All-encompassing Cleveland Indians thread. 46 days until Opening Day.

[finallyfamous]

You guys ever check the Indians forum on scout?

 

[finallyfamous]

You guys ever check the Indians forum on scout?

 

[kevin cleveland]

$3 million (and incentives) for Kotchman. Love it.

 

[kevin cleveland]

$3 million (and incentives) for Kotchman. Love it.

 

[kevin cleveland]

They kicked the tires on Edwin Jackson before he signed with the Nats, but couldn't give him the same kind of money (somewhere between $8-12 million).

Sizemore
Cabrera
Choo
Santana
Kotchman
Hafner
Brantley
Kipnis
Chisenhall

Duncan/LaPorta/Canzler
Hannahan
Marson
Cunningham/Spilborghs/Crowe/Lewis/Pie
(Maybe Donald/Lopez if they decide to carry one less pen arm)

Jimenez
Masterson
Tomlin
Lowe
Slowey/Carmona

Hagadone/Herrmann
Wheeler/Ray/Accardo
Sipp
Smith
Pestano
Perez
Perez

I like it.

Edit: I guess it's possible that Chisenhall starts the season in Columbus, Hannahan starts, and they keep the standard four-player bench and seven-player bullpen.

 

[kevin cleveland]

They kicked the tires on Edwin Jackson before he signed with the Nats, but couldn't give him the same kind of money (somewhere between $8-12 million).

Sizemore
Cabrera
Choo
Santana
Kotchman
Hafner
Brantley
Kipnis
Chisenhall

Duncan/LaPorta/Canzler
Hannahan
Marson
Cunningham/Spilborghs/Crowe/Lewis/Pie
(Maybe Donald/Lopez if they decide to carry one less pen arm)

Jimenez
Masterson
Tomlin
Lowe
Slowey/Carmona

Hagadone/Herrmann
Wheeler/Ray/Accardo
Sipp
Smith
Pestano
Perez
Perez

I like it.

Edit: I guess it's possible that Chisenhall starts the season in Columbus, Hannahan starts, and they keep the standard four-player bench and seven-player bullpen.

 

[kevin cleveland]

https://twitter.com/#!/MLBastian/status/165500984691404800https://twitter.com/#!/MLBastian/status/165500984691404800

 

[kevin cleveland]

https://twitter.com/#!/MLBastian/status/165500984691404800https://twitter.com/#!/MLBastian/status/165500984691404800

 

[finallyfamous]

 

[finallyfamous]

 

[proshares]

I don't think they'd send Chisenhall down unless he REALLY struggles in the spring. Hannahan fell off a cliff last season.

I'd like to see them maybe put a Kotchman/LaPorta platton out there.

 

[proshares]

I don't think they'd send Chisenhall down unless he REALLY struggles in the spring. Hannahan fell off a cliff last season.

I'd like to see them maybe put a Kotchman/LaPorta platton out there.

 

[kevin cleveland]

I don't think they'd send Chisenhall down unless he REALLY struggles in the spring.
Me either, but it seems to be a growing thought. Between him struggling with plate discipline, the fact that Hannahan is a lock to make the team and a need for basically the whole bench to be right-handed hitters, it's possible.

LaPorta will almost definitely start in Columbus. He sucks even more against lefties than he does righties, anyway. Against lefties, Santana will move to first, Marson will catch (career .763 OPS against lefties; .529 against righties), and Duncan and Donald (.886; .635) are in there somewhere.

 

[kevin cleveland]

I don't think they'd send Chisenhall down unless he REALLY struggles in the spring.
Me either, but it seems to be a growing thought. Between him struggling with plate discipline, the fact that Hannahan is a lock to make the team and a need for basically the whole bench to be right-handed hitters, it's possible.

LaPorta will almost definitely start in Columbus. He sucks even more against lefties than he does righties, anyway. Against lefties, Santana will move to first, Marson will catch (career .763 OPS against lefties; .529 against righties), and Duncan and Donald (.886; .635) are in there somewhere.

