Tribe Prospect Countdown: #17 LeVon Washington

5'11", 170 lbs, 20 in 2012
Bats: Left, Throws: Right

2011 Stats (A Lake County): .218, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 15/21 SB, .647 OPS, 1.82 K/BB

Too be sure, Washington has a ton of talent.  Known as an amateur as a "toolsy" player, he can do a little bit of everything.  The speed (4 3B as well) and arm (11 OF assists) are evident; while the average, power (.315 SLG) and defense (6 OF errors) seem to be lagging behind.  Before becoming the Indians' 2nd round pick in 2010, LeVon was a 2009 1st round selection by Tampa Bay, declining to sign.  Despite a letter of intent to the University of Florida, poor SAT scores forced him to junior college between the drafts.  Washington did not handle the experience well.  A lack of focus combined with a rehabbing right shoulder led to a lost season.  The situation reinforced character concerns about the talented youngster and helped push him down to the Tribe in round #2.  Additionally, the injury bug has followed LeVon to the pros.  He had hip surgery prior to 2011 and was hampered the entire season by a nagging knee injury.  To me, there seem to be a ton of red flags.  Many are very high on Washington, often dazzled by amazing metrics (i.e. 4.0 seconds home to 1st).  I agree that his ceiling is through the roof, but until the kid shows me some production, my skepticism will remain.

Up Next: #16 LHP Giovanni Soto

Pretty Grl 01.07.12 - Carla Gallo

The absolute best thing about Bones, cute in everything and naked as a jaybird in Californication.

Tribe Prospect Countdown: #18 RHP Hector Rondon

6'3", 180 lbs, 24 in 2012

2011 Stats (A- Mahoning Valley): 0-0, 3.00, 1.00 WHIP, .250 OBA, 0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

Everything was going perfectly for Rondon through the 2009 season.  He had followed up an excellent 2008 (11-6, 3.60, 9.0 K/9) at Kinston with an equally impressive year (11-10, 3.38, 8.4 K/9) split between Akron and Columbus. Then, the proverbial roof caved in.  After never surrendering more than 13 home runs in any career season, Hector served up 12 in his first seven 2010 starts.  He was quickly diagnosed with a UCL strain in his pitching elbow and shut down indefinitely.  Rondon chose a rest and rehab program, which progressed nicely until a bullpen session in August resulted in more intense pain.  Does anyone know how to repair a UCL?  Yup, Tommy John surgery.  Hector came back on the short end of the 12-18 month recovery period to pitch for the Scrappers at the close of 2011.  In addition to rebuilding arm strength, Rondon will have to overcome his removal from the 40-man roster in November.  Personally, I believe that if the Tribe had not already written in their starting rotation, a different move would have been made and Hector would have competed for a back end spot during spring camp.

So, with all of that stacked against him, what do like about Rondon?  His fastball, of course!  Before the injury, he was hitting 96 on the gun and, according to Indians VP of Player Development Ross Atkins, has regained every bit of that velocity post-surgery, if not more.  His secondary pitches, a slider and a straight change, are merely average by MLB standards, but have been the focus of Hector's off-season.  An extremely mature and diligent person, I would not be surprised to see great strides in these offerings come Spring Training.

While there have been discussion about moving him to the bullpen, those conversation have been tabled pending Rondon's 2012 performance.  I have every expectation that Hector will return to form in 2012 and, assuming he produces, should be among the top options should another starter be needed in the bigs. 

Man, I sure am sick of detailing the talent squandered within the organization thanks to injury...

Up Next: #17 OF LeVon Washington

Pretty Girl 01.06.12 - Emily VanCamp

Seriously, so cute that I actually might die, but, seriously girl, the next time that Maxim calls... pick up the phone.

Indian Winter

Aaron Cunningham

If, like me, you have become so disgusted with the front office's reluctance to make a serious play for a mid level free agent (a right handed, power bat, maybe!), then you, as well, are a bit fuzzy on the gaggle of scrubs that the Tribe has added to the fold since the pain ended in late September.  Time to play catch-up.

Major League Locks

RHP Derek Lowe - Lowe is coming of the worst year of his career (9-17, 5.05) and has one foot in the grave (he turns 39 on June 1).  Still, he is a proven innings eater (averaging 33 GS, 203 IP since 2002) and was 16-12 just 2 years ago.  A solid add (especially since the team gave up bupkis to get him), I have Lowe penciled into the #4 slot in the rotation, ahead of Fausto Carmona and behind Josh Tomlin.

