Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Come One Come All
David Huff will start for the AAA squad and is pencilled in to be the #1 starter, followed by Jeanmar Gomez, Alex White, Zach McAllister and Joe Martinez. Corey Kluber was intended to be the #5, but he was hit in the head last week with a line drive and has not yet been cleared to return.
McAllister will get the start for the Cleveland team, despite never pitching in a major league game and not making a strong push this spring. Zach's start is a troubling bit of news that is hopefully not indicative of the team that Manny Acta will field tomorrow. I have been, for months, looking forward to a true showing by the (sort of) MLB team. If Choo, the Cabreras, etc as aren't around, I will be quite put out.
Justin Masterson (5.40 ERA) continued a string of solid finales by the Indians' starting rotation by going five yeoman innings. Masterson gave up 2 earned (3 total) on 6 hits and a walk, while fanning six. Like all of the Tribe's starters, he was inconsistent over his 6 starts and one would hope this to be an effect of Arizona winds and an exhibition mindset. If the rotation throws as it did in March over the course of the full season, I would take the under on Vegas' win-line of 72.
Matt LaPorta was 0-for-3 with a strikeout to drop his average to .153. There is no more to be said or speculated about Matty, he simply has to show up on the field this season or accept that he's not a major league baseball player.
Shin-Soo Choo (.322) went deep twice with his solo shots accounting for 2 of the Indians' 3 runs.
Rafael Perez (6.75) was smoked for four earned in a third of an inning. Get it out of your system now Raef. On the flip side, Jess Todd, ticketed to Columbus (and maybe off of the 40-man?) tossed 2 clean innings to lower his spring ERA to 0.93. Certainly not the type of performer that we want on the lake.
To underscore a point made yesterday, after Jack Hannahan (ugh) was lifted in the 7th, Matt Lawson entered to play 3rd. This is the same substitution that has been made every day since Cord Phelps was demoted last week. I'll make this as clear as I can for you. The Indians. Do. Not. Have. A backup third baseman. Get it?
Tomorrow, the gates of beautiful Huntington Park open at 11a, 2+ hours prior to the 1:05p first pitch. Fans (like me) who choose to brave the chill will be treated to the full MLB batting practice session and a unique opportunity to see the Tribe up close. Hopefully the players all show and the cold keeps the fickle away.
Cheers.
Nix Nixed
Jayson Nix has been traded to the Blue Jays for "cash considerations." Good GD riddance. I NEVER have to think or talk about that scrub again. The move opens up the second of four spot son the 40-man roster that the Tribe needs to add NRIs before Friday's opener.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Just In From the Desert
Backup Backstop - Lou Marson (.143)
Utility IF - Adam Everett (.293)
Bullpen Men - Frank Herrmann (1.69 ERA), Justin Germano (0.00), Vinnie Pestano (1.13)
Officially Jess Todd (1.17) and Luis Valbuena (.260) were optioned to AAA with Luke Carlin (.150) and Paul Phillips (.414) re-assigned to the minor league camp. Chad Huffman (.333), Jayson Nix (.176), and Jordan Brown (.222) are still technically on the roster, but have been informed that they will be removed by opening day. The Tribe is actively seeking a trade partner for Nix. Regardless of whether he is traded or DFAed, he will be removed from the 40-man roster. Also, Trevor Crowe may very well begin the season on the 60-day DL, players on which do not count towards the 40-man. Even so the Indians need to add four players to the active roster by Friday (Jack Hannahan (ugh), Travis Buck, Germano and Everett) so another transaction will be forthcoming. No hints yet on who that might involve.