 

[kevin cleveland]

The Super Bowl isn't doing it for me.

Two months from today.

 

[kevin cleveland]

The Super Bowl isn't doing it for me.

Two months from today.

 

[kevin cleveland]

Keith Law has them as the second-worst farm system in baseball. Told you it was going to be awful.

29. Cleveland Indians
Trades and promotions have gutted this system, which now has very little above low Class A. One of the Indians' better drafts in years last June should help.
This is mine. Just a few things to consider.

It's been the talk of the offseason. Long before, really. A lack of right-handed hitters in the Indians' lineup, in general, but especially a lack of power from the right side.

It is no secret that exactly zero of the team's projected regular position players are strictly right-handed, as only switch-hitters, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana, figure in as mainstays from the right side at all. Only a handful of minor league signings (Andy LaRoche, Jose Lopez and Ryan Spilborghs) and two minor trades (Aaron Cunningham and Russ Canzler) were made to try and replenish the deficiency. And with the recent addition of Casey Kotchman, another left-handed stick (with minimal power, to boot), the void seems to remain.

All of that being said, it has still become a slightly belabored point.

The first reason why is so simple that it's often forgotten. The majority of Major League pitchers are right-handed. Most days, the Indians' left-heavy lineup will have a theoretical advantage over the opposing team's starting pitcher.
Focusing specifically on the American League Central, where, of course, the Indians will spend most of their time: 14 of the 20 projected starters in the division are right-handed. The Tigers will feature a completely right-handed rotation, while each of the other three teams expect to have three in theirs.

More importantly than those favorable odds is the idea that, even when facing left-handed pitching, the Indians will still put out a formidable lineup.

Aside from Cabrera and Santana, Manny Acta will rely on his bench of perhaps nothing but right-handed bats. Let me preface this by saying that I don't necessarily agree with or believe that Jack Hannahan will be the team's primary third baseman and that Lonnie Chisenhall will start in Columbus, but it is a possibility, especially with this need for as many right-handed options off the bench as possible. Because Hannahan will almost certainly break camp with the team, it would essentially come down to Chisenhall and Jason Donald for now. Without turning this into a full-blown Opening Day roster song and dance, let us assume that the club's four backups will be Aaron Cunningham, Donald, Shelley Duncan and Lou Marson. Acta could utilize any of them in lineups against southpaws, and history says that he would be right to. While all of those histories are generally short, each of them has adequate (at worst) splits versus left-handed pitching.

Cunningham: .741 career on-base plus slugging (OPS) against lefties; .620 against righties
Donald: .886/.635
Duncan: .769/.743
Marson: .763/.529

And for good measure...

Cabrera: .785/.744
Santana: .882/.792

Two additional names that will be considered for spell jobs are Matt LaPorta and Ryan Spilborghs, but each of them has significant flaws in such a role. LaPorta, who would compete with Duncan as a backup first baseman/corner outfielder (along with Russ Canzler, who has but six big league plate appearances from which to look at), has been a reverse splits hitter to this point in his career. Despite being a right-handed hitter, he hits right-handed pitching much more effectively, in terms of both power (26 of his 30 home runs) and percentages (OPS nearly 100 points higher). Spilborghs' deterrent from potentially being the fourth outfielder has nothing to do with his left and right splits, but his home and away splits. He has benefited from a career with the Rockies, accumulating an OPS of almost 200 points higher at Coors Field (.862) than away from it (.679).

The bench bunch will not be perfect solutions to all of the Indians' left-on-left woes, but what they will do is provide alternatives and versatility on both sides of the ball.

Defensively against left-handed pitchers, Santana will move to first, while Marson catches. Cunningham plays solely in the outfield. Assuming that Santana is settled in at first, Duncan becomes an option in left field or as the occasional designated hitter. Donald could play at any number of positions, including in the outfield, providing a third possibility to relieve the all-lefty, injury-riddled starting group of Michael Brantley, Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo.

