Watch Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall grooving to the music
June 10, 2014As Browns open mini-camp, which position group improved most this offseason?
June 10, 2014Last April, after a third consecutive awful start, I famously called for the Indians to cut the cord on the Ubaldo Jimenez experience. Pretty much from that point forward, Ubaldo turned back into the pitcher the Indians had hoped they traded for at the deadline in 2011. On April 2nd of this year, I wondered aloud if we had seen the end of Lonnie Chisenhall in Cleveland. The reverse jinx king may have struck again!
The Indians have given up too soon on prospects before, only to see them flourish elsewhere (Brandon Phillips and Jeremy Guthrie to a lesser extent). They have also stuck with prospects at times for too long after being burned by the Phillips situation (Matt LaPorta and Andy Marte). In additon, their first round drafting has left a lot to be desired since CC Sabathia was taken in 1998.
Before the decision to turn Carlos Santana into a third baseman, Chisenhall’s future with the Indians was going to be paramount to their success. He was young, inexpensive, and supposed to be the consistent bat at the hot corner for years to come, a spot the Indians organization had desperately been trying fill since the days of Travis Fryman. Over the past three seasons, Lonnie has been given the chance to be the everyday guy at third, but sputtered at the plate. His average to below average defense didn’t help matters. A trip to Columbus in 2013 proved little other than the fact that Chisenhall had graduated from the minors. He tore up AAA pitching and returned to Cleveland for the last three months. However, it never translated to the big leagues. During the Tribe’s 10 game winning streak to finish the season, Lonnie only started twice, with super utility man Mike Aviles getting the call at third.
Then came the Wild Card playoff game against Tampa Bay where Terry Francona played a hunch and started Chisenhall at third. Big Lon delivered with three hits in the 4-0, season ending loss. It was almost as if Lonnie was telling us something that night; he was ready to finally come of age.
Amazingly, the only reason that Lonnie was able to break camp with the big club this spring was because of Jason Giambi’s rib injury. Sit back and think a out that for a second and consider the importance of Chisenhall as we sit here on June 10th.
Last night in Arlington, Texas, Lonnie Baseball put his name on the national map with a performance for the ages in the Tribe’s 17-7 win. He was hot enough coming into the game, but then he exploded with five hits in five at-bats, including three home runs and a whopping nine RBIs, tying an Indians single game record.
“I’m enjoying it as much as I can,” said Chisenhall. “I don’t know the history of it — who’s done it in the past. They told me it’s a short list and I’m proud to be any part of a short list.”
The list of players with five hits, three homers, and nine RBIs is only four people deep. The last one to do it was Fred Lynn in 1975, just under 39 years ago.
We’ve watched a two-month long coming out party for the Tribe’s former first round pick. While so many of the key offensive players on this team have floundered, Lonnie has helped carry the load. It was an unlikely source for sure, but very much needed. Luckily for all of us, the organization didn’t give up on the 25-year old. Now they are finally reaping the benefits.
“He’s played himself into getting more responsbility,” Francona said. “I think we always hoped he would. I’m not sure he quite always understood that. I think he’s starting to now and he’s realizing that, by playing the game the right way, you gain trust and you’re accountable.”
Obviously Chisenhall was the big story of last night, but let us not leave out the rest of the offense, who helped chip in for 17 runs on 18 hits. Our main man, cow milking champion George Kottaras again showed that he belongs on this team with two more hits including another home run, his third in seven at-bats. “The Summer of George” needs to continue. Asdrubal Cabrera, Michael Brantley, and Jason Kipnis, the Indians 2-3-4 hitters, were a combined 9-14 with 11 runs scored.
Left-hander T.J. House struggled and couldn’t get out of the fourth inning, but it ended up not being that big of a deal. The Indians still managed to win their ninth game in their last 10 by 10 runs and didn’t have to dip into the Bryan Shaw, Marc Rzepcyznski, Cody Allen pool to do so. While Scott Atchison got the win, the two scoreless innings from John Axford were key. The Ax Man seems much more comfortable in his current role, where he has now had seven consecutive appearances without giving up a run.
But the story of the night was obviously “Lonnie, Who Loved Baseball,” the now indispensable member of the lineup. Last night’s performance should give him a boost as he makes a run for an All-Star game nod. He is now hitting .385/.429/.1.044 with seven homers and 32 RBIs. Oh and remember how Chiz couldn’t hit lefties? How does 13-25 (.520) sound to you?
