Hot Prospects

by kov on May 30, 2006 6:36 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

Well, the Tribe isn't doing too well right now, but I've spent many years finding optimism in the minors (especially in the 70s and 80s).

Today, there was plenty of optimism in BA's prospect hot sheet. Three of the 10 spots were tribe members: #1 Sowers, #4 Kouzmanoff, #9 Crowe. Then, of the 15 more "in the team photo," we had two: John Drennen and Scott Lewis.

It seems likely we will see Sowers in the majors soon. I also continue to think that the tribe should jump Kouzmanoff from AA to the majors to see what he can do. He's older and hotter than Marte right now. Perhaps he can learn another position than 3B, if Marte develops and Kouz proves he can hit major-league pitching anywhere close to the way he hits in the minors.

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Re: Hot Prospects

It will be interesting to see how Sowers' stuff holds up in the majors. He K rate isn't great, and our defense hasn't been stellar.

Kouzmanoff has hit well throughout the system, and because he doesn't strike out much, he might project to continue. I'd like to see him get some AB's in Buffalo (split 3B and DH with Marte) before he goes to Cleveland.

Crowe didn't look good last year, but he now appears to be exactly what we need: a guy who can get on base, and run a little. Grady is entrenched in CF, so Crowe may be headed for 2B. The Tribe doesn't usually rush guys through the system, so he's probably at least 2-3 years from Cleveland.

by CaptainEasy on May 31, 2006 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hot Prospects

I hadn't thought about it, but I'd love to see Kouzmanoff jumped. Its not unheard of, and I don't want Marte messed with-he appears to be heating up a bit and he's still very young (not even 23 till November). Kouzmanoff on the other hand is nearly 25. My feeling is that he's not going to get a whole bunch more seasoned. My feeling is the hitting adjustments he's made to succeed at A and AA are some of the last he's going to make at the minor league level. He played in college, has played and learned in the minors, and I think he's about as well equipped to succeed in the majors as he can be.

But what do I know. Very little when it comes to minor league decisions.

by afh4 on May 31, 2006 2:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hot Prospects

I have to admit the idea of bringing up Kouzmanoff is enticing. Who would go down though? Merloni? Who would back up Peralta and Belliard then? I'm glad Boone didn't suffer a bad injury when he fell in the photographer's box, but if he had gone on the DL it would have been a perfect opportunity bring up Kouz for a few weeks.

by LeftyCatcher on May 31, 2006 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hot Prospects

Yeah, I would think Merloni. Either him or Hollandsworth.

by afh4 on May 31, 2006 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hot Prospects

I'd DFA Merloni. In an emergency, Boone could play SS or 2B. If Peralta or Belliard got hurt for real, call up Vazquez or Inglett, and option Kouz.

by CaptainEasy on May 31, 2006 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

team sink or swin

If an expansion team designed to be as competitive as possible were created out of our farm system, i imagine this is what it would look like. we'd be screwed, of course, but i doubt this team could lose 100 games. The worst player on the 25-man roster is probably Herrera, and he might be no worse than yadir molina.

Standard Lineup:

R. Gutierrez, RF
J. Inglett, SS
R. Garko, 1B
K. Kouzmanoff, DH
A. Marte, 3B
B. Francisco, LF
B. Snyder, CF
T. Crowe, 2B
K. Shoppach, C.

Bench:

UI: E. Torres
UO: J. Dubois, J. Drennen
BC: J. Herrera

Rotation:

J. Sowers
J Guthrie
F. Carmona
S. Lewis
C. Lofgren

CL: A. Miller

Bullpen:

S. Smith, A. Brown, B. Slocum, E. Mujica, R. Perez, T. Sipp

by homelytourist on May 31, 2006 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: team sink or swin

You mean Franklin, of course.

Yeah, we'd be screwed, but it's a fun excercise. My changes:

I think Shoppach would bat cleanup, followed by Marte and Kouzmanoff. I think Snyder and Crowe definitely belong at the bottom.

The fact that Dubois is not in the lineup tells you what a slump he's in. Even so, if you had to choose a hitter to start today, I would think you'd take him over Snyder.

Mastny might make the pen. And at backup catcher, you might just take Toregas instead of Herrera.

by dgcambridge on May 31, 2006 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: team sink or swin

The defensive difference between Dubois and Snyder is immense. Snyder is a high-quality CF, Dubois is tolerable in a corner.

by Jay on Jun 2, 2006 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hot Prospects

yes, that should read 'F.' Gutierrez and not 'R.' sorry for whatever memories my error made surface...
you're right, shoppach should be moved up in the order, but i don't feel good about batting a catcher not named martinez any higher than 7th.
I like Dubois better as a pinch hitter / platoon guy against LHP. i'm displeased with this group of outfielders. still, i prefer Snyder for his all-around skill set.
I doubt Mastny has the ceiling the other guys do... but at least one of 'em would certainly get injured, and he'd be the first guy recalled. stanford is another guy i have still waiting in AAA on the shadow club.
last and least, i'd install toregas as the backup catcher... or maybe tell garko to keep his gear intact.

by homelytourist on Jun 1, 2006 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hot Prospects

Toregas is smokin'. He went 3-3 today and is now hitting .348!

by LeftyCatcher on Jun 3, 2006 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Toregas has a real chance to be up

with the Indians in "some capacity."

Hello LeftyCatcher,

Granted, it's only at High-A, but so far, Toregas has looked good offensively and defensively. If he keeps this up, I think he could be at least Victor's backup, or maybe even replace Victor as the catcher and have Victor shift to 1B.

Even though the Indians aren't fond of Victor moving from behind the plate, his throwing out basestealers is a major weakness. Granted, it's not all Victor; Laker also had trouble throwing out baserunners due to our pitchers' slow deliveries, but Victor has never had a strong arm and seems to get out of whack too easily.

Unless Victor is perfect in his footwork and mechanics (many scouts say that is why he is not good at throwing out basestealers, as he has slow footwork and trouble with his throwing mechanics,) he's not likely to throw many guys out.

I think Toregas has more margin for error because I think he has a considerably stronger arm than Victor.

Toregas probably won't be up for a couple of years yet, so there is still time to figure out whether they can somehow improve Victor's throwing mechanics (and get pitchers who can deliver the ball to home plate more quickly) that would allow Victor to be able to throw out more runners.

But I think Toregas could be a future Indian in the next couple of years if he keeps up his solid play; it wouldn't surprise me if he's at Akron in the second half of 2006, as both Javi Herrera and David Wallace are weak hitters, and despite Herrera's defensive reputation, he makes too many errors in my opinion and has even had trouble with passed balls in the past if I remember correctly.

Therefore, I don't think those two will stand in Toregas' way.

Just my 2 cents. :-)

Take care and keep the "faith"!

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on Jun 7, 2006 12:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs