIwhhN2fjp3W-ILL04KxKwi2GTb6zFPtmsrO6ZKvEwVcG1VQoWPn2vZg9vW0EngxAI_J1cDLBty/s1600/zeke+error.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68A7l8a6bJBsUR7e42negSb9AuYiSU8_hAvwS7_VV-8w0xqnnY2bskc_c-fIwhhN2fjp3W-ILL04KxKwi2GTb6zFPtmsrO6ZKvEwVcG1VQoWPn2vZg9vW0EngxAI_J1cDLBty/s320/zeke+error.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So why are the Indians scuffling along with fewer
than 20 wins in the season’s first 40 games? Look no further than the defense,
which yet again is THE WORST in all of baseball. They’re dead last in both
Defensive Efficiency and Park Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They’re last in
BABIP against, with opposing offenses hitting a robust (and probably
unsustainable) .331 against them when they make contact. The 2<sup>nd</sup>-worst
are the Washington Nationals, all the way down at .322. The Indians are 28<sup>th</sup>
(hey, progress!) in Defensive Runs Saved. This confirms all of our offseason
fears about the defense. They can indeed be bad enough at fielding the ball to
counteract just how great they are at pitching the ball. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are, however, encouraging signs to be found
within this sea of statistics. The Detroit Tigers, for instance, lead baseball
with a .334 BABIP. Kansas City is 2<sup>nd</sup> at .322. Both of those numbers
are likely to regress at some point. Kansas City has been just as lucky in the
field as they have been at the plate; KC’s BABIP-against is a paltry .260, a
full 71 points lower than the Indians, and a number that can’t help but rise as
the season progresses. The Indians are likely to improve on their record, and
the Royals (and to an extent the Tigers) will surely cool off after their
sizzling start. Will the three clubs’ respective move towards the mean be
enough to see the Indians pass one or both of their AL Central rivals for a
playoff spot? Time will tell, but if not, we know where to place the blame;
squarely on the defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But do we really have to wait until September to
look back and curse the horrendous defense that ruined such outstanding
pitching? Is there really no solution available in mid-season that could fix
what ails this club? Well, it just so happens that there are reinforcements on
the horizon. In the near-term, the Indians are getting Yan Gomes back today.
Gomes is an above-average defensive catcher, and will slide average defensive
catcher Roberto Perez back to a reserve role where he belongs. Perez has been
serviceable as a fill-in for Gomes, but is far better suited to be a backup
than an everyday catcher at the major league level. Gomes return to the lineup
is akin to the tide coming in; the Gomes tide will lift the boats containing
the defense, pitching and the lineup all in one fell swoop. That’s both the
easiest and most imminent move to improve the D (and the team).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Move two is something I won’t belabor, because it’s
a train I’ve been aboard for a while now. That, of course, is to promote
Francisco Lindor to the major league roster and play him as the everyday
shortstop. Lindor is a superlative defender who would be an immediate upgrade
over Jose Ramirez, who is flat-out overmatched as an everyday shortstop.
Ramirez has value, but that value is as a super-utility guy who can play 2B, SS
or 3B several times a week, spotting Chiz/Kip against tough lefties and filling
in at SS when the need arises. But he’s a poor defender at SS, and the 22-year
old switch-hitter is hitting just .195/.265/.264 this season. Even if Lindor’s
bat isn’t a finished product (which it isn’t), it’s hard to offer less value
than a .526 OPS. Lindor makes this team better today by virtue of his defense
alone, and that’s worth having him on the major league roster sooner rather
than later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My third idea is to move David Murphy to a club
hungry for outfield help in exchange for a bullpen arm. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1831645"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite
the mentality of Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Murphy is expendable, and with him off the roster the Indians would be able to
bring up the more versatile James Ramsey. Ramsey will likely be a better
defender than Murphy, and can play all 3 OF spots. He’s a better hitter than
Tyler Holt, and will help prevent Mike Aviles from ever appearing in CF again.
If Murphy can fetch a contributing bullpen arm, I’d do this deal in a heartbeat.
Murphy is playing well right now, but he’s more or less redundant with all of
the other left handed hitting OF on the roster. He’s doing a nice job this
season, hitting .312/.341/.481 primarily against right handed pitching, but
that .822 OPS would be the 2<sup>nd</sup>-highest of his career over a full
season, and is unlikely to continue at that rate. Murphy is a good guy and a
solid player, but he’s a subpar defender and I’d rather have another bullpen
arm right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moving on from the current team’s struggles for a
moment, <a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/5/20/8622771/indians-sabathia-trade-lee-trade-would-they-do-it-again">Joseph
Werner from Beyond the Box Score has a nice write-up confirming what most of us
had already concluded; the Indians “won” both the C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee
trades.</a> Or, at the very least, they’d pull the trigger on each of those trades
again even with the benefit of hindsight. Judging a trade in the immediate
aftermath is silly, especially when the deal involves acquiring prospects in
return for an established major leaguer. The Indians front office was roundly
roasted for not getting enough in return for their Cy Young Award-winning
pitchers after Matt LaPorta flamed out and Jason Knapp reinjured his shoulder. But
here we are in 2015, with an OF coming off of a 6-win season and a solid #2
starter, both under team control for the long term, and those trades are
looking awfully good: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And for the
first five seasons after dealing their pitching stalwarts, it looked as if all
the front office had to show for their collective efforts was a league average
regular left fielder, who hit like a center fielder and lacked the pop for a
corner spot, and a frustratingly fringy back-of-the-rotation arm. They were, in
every sense of the word, the last men standing from their respective deals as the
other prospects petered out.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Something funny
happened over the past season-plus – not funny in the traditional sense, mind
you, but more in the way of nobody-saw-it-coming – both players took
developmental leaps forward. The corner outfielder hit like a legitimate
middle-of-the-order impact bat and the maddening, inconsistent right-hander
suddenly became, well, consistently dominant.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Sabathia and Lee trades, the Ubaldo deal, Casey
Blake for Carlos Santana, YAN GOMES and Mike Aviles for Esmil Rodgers…the
Indians front office has done a remarkable job acquiring talent via trade over
the past decade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oDliEl4dQStbZNfN7VtWWP5l4de4yuvph9pCbq_pLFVqI8vBqgt11u7JADWJxNmo1g9S8Bb962QYys1JFEMdUfeFl_wTYealC2DovsbrcYOxG4a41ynp7mTtZACpNovohRhE/s1600/cookie+yell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oDliEl4dQStbZNfN7VtWWP5l4de4yuvph9pCbq_pLFVqI8vBqgt11u7JADWJxNmo1g9S8Bb962QYys1JFEMdUfeFl_wTYealC2DovsbrcYOxG4a41ynp7mTtZACpNovohRhE/s320/cookie+yell.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of Carlos Carrasco, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/carlos-carrasco-carlos-carrasco/">Mike
Podhorzer of Fangraphs has a nice breakdown of Cookie’s 2014 vs his 2015.</a>
Carrasco lowered his ERA to 4.74 with a win against the Reds Friday night, so
there may be those out there who see him as a disappointment after his electric
2<sup>nd</sup> half last year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Podhorzer goes deeper into Carrasco’s 2015 to
show that he’s actually pitching much like he did last year, but he’s been let
down by luck and the defense (surprise!) thus far. Carrasco’s K rate and walk
rate are nearly identical, and he’s actually throwing more strikes this year
than he did last year. His FIP is 2.62 (he finished with a 2.44 FIP last year),
but his ERA is more than 2 runs higher (4.74 this year to 2.55 last year). The
biggest difference is in BABIP. Cookie limited hitters to a .274 average on
balls in play last year, but that’s jumped to a whopping .359 this season.
There’s no way that lasts, even with the Indians horrific defense. Carrasco
remains an excellent pitcher, so please don’t be “that guy” at the water cooler
citing his high ERA as a reason why last year was a fluke. It wasn’t, and
Carrasco’s numbers reflect that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring up the incredible
season that Jason Kipnis is having, as he’s in the midst of one of the best
stretches that I’ve seen from an Indians hitter in years. As the Indians
leadoff hitter, Kipnis is hitting a sizzling .387/.480/.632 with 4 HR and 15
RBI in 26 games. In 20 games during the month of May, Kip is hitting
.463/.546/.732, good for a 1.278(!) OPS. In terms of wRC this month, his 259
trails only Bryce Harper’s 296 mark in all of baseball. He’s leading the
American League with 57 hits, and his 2.5 WAR are more than he accumulated in
all of last season. His defense has been better this year as well, as he’s been
worth 0.4 dWAR (1.1 better than his -0.7 dWAR in 2014). He’s fueling an offense
that ranks 5<sup>th</sup> in the AL with a combined .730 OPS, and the Indians
have been a different team since he moved into the leadoff spot. The challenge
for Kipnis will be to sustain this success throughout the season. He’s a career
.325/.396/.554 hitter in the month of May, but has averaged a sub-.700 OPS in
July-September. If Kip can maintain anything approaching this pace for the rest
of the season, it’ll go a long ways towards supporting the Indians’ outstanding
starting pitching down the stretch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xARWnXVqZUnGzQzCSzxVHGABzFWLj4iQuS-eMIStZbuwwwm7VWGW3ngPQjYh3y8kNMkmWf7RRnvJ-yFuBQ3rSSefbHaibjX9WWFjbiovAV4EdGtw0rLachCnnJ0GelXHp7mk/s1600/arlington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xARWnXVqZUnGzQzCSzxVHGABzFWLj4iQuS-eMIStZbuwwwm7VWGW3ngPQjYh3y8kNMkmWf7RRnvJ-yFuBQ3rSSefbHaibjX9WWFjbiovAV4EdGtw0rLachCnnJ0GelXHp7mk/s400/arlington.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the US, an
occasion that some see as significant because of the day off work and the start
of summer BBQ season. Fortunately, we have a couple of excellent articles that
both tie into baseball and remind us of the significance of the holiday. <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/05/stephen_reich_baseball_army_he.html">Zack
Meisel of the Plain Dealer wrote a fantastic piece about a local baseball star
who gave up his major league dreams for pilot’s wings,</a> becoming a Special
Forces helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. He tragically perished while flying a
team of US Navy SEALS into enemy territory attempting to rescue Marcus Lutrell
and the other SEALS in Operation Red Wings. This op would eventually be
detailed the book and movie “Lone Survivor.” As Meisel himself tweeted, if you
only read one thing he’s written, make it that article.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition to Meisel’s fabulous effort, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-heartbreaking-story-of-chris-moon--baseball-prospect-turned-american-war-hero-031857196-mlb.html">Graham
Watson of Yahoo Sports penned an article about Chris Moon, Atlanta Braves
draftee and University of Arizona baseball star who dropped out of Arizona to
join the Army in 2007.</a> Moon volunteered for the airborne, then for sniper
school and wound up in Afghanistan as a sniper for the 82<sup>nd</sup>
Airborne. Moon was killed by a coward with an IED near Kandahar. He was just 20
years old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brave men and women have been fighting and dying for
America since before we were even a country. Memorial Day was established in
the wake of the Civil War as a time to honor those soldiers who have made the
ultimate sacrifice. So by all means, enjoy a couple of cold beers and a burger
(or three) at a barbecue this weekend. But while you do, take a moment to
appreciate the men and women who have fought and died over the past 250 or so
years so that we can live in freedom to enjoy baseball, BBQ and apple pie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-63236528623581212952015-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:002015-04-26T07:00:02.045-04:00Playing Defense on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R9iLD4uVdLlgE39kB680zPB_E0kR8wfx31WusFyiEP_TpRqcpIJr4-3RFAMxuZd93ose9S0QJgnjfawx4katZ-g1mWHJHF7TvkIyFqcMXSzTJhOn08Ow8lVo0Ji-kkCiO49i/s1600/Moss+HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R9iLD4uVdLlgE39kB680zPB_E0kR8wfx31WusFyiEP_TpRqcpIJr4-3RFAMxuZd93ose9S0QJgnjfawx4katZ-g1mWHJHF7TvkIyFqcMXSzTJhOn08Ow8lVo0Ji-kkCiO49i/s1600/Moss+HR.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nearly three weeks into the season, the Indians have
scuffled their way to a 6-10 record and find themselves at the bottom of the
very competitive AL Central division. Just when it looked like the Tribe had
found some momentum after a 13-1 shellacking of the Tigers, Trevor Bauer came
down with food poisoning before yesterday’s start and the Indians were unable
to get anything going in yet another loss to their AL Central foes. TJ House
made an emergency start and held the Tigers to three runs in three innings of
work, a decent outing considering the circumstances. But the offensive outburst
from Friday night didn’t carry over to Saturday, and Brandon Moss (who’s OPS
spiked nearly 200 points after his 2 HR, 2B, 7 RBI game on Friday) failed twice
go score a runner from 3B with less than 2 outs in a 4-1 loss. It’s still
early, but the 2015 Indians seem to have the same problems that plagued the
2014 Indians; poor defense, lack of timely hitting and a complete and utter
inability to beat Detroit on a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-the-30-twins-yankees-indians-nationals-defense/">Grantland’s
Jonah Keri checked in with his weekly power rankings on Monday, slotting the
then 4-7 Indians in at #15 overall.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Since Keri’s weekly
focus was on defense, it’s no surprise that he chose to expound on the Indians
ranking. Keri notes that, following a season in which the Indians were the
worst defensive team in baseball, they’ve opened the 2015 season as the second worst
defensive team in baseball. So…they’re trending upwards? Keri goes on to note
that while the Indians have and will continue to suffer with defensive
limitations, it might not matter as much due to the propensity of the Indians
rotation to strike out everyone in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2015.shtml">It
only takes a quick look at the AL pitching leaderboards to confirm this theory.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
After Friday night’s games, the Indians led the AL in strikeouts with 158 (one
ahead of the Yankees 157). The AL average was 125. The team ERA however, is a
more robust 3.88 (league average 3.98). Since it’s 2015 and not 1985 though,
let’s dig a little deeper on that one and note that the Indians have the 2<sup>nd</sup>
best Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) in the AL at 3.25, and that 0.63
disparity is the 2<sup>nd</sup> highest in the AL, behind the fellow
strikeout-heavy NYY. The Indians pitchers are (again) controlling what they can
control, but the defense isn’t picking them up. If this sounds like a familiar
story, it should, as the 2014 Indians led the AL with a 3.42 FIP but were tied
for 6<sup>th</sup> with a 3.56 ERA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So how do we fix this? How do we take advantage of
what could be the best top to bottom (especially if TJ House can right the
ship) pitching staff in the league? Well, it just so happens that I have a
plan:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Call
up James Ramsey to replace Little Jerry Sands. Ramsey, unlike Sands, can play
all three outfield positions and will prevent any future situations where Mike
Aviles plays CF. He’s a better defender than Murphy, and should be able to hold
his own at the plate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Swap
out Jose Ramirez for Francisco Lindor. Ramirez has been OK at short this year,
but his range factor and defensive runs saved are both down from 2014 (small
sample size alert). Combining those stats with years of scouting evaluations
that suggest Ramirez will be at best an average shortstop pushes this one over
the top for me. Ramirez can go back to AAA and play SS, 2B and 3B, then come
back in a couple of months and take over the Mike Aviles role. Meanwhile,
Lindor takes over at SS and immediately becomes a plus defender at short,
shoring up a shaky infield D even if he can’t do much with the bat at the
outset. Ramirez is hitting .204/.245/.286 right now…can Lindor really do much
worse than that?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At
some point in mid-late May, if Lonnie Chisenhall still isn’t hitting, call up
Gio Urshela to play 3B. Even after hitting his first HR of the season on Friday
against the Tigers, Chiz was hitting a paltry .204/.245/.306. That includes a
.167/.212/.300 line against southpaws. He’s been better in the field this year
(in a small sample), but came in at -1.5 WAR in the field in 2014. Urshela
could be an elite defender at 3B, and even if he manages a .550 OPS he’d at
least be giving the offense the same “help” that Chisenhall has provided this
year. As an added bonus, Urshela hits right handed, which would help settle
some of the villagers with pitchforks lining up outside of Chris Antonetti’s
house demanding a less lefty-heavy lineup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6iGT7JXHm_FaCi-oBty-TMs7PBioqFDOfxuKOVgefKWhl8UuI-q04WxgDwHAXCbVb-ect9OvtqeqYajsR0wuFmhIjSzBtKgG9VsscAskcq9At_bo1nuCvnISwrlvBajjt5jC/s1600/Urshela.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6iGT7JXHm_FaCi-oBty-TMs7PBioqFDOfxuKOVgefKWhl8UuI-q04WxgDwHAXCbVb-ect9OvtqeqYajsR0wuFmhIjSzBtKgG9VsscAskcq9At_bo1nuCvnISwrlvBajjt5jC/s1600/Urshela.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will any of these moves actually happen? Probably
not in the near-term, especially with Urshela just coming off the DL for AAA
Columbus this past week. But something needs to be done to improve the defense
before it’s too late. The Indians cannot win the AL Central in April/May, but
it’s possible that they could lose it if this skid lasts much longer. What’s
funny to me is that they Indians very quickly recognized that they had a more
talented pitcher in AAA (Salazar) who could take a rotation spot from a guy who
was scuffling out of the gate (McAllister), and immediately made a move to fix
it. That move has proven effective thus far, with Salazar making two
superlative starts, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 21 K in 13 innings. Why the
team’s brain trust can act so quickly to fill a hole in the rotation but can’t
seem to do the same for the defense is baffling to me. Hopefully a fix comes
sooner rather than later. It’s a long season and this is still a very talented
baseball team, but the defense could again prove to be the Achilles heel that
keeps them for making a run deep into October. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With all that being said, Mike Petriello of
Fangraphs ran an interesting article earlier this week suggesting that the
Indians defense might not be as bad as the numbers would indicate early this
season. The Indians rank 28<sup>th</sup> in baseball with -12 defensive runs
saved, but -7 of those come directly from the pitcher position. That’s
ridiculously high, the worst in all of baseball. As Petriello explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">24
of the 30 teams are within a relatively narrow -2 to 2 range, simply because
it’s so early and no one’s had the time to be that bad. But Cleveland’s
pitchers have dragged down the overall team score to such a degree that if we
looked only at non-pitcher DRS, they’d be tied with the Pirates at 23rd. Not
that ranking 23 out of 30 in anything is something to be proud of, but when
you’re coming from as far back as this group was last year, you’ll take what
you can get.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">snip~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
we know, certainly, is that the defensive numbers aren’t perfect, especially
this early. What we know, even more certainly, is that defense has been an
ongoing issue for this team for a few years. Right now, it’s just too simple to
look at “close to last place in DRS” and make the judgement of a disaster.
Pitchers and minor leaguers and out-of-position infielders are making that look
worse than it needs to be. It’s not the same thing as having a playoff-caliber
defense, though. Not the same thing at all.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the defense, while not great, has been better
than last season. It’s still not where it needs to be, but if the AAA cavalry
can come up and improve the overall profile even more, that could be enough to
vault the Indians back into contention in the AL Central. The starting pitching
is going to give them a chance in virtually every game this season, and the
lineup should come around eventually. The big question mark remains the D, and
that’s something that can be improved with cheap, young, internal options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While the majority of Clevelanders were busy letting
their blood boil over an idiotic column from an idiot (Dan Shaughnessy, who I
will not link to here under any circumstances and that rule was in place before
last week’s travesty of a column), there was another Boston reporter who was
writing a complementary column about Cleveland, and the Indians in particular. </span><a href="http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2015/04/21/turning-twosday-a-players-prime-and-cheringtons-choice/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Baseball
Prospectus’ Brian Joiner took a nice look at the Indians roster construction in
the context of how Boston has torn down and rebuilt their roster over the past
couple of years.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Joiner is becoming quite the
Clevleophile (I just made up a word, go with it), having written the Indians
section of the </span><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Baseball-Prospectus-2015-ebook/dp/B00TGC010C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429876266&sr=1-1&keywords=baseball+prospectus+2015"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Baseball
Prospectus Annual</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and in general having lots of nice
things to say about both the city and team here on the North Coast:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
did not write about the Indians because I love Cleveland, but because I was
asked to write about Cleveland. That was lucky. I love Cleveland, starting with
Major League, duh, and continuing
to this day. I have gone to Cleveland for fun on several occasions, and I have
had such delirious good times that I have nothing but good things to say about
it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~snip~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyway,
this year’s Indians are a construction marvel. Nearly the entire starting
roster spot is filled by a reasonably paid, above-average baseball player in
his prime. What the front office, led by Chris Antonetti, lacks in maneuvering
room with its roster, it makes up for in construction efficiency, save for Nick
Swisher and Michael Bourn, the albatrii in the outfield.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~snip~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
so simple that it’s brilliant, and in a way it renders a lot of analysis —
well, not meaningless, but certainly less dense. The Sox’s rotation is one you
could make from reading the stats on old baseball cards, and the Indians have
shown that if you get guys who are just good enough, one of them might go from
relatively anonymous starter to Cy Young Award winner, and a second to do it
the next year, and, voila, you’re contenders, at least to your enthusiastic
biographers. To them, to me, the Indians are exciting: a team primed to reach
its peak.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Indians have won 177 games in the two seasons
since Terry Francona took the helm, with the Red Sox claiming 168 victories.
Each team has claimed one playoff appearance. The Red Sox are off to a better
start this season, but I’ll take the Indians pitching over the Red Sox by a
landslide. It’ll be interesting to see how these two clubs stand at the end of
the season. The Red Sox have a better lineup and will be able to trade for
pitching reinforcements (possibly Cole Hamels). The Indians have better
pitching and have prospect help on the way for the lineup and defense (Lindor,
Ramsey, Urshela). Both clubs figure to be better in September than they are right
now. With they each claim a playoff slot as they did in 2013? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqUAFq0eFM8D1VIxdvRGrj_2f2S8xwr9_FKb55Nw04sVbB0ElhDnK1vaoBWLYl5A0RM3JnpTd4mKs5kuIpbOhcUgKE0acuA-2VyZtMRwIHIQGqrAyuvy3OSJflv7llO7H990T/s1600/Ventura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqUAFq0eFM8D1VIxdvRGrj_2f2S8xwr9_FKb55Nw04sVbB0ElhDnK1vaoBWLYl5A0RM3JnpTd4mKs5kuIpbOhcUgKE0acuA-2VyZtMRwIHIQGqrAyuvy3OSJflv7llO7H990T/s1600/Ventura.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s not directly Indians-related, but we’ll stick
in the Central Division for a look at just how thoroughly the Royals
embarrassed themselves in their series with the A’s last week. Much digital ink
has been spilled on this topic, </span><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/4/20/8458119/brett-lawrie-slide-royals-as-unwritten-rules?utm_campaign=mccoveychron&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">but
for my money the best effort was from Giants SB Nation writer Grant Brisbee</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
Brisbee is normally both funny and insightful, so it’s not too much of a
surprise that he was able to nail this particular topic. He provides two very
helpful videos illustrating just how bad things were back in the “good old
days,” one of Joe Morgan and one of Hal McRae. Each of these instances, were
they to occur today, would likely melt the internet and cause Twitter to
explode. Literally, not figuratively, explode. Please go watch them if you
haven’t already. Brisbee correctly judges Lawrie’s slide as bad but not
egregious, and Yordano Ventura’s ensuing HBP as silly, but predictable.
Ventura’s fake tough-guy walk towards Lawrie after the HBP inexplicably
escalated the situation, but Lawrie pretty much just took his base and the
whole thing was over. Or so we thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day, Kelvin Herrera inexplicably threw at
Lawrie again, in the 8<sup>th</sup> inning of a 2-1 game. He threw at him
twice, and the second pitch was at or above the shoulders. Regardless of what
Lawrie did or did not do, this foolishly re-ignited a situation that was over
and done with. He also threw at Lawrie’s head, something that is both extremely
stupid and extremely dangerous. Fellow fake tough-guy Salvador Perez then got
up in Lawrie’s face when he (rightly) took exception to being targeted for
assassination, but only after the umpire got between them and prevented any
actual physical altercation from taking place. Lawrie again remained calm until
Herrera pointed at his head, as if to say to Lawrie “I just tried to kill you
by striking you in the head with a 100 MPH fastball,” to which Lawrie pretty
naturally took exception to and started yelling at Herrera. I feel like this
can’t be stated enough; Herrera’s pitch to Lawrie registered triple-digits on
the radar gun. It could have literally killed him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lawrie seems like a bit of a nutcase. That doesn’t
excuse the fact that the Royals matched and then far-escalated his nuttiness in
some misguided attempt to…well, I’m not sure what exactly they were attempting
to prove. That they’re tougher than the A’s? Crazier? All of the above? Herrera
should be suspended for 50 games, but he won’t because steroids are somehow
worse than trying to kill someone with a 100 MPH fastball. He got a 5 game
suspension, which clearly didn’t send the message to KC because Yordano Ventura
felt the need to start a fight against the White Sox this past Thursday.
Ventura fielded a comebacker to the mound off the bat of Adam Eaton, and inexplicably
felt the need to hang on to the ball and scream at Eaton while he was running
to first. When this (naturally) escalated into both benches clearing, Ventura
ran away and looked downright confused as to what he did wrong. The Royals are
becoming the least-likeable team in baseball, and they show no signs of
relinquishing that title any time soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-58396024860165977902015-04-12T09:10:00.000-04:002015-04-12T09:10:24.008-04:00Looking at Lynchburg on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Regrettably, I did not have time to work up a proper
Lazy Sunday for you all this week. I was busy building my backyard shrine to
Jerry Sands. We have a popular pre-season playoff pick struggling despite a
strong showing by their highly-regarded rotation (with one exception). The
defense has been scuffling, and the lineup just isn’t producing, and it’s tough
to pinpoint exactly why. The bullpen has been touched up a little, and it’s
unclear who can be the 8<sup>th</sup> inning bridge to the young, talented
closer. But enough about the 1-4 Washington Nationals, you’re here to read
about the 2-3 Cleveland Indians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Judging solely by the twitterverse, it may surprise
some of you to learn that the Indians are 2-3 and not 2-30. Frustrating losses
to the Tigers seem to be a foregone conclusion at this point, and yesterday’s
was particularly galling. Corey Kluber deserved better than a no-decision, and
the Indians were leading against the Tigers ace before the bullpen gave it back
and then some. The Tribe battled back to tie it on the heroics of Little Jerry
Sands, and then Cody Allen of all people got touched up in the 9<sup>th</sup>
to finally put the game out of reach. Worst of all, the 9<sup>th</sup> inning
saw Yan Gomes hit the deck in pain, with a sprained knee at least and an MRI
today to determine if there’s any serious structural damage. Knees are
important for catchers (#analysis!), and if Gomes misses an extended amount of
time, the Indians lose their best right-handed hitter and a crucial defender
behind the dish. All is not lost at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, but it’s
also tough to imagine the first homestand going much worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was in Woodbridge, VA on Thursday for a cold and
wet MiLB opening day. The Indians new high-A affiliate, the Lynchburg Hillcats,
were in town to take on the Potomac Nationals. Dylan Baker started on the mound
for the Hillcats, and was backed by a stacked lineup featuring Clint Frazier,
Mike Papi, Bradley Zimmer, Nellie Rodriguez, Eric Haase and more. Some
quick-hit thoughts on the game:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve seen two of Dylan Baker’s starts as
a professional, spanning 11 innings of work, and I’ve yet to see him allow a
hit. He walked Jayson Werth in the first inning on Thursday, and didn’t allow
another baserunner after that. Baker was sitting comfortably in the 94-96 MPH
range with his fastball, touching 97. He was up in the zone in the 1<sup>st</sup>
inning, but settled down and spotted the pith effectively in the zone after
that. His slider was a little inconsistent but flashed plus, and he mixed in a
few curveballs as well. He only threw a handful of changeups, but saved the
best one for the rehabbing Werth’s 2<sup>nd</sup> AB. He had Werth way out
front on a CH to run the count to 1-2, then came back with a 96 MPH fastball on
the inside corner for a called strike 3. Baker struck out a career-high 9, and
the 23-year old looks to be ready for AA Akron sooner rather than later.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clint Frazier is back to his toe-tapping
ways, similar to his plate approach in high school. He played around with a leg
kick last year, going with a big leg kick, small leg kick and finally settling
back on the toe-tap as a timing mechanism. The bat speed is electric no matter
how he triggers his swing, and the power potential is evident even when you’re
watching him take swings in the cage. Frazier collected a pair of hits last
night, both on line-drives up the middle. The first was a liner just to the
right of the second baseman, and the second was a hard line drive to the right
of the shortstop. Frazier still has a very aggressive approach, attacking the
first pitch in 2 of his 5 AB, and got caught out on his front foot a couple of
times. His 5<sup>th</sup> AB was his best of the night, as he was able to stay
back on a pitch on the outer half and line a hard single through the 5.5 hole
to the right of the shortstop. I think that having a consistent mechanical
approach to hitting will help Frazier in 2015, as constant swing tinkering can
make things tough on a young hitter. I still expect him to collect his fair
share of strikeouts, especially in the pitcher-friendly Carolina League, but
he’s going to hit some home runs as well. He’s a talented, confident young kid,
and he’s going to be a big part of the Indians future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eric Haase has long been a favorite of
mine, and last night did nothing to change that. Haase was consistently popping
sub-2.0 in his throws to 2B between innings, showing off a plus arm and
excellent footwork. His receiving is still a little raw, as he was stabbing at
breaking pitches a little more than I’d like, but that’s something that should
improve with time. At the plate, Haase was 1-5, but the hit was a triple that
he smoked into the gap and then flashed his above-average (especially for a
catcher!) speed in legging out the three-bagger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen
Bradley Zimmer live and in person, and he did not disappoint. Zimmer went 1-3
with two walks and a K, and I came away impressed with his size and swing
mechanics. Zimmer starts with a slightly open stance and triggers with a short
stride to close himself up and brings his hands quickly down through the zone.
He has a little more leverage in the swing than I expected, and I can
definitely see 20 HR in his bat once he adds a little more weight to his 6’4”
frame. There’s no wasted movement in his swing, and he should be able to make
consistent contact throughout his career. He’s a plus runner and a very good
athlete, and really looks smooth out in CF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mike Papi struck out once and drew three
walks in 5 plate appearances last night. He wasn’t passive at the plate, he
just didn’t get much worth swinging at. He has a compact swing that should
generate plenty of contact, and I’m excited to see more of him in game action. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Robbie Aviles pitched better than his
score line would indicate (1 2/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 4 H, 3 K, BB). Only one of the
hits he allowed was a hard-hit ball, and he was a victim of the BABIP gods on
the other three. He was working mostly in the 90-92 MPH range and showing nice
arm-side run on his 2-seamer. It was the first time I’d seen Aviles pitch, and
he gets some deception with his cross-body delivery. He had a 2.55 ERA in 84
2/3 IP for Lake County last year, and is an intriguing potential bullpen arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nellie Rodriguez went 1-5 with a double
down the LF line last night, and his swing looks a little shorter than the last
time I saw him. The weather robbed us of an opportunity to see his raw power
displayed in BP, but I should be able to see he and Frazier duel for BP
supremacy next week in Frederick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The #MiLBProblems hashtag was in full
effect last night. It was a chilly day that turned into a cold (~40 degrees)
night, and there was a steady drizzle that fell throughout the game. That was
miserable enough, but to make things worse, the power in the LF lights went out
with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9<sup>th</sup> inning. I’m told there was a 40
min delay, but I wasn’t going to stick around to see it. Even with the subpar
weather, it was great to get back out to the fields and check out some of the
Indians up-and-coming talent on opening day. I’ll be out in Frederick next week
to see Lynchburg take on the Frederick Keys, and here’s hoping the sun will be
out this time around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-33442946843461498382015-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:002015-04-05T07:00:01.206-04:00Off and Running on a Lazy Sunday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMicCx8IgGw9g1sLLMCqBPQos8tz6KANb-T5m119uybtVNhCQBJJ2I7Ry68gGHeB1hA5CaYLb1VrU6FsLsBSWtjBwbI_Ffa_aEWmHuYvDr9GVQGk9rtY8ij5be4FhmFRN2rZa/s1600/Opening+Day+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMicCx8IgGw9g1sLLMCqBPQos8tz6KANb-T5m119uybtVNhCQBJJ2I7Ry68gGHeB1hA5CaYLb1VrU6FsLsBSWtjBwbI_Ffa_aEWmHuYvDr9GVQGk9rtY8ij5be4FhmFRN2rZa/s1600/Opening+Day+snow.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Dale Omori</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the last Lazy
Sunday before baseball. Real, actual, regular season baseball. Michael Bourn
will dig in the box and The Klubot will toe the rubber Monday night in Texas,
and the most anticipated Indians season since…well, since last season…will
begin in earnest. Expectations for this year’s Indians club are sky-high, with
a series of national outlets and writers picking the Indians to dethrone the
Tigers atop the AL Central, and some picking them to go even further than that.
Putting the jokes about curses and jinxes aside (they are jokes, right?), it’s
great to see the team that the Indians have built getting recognition as a
potential AL powerhouse. Especially when you consider they sport the lowest
payroll in the division, and that by a healthy margin. The Indians have less
money committed to their 2015 roster ($86 million) than the Tigers have
committed to their 2018 roster ($92 million). That’s just crazy, especially
when you consider that $92 million will pay for just three players to actually
play for the Tigers in 2018. Justin Verlander (who will be 35 in 2018), Miguel
Cabrera (34) and Victor Martinez (39) all combine to make $82 million, and the
Tigers are on the hook for at least a $5 million buyout for Ian Kinsler (35)
and Anibal Sanchez (34). Those are talented players, but their best days are
likely behind them right now, and they’ll continue to decline over the next 3+
years. Meanwhile, the Indians have an impressive collection of young talent
under control through the 2017 season (and beyond, in most cases), including
Corey Kluber, Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes, Carlos Santana, Trevor Bauer, Cookie
Carrasco, Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor and more. The Indians are
well-positioned to contend this year, and are built to last. Unlike our
neighbors to the northwest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jumping in our Delorean and flying back to 2015 for
a moment; the Tigers are still going to be a really good baseball team this
year. As I discussed in this space a couple of weeks ago with Mark Shapiro, the
Tigers have actually underperformed relative to their talent level on the way
to winning 183 games over the past two seasons. This team still has Miggy Cabrera,
Victor Martinez (sigh), David Price, Ian Kinsler and other really, really good
baseball players. They also have Joe Nathan, who is a baseball player. Will
this collection of experienced talent be able to hold off the young, upstart
Indians (and the White Sox, and the Royals) for another year? </span><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-preview-detroit-tigers-in-decline/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grantland’s
Michael Baumann takes an in-depth look at an aging Detroit roster, and as a fan
of a Phillies team that fell apart under similar circumstances, he seems uniquely
qualified to predict when Rome might be collapsing:</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Given that the
season hasn’t started yet, I feel comfortable saying three things: (1) I agree
with the projections insofar as they think the AL Central race is going to be
close; (2) if everything goes right for every team, the Tigers are still the
best squad in the division; (3) I don’t think everything’s going to go right
for the Tigers this year…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…Like individual
human beings, baseball teams can temporarily stave off the ravages of time if
they try hard enough. So, maybe the Tigers have another run in them. They
certainly deserve another shot, considering that unlike those Phillies, Braves,
and Yankees teams, they haven’t won a World Series in this stretch of success.
But any respite would be temporary, because only time is undefeated.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Things are already starting to go wrong for the
Tigers, as Justin Verlander is set to open the season on the DL. This is the
first time in his career he’s made a trip to the disabled list, and it’s for a
triceps, not an elbow, so it’s entirely possible that Verlander will be back
and starting when the Tigers come to Cleveland for the first home stand of the
season. But even if healthy, which Verlander are the Tigers going to get moving
forward? The 120 ERA+ guy who threw 218 innings in 2013? Or the 88 ERA+ guy who
threw 206 innings last year. Verlander churned out an AL-high 1172
regular-season innings from 2009-2013, and was one of the best pitchers in
baseball during that time. Will we look back on his subpar 2014 as a blip on
the radar similar to his 2008 (92 ERA+)? Or will we see it as the beginning of
the end for a now-32 year old warhorse (who is still owed $140 million over the
next 5 years)? Time will tell, but the fact that we’re even asking the question
shows you that the Tigers aren’t their usual, invincible selves heading into
2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNmlg_zb1nsJElnsHXCfogkUDSdQ0aHP9f7r0FhfVKWHV0_W8S7JlYz3WgonEblBaIZ1sibvNdx5wdLcVO7iBA3AzK1pFk8avQf_Ndgo0jhWsmDFpyoYkfK4Nj3wVL7KZ4SV7/s1600/Kipnis+barehand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNmlg_zb1nsJElnsHXCfogkUDSdQ0aHP9f7r0FhfVKWHV0_W8S7JlYz3WgonEblBaIZ1sibvNdx5wdLcVO7iBA3AzK1pFk8avQf_Ndgo0jhWsmDFpyoYkfK4Nj3wVL7KZ4SV7/s1600/Kipnis+barehand.JPG" height="400" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Staying in the AL Central for now</span><a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/115702250/5-keys-for-al-central-clubs"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
Anthony Castrovice took a look around the division in an attempt to identify
the keys for each club headed into 2015.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There are few (if any)
reporters in the baseball universe that know the division better than Castro,
so if you haven’t read the entire piece, that’s something you should remedy as
soon as possible. Unsurprisingly, Castro singles out defensive improvement as
the Indians key to success in 2015, particularly from infielders Lonnie
Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis. Kipnis’ health is a huge story going into 2015, as
the Indians are a completely different team with 2013 Kip in the #2 slot in the
lineup and in the field than they are with 2014 Kip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t believe me? Well,
2013 Kipnis was an all-star, 11<sup>th</sup> in MVP voting and was worth 5.9
WAR per Baseball Reference. Meanwhile, 2014 Kipnis missed 33 games, played
injured in many of the rest of those games, and was worth 0.9 WAR. It’s
entirely reasonable to look at that and say if Kipnis were healthy and
effective last year, the Indians would’ve made the playoffs (they finished just
3 games out of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Wild Card). He’s as important as any player
on the roster right now, and is hopefully healthy out of spring training this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you no doubt know by now, I missed out on a trip
to spring training this year for the first time since 2009. The absence of that
trip really made the offseason drag on, and more importantly it prevented me
from getting looks at any of the youngsters the way I usually do. Missing out
on my first look at the 2014 draftees is bad enough, but not getting a chance
to see the improvements and mechanical tweaks made by some of the more
established players might be even more disappointing. Fortunately, we have
access to the next best thing, as the Baseball Prospectus prospect team made a
group trip to AZ and wrote up their thoughts on several Indians prospects. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25926"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tucker
Blair spent a day in Goodyear,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and came away particularly
impressed with RHP Dylan Baker (video in the link):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He has a sturdy
frame with a power bottom, which he uses for heavy drive towards home. In this
outing, Baker was pumping his fastball 95-98 mph, steamrolling through the
Reds’ lineup. The fastball was a tick higher than in the past, displaying
explosion and coming off a good plane. The curveball was also improved since my
last viewing, displaying hard bite and depth at 81-84 mph.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVUElX_MQyr4b0EF6MRgLG0R00OsNl2to6N6d6cDWYbcOACqNdC5bdsbQ9DDCmfNClIdUs0SsUmwgxO1lArz6BhVvtRniO880vlBGIssMJS1y9KL3zW3TuKD940-27KaPlQ-u/s1600/Mejia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVUElX_MQyr4b0EF6MRgLG0R00OsNl2to6N6d6cDWYbcOACqNdC5bdsbQ9DDCmfNClIdUs0SsUmwgxO1lArz6BhVvtRniO880vlBGIssMJS1y9KL3zW3TuKD940-27KaPlQ-u/s1600/Mejia.JPG" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blair also wrote up his thoughts on 2014 1<sup>st</sup>
round pick Bradley Zimmer (good!) and power 1B prospect Nellie Rodriguez (not
as good!) in that article, so it’s more than worth your time. In addition to
Tucker’s fine work, </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25920"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BP
fantasy/prospect experts Ben Carsley and Craig Goldstein had a back-and-forth
regarding Indians catching prospect Francisco Mejia.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Goldstein has long loved Mejia, and this was Carsley’s first look at the
diminutive young backstop. Carsley came away underwhelmed (SSS alert!) and that
caused a bit of a visceral reaction from Craig (who does visceral reactions
better than most). Carsley listed Mejia as the player that he came away from
spring training liking less than he did before, resulting in Goldstein listing
Carsley in that same “disappointment” category. Carsley did caveat his write-up
by saying that Mejia is a better real-life prospect than he is a fantasy
prospect (mainly because of the defense), so no need to attack him in the
twitterverse for being a hack of a talent evaluator and an unabashed Red Sox
homer. However, if you did want to do that, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/BenCarsley"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">here’s his twitter page</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/116196498/indians-josh-tomlin-to-miss-3-4-months-after-shoulder-surgery">More
bad rotation news for the Indians this week, as it was revealed that Josh
Tomlin will be on the shelf for at least 3-4 months after surgery on the AC
joint in his shoulder.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tomlin’s shoulder was apparently
bothering him early in camp, but he was able to get back on the mound after a
cortisone shot in March. The injury kept bothering him though, and it
eventually became too much to overcome. The Indians vaunted SP depth takes
another hit, as the number of contenders for the rotation dips down to 8, and
that includes Shawn Marcum and Bruce Chen. Danny Salazar is the clear #6 guy
now, and will be the first called to Cleveland if injury or ineffectiveness
strikes a member of the Indians rotation. I still feel like Zach McAllister
will eventually end up in the bullpen with Salazar taking his slot in the
rotation, as Salazar just has too much upside not to work his way up to the
North Coast at some point in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stepping outside our Indians-centric focus for a
moment, </span><a href="https://sports.vice.com/article/how-the-system-screws-kris-bryant-and-other-mlb-rookies"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Craig
Goldstein of Vice Sports and </span></a></div>
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<a href="https://sports.vice.com/article/how-the-system-screws-kris-bryant-and-other-mlb-rookies"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Baseball Prospectus took an insightful look at the
Kris Bryant-Cubs disagreement this week.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Goldstein looks at
Bryant, the Cubs, and the system in general, and comes to the conclusion that
the Cubs are keeping Bryant in the minors to open the 2015 season to exercise
an additional year of control over him and thus save ownership some money. He
also says (rightly) that this is the correct decision and one that pretty much
every team in baseball should/would make. From Goldstein’s article:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's important
to note that when people talk about control, what they're really talking about
is money. The Cubs have the opportunity to retain Bryant for a seventh year
without keeping him in the minors—it's simply a more expensive option. So keep
in mind that when your favorite team doesn't promote a top prospect, it's
because somewhere along the line, someone decided that saving money was the
priority. Also keep in mind that the way the system is set up, the team is
almost certainly making the smart decision. And that's the whole damn problem.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCccOtiS1D8AD8PCWa0c3jO3511cqx3gpSqdwUY_1cFdPzRGfumqUSD_r4EJK1Ee62B3vWBAW74ybYox6ZWVm7WnpxWjum36z14x8TwjC-JpkdSOhUEw5pMhutQH831yeeAiCa/s1600/Lindor+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCccOtiS1D8AD8PCWa0c3jO3511cqx3gpSqdwUY_1cFdPzRGfumqUSD_r4EJK1Ee62B3vWBAW74ybYox6ZWVm7WnpxWjum36z14x8TwjC-JpkdSOhUEw5pMhutQH831yeeAiCa/s1600/Lindor+(5).JPG" height="317" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This applies to the Indians as well, in the context
of top prospect Francisco Lindor. Like the Cubs, the Indians have a player in
place with MLB experience (Mike Olt for the Cubs, Jose Ramirez for the Indians) and no real reason
to start the clock on their player on opening day. If (when) Olt or Ramirez
falter, the club can bring up their uber-prospect to take the place of the MLB
guy, and not lose a year of team control. Superagent Scott Boras argues that
this is the wrong thing to do from a moral perspective (conveniently, Bryant is
a client of his), but that’s not what we’re here to argue. It’s the best
business decision for the Cubs, a team that has money coming out of their ears.
For a small market club like the Indians, it’s an absolute no-brainer. Lindor
is pretty much ready to contribute at the major league level, especially with
the glove. That’ll almost certainly happen at some point in 2015. But it’d be
silly for that to happen on April 6, or really anytime before May 1 unless
someone gets hurt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://pressbox.mlb.com/documents/8/9/0/116181890/Travel_Rosters_4_3_15_qdd45yhg.pdf">The
Indians put out the opening day rosters for all of their full-season affiliates
on Friday</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, which is always one of the most anticipated events
of the spring (for me at least). There weren’t too many surprises, and all four
of the clubs will have some intriguing talent. Lindor, Urshela, Danny Salazar
and James Ramsey are all in AAA Columbus, an injury away from Cleveland. Erik
Gonzalez replaces Lindor at SS for Akron, and will be joined by two of my
personal favorites in Tony Wolters and Justin Toole. High-A Lynchburg is
probably the most loaded affiliate, as their outfield of Clint Frazier, Bradley
Zimmer and Mike Papi will bring scouts from miles around, and their starting
rotation of Dylan Baker, Mitch Brown, Luis Lugo and Adam Plutko will be fun to
watch as well. Low-A Lake County has Francisco Mejia, which is more than enough
for me. Joining Mejia will be Justus Sheffield, Bobby Bradley, Sean Brady, Dace
Kime and Yu-Cheng Chang. No matter which minor league affiliate you go out and
watch, you’re going to get to look at players who are going to be a big part of
the Indians future. I get to see Lynchburg next week on minor league opening
day when they come to Potomac, and watching Zimmer and Frazier dig into the
batter’s box against Lucas Giolito is going to be a LOT of fun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHwgSwqB2JxcvOJNLVTWCNJDUdET_4ukpKq6FZRos0H8e25JFpT-MiQGy3c1H2pXOhAvj3U54ylT-mJ1e9beg2EcdcIcuns8EuhazU1pk4nBr1ry2jsP6ZQy1xJl4uosnE33D/s1600/si+cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHwgSwqB2JxcvOJNLVTWCNJDUdET_4ukpKq6FZRos0H8e25JFpT-MiQGy3c1H2pXOhAvj3U54ylT-mJ1e9beg2EcdcIcuns8EuhazU1pk4nBr1ry2jsP6ZQy1xJl4uosnE33D/s1600/si+cover1.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I alluded to in the introduction, lots of people
outside the friendly confines of NE Ohio are picking the Indians to do well
this year. Some are predicting a wild card, some have them winning the
division, and a few are even going out on a limb and calling for a World Series
championship, which would of course be the first since 1948. Predictions, plus
$3, can usually get you a medium cup of black coffee at Starbucks, but they’re
fun to look at nonetheless. To save time and space, we’re going to go lighting
round with many of these predictions in an effort to knock out as many as
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-preview-al-central-indians-tigers-white-sox-royals-twins/">Grantland’s
Jonah Keri picks the Indians to dethrone the Tigers</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
predicting them to win more than 84 games on the strength of their young
pitching and a bounce back season from Jason Kipnis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/division-preview-al-central/">Fangraphs’
prediction model has the Indians beating out the Tigers for the Central by one
game. </a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I’m not sure
my heart can handle a do-or-die game 162, so hopefully they clinch before the
last day of the season. They give the Indians a 43% change at the division, 14%
chance for the wild card, and a 7% chance to win the World Series. By my
(usually bad) math, that means they have a better than even (57%) shot at the
playoffs. They do caveat their prediction with a warning though; “But despite
the old proverb, the road to hell is actually paved with teams who built their
rosters around young pitching; this could also go really, really wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition to Fangraphs computer projections
picking the Indians</span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2015-staff-predictions/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
their writers seem to be big fans as well.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Of their 38
writers, 24 pick the Indians to claim the AL Central crown. Another 11 peg them
as a Wild Card, making that 35 out of 38 possible votes for the Indians in the
playoffs in one form or another. That puts them at the top of the American
League, one ahead of Boston’s 34. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio/status/584008401195298816">Mike
Ferrin from Sirius/XM’s MLB Network Radio is calling an Indians-Nationals World
Series.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Living as I do in the Washington DC metro area,
this would be a dream come true for mean and a nightmare for my bank account,
as I’d have to find a way to attend not only the games in Cleveland but the
matchups in DC as well. If it does come to fruition though, you’re all welcome
to crash at my place during the series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25949">All
45 members of the Baseball Prospectus staff made their predictions on Friday</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
with 22 of those 45 picking the Indians to win the Central Division. Two of
them, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">sandwich guru
Craig Goldstein</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/doug_thorburn"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">pitching guru Doug
Thorburn</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, are picking the Tribe to win it all. That doesn’t
sound like many, but consider that the Indians are one of only 3 teams to get
more than one vote to take home the hardware at the end of the season. A
whopping 24 of 45 writers picked the Nationals, and 14 are taking the Dodgers.
The cumulative voting from BP has Corey Kluber 4<sup>th</sup> in the AL Cy
Young race (3 1<sup>st</sup> place votes) and Michael Brantley tied for 9<sup>th</sup>
in MVP voting (1 1<sup>st</sup> place vote). </span><a href="https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shadev Sharma</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
a man after my own heart, gives Yan Gomes his 3<sup>rd</sup> place AL MVP vote.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/55056/ranking-the-teams-6-through-1-2">ESPN’s
David Schoenfield is calling the Indians the top team in the AL, and the #4
overall team in baseball.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This despite predicting some
regression from 2014 AL MVP candidate Michael Brantley. Schoenfield sees a bounce
back year for Kipnis and better defense in 2015, and thinks you should go down
to the stadium and see for yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/4/3/8338325/2015-mlb-preseason-poll?utm_campaign=beyondtheboxscore&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter">Fourteen
staff members at Beyond the Box Score made their predictions</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
with 100% of responded picking the Indians to make the playoffs in some
fashion. Six writers have the Tribe taking the division, and the other eight
are slotting them in as Wild Cards. That’s pretty good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/al-central-2015-preview--indians--white-sox--royals-eager-to-dethrone-tigers-165331525.html">The
crew over at Yahoo.com’s “Big League Stew” make their predictions,</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and noted White Sox fan Chris Cwik has the Indians at the top of the division.
So does Mark Townsend. Mike Oz tries to temper our expectations by picking them
third, but I’m way beyond tempering at this point. They also look at the Lindor
question and examine whether Cookie Carrasco’s newfound slider will translate
to success in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/2015/3/20/8257047/cleveland-indians-2015-preview-corey-kluber-michael-brantley-yan-gomes"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jason
Lukehart did an extremely in-depth preview of this year’s club over at Let’s Go
Tribe</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, and it is predictably outstanding. Lukehart admits
that he’s more of a glass half-empty type of guy when it comes to pre-season
predictions, jaded as only a longtime Cleveland fan can be. But even he sees
this team in contention throughout 2015, and sees them fighting the Tigers down
to the wire for the division.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Saving the best(?) for last; </span><a href="http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/24/mlb-preview-sports-illustrated-cover"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">none
other than Sports Illustrated picked the Indians to win not only the division,
but the World Series this year.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They were nice enough
to put CyKluber and Michael Brantley on the cover of their fine publication,
which naturally caused the population of NE Ohio to have a collective minor
meltdown. </span><a href="http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/03/24/si-cover-cleveland-indians-world-series-jinx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SI
themselves found this amusing enough to post an article,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
complete with some of the more colorful tweets on the subject (including one
from yours truly). Let me briefly clarify my stance on the subject; there’s no
such thing as curses. There’s no Cleveland Curse. There’s no Curse of Rocky
Colavito. There is no SI Cover Jinx. I think it’s funny that SI picked the
Indians as the best team in baseball the same year they lost 101 games, and I
still love Corey Snyder. That pretty much sums it up. The Indians have a young,
talented, exciting roster that’s built to contend in 2015 and beyond. If they
don’t win it all, it’ll be because another team was better, not because of some
jinx (</span><a href="http://m.mlb.com/cle/video/?c_id=cle&content_id=57472083&topic_id=47150330"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">or
even jixes</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">). Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to tweak those
last-min fantasy lineups, double-check to make sure my MLBTV account is up and
running, and sit and stare at the clock, willing it to speed up and get to 7pm
on Monday already…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-91152917650155994752015-03-22T07:00:00.000-04:002015-03-23T18:11:06.060-04:00Lazy Sunday with the President, v.2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy46hLWF0olJhi94AA1WgheKueJmmp_obWaUdRZ1rzNDvv_8zYo8wT6nayqJRRYYi-k5lFP3OrdmmqQSpnNhcA32yLyI4FAWr1HWZHyOFA-L_L4aO3fE6HZVXtG2om82nP6iN/s1600/reovations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy46hLWF0olJhi94AA1WgheKueJmmp_obWaUdRZ1rzNDvv_8zYo8wT6nayqJRRYYi-k5lFP3OrdmmqQSpnNhcA32yLyI4FAWr1HWZHyOFA-L_L4aO3fE6HZVXtG2om82nP6iN/s1600/reovations.jpg" height="205" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s everyone’s favorite time of year again (well,
my favorite time of year at least), as I was fortunate enough to have my annual
March talk with Indians team President Mark Shapiro earlier this week. Mark and
I usually talk at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, but owing to
some extenuating circumstances, I was unable to make my traditional pilgrimage to Arizona this winter. Still, he was gracious enough to take an hour out of
his very busy spring schedule to talk with me over the phone, and that’s the
next best thing. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you missed the previous installments of this tradition,
</span><a href="http://clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/lazy-sunday-with-president.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">here’s
a link to the 2013</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and a </span><a href="http://clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/lazy-sunday-with-president-v-2014.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">link
the 2014 editions</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. The following is a (lightly edited) transcript of our
conversation this week.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Al
Ciammaichella: Looking at the offseason progression of the stadium, how excited
are you for the new Progressive Field experience in 2015?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mark Shapiro: I’m extremely excited. That week I came home from spring
training, about a week ago, and walked the space, it struck me just how
dramatic the changes are, and I think just how unaware most fans are, that have
been coming to the ballpark for over 20 years, how different that area in
centerfield and rightfield is going to seem to them. How much more improved
it’s going to be, and how excited they’re going to be about the opportunity to
have new experiences in the ballpark.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
The tickets are certainly a great deal. $13 and you get your first beer paid
for.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Yeah, that special ticket that’s meant to really
activate the bar in the corner, and people that have more of an interest in
standing up and not necessarily having a fixed seat. We have a ton of standing
room, with drink rails that allow people to watch the game and move all around
in that rightfield bar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
I know it was a rough winter in Cleveland, is everything on schedule to be
completed by opening day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Remarkably, even with the winter we’ve had, at the
moment we’re on schedule. I haven’t looked at the weather, but if it stays
decent the rest of the way and we don’t get another big snowfall…but it’s
Cleveland, and it’s weather. Anytime you’re dealing in that realm, there’s some
unpredictability. I would say the one thing we’re certain of at this point is
that we will have substantial completion, and the majority of the project will
be done by opening day. The one thing I cannot tell you with certainty, because
there is no certainty when it comes to weather in Cleveland, is that it’ll be
totally complete. Just like when we moved into the ballpark 21 years ago there
were still things that had to be done during the first road trip. Small things
that were not complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Were there any ideas left on the drawing board when it came to that space?
Anything that you looked at doing but didn’t make it into the final plans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Absolutely. Any time that you do a project like
that it’s the financial realities of having to stay within a budget. You start
with the concepts. Start by researching the market, and testing it. Then you
take the concepts to paper and start looking at a bunch of alternatives. And
some of those alternatives that you love eliminate themselves because they’re
just too expensive and they would limit the scope of the project. So there were
plenty of things that I won’t dwell on that we considered doing that we did not
do. But overall, I’m extremely excited, extremely happy about how the project
looks when I look at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkBoPsM75cYxLRDhm1mSVTFQ7eW7THvTT0wJHv0kbf-hxuB2HPj85C1wAesQpq4w4qgT8OAybECm5YLKyPBULxELw8HAYo0NZor-dp3qEVvoLhqnLV8PlEek1Iws6gndu6zbL/s1600/Ramirez+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkBoPsM75cYxLRDhm1mSVTFQ7eW7THvTT0wJHv0kbf-hxuB2HPj85C1wAesQpq4w4qgT8OAybECm5YLKyPBULxELw8HAYo0NZor-dp3qEVvoLhqnLV8PlEek1Iws6gndu6zbL/s1600/Ramirez+(2).JPG" height="320" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Shifting to the on-field product, Jose Ramirez came up last year, a guy who was
more of a utility guy in the minors. Played a lot of 2B, was on the same team
with Francisco Lindor a lot in the minors. Obviously Lindor is a special SS, so
Ramirez played a lot of 2B and some 3B. He came up last year and really
solidified the SS position at the major league level. Did you see him as a guy
who could come up and be that good of a defensive SS right away at such a young
age?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Jose is an interesting guy. He’s a guy who’s not
conventional in much that he does. You can’t teach the game the way he plays
it. He’s got a great motor, incredible hands, good instincts, he picks great
hops. He’s fearless in the way he plays the game. He’s obviously got well-above
average speed. So he’s a guy that adds a dimension to our lineup and to our
team that we really haven’t had, and I think a jolt of youth and energy to our
team last year when he came up and did a great job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Does having him at SS give you a little luxury as far as leaving Lindor down in
AAA to finish his development? You don’t have quite the same rush to promote
him as if there were a free agent hole at short.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: At this point, we’re looking at those guys
exclusive of each other. There may be a time when that doesn’t happen, but at
this point Francisco Lindor’s development path says he should be in AAA
completing his development and his foundation. Jose Ramirez, with his major
league debut last year, justifies his opportunity to be our everyday shortstop.
So although things can change; that’s the nature of professional sports and
major league baseball, at the moment their trajectory doesn’t impact each
other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
So, speaking of Lindor, I think all fans want to know, with this top-5 prospect
in all of baseball, what’s going to finish off his developmental curve? What
will you see that makes him ready to come up to Cleveland and compete?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: I think consistency. Continuing to build the
foundation of his routine and his preparation. I think the quality and
consistency of both his at bats and his preparation are probably the keys. He’s
got very limited time left in the minor leagues, and what he has, he has to use
to prepare himself to have a foundation to handle both the mental and physical
side up here. As a 21-year old there’s still some maturation both physically
and mentally that he’s going through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
So there’s no at bat threshold, certain amount of time you want for him in AAA
or anything; when he’s ready, he’s ready?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Yeah, I mean, I think I’ve said it before, but
having seen it over decades, with players who are very good players, they set
the timeframe for you. You don’t have to make decisions on them. It becomes
very clear, very quickly that they’re not being challenged at the level they’re
at, and that they’re ready to contribute up here or at least transition up
here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Another thing in the 2<sup>nd</sup> half of last season was the incredible run
that really the entire pitching staff put together. You tried to shore that up
this offseason by picking up Gavin Floyd; obviously that didn’t work out when
he re-injured his arm. Are you concerned at all about the starting pitching
depth, even with 7 or 8 guys competing for 5 slots in the rotation? Is that
something you wish you’d done more to address this offseason?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Yeah, that’s why we signed Gavin Floyd. But the financial reality of the
parameters that we have and the reality of starting pitching being such an inefficient
market; I would point to this, Al…Brett Anderson, who hasn’t pitched more than
75 innings in the last four years got $10 million (from the Dodgers). Just stop
and ponder that for a moment. Brett Anderson hasn’t pitched more than 75
innings in the last four years and got $10 million. So we took a guy who we
thought was a little better risk than Brett, and gave him $4 million in the
hope that he could pitch some or all of the season for us in the rotation and
alleviate some depth concern and provide some veteran presence, all the while
knowing it was very high risk, but that’s the nature of starting pitching, free
agent starting pitching in particular. But we still have good options,
particularly the way TJ has been throwing the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi493A2dNyfqCnDgCooz2thjfdkkL3PkVrxSCgGTz_eIiWUyh0yf_kcDNfLZjY-ZbG0DNbHOIc7_YEXkrONTyU4Kop0YkzCIHuC3BxEXJK0mbzyWnz3kzSUzviKsuRMWegA837J/s1600/House+(2)%2B(609x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi493A2dNyfqCnDgCooz2thjfdkkL3PkVrxSCgGTz_eIiWUyh0yf_kcDNfLZjY-ZbG0DNbHOIc7_YEXkrONTyU4Kop0YkzCIHuC3BxEXJK0mbzyWnz3kzSUzviKsuRMWegA837J/s1600/House+(2)%2B(609x800).jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
TJ is another guy I wanted to talk about. Did you see him coming up and
pitching that well? He probably pitched better in the major leagues last year
than he did at any stop in the minors on his way up. Is there anything in particular
that keyed that success at the major league level?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: You know, that’s a good question. He’s an
interesting guy to look at, because he’s not the prospect that came up and didn’t
struggle, he’s a guy that struggled, and I think it’s his struggles that helped
him to define both the pitcher he is and the mental approach he takes to the
game. So when I look at him, having a tough and unconventional path to the
major leagues, he’s a guy that was forced to confront some significant
challenges along the way. And I think those things helped him to define how he’d
be successful in both approach and his repertoire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Speaking of struggles, you have three guys at the major league level that had
really tough years last year due to injury, three guys who you thought coming
into last season were really going to be key guys in Kipnis, Swisher and Bourn.
What are you looking for from those three guys this season? Do you see them as
being able to get back to the level they were at pre-2014?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: I’d probably separate Swish out from those other
two guys. But the one thing I can say about all three guys together, Al, is
that the upside with our club lies in those three players. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Right. There’s almost some course correction, some improvement, that you can hope
for out of those three if they are healthy:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Right. And then shifting to Kip, talking to
every single player that I know about what they’ve gone through when they’ve
strained an oblique, particularly during spring training, that is an extremely,
extremely tough injury to battle back from. And in some ways it never truly
heals, particularly when you do it right at the beginning of spring training. I
think that impacted his swing, his mechanics. I would say among the things we’ve
seen in camp this spring, his play and his physical level of preparedness is
probably the most exciting thing I’ve seen this spring. I mean, he’s rifling
balls to left and right field, he’s ran extremely well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Yeah, he’s going the other way better, and when he’s going the other way that’s
a sign he’s really going good. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Yeah, I’d say that, and just hard contact. He’s
impacting the baseball, and running extremely well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
The competition in the AL Central this year…Chicago went out and got a lot
better this year, Detroit is probably slipping a little with losing Scherzer
and getting a little older, but what’s the challenge in the Central this year?
That’s a tough division to be in right now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: It can pretty much be summed up as the best
division in baseball. I think there’s a lot of parity throughout the game but it’s
hard to argue that the Central isn’t the best division. There are four teams
that you can make a compelling case to win the division. The interesting thing
is that you can probably also say here are the flaws in those teams and the
reasons why they won’t win the division. But as you noted, Chicago may be the
most improved team in all of major league baseball, and they were probably a
lot better than most people realize last year as well. The Tigers, while they
could be termed as “declining” simply because of age, they’re declining from an
elite level where they were probably capable of winning 115 games. That’s
probably something people don’t realize there, different things have led to
them underperforming relative to their talent level over the last few years, so
they could easily go out and win 100 games this year. That’s how good they
still are. Kansas City, obviously, has some challenges that we fight. They’re a
very young, very talented core group of players, but they’ve also lost some
guys.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGEcLfHwqUxXAftTjmlgoWgeBx9JKk-r9pH97Ri4grSPHnd-Euu_Pnuysa9sDARwPIA1mj9YTCRwYe-MjfCm-IBSCTTXaYRpMIvzrlvI2ugXMRLZCzq6RBu7DHFYgmz66Tgiz/s1600/Zimmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGEcLfHwqUxXAftTjmlgoWgeBx9JKk-r9pH97Ri4grSPHnd-Euu_Pnuysa9sDARwPIA1mj9YTCRwYe-MjfCm-IBSCTTXaYRpMIvzrlvI2ugXMRLZCzq6RBu7DHFYgmz66Tgiz/s1600/Zimmer.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
One good thing to look at is the 2014 draft. It’s being roundly accepted as one
of the best drafts in all of baseball, getting a guy like Bradley Zimmer that a
lot of people saw going in the top 10-15. Did you have a plan to get guys like
that, or did they just fall to you? How did that all work out?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: I think what we really try to challenge ourselves
to do is to have our org slotted as well as we can possibly slot it. Over the
years, probably over the past 5 or 6 drafts, we’ve gotten better each year at
understanding about how to position our board most effectively, and I think
that allows us to react to what happens in front of you without having to
target specific players. Our goal and our intent is to get the best player
available at the time we pick, each time we pick. There may be other variables like
signability that factor into it, particularly in later rounds, but initially we
just want to be in position to get the best player available. We have a set of
criteria that’s constantly evolving that allows us to slot the board that
factors in scouting information and every other piece of analytical data that
we can possibly get our hands on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
It has to be good to see guys like Zimmer and even Bobby Bradley, a kid who
came right out of high school, already fitting in spring training games at the
major league level, holding their own, showing that they belong there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Those are exciting guys. Both Zimmer and Bobby
Bradley…Bradley may be one of the most exciting high school position players
that I can remember. We’re excited about the draft. I’m hesitant to pay
attention to what people talk about, judging draft classes too early. Judging
draft classes should be 5 or 6 years later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
You see a big explosion, seems like every year around this time, of pitchers
going down with Tommy John, pitchers getting hurt, needing season-ending
surgery. Is there anything the organization is doing to try to protect
themselves against that? Obviously there’s no way to completely eliminate it,
but is there anything you’re doing to try and reduce arm injuries? Are you
avoiding young pitching prospects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: No (not avoiding pitching prospects). We have
certain things we look at that are somewhat predictive in terms of ability to
stay healthy, ranging from arm action to delivery to usage…other physical
parameters. But they’re not perfect. Human beings are far from perfect. We’re
constantly seeking to learn and understand, there are adjustments kids have to
make to keep guys healthy once we get them. Matt Harvey is a good example. He’s
a guy we thought profiled to stay healthy and he still got hurt. Pitching is a
tough, tough area. It’s an area where you never feel completely confident and
secure. You do the best you can to control what you can control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Right, there’s clearly no magic bullet that says “this guy will have TJ, and
this guy will never get hurt.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: The likelihood with pitching is that at some
point guys are probably going to have some type of arm injury. There may be some
freaks of nature that don’t, but it’s an unnatural movement and motion, one
that gets repeated a lot over a career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Seeing the opening of Cuba as a market, more so that before with defectors, as
both the Indians President and a guy on the competition committee, what do you
think of some of the big deals that are getting thrown to the Cuban guys that
are coming over? Do you ever see an international draft because of some of the
factors in the market down there?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Well, it’s a little bit, probably,
Indians-centric of me as a judgement, but I’d like to see some adjustment that
allows access to that talent. As it’s currently being distributed, we are going
to be marginal to non-players in that area just because of the level of risk,
and that risk comes from lack of information. We just don’t know much about
these guys. Unless there’s information being illegally obtained, they’re being
signed largely from a tryout environment. I understand, and I’d probably take
that risk if I ran a large-market team, but we don’t have that luxury. It’s not
an area we can play in. We can’t risk tens of millions of dollars on players
that we have far less information on than players in the draft that cost a lot
less. So it’s just a very tough market for us to play in. I would like to see
something that allows access to that talent on a more proportional basis, that’s
not so market-based.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Does it at least offer you an opportunity, with the big-market guys paying the
Cuban players? The Red Sox can’t spend international money (bonus over $300k
per the CBA) next year. Does that give you a little more of a market share with
the Dominican, Venezuelan and Colombian kids?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Slight. They’re going to do what they did this
year. It might free us up a little for that one year, but they’ve already spend
the money. For the next year maybe, maybe, for one team it takes them out of
it. But that’s just one team, so it’s not going to dramatically change it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Looking at some of the excitement around the team this year, you have a lot of
national guys, ESPN, Baseball Prospectus, picking the Indians as a dark horse
for the AL pennant. Some guys picking you to win the Central despite that tough
competition we talked about earlier. Do you like being more of a dark horse or
in the favorite role?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: If I had my preference, I’d probably prefer to
fly under the radar. But I also like the credit, like seeing the credibility
generated by the way we’re going about our business. People are starting to
recognize the talent we have in our clubhouse, how we have some of the best
players in major league baseball on our team. I like to see that recognized.
But internally, very few people pay attention to that stuff. Our players
probably have no idea, other than that there’s been a little more attention
this spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbyKxmnFVPFdXsyXrtyMmo0R5t19v0NZKOxIhqCVhUKTwEvGtQGB3oedlunNts-OEFuQRHsAS8PPhjgaq9KAEe9m3p9bS2q1_LH6HHkl-HwTx0ocWSkM3g_Zju9bV0WZxbJ2Y/s1600/Yanimal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbyKxmnFVPFdXsyXrtyMmo0R5t19v0NZKOxIhqCVhUKTwEvGtQGB3oedlunNts-OEFuQRHsAS8PPhjgaq9KAEe9m3p9bS2q1_LH6HHkl-HwTx0ocWSkM3g_Zju9bV0WZxbJ2Y/s1600/Yanimal.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Ok, I can’t possibly go an entire interview with the Indians team President
without talking about Yan Gomes. How happy are you with the contract that you
were able to sign him to, and how good does that look moving forward?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: You and I have talked about that a lot (laughs).
I love Yan. I love Yan the player, I love what he represents. He’s a winning
player, the kind of guy, the kind of player that I’d prefer to have represent
the Indians. The fact that we can control him, and the fact that he’s so happy
to be a part of the long-term plan here. I think it’s empowered a guy like him,
and Michael Brantley, to take even more of a leadership role here. Leadership
gets asserted in different ways by different guys, but those are both guys who,
the way they go about their business, is a form of leadership and is
inspirational in some ways. I’m excited to watch Yan continue to mature, and
there’s not much doubt at this point, already, that he’s one of the best
catchers in the American League. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Speaking of Brantley, his 2014 was one of the best seasons by an Indians
position player in recent years. Do we think that 2014 Brantley is the new
normal? Or is that going to be a little bit of an outlier for him, with him coming
back to earth a little bit?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MS: Obviously, there’s an analytical case to be made
that he will regress some. But I think what offsets some of the analytical
concern is knowing the guy. He’s a determined guy, extremely committed to his
level of preparation. So while I wouldn’t be surprised to see him regress some…but
look, guys like Kluber and Brantley, the years they had, some regression is not
unexpected, but that would not mean they had a bad year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AC:
Thanks again so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me
again, and good luck this year. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-68159452885097850112015-03-15T07:00:00.000-04:002015-03-15T07:00:04.138-04:00Running the Bases on a Lazy Sunday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC9fRtQZ5z-_AxJSzoXUfr1uuwjneraiZgpaqMforugYVYE0ijBZZABLJdfrv0QUDH_sJ90jRIzNBLII4l-uRPaxj5GB0I6DeIhCD4Lm0cAgySeP8H1VIZX3VC0E2eGGa3fwb/s1600/Lindor+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC9fRtQZ5z-_AxJSzoXUfr1uuwjneraiZgpaqMforugYVYE0ijBZZABLJdfrv0QUDH_sJ90jRIzNBLII4l-uRPaxj5GB0I6DeIhCD4Lm0cAgySeP8H1VIZX3VC0E2eGGa3fwb/s1600/Lindor+(3).JPG" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’ll
start off this week by begging your pardon for the brevity of this week’s Lazy…an
over-aggressive work/travel schedule this week plus friends from out of town
prevented me from getting any sort of meaningful writing time. But there were
some great Tribe-centric articles floating around the interwebs this week that
I wanted to be sure to highlight here, so I wanted to get something on to
virtual paper even if it’s not the usual 5-6,000 word effort. I promise that
next week will more than make up for it, as I have something special in store
to help cure your post-St. Patty’s Day hangovers. If not though, please send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to The DiaTribe, Corner of Carnegie and
Ontario, Cleveland, OH to receive your full refund (purchase price minus small convenience
and restocking fees, of course). With that bit of housecleaning out of the way,
let’s jump right in to all (ok, most) of the news that’s fit to link…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Francisco
Lindor is a guy who I’ve spent plenty of time talking about for the last few
years, so I’m not going to spend a lot of space on him this week</span><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/spring-training/post/_/id/2754/lindor-readying-for-day-indians-call-him-up"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. But I did want to highlight an
article from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick that focused on Lindor,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> because Crasnick is normally a
guy who covers the MLB beat. It’s a little unusual to see him write an article
focusing solely on a prospect. Crasnick (a closet Indians fan) includes a
pretty telling quote from veteran infielder Mike Aviles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"He's a cocky kid, a confident kid, and that's
good," Aviles said. "You want that. But sometimes when you get that
much hype, it's easy to let it go to your head. He's also a very humble kid, to
the point where none of that gets to him. He's so willing to learn and so
appreciative of any information you give him, it's actually a joy to be around
him. He doesn't believe the hype -- he wants to prove the hype.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cocky,
confident, but humble and willing to learn. More indications on how special
Lindor’s makeup is, and this from the guy who will essentially be out of a job
when Lindor comes up to the major league roster. If Lindor takes over at SS,
Ramirez will likely slide to the utility role, leaving Aviles to scratch and
claw for playing time and provide depth in case of injury. Despite this, Aviles
has nothing but good things to say about Lindor, and is playing a significant
role in mentoring the young uber-prospect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’ve
often linked to Grantland’s Jonah Keri, in this space, and today will be no
different. Keri has been high on the Indians for the past couple of years, </span><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-2015-breakout-candidates-mike-fiers-kolten-wong-drew-hutchison/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">and features no less than three
Sons of Geronimo in his “Breakout Players of 2015” piece this week.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> To absolutely no one’s surprise,
those three players are pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and Danny
Salazar. Salazar was in Keri’s 2014 edition of the breakout players list, and
he makes a repeat appearance this year after his solid 2<sup>nd</sup> half last
season. Keri even mentions Yan Gomes (a sure way to get me to link to your
article, BTW) as a reason to be optimistic when looking at the entire Indians
pitching staff. Music to my ears, especially when Keri provides his
justification for predicting breakouts for those three pitchers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The soon-to-be-28-year-old Carrasco hails from the
Hutchison camp, coming to 2014 off of a strong final 10 starts: 69 innings
pitched, 78 strikeouts, 11 walks, 45 hits and two homers allowed, and a 1.30
ERA. The third-overall pick in the 2011 draft, Bauer owns an eclectic and at
times electric eight-pitch repertoire that helped the 24-year-old fan 143
batters in 153 innings last year. He is also one of the most fascinating
characters in the game. As for Salazar, we’re going back to the well after an
erratic season that included an extended demotion to the minors, but 120
punch-outs in 110 innings hint at the potential that the 25-year-old’s
fastball-slider-splitter combination possesses. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Keri’s
effort was far from the only article this week that looked at the Indians starting
rotation. <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12466053/mlb-indians-pitchers-expect-more-2015">We’ll
go back to our ESPN friend Jerry Crasnick for a minute, as he penned a nice
piece on the Indians starting 5.</a> Crasnick didn’t really break much new
ground for those of us who have been devoted fans of the Tribe over the past
few years, but he did write a really solid article pulling together the strides
that the Indians staff made last year under the tutelage of The Pitcher
Whisperer™ and also gave a shout out to Indians minor league pitching
coordinator Ruben Niebla for his work with the young arms throughout the org.
Niebla is one of those guys who most fans probably don’t know, but he has an
impact from Arizona all the way up to Cleveland, and it’s nice to see him get
some of the attention he deserves for his tireless work in the organization.
Niebla is an experienced guy who has the respect of players and coaches
throughout baseball, and plays a significant role in the development of the
Indians arms. Crasnick’s article also helps highlight the quiet but steady
leadership provided by Corey Kluber, who helped with the enigma that is Trevor
Bauer this offseason. Bauer, Carrasco, Salazar, House and Kluber all made
significant strides in their development last year, and it’s a credit to the
Indians coaching staff that they can work to improve their players while still
allowing them the freedom to work things out in their own way. What works with
Carlos Carrasco (simplifying his delivery, coming up with a bullpen to mound
routine) isn’t going to work with a thinker/tinkerer like Bauer. The Indians
didn’t try to copy the Carrasco model with Bauer this offseason, allowing him
to pitch in the dark, build drones and do basically whatever he felt he needed
to do to get ready for spring training. We’ll still have to wait and see if
last season’s performance gains were legitimate and sustainable, but if not, it
won’t be for lack of solid coaching throughout the organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD623rEEat4-iGO8uUU5Ha1Vsbo5SzBuq6gYE_eYxPO_j_J2XLsjTWqMQBoXgf0lJBqn0urKOBVeCUfau7YOWwKttsVRGxQvJjIJ-wXs2czgxbjNa8eZjtLjuP8rrJVGaNwSi/s1600/Costanza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD623rEEat4-iGO8uUU5Ha1Vsbo5SzBuq6gYE_eYxPO_j_J2XLsjTWqMQBoXgf0lJBqn0urKOBVeCUfau7YOWwKttsVRGxQvJjIJ-wXs2czgxbjNa8eZjtLjuP8rrJVGaNwSi/s1600/Costanza.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Both
Anthony Castrovince and Matthew Trueblood of Baseball Prospectus wrote similar
articles focusing on the volatility of the Indians rotation this week, and both
are well-worth the time it takes to read. <a href="http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/2015/03/12/youre-eating-onions-youre-spotting-dimes-i-dont-know-whats-going-on/">Castro
used a Seinfeld approach (shocking, I know), harkening back to George Costanza’s
insanely inconsistent sight without his glasses.</a> George could spot a dime
from across Jerry’s apartment, but also managed to accidentally bite into an
onion from the fridge, believing it to be an apple. The native Clevelander
knows not to get too out over his skis when it comes to the Indians rotation;
once bitten, twice shy and all:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I love the enthusiasm about this unit, but, at the
same time, I’m a Clevelander who knows how it so often goes, and I’ll admit to
being a little more pessimistic about things, sans Floyd.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This rotation could amaze. It could completely
unravel. Either possibility is 100 percent realistic. That’s what makes it one
of the most fascinating rotations in baseball.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25763">Trueblood
doesn’t have the built-in Cleveland fandom (nor impending sense of doom), but
is equally fascinated with the Indians rotation</a>. He first looks at how
insanely cheap the Indians starting pitching is this year, and he even included
Gavin Floyd’s (more on him in a minute) $4 million in the very helpful chart
below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJIHENPAmBNjYcGUkWDaBOy8hDmPl8jK_xVSQ_nIxZVo0OQIOoXFq9U6HlCG1Y5vvdZfjGkOM4keaYCyLo7gKvRc1YaWkjPwHn7qgQL-evtY6-SD9cM6sLY3Z0nxELhChdjsQ/s1600/trueblood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJIHENPAmBNjYcGUkWDaBOy8hDmPl8jK_xVSQ_nIxZVo0OQIOoXFq9U6HlCG1Y5vvdZfjGkOM4keaYCyLo7gKvRc1YaWkjPwHn7qgQL-evtY6-SD9cM6sLY3Z0nxELhChdjsQ/s1600/trueblood.png" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Trueblood
goes on to look at the boom-or-bust nature of the Cleveland staff, using
Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projection system to look at the 90% through 10%
performance predictions for the Indians 5 likely starting pitchers come April
and beyond. What he finds is that while the Indians staff could be among the
very best in baseball, it could also wind up down in the dumps:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What does this tell us, other than that the Indians
are one of the toughest teams in baseball about whom to prognosticate this
spring? Well, for one thing, when it comes to pitchers, ceiling comes cheap.
The Indians employ the reigning Cy Young champion, a former third-overall draft
pick, three guys who struck out at least a quarter of opposing batters last
season and three who throw at least 95 miles per hour regularly. The five
pitchers in this proposed rotation will make a combined $6.2 million and change
this season. Part of that is, again, that the Indians were excruciatingly
patient with the development of these arms, gave them more chances than most
organizations would have given, and are now reaping the benefits (while also
maintaining many years of team control over the group). Part, though, is that
the front office’s appetite for risk here has been stunningly high. Most teams
simply wouldn’t allow this much variance to build within one segment of its
roster. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When you’re
dealing with the financial realities that the Indians face (small payroll,
small TV deal, lots of money committed to Swisher/Bourn), you’re going to have
to take some chances throughout your roster. If a lot of those chances (we
called them “ifs” in this space about a year ago) pay out, then even with a
bottom-10 payroll you can contend for a division and even a World Series title.
If a lot of those chances go bust, then you’re planning for a top-5 draft pick
next June. The Indians aren’t unique in that they have to take risks, but they
are a little unique in that they have so much volatility in one specific area
of their roster (SP). But the price is certainly right, and if you’re going to
load up one segment of your roster with boom-or-bust guys, it might as well be
the segment of your roster that is coached by The Pitcher Whisperer™. Having
Yan Gomes behind the plate doing the framing for these guys won’t hurt either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
rotation news wasn’t all sunshine and roses this week, </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/112419676/indians-pitcher-gavin-floyd-to-get-second-opinion-on-right-elbow"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">as Gavin Floyd looks to have
re-injured his elbow, possibly in the same fashion that prematurely ended his
2014 season with the Braves.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
Floyd had Tommy John in May of 2013, then another procedure in June of 2014 to
stabilize a fracture in the same elbow. Here we are in March of 2015, and it’s
looking like Floyd will need yet another procedure in the very same joint
that’s given him so many problems over the past few years. Floyd was a $4
million lottery ticket that was signed to give the Indians depth in their young
rotation, and it’s looking like that ticket was a bust. It’s hardly the worst
injury that could strike this spring, as the rotation is deep and talented even
without the veteran Floyd. The Indians still have seven (eight if you count
Bruce Chen) legitimate starting pitching options, but their depth took a
serious hit with the Floyd re-injury. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2yByrdAhEkATYE2GFrfil_5Pdqcgx_H5axZFxCFF5t-zhiQuTGIzvctmAhwADRXHMtUWLnVi8jM1yrDdT9EwU_mzsp6b5z4UEA-LH2m-MSbj7pyEofiLbmJeaVFEKGU-R6Vp/s1600/floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2yByrdAhEkATYE2GFrfil_5Pdqcgx_H5axZFxCFF5t-zhiQuTGIzvctmAhwADRXHMtUWLnVi8jM1yrDdT9EwU_mzsp6b5z4UEA-LH2m-MSbj7pyEofiLbmJeaVFEKGU-R6Vp/s1600/floyd.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Even
after the Floyd injury, </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25771"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jeff Long of Baseball Prospectus
ranked the Indians as having “Doomsday Prepper” level depth with their starting
rotation.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Long
took a look at the projected WARP (if they each pitched 165 innings) of MLB
clubs’ 6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> starters, using Josh Tomlin and Zach
McAllister for the Indians. That duo projects to a 2.6 WARP, 3<sup>rd</sup>
highest in all of baseball. Also, I can sorta picture Josh Tomlin in a
survivalist store purchasing bulk MREs to store in his underground bunker in
case the North Koreans decide to take out our power grid, so the category fits.
For comparison’s sake, the Indians AL Central rivals clock in at “Outdoor
Enthusiast” (Royals) and the lowly “Millennial” (White Sox and Tigers),
suggesting that the Indians are still in better shape to weather a potential
injury to a starting pitcher than their direct competitors for the divisional
crown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In his
start against the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, Trevor Bauer gave up
back-to-back-to-back HR against three of the Cubs young prospects in Jorge
Soler, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant. All three of those guys have prodigious
power potential, and there’s really no shame in giving up HR in the thin
Arizona air. </span><a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/03/three_homers_hit_off_trevor_ba.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tito Francona and Brad Mills
decided to have some fun with Bauer after the game, enlisting the Goodyear PD
to come into the locker room with three baseballs to return to Bauer, saying they
had contributed to a traffic incident on Estrella Parkway outside of the
stadium.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Bauer
took it in stride, posting pictures of the baseballs on his twitter account,
and laughing about the gag along with the rest of his teammates. Bauer
infamously clashed with his teammates and coaching staff in Arizona before
being traded to Cleveland, and he can sometimes get a little bogged down in
minutiae of individual results, so it’s especially good to see him laughing off
his less than ideal results on the diamond. Spring training stats don’t mean
anything, and baseball is still supposed to be fun. Hopefully, this Indians
team is still laughing together deep into the postseason in the fall of 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-65880436341265981342015-03-08T07:00:00.000-04:002015-03-08T07:00:05.663-04:00A Dream of Spring on a Lazy Sunday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkNqFiDm7Ci0Hvh7w96zmauXuyD8GveQP3wrhSOYxlfuHvP2E6PpyLrvGR0TgagdxeeI3ZbSVmcTaydOHpR5uEeeP-OLcy97UPBfd6qiya2ZzW0GCYSyCjFycVm0DTZQYL1cu/s1600/Kip+scooter+(800x533).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkNqFiDm7Ci0Hvh7w96zmauXuyD8GveQP3wrhSOYxlfuHvP2E6PpyLrvGR0TgagdxeeI3ZbSVmcTaydOHpR5uEeeP-OLcy97UPBfd6qiya2ZzW0GCYSyCjFycVm0DTZQYL1cu/s1600/Kip+scooter+(800x533).jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Real baseball is here! Well, spring training
baseball is here, and with the rest of the country stuck in the throes of
winter, spring training baseball looks pretty good right now. The sample sizes
are small, the pitchers aren’t stretched out, and the stats are meaningless.
But Yan Gomes is throwing runners out (</span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/111340696/yan-gomes-first-spring-hit-clears-left-field-wall"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and
hitting home runs</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">), Bradley Zimmer is legging out
triples, and Trevor Bauer is back tinkering with his delivery. It’s baseball!
Indians baseball! In the sunshine! I can’t stop using exclamation points! We’re
less than a month away from the games that count, as the Indians open the
season in Houston on April 6. Then, just
a few days later, the home opener on April 10, which is the first in a
three-game series against the reigning AL Central Champion Detroit Tigers. It’s
certainly not a must-win series or any nonsense like that, not in early April.
But it sure would feel good to come roaring (pun) out of the gates and take
three from the Motor City Kitties, announcing our presence with authority and
making sure the Tigers know that their reign at the top of the division is
crumbling beneath them like the marble columns of the Roman Empire. And if one
of those games involves hanging a ten-spot on Kate Upton’s boyfriend and
chasing him out of the game in the 3<sup>rd</sup> inning, so much the better. If
you’re not excited for the prospect of real, actual baseball that counts in the
standings, there’s something wrong with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My annual prospect countdown is in the rearview
mirror, as the 6-part series concluded on Friday. If you missed any of the
installments, here’s your chance to catch up: </span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/prospecting-on-lazy-sunday-intro-and-30.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
intro and #30-26</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/prospect-countdown-25-21.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#25-21</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
</span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/indians-prospect-countdown-20-16.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#20-16</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
</span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/indians-prospect-countdown-15-11.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#15-11</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
</span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/indians-prospect-countdown-10-6.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#10-6</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and </span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/indians-prospect-countdown-5-1.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">finally
#5-1</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
It’s a system loaded with up-the-middle talent, as the list is littered with
CF, C and SS prospects. If for no other reason, read it for my lengthy
dissertation on shortstop and top prospect Francisco Lindor, where I do
everything short of propose marriage to the young phenom (hey, don’t judge me,
he’s over 18). The full list clocks in at just under 20,000 words, and if
nothing else it should give you something to read during your lunch breaks at
work this week. There are a couple of surprises on the list, and a couple of
guys ranked lower than I anticipated when I first started sketching it out back
in late-November. As always, it was a massive labor of love, and I hope you
enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy putting it together every year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of prospects, </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/110930850/francisco-lindor-to-be-given-every-opportunity-by-indians-to-develop-in-minors"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jordan
Bastian confirmed what we all suspected when he reported that Francisco Lindor
was slated to begin the 2015 season in AAA Columbus</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
no matter what happens this spring. Bastian talked to manager Terry Francona
about Lindor, and Tito is very supportive of Lindor finishing off his
development in AAA rather than in Cleveland:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"I don't
think that's developing a player," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
"If you [promote] a guy too quick and you get him beat up, that's not
development. They've got to go through a progression, for the most part."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Being 21
years old and being in Triple-A, he saw a lot of things for the first
time," Francona said. "You're looking at some older players and guys
that have been in the big leagues. He handled himself pretty well, but there
was still a lot of learning going on.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"He's a
really good player and, fortunately for us, he's very mature. We've seen a lot
of kids that age that are good that are immature. Probably myself included.
He's just a really mature kid and he is grasping things really quickly. That
bodes well for us."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-bdpX3xIY2rf-00rnEWV9hWWefFKamvc8h9gmO9F1IejjbMSdPQJS1s8fdrWR4WI5Z5BBME17pxpshwas3luFfQBdxdUd-guV9gA0xIHRUztksyUzq3ujxbukJIm-he5ssSa/s1600/Lindor+LH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-bdpX3xIY2rf-00rnEWV9hWWefFKamvc8h9gmO9F1IejjbMSdPQJS1s8fdrWR4WI5Z5BBME17pxpshwas3luFfQBdxdUd-guV9gA0xIHRUztksyUzq3ujxbukJIm-he5ssSa/s1600/Lindor+LH.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve come to terms with Lindor starting in AAA, even
though I feel like he’d be able to contribute to the major league roster right
away. His bat isn’t ready yet, and there’s a chance that he could struggle so
badly early on that he’d end up getting sent back to Columbus anyway. Jose
Ramriez outplayed expectations in his 68-game audition last year, particularly
with the glove. So there’s really no reason to rush Lindor to the big league
squad. But Lindor is still a better defender than Ramirez, and I think it gets
a little lost in the shuffle that Ramirez posted a .646 OPS (86 OPS+) last
year. So it’s not like he set the world on fire, he was just so much better
than Asdrubal in the field that it felt like he was a savior. Lindor is the
future, and it’ll be interesting to see how long he remains in Columbus before
he forces the issue and is finally called up to the corner of Carnegie and
Ontario. For his part, </span><a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/03/cleveland_indians_francisco_li.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lindor
has confirmed to Zack Meisel that he is in fact, not God.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Based on his lofty prospect ranking and near-universal praise, I can understand
how some people were initially a little confused on that point. Expect to see
Lindor in Cleveland at some point this year, just not before June. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-30-offseason-mlb-nationals-dodgers-mariners/">Grantland’s
Jonah Keri is back with “The 30,” his recurring power rankings column that
takes an objective look at every team in baseball.</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Yes, it’s only March. And no baseball had been played prior to Keri’s rankings,
even spring training baseball. Still, it’s tough to read Keri’s thoughts on the
American League Central and not come away optimistic. Keri has the Kansas City
Royals as his #23 team in baseball (losing Shields and signing guys like
Morales and Rios did not impress him). The Chicago White Sox, on the heels of
their strong offseason, come in at #14 overall. The reigning division champion
Tigers slide down to 10<sup>th</sup> (losing Scherzer and Fister, plus injury
concerns for Miggy and Victor, not to mention whatever the heck has happened to
Justin Verlander). That leaves only the Indians, who come in at 5<sup>th</sup>
overall in all of baseball. Third in the American League. First in the American
League Central. </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s
more or less in line with the latest Fangraphs projections</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
that have the Indians as the 8<sup>th</sup> best team in baseball, 4<sup>th</sup>
in the AL and just 3 games away from the 3<sup>rd</sup> best record in the
game. I’ll let Keri tell you why himself:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now this is a
bandwagon I will not be trying to slow down. Put it this way: Last year, the
Indians won 85 games despite an injury-plagued Jason Kipnis flukishly hitting
like a 75-year-old Rey Ordonez and the combination of first baseman Nick
Swisher, utility man Mike Aviles, and outfielders Ryan Raburn, Michael Bourn,
and David Murphy providing nearly 2,000 plate appearances worth of
sub-replacement-level performance. Three of those five guys have been relegated
to bench duty this year, while Bourn and Swisher still look to be significant
contributors, albeit on a short leash. The addition of Brandon Moss plus a
healthy Kipnis could significantly boost results for a team that finished
seventh in the AL in runs scored and ninth in homers last year. Meanwhile, the
rotation includes defending Cy Young winner Corey Kluber alongside not one, not
two, but three starting pitchers who look like prime breakout candidates:
Trevor Bauer, Danny Salazar, and Carlos Carrasco. Combine the revitalized
offense with a potentially fantastic group on the mound and you have an
extremely dangerous club — one that might very well end Detroit’s AL Central
reign.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-over-under-bets-chicago-cubs-houston-astros-oakland-as-tampa-bay-rays/">In
another of his articles this week, Keri commented that he was tempted to bet on
the “over” for the Vegas-imposed 83.5 over/under win total for the Indians</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
These are primarily the same reasons we’ve heard from local writers and
bloggers (including yours truly) when touting the Indians chances in 2015, but
it’s nice to hear them from a respected, objective, national guy like Keri as
well. There are still plenty of “ifs” that could go wrong with the team this
year, but there’s no doubt that they’re well poised for a run at the AL
Central.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMRvRYLgp0TuYYwysQFi3E8GjEkKRIxXMScPdmBnx7DfSTaTgibkaQR7j_LVTQso5PcnDySsj6AXPyKVKoiD2UIt72ikxVMXIZz78MKBoiWXw53_AOH9u4030AaxOsKZrnuW5/s1600/Bauer+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMRvRYLgp0TuYYwysQFi3E8GjEkKRIxXMScPdmBnx7DfSTaTgibkaQR7j_LVTQso5PcnDySsj6AXPyKVKoiD2UIt72ikxVMXIZz78MKBoiWXw53_AOH9u4030AaxOsKZrnuW5/s1600/Bauer+(5).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Indians won 85 games and made a legitimate run
at the playoffs last year in part due to dramatic and unexpected leaps in
performance from some of their young, talented players. Breakouts from
Brantley, Kluber, Carrasco and others helped offset injury-related regression
from Swisher, Bourn and Kipnis, keeping the Indians in it until the final week.
</span><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-projections-risers-sliders-2014-2015/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ben
Lindbergh, formerly of Baseball Prospectus and now writing for Grantland, was
nice enough to do a lot of research and math in order to try and identify
candidates for similar improvements in 2015.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lindbergh looked
at the projections from </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&type=zips&team=0&players=0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">both
ZiPS</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&type=steamer"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Steamer</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
for 2014 and 2015, applied park factors to the equation and identified which
pitchers could expect a lower FIP and which batters project to have a better
wOBA this year. As you might expect, Michael Brantley shows up in the hitter
portion of Lindbergh’s article, as he went from a league-average outfielder to
an MVP candidate last year. Brantley is projected to have a .028 increase in
his wOBA (</span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/offense/woba/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and
if you need a refresher on exactly what wOBA is and how it is calculated, click
here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">).
These are just projections of course, but it’s good to see the computers like </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brantley as much as the scouts do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When we move onto the pitching portion of
Lindbergh’s article, we see no fewer than three potential members of the Indians
starting rotation. Trevor Bauer, T.J. House and CyKluber himself have increased
expectations coming into the 2015 season. Bauer actually picked up a tick on
his fastball last year. House managed a 3.35 ERA in 2014 despite being a
groundball pitcher with the league’s worst infield defense (and a .333 BABIP).
And Kluber? Well, all Kluber did was post the best FIP in the AL (2<sup>nd</sup>
in MLB behind Kershaw) last year en route to winning his first Cy Young award.
It’s good to see the projection models see these gains as both legitimate and
repeatable, and the Indians deep starting rotation should again be a strength
of the club this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These projected improvements, combined with some
backsliding from the Tigers, gives the Indians a much better chance at winning
the division in 2014. </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-the-playoff-odds-have-changed-in-a-year/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According
to Fangraphs projections, the Indians are 20% (ok, 19.3%) more likely to win
the division right now</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> than they were at this time last
season (see below graphic). That’s the 2<sup>nd</sup> biggest jump in baseball,
behind only the 28% leap made by the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. This team
is built to contend, right now and in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp72JFEmD-KjVmJJYZtqEhQkTRzyMeOWtlXqMF1uEnAuAtYKOtS7AMwR1eAgVBIRopI7q7vqzOVZe99upmN5QhjlVcjp8OUob45dE6pbdK85mRfKzyALy6518rq6VeFHK-aW_/s1600/changeindivisionodds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp72JFEmD-KjVmJJYZtqEhQkTRzyMeOWtlXqMF1uEnAuAtYKOtS7AMwR1eAgVBIRopI7q7vqzOVZe99upmN5QhjlVcjp8OUob45dE6pbdK85mRfKzyALy6518rq6VeFHK-aW_/s1600/changeindivisionodds.png" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One member of the Indians aforementioned deep
rotation had a minor setback in his return from injury, as </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/111505304/cleveland-indians-set-plan-for-pitcher-gavin-floyd-in-rehab-from-elbow-surgery"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">32-year
old Gavin Floyd cut short a live BP session and was scratched from his
scheduled spring training start against the Rangers today.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
The official reason given by the Indians was the very descriptive “general
soreness” (please, for the love of God, no “General Soreness” twitter
characters need to spring from this). I’m not overly worried about Floyd at
this point, and I think that the general soreness he’s feeling is legitimate
and not a cover for any specific arm issue. He’s just a 32-year old guy
pitching off of a mound again for the first time since June of last year. Some
muscle soreness in early spring training is understandable, if not predictable.
The former 4<sup>th</sup> overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2001,
Floyd was signed to a cheap, 1-year contract to eat innings in the middle of
the Indians rotation, not anchor it. He was really good in the 54 innings he
did pitch last year (2.65 ERA, 45 K, 13 BB) and was more than worth the $4
million shot the Indians took on him. But he’s one of eight (!) legitimate
starting pitching options that the Indians have at their disposal for 2015. So
if he turns into more of a Brett Meyers than a Kevin Millwood, no harm done.
Floyd is going to have every shot at making the rotation as long as he’s
healthy. If he’s injured or ineffective, the Indians simply move on to
whichever of the impressive House/Bauer/Salazar trio initially loses out on the
5<sup>th</sup> starter job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m8Y9yhha7o1Eh3Xzplc7ReLHKBhHekvEeVTZXai6R-xD4i1QmLQ6Ixd0XXB2ptYfbR-sbDFBeE35yofwvL8tz-Ne4CZlxJmVkHjc4vMCY3G2DSGDYc54WkoItbd7H6Jk6qoa/s1600/Moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m8Y9yhha7o1Eh3Xzplc7ReLHKBhHekvEeVTZXai6R-xD4i1QmLQ6Ixd0XXB2ptYfbR-sbDFBeE35yofwvL8tz-Ne4CZlxJmVkHjc4vMCY3G2DSGDYc54WkoItbd7H6Jk6qoa/s1600/Moss.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: AP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/111424592/after-nearly-giving-up-indians-outfielder-brandon-moss-rejuvenated-career">The
busy Jordan Bastian put together a really nice feature on Brandon Moss earlier
this week,</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> detailing the struggles that he went through
earlier in his career that nearly had him quit and apply for the Gwinnet County
Fire Department (seriously). Moss was drafted as a high schooler in 2002, and
didn’t make his MLB debut until 2007 when he had a cup of coffee with the Boston
Red Sox. He had a shot as a regular in 2009, amassing 385 AB with the
Pittsburgh Pirates, but only hit .236/.304/.364 with 7 HR. He bounced between
AAA and short stints in the majors before signing with the Phillies in 2011,
then with the A’s in 2012. When he got the call to Oakland from AAA in 2012, he
struggled initially but suddenly became the power hitter that we know today
based on the advice from his wife, Allison:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Allison
was tired of seeing her husband -- an outgoing character typically beaming with
enthusiasm -- coming home so dejected.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"She
was like, 'Babe, this might be your last opportunity in the big leagues,'"
Moss said. "'Just go and let it hang out. Just do your thing and leave
with no regrets. If you struggle and can't do it, at least be able to walk away
and say, no matter what I did, I couldn't do it. But don't go in there beat
before you get there.'"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her
words hit Moss hard.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"I
told her, 'I'm just going to go out there and try to hit home runs every
at-bat,'" he said. "Just like I try to do in the Minor
Leagues.'"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moss
hit five homers over the next four games and ended with 21 long balls in just
84 games with Oakland that season.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Swinging from his heels, Moss finished with a .954
OPS in 2012, then followed it up with a 30-HR, .859 OPS season in 2013. He made
the AL All-Star team for the 1<sup>st</sup> time as a 30 year old last season,
slugging 21 HR with a .878 OPS in 89 1<sup>st</sup>-half games before fading in
the 2<sup>nd</sup> half of the season while dealing with his hip injury.
Clearly hurt, Moss still managed to hit 2 HR and drive in 5 runs in Oakland’s
wild card playoff loss to Kansas City, and was traded to the Indians in
exchange for minor league infielder Joey Wendle this offseason. Moss may hit
left-handed, which for some fans makes him next to useless, but he’s going to
be an important member of the Indians this year. His power is going to look
awfully good in the middle of a lineup that should hopefully be augmented by
bounce-back seasons from Kipnis, Swisher and Bourn. It’s the Gwinnet County
Fire Department’s loss, but the Indians gain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY61_XrqchRkVVxNF5BGBoPbSuzEzl0-VZo7bCs4OAYIvpB06I54rOVWL5XWKbJFrujaMgIj2GECBUV6_cWzoufEyO8z3JjoTifKOz83dkrGrXSTRKxfL4V7XqznDap-mPZW3r/s1600/carlos+carrasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY61_XrqchRkVVxNF5BGBoPbSuzEzl0-VZo7bCs4OAYIvpB06I54rOVWL5XWKbJFrujaMgIj2GECBUV6_cWzoufEyO8z3JjoTifKOz83dkrGrXSTRKxfL4V7XqznDap-mPZW3r/s1600/carlos+carrasco.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although there’s really not much we can garner from
spring training games stats-wise, there are things we can focus on when it
comes to individual performances and how certain players look. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25674"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doug
Thorburn, the resident pitching doctor at Baseball Prospectus, penned an
article looking at a few pitchers that he’s going to be focusing on this spring</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
and he included both Trevor Bauer (a long-time Thorburn subject) and Cookie
Carrasco. I’ll sample from the article here, but the entire thing really is
worth your time:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bauer:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…Last
season was a step in the right direction, and it will be interesting to see if
the oft-tinkering Bauer has made any adjustments in the off-season. My focus
will be on his balance, given his drop-and-drive delivery that features a
back-side collapse as part of the strategy, a variant that stands in the way of
repetition.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
to look for</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Well, everything, but my main focus will be on his balance and momentum to see
if he can build on last season's progress.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Carrasco:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…His
all-stretch approach took advantage of his mechanical efficiency and eliminated
the needless extra motion of his windup, and Carrasco reaped the benefits with
a consistent release point.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
to look for</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Is he still pitching from the stretch all the time? Fingers crossed that the
answer is a resounding, “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s impossible to overstate how important those two
are to the Indians success this year. The Indians 2<sup>nd</sup> half was
fueled by their suddenly-dominant pitching staff despite a scuffling offense
and the league’s worst defense. Both the offense and defense should be better
this year, but the Indians can’t afford much backsliding from the 2<sup>nd</sup>
half pitching they enjoyed last year, if any. Spring training stats are
useless, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn anything from the contests. Both
Bauer and T.J. House looked good in their initial outings of the spring, and
Bauer’s back leg didn’t look like it was collapsing as much as it did in 2014.
Whether that’s a temporary tweak or a long-term adjustment for the notoriously
fickle Bauer is yet to be seen, but it’s definitely something we can keep an
eye on as Spring Training rolls on.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I like to end things on a lighthearted note here on
Lazy Sunday, so I’m going to point you in the direction of this very
entertaining (and thought provoking) piece on whether or not Charlie Brown is
the worst manager in the history of baseball. Yes, Charlie Brown as in Snoopy,
as in the guy who represents Cleveland Browns fans by continuously falling for
Lucy’s “I’ll hold the football, Charlie Brown” trick. </span><a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/is-charlie-brown-the-worst-manager-ever/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Patrick
Dubuque of the Hardball Times takes an insightful look into how Brown’s squad
could lose as many games as it did despite having the Peanuts version of Mike
Trout (Snoopy) playing shortstop.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I won’t spoil it for
you, but rest assured that player-manager Brown’s insistence in keeping himself
on the mound despite the presence of a much better alternative is partially to
blame for his squad’s woes. It’s a funny look at a long-running comic strip,
and even manages to teach us a lesson in the end. So give it a read while
you’re waiting for the Indians next spring training broadcast, and know that
regular season baseball is less than a month away…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-47208403890183951452015-03-06T11:00:00.000-05:002015-03-06T13:24:28.980-05:00Indians Prospect Countdown: #5-1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXhFZWjSI5Q6xSjX4v26hU1lJ6Ar6JrUTuG7SS-4_m0YnbCh7h1oXP_gRs1sqNOJD2K72uySNkksI77pnPCMwBCW_znwuDW9xdD1Zx-uYs7caaQE7hTz8Q3Ibzw-zkA9Li6P9/s1600/Urshela.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXhFZWjSI5Q6xSjX4v26hU1lJ6Ar6JrUTuG7SS-4_m0YnbCh7h1oXP_gRs1sqNOJD2K72uySNkksI77pnPCMwBCW_znwuDW9xdD1Zx-uYs7caaQE7hTz8Q3Ibzw-zkA9Li6P9/s1600/Urshela.JPG" height="315" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>5.
Giovanny Urshela, 3B<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10/11/1991</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 197 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent in 2008</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.280/.334/.491 with 18 HR and 84 RBI in 128 games
between AA Akron and AAA Columbus</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Long one of my favorite under-the-radar players in
the organization, Urshela broke out with the best offensive season of his
career in 2014. Urshela set a career single-season high in OPS, HR, RBI, 2B,
BB…pretty much every offensive category across the board. He’s always been an
elite defender, and the step forward with the bat last year turned him into a
legitimate top-10 prospect in the organization. He began the season back in AA
Akron, putting up a .914 OPS with 5 HR in just 24 games. Promoted quickly to
AAA Columbus, the 22-year old Urshela didn’t miss a beat. He had an .804 OPS
with 13 HR in 104 AAA games, showing the type of offensive acumen that makes
him a legitimate two-way prospect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the plate, Urshela was known as a
contact-oriented hitter who would sit back and try to hit the ball where it was
pitched. But last year, Urshela started driving the ball to all fields with
more authority, a consequence of having added 10-15 pounds of muscle over the
offseason. In spring training last year, I noticed his ability to go the other
way with power more than in the past, as he’d get his arms out on pitches out
and over the plate and hit them to right field with authority. The ball was
just carrying off his bat better than I’d seen in the past, and that was a
harbinger of things to come in the regular season. Urshela still doesn’t
profile to have a ton of power at the major league level, but 15-20 HR are not
out of the question. Urshela has a smooth, level swing, and doesn’t try to do
too much with the ball. He doesn’t sell out for power, and as a result will
make plenty of contact. He’s not going to work the count, walking just 109
times in 601 career minor league games. He’s an aggressive hitter who’s going
to be challenged by pitchers who aren’t afraid of his power, and as a result
he’s just not going to walk very often. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Urshela does everything well. He has
soft hands, quick feet and a strong arm. He’s got great instincts, and always
seems to be in the right place to make the play. He’s got Gold Glove potential
at the hot corner, something that Indians fans are desperate to see after
sub-par defense of Lonnie Chisenhall and Carlos Santana at 3<sup>rd</sup> base
in 2014. His defense has been his calling card throughout his rise in the
Indians system, and it’s what has him added to the 40-man roster heading into
2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Urshela is on the cusp of the major leagues, having
found success at the AAA level in 2014. He’ll be 23 years old for the entire
2015 season, so there’s really no reason to rush him to The Show this year.
Urshela’s timetable will depend almost as much on Lonnie Chisenhall as on
Urshela himself. If Chisenhall gets off to a sizzling start similar to 2014,
Urshela will remain in Columbus for most of the season. If Chiz’s dismal 2<sup>nd</sup>
half carries over into 2015, we could see Urshela before the all-star break.
Even if he doesn’t do much with the bat, Urshela’s glove can help the Indians
in 2015 and beyond. We saw what happened to the club in 2014 when Jose
Ramriez’s adequate defense replaced Asdrubal Cabrera’s dismal D, and a move
from Chisenhall to Urshela could have a similar effect in 2015.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A Gold Glove 3B with 18 HR annually</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A solid defender at 3B who never hits enough to be
an everyday guy</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cw_O0i7oTWXdwiEea1Dvfoh98X-2Z_CxRZLKG5-NthUTzv8Uf4kF-x1GL0SihxzrtI9XXHUGs88-48SYG6uU5hY4nNv5AmTzvtjwjDdNO5wObdniAfwFZiY94waVQuwT2hpt/s1600/Mejia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cw_O0i7oTWXdwiEea1Dvfoh98X-2Z_CxRZLKG5-NthUTzv8Uf4kF-x1GL0SihxzrtI9XXHUGs88-48SYG6uU5hY4nNv5AmTzvtjwjDdNO5wObdniAfwFZiY94waVQuwT2hpt/s1600/Mejia.JPG" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">4. Francisco Mejia, C<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10/27/1995</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5’10”, 175 lb. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Switch/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent in 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.282/.339/.407 with 2 HR and 36 RBI in 66 games with
short-season Mahoning Valley</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mejia is one of the most exciting prospects in the
Indians organization, but he’s also has the biggest gap between his current and
future projection. Catchers generally have a high fail rate as prospects,
partially because they face a much longer road to the majors than any other
position. But Mejia’s tantalizing package of tools is too special to ignore,
which is why he ranks 4th on this list. He’s the rare catching
prospect that could be a force both at the plate and behind it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the plate, Mejia is a switch-hitter with
impressive bat speed from both sides of the plate. He’s not a big guy, but his
forearms are the size of most people’s biceps, providing for extremely strong
wrists and an insanely quick bat. There’s raw power in his swing that hasn’t
shown up in games yet, but that’s to be expected when you’re talking about a
teenager. He has an ultra-aggressive approach from both sides, and a lot of his
at-bats end on the first pitch. He’s going to have to clean that up as he
advances through the system, and is going to struggle with exposure to advanced
breaking balls. Better pitchers are going to exploit his aggressiveness, and
few will challenge him with fastballs until he can do a better job recognizing
spin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">On the defensive side of the ledger, Mejia simply
has the best arm I’ve ever seen up-close. I’m not comparing him to Pudge
Rodriguez, Johnny Bench or Yadier Molina because I’ve never stood 10 feet away
and watch them throw. But I’ve seen every catcher in the Indians org for the
last 5 years, plus plenty of other guys from around baseball on minor league
fields around the country. And I’ve never seen anything quite like Francisco
Mejia throwing a ball to 2B. His footwork isn’t especially clean, and his
actions still need to be refined a little, but that arm…my God. I had him
popping in the 1.8-1.9 range consistently, and the scary thing is that he
should be able to <i>improve</i> on those
times once he addresses the footwork/transfer issues. He projects to be the
type of catcher who can control the opposition’s running game by himself,
allowing his pitchers to focus on the guy at the plate rather than worry about
the baserunners. His glove itself is still a little raw, as he still stabs at
pitches that miss his target rather than receiving and framing them. But he has
soft hands and should improve over time, so it’s not something I’m worried
about effecting his long-term projection at this stage of his development. He
moves well behind the plate, and should be more than adequate dealing with
pitches in the dirt after (you guessed it) more reps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Patience, patience, patience. That’s what the
Indians (and their fans) will need to exercise with Mejia. He’ll likely spend
all of 2015 as a 19-year old catcher in the Midwest League, an aggressive
assignment that will test all phases of his game. His stats might not blow you
away at the end of the season, but he if can stick in the Lake County lineup
for the season, it’ll be considered a win for his development. Catchers take
longer to develop than other positions due to the many nuances involved in
baseball’s most difficult position. Mejia has a chance to be really special,
but it’s not going to happen overnight.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An all-star, Gold Glove catcher</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He might not make it above AAA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZew8JD0Wy_k8zekkOMXY6kAlspZ3dFGDrPmVnF5p65VFKN0ohsTf25AR_eq2T1qcH7nE2Ooz57XPdkpovc71TMYFTz4RavG8GjiwqFH0e4PlLKJPIhdENhk4Pq0kNLaa15ikp/s1600/Zimmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZew8JD0Wy_k8zekkOMXY6kAlspZ3dFGDrPmVnF5p65VFKN0ohsTf25AR_eq2T1qcH7nE2Ooz57XPdkpovc71TMYFTz4RavG8GjiwqFH0e4PlLKJPIhdENhk4Pq0kNLaa15ikp/s1600/Zimmer.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3. Bradley Zimmer, OF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">11/27/1992</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’4”, 185 lb. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1<sup>st</sup> round pick in the 2014 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.302/.400/.492 with 6 HR and 32 RBI in 48 games
between short-season Mahoning Valley (45 G) and low-A Lake County (3 G)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zimmer was the 21<sup>st</sup> overall pick for the
Indians in last June’s draft, and most prognosticators were surprised that he
fell that far. Zimmer was projected as a possible top-10 pick prior to the
draft, and the Indians were thrilled to snatch him up in the back end of the 1<sup>st</sup>
round. Zimmer hit .368/.461/.573 with a team-high 7 HR and 31 RBI in 2014 for
the San Francisco Dons, swiping 21 bases in 32 attempts and showing an ability
to handle CF. Prior to the draft</span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post/_/id/1655/draft-prospects-with-the-most-upside"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">,
ESPN’s Keith Law and Chris Crawford identified him as the “highest-ceiling”
collegiate bat</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> in the 2014 class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zimmer has a big, athletic frame that looks like
it’d generate more power than it does. He has a consistent swing from the left
side, but it’s a pretty flat plane that doesn’t result in a lot of backspin on
the ball. As a result, he has more doubles power than HR power right now, but
it’s easy to look at the 6’4” Zimmer and project an uptick in pop as he fills
out and makes adjustments to his swing at the professional level. Zimmer did
hit 2 HR in 3 games with Lake County, an impressive showing in an admittedly
tiny small-sample last season. I think he ends up as at least a 15-20 HR guy,
and that’s pretty valuable if he can stay in the middle of the outfield. He has
an advanced approach and does a nice job picking out his pitch and driving it
early in the count, but that’s going to be challenged as he progresses through
the system and gets exposed to better breaking stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the field, Zimmer’s size actually works against
him, as many scouts see him as a little awkward in the field and project a move
to an OF corner by the time he reaches the show. His arm is above-average and
will play wherever he ends up. His speed is a tick above average, so he’s not
the type of guy who can afford to take bad routes and outrun his mistakes in
center. If he does wind up in an OF corner (likely RF), then the power is going
to have to improve if he wants to be a 1<sup>st</sup>-division regular. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zimmer is one of those players that projects to be
average or above-average across the board, but doesn’t have one single tool
that really jumps out at you. That’s still a very valuable player, but it’s not
a future star. If everything goes right, he could be a power-hitting
CF who also hits for a high average. But that’s a perfect-world projection, and
we’re living in reality. In all probability, Zimmer will bulk up, slow down a
step, and move to an OF corner. He’ll open the season with low-A Lake County
and will probably be ready for a call-up at some point in 2015. But CF is crowded
in the Indians system, so he’ll either have to move to a corner in high-A or
skip the Carolina League entirely and jump right up to AA Akron. He’s an
advanced hitter with great makeup, a hard worker who will get the most out of
his considerable talents. He could be patrolling the outfield at the corner of
Carnegie and Ontario as soon as 2017.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zimmer sticks in CF and produces like Michael
Brantley (pre-2014)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zimmer slides to a corner and produces like David
Murphy, v. 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETBb4tdgDAOvfyzaoZjLF4xrkWpbKhK5wmm0w4rhf3R4r8Q0bwxytU8z0HrXEZVecBRGaSURDLaV-ZBLJsMiLuc4YjhPkVzZPGvLvmmPvCSnsY8YaDpx5QpKlc4PnFKXWAI1A/s1600/Frazier+LH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETBb4tdgDAOvfyzaoZjLF4xrkWpbKhK5wmm0w4rhf3R4r8Q0bwxytU8z0HrXEZVecBRGaSURDLaV-ZBLJsMiLuc4YjhPkVzZPGvLvmmPvCSnsY8YaDpx5QpKlc4PnFKXWAI1A/s1600/Frazier+LH.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Clint Frazier, OF<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">9/6/1994</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’1”, 190 lb. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1<sup>st</sup> round pick in the 2013 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.266/.349/.411 with 13 HR and 50 RBI in 120 games
for low-A Lake County</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Frazier was the top high school bat in the 2013
draft, and the Indians snagged him with the 5<sup>th</sup> overall pick. He
signed quickly, and put up an .868 OPS in 44 games in the complex league as an
18-year old in 2013. It was an impressive debut, and the Indians pushed Frazier
straight up to the low-A Midwest League in 2014. Frazier dealt with some minor
hamstring issues in spring training last year, and didn’t really get as many
at-bats in Goodyear as he would’ve liked. He didn’t debut in Lake County until
mid-April, and got off to a slow start in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League.
Frazier hit just .241/.335/.329 with 1 HR and 12 RBI in April and May, showing
none of the power that made him a top-5 pick in the draft. But the Georgia
native would heat up with the weather, hitting an impressive .280/.358/.457
(.815 OPS) with 12 HR and 38 RBI in 78 games from June 1 through the end of the
season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It’s no coincidence that Frazier started hitting in
June. He came to the professional ranks with a short toe-tap to trigger his
swing, something he did all through high school and in Arizona in 2013.
Tinkering with his swing in 2014, he instituted a high leg kick to “help” with
his timing. The leg kick ended up throwing off his timing and he went back to
the simpler toe tap, and suddenly started hitting the ball with authority
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As far as the raw tools go, Frazier has them all in
spades. He has some of the quickest hands and one of the fastest bats in the
minor leagues, resulting in 7 raw power. He does a nice job barreling the ball and
makes hard contact when he gets a pitch in the zone. If he can tighten up his
pitch recognition and selection, his power could easily play at the 6 to 6+
level. His hit tool lags behind his raw power at this stage of his development,
as he’s still working on tracking and identifying spin. He’s an extremely
aggressive hitter who is used to chasing bad pitches from his high school days
(when no one in their right mind would throw him a pitch in the strike zone).
If he can work on his approach and do a better job laying off pitches outside
the zone (particularly down and off the outside corner), Frazier can be
expected to have a 5+ to 6 hit tool. If not, his susceptibility to quality
breaking stuff will limit both his hit and his in-game power to a more pedestrian
level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Frazier has all the tools to stick in
CF at the major league level. He’s had some arm troubles, but touched 98 MPH
off the mound in a high school showcase. He’s a plus runner, but still needs to
work on reads/recognition in CF. Some scouts see a move to an OF corner down
the line, but the Indians are going to give him every chance to stick in CF,
for obvious reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Frazier’s 2014 stat line reads like a young Latin
American prospect. Lots of pop, but lots of strikeouts (166) and not enough
walks (56). And it’s not like he got better as the season went along either;
Frazier racked up 44 K and just 16 BB in 138 May AB. In 131 August AB, he
struck out 42 times against just 13 BB. So there’s still plenty of risk here.
But you look at the tantalizing package of tools, and consider the fact that he
was just 19 in the difficult hitters environment of the Midwest League in 2014,
and there’s quite a bit to dream on. Frazier could legitimately be a 30/30 guy
in centerfield with average to above-average defense. That’s a star, and
possibly an MVP candidate. Again, we’re a ways away from that ceiling, but the
potential is there. Frazier should be a year-at-a-time guy on his way up the
ladder, and the 20-year old should be a mainstay in the Lynchburg Hillcats
lineup for the 2015 season. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An all-star CF that hits in the middle of a major
league lineup. Grady Sizemore with a better arm. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A corner OF with some pop. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCNV5FyIlIEfhBWf0r3AlIqqbEf-SXI9z94O2fXwjxSSYK6bfaZNYirtRS0OJLZmk1e2HYa9OsHqWXA8yQXs5HW9tGuTrKIFQRdNxKAVC-BnpJk9bdjdfAbvecJ9v9sg734Ma/s1600/Lindor+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCNV5FyIlIEfhBWf0r3AlIqqbEf-SXI9z94O2fXwjxSSYK6bfaZNYirtRS0OJLZmk1e2HYa9OsHqWXA8yQXs5HW9tGuTrKIFQRdNxKAVC-BnpJk9bdjdfAbvecJ9v9sg734Ma/s1600/Lindor+(3).JPG" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Francisco Lindor, SS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">11/14/1993</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 5’11”, 175 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Switch/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1<sup>st</sup> round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.276/.338/.389 with 11 HR, 62 RBI and 28 SB in 126
games between AA Akron and AAA Columbus</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I mean…were you expecting anyone else at the top of
this list? What more can I say about Francisco Lindor? He’s been at the #1 slot
in my (and everyone else’s) rankings for the past 4 years, and the only reason
he won’t be here next year is that he (should) lose his prospect eligibility in
2015. Lindor has taken on every challenge presented to him so far in his
professional career, and passed them with flying colors. His offensive numbers
don’t blow you away, but consider that his season OPS of .727 was collected over 88 AA games where he
was an average of 4.7 years younger than the competition, and then in an
additional 38 games in AAA when he was a full 7 years younger than his
counterparts. To put that in perspective, Lindor was roughly equivalent to a 5<sup>th</sup>-grader
playing against high school seniors in AAA, and managed to hit more HR in 38
games in Columbus (5) than he hit in all of 2013 (2). He’s a consensus top-5
prospect in all of baseball, and the SS job in Cleveland is going to be his
sooner rather than later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lindor opened the 2014 season where he finished
2013, back in AA Akron. He put up a .278/.352/.389 line with 6 HR and 48 RBI in
88 games with the Aeros, and stealing 25 bases in 34 attempts to boot. He
walked 40 times against just 61 strikeouts, showing a mature approach for a
20-year old in the Eastern League. Promoted to AAA Columbus in July, Lindor
appeared in 38 games with the Clippers to close out the season. He hit
.273/.307/.388 with 5 HR and 14 RBI, but his strikeout rate jumped (36 K) and
walk rate dropped (9 BB). The “struggles” at the plate are expected for a
20-year old jumping to AAA, and aren’t really concerning long-term. But it’s
one reason the Indians are planning to start Lindor back in AAA this April, as
his bat still has room to grow in the minor leagues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lindor is a switch-hitter with an advanced approach
from both sides of the plate. He makes a lot of contact, and has an
above-average to plus hit tool. He tracks the ball well out if the pitchers
hand, and picks up spin well. His power will never be more than average, but if
the Indians get 8-12 HR’s out of Lindor at his peak that’ll be plenty to
compliment the rest of his profile. He has gap power and will hit for average,
and the bat will provide value in its own right. By the time it’s all said and
done, Lindor could end up with a 6+ hit tool and 4 power. But Lindor isn’t a
top prospect merely for his work at the plate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw93fKX_mOcmmYewHgLZkw_bitFzoeYb-f5KgqRx8nXMIwWNN5IpR80iS6lHE4LbuPUf35roarrq6fhjttZaBFaryeH3iHxrUBGTYNsNvQlanoLWRmb-2_OQe0x_vD84DZyUkg/s1600/Lindor+LH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw93fKX_mOcmmYewHgLZkw_bitFzoeYb-f5KgqRx8nXMIwWNN5IpR80iS6lHE4LbuPUf35roarrq6fhjttZaBFaryeH3iHxrUBGTYNsNvQlanoLWRmb-2_OQe0x_vD84DZyUkg/s1600/Lindor+LH.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Lindor is quite simply the best
defensive shortstop in minor league baseball. He has impressive range both up
the middle and into the hole. He has soft hands, excellent footwork and clean
actions. He has above-average arm strength and accuracy, and does a great job
throwing on the run. He has incredible instincts, and often seems to be moving
to be moving towards the ball even before it’s hit. Baseball Prospectus and
MLB.com have both called Lindor the best infield defender in the minor leagues
over the past two years, and he’s ready to contribute with the glove at the
major league level right now. He could be a 7 to 7+ defender at the major
league level for a long, long time. He’s a 5+ runner, but his speed plays up
because of how good a baserunner he is. He steals bases because he gets great
jumps, not because he’s a burner who outruns the pitcher and catcher (sort of
the anti-Billy Hamilton). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In addition to his skills on the field, Lindor is a
leader in the clubhouse and sets a great example with his work ethic and makeup.
