Indians Ink Alex White for $2.5 Million
August 18, 2009Are the Indians Really Losing $16 Million?
August 18, 2009A third straight Monday without a game for our Wahoo Warriors. Most of you didn’t miss it last night, but I know I did. My two and a half year old son actually said to me “I wanna watch the Tribe” around 7:20. A tear came to my eye. Who knew he’d be so attracted to fourth place baseball? Nonetheless his heroes take the field tonight against the West leading Los Angeles Angels. I thought while we were basking in the glow of another series win within the division, we should examine that new blood that seemingly takes up the bottom of the order each night.
Andy Marte – 36 AB’s/.194 BA/0 HR/3 RBI/.532 OPS
36 at-bats does not a season make, and in reality, shouldn’t be nearly enough for a first impression. But the truth is, for Marte, 36 at bats speaks plenty. After being designated for assignment and being passed over by every other major league team, Marte returned to the Indians organization and started the year in Columbus. The thought was he would backup prospects Wes Hodges at third and both Matt LaPorta and Jordan Brown at first. Hodges was hurt early, and Marte pounced on the opportunity.
In Columbus, Marte blossomed, dominating the league in his 300 at bats. He hit .327 with 18 HR and 66 RBI’s, while playing stellar D at third base. The Indians brass was impressed enough to want to see more. So the former top prospect, still just 25 years old, got the recall when Ryan Garko was shipped to San Francisco to play first base every day. The word was the looping swing had been shortened, and his plate disciplined had improved.
He has gotten his shot even before LaPorta, the first basemen of the future did. He hasn’t done much with it. After getting two hits in his first game (2-4), Marte has just five hits in 32 at bats. He still looks over-matched at the plate and flat out hasn’t impressed. Best bet is that he is the backup corner infielder in 2010 behind LaPorta and Jhonny Peralta.
Luis Valbuena – .227 AB’s/.233 BA/6 HR/18 RBI’s/.701 OPS
In the case of “Sweet Luis,” the numbers do not tell his story. At first glance, Valbuena’s .227/18 RBI combo isn’t impressive, but watching him every day, I know this kid is going to be a player. He came as advertised – a left-handed line drive hitter who loves to shop at the gap. The ball stings off his bat and he is a contact hitter.
Valbuena’s defense is also underrated. He filled in admirably at short for Asdrubal Cabrera during his month long DL stint and showed he can be used their in a pinch. His game at second has been steady and solid. Perhaps his best feature however, is his knack for the extra base hit. Of his 53 hits, 26 of them are doubles, triples, or home runs. The bottom line – Valbuena’s a keeper. Next year, I can see him in the two hole playing second base every day. We will end up remembering him as the best part of the Franklin Gutierrez trade.
Chris Gimenez – 90 AB’s/.167 BA/3 HR/7 RBI/.558 OPS
Here is the thing about the Kerry Collins look alike; he is very versatile. He can play both corner outfield slots, first base, and catcher. That right there is a value to the team and a characteristic that Eric Wedge loves. That said, the G-Man has been extremely exposed because of his over-use. The Grinder has turned Gimenez into what Mark DeRosa was for a while – an everyday player all over the field.
Unfortunately, his bat is failing him. After a hot start, Gimenez is mired in a 1-28 slump in August. Yet, that hasn’t stopped Wedge from playing him. Truth is, with minimal options in the corner outfield position, G-Man is getting plenty of run. Why these at-bats aren’t LaPorta’s is one of the season’s great mysteries.
G-Man will be next year’s uber-utility man off the bench and the third catcher.
Trevor Crowe – 106 AB’s/.208 BA/0 HR/10 RBI/.554 OPS
The one kid who has probably taken the most advantage of his recall has been Crowe. He broke camp with the Indians when David Dellucci went on the DL. He looked completely overwhelmed the first time around, being shipped back to Columbus May 2nd. He got a second shot on May 26th that lasted a month. Nothing really happened to turn the heads of the Tribe brass.
On July 31st, he got his third shot and run with it. He seems more patient at the plate and is making regular contact unlike he was in his previous stints. Since the recall, Crowe is 11-41 with six RBI’s, seven runs scored, and three steals. The speed and glove ability make Crowe the ideal fourth outfielder. Right now, however, he must play left field everyday.
In 2010, Crowe is a no-brainer to be on the club as the fourth outfielder, with his ability to back up all three spots. The real question is who will be be backing up in left.
Wyatt Toregas – 17 AB’s/.235 BA/0 HR/5 RBI/.498 OPS
Tough to make a call on a first time major leaguer in his first 17 at bats. I’ll give Toregas this much, he has come up in some key spots and delivered. Its the little things too, like moving a runner from second to third with nobody out on a ground-ball to the right side. Five RBI’s in 17 at bats is pretty impressive as well. He doesn’t look over-whelmed at the plate; also a good thing.
As a receiver, we haven’t heard any negatives on his game call skills, in his five starts, so that is a positive. At best, Toregas is probably a quality backup catcher. He has always hit in the minors and being the true catcher that he is, he will find a spot somewhere in this league.
With the catcher position so loaded next year, my guess is that he will either be in tandem with Lou Marson next year with the Indians (if Kelly Shoppach is non-tendered), or as the backup to Carlos Santana in Columbus.
18 Comments
http://columbus.crew.mlsnet.com/t102/index.jsp
The Columbus Crew
TD-a few of your comments boggle the mind:
1.) “Giminez will be next year’s uber-utility man and third catcher”
If that’s what the Tribes bench is made of…….100+ losses.
2.) “Trevor Crowe has taken the most advantage of his recall, the ideal
fourth outfield with his speed and glove”.