Major League Possibles

OF Aaron Cunningham - The Tribe effectively traded 2 good young arms (Cory Burns to SD for Cunningham and Josh Judy lost on waivers to the Reds to open a spot on the 40-man) for him, so they must think a good deal of Baseball America's #55 pre-2009 prospect.  Frankly, I just don't see it.  Assuming that everyone stays healthy, Aaron will be in competition with the likes of Shelley Duncan and the soon to be discussed Felix Pie for the utility outfield spot.  We know that we like Duncan's clubhouse presence, so the shortcoming must be statistical.  Let's take a look at the MLB careers of the two right handed bats (Duncan vs. Cunningham) - BA (.239 vs .231) wash; OPS (.754 vs .664) strong for Duncan; defensive total range per year (0 vs -4) again strong for Duncan especially since Shelley's numbers jumps to +1 when you discount his time at 1B; PA/K (3.94 vs 4.62) goes to Cunningham; but K/BB (2.83 vs 3.40) and K/HR (5.67 vs 14.2) both go solidly to Duncan.  Long story short (too late), the 26 year old is in the mix, but I know not why.

OF Felix Pie - Felix, whose last name is pronounced pee (like urine) - aye (like Fonzie), has had some limited success at the major league level (.249, .683 OPS) and has some speed (20 SB, 13 3B in 398 games), but his true upside comes in the field where he has a +14 rTot/yr (defensive runs saved per season) in the outfield.  Pie will bring a different dynamic to the utility outfield battle, which is why I consider the 27 year old (despite his left handed hitting handicap) the only real challenger to Duncan.

2B Jose Lopez - An All-Star with Seattle in 2006, Lopez averaged .277 and 82 RBI from '06 to '09, topping out with 25 HR and 96 RBI in that last season.  Jose has fallen on hard times since, splitting his 2011 campaign between the Marlins and Rockies and hitting just .216.  His defense has dipped as well as the plus defender at second and near gold glover at third lapsed into mediocrity last season.  The 28 year old seems to have hit the wall well early of expectation.  Still, his plus power and right handed bat will put him in the utility infield competition with Jason Donald and Cord Phelps.

AAA Depth

C Matt Pagnozzi - Quality catchers are always in high demand.  Pagnozzi comes from good blood as his uncle Tom (nyuk, nyuk) caught 12 years in the big leagues and won 3 gold gloves.  29 year old Matt sports a career .310 major league average, despite rapping just .220 over 9 minor league seasons.  He did bat .275 with a .758 OPS at AAA last season and is well known for his defense, throwing out 35% of runners for his career.  It would take at least one injury to put Pagnozzi into competition for a major league spot.

3B Andy LaRoche - I know what you're thinking, "Is this the LaRoche that can hit or the one that can't?"  Yeah, sorry, Andy owns a .226 career MLB average with a .642 OPS.  On the plus side, LaRoche can play all four infield spots and has dabbled in left field.  The 28 year old is well above average at third with a career rTot/yr of +7.  With the utility depth mentioned above and Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall ahead of him at third, I doubt that we will see Andy on the lake this summer.

RHP Robinson Tejada - Taking pitching cast offs from Kansas City does not the path to a pennant pave.  That being said, Tejada is just one season removed from 127 Royals appearances that netted a 3.57 ERA and 9.2 K/9.  Even with his lively 95 mph fastball, Rob spent most of 2011 at AAA after missing about six weeks with right shoulder inflammation.  With all of the young right-handers in the system, I fail to see the wisdom in bringing the 30 year old on board, but expect him to be a phone call away at Columbus whenever the injury bug should hit the 'pen.

Oh, yes, in addition to losing Burns and Judy, RHP Adam Miller signed with the f'ing Yankees today.  Even still, best of luck to Adam, he's certainly paid his dues.

Pretty Girl Update! - Yvonne Strahovski

Is it weird that I wish that I was Yvonne Strahovski so that I could grab Yvonne Strahvoski's boobs whenever I wanted to?

