Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2011 6:11:38 GMT -5
About the Indians ...
1. At the end of last season, the Indians wanted to improve their infield defense. They still need to do so in 2012, especially as they plan to start Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall. Both are relatively new to their positions, Kipnis is a converted outfielder, Chisenhall moved from short to third base.
2. Here's the ugly truth: The Indians allowed 77 unearned runs last season ... most in the American League. Only three teams (Oakland, Minnesota and Texas) made more errors. They also turned the third fewest double plays. The Web site fangraphs.com rated the Tribe the second-worst defensive team in the American League, as they also try to measure such subjective categories as range in the field.
3. When Jack Hannahan plays third, the Indians are among the best in the league at that spot. He made only five errors in 104 games and has tremendous range. That's why he'll be back, as insurance for Chisenhall. At 31, Hannahan (.250, 8 HR, 40 RBI, .719 OPS) had his best major-league season. Manager Manny Acta loves having Hannahan on the team. Along with Jason Donald, the Indians believe they have two superb backup infielders.
4. The Tribe also will work with Donald in the outfield, making him into a super utility player. Donald batted .377 vs. lefties, and the Tribe needs any right-handed batter who can handle lefties. Despite being a lefty hitter, Hannahan batted .296 vs. lefties -- yet another reason that he is valued.
5. The key will be how Chisenhall handles third, where he made 10 errors in 58 games. His arm and range are rated above average, he just makes too many errors on routine plays. At 22, there is time to become not just average, but a good third basemen. Only seven players in the majors were younger than Chisenhall last season.
6. No American League team made more errors at second than the Tribe. Cord Phelps had five in 20 games, Kipnis six in 36 games. Kipnis has a chance to be an impact hitter. In spring training, it will be up to infield coach Steve Smith and minor-league instructor Travis Fryman to help Kipnis raise his defense up to big-league standards. He does have the ability to do it.
7. A couple of Web sites such as fangraphs rate Asdrubal Cabrera well below average when it comes to range at short. As Acta said, "That doesn't match the eyes." Cabrera certainly is an asset at shortstop in the field, and has become an all-star at the plate.
8. First base is a question mark, because the Indians have said it does not belong to Matt LaPorta. Acta said Carlos Santana will play there at least some of the time. LaPorta had seven errors in 97 games, Santana made four in 66. Neither will win a Gold Glove soon. It is possible the Indians could acquire a new first baseman.
9. Bruce Fields is back as batting coach because the Indians did see improvement in several hitters after the All-Star break. Here are their second-half stats: Hannahan (.322), Donald (.318), Shelley Duncan (.276, 8 HR in 123 at bats), Kipnis (.272), Santana (.249, had 12 HR after August 1), Chisenhall (.253, 4 HR after Sept. 1).
10. The Indians batted .250 and averaged 4.33 runs before the All-Star break, it was .251 and 4.35 runs after the break. So it was the same, no matter who (Jon Nunnally or Fields) was the hitting coach. Fields worked with several hitters such as Kipnis, Chisenhall, Donald, Duncan, and Michael Brantley in the minors. The Indians believe the relationships he built will help when it comes to coaching. Duncan is a huge fan of Fields.
11. Scott Radinsky is the obvious choice to replace Tim Belcher as pitching coach. But he is so effective as the bullpen coach where he can work with pitchers during the games and as they warm up -- who replaces him? Radinsky appeared in 557 major-league games as a reliever, and has enormous respect from the guys in the bullpen.
12. Some fans have mentioned Michael Cuddyer as perfect for the Tribe. He's a right-handed hitter who can play first, third, left and right field. But the 32-year-old free agent is expected to be a very hot commodity and could easily receive a 3-year, $30 million deal from a contender. The best way for the Tribe to add a hitter will be through a trade.
About center field ...
1. Unless the Indians can convince Grady Sizemore to take an incentive contract with only a fraction of his $9 million salary for 2012 guaranteed, they should move Michael Brantley to center next season. Yes, Brantley does rank below average in some areas defensively-- especially going back on balls -- but he is not terrible in the field.
2. Yes, Brantley is well-above average defensively in left, but he's not a power hitter and probably will never become one. It's easy to dismiss Brantley because his stats are modest -- .266 (.702 OPS) with 7 HR and 46 RBI in 451 at-bats last season. But among AL center fielders, he would have ranked between seventh and ninth in batting average, on-base percentage and even home runs this season if his season hadn't ended in late August because of injuries.
3. Brantley has two things in his favor: A) He is only 24 and already has 860 major-league at-bats. B) He was trending upward (batting .294 in July) until he injured his wrist and eventually needed hand surgery. He tried to play through that injury in August, and batted only .211 (12-of-57).
4. It's fair to assume the Indians will have Shin-Soo Choo for more than 85 games (his 2011 total) next season, and his range in right is well-above average. It's far easier to find a left fielder who can hit than a center fielder. They may even be able to find a lefty hitter with some power, and platoon him with Shelley Duncan in left field.
5. The major question marks about Sizemore's knees has the Indians reconsidering Brantley. After all, one of the reasons they wanted Brantley in the CC Sabathia deal of 2008 was as center field insurance in case Sizemore left as a free agent.