The concerns about this dependence on left-handed hitters are not without credence. Lineups need balance, and the earlier point about most pitchers being right-handed is not cut and dry. All bets are off in the later innings when bullpens become involved and it turns into a game of strategy and matchups, as most bullpens are equipped with two or even three left-handed relievers now.

At the end of the day, though, it doesn't matter - left or right. Nor does this perceived lack of power, necessarily. Being a productive Major League hitter consists of plenty more. The key for this young, often free-swinging Indians team will be thorough at-bats of working counts, not striking out, and ultimately, getting on base against either kind of pitcher.

In less than two months, the Indians will take the field against the Blue Jays, a first step towards a return to the postseason. Once they record the first three outs of the season, one of the best left-handers in the American League, Ricky Romero, awaits. Test number one.
Still no contract for Cabrera yet, but it'll happen before the arbitration hearing. They're talking long-term and not just this year. He wants to be here.

Oh, and they have exactly zero players officially under contract for 2013 right now. A few options, and arbitration guys, of course, but that's still pretty nuts.

 

[kevin cleveland]

Keith Law has them as the second-worst farm system in baseball. Told you it was going to be awful.

29. Cleveland Indians
Trades and promotions have gutted this system, which now has very little above low Class A. One of the Indians' better drafts in years last June should help.
This is mine. Just a few things to consider.

It's been the talk of the offseason. Long before, really. A lack of right-handed hitters in the Indians' lineup, in general, but especially a lack of power from the right side.

It is no secret that exactly zero of the team's projected regular position players are strictly right-handed, as only switch-hitters, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana, figure in as mainstays from the right side at all. Only a handful of minor league signings (Andy LaRoche, Jose Lopez and Ryan Spilborghs) and two minor trades (Aaron Cunningham and Russ Canzler) were made to try and replenish the deficiency. And with the recent addition of Casey Kotchman, another left-handed stick (with minimal power, to boot), the void seems to remain.

All of that being said, it has still become a slightly belabored point.

The first reason why is so simple that it's often forgotten. The majority of Major League pitchers are right-handed. Most days, the Indians' left-heavy lineup will have a theoretical advantage over the opposing team's starting pitcher.
Focusing specifically on the American League Central, where, of course, the Indians will spend most of their time: 14 of the 20 projected starters in the division are right-handed. The Tigers will feature a completely right-handed rotation, while each of the other three teams expect to have three in theirs.

More importantly than those favorable odds is the idea that, even when facing left-handed pitching, the Indians will still put out a formidable lineup.

Aside from Cabrera and Santana, Manny Acta will rely on his bench of perhaps nothing but right-handed bats. Let me preface this by saying that I don't necessarily agree with or believe that Jack Hannahan will be the team's primary third baseman and that Lonnie Chisenhall will start in Columbus, but it is a possibility, especially with this need for as many right-handed options off the bench as possible. Because Hannahan will almost certainly break camp with the team, it would essentially come down to Chisenhall and Jason Donald for now. Without turning this into a full-blown Opening Day roster song and dance, let us assume that the club's four backups will be Aaron Cunningham, Donald, Shelley Duncan and Lou Marson. Acta could utilize any of them in lineups against southpaws, and history says that he would be right to. While all of those histories are generally short, each of them has adequate (at worst) splits versus left-handed pitching.

Cunningham: .741 career on-base plus slugging (OPS) against lefties; .620 against righties
Donald: .886/.635
Duncan: .769/.743
Marson: .763/.529

And for good measure...

Cabrera: .785/.744
Santana: .882/.792

Two additional names that will be considered for spell jobs are Matt LaPorta and Ryan Spilborghs, but each of them has significant flaws in such a role. LaPorta, who would compete with Duncan as a backup first baseman/corner outfielder (along with Russ Canzler, who has but six big league plate appearances from which to look at), has been a reverse splits hitter to this point in his career. Despite being a right-handed hitter, he hits right-handed pitching much more effectively, in terms of both power (26 of his 30 home runs) and percentages (OPS nearly 100 points higher). Spilborghs' deterrent from potentially being the fourth outfielder has nothing to do with his left and right splits, but his home and away splits. He has benefited from a career with the Rockies, accumulating an OPS of almost 200 points higher at Coors Field (.862) than away from it (.679).