“I just felt like I could get the barrel on most pitches tonight,” said Chisenhall. “It was just a contagious night for everybody. Everybody was swinging the bat well. It was a good thing to be a part of.”
The Indians are as hot as any team in baseball and sit just two games behind first place Detroit in the AL Central. The three-city, 10 game trip is off to a banner 3-1 start. Up next is the mini two-game series with the Kansas City Royals. Tribe ace Corey Kluber (6-3, 3.23 ERA) will take on lefty Jason Vargas (5-2, 3.28). Originally KC fireballer Yordano Ventura was set to start, but Royals manager Ned Yost has tweaked his rotation so the lefty could face the left-handed heavy Tribe.
(photo via LM Otero/AP)
26 Comments
lonnieeeeeee
The season is getting fun again.
It would be nice if Axford has truly turned it around (even if as only a setup man) because Francona could use another dependable arm out there.
reason #3561 that Jason Giambi has no place on the active roster (could you imagine if we gave up on Lonnie to let Giambi bat .150???)
I defended Axford, but I’m nothing if not fair, so I will point out that he was lucky to not let up a run last night. He shoulda/woulda given up at least 1 if not for a double baserunning blunder by the Rangers.
Obviously when a guy suddenly gets it, finally blooping lefties for hits the other way and showing patience, the player deserves all the credit. He’s the one all alone in the box. But Tito seems to make developing or struggling players really comfortable. The Grinder couldn’t make make prized prospects like Franklin Gutierrez or Brandon Phillips comfortable, and Manny Acta seemed to turn everyone off. For whatever it’s worth, Tito seems to have the touch. Now maybe he can make Carlos his special project, and convince him just because Lonnie hits three homers doesn’t mean you have to try that.
Santana went 0-5 as well. send down santana & cut giambi (finally) when swisher comes back
so, apparently Lonnie is going to be our ‘a little late blooming’ prospect instead of LaPorta. works for me.
and yeah, I know he’s only 25yo, but with the amount of seasons given, it sure feels late blooming here.
Santana is still in his prime and likely to get back to his career norms. Giambi is, well not.
not to mention that as a first round pick he’s been on our radar since 2008. LaPorta, Marte … maybe we can have nice things.
Nobody beats the Chiz!
he may get back to his normal production but will need to fix his swing and that will likely require going to the minors to work it out. that vicious uppercut flailing is not working and will keep the average under .200
no doubt he needs to fix his swing. whether or not he needs to go to AAA to do it is debatable.
lonnie has been a sicko the last several games and yesterday was the sickest of all. to think he is only about 12 ABs or so from being eligible for the leaders list and has a .385 average. the current batting leader is at like .335. unreal. a performance like this should get him on the allstar team instead of that hump jeter
he is being outhit by adam dunn by about 60 points in slightly fewer abats. he needs some serious help
Leave him in current role, no way should we change this, unless he starts doing worse in which case he would move down in roles
“Lonnie Baseball”, “Lonnie, who loved Baseball” Love it. Remember the rumor of Chicago willing to swap Matt Garza in exchange for Chiz last season? Glad we said no.
It’s not debatable. He doesn’t.
and by “send down santana & cut giambi” you mean ….
“trade Swisher, cut Giambi and move Los back to first”
Good post very nice
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“Lonnie Baseball”…. hey look at that, a nickname for a player that’s done something at the professional level.
http://cdn.fansided.com/gif/sad_jon.gif
The Chiz means Biz.
I can see an argument made to let him just crush AAA pitching to get his confidence back. I don’t agree with it (I think he’ll start hitting fine), but I can see the argument at least.
Adam Dunn has a 133 OPS+ this year. He is mashing.
I hear JFF was paid pretty well while at A&M
I don’t think its a lack of confidence thing. His problem last needed seemed to be too much confidence, trying to crush every single pitch.
Not to mention he was already starting to hit before the DL trip, and in the first few games back, getting on base in each of his previous 10 games before last night.
He’ll hit. He’ll make the necessary adjustments at this level. He’s a career 125 OPS+ in his age 28 season. The level of grief he receives from this town is preposterous.
The level of grief he receives from this town is preposterous.
I agree and remain a fan of his.