Southeast Division Preview
October 27, 2008Percentage Points: A CAVS Interview With Rock
October 28, 2008
Grady Sizemore – CF
Shin Soo Choo – LF
Ben Francisco – RF
Jhonny Peralta – 3B
Victor Martinez – C (And sometimes Shoppach)
Travis Hafner – DH
Ryan Garko – 1B
Jamey Carroll – 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera – SS
Would anyone be completely surprised if these were the position players who made the team next season? I, for one, wouldn’t be. I don’t want to come off completely negative here. I do think the Indians will go out and bring some people in to try and make the bullpen stronger. At the same time, the way the Indians finished the season strongly with the addition of Shin Soo Choo and a revitalized Garko and Asdrubal Cabrera, I almost expect Mark Shapiro to stand pat with his position players.
Of course there have been calls from people, most notably Terry Pluto, for the Indians to go make a splash trading for a guy like Brian Roberts to hold down second base. Certainly other guys are available via trade who would look nice here in Cleveland. Matt Holliday has been available from Colorado off and on. The Brewers will want pitching in exchange for Prince Fielder who is eligible for arbitration. Certainly the Indians have some bullets in the gun if they decide to make a trade for a position player.
Yet, I really don’t expect them to do much of anything. I think they will continue to see if Garko develops into a consistent hitter. I think they will continue to watch Asdrubal Cabrera develop. You will notice that my lineup is a bit hopeful that the Indians will move Peralta to third, allowing Asdrubal to play shortstop, but even that could end up being wishful thinking on my part.
The Indians already picked up the option on Jamey Carroll’s contract for the upcoming season. That means that they have a backup player at 2nd, short and 3rd. The question is whether Carroll will be backing up or just starting at 2nd base. Further, if he isn’t starting at 2nd, is Josh Barfield starting there?
Ugh.
Don’t be confused. I don’t hate these guys. I wish Josh Barfield would turn into the second coming of Roberto Alomar. I hope deeply that Ryan Garko turns into Jim Thome or even Paul Sorrento for that matter. At the same time, I don’t want to see another year of Indians baseball wasted. I don’t want to see another year in the career of Grady Sizemore flushed down the toilet because the Indians didn’t plan appropriately for a lack of talent at 2nd or 3rd base. I don’t want to see another year of Cy Young quality pitching get tossed aside because the Indians didn’t have the guts to bring in a quality outfielder who is proven beyond the prospects of Shin Soo Choo and Ben Francisco. What it really comes down to is that I just don’t want to see another year where David Dellucci has a chance to play.
This teams has some pieces and parts which definitely work, including Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. They have some pieces and parts which will probably work like Shin Soo Choo, Ben Francisco, Jhonny Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera. They need to add one or two pieces in the category with Grady and Victor, thus pushing the probable players down the line for depth. Whether or not the Indians and Mark Shapiro do that is anybody’s guess, but I sure hope he does. It would be nice to shore up at least one position out of three with question marks. It would be nice to see at least one bona fide player come in to play in the outfield, second base or even third base if they plan on keeping Peralta at short.
Anybody betting on the chances?
22 Comments
None of the realistically available FA options at 2b or 3b are much of an upgrade over Carroll. Shapiro knows its not worth it to shell out $10 mil/year for a guy like Orlando Hudson, nor does it make sense to part with several quality prospects for a solid but unspectacular Brian Roberts. I think we are in far greater need of a dependable number three starter, given Carmona’s struggles and the fact that Cliff Lee is certainly not going to perform at his same ridiculous level next year. And am I the only one not wholly impressed with Jensen Lewis as a closer?
The problems with things like Holliday and/or Fielder is that it will cost us a lot of prospects, but both of them are not long term solutions (Holliday’s in his walk year, and Fielder as you said is up for arbitration). We know the Tribe won’t be able to sign either of them long-term compared to what other teams can/will offer. And, re: Holliday, we already have plenty of prospects in the OF, and he would only muddy that water.
I wouldn’t be opposed to Jhonny at 3rd to start out. That said, having a fall-back option would be good, too.
Let’s read about the only team in town with a legitimate super star athlete. The one that performs, and is worth every penny he makes; plus whatever the rest of his team makes. The one that single handedly makes his franchise a playoff team. You may of heard of this team. Here’s a little hint: not Browns or the Indians.
The Cavs start their season tonight, and the first post of the day is about the STUPID Indians. Why can’t we just forget about them until the day after we celebrate the Cavs Championship?
Seriously. The Indians?
The Indians “strong” finish last year is the worst thing that could have happened to fans. Markie Shapiro isn’t going to do a thing in the offseason to help this team other than sign a few scrub veteran relievers and hope for “lighting in a bottle.” While us fans reach for whiskey … in a bottle.