Frankly, the bullpen doesn't surprise me. Germano didn't surrender a run all spring. He made the decision for the organization. Jess Todd will be the first reliever up when they need one and, of course, they will. On the other hand, I'm a bit taken aback by the selection of Lou Marson as the #2 catcher. Paul Phillips hit very well this spring and one would think that Marson and the Indians would both be better served if the young man was getting every day PT. Manny Acta must feel that the time that Carlos Santana will spend at first base and DH opens up enough ABs for Lou-Lou (that's his nickname, not kidding). The number that qualifies as "enough" was considerably lower after the Tribe chose to add 4 NRIs for the opener. The choice of Adam Everett shocks me (literally!) to the core. Behind Hannahan the Tribe's roster has exactly one and one third innings of MLB experience at the hot corner (AzCab). Actually, Travis Hafner (47 games) and Carlos Santana (58) lead the pack in minor league 3B appearances with only Asdrubal Cabrera (11) and Austin Kearns (2) supplementing with any reps at all. So, Asdrubal is the second option at third? Behind a dude who hit .230 at AAA last year? An odd choice.
Pestano snagged his second save on the spring on Monday. Chris Perez (3.00) gave up an RBI double, walked two, hit another and wild pitched in a second run. With 2 on and 2 out, Vinnie rushed in and promptly hit the first guy he faced to load the bases. Vin rebounded though and K'ed Reed Johnson on four pitches to slam the door. I can dig it.
Despite a single to drive in his 11th run of the spring, Matt LaPorta is hitting a meek .161 with the slump showing no signs of dissipating. Right now I am actually thinking about who the next option at first is. Probably Shelley Duncan, but LaPorta would likely have to flounder through 60 games or so before the brain trust would consider a change.
Grady Sizemore (.100) went 0-for-3, though he did walk twice. The best news is that Grady stole second base in the 6th, his first of March. It sort of made up for a 3rd inning CS.
Carlos Carrasco (5.96) was just as brilliant in his final spring start. Over 6 strong innings Carrasco allowed just two singles and a solo homer. Carlos struck out five and did not walk a batter. Good news for our new #3 starter. Also, Germano and Herrmann each tossed a clean inning.
Fausto Carmona (3.72) was just as good on Sunday. Fausto threw 5 quality frames giving up just an unearned run on five hits and a walk while striking out 3. The rising ace is in fine form and ready for Friday and the White Sox.
Josh Tomlin (4.15) was not so successful on Saturday night as he was touched up for 8 hits (including 2 bombs) en route to allowing 5 earned over 5 innings. I am not concerned. Tomlin had been as close to perfect as anyone could ask and simply needed to get stretched out against major league hitters. Homers from Shin-Soo Choo (.304) and Santana (.300), along with Sizemore's first spring hit, were not enough to overcome the deficit.
One more with the Reds on Tuesday, Justin Masterson will take the hill for the Wahoos.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Just In From the Desert
Travis Hafner homered! After a power outage that had reached 51 plate appearances, Pronk launched a solo shot to dead center in the 8th. This is heartening news to those of us who are wary of Hafner's recent Duane Kuiper impression. Penciled in as the #5 hitter, Travis will need to show more pop if he hopes to remain there for the duration.
Utility IF Battle: After an 0-for-1 day, Cord Phelps (.217) was reassigned to the minor league camp and is out of contention. With Jack Hannahan (.386) officially earning the starting nod at third; Jayson Nix, Luis Valbuena, & Adam Everett are vying for the utility job. Everett (.324) has made a strong push with the bat and, if the sidebar is to believed, needs to be in the field for the Indians. He is, however, a long shot. I feel that Luis Valbuena (.239, 1-4, RBI, played 3B & SS) is a much better choice than Jayson Nix (.167), but, then again, I'm not paid for my opinion.
Backup Backstop: No one did themselves any favors against the Brewers and I still consider Paul Phillps (.407, 0-1, K) to be the leader. Lou Marson (.143) was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and would benefit from more AAA at bats. The Tribe will likely carry all three #2s through the Wednesday exhibition game against Columbus and then leave two of them there.
Who's Hot: Asdrubal Cabrera (.409, 1.185 OPS, 4 SB, 6 RBI) has not stopped hitting all spring.
Who's Not: Talbot has allowed 47 baserunners in 23 innings over his 6 starts.
Josh Tomlin takes the rubber 03.26 @ 10:05p.
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