Saturday, November 12, 2011
Pretty Girl Update! - Jennifer Aniston
Waddya Say, Waddya Know?
Already Done --
The Tribe has lost OF Travis Buck to the Astros and DH Jim Thome (1-yr, $1.25mil) to the Phils. Believe it or not, you will probably see Big Jim in the field in 2012.
This first big signing was CL Jonathan Papelbon to the Phils (5-yrs, $50mil).
Former Indian Jamey Carroll has inked a deal with the Twins (2-yr, $7mil) to be their starting shortstop. The closest the 37-year old came to an everyday job was 109 games at second for the Rockies in 2006, his best offensive season. In the four years since a disastrous 2007 (including 146 at 2B & SS for the Dodgers in 2010), Carroll has batted .284 with a .362 OBP.
After running through six starting catchers in 2011, Pittsburgh hopes to stabalize the position by adding Rod Barajas (1-yr, $4mil), late of the Dodgers.
In the Works --
Word on the street is that former Indian CF Grady Sizemore will get a a one year contract worth slightly less than the $9mil option that the Tribe turned down. He is expected to sign with a big market team that could afford the loss should he not regain form. The first name I heard was Boston. Ughhh... Others rumored: A's, Nationals, Mets and... Indians?
The Marlins seem to be ready to buy another World Series to coincide with their new digs and Angelic renaming to the Miami Marlins. Miami has made "substantial" offers to 1B Albert Pujols, SS Jose Reyes and SP Mark Buehrle.
Indians now-bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr has interview for the vacant managerial slots with both the Red Sox and Cubs. While it would be a shame to Santos again, I will always wish him the best and his departure would, again, open a spot for Mike Sarbaugh at the big league level.
Btw...
Far eastern players are such a crap shoot, I shall not discuss them here. We don't know who they are anyway.
Friday, November 11, 2011
MVotD (Pt 2) - Matthew Sweet - Where You Get Love
"Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something." - Thomas A. Edison
Tribe Prospect Countdown: #31 3B/1B Jared Goedert
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
2011 Stats (AAA Columbus/ AA Akron) - .272, 18 HR, 48 RBI, .858 OPS, 1.74 K/BB
If anyone has been reading this blog since last December (impossible) or March (still unlikely) then you know that I am a huge Jared Goedert supporter. Coming off of the disgusting third base play of 2010 (see Jayson Nix) and with Lonnie Chisenhall destined to begin 2011 at AAA, I thought that Goedert, with his 40-man addition and his 27 2010 long balls, had an excellent shot at opening the campaign as the Indians' starting third bagger. Many had maligned his defense (we'll return to this in a bit) and few agreed that he was the best option, especially after the acquisition of Jack Hannahan. While I have grown to love (I do not use the word lightly) Captain Jack, I will readily admit that I was one of his harshest pre-opening day critics. Thus, when Jared went down with an oblique strain 3 days into spring camp, I saw the injury as a big loss, not just just for Goedert, but for the Tribe as well.
Jared took quite some time to return from the disabled list and suffered a pair of setbacks during his rehab at AA Akron. It was, in fact, nearly June before he saw his first PT for the Clippers. Goedert, admittedly, stuggled. He sputtered to a 1-for-15 starts, although it was a homer, en route to a .198 pre-all-star batting average. The second half was a different story, as Jared mashed .333 with 11 dingers and a mad 1.030 OPS. Let us not forget that Goedert is a right-handed power option (with improving discipline) for an organization that is sorely lacking such at the big league level.
All of this is roses and ice cream, but, Jared, 27 in May, has yet make an ML appearance. With Chisenhall, barring a trade, now entrenched at third (with Jack second in line) and the Tribe toying with idea of carrying two DH-only guys, Goedert has to show the ability to play another position. The thought originally arose out of the organization's opinion that he was a sub-par defender at the hot corner. I have said it before and I will say it again: he might not be Brooks Robinson, but he is by no means a liability either. In fact, having seen the man (Goedert not Brooks) play live about 20 times, I would put him on par with Chiz glove-wise and with a far more accurate arm.
Still, this is all irrelevant. Unless Jared can prove himself to be useful at first base (or, less likely, in the outfield), he will be precluded the opportunity to hit for the Indians. 2011 saw 28 errorless AAA games at first and that's good enough for me. Sadly, the braintrust seems deadset against giving the man a shot.
I like Goedert because his ceiling is incredibly high (like Adam Dunn high, bad example coming off of this past season, but you know what I mean). Additionally, he is a hard worker and a good locker room guy. Facts need be faced though, a lot of things will have to go right to get him to the lake and management sure isn't going to do him any favors.
Up Next: #30 - RHP Kelvin De La Cruz
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