In addition to recognizing him as the best infield defender in the minor
leagues last year, Baseball Prospectus singled out Lindor as having the “best
makeup” in the minors as well. It’s a combination of intangibles that you can’t
quantify in any one stat, but he helps make his entire team better on and off
the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lindor is slated to begin the 2015 season back in
AAA Columbus, but he could be called up to Cleveland at virtually any time. If
anything happens to Jose Ramirez, Lindor will be on his way north on I-71 in
very short order. If not, the Indians are happy to give him a little more time
to develop with the bat and keep in in the friendly confines of Huntington Park
until he forces his way to Cleveland (likely sometime after the Super-Two
cutoff). I really can’t stress enough how much I like this kid, and how much of
an impact he could have on the Indians for the next 6 years (or hopefully
more). He’s the type of guy who could be the face of the franchise, a perennial
all-star and Gold Glover. He’s the total package; a solid hitter, incredible
defender, plus runner and a leader on and off the field. The only thing holding
him back right now is his relative lack of experience and some lingering
questions about just how good the bat will end up being against major league
pitching. We’re going to find out soon though, and I can’t wait to sit back and
enjoy the Francisco Lindor experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We’re gathering in Cleveland in November of 2038 for
Lindor’s farewell parade when he finally retires from the Indians.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A much more adorable version of Rey Ordonez </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-27216908477193381952015-03-05T11:42:00.002-05:002015-03-06T14:29:45.370-05:00Indians Prospect Countdown: #10-6<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiuc5G_QVz0c7bfwrjPOGjPguHZyKiD3jJcQHNEUx4O-cbHGaXe484MMKfiiFK9MZdkgLt-Y3nrsrc_9zz-qn3gc42kPQi_ae_bufMDNCtR6jRAav5a-9hWDGHPHgAsP6XK87/s1600/Sheff+ABR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiuc5G_QVz0c7bfwrjPOGjPguHZyKiD3jJcQHNEUx4O-cbHGaXe484MMKfiiFK9MZdkgLt-Y3nrsrc_9zz-qn3gc42kPQi_ae_bufMDNCtR6jRAav5a-9hWDGHPHgAsP6XK87/s1600/Sheff+ABR.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Alyson Boyer Rode</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">10. Justus Sheffield, LHP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">05/13/1996</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5’10”, 196 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Left</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1<sup>st</sup> round sandwich pick in the 2014 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3-1, 4.87 ERA, 29 K and 9 BB in 20 1/3 IP for the
Rookie League AZL Indians</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sheffield is my 2nd highest ranked pitcher in the
Indians organization right now. He has a lot of upside and projection in him,
and even if he falls short of what the Indians are hoping he can be as a
starter, he’ll at least have a chance to be an impact arm in the back end of a
major league bullpen. Sheffield was committed to Vanderbilt out of his
Tennessee high school, and the Indians were able to break that commitment with
a $1.6 million signing bonus (slot for the 31<sup>st</sup> pick is $1.7
million). In high school, Sheffield went 10-0 on the mound as a senior, with a
0.34 ERA. He racked up 131 strikeouts in just 61 2/3 innings, showing why he
was pegged as a potential 1<sup>st</sup> round selection on most mock draft
boards. Like Clint Frazier before him, Sheffield was the Gatorade National High
School Player of the Year in 2014. Sheffield’s brother, Jordan, pitches for
Vanderbilt and turned down an offer to sign with the Red Sox when he was
selected in the 13<sup>th</sup> round out of the same high school in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sheffield is a slightly undersized lefty who attacks
hitters with a three-pitch mix. As you’d expect, everything starts with his
fastball, an offering that sits comfortably in the low-90’s and can touch 95
when he needs to. He delivers it from a high ¾ arm angle that helps give the
pitch some arm-side run. He compliments the above-average fastball with both a
curveball and a changeup. Sheffield throws the curve in any count, and has been
able to spot it to both sides of the plate for strikes. The pitch has nice
depth, and sits in the mid-70’s. His third pitch is a developing changeup that
could really be an out pitch for Sheffield. It flashes plus, with nice late
arm-side fade. He does a nice job keeping his arm speed consistent, so the
pitch is really deceptive to hitters. It’s a starter’s arsenal, and the Indians
see him pitching in the rotation for a long time to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Leading up to and immediately after the draft, all
the reports on Sheffield’s makeup were positive. Then, on January 12, Sheffield
was arrested for aggravated burglary and underage drinking stemming from an
incident in his hometown when Sheffield entered another person’s unlocked
house, looking to talk to someone about an incident with his girlfriend. He was
drunk, and the police were called. Sheffield pled guilty to a reduced charge in
Feb, and the record will be expunged if he stays out of trouble. It’s an
isolated incident for a teenage kid, but something to keep an eye on moving
forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All of his stuff plays up due to Sheffield’s
athleticism and ability to consistently repeat his delivery. He’s strongly
built with a thick lower half, and should be able to get himself into shape to
throw a starter’s workload. There’s a long road between Sheffield and
Cleveland, and right now Sheffield needs innings more than anything else. He’s
likely to start the 2015 season in extended spring training, and will probably
be a member of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers rotation when the short-season New
York-Penn League starts up in June.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #2/3 starter in a big league rotation</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #4 starter or bullpen arm</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UVNHitBjCplftVYcAExLbPLy668r_zDPDvk4ZWccGDGUYh3p8zw7rVaArjoKXWHxRbZgxU7BXXqL5HXWRv-lE5A9cywfRu7-_4FJMYUiDnYdTcx8GP5YYj-ZBmomJmwhUDy6/s1600/Mitch+Brown+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UVNHitBjCplftVYcAExLbPLy668r_zDPDvk4ZWccGDGUYh3p8zw7rVaArjoKXWHxRbZgxU7BXXqL5HXWRv-lE5A9cywfRu7-_4FJMYUiDnYdTcx8GP5YYj-ZBmomJmwhUDy6/s1600/Mitch+Brown+(3).JPG" height="287" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>9. Mitch Brown, RHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4/13/1994</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’1”, 195 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2<sup>nd</sup> round pick in the 2012 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8-8 with a 3.32 ERA, 127 K and 55 BB in 138 1/3 IP
for low-A Lake County</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A 2<sup>nd</sup> round pick in the 2012 MLB draft
out of a Rochester, Minnesota high school, Brown put together a really nice
season for the Lake County Captains last year. Brown began the 2013 season in
Lake County, but was quickly reassigned to extended spring training after
posting an 11.49 ERA in his first 5 starts in the Midwest League. Brown
struggled mightily with his command in 2013, walking 40 hitters in 67 2/3’s
innings of work between Lake County and the Rookie level Arizona League. He
struggled with his fastball command and as a result was never able to flash the
potential that made him one of the top 100 players in the 2012 draft class.
Fast forward to 2014, and Brown issued just 55 free passes in 138 1/3 innings,
cutting his walk rate almost in half from 2013. It’s amazing how much easier it
is to get outs when you’re throwing strikes consistently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brown sets everything up with his fastball, an
above-average to plus offering that sits consistently between 92-95 MPH,
touching 97, with nice sink. Brown struggled with his fastball command in 2013,
but improved a great deal in 2014, spotting it much better down in the zone and
to both sides of the plate. He compliments the fastball with a cutter,
curveball and changeup. The cutter is his best secondary offering, an above-average
pitch with late life across the zone. It’ll be his out pitch throughout his
career, whether it’s via the strikeout or by inducing weak contact. His
curveball remains a little inconsistent, but it flashes plus and is the key to
his development as a starter. The pitch can be really good; it’s a 11/5 hammer
with excellent two-plane break, changing speeds and really serving to keep
hitters off balance. There’s a feeling amongst pitching coaches that the
curveball either is in a pitchers wrist or it isn’t, and Brown clearly has a
feel for the pitch. He just needs to work on consistency and command to have it
be a legitimate third weapon in his arsenal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brown is an excellent athlete who does a nice job
repeating his delivery. He’s a hard worker on and off the field, a player who
stands a good chance at realizing his potential due to his makeup. He’s slated
to start the 2015 season in the Lynchburg rotation, and the high-A Carolina
League will be a tough test for the 21-year old righty. He closed the 2014
season on a high note, allowing just a .195 AVG and .513 OPS against in 6
August starts. Hopefully he can carry that momentum over to the 2015 season and
put together another solid campaign on his way to the corner of Carnegie and
Ontario. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #3 starter in a major league rotation</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #4/5 starter or a swingman out of the bullpen</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUDlrerOcAaCrcjHgPMRR0eh4qW3WIIkcsWAGr5K4XTajiK9ZMV6vWfJ4hnmePGsE7KnuRPL-ZmChNxINbGN1g6F3lLAHVFMPh2Du29dsQC9SzIlggGbygqPQOUbX_NAV61tY/s1600/Bradley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUDlrerOcAaCrcjHgPMRR0eh4qW3WIIkcsWAGr5K4XTajiK9ZMV6vWfJ4hnmePGsE7KnuRPL-ZmChNxINbGN1g6F3lLAHVFMPh2Du29dsQC9SzIlggGbygqPQOUbX_NAV61tY/s1600/Bradley.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Perfect Game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>8. Bobby Bradley, 1B<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5/29/1996</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’1”, 225 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3<sup>rd</sup> round pick in the 2014 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.361/.426/.625 with 8 HR and 50 RBI in 39 games with
the Rookie League Arizona Indians</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Selected in the 3<sup>rd</sup> round of last year’s
draft out of a Mississippi high school, Bradley is a somewhat raw high school
bat with incredible upside. Thrown into the complex leagues as an 18-year old
in 2014, Bradley responded by putting up eye-popping numbers including a
league-leading 1.078 OPS, 8 HR and 50 RBI. He was the most dominant hitter in
the league despite being one of the younger players, and as a result there are
a lot of people talking about Bradley as a steal for the Indians in the 3<sup>rd</sup>
round. Bradley was committed to Louisiana State out of high school, but an
over-slot bonus of $912,500 kept him out of a Tigers uniform and locked in to
Cleveland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bradley is a big, strong lefthanded hitter with
impressive raw power. His swing has some natural loft to it, and he uses that
to generate a lot of backspin. He has quick, strong hands and outstanding bat
speed. Especially considering his youth and experience, Bradley has an advanced
approach, which will help his raw power play in game situations and not just in
BP. He does have some swing and miss in his game (as you’d expect from someone
with his power), striking out 36 times against 16 walks in 39 complex league
games. Most of Bradley’s power is to the pull side at present, but he does a
nice job staying back on the ball and using the left side of the field, so it’s
only a matter of time until he starts developing more consistent over-the-fence
power to the opposite field. He’ll still get caught chasing high fastballs, and
will need to learn to adjust to the more difficult breaking stuff as he rises
through the organization. But the bat is tantalizing, and the power is
something that can’t be ignored. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Bradley is limited to 1<sup>st</sup>
base, so most of his value is going to have to come from his bat. He’s a solid
defender at present, but is going to have to work to maintain his flexibility
and dexterity as he continues to fill out his 6’1” frame. He’s already a big
guy, and will only add weight as he moves through the minor league system.
Still, there’s no reason to think that Bradley can’t be at least an average
defender at 1B, and with his bat, that’s more than enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bradley was more advanced than anyone thought last
year, and there’s a chance that the Indians send him straight to Lake County to
open the 2015 season. He won’t turn 19 until the end of May, so it’s more
likely that they keep him in extended spring training to start off the season
and send him to the Captains (or Scrappers) when the weather starts warming up.
He’s a high-ceiling power bat, something the Indians have struggled to develop
in recent years. He’s at least 3 or 4 years away, but he has the potential to
slug his way to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A middle of the order 1B</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus Aguilar</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YjNuKYxAWZ2Vtifk-BF4sCFoH7gnQt3ate0szNERYvnbIsRVWwt-D3gp7nBrQ6qyF8eUKE8VHK8WPW5yD4hRe9osGNkamCfz4wBx-JyII6-Q_Q2_lo5m8bUimHMDBwD_9mZl/s1600/Erik+Gonzalez.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YjNuKYxAWZ2Vtifk-BF4sCFoH7gnQt3ate0szNERYvnbIsRVWwt-D3gp7nBrQ6qyF8eUKE8VHK8WPW5yD4hRe9osGNkamCfz4wBx-JyII6-Q_Q2_lo5m8bUimHMDBwD_9mZl/s1600/Erik+Gonzalez.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">7. Erik Gonzalez, SS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8/31/1991</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 175 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent in 2009<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.309/.390/.473 with 4 HR and 62 RBI in 105 games
between high-A Carolina and AA Akron</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Gonzalez is one of the biggest risers from last
year’s list to this year’s, as I had him ranked 33<sup>rd</sup> in the
organization in 2014. I’ve always believed in the glove, but I just wasn’t sold
on the bat going into the 2014 season. Gonzalez made some key adjustments and
really improved his overall offensive game, hence the top-10 overall ranking on
this year’s list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Gonzalez began the 2014 season where he finished in
2013, back in the high-A Carolina League. Unlike in 2013 though, Gonzalez hit
the ball while in a Mudcat uniform. After posting just a .625 OPS in 39 high-A
games in 2013, Gonzalez slashed his way to a .289/.336/.409 line in the
pitcher-friendly Carolina League. He got even better after he was called up to
AA Akron, putting up a .357/.390/.473 line in 31 games as a RubberDuck. When it
was all said and done, Gonzalez had posted full-season highs in all three
triple slash categories, and the best strikeout/walk ratio of his career (30 BB
and 88 K’s). The improvements at the plate came as a direct result of
improvements in Gonzalez’s swing mechanics. Gonzalez had been working hard to
get rid of a big, unnecessary leg lift that he used for timing purposes to
trigger his swing. Last year, he managed to gradually reduce and finally
eliminate the leg kick and ensuing long stride, shortening both his stride and
swing path. It helped him stay back on the ball and not get fooled as easily by
breaking balls, making him more than just a fastball hitter. The results were
dramatic, and although Gonzalez would go back to the leg kick from
time-to-time, he eventually got used to the new swing, with impressive results.
He also started his hands lower so they didn’t have as much movement from
stance to load, resulting in a better swing path. It was a dramatic improvement
both in mechanics and results, helping convince me that Gonzalez can be more
than just a defensive specialist at the next level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Speaking of defense, Gonzalez is easily the 2<sup>nd</sup>-best
defensive SS in the organization, better even than Justin Sellers and Jose
Ramirez. He doesn’t quite have the range or instincts of Francisco Lindor (who
does?), but he actually has a better arm that the (SPOILER ALERT!) Indians top
prospect. He has great range both in the hole and up the middle, and has really
made strides in his ability to throw on the run. He has a 7 infield arm and is
a 6+ overall defender at SS, something that’s extremely valuable in its own
right. Gonzalez played all over the diamond prior to 2014, appearing in more
games at 3B and 2B than at SS. That changed in 2014, as he was exclusively a
shortstop in all 104 games last season. The Indians seemed to be toying with
the idea of making him a superutility player who could spell a regular at any
infield position, but wisely settled him in at short last year knowing that’s
where he could provide the most value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Going into 2014, I wasn’t really a believer in Gonzalez’s
future in Cleveland. I was a skeptic when he was added to the 40-man roster in
the offseason, thinking the Indians jumped the gun by putting him on the
roster. This is one of those cases where I am extremely glad to have been
wrong, as Gonzalez proved he could be a major-league contributor on both the
offensive and defensive side of the ledger. He’ll likely start off 2015 back in
AA Akron, but will be able to slide up to AAA to replace Francisco Lindor if
and when Lindor gets the call to Cleveland. Gonzalez will be blocked by Lindor
for the foreseeable future, but is a very solid depth option and an intriguing
trade chip. He’s part of an impressive collection of up-the-middle talent in
the Indians organization, and is a guy to keep an eye on this year leading up
to the July 31 trade deadline. He’s a fun guy to watch on the field, and will
be a popular name in trade conversations as long as he’s sitting behind a guy
like Lindor.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A defense-oriented starting shortstop in the major
leagues</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A defense-oriented utility infielder in the major
leagues <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvLvy5JpLc9SKgHLHOTVL_OloSxd9YHjvsbdK2ksWmL4NZe_ybe0B2IM5qVaRls5xm0faH1j2au_6CC1kPmcjqp-7-5zsDtVxkgrZE9GsQ0jnkBMrrZd6yRh2CXbsomiqfX7A/s1600/Naquin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvLvy5JpLc9SKgHLHOTVL_OloSxd9YHjvsbdK2ksWmL4NZe_ybe0B2IM5qVaRls5xm0faH1j2au_6CC1kPmcjqp-7-5zsDtVxkgrZE9GsQ0jnkBMrrZd6yRh2CXbsomiqfX7A/s1600/Naquin.JPG" height="320" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Tyler Naquin, OF<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4/24/1991</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’2”, 175 lb. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1<sup>st</sup> round pick in the 2012 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.313/.371/.424 with 4 HR and 30 RBI in 76 games for
AA Akron</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Naquin was on his way to a solid 2014 with AA Akron
when he broke a bone in his hand in late-June, causing him to miss the rest of
the season. Naquin’s last game was on June 27, so his counting stats look
rather pedestrian. But he posted the highest AVG, OBP and SLG of his young
career, showing that the adjustments that he made to his swing in 2013 helped
generate more power without sacrificing contact. It was a good year for the
young CF, and it’s a real shame it was cut short as it cost him a chance to get
his feet wet in AAA Columbus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Naquin was considered one of the best pure hitters
in the draft in 2012, but his swing had a bit of a hitch in it and was geared
more towards contact as opposed to driving the ball. The Indians started
re-working his swing in 2013, trying to smooth it out and add a little loft.
The bat profiles best in CF, but it’s not going to be completely empty. He’s
always going to be geared more towards batting average and doubles power rather
than home runs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Naquin has one of the best outfield
arms in all of minor league baseball. He has both incredible arm strength and
accuracy, using both to record a total of 28 OF assists in 255 career games
(mostly in CF). At a game in Bowie last season, I saw Naquin record a walk-off
outfield assist on a single into CF. Naquin charged the hard grounder and made
a perfect throw to the plate to preserve a 1-run Akron victory in the bottom of
the 9<sup>th</sup>. It was an incredible play that brought the
normally-reserved scouts in attendance to their feet, and was a great example
of how Naquin can impact a game with his arm. He’s an above-average runner who
has really made strides in CF after not playing the position in college. Naquin
has reached the point where he’s a good bet to stick in CF defensively, which
will help his overall profile as the bat really isn’t what you’d like to see in
a corner OF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Naquin is an intelligent, hard working player who
should be able to get the most out of his tools. The hand injury delayed his
likely promotion to AAA, and he’ll probably begin the 2015 season in AA Akron.
But expect him to move to Columbus in short order, with an outside chance at
making an appearance in Cleveland this year. Naquin is going to get the first
shot to be the long-term replacement for Michael Bourn in CF, and if Bourn
struggles with leg injuries in 2015 the way he did in 2014, that replacement
could be needed sooner than any of us would’ve guessed when Bourn signed a
four-year deal prior to the 2013 season. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A defense-oriented starting CF</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tyler Holt with a better arm</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-25064538766484072702015-03-04T11:00:00.000-05:002015-03-04T11:00:10.278-05:00Indians Prospect Countdown: #15-11<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCuUC09kMx2aC8B8d9TNAk_Erqo90OTwNA3-pSYJw1htGPB5nzLc8HMrBZQKoofMlz-XjNRq3WZXMiFv4uL_6nEwgNd11UjGr0hB4b-yDOTJA2SRg9gBtgV7WRZ4gzb0rcBH-/s1600/Yu-Cheng-Chang-2014-bm-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCuUC09kMx2aC8B8d9TNAk_Erqo90OTwNA3-pSYJw1htGPB5nzLc8HMrBZQKoofMlz-XjNRq3WZXMiFv4uL_6nEwgNd11UjGr0hB4b-yDOTJA2SRg9gBtgV7WRZ4gzb0rcBH-/s1600/Yu-Cheng-Chang-2014-bm-300x225.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Baseball America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>15.
Yu-Cheng Chang, INF<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8/18/1995<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’1”, 175 lb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent signed in 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.346/.420/.566 with 6 HR and 25 RBI in 42 games for
the Rookie League Arizona Indians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Chang was signed out of Taiwan in 2013 for a $500,00
bonus and really opened some eyes in his stateside debut in the complex league.
He finished 2<sup>nd</sup> in the AZL in homers and 3<sup>rd</sup> with a .986
OPS. He’s a very good athlete who has bounced around the left side of the
infield, and his future home on defense is still up in the air. Chang was a CF
and a member of the Taiwanese national team in 2011, making the 16U
All-Tournament Team in what was a pretty talented group of international
outfielders. He hit .414/.469/.690 for the tournament, showing that he could
compete with the best in the world at his level. Chang’s older brother is a
catcher in the Pirates system, and he joins several other Taiwanese prospects
(including ML bullpen piece C.C. Lee) in the Indians organization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When he was signed in 2013, most of the scouting
reports on Chang talked about his smooth, level swing that was geared towards
line drives and not HR. But he hit nearly as many HR (6) as 2B (9) in his first
159 professional AB, so it’s clear that there’s some legit over-the-fence pop
in the bat. That’s in the dry air of AZ, of course, so it should be taken with
a grain of salt. He also showcased a solid approach, walking 18 times against
28 strikeouts. That’s going to be tested by the more advanced pitching that
Chang is going to see in full-season leagues, but he’s already seen some pretty
decent spin in his international career so should be a little further ahead of
the curve there than a typical 18 year old international signee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Chang appeared in 22 games at SS and 16
at 3B last season. Most scouts see a move off of SS as he develops, but the
Indians are going to keep him in the middle of the diamond as long as possible.
He has an average arm and above-average speed, so there’s a chance he ends up
back in the outfield before all is said and done. He has above-average speed
and has proven able to handle CF in the past, so there’s a lot of potential
versatility here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Chang is a good athlete who should add some bulk to
his frame as he matures. He may outgrow SS, but if that’s the case he’ll also
add some strength and power, so it’s almost a fair tradeoff. He’s an intriguing
prospect who has a lot of talent evaluators both in and outside of the
organization thinking big things for his future, but he’s also a long ways
away. Chang will play most of the 2015 season as a 19-year old, turning 20 in
August. At the very least, he should debut in the NYPL when the short-season
leagues start up in June, but there’s a chance the Indians get aggressive with
him and start him off in Lake County at the beginning of the season. He’s a guy
I’m excited to see more of, as I’ve been limited to just a quick look in spring
training last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A plus-offensive producer on the left side of a
major league infield<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A minor league washout <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ0_242Dw7GTIrgHk8cNiv54dyBh9Ehef9fn_ee16imXwzVIaQ2W2z_aZjbqacQPjt55pAC_FcB5vpCQ_A8hjN1dXXEggVipDOZl4CpH34ritEUSlI9ALqshU3BuG0DtXlPzn/s1600/Wolters+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ0_242Dw7GTIrgHk8cNiv54dyBh9Ehef9fn_ee16imXwzVIaQ2W2z_aZjbqacQPjt55pAC_FcB5vpCQ_A8hjN1dXXEggVipDOZl4CpH34ritEUSlI9ALqshU3BuG0DtXlPzn/s1600/Wolters+(2).JPG" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>14.
Tony Wolters, C<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6/9/1992</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5’10”, 177 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3<sup>rd</sup> round pick in the 2010 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.249/.319/.314 with 1 HR and 34 RBI in 94 games with
AA Akron</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Two years ago, Wolters was wrapping up spring
training expecting to be the everyday 2B for the Akron Aeros. But just prior to
the club breaking camp, there was a surprise announcement; Wolters would be
moving behind the plate. Wolters went from a top-10 prospect in the
organization at 2B to a relative unknown behind the plate. Unsurprisingly,
Wolters threw himself into the position change with everything he had, and has
developed into a pretty good backstop. He finally made it to Akron last year,
albeit as a RubberDuck and a catcher rather than an Aero and a middle
infielder. His offensive numbers were down across the board, but the 22-year
old more than held his own defensively in his first year in the Eastern League.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Offensively, Wolters has a solid but not sexy
profile. His hit tool projects to be at least average, and has below average
power potential. He’s hit just 13 HR in 387 minor league games, and will likely
never crack double-digits at the major league level. He’s small for a catcher,
and AA pitchers were unafraid to challenge him in the strike zone last year. He
walked just 35 times and struck out 74, helping to contribute to a
below-average .319 OBP. Wolters also hit a career-low 1 HR last year,
continuing a downward trend for his power since his 8 HR, .404 SLG season in
2012. He was still young for the level last year though, and while he’s not
going to slug his way to the major leagues, I think his hit tool will end up
providing some value when his developmental arc is complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In just two years, Wolters has managed to turn
himself into a plus defensive catcher. Last year, he threw out 25 of 53
would-be basestealers, good for a 47% caught stealing rate. That’s phenomenal
no matter who’s behind the plate, but for someone who’s only been catching for
two years, it’s completely unheard of. Wolters caught just 28% of the
baserunners who ran on him in 2013, so to see that kind of jump is really
remarkable. Wolters did not make an error behind the plate last year, and
allowed just four passed balls in 66 games behind the plate. Again, those are
outstanding numbers for someone who’s been catching all his life, let alone
someone new to the position. And it doesn’t stop there. For the first time,
Baseball Prospectus has come up with framing metrics for minor league catchers
in addition to major league stats. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25514"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Those
metrics found that Wolters was the 2<sup>nd</sup> best catcher in all of AA
baseball last year in terms of getting extra strikes for his pitchers.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
Wolters put his soft hands to work receiving and framing the baseball, and it
has paid off in a big way. It’s no coincidence that Dave Wallace has been
Wolters’ manager for the past two years in both Carolina and Akron. Having
Wally work with Wolters every day has helped to turn him into one of the best
defensive catchers in baseball, just two years removed from being a middle
infielder. It’s a remarkable transition to say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Wolters is one of the hardest working baseball
players I’ve ever been around, and I’ve played/watched baseball for my entire
life. He’s the first one out on the field for practice and the last guy off the
field at the end of the day. He’s going to get the most out of his tools due to
his makeup, and is a guy that just flat-out loves the game of baseball. He’s an
absolute joy to watch play the game, and is one of my favorite players in the
organization. It really is incredible how he’s taken to the most difficult on
the field (and arguably the most difficult position in all of sports) like a
fish to water, helped by some great instruction from former catchers-turned
coaches in the organization like Scooter Tucker, Dave Wallace and Sandy Alomar.
</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlwcdPXC1N0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Oh, and
he made one of the best defensive plays in all of minor league baseball last
year in one of his 10 games at 2<sup>nd</sup> base.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
Wolters will likely open 2015 back in AA Akron, but could be in Columbus before
the end of the season. Unless his offensive profile trends unexpectedly
upwards, Wolters will probably be a backup catcher in the major leagues. But
he’ll be a very good backup catcher, one that could play in The Show for a
long, long time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A very good backup catcher in the major leagues</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A decent backup catcher in the major leagues, and a
fantastic coach afterwards</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRFMP_eQff_exeB3UnmCu6iPjtB8pEG2pzQzwvJFAyoJSLQJ_jPm2oS8O38kUYTY3HrE6J-Y1V9Zunb4kN-cW0IWlIs7EzqlyjlJbKBvQFB58xIWj0St-EQkoq9BwFmpvwIR6/s1600/Nellie+Rodriguez.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRFMP_eQff_exeB3UnmCu6iPjtB8pEG2pzQzwvJFAyoJSLQJ_jPm2oS8O38kUYTY3HrE6J-Y1V9Zunb4kN-cW0IWlIs7EzqlyjlJbKBvQFB58xIWj0St-EQkoq9BwFmpvwIR6/s1600/Nellie+Rodriguez.JPG" height="320" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>13.
Nelson Rodriguez, 1B<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6/12/1994</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’2”, 250 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">15<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2012 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.268/.349/.482 with 22 HR and 88 RBI in 130 games
with low-A Lake County<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Drafted out of the same NYC high school attended by
Indians legend Manny Ramriez, Rodriguez spent his age-20 season in the
difficult hitters environment of the Midwest League with Lake County. He proved
more than up to the challenge, hitting a league-leading 22 HR, 32 2B and drove
in 88 runs. It was a vast improvement over his time with the Captains in 2013,
when he slashed just .194/.305/.256 with 1 HR in 47 games. It was an encouraging
developmental step for the slugger, who even at age-20 was a little young for
the level. He finished out the season strong, hitting an impressive
.313/.380/.570 from July 1 through the end of the season, including 12 of his
22 HR in just 55 games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rodriguez
has as much raw power as anyone in the organization, and can really put on a
show in batting practice. He has legit 7 raw power, especially to the pull
side. His hit tool is closer to a 4+ or 5 though, so his in-game power isn’t
going to play to that level unless he can make more consistent contact. He’s
always going to have some swing and miss in his game though, as he tends to
sell out for power over just trying to put the bat on the ball. He has a long
swing with a deep load which both generates his power and makes it difficult
for him to hit for a high average. Rodriguez struck out 142 times last season
alone, 2<sup>nd</sup> most in the Midwest League behind only his teammate Clint
Frazier. He did draw 60 walks to help offset the strikeouts, but he’s going to
have to improve his pitch recognition and selection as he moves up the minor
league ladder. Pitchers have had success tying him up with hard stuff up and
in, then going down and away with offspeed pitches to catch him off-balance.
Rodriguez should get better the more he’s exposed to professional pitching. He
has a high baseball IQ and should be able to adjust to sequencing with more
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Defensively,
Rodriguez is limited to 1B in the field. He was a catcher in high school
though, and has an outstanding arm for a 1B. He has soft hands and good feet,
and does a nice job digging throws out of the dirt at first. He’s not going to
be a Gold Glove contender, but he’s not going to be a liability in the field
either. Rodriguez isn’t going to offer much on the bases either; he’s 0-2 in
stolen base attempts as a professional. All of the value is going to be locked
up in his bat, so he’s going to have to slug his way to the major leagues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After
succeeding in the Midwest League last year, Rodriguez is going to be challenged
again in another pitcher-friendly league in 2015. He’ll likely play the entire
season in Lynchburg, and the Carolina League is well-known to suppress offense.
Rodriguez will slot into the middle of a talented Lynchburg order, and will be
counted on to provide plenty of pop again this season. He’s still by no means a
sure thing to make it to the majors, but I’m a lot more encouraged after his
impressive power display in 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A slugging 1B in the middle of a major league order</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">His contact issues doom him to a career in the minor
leagues</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWr9NSqbUF5Nb7m7AWOqAgB7ehi2RaxS4OvgAfIX3xfJMhzpt1LzF-CS-vJpS_XVx9p5R8r8Dh1pmmIBm72ds3lktILNza3HaLo-covI8n0-ySeq8nAGYQfBQ2o9Zp3om8QPN/s1600/Papi+LH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWr9NSqbUF5Nb7m7AWOqAgB7ehi2RaxS4OvgAfIX3xfJMhzpt1LzF-CS-vJpS_XVx9p5R8r8Dh1pmmIBm72ds3lktILNza3HaLo-covI8n0-ySeq8nAGYQfBQ2o9Zp3om8QPN/s1600/Papi+LH.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">12.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Mike Papi, OF/1B<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">9/19/1992</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’2”, 190 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1<sup>st</sup> round competitive balance pick in the 2014 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.181/.301/.271 with 3 HR and 18 RBI in 41 games
between short-season Mahoning Valley and low-A Lake County<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Selected with the Indians “competitive balance
lottery” pick at #38 overall, Papi signed and appeared in just 2 games for
Mahoning Valley before being moved up to low-A Lake County. He struggled to
find his swing with the Captains, putting up just a .579 OPS in 39 games in the
Midwest League. Papi did flash signs of what made him a top-40 draft pick, as
he popped 3 HR and walked 26 times. But he also struck out 32 times and hit
just .178, struggling in his first extended experience swinging wooden bats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Papi was a dominant hitter for the University of
Virginia, hitting .307/.439/.488 with 11 HR as a junior. For his career as a
Cavalier, he walked 121 times against just 88 strikeouts, showing an advanced
approach and the ability to recognize secondary stuff in the ACC. He has plus
bat speed, and above-average pull power. He can turn on pretty much any
fastball that’s thrown his way, and pitchers have learned that they need to
work on the outside part of the plate when attacking him. He has strong wrists
and quick hands, and a pretty swing from the left side. He was able to drive
the ball the other way in college, but talent evaluators are torn on whether or
not he’ll be able to show above-average opposite field power as a pro. His hit
tool will grade out higher than his raw power, but that power will be able to
play in games due to Papi’s approach and ability to consistently put the bat on
the ball. Initial results aside, Papi has solid swing fundamentals and should
be able to make the necessary adjustments to hit in professional baseball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Papi is probably a LF long-term. He
spent most of his time in Lake County in RF, but projects better to LF due to
his range and athleticism. He has below-average speed and doesn’t cover a ton
of ground in the OF, and there are those (Keith Law) who think that Papi will
eventually need to move to 1B. He does have a decent arm, so he’ll get a shot
to play RF until he forces himself off the position, but his ultimate future is
in left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At this point in his career, Papi just needs more
exposure to professional pitching. The raw tools are all there, they just need
time to catch up and adjust to the more advanced pitching he’s seeing at this
level. He’ll play all of the 2015 season as a 22-year old, and should open with
high-A Lynchburg. He has the potential to move quickly through the system, and
while he doesn’t have a sky-high ceiling, he also has a pretty high floor. Papi
is going to hit, it’s just a matter of how much the power ends up playing. He
could be a guy who hits .290 with 20 HR in left field as a professional,
something that’s pretty valuable in today’s game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A slower Michael Brantley</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A slower David Murphy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ2Gb2vUE8shPldEMvaSDabWOwxNn7BlUkzDFIsLXfRIzTj2ib-t3YmOG_jADMhmPdw0z3Cn25XEh3YIpoO17LQLB79hMEs5j_7A9aXkefS-ngIIxxmro9uOr2ZitsJ0g_Vgb/s1600/Ramsey+LH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ2Gb2vUE8shPldEMvaSDabWOwxNn7BlUkzDFIsLXfRIzTj2ib-t3YmOG_jADMhmPdw0z3Cn25XEh3YIpoO17LQLB79hMEs5j_7A9aXkefS-ngIIxxmro9uOr2ZitsJ0g_Vgb/s1600/Ramsey+LH.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lianna Holub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>11.
James Ramsey, OF<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">12/19/1989</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 190 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In a 2014 trade with St. Louis in exchange for Justin Masterson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.295/.382/.509 with 16 HR and 52 RBI in 95 games
between AA Springfield and AAA Columbus <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ramsey was 1<sup>st</sup> round pick (23<sup>rd</sup>
overall) of the St. Louis Cardinals back in the 2012 draft. A collegiate star
at Florida State, Ramsey made an immediate impact in the Cards org, hitting 16
HR in 2013 while playing in three separate levels in their system. He was
putting together another solid season for AA Springfield last year, hitting
.300/.389/.527 with 13 HR in 67 games before the Indians acquired him in
exchange for former ace Justin Masterson last July. The Indians assigned him
straight to AAA Columbus, where he hit a solid .284/.365/.468 with 3 HR in 28
International League contests. For his career, he’s posted a .807 OPS with 35
HR in 285 minor league games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the plate, Ramsey has a smooth stroke from the
left side of the plate. He has a level, line drive swing that doesn’t have a
ton of loft, but does a nice job generating consistent contact. When he’s going
well, he’s sitting back and hitting the ball where it’s pitched, spraying line
drives to all fields. Ramsey gets into trouble when he starts selling out for
power and trying to pull everything, as hitting 30+ HR just isn’t his game. His
power is probably a tick above average, and should play to that level thanks to
his above average hit tool. If he hit right-handed, he would probably start the
season in Cleveland to add versatility to the all-lefty outfield of Bourn,
Brantley and Murphy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Ramsey has above-average speed and an
above-average arm. He’s been primarily a centerfielder throughout his career,
and can handle any of the outfield positions. His bat profiles best in center,
but he’s an ideal 4<sup>th</sup> OF who can give anyone a day off at any time.