The bench bunch will not be perfect solutions to all of the Indians' left-on-left woes, but what they will do is provide alternatives and versatility on both sides of the ball.

Defensively against left-handed pitchers, Santana will move to first, while Marson catches. Cunningham plays solely in the outfield. Assuming that Santana is settled in at first, Duncan becomes an option in left field or as the occasional designated hitter. Donald could play at any number of positions, including in the outfield, providing a third possibility to relieve the all-lefty, injury-riddled starting group of Michael Brantley, Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo.

The concerns about this dependence on left-handed hitters are not without credence. Lineups need balance, and the earlier point about most pitchers being right-handed is not cut and dry. All bets are off in the later innings when bullpens become involved and it turns into a game of strategy and matchups, as most bullpens are equipped with two or even three left-handed relievers now.

At the end of the day, though, it doesn't matter - left or right. Nor does this perceived lack of power, necessarily. Being a productive Major League hitter consists of plenty more. The key for this young, often free-swinging Indians team will be thorough at-bats of working counts, not striking out, and ultimately, getting on base against either kind of pitcher.

In less than two months, the Indians will take the field against the Blue Jays, a first step towards a return to the postseason. Once they record the first three outs of the season, one of the best left-handers in the American League, Ricky Romero, awaits. Test number one.
Still no contract for Cabrera yet, but it'll happen before the arbitration hearing. They're talking long-term and not just this year. He wants to be here.

Oh, and they have exactly zero players officially under contract for 2013 right now. A few options, and arbitration guys, of course, but that's still pretty nuts.

 

[kevin cleveland]

Well, scratch that. Cabrera signs a one-year deal for now. $4,550,000.

 

[kevin cleveland]

Well, scratch that. Cabrera signs a one-year deal for now. $4,550,000.

 

[Animal Thug]

Originally Posted by Kevin Cleveland

Well, scratch that for now. Cabrera signs a one-year deal for now. $4,550,000.

I'm hoping they can offer the guy a very pleasing 4 or 5 year deal sometime this summer.

Also looking at that espn's farming ranking; how the hell are we almost dead last?? I thought we were one of the best??
  

 

[Animal Thug]

Originally Posted by Kevin Cleveland

Well, scratch that for now. Cabrera signs a one-year deal for now. $4,550,000.

I'm hoping they can offer the guy a very pleasing 4 or 5 year deal sometime this summer.

Also looking at that espn's farming ranking; how the hell are we almost dead last?? I thought we were one of the best??
  

 

[kevin cleveland]

In years past, they usually are one of the better systems. But after the Jimenez trade and Kipnis and Chisenhall being called up, the upper levels are really lacking impact players. There are a few potential bullpen arms that could be, and maybe Chun Chen at catcher, but most of the rest don't have bright Major League futures. Guys like Huff, Gomez and McAllister are probably fourth or fifth starters at best, Phelps is probably a utility player, other promising guys have been held back by injury, etc.

On the bright side, there is a ton of exciting talent in the lower levels. That awful ranking won't last long.

 

[kevin cleveland]

In years past, they usually are one of the better systems. But after the Jimenez trade and Kipnis and Chisenhall being called up, the upper levels are really lacking impact players. There are a few potential bullpen arms that could be, and maybe Chun Chen at catcher, but most of the rest don't have bright Major League futures. Guys like Huff, Gomez and McAllister are probably fourth or fifth starters at best, Phelps is probably a utility player, other promising guys have been held back by injury, etc.

On the bright side, there is a ton of exciting talent in the lower levels. That awful ranking won't last long.

 

[Animal Thug]

Well that makes sense, since we've taken all the talent we've had left there in the minors.

Hoping our farming system can raise some great talent by 2014-2105...we'll definitely need it by then.