Tribe Wins in a Laffey…errr…Laugher
I know the other day I penned a piece about Jake Westbrook possibly being next year’s opening day starter, but right now, the best candidate is looking more and more like Aaron Laffey.
Throughout this miserable season, the left-hander has gone from missing out on a rotation spot in Spring Training, to a recall in April where he was the second best starter the Indians had, to a stint in the bullpen, to the disabled list, to a rehab assignment, and back to the rotation.
Quite the whirlwind season for the youngster.
“It’s definitely been a crazy year,” he said. “Whatever I have to do to be here, I’m going to do it. If it’s closing, left-on-left matchup or starter, I don’t care — as long as I’m in the majors.”
Oh Aaron, you aren’t going anywhere my friend. Last night’s 8-1 Tribe win featured Laffey’s stellar change-up and sinker. The Twins were kept off balance all night and never could solve the kid, who went a career-high eight innings, allowing just one unearned run and six hits. “I was bearing down to get through eight,” Laffey said. “I went out and attacked. I didn’t take anything for granted.”
Neither did his offense. A night after sleep-walking through nine innings against Scott Baker and the Twins bullpen, this rag-tag bunch pounded one-time phenom Francisco Liriano and R.A. Dickey for eight runs and 11 hits. Not bad for a lineup that had Chris Gimenez hitting fifth, followed by Jamey Carroll, Kelly Shoppach, Andy Marte, and Trevor Crowe.
(SIDE NOTE: What has happened to Liriano? I know he is two years removed from Tommy John surgery, but this was supposed to be the year he is back to full strength. The kid was absolutely unhittable in 2006 as a rookie, going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA. Last year in his return, he posted a solid 3.91 ERA in 14 starts. Last night’s start may be his last in the Twins rotation, considering his 4-11, 5.63 ERA, 1.54 WHIP numbers.)
After a taking a 2-0 lead in the second, the Tribe jumped on Liriano in the fourth and fifth. Starting with two outs and nobody on, Crowe turned a single into a double on pure hustle. After a passed ball sent him to third, Grady Sizemore’s infield single brought Crowe home. Asdrubal Cabrera (3-3 with two RBI’s) followed with a single and Shin-Soo Choo’s single scored Grady.
The fifth saw eight Indians come to the plate. Dickey relieved an ineffective Liriano. The knuckleballer opened by walking Crowe. That’s when the double-brigade broke out. Sizemore, AC, and Choo hit three straight driving in three runs and putting the Tribe ahead 7-1. Carroll’s sac fly would finish the scoring for the night.
Crowe has seemingly been everywhere since being recalled over the weekend. He is 8-21 (.381) with three RBI and offering some speed at the bottom of the order. Last night, Crowe, Sizemore, and Cabrera were a combined 8-11 with five RBI’s and five runs scored. Not bad.
Jess Todd, one of the pitchers brought over in the Mark DeRosa deal, pitched a scoreless ninth in his Tribe debut as Laffey had thrown a career-high 112 pitches.
But the night was really all about Aaron. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Grindmaster Flash said. “He’s done a really good job for us. He just needs to keep pushing, keep getting better. As he continues to mature as a pitcher, I think that’s going to happen.”
The Tribe goes for a series win this afternoon at 12:05 on Victor Martinez chest-protector backpack day. Yours truly will be there! Fausto Carmona takes his second stroll to the mound since his minor league travails. He will be opposed by another rigthy the Indians haven’t been able to solve over the past two years, Nick Blackburn.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Was anyone else sick to their stomach when they saw Chris Giminez and Jamey Carroll in the MIDDLE of the lineup?
As much as I want to see LaPorta up here, Crowe has really turned things up. He could really be a solid nine-hitter going forward, sort of supplying us with two lead-off hitters. He appears locked in as the fourth OF for next year, so I can’t argue with getting him as many ABs in the big leagues.
I know that this is a pipedream, but could next year actually provide us with Brantley, Crowe, Grady, Cabrera and Choo – all contact hitters (perhaps except for Grady) that can play some small ball? Quite a difference from the plodding that we’ve seen over the years…
August 6th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Giminez and Crowe should be part of next year’s core. I’d catch Toregas, play Giminez at 1b/dh, and start Crowe in LF. How about batting them 3rd, 4th, and 5th in the lineup? Can we add Nick Weglarz and his .236 AA batting average to next year’s mix?
They’ll put the scare in lots of pitchers right before they get the bats sawed off their hands.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Isis – given what we have, what would your ideal lineup look like for 2010?
August 6th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Scott……..I’ll take a shot at that one. And it won’t include stiffs like the aformentioned. Listed in the proposed batting order:
Michael Brantley/LF
Asdrubal Cabrera/SS
Grady Sizemore/CF
Travis Hafner/DH (if he can’t DH everyday the he should be cut).