Interestingly, veteran scout </span><a href="http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/66354936/bernie-pleskoff-james-ramsey-latest-in-long-line-of-cardinals-quality-outfield-prospects"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bernie
Pleskoff suggested prior to the 2014 season that the Cardinals move Ramsey to
2B</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> in order to maximize his value (and get out of the logjam of OF in the
Cards org). That never occurred, and it’s unlikey to happen in the Indians
organization, but it’s encouraging that a guy like Pleskoff thinks that Ramsey
has the athletic ability to handle that switch. He has decent speed but isn’t a
huge threat on the bases, stealing 28 bags in 36 attempts throughout his career
(but just 5 SB in 2014). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ramsey is very close to a finished product, and will
play the entire 2015 season as a 25-year old. He’s going to open the season in
Columbus, and could move to Cleveland at any point if injury or ineffectiveness
opens the door. He’s a high-character player with outstanding makeup, and
should be able to get the most out of his tools throughout his career. He
doesn’t have an incredibly high ceiling, but he has a really high floor, as no
talent evaluator that I’ve talked to or read has projected him as anything less
than a 4<sup>th</sup> OF at the major league level. That’s still a pretty
valuable player, especially one who’s under club control for at least 6 years
once he reaches The Show. Expect to see him have at least a cup of coffee in
Cleveland this year, and he could be in the Indians outfield in one role or
another until at least 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A 2<sup>nd</sup>-division starting CF</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A 1<sup>st</sup>-division 4<sup>th</sup> OF<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-11725120553316692002015-03-03T11:00:00.000-05:002015-03-03T11:00:03.398-05:00Indians Prospect Countdown: #20-16<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRB1hOq7o70eUQKEH_vPf1FRpkWuV1x-EtfoWg8ZX12-fGdzAoPMyBt99487Q550U41bqgyoEtAqyTI3xn2_cWPLamTPnkNbnZQXXgjbAXTwpzhwGwF_ZX3oUm7saVzjkWFrVp/s1600/hockin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRB1hOq7o70eUQKEH_vPf1FRpkWuV1x-EtfoWg8ZX12-fGdzAoPMyBt99487Q550U41bqgyoEtAqyTI3xn2_cWPLamTPnkNbnZQXXgjbAXTwpzhwGwF_ZX3oUm7saVzjkWFrVp/s1600/hockin.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Fred Robelo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">20. Grant Hockin, RHP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3/5/1996<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6’4”, 200 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Right/Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2<sup>nd</sup> round pick in the
2014 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014 stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 19 K and 4
BB in 21 IP for the Rookie League Arizona Indians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Indians selected Hockin in
the 2<sup>nd</sup> round of last year’s draft, and was their 4<sup>th</sup>
overall selection. He was the 61<sup>st</sup> pick in the draft out of Damien
High School in California, and signed for an over-slot $1.1 million bonus,
breaking his commitment to pitch for UCLA. Hockin has rich baseball bloodlines,
as he is the grandson of MLB Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. While Killebrew
was a slugging OF/corner INF, Hockin is a big, strong starting pitching
prospect. His senior year in high school, Hocking posted a 1.49 ERA with 99 K
and 17 BB in 80 innings of work. He carried that over to the rookie-level
Arizona Indians, racking up 19 K and just 4 BB in 21 innings as a professional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hockin
has a four-pitch repertoire that he delivers from a high ¾ arm slot, throwing a
two-seam fastball, slider, changeup and a curveball. The fastball sits in the
89-91 MPH range and has touched 93. It has nice arm-side run, and scouts agree
that Hockin will pick up a couple of ticks on his fastball as he adds strength
to his 6’4” frame. His slider is above-average and projects as a potential plus
pitch. It’s a hard, biting offering that sits in the low to mid-80’s. His
changeup is his third pitch, and it has nice action down and away from
right-handed hitters, almost like a splitter. Hockin’s curveball is just a show
pitch at this point, and scouts have speculated that he may scrap the curve entirely
in favor of his other three offerings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hockin
is a good athlete with a projectable frame and a nice feel for pitching
considering his age and experience level. He’s a long ways away from the major
leagues, and still has to improve his command and control while refining his
secondary offerings. He’s going to play the entire 2015 season as a 19 year
old, and will remain in extended spring training at least until the
short-season New York-Penn League opens in June. If he shows progress in
Arizona before then, he could be a member of the Scrappers rotation. But
there’s a good chance that he spends all of 2015 in Arizona and then makes his
full-season debut in Lake County in 2016. He’s an intriguing arm with a lot of
upside, but it’s going to be a while before the Indians really know what they
have with Hockin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A potential #2/3 starter in a
major league rotation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">A backend starter or bullpen arm</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JfEM41KTBOz3SP32CvMwo3jQ5xOBTzcP-p2CKupnc24Qkc4U6YVJAzN81LaFgz4oTUjWQWzyUD7SfLmxhkK_2o3oHildDtPx8jAx0J8COAQqNPmH_yolqP_iMHuhrnNK2jXI/s1600/Anderson+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JfEM41KTBOz3SP32CvMwo3jQ5xOBTzcP-p2CKupnc24Qkc4U6YVJAzN81LaFgz4oTUjWQWzyUD7SfLmxhkK_2o3oHildDtPx8jAx0J8COAQqNPmH_yolqP_iMHuhrnNK2jXI/s1600/Anderson+(2).JPG" height="320" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">19.<b> Cody Anderson, RHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">9/14/1990<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6’4”, 220 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Right/Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">14<sup>th</sup> round pick in the
2012 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014 stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">4-11 with a 5.44 ERA, 81 K and 45
BB in 125 2/3 IP for AA Akron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anderson was the Indians minor
league pitcher of the year in 2013 after he posted a sterling 2.34 ERA and a
3.16 K/BB ratio in 23 starts for high-A Carolina as a 22-year old. Promoted to
AA Akron for the 2014 season, Anderson couldn’t repeat his success in the more
hitter-friendly Eastern League, more than doubling his ERA to 5.44 and winning
just 4 of his 25 starts. Anderson missed fewer bats and walked more hitters,
gave up more hits, and allowed more HR, all in nearly the same amount of
innings he had thrown in 2014. It was a step back in every way, and it’ll be
interesting to see how the now-24 year old bounces back in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anderson
throws a sinking fastball that sits in the low-90’s with a little arm-side run,
and can touch 95. When he’s locating it down in the zone, he uses it to induce
weak contact and a lot of groundouts. He lost command of the fastball last
year, leaving the ball up in the zone and hittable. He’s never going to be a
big strikeout guy, as he doesn’t have the arm to reach back and throw his
fastball by hitters. If he’s not able to keep it down, he’s going to get hit hard. Anderson
also throws a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider is his best secondary
pitch, showing nice tilt and depth. It’s the closest thing he has to a true
swing-and-miss offering, but he can’t afford to throw it outside of the zone
when he’s behind in the count. His curveball is a nice change of pace offering
that can change the eye level on hitters, but is still inconsistent and can
sometimes flatten out, getting loose and slurvy. The changeup lags behind his
other pitches, and he tends to telegraph the pitch with his arm speed. It lacks
deception at this stage of his development, and will have to improve if he
wants it to be a legitimate fourth option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anderson
struggled on the mound last year for basically the first time in his life. He’s
been a command and control guy who induced soft contact, but last year his
fastball command deserted him, and everything went downhill from there. Falling
behind hitters early in the count forced Anderson to throw his fastball up in
the zone, and he got hit hard as a result. He allowed 17 HR in 125 innings
after giving up just 16 bombs in 239 innings from 2012-13. If the issue is
mechanical with Anderson, hopefully he and the Indians pitching coaches can
identify and fix it before the 2015 regular season. He has the size and the
stuff to be an innings-eating #3/4 pitcher in a major league rotation, but he’s
not going to get there unless he can regain his command. He’ll be 24 this year
and a member of the Columbus Clippers rotation this year, and needs to prove
that 2014 was just a blip on the radar and not a trend moving forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A solid but unspectacular
back-end starter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A #5 or a swingman out of the
bullpen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG35VBuYSsxXEgCWWRlm1qu4vPn35VnP5BvwvaZs4hfv_df9gwMe7dBNUwQtbMBj2NlGDX6NeSiFEGi8G_RLc_PSDNYuwZv4UT_jE4D8dZo_GDdiNkq92yRG6ykRE-nO3DZ3sH/s1600/Moncrief+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG35VBuYSsxXEgCWWRlm1qu4vPn35VnP5BvwvaZs4hfv_df9gwMe7dBNUwQtbMBj2NlGDX6NeSiFEGi8G_RLc_PSDNYuwZv4UT_jE4D8dZo_GDdiNkq92yRG6ykRE-nO3DZ3sH/s1600/Moncrief+(2).JPG" height="273" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">18.<b>
Carlos Moncrief, OF<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">11/3/1988</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 220 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">14<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2008 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.271/.328/.431 with 12 HR and 63 RBI in 132 games
with AAA Columbus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The converted pitcher has himself on the cusp of the
major leagues after a solid season with AAA Columbus last year. Moncrief posted
a solid but unspectacular .759 OPS for the Clippers, and that marked the first
season since his move to the outfield that Moncrief didn’t improve on his OPS
from the previous year. He also stole a career-low 8 bases (in a career-low 11
attempts), suggesting that speed may not be a big part of his game at the next
level. His walk-rate dropped and strikeout-rate jumped, and his .328 OBP
represented a career-low in a full-season league. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the plate, Moncrief has above-average raw power
and an average hit tool. The power won’t play in game to the level it does in
batting practice, but he has enough pop to project 15-20 HR in a full season’s
worth of at-bats. He’s made remarkable progress as a hitter since moving off
the mound in 2010, going from a ~.230 hitter in 2010/11 to a .270 hitter in
2013/14. He hits lefties almost as well as righties, putting up a .740 OPS
against same-siders and a .770 OPS against righties last year. He’s a patient
hitter with a solid approach, and does a nice job waiting on his pitch and not
chasing outside the zone. He’s at his best when he’s sitting back and taking
the ball to all fields, but generates most of his power from the RF gap to the
foul pole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One aspect of Moncrief’s game that did not regress
in 2014 was his defense, as he recorded a career-high 22 outfield assists in
129 games in the Clippers’ outfield. As you’d expect from a converted pitcher,
Moncrief has a plus arm in the outfield, showing impressive power and carry.
It’s a weapon in the OF, and the arm plus his above-average speed makes
Moncrief an ideal RF. He’s racked up 18 or more OF assists in every season
since 2011, showing that minor league advanced-scouting lags far behind its
major league cousin, as runners just haven’t learned not to test him quite yet.
He’s a solid defender in an outfield corner, but doesn’t really have the chops
to handle CF on more than a fill-in basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Moncrief’s developmental arc is pretty much
complete. He’ll play the 2015 season as a 26-year old, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and has always been a
little old for his level owing to the two lost seasons that he spent on the
pitcher’s mound. Moncrief has more or less reached a plateau; I don’t see him
making major strides at the plate at this point in his career. He’s ready to
play in Cleveland if the need arises, but is behind James Ramsey in the AAA OF
pecking order. Moncrief could be a decent short-term option, but doesn’t look
like he’s ever going to be a consistent starter at the major league level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A solid 4<sup>th</sup> OF</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A career AAA guy with an occasional cup of coffee in
the show</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB0YRILCESE9j2Jx9hgCYurGP0CB_0E4Mg_KtB_M5GK5_znfRLXtXyZtoVx3jj7aGzStHr-GZkaSlepPeCsKDpG2js5dKeEcyRZiv_wzjHsgYGUXx7ymtdXsW2VNnKSG3IOuk/s1600/Haase+(3)%2B(800x644).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrB0YRILCESE9j2Jx9hgCYurGP0CB_0E4Mg_KtB_M5GK5_znfRLXtXyZtoVx3jj7aGzStHr-GZkaSlepPeCsKDpG2js5dKeEcyRZiv_wzjHsgYGUXx7ymtdXsW2VNnKSG3IOuk/s1600/Haase+(3)%2B(800x644).jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>17.</b> <b>Eric Haase, C<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">12/18/1992</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5’10”, 180 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2011 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.255/.338/.514 with 17 HR and 48 RBI in 93 games
between low-A Lake County and High-A Carolina</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Selected in the 7th round of the 2011 draft, the man
who was named Michigan’s “Mr. Baseball” as a high school senior was wooed away
from his commitment to The Ohio State University with an over-slot $580,000
signing bonus. Haase has moved slowly through the system, repeating low-A Lake
County for much of the 2014 season. He popped 16 HR in 77 games with the
Captains last year, posting a .852 OPS. He was called up to the high-A Carolina
Mudcats to finish out the season, and struggled to the tune of a .535 OPS in 16
Carolina League games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the plate, Haase has above-average power and an
average hit tool. His opposite-field power in particular is impressive for a
player with his experience, something that Haase says came from pitchers trying
to work around him when he was in high school. Haase had to learn to hit the
ball where it was pitched, because it was a rare occurrence for him to see
something on the inner half as a prep player in Michigan. He has quick, strong
hands and can let the ball travel deep into the hitting zone before deciding
whether or not to swing, and does a nice job staying inside the baseball and
using all fields. He’s a career .254 hitter in 950 minor league plate
appearances, with a .456 SLG (34 HR). If he can continue to refine and improve
his hit tool, his raw power will play at a higher level and Haase could be a
solid offensive performer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Haase has the tools to be a solid
catcher. He has good feet and moves well behind the plate. He allowed 20 passed
balls in 755 chances last year, an improvement on the 12 PB in 582 chances in
2013. His caught stealing % went down in 2014, as he threw out 35 of 116
would-be basestealers (30%), down from 36 % in 2013. His pop times are pretty
consistently in the 2.0-2.2 second range, and needs to get that more towards
1.8-2.0. His arm is plenty strong enough to get down to that range, he just has
to continue to refine and clean up his actions and footwork in order to shave
those precious tenths of a second off of his throws to 2B. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Haase struggled in his Carolina League debut last
year, but 16 games is hardly a large enough sample size to make a legitimate
judgment. He’ll start off back in Lynchburg in 2015, and as a 22-year old
catcher is still on schedule for his rise through the organization. Catchers
tend to develop more slowly than other positions around the diamond, and Haase
is going to be a level at a time guy throughout his career. He’s a better prospect
than his numbers indicate, and one of those guys in the organization that I’m
probably higher on than most. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An offense-oriented starting catcher</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An offense-oriented backup catcher</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3KT2fpgZPTNujYQUv3YPPu5TJY-LbeqF220ct3nxUxMFgTgTp-Df6MSAn99BK0px2-RGzbWNLBgQpg5P-qYZBgyngxIqw6F5j8i3RALNJ0cdNkp3dLtq3HshI3uyhnBs9pHn/s1600/Baker+(3)%2B(664x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3KT2fpgZPTNujYQUv3YPPu5TJY-LbeqF220ct3nxUxMFgTgTp-Df6MSAn99BK0px2-RGzbWNLBgQpg5P-qYZBgyngxIqw6F5j8i3RALNJ0cdNkp3dLtq3HshI3uyhnBs9pHn/s1600/Baker+(3)%2B(664x800).jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">16.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Dylan Baker, RHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">4/6/1992</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’2”, 215 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2012 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3-3 with a 4.05 ERA, 28 K and 18 BB in 46 2/3 IP for
high-A Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Baker got off to a hot start in 2014, throwing six
perfect innings in his first outing of the season on April 8. I was lucky
enough to be in attendance for that game in Frederick, and Baker was (as you’d
expect) extremely impressive. He had all three of his pitches working, was
spotting the ball extremely well throughout the strike zone, and had the Keys
hitters flailing at his breaking ball. I came away from that game extremely
impressed with the young righthander, and fully expected that he’d move up to
Akron before the end of the season. Unfortunately, Baker broke his right ankle
before his next start and didn’t appear in another full-season game until July
21 when he made it back to Carolina. It was a wasted summer for Baker, but he
was at least able to get back on the mound for the last month+ of the season,
and then got some innings in with the Arizona Fall League in an attempt to make
up for lost time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When he is on the mound, Baker throws a fastball,
curveball and changeup. The fastball sits consistently between 91-94, and can
touch 97. The pitch has nice natural sink to it, and Baker uses it more to
induce weak contact than as a true swing-and-miss offering. He does
occasionally like to change the eye-level on a hitter and pump a high fastball
by him after setting him up with fastballs down in the zone early in the count.
His primary secondary offering is the power curve, a pitch that is still a
little inconsistent but can flash plus. It’s a sharp offering with nice
two-plane break, and I’ve seen it make a couple of hitters look awfully
foolish. It can also get loose and slurvy, hanging up in the zone and hittable.
In addition to the curveball, Baker is developing a changeup that’s a work in
progress and not yet a reliable offering. The development of that third pitch
is make or break Baker as a starter. He won’t be able to pitch deep into games
without it, even if he does have two above-average to plus offerings in the
fastball and curveball. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right now, Baker needs innings more than anything
else. He turns 23 two days before the minor league season opens, and because of
the injury last year he’s thrown fewer than 200 professional innings outside of
the complex league. There should still be plenty of life left in his arm, as he
didn’t exactly wear it down in while in high school up in Juneau, Alaska. Innings
will help Baker improve his secondary offerings, and the Indians are going to
keep him in the rotation until he proves he can’t make it there. If he
continues to improve and refine the curveball and (especially) the changeup,
Baker could turn into a solid middle of the rotation starter. If not, he could
be an effective two-pitch pitcher out of a major league bullpen. Either way,
it’ll be good to see Baker back healthy and on the mound again. He’ll likely
open back in high-A with Lynchburg, but expect him to see time with AA Akron no
later than July.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A solid #3/4 starter in a major league rotation</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Glass half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A two-pitch late inning reliever</span>Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-1075793740995756012015-03-02T11:00:00.000-05:002015-03-02T16:29:42.773-05:00Indians Prospect Countdown: #25-21<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHWejPmY53HNmREKhYw27yXjhjtVIpuedJycOdTXAGySPBEI9eQDqzMsQ2wzOVkM4pGcgSzaryHdnj1oqxYo3FieIfrwNjeh9M9SS3b6ptBRrSvn86paelz3MkWq7gy9LL_xl/s1600/Morimando+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHWejPmY53HNmREKhYw27yXjhjtVIpuedJycOdTXAGySPBEI9eQDqzMsQ2wzOVkM4pGcgSzaryHdnj1oqxYo3FieIfrwNjeh9M9SS3b6ptBRrSvn86paelz3MkWq7gy9LL_xl/s1600/Morimando+(2).JPG" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">25. Shawn Morimando, LHP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">11/20/1992</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5’11”, 195 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Left<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">19<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2011 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10-9 with a 3.31 ERA, 108 K and 52 BB in 152 1/3 IP
between high-A Carolina and AA Akron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Morimando pitched all of 2013 with high-A Carolina,
going 8-13 with a 3.73 ERA, 102 K and 76 BB. Command was an issue for
Morimando, as he was unable to pitch deep into games owing to the walks and
associated high pitch counts. Morimando went down to instructs following the
2013 season with one goal; improve his command so he could limit those walks.
The Indians staff worked with him to identify an issue in which Morimando would
fall off to the side of the mound in his follow-through, effecting his ability
to command his fastball to both sides of the plate and making his delivery less
repeatable than it otherwise could be. Morimando worked to fix that flaw, and
it was reflected in his 2014 performance. Back in Carolina to start the year,
Morimando went 8-3 in 18 starts with an even 3.00 ERA. More importantly, he cut
his walk rate dramatically, issuing just 35 free passes in 96 innings of work.
Promoted to AA Akron for good in July, Morimando went 2-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 10
Eastern League starts, walking 17 and racking up 38 K in 56 1/3 IP. Morimando’s
K/BB rate jumped from 1.34 in 2013 to 2.08 in 2014 despite his overall K rate
falling, as he learned to pitch more effectively in the zone and limit the
damage caused by all the walks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Morimando throws a fastball, slider, curveball and
changeup. The fastball sits between 89-92 MPH and can touch 94. It has nice
arm-side run and sink from his ¾ delivery, and he uses it early in the count to
both sides of the plate. The slider is his best secondary offering, as it sits
in the mid-80’s and looks like the fastball coming out of his hand. It has
sharp, late life across the zone, and it’s Morimando’s out pitch, particularly
against southpaws. His curveball is still a little loose, but projects as at
least an average pitch. His changeup has nice fade down and out of the zone,
but he can get into trouble if it stays up. It’s a deep arsenal that should
allow Morimando to turn over a lineup several times and pitch deep into games,
as he can vary his sequencing to give hitters different looks each time up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Morimando is a good athlete with a feel for
pitching. He did a much better job in 2014 trusting his stuff and getting ahead
of hitters early in the count. Being able to trust his fastball location and
spot it to both sides of the plate was a big step for him. He’s going to pitch
the entire 2015 season as a 22-year old, and is ahead of the developmental
curve having already pitched over 50 innings in AA. He’ll likely be back in
Akron to begin the 2015 season, and depending on how things shake out in front
of him, could be in line for a AAA look before the year is up. He doesn’t have
front of the rotation potential, but could be a valuable innings-eating lefty
even as a #4. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A solid back of the rotation starter</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A swingman out of the bullpen</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ-t-XVDFMuiCdH1sVt2ZXMs9T4Ck8oDpB6ZwK-X4P7TkkkAvWb0lYIFWXBBi7q-kTUZ0wuTTf35Jd7HxjBHoaq4KMANvTzOO4_mX4OMyyZHu7kipC7qNCxgMZ5xEePHVHjNG/s1600/Brady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ-t-XVDFMuiCdH1sVt2ZXMs9T4Ck8oDpB6ZwK-X4P7TkkkAvWb0lYIFWXBBi7q-kTUZ0wuTTf35Jd7HxjBHoaq4KMANvTzOO4_mX4OMyyZHu7kipC7qNCxgMZ5xEePHVHjNG/s1600/Brady.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">24. Sean Brady, LHP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6/9/1994<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 175 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Left<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2013 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2-5 with a 3.18 ERA, 46 K and 29 BB in 73 2/3 IP
between short-season Mahoning Valley and low-A Lake County<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Selected in the 5<sup>th</sup> round out of a Florida
high school, Brady turned down a scholarship to the University of Florida and
signed with the Indians in 2013 for a over-slot $800,000 bonus. The
almost-Gator made an impressive but brief pro debut in 2013, striking out just
under a batter per inning in the complex leagues and posting a 1.97 ERA in 30 IP.
Brady was held in extended spring training last year and assigned to the
short-season Mahoning Valley Scrappers in June. He made 14 starts for the
Scrappers, going 2-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 71 IP. His strikeout rate fell off last
year, as Brady punched out just 44 hitters in the NYPL, good for a 5.6 K/9
rate. Brady was bumped up to low-A Lake County for his final start of the
season on September 1, and got lit up by the Dayton Dragons. He took the loss,
allowing 6 runs (4 ER) in just 2 2/3’s IP. It was a solid season for the
20-year old southpaw, and he’ll be looking to build on that success here in
2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brady throws a fastball, curveball and changeup. The
fastball sits in the low-90’s, touching as high as 94. It has nice arm-side
run, as Brady works from a ¾ arm slot. He does a nice job spotting the pitch to
both sides of the plate, and works well in the strike zone to induce weak
contact. He compliments the fastball with a changeup and curve, both pitches
that project to be at least average at the next level. The curveball already
flashes plus, with nice, tight break. It can get a little loose at times, and
it’s one thing Brady is working on as he moves up the minor league ladder.
Brady’s changeup has nice fade, and should give him a legitimate third offering
and remain in the starting rotation for the long haul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brady is a good athlete and has clean, repeatable
mechanics on the mound. His command is one of his greatest strengths right now,
and being able to spot his pitches helps him get by without an overpowering
fastball. One issue for Brady moving forward is his platoon splits; righties
had a .724 OPS against him in 2014, as opposed to just a .615 OPS against
left-handed hitters. I’d like to see Brady add a cutter to his arsenal, as it
would give him another weapon to attack righties. Brady should open the season
in the rotation for the Lake County Captains, and it’ll be interesting to see
if he’s been able to add some strength to his frame this offseason. If he can
pick up a tick or two on his fastball, he could be 10-15 spots higher on this
list come next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A back of the rotation starter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A versatile swing lefty out of the bullpen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6sGrgHvOewxvKtLll1tQ0wmCzBrEByhlwbyBrIbwGwwHe_FHpDiCPnPveTDQQro-pfsbScBWxf2G0LYCOWqoEjEBZdmA_9riiZt9-ypAzHNM8wVJJ1pAq9fte1CsUF8knJXz/s1600/Castro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6sGrgHvOewxvKtLll1tQ0wmCzBrEByhlwbyBrIbwGwwHe_FHpDiCPnPveTDQQro-pfsbScBWxf2G0LYCOWqoEjEBZdmA_9riiZt9-ypAzHNM8wVJJ1pAq9fte1CsUF8knJXz/s1600/Castro.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Baseball America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">23. Willi Castro, INF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4/24/1997</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’1”, 165 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Switch/Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent signed in 2014</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.239/.258/.348 with 2 HR and 11 RBI in 43 games with
the Rookie League Arizona Indians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Castro signed with the Indians in 2013 out of the
Dominican Republic. The Indians gave the then-16 year old an $825,000 bonus,
making him their 2nd highest-paid international signing in that class. Castro
is extremely raw right now, as you’d expect for a player who would normally be
complaining about having to take Calculus his senior year of high school. But
Castro was born outside the US and Puerto Rico, so instead of worrying about
prom, he’s worrying about 95 MPH fastballs in spring training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Castro has a nice collection of tools, including a
short, compact swing from both sides of the plate. He has surprising present
pop for his size and age, and that should continue to mature as he adds
strength to his 6’1” frame. The Indians challenged him with an assignment to
the Arizona League last year, a league that typically features mostly recent
college and high school draftees. Castro held his own, recording 10 XBH and
stealing 9 bases in 13 attempts. His approach is predictably raw, as he walked
just 6 times against 33 strikeouts. Castro is going to be challenged with the
advanced offspeed stuff that he’s starting to see, and is going to have to
improve on his fastball-hungry approach. The sooner he can recognize and track
spin, the sooner he’ll be able to move up the organizational ladder to a
full-season league.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Castro is a very good athlete with a slick glove. He
projects well to SS right now, but could eventually grow off the position
depending on how much bulk he adds. He has excellent present range and an
average arm, and if he does eventually have to move off of SS he should have no
problem at 2B or 3B. He’s a good instinctual fielder with clean actions in the
infield. Castro appeared in 29 games at 2B and 15 at SS last year in the
complex leagues, committing a total of 9 errors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Castro should open 2015 back in extended spring training,
but there’s a chance the Indians move him to Mahoning Valley when the New
York-Penn League starts up in June. It’d be an aggressive assignment, but he
does turn 18 in April. Castro has more room between his current and future
tools than anyone else on this list, and it’ll be interesting to see where he
is physically in 2015. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He’s 17. Give it a couple of years</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Seriously, he’s 17. Ask me again in 2017. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXR3pfRlXvlN5Ma3BkvXkVvHK48n44vmMGvmda3hSoHtrRduE2iLwZ5PXirrOhyphenhyphen5_sgZ30UOYN33bdJrvUSedpf4BPRu4srlOiwprOG16AK8Dsiihq8hRWN9Qm9LUGN_zpkQG/s1600/Armstrong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXR3pfRlXvlN5Ma3BkvXkVvHK48n44vmMGvmda3hSoHtrRduE2iLwZ5PXirrOhyphenhyphen5_sgZ30UOYN33bdJrvUSedpf4BPRu4srlOiwprOG16AK8Dsiihq8hRWN9Qm9LUGN_zpkQG/s1600/Armstrong.JPG" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">22.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Shawn Armstrong, RHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">09/11/1990</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’2”, 210 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">18<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2011 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6-2 with a 2.41 ERA, 15 saves, 72 K and 22 BB in 56
innings of work between AA Akron and AAA Columbus</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Armstrong has been one of the highest-ceiling
bullpen arms in the Indians organization for the past few years. In 2013, he
took a step backwards in terms of command, walking 31 batters in 48 1/3 IP. He
cut down on the walks in 2014, but maintained a sky-high 11.6 K/9 strikeout
rate. For his career, Armstrong has racked up an impressive 219 strikeouts in
just 143 innings of work. The 11 K/9 strikeout rate has the 24-year old on the
cusp of a major league bullpen slot, as he ascended to AAA Columbus last year
to bring his developmental curve near a finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Armstrong is pretty simple as pitchers go; he throws
a fastball, a cut fastball, and a breaking ball. He doesn’t nibble, but attacks
hitters early in the count and dares them to try and put the ball in play. His
fastball sits consistently in the mid-90s, and can touch as high as 98. The
pitch has a lot of life, and plays up due to the deception in his delivery. He
compliments the fastball with a wipeout slider with impressive tilt, a
particularly devastating weapon against righties. The cutter is still a work in
progress, but it’s a nice third pitch that Armstrong can use to attack hitters.
It’s a textbook back-end bullpen arsenal, one that is simple but extremely
effective when Armstrong is working in the strike zone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Part of Armstrong’s command issues lie in his
delivery, a violent and deceptive motion that can be difficult to repeat on a
consistent basis. It’s a bit of a catch-22, because Armstrong’s delivery both
holds back his command and helps make him more deceptive to hitters. He can
afford to walk more than most because he’s so effective at missing bats and
allows so few hits, but walks have a way of turning into runs at the big league
level. Armstrong is also a little more susceptible to lefties than righties,
allowing southpaws to hit .259 against him in 2014 as opposed to just a .179
average for same-siders. If he can continue to shore up his command and find a
way to get lefties out with more consistency, Armstrong could be a weapon in
the back end of a major league bullpen.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A closer or dominant set-up man</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An effective late-inning arm against right-handed
batters</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkRwFEv9kViuhwDy-ZLmkgNoY06JdwtFsNkOGQ1NvQRgnRVK2LfuWBu6x5Yd9MgT4SADjobJOjTk9LWjQRlTFlw1xedFLdc3Wsw9crrI5BqvivzzJDyUdVz8uCI4hIhCq8WIF/s1600/Lugo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkRwFEv9kViuhwDy-ZLmkgNoY06JdwtFsNkOGQ1NvQRgnRVK2LfuWBu6x5Yd9MgT4SADjobJOjTk9LWjQRlTFlw1xedFLdc3Wsw9crrI5BqvivzzJDyUdVz8uCI4hIhCq8WIF/s1600/Lugo+(2).JPG" height="295" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>21.
Luis Lugo, LHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3/5/1994<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’5”, 200 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Left<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent signed in 2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10-9 with a 4.92 ERA, 146 K and 40 BB in 126 1/3 IP
for low-A Lake County<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Slowly but surely, the Indians are removing the
training wheels from Luis Lugo. Originally signed as a 16-year old in 2010 out
of Venezuela, the big lefty’s previous career high in IP 2as 64 2/3’s back in
2013. Lugo nearly doubled that last year, and turned in an impressive season in
the low-A Midwest League. He struck out 10.4 batters per 9 IP with a 3.65 K/BB
ratio with the Captains, and most importantly he remained healthy and in the
rotation for the entire season. It looked as though Lugo was tiring in July of
last year, as he went 0-3 with a 9.12 ERA in 6 starts. But he bounced back in
August to close the season with the best month of his career, going 5-0 in 6 starts
with a 2.14 ERA and 29/5 K/BB in 33 2/3’s innings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lugo throws a fastball, curveball and changeup. The
fastball sits in the 89-93 MPH range, and should continue to improve as Lugo
adds strength to his 6’5” frame. He’s made strides in fastball command over the
past few years, lowering his walk rate and showcasing an ability to spot the
pitch within the strike zone. Lugo’s curveball is a potential plus pitch, a
hammer that is a real swing and miss offering. His changeup offers a weapon to
use against righties, and has shown a lot of improvement from 2013 to now. Lugo
actually had reverse-splits on the mound last year, holding righties to a
.237/.300/.367 line (in 379 AB) while lefties managed to hit .315/.361/.593 off
of him (108 AB). If he can develop a cutter or a slider to use against
southpaws, Lugo could go from a good pitching prospect to an elite one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lugo will pitch the 2015 season as a 21-year old,
and should pitch under normal restrictions for a prospect. He should open in
the high-A Lynchburg rotation, and is on-track for a major league look as soon
as 2017. With his size and command, Lugo has as high of a ceiling as any
starting pitching prospect in the organization despite being far from the major
leagues. I’m a lot more comfortable projecting a future in the rotation this
year than I was last season, as Lugo was able to replicate his short-season
success in the Midwest League, keeping his walk rate down and his strikeout
rate up despite the jump in competition. If he can repeat that trick in the
Carolina League this year, we’re going to be talking about him as a top-10 guy
in the org next offseason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #2/3 starter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A backend starter or relief arm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-47861325167491946312015-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:002015-03-01T07:00:04.138-05:00Prospecting on a Lazy Sunday: Intro and #30-26<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro6MFhjrlGaj5-RCUy1y5uuqfoA8-q9BZSBj1ftQdjLI5JS32Z9WrQxLmth40nBmId-fdsd0XQglvI8REjirr5eIcX4TqafhiTKKrlQySqSOX_Nva4QQCkY2cCmzAEQTaToow/s1600/Amigos+(800x496).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro6MFhjrlGaj5-RCUy1y5uuqfoA8-q9BZSBj1ftQdjLI5JS32Z9WrQxLmth40nBmId-fdsd0XQglvI8REjirr5eIcX4TqafhiTKKrlQySqSOX_Nva4QQCkY2cCmzAEQTaToow/s1600/Amigos+(800x496).jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It’s finally that time of year again. Spring
training is underway in earnest, players are in the Best Shape of their Lives™,
and my prospect countdown is finally ready for press. As always, it’s a massive
labor of love that I’m going to remember much more fondly now that it’s done. I
put a ton of work into this every year, and hopefully you enjoy reading it as
much as I enjoy writing it. I’m publishing the countdown with a bit of a heavy
heart this year, as 2015 is going to be the first year this decade that I’m not
making my usual pilgrimage to Goodyear for spring training. A combination of
work schedule and other factors outside of my control conspired against me this
spring, and I’m hoping to restart the tradition in the spring of 2016. So I’m
living vicariously through those of you who are headed for the sunny skies of
Arizona, and anxiously planning my minor league schedule for this season. I’m
going to get to see Lynchburg (the Indians new high-A Carolina League
affiliate) for opening day as they take on Lucas Giolio and the Potomac
Nationals, so that takes a little of the sting out of missing Arizona.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Indians have a solid system with some high-end
talent and nice depth. There are 20-25 players who have major league futures,
and there are a couple of potential all-stars as well. Four 2014 draftees made
the list, with another coming in on the “just missed” section. The 2014 draft
was extremely well-regarded throughout the baseball community, as independent
talent evaluators like ESPN’s Keith Law ranked the Indians as having the best
draft in baseball last year. It was a nice influx of talent, and the Indians
made the most of their two extra picks (one as compensation for losing Ubaldo
Jimenez and one awarded through the competitive balance lottery). When you account
for the recent graduations of players like Jose Ramirez, Trevor Bauer, Danny
Salazar and T.J. House, it’s easy to be encouraged by the Indians collection of
young talent across the entire organization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As you’re going to see over the next week, the Indians
are stocked with up the middle talent. The top four players (and six of the top
ten) in the organization play in the center of the diamond, whether it’s at SS,
CF or behind the plate. It’s a lot easier to move a player from an up the
middle position to a corner than the other way around, so that’s an encouraging
aspect of the system. The Indians are still short on impact SP talent, as only
two of the top ten players on my list are starting pitchers. There are a slew
of arms in the back-half of the list, guys who are either too young to project
into the rotation or who’s stuff still leaves questions as to their future
role. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One new rule for this year’s list; no one with major
league experience is going to appear in my countdown. Usually, I’d include players
who remain under the Rookie of the Year thresholds (50 IP/130 AB) here, but I
decided not to spend my time writing up guys you’ve already seen for yourself.
The way I see it, you don’t need me to tell you that Austin Adams is a
potential impact bullpen arm, or that Roberto Perez is an incredible defender
who can also stick a little. You’ve already seen those guys perform in
Cleveland, and are likely to see them again very soon in 2015. I’d much rather
spend time telling you about guys like Dylan Baker, Eric Haase and Tony
Wolters. Players who you probably haven’t seen too much of, but that I’ve seen
play several times and can hopefully offer some interesting and valuable
insight into. If you really want to hear what I think about Roberto Perez, you
can check out last year’s list, or read through my twitter feed (hint: I love
him). There will be none of my ranting about how Jesus Aguilar still can’t hit
(or lay off) sliders in the dirt, at least not in this countdown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I kept the list to 30 this year, but there are
plenty of other players in the Indians system that are worth watching. They’re
going to run five at a time starting today, so we’ll wrap it up this Friday. But
before we get into our first installment, here are some other guys in the org I
like or are still worth keeping an eye on this year but didn’t write up. Call
it the “just missed” list(in no particular order): Sam Hentges, Jordan Cooper,
Jordan Smith, Dace Kime, Bryson Myles, Jeff Johnson, Joe Colon and Trey Haley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxnPqQGLXMcqKO_BY13i86HzKwSZ1pJ8yLbir06UyV89R3pxHyRMlac_ch8RugHs8KMhMOLSID1BF0_fQTdZF1S0ILo2t-r9XxvCXH0P1hUJUBMgiRq6i0-QF3FmQl8tyc5nC/s1600/Lovegrove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxnPqQGLXMcqKO_BY13i86HzKwSZ1pJ8yLbir06UyV89R3pxHyRMlac_ch8RugHs8KMhMOLSID1BF0_fQTdZF1S0ILo2t-r9XxvCXH0P1hUJUBMgiRq6i0-QF3FmQl8tyc5nC/s1600/Lovegrove.JPG" height="320" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">30.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Kieran Lovegrove, RHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7/28/1994</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’4”, 185 lb. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3<sup>rd</sup> round pick in the 2012 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2-2 with a 3.90 ERA, 14 K and 23 BB in 30 IP for the
short-season Mahoning Valley Scrappers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lovegrove got off to a slow start last year, being
held down in extended spring training after coming down with a case of the yips
in March of 2014. Lovegrove went through a month or so where he simply had no
idea where his fastball was going, a nightmare scenario for any pitcher. It was
more of a mental issue than a physical one, and Lovegrove was able to work
through it in Arizona and make his way to Mahoning Valley as a member of the
Scrappers rotation. Once in the NYPL, Lovegrove’s season was a tale of two
months. In June, he struggled again with his control and had a 10.38 ERA in his
three starts, walking 10 batters in just 8 2/3’s innings. July was a different
story, as Lovegrove posted a 1.27 ERA in 5 starts, walking “just” 13 in 21 1/3
innings with 12 strikeouts. It was a roller-coaster year for the young righty
from South Africa, and Lovegrove is going to need to be much more consistent in
2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">On the mound, Lovegrove throws a fastball, slider
and changeup. The fastball sits in the 91-94 MPH range and can touch 97. Since
signing with the Indians, Lovegrove has really worked to leverage his lower half
better, and it’s helped him add several ticks on his fastball from where it was
in high school. The mechanical tweaks could also be what’s holding back his
command, as it generally takes some time to get used to alterations in a
pitcher’s motion and build back the muscle memory needed to repeat his delivery
consistently. The slider is Lovegrove’s best offspeed pitch, flashing plus and
showing sharp, late life. Lovegrove has really concentrated on developing his
changeup over the past two seasons, and the pitch has shown a great deal of
development. Lovegrove was actually throwing his changeup and slider last
season when his fastball command deserted him, which is the inverse of how
young pitchers usually develop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When he
was still in high school, Lovegrove co-founded a charity, the Going to Bat
Foundation. Through the foundation, Lovegrove helps provide balls, bats and
other baseball equipment to disadvantaged youths throughout America and Africa.
That’s an impressive thing for a high school kid to do, and shows advanced
maturity for a teenager. He's also pitched internationally for Team South
Africa in the preliminary rounds of the World Baseball Classic, getting a
chance to play with and against guys much older and more experienced than him.
Lovegrove has outstanding makeup and his attitude on and off the baseball field
will help him maximize his tools and reach his ultimate potential on the mound.
It’s part of why I’m still a believer in him even after a rough 2014 season, as
I think he has both the mental and physical tools to bounce back and
re-establish himself as a legitimate prospect in short order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lovegrove
is coming off of a tough season, but I’m still a believer in his future
potential. He’ll play most of the 2015 season as a 20-year old, and should
start off in low-A Lake County. So he’s still on a normal developmental
timetable, despite not pitching in full-season ball since he was drafted in
2012. He has a chance to have three legitimate major league offerings, and
provided his issues with fastball command were an aberration and not a trend,
he’s still a starter as far as I’m concerned. His mental toughness and makeup
are off the charts, and I think he can bounce back with a successful 2015. I’m
not ready to call this year make-or-break for Lovegrove, but I’m definitely
going to look for improvement in the full-season Midwest League. There’s a big
gap between Lovegrove’s performance and his potential right now, and this year
needs to show that he’s narrowed that gap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #3/4 starter in a major league rotation</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A minor league washout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQc0n3H_KtH8J_7DlIIB8d2gsmTUyx8pFH3l1Z4J5BTL48BiXaXMKzU79K0fTheCriV_KodU-oBRi_gDQ4LN1L2ZYYzvvJAo8LeBkK_tMpKyqH44XH4zWWaghg3Y88C_MxH_b8/s1600/IMG_3532+(636x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQc0n3H_KtH8J_7DlIIB8d2gsmTUyx8pFH3l1Z4J5BTL48BiXaXMKzU79K0fTheCriV_KodU-oBRi_gDQ4LN1L2ZYYzvvJAo8LeBkK_tMpKyqH44XH4zWWaghg3Y88C_MxH_b8/s1600/IMG_3532+(636x800).jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">29. Ronny
Rodriguez, INF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4/17/1991</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 170 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">International free agent signed in 2011</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.228/.270/.324 with 5 HR and 34 RBI in 118 games
with AA Akron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rodriguez has his worst professional season in 2014,
posting just a .594 OPS while shuffling all over the diamond defensively for AA
Akron. Heading into 2014, Rodriguez was primarily a shortstop, but in the
crowded middle infield at AA Akron, he bounced around at all four infield
positions. Rodriguez appeared in just 8 games at short last year, spending most
of his time at 2B (45 games) and making his debut at 3B (40 games) and even 1B
(23 games). Rodriguez had never fielded a chance at a corner infield spot
before last season, so he was understandably uncomfortable while trying to
adjust to the new positions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At the plate, Rodriguez has surprising pop for his
size, especially to the pull side. He has loose hands and a quick bat, but gets
too pull-happy at times. He hit a career-high 19 HR in 2012 with high-A
Carolina, but has combined to hit just 10 HR since in two seasons in AA Akron.