1. At the end of last season, the Indians wanted to improve their infield defense. They still need to do so in 2012, especially as they plan to start Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall. Both are relatively new to their positions, Kipnis is a converted outfielder, Chisenhall moved from short to third base.
2. Here's the ugly truth: The Indians allowed 77 unearned runs last season ... most in the American League. Only three teams (Oakland, Minnesota and Texas) made more errors. They also turned the third fewest double plays. The Web site fangraphs.com rated the Tribe the second-worst defensive team in the American League, as they also try to measure such subjective categories as range in the field.
3. When Jack Hannahan plays third, the Indians are among the best in the league at that spot. He made only five errors in 104 games and has tremendous range. That's why he'll be back, as insurance for Chisenhall. At 31, Hannahan (.250, 8 HR, 40 RBI, .719 OPS) had his best major-league season. Manager Manny Acta loves having Hannahan on the team. Along with Jason Donald, the Indians believe they have two superb backup infielders.
4. The Tribe also will work with Donald in the outfield, making him into a super utility player. Donald batted .377 vs. lefties, and the Tribe needs any right-handed batter who can handle lefties. Despite being a lefty hitter, Hannahan batted .296 vs. lefties -- yet another reason that he is valued.
5. The key will be how Chisenhall handles third, where he made 10 errors in 58 games. His arm and range are rated above average, he just makes too many errors on routine plays. At 22, there is time to become not just average, but a good third basemen. Only seven players in the majors were younger than Chisenhall last season.
6. No American League team made more errors at second than the Tribe. Cord Phelps had five in 20 games, Kipnis six in 36 games. Kipnis has a chance to be an impact hitter. In spring training, it will be up to infield coach Steve Smith and minor-league instructor Travis Fryman to help Kipnis raise his defense up to big-league standards. He does have the ability to do it.
7. A couple of Web sites such as fangraphs rate Asdrubal Cabrera well below average when it comes to range at short. As Acta said, "That doesn't match the eyes." Cabrera certainly is an asset at shortstop in the field, and has become an all-star at the plate.
8. First base is a question mark, because the Indians have said it does not belong to Matt LaPorta. Acta said Carlos Santana will play there at least some of the time. LaPorta had seven errors in 97 games, Santana made four in 66. Neither will win a Gold Glove soon. It is possible the Indians could acquire a new first baseman.
9. Bruce Fields is back as batting coach because the Indians did see improvement in several hitters after the All-Star break. Here are their second-half stats: Hannahan (.322), Donald (.318), Shelley Duncan (.276, 8 HR in 123 at bats), Kipnis (.272), Santana (.249, had 12 HR after August 1), Chisenhall (.253, 4 HR after Sept. 1).
10. The Indians batted .250 and averaged 4.33 runs before the All-Star break, it was .251 and 4.35 runs after the break. So it was the same, no matter who (Jon Nunnally or Fields) was the hitting coach. Fields worked with several hitters such as Kipnis, Chisenhall, Donald, Duncan, and Michael Brantley in the minors. The Indians believe the relationships he built will help when it comes to coaching. Duncan is a huge fan of Fields.
11. Scott Radinsky is the obvious choice to replace Tim Belcher as pitching coach. But he is so effective as the bullpen coach where he can work with pitchers during the games and as they warm up -- who replaces him? Radinsky appeared in 557 major-league games as a reliever, and has enormous respect from the guys in the bullpen.
12. Some fans have mentioned Michael Cuddyer as perfect for the Tribe. He's a right-handed hitter who can play first, third, left and right field. But the 32-year-old free agent is expected to be a very hot commodity and could easily receive a 3-year, $30 million deal from a contender. The best way for the Tribe to add a hitter will be through a trade.
About center field ...
1. Unless the Indians can convince Grady Sizemore to take an incentive contract with only a fraction of his $9 million salary for 2012 guaranteed, they should move Michael Brantley to center next season. Yes, Brantley does rank below average in some areas defensively-- especially going back on balls -- but he is not terrible in the field.
2. Yes, Brantley is well-above average defensively in left, but he's not a power hitter and probably will never become one. It's easy to dismiss Brantley because his stats are modest -- .266 (.702 OPS) with 7 HR and 46 RBI in 451 at-bats last season. But among AL center fielders, he would have ranked between seventh and ninth in batting average, on-base percentage and even home runs this season if his season hadn't ended in late August because of injuries.
3. Brantley has two things in his favor: A) He is only 24 and already has 860 major-league at-bats. B) He was trending upward (batting .294 in July) until he injured his wrist and eventually needed hand surgery. He tried to play through that injury in August, and batted only .211 (12-of-57).
4. It's fair to assume the Indians will have Shin-Soo Choo for more than 85 games (his 2011 total) next season, and his range in right is well-above average. It's far easier to find a left fielder who can hit than a center fielder. They may even be able to find a lefty hitter with some power, and platoon him with Shelley Duncan in left field.
5. The major question marks about Sizemore's knees has the Indians reconsidering Brantley. After all, one of the reasons they wanted Brantley in the CC Sabathia deal of 2008 was as center field insurance in case Sizemore left as a free agent.