It’s a shame. Shapiro is far too stubborn and pigheaded to admit he’s made a mistake and we’re looking at another outfield of Grady Sizemore and four fourth-outfielders, a middle infield wih zero pop and corner infielders that MIGHT combine to hit 45 home runs, if we’re lucky.
78-84, here we come!!
I expect LaPorta will figure into that equation at either 1B or DH.
Sorry guys but I have to agree with DCBucks….I’m a little disappointed
It’s 10 AM, folks. We’ll have some Cavs stuff today.
Seriously? We’re getting yelled at because the first post is about the Indians? Wow.
I’m not dissapointed, basketball is dumb. Although, I do have to agree with with “thedave.” Shapiro won’t do a thing this off season. Just like he didn’t do a thing last off season. He’s far too passive for a GM. I understand the money issue, we don’t have much. But the middle infield needs to be addressed. Mainly 2B, then you just slide Asdrubal and Jhonny over a spot. That makes the infield much tougher. Bullpen help is a must too. Can’t have another year from the pen like last year.
Where is the Kellen Winslow post guys? The Browns have a game to play in 5 days…
I don’t get the complaining about the Indians post. Rumors about a trade with the Royals were circulating…why not speculate more about Shapiro’s potential moves?
Anyway, I do not see Peralta being moved to 3B. He has stated publicly that he hates the idea and Shapiro sings his praises at “the routine play” at SS. I would be less surprised to see Carroll get the 3B job than Peralta, however, I think he will remain our utility guy, with Cabrera at 2B. I believe that Shapiro will make an offer to Casey Blake – like it or not (I, for one, like it a lot) – though whether Blake takes it or not, we’ll see, since he’ll certainly be courted by more than a few teams. If no Blake, I see Shapiro making a creative trade, though hopefully for someone with a little bit more going for him than Mark Teahen.
I do think, though, that Shapiro will prioritize getting a reliable third-in-the-rotation guy, and a relief pitcher (note that I’m not quite saying “closer” because he may well be content with Jensen Lewis in that role, or at least very amenable to Lewis being in that role). Ideally, Shapiro would land someone who can be a setup guy or closer (I am definitely thinking of Huston Street).
@ Rick – Tough crowd here. Although, if nothing is done, The Cavs season will last longer than the Indians. That said, I’ll reserve my judgement on the offseason until we see what Shapiro does with the money he “would have spent” on Sabathia.
I gotta disagree with a lot of this. Garko is never going to be more than a viable bench option. Something must be and will be done to shore up the corners, weather it’s a 1B, 3B, LF or RF — Garko, Francisco and Marte are not gonna get it done. Carrol at 2B? That’s one of the worst infields I’ve ever seen, and if I can see that, I trust Shap can sense that he needs to do something.
Cavs. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs.
My only comment on this is the fact that I mistook Paul Sorrento for Pedro Sorrano and got really pumped up for a second.
Oh well, back to Cavs. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs.
Maybe we can get a response to this slop:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/10/gilbert_rips_the_cavs.html
I think from a baseball standpoint the basis of this article would seem dead-on, however when you think from an economic standpoint this would be paramount to suicide. How will the Indians possibly sell tickets at a level anywhere close to last season if they don’t make any kind of “splash” to get the fans hyped?
@Rick. Sorry, if it came across as yelling.
But,
Baseball talk in the heart of football/basketball season is just boring. Except for the news of Wedge and or Shapiro being fired, of course.
Baseball should be over the first week of October. Period. With the Cavs opening up the season tonight, seeing an Indians post was like sipping your first cup of coffee in the morning and finding out it was switched with cooking oil.
LeBrons. LeBrons. errr.. Cavs. Cavs. Cavs.
Alright… you animals got your Cavs piece… Now can we talk about Indians here in these comments. Sheesh! 🙂
Fine. The Indians should sign A-Rod. Happy.
I looked these up just because I was curious:
Sorrento:
257/340/457; 166 HR, 426 BB in 3890 plate appearances
Garko:
282/353/447; 42 HR, 93 BB in 1314 plate appearances
Garko is closer than I thought he would be to Sorrento, but doesn’t have as much HR power or draw walks as often. Also, Sorrento is #7 on Garko’s Similarity Through Age 27 list at Baseball Reference.
“Also, Sorrento is #7 on Garko’s Similarity Through Age 27 list at Baseball Reference.”
Wtf?! Baseball analysts come up with some bizarre lists.
@Lisol:
I did word that a little funny. Nobody actually sat down and came up with a list of the players similar to Grako. This list is automatically generated on each player’s page at baseball-reference.com based on Similarity Score. Similarity Score is a concept that Bill James came up with as quick way to identify players with similar stats. You can learn more about it here if you are interested:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/similarity.shtml
Go out and make some noise!!! Go sign big name overpriced free agents!!! (and be the 2008 Detroit Tigers) We can’t win with this small market!!! Young guys can’t get it done!!! (See 2008 Tampa Bay Rays)