Tribe Prospect Countdown: #19 RHP - Jason Knapp

6'5", 235 lbs, 21 in 2012

2011 Stats: Did Not Play

Let's be clear, Jason has the best stuff in the Indians system.  His fastball blazes in at 99 mph and scouts predict that, given the opportunity to refine a repeatable delivery, Knapp should break triple digits.  His second pitch is a big 12-6 curveball that he both commands within the zone and can use as a swing-and-miss pitch.  While his change-up and slide piece are still developing, his work ethic would indicate their success to be simply a matter of time.  Jason has an imposing frame that backs up his powerful delivery and aggressive mindset.  Having grown up in New Jersey, he should have no issue acclimating to the Aprils and Septembers (Octobers?) of the North Coast.  So what's the problem?  Yeah, you guessed it: injuries.  I don't know if you're sensing the theme with these young pitchers, but soooooooo many of them have had arm trouble and Jason is the poster boy.  When he was acquired from the Phillies as the lynch pin the Cliff Lee trade, Knapp was experiencing bicep tendinitis.  The Indians were unaware and by no fault of their own.  MLB does not allow MRIs as part of pre-trade evaluations.  Oops, bad luck.  After pitching just four games in the organization, Jason resigned himself to off-season arthroscopic shoulder surgery.  An overly cautious front office then kept him out of game action until late July in 2010.  2011 was the worst of all.  Held back in extended Spring Training with weakness in his throwing shoulder, his season was, in early June, scrapped for a second shoulder procedure.  Knapp's career numbers (6-10, 3.63, 1.20 WHIP, .208 OBA, 4.1 BB/9, 12.0 K/9) and those in the Tribe organization (1-2, 3.60, 1.18 WHIP, .190 OBA, 3.6 BB/9, 13.3 K/9) are outstanding, but with the two shoulder surgeries on his resume and 0 innings pitched above A ball, his big league chances have now been relegated to that of a "long shot."  That, my friends, is why the man with the highest ceiling in the system is ranked #19; the smart money is on the guy never staying healthy enough to actually make it to the bigs.

Up Next: #18 RHP Hector Rondon

Pretty Girl 01.05.12 - Nicky Hilton

What Paris would look like if she didn't have a lazy eye and wasn't constantly covered in jizz...

Tribe Prospect Countdown: #20 RHP Rob Bryson

6'1", 200 lbs, 24 in 2012

2011 Stats (A Lake County/ A+ Kinston/ AA Akron): 2-1, 2.19, 1.12 WHIP, .199 OBA, 3.7 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

Another talented, yet injury plagued young pitcher; Bryson is a strikeout machine.  The 11.0 K/9 last season may seem impressive, but Rob posted 17.1 for Kinston in 2010 and averages 11.9 for his career.  These big numbers are thanks to a 96 mph fastball that he rides in on the hands of hitters from both sides and two quality secondary offerings.  A "wicked" slider is devastating to righties and his consistently improving change has nearly reached par with the slide.  Additionally, he is working on a "get me over" curve to complete the arsenal. 

Bryson is the last piece of the CC Sabathia trade; the one that we haven't heard from due to his relative youth and extensive time on the disabled list.  While the most severe setback was a rotator cuff tear that affected him from late '08 until mid '10, Rob almost missed two months last summer with a broken foot.  As opposed to many who have spent large chunks of time on the DL, fagility is not a concern for Bryson.  He is fully recovered from the shoulder surgery and the foot was a Mantle-esque freak as he stepped in a hole while running at his high school field. 

You might ask what is so special about this particular right handed reliever, something that the Indians have a plenitude of.  First of all, there is now a monkey full of hope riding on Rob.  With Matt LaPorta an unmitigated bust and the organization seemingly lukewarm on Michael Brantley (although I don't have any idea why), Bryson is the last opportunity to salvage a big contributor from the ill-conceived Sabathia deal.  Secondly, the dude's stuff really is electric.  It is difficult to explain without watching him throw, but the ball simply explodes out of his hand and, when he is on, Rob is about as unhittable as they come.  Combine all of this with an easy delivery and a strong lower half and Bryson has every opportunity to become a premier back-end pitcher in the bigs.  Expect him to begin 2012 at AAA.

Up Next: #19 RHP Jason Knapp

Pretty Girl Update! - Selena Gomez

An irrefutable argument against the Toys R Us theme song... ;-j