Shin Shoo Choo/RF
Matt LaPorta/1B
Andy Marte/3B
Kelly Shoppach/C
Luis Valbuena/2B
These guys should be in the lineup EVERY DAY (not platooned), to establish whether they can play for the long-term. It also begs the almost absurd question as to why Brantley AND LaPorta are not on this team NOW getting AB’s to prepare for next season. I’m sorry…….but I couldn’t disagree more in regards to Crowe…..he’s more than a bust as a high #1 pick. Give his AB’s and playing time now to Brantley.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
@Scott- agreed about the contact hitters scenario…I really like the fact that they all have solid at-bats and rarely give one away…in this ballpark, power will come, not that they will have 30-40 hrs or anything, but 15-25 isnt out of the realm of possibilities…
I am really enjoying watching the games now…no longer do I have to watch the rhino (Garko), the wrinkley headed one (benny), so I’m happy…I like the crew that is there now, and I think they will continue to improve…
In my opinion, I think Laffey is a decent starter…he has 4-5 pitches, of which, his breaking ball and his change are pretty nasty…if he can spot his 4 seamer and mix in a cutter, he will be a solid starter…I think he has the makeup to be a good #3-4 starter…hes not top of the rotation, but hes solid…
I like the athleticism that Crowe brings to the table…he seems much more relaxed now, and content to take what pitchers are giving him…hes not trying to do too much, but I also like his hustle and desire at this point in his career…
a note on Jess Todd…the hit he gave up shouldnt have even happened…he dropped a beautiful 2 strike pitch on cabrera, but inexplicably, it wasnt called…the hit came on the next pitch…he showed you what might make him the set-up guy next year…possibly this year…just about every pitch, with the exception of a 92 mph fastball, was at the knees…you can’t ask for a better quality in a closer…his fastball has some tail to it, and his slider is on the same plane, but it tilts over and down at the same spot his fastball tails…that’s almost unfair…he looks to have great control too…he seems like a great catch for the pen…between him and his teammate from the ‘lou, they are a great pull for DeRo…
August 6th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I’d agree with everyone listed there aside from Shoppach. If we’re going to go with a youthful lineup why not play Marson as well? Otherwise I more or less agree with what you have there.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I’ve read the scouting reports on Jess Todd coming from St. Louis, and it’s impressive. He’s could be everything that Jensen Lewis is not, and could develop into a very reliable set-up man, with closer potential.
I don’t see what you guys do in the least in regards to Crowe. Nothing more than a grinder at best, and not the athlete that many of you think. He’s overmatched and has very limited (at best) major league skills-I repeat, give his AB’s and PT now to Michael Brantley.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Denny…..I won’t start the great Shoppach debate again. Simply, I like Shoppach and his leadership behind the plate-I’d sign him and retain him. I am not remotely convinced that Giminez or Toregas could step in, and the scouting reports I’ve read on Marson don’t excite me. That’s why I asked TD why the Indian’s wanted to include Marson at the expense of what has been reported Michael Taylor. It can only be that the Dolan’s don’t want to pay Shoppach, which I view as a mistake.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Isis – Definitely a realistic lineup.
The only issue is that Jhonny will be in there at third regardless of if he deserves it or not. Marte will likely be a slightly more flexible version of Garko.
I don’t think Crowe will be everyday – but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be the fourth OF. The big decision this team may have to make will be the 1B of the future with Jordan Brown hot on the trails of LaPorta.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:47 am
@4 – I dont mind Brantley at the top, but I dont know that he is ready for full-time top of the order type deal right now…
Asdrubal Cabrera/SS
Grady Sizemore/CF
Travis Hafner/ Jordan Brown/DH
Shin Shoo Choo/RF
Matt LaPorta/Jordan Brown/1B
Jhonny Peralta/ Wes Hodges/3B
Michael BrantleyTrevor Crowe/LF
Lou Marson/Santana/C
Luis Valbuena/Jason Donald/2B
The way I see it, that’s what they need to fiddle with in the offseason, to see what players that I have listed two of at those positions, are ready to play the majority of the time…I think JB deserves a shot, and I think his AB’s can come at DH when Hafner sits…obviously, not all will make the club, but I think thats about the best that they can do as far as a lineup for next year….