Rodriguez can get caught lunging for balls on (or off) the outside part of the
plate, and needs to do a better job sitting back and driving those pitches to
the opposite field. His hit tool is below-average, and not improving with reps
the way I’d hoped it would. He’s still very susceptible to breaking balls down
and out of the strike zone, particularly sliders. He swings at too many bad
pitches, and his K/BB rate has remained stagnant from year to year. Rodriguez
struck out 92 times against just 25 BB last year while repeating AA after a 79
K/19 BB season in 2013. One thing I look for in evaluating players, regardless
of age, is whether or not they can improve when repeating a level and Rodriguez
had a worse 2014 in every way possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Defensively, Rodriguez is an average shortstop in a
system with several really good defensive shortstops. He has an above-average
arm and decent range, allowing him to make plays deep in the hole at short. But
his defense lags behind that of Francisco Lindor, Erik Gonzalez and Jose
Ramirez, so the Indians needed to find a home for him somewhere else on the
infield. He’s a decent 2B, but blocked there as well. I haven’t seen him play
3B or 1B, but his arm and athleticism should work well at either position. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rodriguez has been one of my favorite players in the
organization for several years now. He’s a guy that loves to play the game of
baseball, and he’s a lot of fun to watch. But he’s struggled to make the
necessary adjustments at the plate these past two seasons, and sliders in the
dirt have been the death of him. Rodriguez has a tantalizing package of raw
tools, but his hit tool is holding him back behind several other middle infield
prospects in the org right now. There’s still a chance that Rodriguez figures
it out, but that chance gets slimmer and slimmer every season that he doesn’t
show marked improvement at the plate. If Rodriguez has a 2015 similar to his
2014, he’ll be reduced to the ranks of the non-prospects. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A utility infielder with some pop</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">His hit tool dooms him to a career in the minor
leagues</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7qJLQ1sm2CPtWzk4pSAGhp1HTl2RNA31hq2W0XYidWfIqkC0HVYtiUK29eJW0Fyi-M6geYG6NHmQ7Lu4BBMVnmYnkV7s6PbSpxd1jdoGolf2IDMRdvouhJRtwZiIiFXciqU1/s1600/Washington+(697x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7qJLQ1sm2CPtWzk4pSAGhp1HTl2RNA31hq2W0XYidWfIqkC0HVYtiUK29eJW0Fyi-M6geYG6NHmQ7Lu4BBMVnmYnkV7s6PbSpxd1jdoGolf2IDMRdvouhJRtwZiIiFXciqU1/s1600/Washington+(697x800).jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">28. LeVon Washington, OF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7/26/1991</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5’11”, 170 lb.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2<sup>nd</sup> round pick in the 2010 MLB draft</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.294/.402/.393 with 4 HR and 28 RBI in 70 games for
high-A Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Washington is on this list because of his tools and
athleticism, not because of his on-field production. The man they call
#WASHTIME has spent four full seasons in the Indians organization, but has appeared
in just 223 games during that time. His career slash line is .286/.393/.407,
and has hit 13 HR and stolen 40 bases during his professional career. It’s easy
to lose track of how young Washington still is, because he was drafted out of a
JuCo and feels like he’s been in the org forever. But Washington is still just
23 years old, and although it’s looking less and less likely with every injury,
it’s still possible that he makes it to the major leagues and contributes for
the Indians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Washington’s calling card is his speed. He’s wiry
and strong for his size, but has below-average power and doesn’t project to
anything more than that. He should hit plenty of doubles and triples due to his
speed, but will probably never hit double-digit HRs. He has an average hit tool
and a solid approach, walking 45 times against 63 strikeouts last season. If
he’s able to stay on the field, he could be a .290/.380/.425 guy at his peak,
but that just hasn’t happened so far in his career. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In the
field, Washington has the tools to play CF, but spent all of 2014 in LF. He’s
up against guys like Clint Frazier, Tyler Naquin and Bradley Zimmer for playing
time in CF, and all three of those guys have passed Washington on the
organizational ladder. He doesn’t have the arm for RF, but should be able to be
a Brantley-esque defender in LF. He still has above-average speed and an
average arm. His arm got a lot of negative attention coming out of college, but
Washington had surgery to repair a torn labrum and has worked hard to regain at
least average arm strength in the OF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Washington
is going to be 24 at the end of July, and is starting to run out of chances in
the Indians org. The raw tools and athleticism are there, but the on-field
results need to match those tools at some point, and it simply hasn’t
happened. He’s such a frustrating
talent, because when he’s good, he’s really good. I’ve seen him look like the
best player on the field in spring training, spraying line drives all over the
park, stretching doubles into triples, stealing bases and making outstanding
defensive plays in CF. He’s a hard worker and clearly loves the game of
baseball. But health is a skill too, and it’s a skill that Washington just
doesn’t have for whatever reason. He’ll get a shot with AA Akron this year, but
if he can’t at least crack that 100 game barrier, we could be looking at the
end of WASHTIME in Cleveland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A 4<sup>th</sup> OF with speed</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An injury-plagued minor league career</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFoKB7euxGAp1gQeZpHXD1EX48-Go_IdUkZpacFQ09YnMS-sD0skg0L533PNXRIw7gFZYZ8slIP-QFm8pxyBdLpFdn1vnjxN3eQriIHd1JT_6gPY5p4jvxkiC9DVCZ7haV43a/s1600/Plutko+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFoKB7euxGAp1gQeZpHXD1EX48-Go_IdUkZpacFQ09YnMS-sD0skg0L533PNXRIw7gFZYZ8slIP-QFm8pxyBdLpFdn1vnjxN3eQriIHd1JT_6gPY5p4jvxkiC9DVCZ7haV43a/s1600/Plutko+(4).JPG" height="320" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Al Ciammaichella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>27.</b> <b>Adam
Plutko, RHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10/3/1991<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’3”, 195 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Right/Right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">11<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2013 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7-10 with a 4.03 ERA, 144 K and 30 BB in 149 2/3 IP
between low-A Lake County and high-A Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Selected in the 11<sup>th</sup> round out of
collegiate powerhouse UCLA, Plutko opened the 2014 season in the rotation for
the Lake County Captains. Considered an
advanced arm coming out of college, Plutko pitched extremely well during his
time in the Midwest League. He made 10 starts for the Captains, going 3-1 with
a 3.93 ERA and striking out 66 hitters in just 52 2/3’s innings of work. His
best start came on May 8, when he worked 8 innings shutout innings while
allowing just 3 baserunners and striking out 13. Promoted to the high-A
Carolina League just prior to Memorial Day, Plutko went on to make 28 starts
for the Mudcats. He went 4-9 in Carolina with a 4.08 ERA, 78 K and 18 BB in 97
IP. It was a solid season all the way around for Plutko, and helped solidify
his status as a legitimate back of the rotation SP prospect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">On the mound, Plutko has a deep arsenal, throwing a
fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. The fastball is merely average,
sitting in the 89-92 MPH range with a little bit of arm-side run. He spots the
fastball early in the count and then uses his offspeed stuff to keep hitters
off balance once he’s ahead of them. His changeup is consistently above-average
and flashes plus, a nice offering with a lot of late fade. He does a really
nice job with his arm speed to make the pitch more deceptive, and it’s usually
15 or so MPH slower than his fastball. He also throws a somewhat slurvy slider
that’s slower than most sliders and doesn’t have the hard, late life you’d
associate with a true swing and miss offering. His curveball is more of a show
pitch that he uses to change the eye level on hitters, as it’s a big 12-6
breaker that’s not very deceptive. He works primarily off three pitch FB-CH-SL
mix, and will throw all three at any point in the count.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Plutko is a good athlete and an intense competitor.
He does a really nice job repeating his delivery and has impressive command and
control in the strike zone. He has an excellent feel for pitching and does a
nice job sequencing to keep hitters off balance and induce weak contact. He
posted good strikeout numbers in 2014, but as he moves up the organizational
ladder he’s going to be a guy who pitches to contact and lets his fielders do
their thing. He has excellent makeup and work ethic, and is going to be a guy
who gets the most out of his talent. He projects to be a classic innings-eating
starter in the back-end of a major league rotation. He’s not a guy who’s going
to be on any national top prospect countdowns, but he has a chance to be a
valuable piece of a major league rotation. He reminds me of Josh Tomlin; a
“crafty” righty without an overpowering fastball, but who will have excellent
command and knows how to pitch. They’ll both give up their share of HR, but
most will be solo shots and they’ll get plenty of flyball outs to go with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A #4/5 starter in a major league rotation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lack of a true strikeout pitch holds him back to
middle relief <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEv6EKT5RbfIM20N9RoNWHQLwydJxI6U4AOBliceQu9-ub4UzfJwoBgl-9dNloJBgO-PPZPXxJ-XS8XIkBp3g0BE0nPcDrit30dKpQY_UbtEDtDeWkkVb2vJxPMd6OT6cDbQk/s1600/Ryan-Merritt-32-Carolina-Mudcats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEv6EKT5RbfIM20N9RoNWHQLwydJxI6U4AOBliceQu9-ub4UzfJwoBgl-9dNloJBgO-PPZPXxJ-XS8XIkBp3g0BE0nPcDrit30dKpQY_UbtEDtDeWkkVb2vJxPMd6OT6cDbQk/s1600/Ryan-Merritt-32-Carolina-Mudcats.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Michael Hudson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>26. Ryan
Merritt, LHP<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DOB: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2/21/1992<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Height/Weight:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6’0”, 165 lb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bats/Throws:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Left/Left<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acquired:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">16<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 2011 MLB draft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2014
Stats: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">13-3 with a 2.58 ERA, 127 K and 25 BB in 160 1/3 IP
for high-A Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Scouting
Report: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When it comes to on-field production, no pitcher in
the Indians minor league system had a better season than Merritt. He led the
Carolina League with 13 wins, and put up a sparkling 2.58 ERA. His 5.08 K/BB
ratio was 2<sup>nd</sup> in the league among players with more than 15 starts.
Merritt started the Carolina League All-Star Game, and was named the Indians
Minor League Pitcher of the Year following the season. And to put a cherry on
top of all that, he was added to the 40-man roster this winter to protect him
from the Rule 5 Draft. All in all, it was about the best season the 23-year old
southpaw could’ve hoped for, one that he’ll be looking to build on in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Merritt is a classic command and control lefty. He’s
not overpowering by any means, but does a nice job spotting his fastball and
inducing soft contact. The fastball sits in the high-80’s and is hittable when
Merritt leaves it up in the zone. But that’s a rare occurrence, as he gave up
just 1 HR every 13 1/3 IP last season, Merritt has an above-average changeup
that flashes plus, and it’s that pitch that helped him find success in Carolina
last season. He made real strides with the changeup last year, gaining
consistency in both command and pitch performance. It has nice, late fade and
really comes down and in hard on left handed hitters. He also throws a solid
but unspectacular breaking ball, and refinement and development of that third
pitch will help define Merritt’s future as a starter or reliever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Merritt is a good athlete who repeats his delivery
well, helping to keep his command sharp. He’s not going to overpower hitters,
but does a nice job with his sequencing to keep hitters off balance. He’s a
deceptive pitcher, changing the eye level, pitch speed, and location on hitters
in every at bat. He’s not going to be ready to start in the major leagues
anytime soon, but the Indians rostered him this offseason in case another team
decided to take a flyer and turn him into a two-pitch reliever or swingman out
of the bullpen. Lefties who can throw strikes are valuable assets who can have
long and productive major league careers (see Orosco, Jesse), and Merritt could
at least be a bullpen arm down the road. He held same-siders to a paltry
.197/.236/.308 line last year, showing that he at least has that LOOGY
potential. But he’ll start for as long as he can, and open the season in the AA
Akron rotation. The hitter-friendly Eastern League will be a tougher test for
Merritt, and hopefully he won’t scuffle in AA the way the 2013 Indians Minor
League Pitcher of the Year (Cody Anderson) did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-full: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A soft-tossing back of the rotation starter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glass
half-empty: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A soft-tossing lefty reliever <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-46631425446251931322015-01-18T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-18T07:00:03.638-05:00Still Celebrating on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sg3IYYEhiziGy4omi8DhlckteZdiqH1j7-lBL-pSsHptpuRbLbwv9oC75dNoh_uI5mi_3c8gQYknvJIYhQnsCsKROvHst6SHWMV4TbxQPGWXxaJLhgWj6M2a2aLFzpya6Sn0/s1600/urbs+cardale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sg3IYYEhiziGy4omi8DhlckteZdiqH1j7-lBL-pSsHptpuRbLbwv9oC75dNoh_uI5mi_3c8gQYknvJIYhQnsCsKROvHst6SHWMV4TbxQPGWXxaJLhgWj6M2a2aLFzpya6Sn0/s1600/urbs+cardale.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you’re anything like me, this Lazy Sunday finds
you still riding a bit of a high following Ohio State’s 42-20 victory over the
Oregon Ducks in the first-ever College Football Playoff on Monday night. No,
this is not a “Cleveland Championship” and no, I did not attend The Ohio State
University. But I grew up a die-hard Buckeye fan, to the point that I skipped
trick-or-treating as an eight-year old in favor of watching the Buckeyes game
with my dad (they won, it was worth it, and I stole some of my younger
brothers’ candy). But I recognize that not all of you reading this blog are
Ohio State fans, and you’re probably wondering when one of your teams is going
to finally break through and win it all (provided you’re a straight Cleveland
ticket on the professional scene, as I am). The Browns, despite looking like
the Browns! for the season’s first half, fizzled to be the same old Browns by
the end of the season. The Cavs, who drew national (if not worldwide) attention
with the return of LeBron and trading for Kevin Love, are floundering around
.500 with a media frenzy surrounding the uncertain future of their first-year
head coach. That leaves us with the Indians, who are a combined 30 games over
.500 the past two years and employ the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, a
top-3 2014 AL MVP finisher, and one of the best managers in the game (2013 AL
Manager of the Year Terry Francona). Maybe Johnny Football takes football
seriously and enters 2015 ready to play. Maybe LeBron switches off “chill mode”
and goes off on the NBA playoffs the way he did against Detroit in 2007. But
personally, I’m going to turn the majority of my sporting attention to what
remains the best-run franchise in town (since at least 1993), our very own
Cleveland Indians. I still feel like they represent this city’s best chance for
a championship in the near term, and hopefully we all get to enjoy that feeling
together very soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ESPN’s Buster Olney has been progressing through a
seemingly never-ending list of top-10’s this offseason. He started off by going
position-by-position around the diamond, </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/tag/_/name/position-ranks"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">recognizing
Michael Brantley as the best LF in the game</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, but </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/8798/top-10-starting-pitchers-in-mlb"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">slighting
CyKluber (in my humble and biased opinion) by naming him the game’s 8<sup>th</sup>-best
SP</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
behind three (very good) pitchers he beat out for the AL Cy Young Award in
2014. </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/8789/top-10-relief-pitchers-in-mlb"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He
called Cody Allen the 9<sup>th</sup>-best RP in the game today,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
a pretty nice honor for a guy who’s pitched in relative anonymity throughout
his career (at least on the national scene, having only been a Closer© for part
of one season). </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/8654/the-top-10-second-basemen-in-mlb"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He
pegged Jason Kipnis as the #6 2B</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, even coming off of an
injury-plagued season (that probably says more about the state of the position
than Kipnis). </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/8615/the-top-10-catchers-in-mlb"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yan
Gomes clocks in as the 7<sup>th</sup>-best catcher</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
which seems low for the future 1<sup>st</sup>-ballot HOF’er (kidding…kinda).
Interestingly, the Indians best hitter isn’t even mentioned in Olney’s
rankings, as Carlos Santana didn’t rate even an honorable mention at 1B. Not
sure if that’s due to the depth of the position or a simple oversight by Olney,
as I’d prefer Santana to his 9<sup>th</sup> ranked 1B, Boston’s Mike Napoli. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The individual rankings are a fun offseason
exercise, but I wanted to focus more on Buster’s group rankings, where he looks
at teams’ bullpen, rotation, </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/9159/red-sox-lead-top-10-ranks-of-mlb-lineups"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">lineup</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/9165/royals-no-1-in-top-10-mlb-defense-ranks"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">defense</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
as a whole. No MLB team appeared in the top-10 of all four lists. Only two
teams appeared in the top-10 of three out of the four categories; the Washingon
Nationals and the Cleveland Indians. The Indians clocked in with Buster’s </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/9159/red-sox-lead-top-10-ranks-of-mlb-lineups"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">9<sup>th</sup>-best
lineup</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, then at #10 for both the </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/9143/top-10-bullpens-in-the-majors-royals-no-1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">bullpen</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/9134/nats-no-1-in-top-10-rotations-in-the-majors"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">rotation</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
If you’re anything like me, you’re excited that the club is recognized by a
leading, independent baseball writer, but a little miffed that he tagged the
rotation as “only” the 10<sup>th</sup> best in baseball. Buster’s reasoning
behind that ranking:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This would seem
an aggressive ranking for the Indians, who finished 18th in starters' ERA last
season, but after talking with rival evaluators, I think this spot might be too
low for the Indians, whose staff ranked third in the majors in ERA in the
second half. They just kept getting better and better, with Corey Kluber
becoming a Cy Young Award winner at the front end of the rotation. The
difference-maker could be Carlos Carrasco, as he was in the second half last
season, when he lowered his ERA by two runs. Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar are
high-end talents, and the Indians are hopeful Gavin Floyd can help after being
limited to just 14 starts combined in 2013 and 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvB_TOv1oq2W7YSBmq86U7XjlaUMkG-z9bWcb-xFPdd_MRQGhmx6R4CwjFAlJgUWkX6pw6unO3BbWb0BUOdGUcXnBY6FYmA_OFW4GWjHF1vuwkZVC9YmQke0vYtlMo-O6OtxM/s1600/carlos+carrasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvB_TOv1oq2W7YSBmq86U7XjlaUMkG-z9bWcb-xFPdd_MRQGhmx6R4CwjFAlJgUWkX6pw6unO3BbWb0BUOdGUcXnBY6FYmA_OFW4GWjHF1vuwkZVC9YmQke0vYtlMo-O6OtxM/s1600/carlos+carrasco.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Olney is correct that Carrasco is a potential
difference-maker, as he’s a legit #2 behind Kluber if you get 2<sup>nd</sup>-half
Carlos. If Cookie can play the Fausto to Kluber’s Sabathia (to use a 2007
analogy), the Indians have the potential to have the best rotation in the AL.
But the fact that Buster has the Indians with the 3<sup>rd</sup> best rotation
in the AL Central speaks volumes to the uncertainty surrounding the #2-5 slots
in the rotation, and helps reflect GM Chris Antonetti’s mindset in signing
Gavin Floyd to his incentive-laden deal earlier this offseason. Bauer and
Salazar remain enigmatic talents who could still boom or bust in 2015. T.J.
House, who Buster didn’t even mention, is a guy who found a lot more success
last year than most talent evaluators predicted. NEW I think Buster is a little
low with this ranking, but I can understand his reasoning. Hopefully at the end
of the year, the Tribe will finish closer to #1 on this list than #10. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of Carrasco, the Indians avoided
arbitration with all of their eligible players this week, including their
potential #2 starter. Carrasco, Scrabble and Lonnie Chisenhall all agreed to
deals between $2.25 and $2.5 million for next season. Then on Friday, Brandon
Moss ($6.5 million), Bryan Shaw ($1.55 mil) and Josh Tomlin ($1.5 mil) agreed
to terms as well. The Indians have re-started their streak of seasons without
an arbitration hearing, which now stands at one (1). </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/556188005023875072"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per
Jordan Bastian’s math (which I have no cause to doubt), the Indians 2015
payroll now stands at approximately $83 million,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
factoring in all pre-arbitration deals still to be handed out. I’ll again use
this as a chance to remind you that Corey Kluber, a pre-arbitration player,
cannot be a free agent until AFTER the 2018 season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Baseball Prospecuts released their top-10 Indians
prospects article this week, and there were a couple of surprises. BP is my
go-to independent resource for stuff like this, and I was really interested to
see how the 2015 iteration of the prospect countdowns would shake out. This is
the first year that neither Kevin Goldstein (now in the Astros front office)
nor Jason Parks (crosschecker for the Cubs) aren’t part of the prospect team,
and BP has really tried to get a lot of up and coming baseball minds involved
in what has become a collaborative process. So, first, let’s talk about the
top-10 itself (free even to non-subscribers):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1.SS
Francisco Lindor<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2.C
Francisco Mejia<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3.OF
Clint Frazier<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4.OF
Bradley Zimmer<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5.CF
Tyler Naquin<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6.LHP
Justus Sheffield<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7.OF/1B
Mike Papi<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8.3B
Giovanny Urshela<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">9.1B
Bobby Bradley<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10.RHP
Mitch Brown<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For starters, I’m surprised that Mejia is ahead of
Frazier on this list. I (SPOILER ALERT) have them flipped on my list, because I
think that they have similar ceilings but Frazier is less of a risk due to age,
experience and the position they play. I also have Erik Gonzalez in my top-10,
as I think he’s a potential impact defender with the age/frame/athleticism to
suggest that he could take a step forward with the bat. But these are
relatively minor issues. I’m just surprised and a little saddened that someone
is higher on Mejia than I am. BP’s Mark Anderson handled the “Top 10 Under-25”
portion of the list, and one of his comments really caught my eye:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The emergence of
Lonnie Chisenhall in 2014 would have ranked him highly on this list had he not
missed the eligibility criteria, and his breakout campaign serves as notice of
his impending arrival in the earlier-mentioned group of core talents.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s pretty high praise for Chisenhall. Anderson
is an experienced scout who also writes for a Tigers website, so you can be
sure that he saw plenty of Chiz last year. I’m not sure if he built that opinion
off of Lonnie’s big first half or if he just thinks that the post-June swoon
wasn’t the Chiz that we’ll see moving forward. Either way, it’s nice to see
someone outside the organization praising a guy that most see as a 2<sup>nd</sup>-division
starter at best as a “core talent” on a quality baseball team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2SRrI78GIB_uPzhMwOWrYV-bQh77I_N2L2yEfHlcSPlNYdKLZsWAswHX4kdQ2ShUwdJy6lZb1waElrpjuWVBt15n45BxRVGaR7SSLZnPdyMRCr2hStmYl7G_wTvTZa2ING49/s1600/shaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2SRrI78GIB_uPzhMwOWrYV-bQh77I_N2L2yEfHlcSPlNYdKLZsWAswHX4kdQ2ShUwdJy6lZb1waElrpjuWVBt15n45BxRVGaR7SSLZnPdyMRCr2hStmYl7G_wTvTZa2ING49/s1600/shaw.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fox Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/556208307992788992">Jon Morosi
tweeted yesterday that the Indians were one of a few teams still “looking for a
closer.”</a> That seems odd on the surface, given that they have young power
reliever Cody Allen anchoring the back end of a solid (and deep) bullpen. Morosi’s
article made a little more sense than the tweet, <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/baseball-joe/blog/checking-in-on-the-closer-market-011615">clarifying
that the Indians were looking for a backend reliever, not specifically a
closer.</a> Still, the Indians have Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Scott Atchison,
C.C. Lee, Kyle Crockett, Austin Adams, Nick Hagadone, and Scrabble already
established as bullpen options, with Zach McAllister and Josh Tomlin likely to
be out of the rotation, and Shawn Armstrong on the cusp of the big league
roster. So it would seem like the last thing the Indians need is another
bullpen arm. <a href="http://bastian.mlblogs.com/2015/01/17/handle-with-care-examining-shaws-workload/">But
I’d like to draw your attention to this article from Jordan Bastian on Friday
talking about bullpen usage.</a> Bastian points out just how much primary setup
man Bryan Shaw has been used over the past couple of seasons relative to the
rest of the league, and it’s a little concerning:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fact of the
matter, however, is no pitcher has a rubber arm. A high volume of pitches,
innings and games can have a toll on any pitcher. Over the 2013-14 seasons,
Shaw has given the Indians a 2.91 ERA over 150 games and 151.1 innings. In that
span, he ranks second in the AL (third in the Majors) in games pitched and
second in the Majors (first in the AL) in innings for pitchers with zero starts
logged…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…Dating back to
2007, there have been 29 instances, excluding Shaw, where a pitcher has logged
at least 150 games and 140 innings over a two-year span. Consider this: Cody
Allen and Shaw were the only pitchers in baseball over the past two years to
meet that criteria. At least in Allen’s case, his future as Cleveland’s closer
should naturally lead to a decrease in innings in 2015 and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bastian goes on to look at relievers who’ve
experienced similar workloads, and the results are not pretty. I’ll let you
read the rest of Bastian’s fantastic work for yourself, but the list is full of
regression (in terms of both stuff and stats) and injuries, with only a couple
of exceptions. So even if Shaw bucks the trend and pitches effectively in 2015,
the Indians need to find a way to manage his workload. This isn’t a surprise to
most Indians fans, <a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/2014/8/19/6045001/are-cody-allen-and-bryan-shaw-being-overworked">and
Jason Lukehart from Let’s Go Tribe was writing about the problem back in August
of 2014.</a> Offsetting his usage with another effective backend arm, whether
it’s an internal option or a move to acquire another arm from outside the organization,
has to be a goal for GM Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona. Tito loves managing
his bullpen, so getting him another toy to play with out there should only
serve to make him happy. <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/556214349606711298">Antonetti has basically
said that he doesn’t see the club making any major additions before spring
training</a>, but are open to finding “depth” or someone to “compliment the
players we already have.” A relief arm probably fits that bill, and while I don’t
expect them to sign or trade for a big name, I wouldn’t be surprised if they
went out and found another depth option or two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-G_p8N53Zl1qoJB4GzlJU9rHWT9_rEqwpoU4ef5JMaqjyGJ3V7VquzOw7K4xIsYDU6qjTDl5KSCkITSJ7HuqBUTNcoYEYi-QGphOG3jIUPcEkRS7d5UdBMHMfKTEsd09E3pA/s1600/timeless-ticket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-G_p8N53Zl1qoJB4GzlJU9rHWT9_rEqwpoU4ef5JMaqjyGJ3V7VquzOw7K4xIsYDU6qjTDl5KSCkITSJ7HuqBUTNcoYEYi-QGphOG3jIUPcEkRS7d5UdBMHMfKTEsd09E3pA/s1600/timeless-ticket2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Milwaukee Brewers are doing something pretty
cool for the 2015 season and beyond, </span><a href="http://brewers.mlblogs.com/2015/01/13/additional-benefits-to-timeless-ticket-announced/?adbid=555035446451789824&adbpl=tw&adbpr=52824038&partnerId=as_mil_20150113_38696407"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">offering
fans a chance to buy a “timeless ticket” for $1000.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
What does Joe Brewer Fan get for his $1k investment? Well, for starters, you
get this sharp-looking bronze commemorative ticket and certificate of authenticity.
Then, you get a ticket to any 9 Brewer games (non-opening day or postseason)
between now and…well, forever. But the real kicker here is this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This unique
opportunity allows the owner to redeem their Timeless Ticket for an actual
ticket to any single future Brewers game at Miller Park, whether it’s in 2015
or 2050, or whether it’s Opening Day or the 7th game of the World Series…In
addition, Timeless Ticket holders may purchase up to three additional companion
tickets for the redeemed game at the single game box office price.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So you get a ticket to a potential future World
Series game (because really, who’s going to use this on opening day?) and the
chance to be a hero to three of your best friends by scoring face value tickets
to that same World Series game. And you get to keep the bronze ticket to boot,
which would be a pretty awesome souvenir if it came from your favorite teams’
World Series win. I’m shocked the Indians didn’t think of this, because it’s
really the ultimate in dynamic pricing. If they came out with this, I’d buy one
in a heartbeat. But can you imagine the stress over when to use the ticket? Say
the Indians have home field advantage in the World Series (I know, I know, bear
with me here). Game Six, and the Tribe hold a 3-2 advantage over the Dodgers.
Kershaw is scheduled to pitch against Kluber in game 7, if necessary. Do you
pull the trigger and go to game 6, knowing it might not be the clincher? Or
save it for the potential game 7, knowing that Cookie Carrasco might shut out
the Dodgers and you miss the series-winning game 6? Additionally, I’m not sure
how the club handles this if, say, 3,000 people buy the ticket in 2015, and the
Brewers go to the WS this year (unlikely but possible). Hypothetically, all
3,000 people could try to exercise their right to buy tickets to game 1, plus
the 3 extras for their friends. I guess that’s what the fine print is for
(*subject to availability*) but I’d hate to have to explain to a fan that
shelled out a grand for this timeless ticket that his/her ticket is not in fact
timeless and they can’t actually go to the game they selected. Still, I think
overall it’s a really neat idea and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Indians
decided to copy it at some point in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150115&content_id=106494816&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t531&sid=t531"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
really happy to link to this article from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
(yes, the AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees) because it directly impacts
the life of a good friend. Former Carolina Mudcats broadcaster and 2013
Carolina League Broadcaster of the Year Darren Headrick was hired by the
RailRiders to join their broadcast team, a well-deserved call-up to AAA if
there ever was one. Headrick is an SEC football fan from Tennessee, but other
than that is a fantastic guy. He’s an outstanding broadcaster who got along
well with the players, coaches and media. He always had time to help me out
whenever I was attending a Mudcats game, and I’ll be forever grateful. No
disrespect to Al Palowski, but I’d love to see the Indians pick up Headrick and
put him in the booth with Hammy. Congrats to Darren, and if you see him in
Columbus when Scranton comes to town to play the Clippers, be sure and say
hello (and remind him that THE Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning national
champions of the college football universe).</span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m going to close this weekend </span><a href="http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/106330268/mlb-umpire-john-hirschbeck-survival-guide-ald"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">with
this incredible piece from Anthony Castrovice on MLB umpire John Hirschbeck and his family.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
It was published on Tuesday, and hopefully most of you have already had a chance to read it. If
you haven’t, please do so today. There’s nothing I can possibly add to Castro’s
words here, so I’m not going to try. Just make sure you have a box of tissues
nearby for this one. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a class="twitter-follow-button" href="http://twitter.com/Gotribe31">Follow @Gotribe31</a><br />
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-468709705558849352015-01-11T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-11T07:00:00.094-05:00Warming Up on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUenhoHSUCCwxBmdBNpsbgmDZuiyIqS-0Qh8kDfA-REFcUV312bbJN4mrj0F29nUI1gfb2nl1EzJlGQzCgwkAkgZx-FiNDBjsmK9LXitlwY4sCl80Gk50x4pCGWB4IY-DVLoYq/s1600/santana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUenhoHSUCCwxBmdBNpsbgmDZuiyIqS-0Qh8kDfA-REFcUV312bbJN4mrj0F29nUI1gfb2nl1EzJlGQzCgwkAkgZx-FiNDBjsmK9LXitlwY4sCl80Gk50x4pCGWB4IY-DVLoYq/s1600/santana.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s January, which usually means big-time bowl
games (usually including the Buckeyes), NFL playoffs (rarely including the
Browns) and cold weather/snow, particularly in our beloved Midwest. It also
means that the countdown to Spring Training becomes much more real (just over 5
weeks!) and baseball writers all over the interwebs start to come out with
their “rankings” for 2015. Fantasy baseball rankings, dynasty baseball
rankings, pre-season award rankings, top prospect rankings…all over every
sports site from here until real baseball begins in earnest this April, you’re
going to see a multitude of rankings. I’m no exception, as I’m working to put
out my 5<sup>th</sup> annual Indians prospect countdown sometime in early March
(or at least that’s the plan). It’s quite the labor of love, with an emphasis
on the “labor” part of the equation. So you probably won’t be seeing something
from me every week in this space, but I’m going to do my best to make it worth
it when the prospect countdown does finally come out later on this year. With
that mea culpa out of the way, let’s set off to all the news that’s fit to link
here on a (cold) Lazy Sunday…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zack Meisel of the Plain Dealer had an…interesting
cab ride in the waning days of 2014, and </span><a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/01/cleveland_indians_new_years_re.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">used
it as a springboard to think up some “resolutions” for the Indians in 2015</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
One such resolution focused on Carlos Santana, who might well be the most
important Indian for the upcoming 2015 season:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now firmly
entrenched at one position, produce a consistent year at the plate, one that
doesn't include a .159 batting average and .628 OPS through the first two
months. Santana's final numbers (.231/.365/.427 slash line, 27 home runs, 85
RBIs, league-leading 113 walks) looked fine at season's end, but imagine how
they would sparkle if not for a miserable first two months. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Digging a little deeper on Meisel’s musings, Santana
put up an impressive .266/.384/.488 line from June through the end of the
season. That .872 OPS was fueled in part by Santana hitting 21 of his 27 HR
during that timeframe, and despite a rather pedestrian .281 BABIP. If you want
to stretch that June-Sept production over 162 games, Santana would’ve finished
with 34 HR, 108 RBI and 112 BB (showing just how consistent Santana’s walk rate
was throughout the season, even when he was struggling in April/May). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s even say you’re one of those people who
obsesses over Santana’s batting average (I’m most certainly not, but there are
those out there who are). Looking back at his career, there’s a pretty
predictable correlation between his batting average and average in balls in
play:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">AVG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BABIP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr style="height: 12.8pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.239<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.263<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 12.8pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.252<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.278<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 12.8pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.8pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.15pt;" valign="top" width="82">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.268<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.301<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.231<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.249<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Santana’s BABIP is in the .250-.260 range, he
hits around .230. As his BABIP (read; luck) rises, so does his batting average.
This isn’t rocket surgery. More importantly, there’s one thing that’s remained
consistent with regards to Santana, and that’s his OBP. Santana has never
walked fewer than 91 times over a full season, and his OBP has ranged from .351
to .377. I don’t care if he hits .231, if he’s on base 35% of the time, Santana
is basically slump-proof, regardless of how low his batting average is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0Pqsvp3N4g6p3blAalHSSyP3PaV6GGXZ36cRS_Um9mWuxq1Tq5jEaRskeIIOmDZ_z3r7Qb-S4iZRcwvNtNUlhBHqwOMAEgY0geccMbcZNGpLsTLzEWAPee5GO5RNTTNPPxg8/s1600/santana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0Pqsvp3N4g6p3blAalHSSyP3PaV6GGXZ36cRS_Um9mWuxq1Tq5jEaRskeIIOmDZ_z3r7Qb-S4iZRcwvNtNUlhBHqwOMAEgY0geccMbcZNGpLsTLzEWAPee5GO5RNTTNPPxg8/s1600/santana1.jpg" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why am I spending this much time on Santana? Well,
as many of you have noticed, the Indians lineup is filled with left-handed
hitters from top to bottom. Santana, a switch hitter, is going to be playing
mostly 1B and DH this year, so the plan is to have him in the lineup pretty
much every day. The only other right-handed power that one can take more or
less for granted when looking at the Indians projected lineup is from catcher
Yan Gomes, and as a catcher, he’ll have to take at least a game off every week.
If you want to argue that Nick Swisher is going to bounce back and have another
20+ HR season, fine, but I’m not ready to pencil that in just yet. So Santana
is going to be the most important hitter in the lineup, batting cleanup and
representing the most consistent right-handed bat when a southpaw starter is on
the mound for the opposition. The Indians aren’t going to ask Santana to play a
new position in 2015 the way they did in spring and early 2014. They’re not
even going to ask him to play the more difficult of his older positions.
They’re simply going to ask him to go out and get on base every day, and drive
in as many runs as possible. If he’s
healthy and in the lineup every day, and can match his June-Sept production
over a full season (.266/.384/.488 with 30+ HR, 100+ BB and 100+ RBI), it’d be
a huge step in ensuring the Indians offense doesn’t slip into the late-season
doldrums that plagued them in 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So if Carlos Santana is (arguably) the most
important bat in the Indians lineup, who’s the most important pitcher? You
could probably make an argument for pretty much any of the pitchers in the
rotation, but I’m going with the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Corey Kluber was
a dominant force in 2014, and much like Santana’s walks made him slump-proof,
Kluber’s pitching helped to ensure that the club never fell off a cliff in
terms of a long losing streak, even though there were times when we were afraid
that was going to happen. The Indians had one streak of 5 or more losses (they
dropped 6 in a row from April 25-30), but that was it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s logical to think that Kluber will regress at
least a little in 2015. After all, rarely do pitchers win back-to-back Cy Young
Awards, and Kluber was almost exactly a league average (99 ERA+) pitcher in
2013. So there’s not exactly the sustained track record of success that you
have with a Kershaw or a King Felix. What Kluber does have, however, are
superior mechanics. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25276"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Baseball
Prospectus resident pitching expert Doug Thorburn recently broke down the
best/worst mechanics in the AL Central in a variety of categories.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Doug and Paul Sporer were two of the few national writers who were projecting a
major Kluber breakout prior to the 2014 season (in their Starting Pitcher
Guide), so Doug clearly knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the
Klubot. He rated Klubers mechanics as the best in all of the AL Central, coming
in just ahead of Tiger ace David Price:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Similar to the
situation with Madison Bumgarner in the NL West, the case for Kluber was made
before his Cy Young campaign of 2014 even got started. Kluber was one of just
nine starting pitchers who received a grade of A- or higher in the 2014
Starting Pitcher Guide (out of more than 200 players that received report
cards), and he found a way to improve his scores this past season. Kluber earns
plus marks in every single category of the report card, and he was in the
discussion for best in the division for all four subjects under consideration.
David Price also received consideration for this award, and like Kluber, Price
has plus marks in every category, but his stability took a small step backward
while Kluber's improvements allowed him to leap-frog Price in the standings.
The right-handed Kluber is a machine of mechanical efficiency, with a template
for his delivery that portends a continued run of success. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgt9S6EVSQ7JmfrlcJOEVbIPXrrxBHRl0hyphenhyphenIf8yup71hERcGQv8364HXRjWP26QhW-o2dXwohf1Npy1W_bx2BDKwVmksUbFLEO6wAWLwxE5-PtsRspRRnylCDM_bDGQjTwD-k/s1600/kluber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgt9S6EVSQ7JmfrlcJOEVbIPXrrxBHRl0hyphenhyphenIf8yup71hERcGQv8364HXRjWP26QhW-o2dXwohf1Npy1W_bx2BDKwVmksUbFLEO6wAWLwxE5-PtsRspRRnylCDM_bDGQjTwD-k/s1600/kluber.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m not going to predict a repeat Cy Young award for
CyKluber, but I will say that I’m confident that he’ll again rate among the
best pitchers in the American League based on talent, work rate, mechanics and
the continued presence of </span><a href="http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=cle&coachorstaffid=209068"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Pitcher Whisperer</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in the dugout. In fact, Kluber’s
mechanics are so clean that Callaway will be able to spend that much more time
with guys like Carrasco, Salazar and Bauer, which only adds to the value of the
Klubot at the top of the Indians rotation. This is where I remind you that
Corey Kluber cannot become a free agent until AFTER the 2018 season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While we’re on the topic of breakout 2014 seasons, a
Fangraphs article from July of 2014 caught my eye this week and I thought it’d
be fun to look back on it with the benefit of hindsight. </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-trade-value-the-top-10/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dave
Cameron posted his top-50 trade value article back on July 18,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and three Indians made the list; Kluber, Brantley and Gomes. That they made the
list isn’t what I found interesting. Of course the 2014 AL Cy Young, MVP
candidate and Silver Slugger backstop are on this list (especially considering
their contracts). What I found fascinating was <i>where</i> on this list they clocked in. Gomes was lowest, at #50.
Kluber and Brantley were right next to each other, coming in at #42 and 41,
respectively. </span><a href="http://grantland.com/features/2014-mlb-trade-value-rankings-part-2/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contrast
that with Jonah Keri’s yearly trade value column, penned in December 2014.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
On Keri’s list, the same three Indians are featured in the top 50. But Gomes
clocks in at 25, and Kluber and Brantley at 15 and 16, respectively. Cameron
and Keri both looked at the same factors when putting together their respective
lists. Talent, age, projection and contract were all part of the equation. But
perception of the Indians stars changed dramatically between July and December,
and the young, talented, and relatively cheap core three became even more
valuable than before. Leapfrogging 20+ spots on a list like that after just 2 ½
months of actual baseball is pretty remarkable, and shows just how impressive
those three were in 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This talk of value actually dovetails nicely into an
article from November that I wanted to highlight here. I know it’s a little
old, but I wanted to make sure to draw attention to it for a couple of reasons.
One, it’s a really good article. Two, its author, August Fagerstrom, announced
yesterday that he’d be joining Jordan Bastian on the MLB beat for the Indians
this spring summer. I’ve long been a fan of Fagerstrom’s work at Fangraphs and
the ABJ, so having him on the MLB beat is going to be a treat for all of us. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/where-the-indians-are-baseballs-most-valuable-team/">Fagerstrom
wrote this piece for Fangraphs back in November in which he makes a pretty
convincing case that the Indians rotation (this is pre-Floyd, of course) is the
most valuable in baseball based on their projected WAR and salaries for 2015.</a>
The entire article is a must-read, but I’ll draw your attention to Fagersrtom’s
conclusions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So in Cleveland,
you’ve got a rotation projected to be one of the best in the MLB under contract
for a grand total of about three and a half million dollars. For comparison,
John Danks is set to earn $15.75 million in 2015. The Nationals will pay their
staff an estimated $48 million. The Tigers, as they currently stand, will pay
what projects to be an inferior rotation about $76 million.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those five guys,
who will earn less than $4 million dollars, are projected to be worth about 11
WAR in an era where 1 WAR generally gets about $7 million on the open market.
That’s the definition of value, and a blueprint of how to run a small market
franchise.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, this is all pre-Floyd. So the Indians
rotation will now earn between $8 and $14 million, depending on how many
incentives Floyd is able to hit in his contract (and the more the better,
because that means he’s pitching well). But that’s still pretty good bang for
the buck any way you look at it, and the flexibility that will give the front
office in 2015 and in the future is priceless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdypniwXolZLACpM6BKV5Ni537zwja-6h9fmfPmQx36Uu3Cf77_srzmGhBRmoRceIqG60FtGhyphenhyphendUNhwvIjTxoujHghqb6Zm_NZx5PoZMv0OGDEyypy_6jR6cBf3jzXerljGlXF/s1600/Peters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdypniwXolZLACpM6BKV5Ni537zwja-6h9fmfPmQx36Uu3Cf77_srzmGhBRmoRceIqG60FtGhyphenhyphendUNhwvIjTxoujHghqb6Zm_NZx5PoZMv0OGDEyypy_6jR6cBf3jzXerljGlXF/s1600/Peters.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those who missed it, former Indians GM Hank
Peters passed away on January 4 at the age of 90. Peters is usually overlooked
when people think of the Indians mid-90’s renaissance, but he was a key figure
nonetheless. The GM immediately preceding John Hart, Peters made the first
trade to acquire key pieces in the Indians’ run of sustained success, picking
up catcher Sandy Alomar and 2B Carlos Baerga from the Padres (along with OF
Chris James) in exchange for all-star OF Joe Carter prior to the 1990 season. Peters
also hand-picked his successor in the GM role, convincing John Hart to give up
his passion of managing and slide into the front office role that he occupied
so successfully until 2001 (shades of Roosevelt convincing Marshall that he
could do more for the war effort in Washington than in Europe, but I digress). Peters
wrote the forward to and collaborated with George Pappas on </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Reborn-Cleveland-Dwellers-Contenders/dp/1613216378"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The
Tribe Reborn”</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> last year, a book that I read on my
flight from DC to Phoenix for Spring Training 2014. It was a quick and
entertaining read, and helped remind me of how some of the Indians building
blocks slid into place to help that magical mid-90’s juggernaut come into
existence. Peters’ contributions are also highlighted by Terry Pluto in his
more recent </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Days-Tribe-Town-Cleveland/dp/1938441354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420652632&sr=8-1&keywords=terry+pluto+glory+days"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Glory
Days in Tribe Town”</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> about those same Indians teams, and
both books are well-worth your time. Peters was an unsung hero for the Indians
rebirth, and his passing is a loss for both the baseball and Cleveland sports
worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I try to stay away from Baseball Hall of Fame talk
for the most part. I love the Hall itself; I’ll never forget the trip we took
there when I was a kid, walking around the Hall with my dad, shopping for
baseball memorabilia throughout the town and generally getting lost in all the
nostalgia. But the writers who vote for the HoF are doing their best to ruin
the entire experience for everyone. We </span><a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/40908802/five-make-a-statement-by-submitting-blank-ballots"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">have
guys who intentionally submit blank ballots</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in some sort of
bizarre protest against…well, I’m not sure what. </span><a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/01/coming_clean_about_why_i_didnt.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
have guys who forget where their ballots are and don’t bother to submit one at
all</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
</span><a href="http://deadspin.com/dumbest-man-alive-gives-dumbest-possible-explanation-fo-1678295876"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
have guys who think that Lee Smith is worthy but Mike Piazza isn’t. </span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
have people voting for Darrin Erstad. All of this just leads to frustration and
anger with the process, and potentially worthy candidates like Kenny Lofton
falling off the ballot entirely before their cases are even fully debated. I’ll
admit that the Lofton thing makes it personal for me, as he was one of my
favorite players growing up. But with all that said, </span><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/hall-of-fame-reset-a-very-early-look-at-mlb-induction-possibilities-for-the-next-five-years/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
still going to point you to Jonah Keri’s article from earlier this week on
future Hall candidacies</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, because it includes a look at the
upcoming debates on Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. Keri (and I) thinks Thome is a
lock, but Ramirez is going to find a much tougher road due to his PED
suspensions. Keri also includes a youtube link to Thome’s mammoth CF HR at the
Jake, called by Tom Hamilton. That alone makes it worth a click.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Former Indians utility infielder John McDonald
announced his retirement this week, bringing his 16 year MLB career to a close.
