Yet Another Utility Infielder

by Jay on Sep 13, 2006 5:06 PM EDT in Transactions

The Indians have acquired yet another sub-starter-quality middle infielder, claiming Mike Rouse on waivers from the Athetics today. Rouse, 26, is considered a solid glove, rangy enough for shortstop but even better suited for second base, and he's already spent three seasons in Triple-A. But he hasn't produced enough with the bat to earn any kind of shot in the big leagues.

Rouse was the starting shortstop in front of Grady Sizemore on Team USA's 2003 Olympic qualifying team, somewhat infamously eliminated by Mexico in the second round. Prior to that game, Rouse had almost single-handedly mugged Panama in the opening game, and he had a 1086 OPS in twelve warmup games in the Arizona Fall League. In affiliated minor league games, however, his pop simply has not developed as expected, as he has never managed more than 40 extra base hits in any season.

Rouse will turn 27 next April and probably is not considered a prospect at this point. The AP reports that he is not expected to report to Cleveland this season, and it seems unlikely the Indians will allow him to hold a space on the 40-man roster throughout the offseason.

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Why, then?

Hello Jay,

Why would the Indians do this if they don't plan on keeping him and could lose him in the Rule 5 Draft? A possible trade, perhaps? Or do you think he wouldn't be selected in the Rule 5 Draft?

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on Sep 13, 2006 5:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Why, then?

I think the real question is, why shouldn't they do it? It's free. Maybe they can sneak him through waivers at another time, succeeding where the Athletics didn't (or didn't care). Maybe they'll trade him to Japan. Maybe they'll express appreciation for his talents, release him, and sign him to minor league deal. Maybe they'll just release him, period. Regardless, it doesn't cost anything of consequence.

by Jay on Sep 13, 2006 5:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

True!

Hello Jay,

True - it doesn't cost them anything, so why not "take the gamble"? If they lose him, no big deal.

What I'm a little perplexed about though is, why not call him up now? It would give Wedge another option in addition to Inglett and Luna and they'd be able to find out what they have in him. Or is this so that "news" of Rouse quiets down and they have an easier time and more of a chance to slip him through waivers later when everyone else has forgotten about him?

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on Sep 13, 2006 6:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: True!

"What I'm a little perplexed about though is, why not call him up now?"

This perplexes you ?

Why don't they bring up Merloni while they're at it and have an all utility infield of Rouse, Luna, Inglett, and Merloni?

Now THAT would perplex me.

by SpringTrainingFun on Sep 13, 2006 7:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Because this is almost like Spring Training!

Hello SpringTrainingFun,

The only reason it perplexes me is because, we don't know what we have in Rouse. We know what we have in Merloni. It's possible Rouse might only be a younger version of Merloni, but we don't know that for sure. That's why the decision to not add him to the roster perplexed me, unless it's to increase our chances of getting him past waivers and the Rule 5 Draft.

Otherwise, we keep playing different combinations in these last few weeks and we don't have a definite answer at 2B. I'm not saying Rouse is the answer either, but we don't know what we have with him. That's why not adding him to the roster now so he can play struck me as a bit odd.

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on Sep 13, 2006 8:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Because this is almost like Spring Training!

Particularly since we wouldn't even get to look at Rouse in the minors until next season. The only chance we have to see his skills at all prior to the Rule 5 draft is on the big league club since the minor league season is over.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on Sep 14, 2006 9:06 AM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Yet Another Utility Infielder

Maybe the hope is that he will be a Rule 5 draftee; we'd get the claiming fee ($50K). It would help offset the 2 week, all-expenses paid vacation they're giving to the retiring clubhouse manager.

by CaptainEasy on Sep 13, 2006 11:37 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Yet Another Utility Infielder

For some reason Rouse just can't hit left-handed pitching, but he did better against right-handers:

vs LHP: 89 AB, .239/.296/.371, 27 SO, 6 BB
vs RHP: 259 AB, .274/.370/.386, 40 SO, 36 BB

But the problem is he hit for little power in the PCL. His MLE for this season was .236/.306/.346. I don't think anyone's going to waste a Rule 5 pick on him.

by Ryan on Sep 13, 2006 11:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Yet Another Utility Infielder

I don't think anyone's going to waste a Rule 5 pick on him.

Yeah, my tongue was in my cheek when I posted that, but you probably couldn't see that on your monitor...

by CaptainEasy on Sep 14, 2006 12:00 AM EDT up 0 recs

How good is his defense?

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know how good defensively he is? Maybe he's the all-glove, no-hit 2B we've been looking for, though I doubt it, LOL! :-)

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on Sep 14, 2006 12:20 AM EDT 0 recs

Some more info. on Rouse & why he was...

acquired.

Hello everyone,

Reading this Indians.com article, here is some more info. on Rouse:

He made 8 errors in 98 starts at SS in 2006.

The main reason he was acquired was for MI depth in the farm system, as it's expected to take a hit because both SS Ivan Ochoa and 2B Eider Torres are eligible for 6-year Minor League Free Agency this offseason.

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on Sep 14, 2006 1:50 AM EDT 0 recs

Re: Some more info. on Rouse

Agreed. This is a depth pick, and one that we shouldn't criticize either way...sometimes you just need to put a team on the field.

by Thommy on Sep 14, 2006 1:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Some more info. on Rouse & why he was...

Doesn't make much sense. Taking him means he sits on the 40-man roster, unless he can be snuck through and then outrighted off. If you're willing to burn a 40-man spot for this guy, why not burn one for Torres instead?

by Jay on Sep 14, 2006 4:37 PM EDT up 0 recs