as far as a rotation…
Id like to see Westbrook, Laffey, Rondon, Masterson, and Carmona (I wouldnt mind Pavano if he decides to resign at a reasonable price… he’s been pretty solid all year and has a calmness about him that would work well with some of the young arms we have)
the pen would look a bit different if Raffy Left (guess we dont need to call him this anymore, but i still like it) get his act together…Sipp, Perez, Todd, Wood would comprise a nice 7-8-9 group with Raffy…if Joe Smith gets his mojo back (dunno bout that) he wouldn’t be bad if he returned to the form he had with the Mets…thats a decent core, but a few ifs…
August 6th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Barfield will get the first crack before Donald. JBarf’s out of options – they’ll give him the Masa treatment at least out of the gate. If he fails, then they will have to DFA him. But it’ll be at the expense of Donald for sure…
August 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
@11 – the only reason I left him out was because I think that because he is out of options, they might move him in the offseason, at least that was my thought…I like Barf, but I think he isnt in the plans for the future with this team…
August 6th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Santana will not begin 2010 with the Indians, pretty much no matter what. Toregas and Gimenez are going to be up there in Cleveland holding things over while Santana develops in Columbus until the All-Star Break at the very least.
My guess is that Sizemore/Choo/LaPorta/Crowe will be your outfield next season at the very beginning with Peralta/Cabrera/Valbuena/Marte/Barfield in the infield. Hodges has been hurt most of this season already and probably will start in Columbus while I doubt the Indians feel comfortable yet with LaPorta playing every in Cleveland at first base. Maybe that could change in Spring Training, but I think the Indians would rather have LF LaPorta, 3B Peralta, 1B Marte than LF Brantley, 3B Marte, 1B LaPorta.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:06 am
just wanted to mention, that it was just what i want the lineup to be, but not necessarily what it actually will be…you guys are more than likely right, but I am just going off of raw talent…but I do agree with your assessments…
August 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I’d like to see Jordan Brown in the Indians lineup somewhere next season. The man can hit.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Isis, there you go man, some honest to goodness discourse from you and not complete pessimistic sracasm.
I think Crowe can play as a utility CF but I’m not sold on him once Brantly is on the team. I assume Brantly can play CF occassionally. But there is no lock that any of the new guys will be able to contribute long term so I think it is way too early to cut bait on trevor right now.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:31 am
@16 agreed…on both accounts…
August 6th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I highly doubt Brantley makes the team out of Spring Training next year. While I know that many people here are excited about his speed (and rightfully so), his AAA numbers don’t seem to suggest he’s ready to face big league pitching (he’s only sporting an OPS of .695).
We have to cut him some slack though…he’s only just now played a full season above A ball, and he’s only 22. He’s incredibly young for his level, so I see the Indians (barring injury) giving him another full year in AAA to develop at the plate. That’s not a bad thing though, because it gives the Indians 1) a spot to play LaPorta and 2) more time to evaluate Marte in 2010.
If Marte’s resurgance is for real, than that gives the Indians the flexibility to deal Peralta at the deadline next year…he’s signed through 2010 with a reasonable club option for 2011, so if he’s putting up good numbers at the time he may be an attractive chip. Then Marte slides over to third, freeing up 1B or LF (if LaPorta slides to 1B) for whoever’s ready.
If Marte stinks, there’s always the option to keep Peralta and still free up either 1B or LF for someone else.
August 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Abreu signed a minor league deal with the Rays … I would go ahead and say that Shaperio got screwed with that one … I can’t really defend that move what so ever
August 6th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Michael Brantley/LF
Asdrubal Cabrera/SS
Grady Sizemore/CF
Travis Hafner/DH (if he can’t DH everyday the he should be cut).
Shin Shoo Choo/RF
Matt LaPorta/1B
Andy Marte/3B
Kelly Shoppach/C
Luis Valbuena/2B
I don’t have a lot of gripes, though I don’t get your uber-hatred of Trevor Crowe. He got barely 60 ABs this year over a couple of months (hardly a fair shot to show what he can do), came down to AAA and hit the ball all over the yard, and looks a lot better now up with the Tribe. Why you’re so quick to write him off is beyond me.
Shoppach should be gone. The gains are not worth what he’s making when this is clearly a development/cost cutting year. Toregas was hitting .284 in AAA with a .433 slugging. I don’t get the love for Chris Gimenez that the organization has. Between Toregas and Marson there should be enough serviceability at catcher to send Shoppach packing. Don’t infer any dislike for Kelly; I think he’s a consumate pro; just not an every-day catcher at this point.
I don’t know that Brantley is ready for every-day play yet, though I agree with your lineup that he should be the every-day LF. I don’t know that he’s ready to be the everyday-lead-off man yet, either, though his OBP numbers have gotten better throughout the year at AAA. He’s still hitting just .262, though.
Marte is probably gone, folks. The Tribe has to add him to the 40 man to keep him, and why would they do that at this point with so many guys in the minors they want to keep longer-term?
August 6th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
lovin “Grindmaster Flash” – keep up the good work TD
August 6th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Just get rid of Wedge.