McDonald was the </span><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=franch_year&team_ID=CLE&year_ID=1996&draft_type=junreg&"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indians
12<sup>th</sup> round pick in the 1996 MLB draft</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
the only position player selected by the Tribe that June who would appear in
the major leagues. He made his MLB debut with the Indians in 1999 as a
light-hitting defensive specialist, and managed to turn that niche into a nice
little career. Johnny Mac proved that if you had one elite MLB skill (his was
defense), it’s possible to play in the major leagues for a long, long time. Anthony
Castrovice put together a </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/105845610/anthony-castrovince-perseverant-john-mcdonald-leaves-fond-legacy-in-retirement"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">really
nice piece detailing why four different clubs made it a point to simultaneously
tweet the news of and congratulations in his retirement.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Never a power hitter, he hit just 28 HR in 2434 MLB at bats. Back when Jordan
Bastian covered the Blue Jays for MLB, Bastian talked to McDonald after his 16<sup>th</sup>
and by far his most memorable career HR, back on Father’s Day in 2010. I won’t
spoil it for you if you somehow haven’t heard the story yet</span><a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/11389146/?tcid=tw_share"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
just click on the link and read Bastian’s excellent article.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Just make sure you have a box of tissues nearby…it’s going to get a little
dusty. McDonald is a certain bet to land a job somewhere in baseball, and has
future MLB manager written all over him. All the best to one of the great guys
in baseball, and hopefully he enjoys his retirement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, <a href="http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/2015/01/07/when-all-the-answers-they-dont-amount-to-much/">Anthony
Castrovice put together a fun little “quiz” looking back on the year that was
and the year that might be,</a> and even helpfully links to the podcast that he
and Jordan Bastian put collaborated on earlier this month. The quiz is mostly a
joke, but it’s a fun enough way to spend 10 min of your Indians reading time
this week, For the record, my answers were A, D, B, A, D, D, A, A, C, C, D, A. Is
Castro trying to send us some sort of code? Just to be sure, I checked to see
if my answers were an anagram for anything. The result? <a href="http://anagram-solver.net/ADBADDAACCDA">No. No they are not.</a> While I
continue to do my best Alan Turing impression on those letters, just to make
sure Castro isn’t trying to tell us that Mike Trout is set on coming to
Cleveland when he becomes a free agent, your time is probably better spent on
thinking about the fact that Indians pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear
in just 40 days…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-66731579616172303142014-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-14T07:00:01.861-05:00Gathering Moss on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC0NKYyEId7RDlEFBW_5p_J5r5prq7tWvjJDQR8QrOIDsLdv7KDidtpRRW2lX80A0KAkjy5MM3AIY7pypBQsU1-ufl2QpiYGb6AGQ7KFLAc9DFkL_sWnktSL6VKX9aAcj7iFL/s1600/Moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC0NKYyEId7RDlEFBW_5p_J5r5prq7tWvjJDQR8QrOIDsLdv7KDidtpRRW2lX80A0KAkjy5MM3AIY7pypBQsU1-ufl2QpiYGb6AGQ7KFLAc9DFkL_sWnktSL6VKX9aAcj7iFL/s1600/Moss.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So…anything much going on this week? The Indians
fired the first salvo during baseball’s Winter Meetings a few days ago,
consummating the much-rumored Brandon Moss for Joey Wendle swap on Monday. The
trade was the worst-kept secret in baseball, and occurred as part of a flurry
of moves from A’s GM Billy Bean that completely revamped his roster. Following
the Moss trade, the Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman put his stamp on the very expensive
and defensively inept roster he inherited, and now has a very expensive and
defensively proficient roster to take into the 2015 season. The White Sox got
in on the A’s fire sale, acquiring front of the rotation starting pitcher Jeff
Samardzija, and then shoring up their biggest weakness by signing closer David
Robertson to anchor what was a very shaky bullpen. Not to be outdone by the
Indians and White Sox, the Tigers sent pitcher Rick Porcello to the Red Sox in
return for power hitting Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The middle of the
Tigers order just got that much better, and Miggy, Victor and Cespedes are going
to wear out a lot of pitching staffs next season. Even the Twins got in on the
act, inking SP Ervin Santana to a 4-year, $55 million contract. The AL Central
came to play this winter, and the only team that didn’t make a splash in San
Diego was the reigning AL Champion Royals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting back to the Moss deal for a second; as much
as I like Joey Wendle as both a player and person, this trade looks like an
absolute steal for the Indians as long as Billy Beane doesn’t know something we
don’t about Moss’ surgically repaired hip. Moss is a legitimate middle of the
order power bat, averaging a .254/.340/.504 triple slash line with 25 HR and 73
RBI in his three seasons in Oakland. He was an all-star in 2014 when he jumped
out to a .268/.349/.530 line with 21 HR in 89 1<sup>st</sup> half games, but
slumped to a .173/.310/.274 2<sup>nd</sup> half, limited by a hip injury that
required surgery this offseason. Moss did his best to play through the injury,
and even hit 2 HR in Oakland’s Wild Card loss to Kansas City. If he’d simply
sat out after suffering the injury, it’s possible he wouldn’t have even been
available this offseason. The trade is confusing enough that </span><a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/12/9/7363855/athletics-trade-brandon-moss-indians-joe-wendle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A’s
fan sites are writing entire articles trying to rationalize exactly what Billy
Beane was thinking</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, and really not coming up with much to
go on other than “Trust in Billy”:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don't get me
wrong. I hadn't heard of Wendle before we got him, and I am as shocked as you
are that he's all we got for Moss. But that doesn't mean he's automatically a
bad return, and indeed the Indians seemed quite high on him. Billy has turned
so many nobodies into quality players that I just can't get myself to give up
on one of his prizes before I've even seen him play….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…It sucks to see
yet another fan favorite go, and it sucks to feel underwhelmed by the return,
but let's give Billy the benefit of the doubt before we assume he's absolutely
lost it. There's a better chance than you might realize that this trade turns
out to be a good one, and it wouldn't be the first time Billy proved the world
wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXOHsmiwIC2vGFDShL42x5QnHpzxp8A9Zinb3rz9VLhFYBgdetBRFPjfUZVl5HZS3nY41J5NkcsENJMQceCkyhEZkCyzV8A0zmOuUOBiWwlErF5u9OKdBlhAnu0gMAHeGtxS9/s1600/Wendle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXOHsmiwIC2vGFDShL42x5QnHpzxp8A9Zinb3rz9VLhFYBgdetBRFPjfUZVl5HZS3nY41J5NkcsENJMQceCkyhEZkCyzV8A0zmOuUOBiWwlErF5u9OKdBlhAnu0gMAHeGtxS9/s1600/Wendle.JPG" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of Joey Wendle, I did want to talk a little
about the player the Indians lost in the deal. </span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/indians-prospect-countdown-10-6.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
had Wendle ranked as my #9 prospect in the Indians organization prior to the 2014
season</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, coming off of a season where he posted an .885 OPS
for high-A Carolina. Wendle struggled with injuries last year, but still
managed to put up a .253/.311/.414 line with 8 HR and 50 RBI in 87 games with
AA Akron. Wendle will turn 25 in April next year, and is a high-character guy
who is always going to get the most out of his tools. He was a 6<sup>th</sup>
round pick in 2012 out of Division II West Chester University, and was seen as
a signability pick at the time. He was given just a $10,000 bonus, and the
Indians were able to save over $100,000 of their bonus pool to take a run at
high-upside high schoolers later in the draft like Nelson Rodriguez. Wendle has
the potential to be an offense-oriented 2B in the major leagues at some point,
but he doesn’t project to be an all-star. And regardless of his overall upside,
turning a $10,000 investment into an all-star 1B/OF is a pretty solid flip by
GM Chris Antonetti. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over on Fangraphs, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/indians-buy-low-on-brandon-moss-move-one-step-closer-to-contention/">local
writer August Fagerstrom put together an extremely comprehensive breakdown of
the Moss trade</a> and what it means for the Indians. Fagerstrom looks at both
Moss and Wendle’s injuries in 2014 and how they could affect both players
moving forward, then goes on to overlay Progressive Field with the Oakland Coliseum
and Moss’ batted ball spray chart to try and see how his production could
improve with the change in ballparks. Like pretty much everyone else,
Fagerstrom likes the trade for the Indians and thinks Moss could be as good or
better than he was in the first half of 2014 with the Indians next year. He
sees the Indians as legitimate contenders in 2015, and feels like Moss could be
the player that gets the Indians over the hump and into the playoffs. His bottom
line on the deal:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wendle could
turn into a useful major league player, but the Indians are set up the middle
for the foreseeable future, and Wendle is far from an elite talent. Moss’
second-half production and ensuing hip surgery could be worrisome, but the
extreme change in parks could help offset any potential loss in production due
to his Moss’ injury and age, and the history of players with similar hip
procedures isn’t particularly concerning. And given what the Indians traded
away, this is almost a no-risk deal. If Moss, for whatever reason, doesn’t hit,
he’ll make just $7 million in 2015 and has the option to be non-tendered before
the 2016 season. If he hits like Brandon Moss, a team that was already close to
contending just added perhaps the best hitter on the team for two seasons in
exchange for a fringe-level prospect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GxLi8qImLj49L9j7UkLfovEdAQb0wL_xFgJBbFAfcAUjWswz7vWVTmyak_3gkyRJY3DyboaYcX-bmqp5OGXLGBwqdS_kgASAeySk6o8N1LmJKaQUz04tWow3LTKGmILyqW6J/s1600/Moss1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GxLi8qImLj49L9j7UkLfovEdAQb0wL_xFgJBbFAfcAUjWswz7vWVTmyak_3gkyRJY3DyboaYcX-bmqp5OGXLGBwqdS_kgASAeySk6o8N1LmJKaQUz04tWow3LTKGmILyqW6J/s1600/Moss1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve seen some people on the interwebs (not many,
but some) complaining because Moss plies his craft from the left side of the
plate. These people are silly and need to start woodworking, fishing,
gardening, basket weaving or some other relaxing hobby to try and occupy their
clearly cynical and misguided minds. Yes, the Indians have several left handed
hitters in their lineup. But Progressive Field favors left handed power over
right handed power (as evidenced by the very large wall in left field). </span><a href="http://bastian.mlblogs.com/2014/12/10/the-indians-lean-left-again-with-moss/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jordan
Bastian did a predictably outstanding job detailing how Moss might look in the
Cleveland lineup</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (if you haven’t read this already,
please do so now), and dissected and rejected any argument that his left
handedness will somehow hinder the Indians moving forward. The Indians needed
to improve their lineup going into next season, and fans have been clamoring
non-stop for a “Big Bat”™. Now that the Indians have gone out and acquired a
Big Bat™, some of those same fans are complaining because he’s not a Right
Handed Big Bat™, or because he’s not Victor Martinez. The fickle, fringe
elements of this fanbase will never cease to amaze and frustrate me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As expected, </span><a href="http://grantland.com/the-triangle/cleveland-indians-oakland-athletics-brandon-moss-trade/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grantland’s
Jonah Keri does an excellent job summing up the trade and what it means</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
for baseball on the North Coast in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The bigger
takeaway is that the Indians could be dangerous contenders in 2015. This team
won 92 games and earned a playoff berth in 2013, then followed up with 85 more
victories in 2014. Though moderate pullbacks for breakout stars Corey Kluber
and Michael Brantley are possible, and maybe even likely, those could be
countered by a positive reversal of fortune for All-Star second baseman turned
2014 slumper Jason Kipnis. It’s also hard to imagine the Indians failing to improve
on Murphy (who posted league-average offensive numbers, but played miserable
defense that made him a replacement-level player) and Swisher (who hit a paltry
.208/.278/.331), whether through bounce-backs for one of those guys or another
lineup upgrade to pair with Moss.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Between their strong finish to the 2014 season,
young and talented starting rotation, and solid start to the offseason, the
Indians are becoming one of the media favorites heading into 2015. It’s a
strange position to be in, and the rest of the Central Division isn’t going to
make it easy for the Indians to make it to the playoffs, but I’ll take it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the other significant moves that came out of
the winter meetings last week was the blockbuster deal that saw the Dodgers
send former MVP OF Matt Kemp to San Diego in return for catcher Yasmani Grandal
and prospects Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. Prior to the Kemp trade, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/a-fun-brandon-moss-comparison/">Fangraphs’
Dave Cameron took a side-by-side look at Kemp and Moss and found that they were
a lot more similar</a> than their respective asking prices would indicate:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Steamer
forecasts a 128 wRC+ and +2.3 WAR per 600 PAs for Kemp versus a 121 wRC+ and
+1.9 WAR per 600 PAs for Moss. Toss in the risk associated with Moss’ hip
problems, and maybe you think the gap is even a little bit bigger than that.
And perhaps Kemp’s handedness is worth a premium, given how much more teams are
paying for right-handed power than their left-handed equivalents.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But man, it’s
hard to not like the Indians picking up Moss for a song when you see what the
asking price for Matt Kemp is.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I could continue to link to national writers who
love the Moss deal from the Indians perspective (both Baseball Prospectus and
Keith Law think the Indians did well to acquire Moss), but I think you get the
idea at this point. Needless to say, I like the trade as well. It creates a
situation where Tito Francona is going to have to get creative in getting at
bats for Moss, Swisher, Santana and Murphy, but that’s a good problem to have
(as long as Swisher is healthy and better than last year’s disaster of a
season). It also leaves plenty of time for Murphy or Swisher to be moved in a separate
deal, if the Indians can find a taker for Swisher’s contract (which I still
doubt). Francona is nothing if not creative though, and I’m confident that he’ll
find a way to keep those guys as happy and effective as possible, even if it
means he can only carry 20 bullpen arms instead of 21 (kidding, but only sort
of). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taking a break from the flurry of activity to look
at players who are and have been on the Indians roster, </span><a href="http://grantland.com/features/2014-mlb-trade-value-rankings-part-1/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jonah
Keri put out his always-fantastic Trade Value column</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
this week, and</span><a href="http://grantland.com/features/2014-mlb-trade-value-rankings-part-2/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
three Indians are featured prominently featured on the list.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Catcher Yan Gomes comes in at the #25 slot, and he’s behind both Michael
Brantley and Corey Kluber (#’s 16 and 15, respectively). Jason Kipnis came in
at #25 in the 2013 version of the column, but fell off of Keri’s list after his
injury-plagued 2014. Keri has minor leaguers eligible for the list for the
first time this season, but doesn’t list shortstop prospect Francisco Lindor on
his top-50 or as an honorable mention. This might be the last list like this that
doesn’t mention Lindor, at least until he signs a contract extension in 2018 or
so. It’s one thing to have talented players contenting for (and winning)
postseason awards like Cy Young, MVP and Silver Slugger. But those players are
not only talented, but signed to team friendly deals (Gomes/Brantley) or still
pre-arbitration (Kluber). Having those players, and the rest of the talented
starting rotation, for that matter, under contract at such team-friendly rates
helps allow for a move like the Indians made with Moss. Flipping a player like
Wendle who wasn’t even on the 40-man roster for an arbitration-eligible
all-star who projects to make at least $7 million wouldn’t be possible without
the savvy exhibited by the front office prior to this offseason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The winter meetings might be over, but the Indians
aren’t done working to improve the ballclub this offseason. <a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/gm-for-day-on-lazy-sunday.html">As
I suggested earlier this offseason</a> when I put on my GM hat for the day, <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_indians_consider_bre.html#incart_social_feature">Paul
Hoynes reports that the Indians are showing interest in free agent pitcher
Brett Anderson.</a> Nothing has really changed with Anderson since my breakdown
on him back in early November, and Hoynes doesn’t speculate on potential
contract terms that the Indians may be discussing with the big lefty. He’s certainly
nowhere near the Lester/Scherzer/Shields tax bracket, and will likely settle
for a short term deal to rebuild his value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of short term deals, former Indians ace
Justin Masterson agreed to a one-year, $9.5 million deal with the team that
drafted him, the Boston Red Sox. Masty was another guy that I thought would
look good back in Cleveland, and there was reportedly some level of mutual
interest in a reunion with Terry Francona and the Indians earlier this
offseason. But if Masterson had signed with the Indians, he’d have had to win a
spot in the somewhat crowded and talented rotation in spring training. With
Boston, he’ll slide right into a spot in their depleted starting five and have
a definite chance to show he can be healthy and effective over 200+ innings
again. I’m pulling for Masterson to put together a solid season, even if it is
back in Boston. If he helps pitch them to the playoffs (losing games 1 and 4 in
a 4-game Indians sweep in the ALCS, of course), then so much the better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-38606310913913744322014-11-16T07:00:00.000-05:002014-11-16T07:00:07.676-05:00Celebrating CyKluber on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC92G1nYgsqLBKuxgwFEiPPGT7PjST3zEJ0AdzswOYdrE1rzvbp3yiVAgIQrDj5qa0xwMglhjskw10OIFazcvASIw5awzsOgf_aIGJd-2j0nJAnriHkjgazoSHBvej9uyPJn-L/s1600/Kluber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC92G1nYgsqLBKuxgwFEiPPGT7PjST3zEJ0AdzswOYdrE1rzvbp3yiVAgIQrDj5qa0xwMglhjskw10OIFazcvASIw5awzsOgf_aIGJd-2j0nJAnriHkjgazoSHBvej9uyPJn-L/s1600/Kluber.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On June 6, 1944, the biggest invasion fleet in the
history of the world set forth from the Eastern ports of England, bound for the
beaches of Normandy, France. D-Day, as it is commonly referred to now, featured
the combined arms of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, all under
the care of U.S. General (and later President) Dwight David Eisenhower. Ike was
ultimately responsible for the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers, and
ultimately the fate of the free world. The Supreme Allied Commander wrote two
speeches in the days leading up to D-Day, one to use if the landings were able
to secure a beachhead, and one to use if the liberating forces were thrown back
into the English Channel in defeat. Thankfully for the men and women of
occupied Europe, Ike never had to use that second speech. The landings were
successful and the Allies would roll into Germany, crossing the Rhine in March
of 1945 and bringing the War in Europe to a successful conclusion on May 8,
1945 (V.E. Day). What does D-Day have to do with baseball? Very little, to be
honest. But earlier this week, I started writing this column and realized that
I’d have to prepare two versions; one for Corey Kluber’s successful Cy Young
campaign, and one if Felix Hernandez was selected as the 2014 AL Cy Young Award
winner. The stakes are a little (lot) lower than they were back in 1944, but
anytime I can work Eisenhower into the opening of a Lazy Sunday (especially the
week after Veterans Day), you can be darn sure I’m going to take advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So as all Indians fans are surely aware, Corey
Kluber is your 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner, completing one of the more unlikely Cy Young campaigns in recent memory (but still behind Cliff Lee's 2008). He was the 2<sup>nd</sup> best
pitcher in all of major league baseball in 2014, and the single best cyborg.
It’s possible that Felix Hernandez was actually the best human pitcher in
baseball this year, losing out only to CyKluber and the alien life force known
as Clayton Kershaw. The award came as a bit of a surprise to some, and a major
shock to the system for Mariners fans who had talked themselves into King Felix
winning the award back in June or July. Ultimately, it was the arguments made
by most Indians fans that helped Kluber win out. He pitched in front of the
worst defense in baseball, which actually ended up helping Kluber with the
voters who embrace some of the more “advanced” statistics like FIP (fielding
independent pitching). He accumulated more WAR (wins above replacement) than
Felix, 7.4 to 6.8. He also had more wins than Hernandez, which probably helped
him in the minds of the </span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-geeks-inherit-dodgers-front-office-20141105-story.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“old-school”
voters</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> who still value statistics like wins and RBI over
those new-fangled WAR, FIP, OPS+ etc. The stats themselves were close enough
that either choice could be defended, as </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/101274894/anthony-castrovince-corey-kluber-over-felix-hernandez-for-al-cy-young-the-right-choice?tcid=tw_share"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anthony
Castrovice breaks down for MLB.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. Castro also includes
the video from the hit-turned-error that shaved four earned runs off of
Hernandez’s final mark as well as the hit-turned-error-turned-hit that added
three earned runs onto Kluber’s tally. Change one (or both) of those scoring
decisions, and the final ERA race becomes even closer. I’m glad Kluber won and
think it was the right decision, but I probably wouldn’t have gone off the deep
end had the final result been flipped. If you want to read </span><a href="http://www.ussmariner.com/2014/11/12/felix-hernandez-pitches-well-loses/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">well-thought
out, reasoned take on the voting from a Mariner fan, the always-reliable USS
Mariner put together a solid piece</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> less than 2 hrs after
the award was announced. If you want to read complete and utter nonsense
expelled from the mouth of an idiot, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TheBigHurt_35"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">then click here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting back to intelligent, reasonable analysis, </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/what-corey-kluber-winning-the-cy-young-tells-us/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">August
Fagerstrom of the Akron Beacon Journal and Fangraphs put together a really nice
piece looking at how the voters gave Kluber the Cy Young based primarily on FIP</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
whether they knew it or not. And that’s a big deal for those who value advanced
metrics becoming more mainstream. As Fagerstrom explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This seems big.
There’s a consensus as to why Corey Kluber just won a Cy Young Award and, at
the risk of sounding over dramatic, it feels like something of a revolutionary
consensus. This reminds me of when Felix won the Cy Young in 2010, despite a
13-12 record. Seemed like that was a turning point that helped the national
audience realize pitcher wins don’t matter. Perhaps this will be something of a
turning point that ERA isn’t the end-all-be-all, and a turning point that helps
legitimize FIP to the mainstream. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmeahZzPU6hq-uW_pNH34Y_cdyUe7boVK-d6F5TCZ2L5PskfKTzqafZSSTG5k6v4A7-cYtqz28mWe5OAl8Lc9ossyN3vG3N4LTHYodOTCj84gGkis4ju_9Z3siB0oi1nvy0dl/s1600/Klubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmeahZzPU6hq-uW_pNH34Y_cdyUe7boVK-d6F5TCZ2L5PskfKTzqafZSSTG5k6v4A7-cYtqz28mWe5OAl8Lc9ossyN3vG3N4LTHYodOTCj84gGkis4ju_9Z3siB0oi1nvy0dl/s1600/Klubs.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fagerstrom took a look at the rationale behind some
of Kluber’s supporters amongst the voters, and found that while they didn’t
mention FIP outright, many talked about the superior defense in Seattle, as
well as the park effects of Safeco benefiting the King. As an aside, if you’re
not </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AugustF_ABJ"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">following August
on Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, you’re doing yourself a disservice. He’s an
excellent writer with some really insightful stuff, and I highly recommend you
read his stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t have much more to add to the Kluber news,
but I will say this; the Cleveland Indians won one Cy Young Award between 1956
(the first year of the award) and 2006. After going 1 for 50, Indians pitchers
have now captured three of the last eight AL Cy Young Awards. That’s a pretty
nice little run they have put together, and there’s no reason to think that
Kluber can’t continue to contend for the award in the near future. He’s under
club control through at least 2018(!), and isn’t even arbitration eligible
until 2016. If you want to read more about the Indians young, cheap and
downright adorable Cy Young Award winner, </span><a href="http://www.letsgotribe.com/2014/11/13/7213719/reaction-to-corey-kluber-winning-al-cy-young-award"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
good folks over at Let’s Go Tribe have an excellent rundown of links from
around the interwebs</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> that are worth checking out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moving on from Kluber (but not really), Baseball
Prospectus has come up with a somewhat complicated formula to measure how
well-off a franchise is when it comes to “core talent.” They call it </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25034"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Core
Team Value</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, and it looks at youth, performance (by WAR) and
club control to try and figure out what teams are set up best for the future at
the major league level. The Indians come in at…wait for it…#2 in all of
baseball, behind only the big-money Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles. They
have five “core” players that were considered for the sample; Michael Brantley,
Corey Kluber, Yan Gomes, Carlos Santana and Cookie Carrasco. So that’s not even
considering the potential contributions of young, talented players like Danny
Salazar, Trevor Bauer, Jason Kipnis or Cody Allen, not to mention uber-prospect
Francisco Lindor. All of those players are also under club control for several
years to come. And you could even get really rosy eyed and predict some sort of
a bounce back year for Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn in 2015. As BP’s Jonathan
Judge put it:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cleveland did
extremely well in these rankings last year, ranking fourth in the league for
roster core quality. I didn’t comment on it at the time, as Cleveland had just
enjoyed a Cinderella season and its team WARP obviously reflected that. But
here we are for a second year in a row, and Cleveland not only maintained its
top-quartile status, but moved up. It did so by coaxing strong performances
from additional core assets for a second year in a row. Whereas last year
featured superb production from Jason
Kipnis and Carlos Santana,
this year the club added outstanding performances from Michael Brantley and Corey
Kluber (both 6+ WARP). In a fairly weak division, this emerging roster
core has the needle trending up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This team is young and talented, of that there can
be no doubt. There’s no guarantee that 2014 success will beget a solid 2015
season, of course. Fausberto Carnandez
going from Cy Young contender in 2007 to Lake County in 2008 is recent
enough evidence of that. But the Indians are in a very good position for the
2015 season and beyond. They have a deep, restocked farm system with a couple
of crown jewels acquired in recent drafts. They’re trending upwards </span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/futures-so-bright.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(again,
just like we thought in 2007)</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in a division where
the other teams are either treading water or getting weaker. Young, affordable
pitching is never going out of style (even if power is at more of a premium
right now) and that’s something that the Indians have in spades. Combine that
with a solid bullpen and a balanced lineup, the team has to be considered a
potential playoff contender even without major additions this offseason. </span><a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25033"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ll
again pop over to the impartial experts over at Baseball Prospectus, who think
that the Indians are being underrated by the sharps in Vegas</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
when they put the club at 28-1 odds at winning the World Series next year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cory Kluber
headlines a rotation that features perhaps the most intriguing collection of
starters in all of baseball. Armed with a great arsenal and much improved
command, Carlos Carrasco appears to have blossomed into a legitimate no. 2
starter. Danny Salazar bounced back from a disappointing start in 2014 and
could be primed for a breakout season, and few teams in baseball round out
their rotation with better pitchers than Trevor Bauer and T.J. House.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Offensively,
Cleveland can expect to be better at crucial positions. Some combination of
Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor should outproduce what Asdrubal Cabrera
provided—at least with the glove—and with a full offseason to recover from an
oblique injury that never went away, Jason Kipnis is a strong rebound
candidate. If the Indians can add a mid-tier bat—a Colby Rasmus or Alex Rios
type fits— they should have enough thump in their order to compensate for a
weak defense. Their pitching alone gives them a pretty good chance to reach the
postseason, and once you get there...<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of divisional clubs treading water, the
Tigers were to prevent their best offensive player (in 2014 at least) from
departing by inking DH Victor Martinez to a 4-year contract. They are paying
Martinez $68 million for his age 36-40 seasons, which is $12 million more than
the Indians risked in paying Nick Swisher for his age 32-35 seasons. Victor has
been healthy and productive throughout his career of course, but he posted
“just” a .785 OPS in 2013. That’s not bad, but it’s not what the Tigers are
paying for. It’s no secret that the Tigers are firmly in win now mode, and this
deal definitely helps their team in 2015. But it’s not without risk, even next
season. </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-2015-free-agent-landmines/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fangraphs
Dave Cameron listed Vic as one of his free agent “landmines,”</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
explaining that a team signing him is paying for what amounts to an outlier
season when it comes to power production. Even if Victor does produce at a
level commensurate with his pay (and even with the Tigers, I can’t find myself
rooting against Vic), the Tigers have some significant payroll obligations for
players on the clear downside of their careers. They will owe a combined $76
million in 2018 for a 40-year old Victor Martinez, 35-year old Justin Verlander
(88 ERA+ in 2014) and a 35-year old Miguel Cabrera. They’re committed to pay
Anibal Sanchez and Ian Kinsler at least $10 million, and that’s if they buy out
the final year of both of those contracts. That makes for $86 million obligated
in 2018, and that’s for three players on the active roster. The Indians entire
payroll in 2014 was less than $86 million. Does Mike Ilitch care? Probably not,
as he’s in it to win it in the very near future. But the long term
ramifications could be severe. Let’s look to Fangraphs one last time today</span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/victor-martinez-and-the-short-term-tigers/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
as Jeff Sullivan shows us a present-day glimpse of what the future could hold
in Detroit:</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The natural,
kind of obvious conclusion: the Tigers are positioning themselves to resemble
the Phillies. The Phillies are in the dreadful part of the cycle after having
made the playoffs five years in a row. The Tigers have finished first in their
division four years in a row, and they’re good enough to make it five. It sure
looks like, within the next few years, the situation in Detroit is going to
turn pretty ugly. But they can worry about that when they get there, if they
even still have all the same front-office personnel, and besides, before it
sucked to be a Phillies fan, it was pretty damn special. Since the Phillies won
the World Series, they might say it was worth it. The Tigers put another $68
million toward buying an era a trophy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is it worth it to strip the farm system barren and
sign aging players to contracts that would be crazy even if they were paid in
Monopoly money if it results in just one championship? That’s a question that
neither Indians nor Tigers fans can answer as of right now, because the last
title for either team was 30 years ago. Are the Tigers in a better spot to end
that drought in 2015? Probably, but with the potential departure of Max
Scherzer, their lineup is going to have to stay healthy and productive in order
to compensate for a weakened starting rotation. Regardless of 2015 though, I
think the Indians are in a much better spot over the long haul thanks to their
stable of young, controlled talent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last week in this space, I talked about potential
moves that the Indians could/should make this offseason to bolster their
chances for 2015. I talked about Brett Anderson and Brandon Morrow as potential
arms to take a flyer on, but didn’t mention former Indians ace Justin
Masterson. Well, it appears that the Indians and Masterson’s camp are talking
about a potential return to the North Coast for the big righty. <a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/101468774/indians-may-bring-back-right-hander-justin-masterson-with-short-term-deal">Jordan
Bastian reports that the Indians are one of several teams that have contacted
Masterson about a short term deal</a>, a far cry from the 3 year, $45 million extension
the club offered him in March. Masterson struggled to a 7-9 record with the
Indians and Cardinals in 2014, including a career-worst 5.88 ERA and 4.50 FIP.
His K/BB ratio fell from 2.57 in 2013 to 1.68 in 2014. In short, it was a
terrible season at a terrible time for the 29-year old right-hander out of
Beavercreek, OH. But could there have been an underlying reason(s) for the
sudden and steep decline? As we all no doubt remember, Masterson dealt with an
oblique injury down the stretch in 2013. That injury reportedly lingered into
spring training last year, which began a chain reaction leading to knee and
shoulder issues that kept Masterson from reaching his full effectiveness at any
point last year, as Bastian details for us:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The oblique
injury led to tenderness in Masterson's ribcage area during Spring Training
before this season, but the pitcher kept quiet about the issue…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the
season's first half, Kluber and Tomlin pointed out to Masterson that his stride
in his delivery had lengthened. Masterson was compensating for the soreness in
his side and the result was inflammation in his right knee. Cleveland traded
the pitcher to St. Louis on July 30, but the issues persisted to the point of
needing an MRI exam.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Cardinals'
staff discovered the scar tissue in Masterson's side and also found an
impingement in his right shoulder. The pitcher received a cortisone shot in his
arm and underwent a minor procedure to break up the scar tissue. All of the
issues combined offer possible reasons behind Masterson's diminished velocity
and his uncharacteristic pitching line (7-9, 5.88 ERA in 128 2/3 innings).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Masterson has been an “every other year” guy with
the Indians, pitching much better in odd years than even for whatever reason.
Could he be in line for a big bounceback season in 2015 now that he’s healthy
again? Much like we talked about with Brett Anderson, it could be an attractive
deal for both sides. Masterson would be back in a familiar location with a team
and organization that he’s comfortable with, including The Pitcher Whisperer.
He could rebuild his value and look for a multi-year deal in 2016, in Cleveland
or elsewhere. The Indians would get a guy they know is a leader in the
clubhouse at a rate far cheaper than they anticipated paying just eight months
ago, and the contract would carry very little risk for the club. If he’s unable
to regain his starting form, Masterson could even be used as a power arm out of
the bullpen the way he was in 2013. There are a number of teams interested in
Masterson (a dozen, according to his agent which should be taken with a grain
of salt) so the reunion might not happen if another club offers Masty a longer
term deal or more upfront money than the Indians are willing to shell out. But
having a healthy and effective Masterson in the middle of the rotation would be
an incredible luxury that seemed impossible a year ago, and would provide
insurance in case 2<sup>nd</sup> half Cookie Carrasco turns into a pumpkin and
regresses to the guy we saw prior to the 2014 all-star break. Fan-favorite
Justin Masterson propels Indians past Tigers for AL Central title would be a
poetic and welcome headline in September of 2015, and something for Indians
fans to dream on during a cold and snowy winter… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-60174913724979878202014-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:002014-11-09T07:00:07.985-05:00GM for a Day on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXf7yigMahwjviOD7h9iujrXzL2vOr9r3tkP6fvw07-SvyxWrCoLvb1hL76oHYQrH0Yp1tebvoyK42u4Ddz_sqw6nwZWSo_PdUSrj3oQXZcpsifTIijI4aKQrPg9vARS3P3zq/s1600/terry_francona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXf7yigMahwjviOD7h9iujrXzL2vOr9r3tkP6fvw07-SvyxWrCoLvb1hL76oHYQrH0Yp1tebvoyK42u4Ddz_sqw6nwZWSo_PdUSrj3oQXZcpsifTIijI4aKQrPg9vARS3P3zq/s1600/terry_francona.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another week into the cold, seemingly unending
darkness of baseball’s offseason. Leaves are falling, clocks are changing, and
the weather is getting colder. The Cavs haven’t been the unstoppable juggernaut
that many expected them to be (at least, not yet). The Browns are…well, the
Browns. Thursday’s win was great, but I’m still not quite convinced they’ve
broken through to become Super Bowl contenders. Regardless, I have good news.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. Pitchers and catchers report just 102
days from today (if you’re reading this on Sunday). Baseball is coming back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve see
the reports that Tito Francona agreed to a contract extension through at least
2018, and it includes club options for 2019 and 2020. Your 9<sup>th</sup> grade
child will be well-into college before Tito can leave for another job on his
own accord. And more importantly, there doesn’t seem like there’s much chance
for him to <i>want</i> to leave, now or down
the road. In his own words:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span lang="EN">“I really didn’t want
to move on from here. ... You watch every manager in their first press
conference, they say all these things — and they’re all true, they all feel
them — but what’s really cool for me is, two years later, I’m getting to live
them out. And I still feel the same way, two years [later], except maybe
stronger, than the day I was hired. And for that, I’m very grateful.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s not a whole lot I can add on Tito that
wasn’t covered by </span><a href="http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/2014/11/04/you-cant-return-to-where-youve-never-left/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anthony
Castrovice</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and/or </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/100489166/indians-manager-terry-francona-signs-through-2018-affirming-long-term-goals"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jordan
Bastian</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (and if for some reason you haven’t read those two
pieces yet, please remedy that by clicking the links), but I think it’s
important to recognize just how much Francona means to this organization, both
on and off the field. He’s a solid in-game tactician in the dugout. He’s great
with the media and an effective communicator (something today’s manager has to
be able to do). The players like him, which makes him an asset in the offseason
when it comes to attracting free agents. He’s put together a fantastic staff,
including both former (Brad Mills) and future (Sandy Alomar and Mike Sarbaugh)
MLB managers, not to mention </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Callaway"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Pitcher
Whisperer</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. His Indians teams have won the 4<sup>th</sup>-most
games in the AL since he took over as manager prior to the 2013 season. He’s on
the same page as the two guys above him, GM Chris Antonetti and Team President
Mark Shapiro. And most importantly, he genuinely wants to be here. He’s not
using Cleveland as a stepping stone to a better-paying job somewhere else. He’s
not going to leverage the Indians contract into a job with the Dodgers. Hell,
if you believe the reports, he didn’t even know how much money he made in 2014!
As the Cleveland fanbase know probably better than any other, continuity at the
top of an organization makes for a much better chance at sustained success. One
look at the history of the Cleveland Browns would seem to confirm that
hypothesis. The Indians triumvirate at the top seems to be locked in for the
long haul, and although there’s a very loud segment of the fanbase that would
probably prefer otherwise, I think that’s a pretty good thing for the organization’s
future success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All that said, the best manager in the universe
isn’t going to win without the players on the field. </span><a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/100543252/indians-corey-kluber-michael-brantley-finalists-for-bbwaa-honors"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According
to the BBWA, the Indians had one of the top-3 pitchers and one of the top-3
position players in the American League</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in 2014. That’s a
really good start, as both of those guys are south of 30 and theoretically
still on their way up. But what else can GM Chris Antonetti add to the roster
this offseason to help Tito’s squad get over the hump and win the AL Central?
With the help of the venerable founder of this fine site, the original DiaTribe
himself, I sat down and tried to come up with some realistic moves that
Antonetti could/should make this winter to help the Indians compete for the
division next year. Please note that ‘realistic’ is a key word here. So no
trading Josh Tomlin and Nick Swisher for Giancarlo Stanton. And also no “sign
Victor,” as much as I want that to happen, because he just had too good of a
season to wind up on the North Coast in 2015. So without further ado, here’s my
attempt at playing armchair GM for the Indians this winter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgiAfbJAx8zQ2YCJuBRY2M5w5HA5an9C_wg5IpgrxQppDNvMQedxgIlS7MllSL3JrPFODKr7ng4gHgdLcNqBYgV3D-lhEI6WdQZo1LuNLLX7N72bbpuR3N5IhExx-PnZ4ZjzW/s1600/Brett+Anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgiAfbJAx8zQ2YCJuBRY2M5w5HA5an9C_wg5IpgrxQppDNvMQedxgIlS7MllSL3JrPFODKr7ng4gHgdLcNqBYgV3D-lhEI6WdQZo1LuNLLX7N72bbpuR3N5IhExx-PnZ4ZjzW/s1600/Brett+Anderson.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
part of the annual offseason signings of 4-8<sup>th</sup> starters, offer
former Rockies SP Brett Anderson an incentive-laden deal to compete for the 5<sup>th</sup>
starter job out of spring training. I think that it’d probably take $2-4
million guaranteed, plus another $3-5 million in incentives to bring him into
the fold on a one-year deal. It’d be a great option for both parties involved.
Anderson would get a chance to pitch in The Jake, a ballpark that slightly
favors pitchers over hitters that would feel like paradise compared to Coors
Field. He’d have The Pitcher Whisperer as his pitching coach, keeping his
mechanics in line and hopefully preventing further injury. And most
importantly, he’d have a chance to rebuild his value on a one-year deal with a
chance to get paid in 2016 and beyond. Anderson will be just 27 for all of the
2015 baseball season (2 years younger than when Scott Kazmir took his one-year
deal in Cleveland) and has been really good when he has pitched in his career
(112 career ERA+). But the last time he threw more than 45 innings was in 2011.
Because he’s left-handed (another reason he’d fit in well in the Indians
rotation) and has had success, he’s going to be a popular buy-low target
throughout baseball. The Indians are bound to have competition for Anderson,
but I think they can get a deal done.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another arm I’d like to see them
make a run at is former Blue Jay Brandon Morrow. Morrow is a little older than
Anderson (turned 30 in July) and doesn’t have the same track record of success
(99 career ERA+) and he’s right-handed, so he should come cheaper than
Anderson. He’s combined to throw just 87 2/3 innings over the past two seasons,
with an ERA north of 5 in both 2013 and 2014. But his FIP in 2014 was 3.73, and
his raw stuff has always been above-average (765 K in 735 2/3 career IP). He’s
another guy that I’d like to see Mickey Callaway have a shot with, as the
upside is definitely there. There’s even the potential for him slotting into
the back end of a bullpen, a la Wade Davis, although I’m not sure his arm could
bounce back quickly enough to make multiple appearances in a single week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Call
the Dodgers and offer them Bryan Shaw for OF Scott Van Slyke. Original credit
for this idea goes to Pauly C., which explains why it makes so much sense. The
Dodgers bullpen struggled last year, and a setup guy like Shaw would fit in
very nicely for them. Also, Shaw pitched . Meanwhile, Van Slyke is 28 and still
doesn’t have a home in a crowded and expensive Dodgers outfield, especially if
Matt Kemp is healthy. Van Slyke has played well in limited action for the Dodgers,
putting up a .276/.36/.501 slash line with 18 HR in 151 games between 2013-14.
