All Star Break Analysis – The Position Players Part I

I think that during the first half of this nightmarish season, I have learned more than I cared to about the players that have made up the 13 or 14 roster spots not held by pitchers. Have the position players underachieved? Has Mark Shapiro and his crew over-valued certain guys? Did the front office miss their opportunity to cash in on specific players at their peak value? Many of these questions have been answered just two months in.

But with many questions answered, others have popped up. The future is very uncertain at some positions, while others are on lock. But how did we get to this position in the first place? The numbers aren’t as bad as you would think for a last place team. They are fifth in runs scored (451) and trail only arguably the four best teams in the AL (NY, Boston, Tampa, and LA) and fifth in on base percentage (.345). They are middle in the pack in homers with 99, but are just 10th out of 14 in batting average (.260).

Now lets examine the issues. This is a part one of a two-part “mini-series” today. The piece was getting “Rock-esque” in length…

The DeRosa/Peralta/Cabrera dilemna – On New Years Eve day, the Indians made the move that I thought would really take them over the top as a legitimate, top to bottom lineup with no holes. Mark DeRosa was acquired from the Cubs for three minor league relievers (including Jeff Stevens – the man who came over for Brandon Phillips). Naturally, I thought DeRosa was brought over to play second base, since that was the position where he played the majority of his games with the Cubs over the last two years. Bringing in DeRo to play second seemed logical; it would move Asdrubal Cabrera to short – his natural position, and the statue-esque Jhonny Peralta to third base – his long term position. Except Shapiro and Eric Wedge didn’t do it.

They spent the rest of the winter telling us that Peralta was the best in the game at balls hit right at him and would stay at short, while DeRosa’s best defensive position was third. Meanwhile, anyone with a brain could tell you that this was a mistake. It doesn’t matter that Peralta spent winter ball playing third – he complained quietly that he was a shortstop and didn’t want to play third. So on opening day, there was the range-less Jhon at short, with DeRosa and Asdrubal next to him.

One month in to the season, the Indians were in last place, Peralta’s defense was magnified by the fact that he wasn’t (and still isn’t) hitting, and DeRosa wasn’t exactly Brooks Robinson at third. It finally became clear to the brass what was clear to us all before the season, Cabrera has the makings of a gold glove shortstop and Peralta is a butcher who has to play the hot corner. Unfortunately by the time that decision was made, the Tribe was already in behind the eight-ball. DeRosa was moved all over the diamond the rest of the way until he was dealt to St. Louis.

DeRo did his job while he was here, hitting .270/13 HR/50 RBI, though he wasn’t as clutch as I would have liked him to be. Not his fault though – its kind of difficult when one day you are told you are the every day third baseman, hitting second, and the next day you are playing right field and hitting fifth. Cabrera in the meantime has grabbed that shortstop job and run with it. He was one of the Indians hottest hitters before missing three weeks with a shoulder injury. AC moved into the leadoff role with Grady Sizemore’s struggles and delivered. In 65 games, the kid is hitting .300 BA/2 HR/34 RBI/.771 OPS.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was Jhonny. Between his complete lack of power (six HR’s in 303 AB’s), pull-happy swing (.257 BA with just 38 RBI), and his refusal to stay away from the low and away pitch (71 K’s), the offense for which has been his calling card, has fallen off the table. Throw in his pouting over the switch to third and his public feud with the Grind Master General, and its been a season to forget for Jhonny. He has been listed as a rumored trade candidate, but who wants a third basemen with no power or a shortstop who can’t move?

The DeRo/Jhonny/AC debacle was mishandled from day one and cost the Tribe dearly.

Grady – The Indians front office will tell you that Grady has been playing hurt. There is no doubt that he has an elbow issue. He tried to play through it and but was ultimately shelved for a close to a month. The facts are that Grady is a gold glover in center and the team is much better with him in the everyday lineup.

I’ve been very critical of Grady this season; actually dropping the “O” word on him. After seeing what Victor Martinez went through last year and his bounce-back 2009, I am willing to give Grady the benefit of the doubt this year and chalk up what I’ve seen at the plate to the injury. With that said, Grady’s numbers show he is power-happy and still K’s way too often. A guy with his speed and power should be working on lining balls into the gap, rather than going for the deep ball.

Sizemore has 13 homers and 47 RBI’s in 272 AB’s, which over a full 500-plus AB season still projects to 25 and 95. The issue is he still hasn’t cut down on his strikeouts (66) and his batting average sits at a career low .235. Add in his .229 BA with runners in scoring position and the injury, and you’ve got yourself a lost season from your alleged best player.

The Return of Pronk – A major worry for the Indians front office and Tribe fans was just exactly how Travis Hafner would respond from his shoulder surgery. The Pronk of old in the middle of the order – a power hitting, RBI machine – was the one thing sorely missing from the 2008 lineup. Many – this guy included – wondered aloud about PED usage and the fact that this was year one of Hafner’s four year extension.

Smartly, the Indians played in only in 2-3 game spurts to allow him to build up strength in the shoulder. While he hasn’t shown the Pronk-of-old power, he at least was showing more patience at the plate. Before being shelved for a month to rest the shoulder, Hafner was hitting .270 with four homers and eight RBI’s. I know, nothing to get too excited about, but it was a step in the right direction.

Upon his return at the beginning of June, Hafner picked his game up, hitting .318 with four homers and 10 RBI’s for the month. Again, baby steps. With Wedge putting him in the six hole, Travis has been allowed to come along slowly, playing two games in a row and then resting the next.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that “Pronk is back,” but I think that at least you can say he is on his way. I doubt he will ever live up to that $11 million salary, but I do think reports of his complete demise are greatly exaggerated.

(Note: The second part of this “mini-series” will come this afternoon.)