Total stiff……overwhelmed by major league pitching, hitting .208 and
falling. If that’s the outfield bench……100+ losses.
3.) “With the catcher position so loaded next year, with Shoppach to be
nontendered”.
Let’s see…….Hacky Giminez, backup prospects Torregas and Marson.
Yep…….LOADED. 100+ losses.
TD……what case are you making here? It’s ok to be optimistic……but sheesh man.
Geez Isis, don’t be such a Debbie Downer all the time.
Isis,
Those guys might not be the ideal subs for the team, but do you realize how completely atrocious the team would have to be to accumulate 100+ losses? Most of the guys mentioned are on the team now and they’re playing their best baseball of the year. I’m not saying that will continue, but I still don’t think they’d break the 100 loss mark.
Book it.
@ JK-
I too thought we were about to get a look at the true “Columbus Crew”. The true winner of pro sports teams in OH.
Isis, what does it feel like to know everything AND always be right? that has to be pretty awesome… You wouldn’t happen to know what the lottery numbers are going to be this week would you?
TD, I think Crowe’s been doing a pretty descent job and can probably be the 4th outfielder you’re talking about, also I’ve definately liked Valbuena and think he could end up being a real gem.
Is it bad that I’ve gotten to the point where when I read these Tribe posts I scroll slowly to the comments to see if Rand . . ., I mean Isis’ negativity is the first or second post?
Gimenez’s presence on the roster absolutely baffles me. I understand the idea of versatility, but I don’t see the value in a terrible hitter who mainly plays the three least demanding defensive positions (corner outfield spots and 1B). He struggled in limited at-bats at Triple-A, and looks completely over-matched at the big-league level. I could understand the limited offense if he were the team’s second catcher, but he has mostly been used elsewhere. From what I’ve seen, he looks like low-upside organizational fodder, soaking up at-bats that could be given to Matt LaPorta or, heck, even Andy Marte — both players with far better upsides.
I really hope that he is not the team’s “super-utility” player in 2010 — nor do I expect him to be, given that I expect Wedge to be fired at the end of the season. Overall, I have serious problems with how the roster is currently constructed. The team carries eight relief pitchers, but has to start Jamey Carrol in the outfield because Trevor Crowe is injured and the team is only carrying two other true outfielders. Considering that Hafner cannot play the field, I don’t know how Wedge (and by extension Shapiro) can justify carrying anything less than 13 position players. We would not need as much “versatility” from our position players if we had more than a two-man bench right now (given Crowe’s injury).
Viva la Pessimism!
JDaz:
In answer to your question……YES.
Riddle me this……they are pushing 100 losses this year except for the worthless streak with “nothing on the line”, to quote Grady Sizemore. Tell me what players they lost in trade that wont’ be on next year’s team, who the starting rotation and bullpen will be, and combine that with the type of subs that TD so glowlingly endorsed.
If you can’t see the possibility of 100 lossed, your looking through the same morror as all the above posts. Enjoy.
Tron……if you’ve actually read any of my posts you’d realize there is more than a fair degree of on target reality. But…you just blew your credibility by suggesting that Trevor “Black” Crowe is ANY major league team’s idea of a 4th outfielder. Enjoy.
@ TD – you forgot to mention Frankie Hejduk.
Kudos to poster #8 Doracle, who assesses what he sees with honesty. You wanna bash him for that too?
Read what he said, you might learn something.
Isis,
I’m not disagreeing with you about the quality of the players on the team. I’m merely asking if you realize the degree of futility that must be diplayed to reach 100 losses. Even the PIRATES have only had one season of 100 losses in the last 24 years, and they practically sell their entire team at the trading deadline every year. It was exactly 100 losses also, not 100+.
You can’t honestly tell me you believe the Indians will be THAT awful next year.
@ JK – Agreed. Come on WFNY, you guys are writers.
@ Charlie – I had nothing to do with this. I very much enjoy the Columbus Crew, the Crewzers dancers, and the vast parking lot that allows for 2 hours of tailgating and kicking the footy around before games.
Isis – I loathe to respond to this, but other than Valbuena, did I say that any of these guys are future starters on this team?
Crowe is a 4th OF as I stated. Your theory that he cant be isnt known, since the guy has barely registered a season at this level. 11-41 since his recall makes him look enticing as a backup to me with his speed and ability to play all three spots in the OF.
G-Man is a uber-sub utility player as I stated.
Marte is a backup at best as I stated.
Toregas looks like a backup catcher as I stated.
Good Night now….
Really, I blew my credibility by saying Trevor Crowe could be a 4th outfielder? And I have read your other post which is why I responded to you. I understand being pesimistic ok, I get it really. But that doesn’t mean you have to be stupid about it. If you want to b**** and moan about who we have as options as a 4th freakin outfielder that just makes you pathetic. Root for the Yankees, root for the Red Sox, clearly you think every single man on the roster should be an allstar, including backups. Your “on target” reality is just a bunch of cry me a river nonsense and stupid nicknames. Keep up the awesome work, I bet you’re the best fantasy team manager on the net.
@tron – bwahahaha – I love when others see the exact same stuff I do! well said sir!
Tron……if you’ve actually read any of my posts you’d realize there is more than a fair degree of on target reality. But…you just blew your credibility by suggesting that Trevor “Black” Crowe is ANY major league team’s idea of a 4th outfielder. Enjoy.
the fact that he thinks he’s ever right (which I have yet to see one instance of) cracks me up to no end…I read the indians stuff just to see what stupidly negative things he has to say…
take notice that whenever the Indians win, he is no where to be found…when they lose, everyone is a hack, everyone should be fired, and we are constantly “rooked”…its freakin’ hilarious…