He could at least be the right side of a RF platoon with lefty David Murphy,
and could provide the Indians OF with a little more pop than they exhibited
last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for Shaw, he had an outstanding
season as the Indians primary 8<sup>th</sup> inning guy last year, posting a
2.59 ERA (144 ERA+) in 76 1/3 innings of work. But he made a league-high 80
appearances last year, and his FIP was nearly a full run higher than his ERA
(3.42). There’s a good chance for regression, and bullpen arms are notoriously
fickle from year to year anyway (see Betancourt, Rafael). The Indians have a
glut of power RH bullpen arms in the pipeline, guys like Austin Adams, C.C.
Lee, Shawn Armstrong and Bryan Price. Not to mention Zach McAllister, a guy who
really doesn’t have a spot left in the revamped Indians rotation, would slot
very nicely into a back-end role. Losing Shaw would hurt the bullpen’s depth,
but I’m confident they can find someone to plug in and replace him without too
much overall degradation.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ueBJh_kZweqNSQzAzmKJSQnVQk_dr1JDdWym7Swy0pAy42738TJhrQJQBaOfSifcR_PKf4ZW68SUI69W7u3UMO93KpEYG_UUDJAG_S7wifmDebKI1zOE8JA4pzMAwzRi5Vw5/s1600/Lindor+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ueBJh_kZweqNSQzAzmKJSQnVQk_dr1JDdWym7Swy0pAy42738TJhrQJQBaOfSifcR_PKf4ZW68SUI69W7u3UMO93KpEYG_UUDJAG_S7wifmDebKI1zOE8JA4pzMAwzRi5Vw5/s1600/Lindor+(2).JPG" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Start
Francisco Lindor at shortstop on opening day. Based on the Indians picking up
Mike Aviles’ option for 2015, this is almost definitely not going to happen.
But in this scenario, I’m playing GM for the day, so I get to do what I want. </span><a href="http://www.clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/loving-lindor-on-lazy-sunday.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve
already gone to great lengths to cover how I think Lindor could help the 2015
Indians</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, both in the field and at the plate. I think he’s a
better hitter and fielder than Jose Ramirez right now, and could be worth an
extra win or two as the club’s everyday shortstop. With the Indians expecting
to contend for the playoffs next year, that extra win could be the difference
between playing baseball in October or ending the season after 162 games. Or
the difference between a one-game Wild Card berth and setting up the rotation
for the best-of-five ALDS. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those are the first three moves I’d make this
offseason if I were in charge. The Indians aren’t going to be major players in
the free agent market this winter, and frankly they really don’t have to be.
The roster is pretty well set for next season, particularly the starting
rotation (which I’ll get deeper into in the coming weeks). The Indians will
pick up a couple of arms for the rotation and a couple of arms for bullpen
depth. They’ll kick the tires on a couple of corner OF free agents, but the overall
core of the team is pretty well set. There’s still more to sort out, especially
at the 3B position, where it’s unclear whether or not Lonnie Chisenhall is the
long-term solution. But between the talented young players (Silver Sluggers
Gomes and Brantley) and the expensive veterans that are locked into the lineup
for better or worse (Swisher and Bourn), the lineup is pretty well set. So
those are just a few of my (realistic) ideas for some ancillary moves that
could help the ballclub heading into what should be an interesting 2015 season.
What are some of yours?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-12241111033262180042014-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-19T07:00:01.800-04:00Loving Lindor on a Lazy Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq7euLToJ4JY1dJHeN8Kdf1zRdA90S6QpdbIwGhghu2tj27fpCtFXx68FQp3wvs8HilBv3ni40ycmAeTUMyj_xW51cVHKuotHY0NDBD51LheBzYbnYf3qz00NL1oJNNQZeWyM/s1600/KC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq7euLToJ4JY1dJHeN8Kdf1zRdA90S6QpdbIwGhghu2tj27fpCtFXx68FQp3wvs8HilBv3ni40ycmAeTUMyj_xW51cVHKuotHY0NDBD51LheBzYbnYf3qz00NL1oJNNQZeWyM/s1600/KC.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Kansas City Royals have swept their way through
three rounds of the playoffs. The Kansas…City…Royals…look like an unstoppable
juggernaut destined to win the 2014 World Series. It’s starting to sink in, but
it still doesn’t make a ton of sense. The Indians went 10-9 against the Royals
this year, finishing up four games behind them in the chase for the 2<sup>nd</sup>
AL Wild Card berth. The two teams appear similar when you look at those two
stats, but in reality they couldn’t be more different. The Royals are winning
with defense, speed, timely hitting, a lights out bullpen and two really good
starting pitchers. The Indians won this year with incredible starting pitching,
horrible defense, and enough hitting to support the former and overcome the
latter. In the end, the defense and bullpen of the Royals won out over the
pitching and offense of the Indians. There’s a lot more that I’d like to touch
on when it comes to KC, but first I want take an in-depth look at everyone’s
favorite shortstop prospect, Francisco Lindor.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“When is Francisco Lindor coming up?” That’s one of
the biggest questions for the Indians heading into next season, as Lindor
represents by far the cheapest opportunity to dramatically improve the roster
in 2015. One only need look at the Indians before and after Jose Ramirez
replaced Asdrubal Cabrera in the starting lineup to see how much of an effect a
decent defensive SS can have on a team. The Indians were floundering at 53-55
on July 31 when Cabrera was dealt to the Washington Nationals. With Ramirez as
the primary shortstop, the Indians closed the season on a 32-22 run. Not all of
that was solely due to Ramirez of course, but the switch certainly played a
significant role in the club’s improvement. Then consider that Lindor projects
to be a better defender and hitter than Ramirez (.646 OPS in 266 PA last year),
probably from day one, and it’s easy to see why Tribe fans are drooling over
the toolsy young SS. So will the three-headed decision making monster of
Shapiro, Anonetti and Francona opt to have the soon-to-be 21-year old SS on the
big-league roster from day one? That decision depends not just on whether or
not they feel he’s ready to contribute, but whether or not it makes financial
sense to start his service time clock in April rather than June or July.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To gain some insight into whether or not Lindor is
“ready,” I wanted to take a look the performance of some of his recent
contemporary SS prospects. Fortunately, being in the golden age of the
shortstop as we are, there were several guys that we can take a look at who are
similar to Lindor. I chose the below shortstops because they made their MLB
debuts at age 22 or earlier and were ranked in the Baseball Prospectus top-100
prospect rankings. This first table will be the selected SS comps from their
respective final minor league seasons:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">BB<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="47">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">K<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
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Xander Bogearts<o:p></o:p></div>
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20<o:p></o:p></div>
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515<o:p></o:p></div>
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.297/.388/.477<o:p></o:p></div>
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15<o:p></o:p></div>
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63<o:p></o:p></div>
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95<o:p></o:p></div>
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Javier Baez<o:p></o:p></div>
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21<o:p></o:p></div>
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434<o:p></o:p></div>
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.260/.323/.510<o:p></o:p></div>
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23<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
34<o:p></o:p></div>
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130<o:p></o:p></div>
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Chris Owings<o:p></o:p></div>
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21<o:p></o:p></div>
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575<o:p></o:p></div>
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.330/.359/.482<o:p></o:p></div>
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12<o:p></o:p></div>
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22<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
99<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jurickson Profar<o:p></o:p></div>
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20<o:p></o:p></div>
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166<o:p></o:p></div>
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.278/.370/.438<o:p></o:p></div>
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4<o:p></o:p></div>
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21<o:p></o:p></div>
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24<o:p></o:p></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Manny Machado<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
19<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
202<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="110">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
.266/.352/.438<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
11<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 39.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
48<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
70<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.65pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Jean Segura<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="55">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
22<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
451<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 82.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="110">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
.304/.358/.413<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="54">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
7<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 39.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="52">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
23<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.65pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="47">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
57<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you see, pretty solid numbers across the board.
Jean Segura had the lowest OPS at .771. Javier Baez was one of the most
prolific sluggers in all of minor league baseball last year, popping 23 HR in
just 434 plate appearances. Machado was the only one on the list who was still
19 in the MiLB season in question, and he ended up leading the AL in doubles
and making an all-star team as a 20-year old. Chris Owings put up really good
numbers that have to be taken with a grain of salt, as they were accumulated in
the offense-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League. All in all, the
average season for the six players in our sample was an .818 OPS, 12 HR, 35 BB
and 79 K over 390 plate appearances. For comparison’s sake, Francisco Lindor
accumulated 567 plate appearances last year between AA Akron and AAA Columbus,
putting together a .276/.338/.389 (.727 OPS) line with 11 HR, 49 BB and 97 K.
That would put him on the lower end of this sample when talking about offensive
production only. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now that we’ve taken a good look at minor league
production from our sample, let’s see how those same six guys did in their
first exposure to major league pitching:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.65pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 431px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-right: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Name<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Age<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="43">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">PA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Slash<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">HR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 29.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="39">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">BB<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">K<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Xander Bogaerts<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
21<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="43">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
594<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
.240/.297/.362<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
12<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 29.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="39">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
39<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
138<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Javier Baez<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
21<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="43">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
229<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
.169/.227/.324<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
9<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 29.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="39">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
15<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
95<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: none; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 89.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Chris Owings<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
22<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="43">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
310<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
.261/.300/.406<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
6<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 29.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="39">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
16<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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67<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
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Jurickson Profar<o:p></o:p></div>
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20<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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324<o:p></o:p></div>
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.234/.308/.336<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
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2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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26<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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63<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
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Manny Machado<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
19<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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202<o:p></o:p></div>
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.262/.294/.445<o:p></o:p></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
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7<o:p></o:p></div>
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9<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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38<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jean Segura<o:p></o:p></div>
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22<o:p></o:p></div>
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166<o:p></o:p></div>
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.258/.315/.325<o:p></o:p></div>
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0<o:p></o:p></div>
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13<o:p></o:p></div>
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23<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yikes. That’s…that’s not pretty. Bogaerts was the
only player in the sample to play a full season at the MLB level, and he
responded with a .659 OPS and a 3.5/1 K/BB ratio. And that was after getting a
cup of coffee with the Sox during his age-20 season. Javier Baez struck out in
41% of his plate appearances. Jurickson Profar, tabbed by many as the top
prospect in all of baseball, put up an OPS 164 points lower in MLB than MiLB.
All in all, our sample averaged 304 plate appearances with a .656 OPS, 6 HR, 19
BB and 70 strikeouts. That’s not a knock on these guys, two of whom have
already appeared in the Midsummer Classic and all of whom still have the
potential to be fantastic shortstops (or 2B, or 3B depending on the player) at
some point in the near future. The point is that making the jump from the
minors to The Show is very, very difficult. Expecting Lindor to come up and
make an impact right away with his bat is farfetched. He probably won’t be a
total zero, but certainly won’t provide a dramatic upgrade to the Indians
offensive issues in 2015. If I had to project offensive numbers for him at the
major league level next season, I’d guess that he could end up in the
.250/.310/.380 range. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yA-qhE0TG3m_-AA6jy0PNsk8hHQpIaZPEFjJudNAyPH2I7j-WkH1etBdd2T35ZnEFxhdvJJK2o2DMQiciYQUv3ogHNs5bCMgROcdN1abbCmJFbAIIOI3vRrZt0RFKtKdHOvL/s1600/Lindor+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yA-qhE0TG3m_-AA6jy0PNsk8hHQpIaZPEFjJudNAyPH2I7j-WkH1etBdd2T35ZnEFxhdvJJK2o2DMQiciYQUv3ogHNs5bCMgROcdN1abbCmJFbAIIOI3vRrZt0RFKtKdHOvL/s1600/Lindor+(5).JPG" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With all that said, Lindor’s main tool isn’t his
bat, it’s his glove. Fans who were thrilled with the defensive upgrade that
Jose Ramirez offered last year are going to be beside themselves when they
watch Lindor play the position. Going from Asdrubal to Ramirez was like
upgrading from a McDonalds burger to Five Guys. Going from Ramirez to Lindor
will be like getting a Ruth’s Chris bacon-wrapped fillet. And it’s very
possible that the most important improvements to the Indians going into 2015
will be on the defensive side of the ledger, not offense like many fans are
clamoring for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting back to the World Series-bound Kansas City
Royals for a second; they hit 95 HR to the Indians 142, scored 651 runs to the
Indians 669 and posted an OPS+ of 91 to the Indians 102 (100 OPS+ is league
average). The Indians were an above-average offensive team in the AL last year,
and the Royals were well below average (lowest OPS+ of any team in the league).
The Royals pitching was a little better by ERA (3.51 to 3.57) but the Indians
FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was 3.42 to the Royals 3.69. The big
difference came on the defensive side of the ledger. The Royals allowed 59
unearned runs in 2014, compared to the Indians 72. KC committed 104 errors,
while the Indians made a league-leading 116. But the real hammer comes when you
look at the advanced defensive metrics. </span><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2014.shtml#teams_standard_fielding::none"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Baseball-Reference.com’s Defensive Runs Saved</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> formula*, the
Royals were able to prevent 41 more runs from scoring than the average American
League team. The Indians allowed 74 <b>more</b>
runs (again, worst in the league) than average. So by that formula, the Indians
were 115 runs worse than Kansas City, a team that beat them out for the AL Wild
Card by four games. A team that has swept their way through the playoffs to a
World Series berth. A team that had three players hit double-digit HR, none
more than 19 (the Indians had 3 hit over 20). Maybe, just maybe, the Indians
offense is going to be good enough to win in 2015, especially when you consider
what the pitching staff is capable of. Maybe what the team needs more than a
“big bat” is a defensive wizard at shortstop. Based on his 56 games at SS last
year, Jose Ramirez projects to be worth 10 runs above average at SS (Asdrubal
was worth -10 in 2014, -17 in 2013). Lindor could be worth 20 or more, right
from the moment he steps onto the diamond. Combine that with expected
regression from Ramirez (I like him a lot, more than most, but I don’t think
he’s going to be a +10 run SS for his career), and you see the type of impact
that Lindor could have on the Indians 2015 pennant chase. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*B-Ref
explains their “Rdrs” formula: </span></i><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
number of runs above or below average the player was worth based on the number
of plays made.<br />
This number combines the Rpm, Rbdp, Rbof, Rbcatch
numbers into a total defensive contribution. Provided by Baseball Info Solutions<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So now that we’ve looked at what we might be able to
expect out of Lindor the player when he does come up, let’s shift our attention
to the Indians front office to try and predict <i>when</i> he will come up. Conventional wisdom holds that ready or not, Lindor
will start the season right where he finished last year, playing SS for AAA
Columbus. In a recent chat, ESPN’s Keith Law was asked where he thought Lindor
would be to open the 2015 season, and his response was “service time uber
alles.” Managing service time does have its advantages, but to me, some of
those advantages are overblown. Let’s start with the commonly-used “Super Two”
argument. For the uninitiated; players must accrue three years of MLB service
time before they are eligible for salary arbitration, then three years of
arbitration-eligible seasons before they are eligible for free agency. “Super
Two” grants players in the top 22% (changed from 17% in the most recent CBA) of
two-year service time an extra year of arbitration. If the Indians keep Lindor
in the minors long enough, they can make sure to avoid Super Two with their top
prospect. I have two counter-arguments to this line of reasoning. One, since
that 22% figure is based on that season’s eligible players, the cutoff date is
different every year. So it’ll likely be sometime in late-June to mid-July, but
no one knows exactly when. It’s possible the Indians could keep Lindor in the
minors until Independence Day, and still end up with a Super Two case. My
second counter-argument is that this doesn’t affect free agency, only
arbitration. Lindor won’t be able to become a free agent any earlier if he ends
up a Super Two player. It could wind up costing the team money, but if they end
up buying out arbitration years (and at least a year or two of free agency) as
they’ve been doing with their young position-player stars (Gomes, Kipnis,
Brantley), it’ll wind up being irrelevant anyway. If the Indians miss the
playoffs by a game or two and Lindor could’ve been up helping the ballclub even
a </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">week earlier, then we’ll all be second-guessing the timing of the call-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So we’ve looked at some of Lindor’s shortstop
contemporaries, broken down how he could potentially contribute to the ballclub
on both sides of the baseball and talked about contract issues. Let’s take it
one step further and try and predict how the Indians front office might time
the call-up based on how they’ve handled top prospects in the somewhat-recent past.
I’m going to call upon my Excel “expertise” one last time and throw another
chart at you:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Date<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: black; border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="77">
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<b><span style="color: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">AAA PA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Matt LaPorta<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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24<o:p></o:p></div>
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3-May<o:p></o:p></div>
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1235<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carlos Santana<o:p></o:p></div>
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24<o:p></o:p></div>
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11-Jun<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
246<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
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Jason Kipnis<o:p></o:p></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 24.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="33">
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24<o:p></o:p></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
22-Jul<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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409<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Lonnie Chisenhall<o:p></o:p></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 24.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="33">
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22<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
22-Jun<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
543<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Andy Marte<o:p></o:p></div>
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22<o:p></o:p></div>
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28-Jul<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
2509<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
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Michael Brantley<o:p></o:p></div>
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22<o:p></o:p></div>
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2-Jun<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
844<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Trevor Crowe<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 24.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="33">
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25<o:p></o:p></div>
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9-Apr<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
1407<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Yan Gomes<o:p></o:p></div>
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25<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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9-Apr<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
373<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All of these guys came up under the Shapiro or
Antonetti regime. LaPorta, Santana, Kipnis, Chisenhall and Marte were all
consensus top-100 guys in their final minor league seasons. All of the “blue
chip” guys came up after May 1. None came up before they turned 22. The only
two players who started a season in MLB with the Indians were Trevor Crowe and
Yan Gomes, neither of which were considered to be top prospects at the time of
their call-up, and both of whom were 25 years old at the time. None came up
before they collected at least 246 plate appearances at the AAA level. For reference,
Francisco Lindor will be 21 on opening day next year and has just 180 AAA plate
appearances under his belt. Super Two or no Super Two, the Indians may feel
like Lindor could benefit from some additional seasoning in AAA Columbus before
he’s ready to jump up to the big league level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’re 2000+ words into answering the Lindor
question, and I’m not sure if we have any better of an idea when he’s actually
going to make his Indians debut. I’ve long been on the Opening Day train (we
need some sort of hashtag…#LindoronApril6 just doesn’t flow), but I’m becoming
less and less convinced that is going to happen. No less than Anthony
Castrovice thinks the Indians are going to pick up Mike Aviles’ option for
2015, so that would leave he and Jose Ramirez splitting SS to start the season
with Lindor opening up in back AAA Columbus.<a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/98377662/indians-inbox-when-can-francisco-lindor-be-expected-to-join-tribe">
Indians beat writer Jordan Bastian was asked about Lindor in his inbox this
week,</a> and here feels like the job is Lindor’s in 2015, just not right away:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #262525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #262525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Barring an injury or unexpected trade, I would be absolutely
stunned if we don't see Lindor in the big leagues with the Indians at some
point during the 2015 season. I do not expect that to be on Opening Day. The
job out of the gates would seem to fall to Ramirez, who played admirably at
shortstop in the second half of this season.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhP8LX7JC07XyzC8wsdgpoLH2cDUImqRExE2fHoQcUjhOrXPrhs8FK9RTfmYEWIf_tG5g5xHygCOn04bNKzx_ncNbeMy124Fmb7iJHKY7cis_bYvhxhbvivTW_ofTKbxoiih2/s1600/Lindor+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhP8LX7JC07XyzC8wsdgpoLH2cDUImqRExE2fHoQcUjhOrXPrhs8FK9RTfmYEWIf_tG5g5xHygCOn04bNKzx_ncNbeMy124Fmb7iJHKY7cis_bYvhxhbvivTW_ofTKbxoiih2/s1600/Lindor+(3).JPG" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I of course have no insight into the Indians thought
process (#sources) on the matter, nor am I a professional scout who can claim
to accurately project how Lindor will handle the rigors of a major league
schedule. I have seen Lindor play more than most though, and would stake my
very insignificant internet reputation on his defense not only playing, but
excelling at the highest level. Can his glove justify burning a year of service
time for a 21-year old prospect who might not be quite “ready” for The Show? If
you expect the Indians to contend for a playoff spot next year (and I do), then
I think the answer has to be yes. So yes, I <i>want</i>
Lindor up in April. But if you’re asking when I think he <i>should</i> get the call to the big leagues? This may sound like a cop
out, but I think he should come up as soon as the Indians brain trust feels
he’s ready to contribute. If Antonetti and Tito think he can be the best option
in April, bring him up in April. If they don’t think he’s ready right away but
are convinced that June 6 is the day, then bring him up on June 6. I trust them
to know their own assets better than I do, and will suck it up and soldier on
if they don’t feel he’s ready to be The Guy right away. I just hope that
decision is made based on what happens between the foul lines, not what may or
may not happen in a negotiating session sometime in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/2014/10/17/the-futures-gonna-land-on-you/">Bringing
everything back to Anthony Castrovice and the Royals, Castro penned a
predictably outstanding piece on Friday about the Royals unpredictable playoff
run</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
and how the Indians can be encouraged by the success that KC is having this
postseason. If you haven’t read the entire thing, you should do so now, but I
want to draw your attention to one paragraph in particular:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<i><span lang="EN"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<i><span lang="EN">No, it wouldn’t have happened this year,
even if the Indians had somehow snuck into the Wild Card game. <b>The Royals play D, the Indians didn’t. To
me, it’s really that simple. Nothing separated the Royals from the O’s in this
ALCS more than their ability to make it seem as if they routinely had 18 gloves
in the field.</b> So let’s not indulge in any undue fantasies. Stick to the
Super Bowl beliefs borne out of a 3-2 start, or go watch LeBron and the boys
stroll through the NBA’s plodding and predictable regular season.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN">The
Royals play D, the Indians didn’t. Assuming Castro is right (and Castro has
never steered me wrong…Castro is gold), let’s take Occam’s Razor to this issue.
What if the Indians improve their defense next year instead of their offense?
If Lindor starts the season at SS, that’s a big step in the right direction.
Then say the team decides to move Lonnie Chisenhall (to OF, DH or another team)
to make way for Gio Urshela, another guy who might not hit right away but who
should have no trouble providing above-average defense at the hot corner?
Suddenly the left side of the infield turns from a liability to an asset. Maybe
Lindor and Urshela don’t contribute much on the offensive side, but
Cabrera/Ramirez and Chisenhall weren’t exactly setting the world on fire at the
plate during the 2<sup>nd</sup> half of 2014 anyway. Imagine the Indians
starting pitching with a non-putrid defense behind them? All of this sounds
more effective, simpler, lower risk and much cheaper than chasing a mythical
“Big Bat” on the free agent market this year. Especially when you consider just
how scarce offense is around the league right now. <a href="http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/98713590/diminishing-power-not-just-an-indians-issue">Jordan
Bastian took an in-depth look at how baseball is shifting away from waiting for
the 3-run HR to a more balanced approach,</a> and how that middle-of-the-order
thumper that you can pencil in for a 40 HR season doesn’t really exist right
now. And if there is a legit power bat on the open market, it’s unlikely that
the Indians can afford to pay him.</span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN">Maybe
Nick Swisher stays healthy next year and regains his pre-2014 form at the
plate. Maybe Kipnis bounces back to another all-star season at 2B. Maybe Victor
really wants to come back to Cleveland and cuts the team a dramatic and
unexpected hometown discount. But absent that, I think the Indians quickest
path to contention in 2015 lies on the defensive side of the diamond, not at
the plate. Lindor can and should be a big part of that solution, and I hope
he’s there in April. Service time be damned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-2755916129149112502014-10-05T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-06T08:03:03.660-04:00Back in the Groove on a Lazy Sunday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoNrPqwhs0iIiO68AbDZBbScpXtI-MM4WzmjkEbHKmfWGysmV5XmKLsO91er-Xh7OFR3IzuBr4jKD1uSG45D3Jo7z5ygLtmc3MVVp5X4qf8mBOP_ocbiazVfLX2MZUzWAo0II/s1600/tap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoNrPqwhs0iIiO68AbDZBbScpXtI-MM4WzmjkEbHKmfWGysmV5XmKLsO91er-Xh7OFR3IzuBr4jKD1uSG45D3Jo7z5ygLtmc3MVVp5X4qf8mBOP_ocbiazVfLX2MZUzWAo0II/s1600/tap.jpg" height="187" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They go to eleven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the immortal words of Spinal Tap…Helllooooooo
Cleveland! I never planned to take five months of from writing about the
Indians, honest. But an unexpected and lengthy work trip to the UK this summer
sapped pretty much all of my free time, so sitting down to put virtual pen to
paper became even more difficult than usual. Combine that with a slow hotel
internet connection that failed to stream live video and was rarely even able
to keep up with Hammy’s audio feed, and I couldn’t help but feel out of the
loop when it came to the 2014 Cleveland Indians. Highlights and box scores can
only show so much, and I didn’t make it to a single minor league game after
mid-May. I’m glad it was 2014 and not 1994 (or even 2004), because I did at least
have the luxury of MLBTV’s condensed game replays, baseball reference, and
#IndiansTwitter to help me feel somewhat connected to the team, but there’s no
substitute to watching full games day in and day out. Of course, it did allow
me to miss out on witnessing live the Indians defensive…challenges, so maybe
there’s a silver lining in there after all. At any rate, I’m back in the U.S.
for the foreseeable future, and want to try and make our time here at The
DiaTribe a little more regular. So expect to see me here on the interwebs if
not every Sunday, at least more often than once every equinox. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The good thing about not writing for 6 months is
that we have plenty of good stuff to talk about. Putting aside the defense for
a moment…how about that pitching staff! And on the offensive side, how
about…well…um…Slamtana! Yan Gomes! And of course, our MVP candidate, Michael
Brantley. It’s amazing that, after a season with so little turnover in terms of
the roster, the 2013 and 2014 versions of the Cleveland Indians were so
different in terms of the “stars” of the respective teams. When you look at
2013 by WAR (admittedly not everyone’s favorite stat, but bear with me here
because it’s a useful tool for comparison in this instance), the 2013 Cleveland
Indians top-10 players were, in order:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jason
Kipnis-5.9 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Carlos
Santana-4.3 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yan
Gomes-4.2 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nick
Swisher-3.8 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
Masterson-3.4 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ubaldo
Jimenez-2.7 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Michael
Brantley-2.4 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ryan
Raburn-2.2 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Michael
Bourn-1.9 WAR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Joe
Smith-1.8 WAR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Other than Jimenez and Smith, all of those players
were on the 2014 opening day roster. Of the eight players remaining, just three
(Santana, Gomes and Brantley) were in the top-10 in WAR for the club this year.
Swisher, Masterson and Raburn combined to be worth -3.2 WAR. Yes, NEGATIVE 3.2
wins from three guys who were worth 9.4 wins last season. So subtract those
twelve wins, and consider the biggest addition in free agency this year was
Scott Atchison and his 1.7 WAR, and you begin to appreciate the fact that this
team was in the playoff hunt down to the last week of the regular season. If
you’d told me in March of 2014 that Masty, Asdrubal, Bourn, Swish, Murphy,
Vinnie, Kipnis and Raburn would combine to be worth negative WAR in the
upcoming season, I probably would’ve guessed that the Indians would win
somewhere in the neighborhood of 65 games. Instead, they won 85 and missed out
on a Wild Card berth by a couple of games, staying in the playoff hunt down to the final few days of the season. Would I say that I’m happy with a
season that resulted in the Indians watching the playoffs from home? No, of
course not. But I can recognize the progression that this roster made from 2013
to 2014, and be happy with what guys like Kluber, Brantley, Cookie and Cody
Allen are turning into. I can take a step back and objectively say that I think
the framework is there for the 2015 Indians to be better than the 2014 Indians,
and that’s not something I could say at this time last year. Like it or not,
every significant contributor (and those who were not significant contributors)
to the 2014 team are team control through at least next season. Most are under
team control for much, much longer. The top seven starters are either short of
or just entering their arbitration years. Cy Young frontrunner(!) Corey Kluber
can’t be a free agent until 2019. Freshman in high school will be in college before Corey Kluber can choose to leave the North Shore. MVP candidate Michael Brantley is signed
through 2017, with an $11 million club option for 2018. That option increases
by $1 million every time Brantley places in the top-5 of MVP voting, so it’ll
probably be at least $12 million by then, and hopefully $16 million. I know the
team fell short of what we’d hoped they would achieve in 2014, but they really
are set up for success in 2015 and beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite shattering all of my hopes and dreams for
the offseason (more on that in a second), </span><a href="http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/2014/09/29/chasing-down-a-dream-until-it-disappeared/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anthony
Castrovice put out his predictably fantastic season recap earlier this week</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.
Castro continues to churn out excellent and insightful Indians content despite
moving on to the national beat, and for that I am grateful. He’s the LeBron of
the baseball sportswriters; both are at the top of their respective games, and
we have access to their brilliance mainly because each happened to grow up in
Northeast Ohio. Every word of his article is worth reading, so if you haven’t
had a chance to check it out yet, please do so. I promise this column will be
here when you get back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKzZo8kqZx-itPCoyyVzZy6i7bVHyAFTKlj1p3nyx8qP01AAsFxRl1Tq08CHeELleKW-EpBJl47ODqm8exGk0hKlKdOhXr9fcgX2pgzm1V6TZMAL-7t729sGgRhiSyxmRHH5-/s1600/victor-martinez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKzZo8kqZx-itPCoyyVzZy6i7bVHyAFTKlj1p3nyx8qP01AAsFxRl1Tq08CHeELleKW-EpBJl47ODqm8exGk0hKlKdOhXr9fcgX2pgzm1V6TZMAL-7t729sGgRhiSyxmRHH5-/s1600/victor-martinez.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I miss you so much. Please call me. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I mentioned Castro crushing my dreams for the offseason,
I was referring to his tidbit on Victor Martinez:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<i><span lang="EN"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<i><span lang="EN">That right there is reason enough not to
entertain any dreams of a Victor Martinez return, to the extent that any of you
did so anyway. Amazing that Vic, at this stage of his career, stands to be
arguably the best bat available in the open market, but I don’t think the
Tigers will let him reach that point anyway. I do think he’ll end his career
with the Indians at some point, somehow, because that’s something he wants to
do. But it’s not going to be with a long-term contract signed with Cleveland.
It’s more likely to be the Jim Thome-type waiver claim at some point down the
road.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve been onboard the “bring Vic back to Cleveland”
train for a while now, but I’m slowly coming to the realization that it is
probably not in the cards this year. Victor slugged his way to an incredible
.335/.409/.565 line this season, good for a league-leading .974 OPS. He
finished with a career-high 32 HR, and will almost certainly in the top-5 of
the MVP voting this offseason. At age 35, he’s both at the top of his game and
angling for his last big contract, coming off of the 4-year, $50 million deal
he signed with Detroit back in 2011. If the Indians sign a bat this offseason,
it probably isn’t going to be Victor. The Tigers can’t afford to lose his
presence in the lineup and in the clubhouse, especially with the unexpected
“decline” of Miguel Cabrera from otherworldly to just really, really good. Mike
Ilitch is going to break out his checkbook this offseason to keep Martinez in
Detroit, and unless his heart is dead-set on a return to Cleveland right now, I
don’t see any way the Indians can make an offer that will even be in the
ballpark of what he’s going to get from Detroit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So especially in light of what is (</span><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">or
isn’t, as the case may be</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">) available when it comes to
offense this offseason, should the Indians #1 priority even be adding offense?
It’s easy to look back at this season and point to the offense as the problem,
especially down the stretch as the team was able to waste a plethora of strong
starting pitching performances in close games (31 runs as a team in 13
September losses). </span><a href="http://bastian.mlblogs.com/2014/10/01/antonetti-it-was-an-incredible-year-in-terms-of-progress/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
as Jordan Bastian details, Tito Francona doesn’t necessarily see the club
selling out for offense this winter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></i></strong></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2e7v_8ldTnJivXgW2PtMaEfnPxieraRDEVbwl6BQNxbhvmJXPe7HrsJYzDrDecVWKyWhlWUvTHNkeqnoIqpTjcnbwZr2AkjRA5RaOgz9J5Ze9ymBR90DfFPl3O9WqV_sQTVt/s1600/bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2e7v_8ldTnJivXgW2PtMaEfnPxieraRDEVbwl6BQNxbhvmJXPe7HrsJYzDrDecVWKyWhlWUvTHNkeqnoIqpTjcnbwZr2AkjRA5RaOgz9J5Ze9ymBR90DfFPl3O9WqV_sQTVt/s1600/bat.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potentian Indians Free Agent Target?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: white;">
<strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Is adding a “big bat” a
priority this winter?</span></i></strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></i></strong></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Francona:</span></i></strong><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> “I think that’s the easy [answer]. It’s, ‘Hey, go get a
power bat.’ OK. What we’re really trying to do is see how many runs our
pitching staff we think is going to give up and how many runs we’re going to
score offensively, and then where does that fit moving forward. Do we think that
makes us a team that can contend? I can tell you from personal experience, I’d
rather win 3-1 than 8-7, because it’s a hard way to win consistently. I agree,
there are times in a season when you have to win like that, but when your
pitching gives you a chance… even the last couple months, as hard as runs
seemed to be for us to score, we seemed to have a chance pretty much every
night.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">External solutions through free agency can be pricey
and risky, as we’ve seen first-hand with the recent Swisher and Bourn signings.
Tito and the front office have been on the same page since he agreed to manage
the club. Is it possible they’re looking to improve in other ways via the
personnel already under team control? What if they think that the offense is
going to be serviceable next season via bounceback years from Kipnis, Swisher,
Bourn and David Murphy? I’m not saying I think that all four of those guys are
going to produce at a higher level next season, but it’s certainly within the
realm of possibility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If the rotation and bullpen are more or less set and
the offense can be “fixed” with rebound seasons from key guys, then the biggest
issue this offseason becomes the team’s defense. The word “atrocious” comes to
mind when I think of the Indians 2014 defense. Every starting pitcher on the
team, with the exception of T.J. House, had a lower FIP (Fielding Independent
Pitching) than ERA. Well, there just so happen to be two internal options to
fix the defense as well. The first and most obvious would be to start
uber-prospect Francisco Lindor at shortstop next season. Jose Ramirez did a
nice job filling in at SS when the Indians traded Asdrubal Cabrera this year,
but Lindor has a better glove, arm and bat than Ramirez. My feelings on Lindor
are well-known, and service time be damned, I think he should be the club’s SS
on opening day 2015. The second internal option would be to either trade or
move to the outfield incumbent 3B Lonnie Chisenhall and use a combination of
Ramirez, Mike Aviles and prospect Giovanny Urshela at 3B in 2015. Chisenhall
put together his most successful season at the plate this year, hitting a solid
.280/.343/.427 (120 OPS+). Per baseball reference’s version of WAR, he was
worth 3.1 wins with his bat (oWAR). Unfortunately, posted a -1.5 dWAR in the
field, somewhat negating his offensive contributions by giving those runs back
at the hot corner. The Indians could move Chisenhall to LF, Brantley to RF and
use David Murphy and Nick Swisher (sparingly) as needed to fill in. Now, I’m
sure you’re all yelling at your computer screen right now that Chiz, Brantley,
Bourn and Murphy are all lefthanded, which is one reason I think the Indians
might elect to trade Chisenhall rather than try him in the outfield. But unless
you think that his 2014 season was a stepping stone to offensive heights yet
unseen by the 26 year old 3B, you can’t keep trotting him out at 3B on a daily
basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I like Lonnie Chisenhall. I think he’s as nice of a
guy as you’ll find in baseball. He’s great in the clubhouse, and a hard worker
on and off the field. I also think that the spike in his offensive production
in 2014 was a bit of a fluke, and that the Indians should move him if anyone
shows any interest this offseason. From April 2 through July 1, the span of 68
games, Chisenhall hit .344/.399/.563 with 9 HR (224 AB). He also hit an
unsustainable .382 on balls in play (BABIP). From July 2 through Sept 28 (74
games and 254 AB), Chisenhall hit just .224/.293/.307 with 4 HR. His BABIP
during that timeframe was .277, a little on the low side but much closer to
what we can expect than a sky-high .382. If first-half Lonnie Chisenhall is the
real Chisenhall that we’ll get moving forward, then he can absolutely be an
everyday 3B, even with the defensive limitations. But if he’s 2<sup>nd</sup>
half Lonnie Chisenhall, or even the .770 OPS guy that we ended up with after
his two halves balanced out, then I just don’t see him as a first-division 3B
moving forward. Prospect Gio Urshela projects as an elite defender, and posed
an .804 (13 HR) OPS in 104 games as a 22-year old with AAA Columbus this year.
When considering those offensive numbers, bear in mind that the average age of
the AAA International League pitchers last year was 27.9. He probably wouldn’t
have that level of offensive competence right away, but he should at least be a
solid defender as soon as he comes up. Fixing the defense could be easier,
cheaper, and quicker than trying to find the mythical “big bat” that some fans
are clamoring for, and it could be accomplished by promoting internal options
Urshela and Francisco Lindor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_BFmN3Y87xJRw9MnQDPyKBGYGgO-nI2RSt12N8I2tO13W30soGfxHKKjUT2hSTHS6u_kYnxA2GMpAYZdxbU3ygqk7Q_FRhdg107tpx2ls7-O5ObW-TINVkGhZZjxsvMjXvsO/s1600/chris+tito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_BFmN3Y87xJRw9MnQDPyKBGYGgO-nI2RSt12N8I2tO13W30soGfxHKKjUT2hSTHS6u_kYnxA2GMpAYZdxbU3ygqk7Q_FRhdg107tpx2ls7-O5ObW-TINVkGhZZjxsvMjXvsO/s1600/chris+tito.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2014/09/cleveland-indians-recap-antonetti-francona/">One
of my favorite Indians related articles of 2014 was published this week</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">,
authored by longtime DiaTribe favorite Jon Steiner. Jon and I agree on a lot
when it comes to our favorite baseball team, and this piece is no different.
Jon sees a lot of anger in the fandom over the Indians front office, from the
GM to the Team President to the ownership. He, like me, finds much of that
anger silly and misplaced. A couple of Jon’s key points:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">But I also think that the fact that people are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2014/09/chris-antonetti-go-kareem-abdul-jabbar-delivers-plus-deafheaven-waiting/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s linear; box-sizing: border-box; transition: all 0.2s linear;" target="_blank" title="WFNY"><span style="background: white; color: #d91c1b; font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">even having the discussion about
firing the GM</span></a></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">again is ridiculous. The Indians have won more
games in the last two years than the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Rays, the
Royals, the Angels, the Rangers, the Mariners, and the Blue Jays. Of the
30 MLB teams, only seven have won more games over this span than the Indians,
three of whom reside in the American League. This front office has taken a
team with the worst ticket sales in baseball and a hamstrung budget, and won
more games than all but three teams in the League.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">They’ve also managed to acquire the following
players via trade: Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Yan Gomes,
Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Santana. That’s a 200-hit guy, a soon-to-be Cy Young
winner, two of the best catchers in the American League, and two of the
brightest young pitching talents in the game. They were smart enough not
to re-sign Ubaldo or extend Justin Masterson before this season, even though
they caught flack for both. They single-handedly brought one of the most
decorated managers in the game to Cleveland, to play in front of an empty house
with unproven players. I think you could reasonably argue that no front office
in baseball has done more with less in the last fifteen years, including the
Rays and A’s.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The entire piece is filled with salient, intelligent
points about the 2014 Indians, the plan for 2015 and how the Indians front
office isn’t nearly as bad as some people would like to believe. Does the team
need to draft better? Absolutely. But talent can be acquired from a variety of
sources, and for every poor draft result, there has been a trade to make up for
it. The Indians have turned Casey Blake, Jake Westbrook, Shin Soo-Choo, and Esmil
Rodgers into Carlos Santana, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Yan Gomes and Mike
Aviles. The Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia trades, long having been dismissed as
abject failures, wound up producing the Indians 2<sup>nd</sup> best starter and
a probable top-5 MVP position player in 2014. Shapiro and Antonetti are not
batting 1.000 on every decision they’ve ever made as leaders of this
organization, but to expect them to do so is ludicrous. Anyone who thinks that
the GM and Team President are the only thing holding this organization back
from a championship are kidding themselves. Jon says that better than I could,
and if you haven’t read the piece yet, please remedy that situation immediately.
And if you have read it, read it again. It’s that good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s it for this week, as I’m going to ease myself
back into the groove here. The only benefit of not writing for so long is that
we have a LOT to talk about. I still want to check in on the performance of the
organization’s farm teams, plans for 2015, the incredible breakout of Michael
Brantley, YAN GOMES and the unbelievable performance of the pitching staff in
the 2</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> half of 2014. It’s a long offseason, and we’ll get into all
that and much more as the winter drags on. I’d like to offer a sincere thanks
for anyone who’s reading for sticking with me here on The DiaTribe, and look
forward to spending our Lazy Sunday mornings together more often moving
forward. Go Tribe. </span></div>
Al Ciammaichellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17537082892978020756noreply@blogger.com2