Marte's Role In '08

I go back and forth on this.  On one hand, Marte is way too talented to let go and it seems that it would be impossible for him to improve by playing some sort of backup 3B role. On the other, Blake is coming off a pretty solid season and we know what we would get from him and it is probably better than Marte right now- in fact, Blake's major league numbers have been just a tad better than Marte's AAA numbers the last two seasons.  

The ideal, of course, is to have Marte take off and produce like we thought he would when we acquired him.  That would allow us to maximize Blake's value as someone with a bunch of versatility as a OF, 1B, 3B guy.  The question is, what does Marte have to do to get the job.  Our recent report of his (lack of) progress in winter ball does not excite anyone.  What if he hits .135 with 4 Ks in every 10 ABs in spring training?  Further, what if he is given the job, but has those type of terrible numbers through April? May? June?  

While Blake has a lot of versatility, Marte does not.  Blake can log some ABs at a position of weakness in my opinion (OF) as well as 3rd.  However, Marte could only play 3rd and maybe 1st, but that doesn't seem to help much since we already have Garko, Victor, and Hafner splitting time there.  

With a 25 man roster, you can't afford to waste a roster spot on a guy that can basically play 1 position and doesn't hit.  Especially with the value that the Indians put on versatility and flexibility.  Now, you could argue that if Michaels is essentially our 4th OF, and Carroll can back up every other position, we have a spot to waste on either Marte or Barfield.  If that is the decision, its Marte, because Barfield can be sent to Buffalo.  But, it really seems like Marte is holding on to that last roster spot and once we need it for an extra pitcher, depth, etc., he would be the first to go unless he starts to hit.

i really wish they'd give him the starting job, but i'm of the opinion that it would take an injury to blake to get him the kind of consistent ABs he needs to develop at this level.

this, from wedge's press conference at the end of the season:

for discussion, see here

his trade value is at a low presently, but i think shapiro should try to get what he can now, because it's only going to get worse after half a season of inconsistent ABs when we find ourselves facing a roster crunch.  

We're getting darn close to a Marte-based, off-season Irrational Over-reactions Thread here. DFA? Trade him while you can? I've got some other suggestions:

• Make him a catcher.
  
• Teach him better situational hitting.
  
• Give him Skinner's job -- we KNOW Marte can wave his arms at nothing.
  
• Can he switch hit?
  
• Get CoCo back.
  
• Trade him to the Reds, where he'll blossom, in exchange for a reliever with two first names who'll be awesome in 2011.
  
• Screw it: Jason Michaels for Tribe 3B '08.

1. Has Marte shown the commitment to training necessary to grinding out a season on a championship caliber team?

2. Is his glove ready for prime time?

Those are the only questions he needs to answer for me. Given the Tribe's track record of sticking promising youngsters (Phillips, Garko, Francisco and even Gutierrez to some extent) in the minors longer than necessary, they should just unclench and let him get his bearings at ML level if meets the above thresholds.

I have hunch that Andy Marte will be our Andruw Jones. Spectacular defense, low BA, modest plate discipline and good power. Give him a freakin' chance.

My thoughts on what I think they should do echo what Paul Cousineau wrote a few weeks ago on his DiaTribe blog:
"I'd like to see the Indians flip Michaels for a reliever (probably from the NL) allowing them to open the season with a platoon of Blake/Marte/Dellucci at 3B/LF (Blake at 3B, Dellucci in LF against RHP, Marte at 3B, Blake in LF against LHP). That arrangement, I think, would allow Andy Marte to ease into the MLB against mainly LHP, whom he has consistently hit throughout his career. If, and when, Marte is ready to take the reins at 3B, Blake moves to his super-utility role and out of the everyday lineup."

Whether they actually will do this is an entirely different question. But I think it would be a mistake to have Michaels stand in the way of Marte's future with Cleveland. If Marte can't even handle it then, we can still plug Blake into 3rd full time, let BenFran replace Michaels and release Marte.

Warning: Armchair GM rant impending

Give Marte the 3B job from opening day - we'll only know what he can do with consistent ABs for at least half the season.  Sign Bonds, and move the Platucci over to right.  Gutz et al become trade fodder for a reliever.

pros: improved lineup depth to balance out a possible Marte bomb, value signing of Bonds

cons: not exactly the 3 CFs in the outfield we've grown to love

Marte will make the team, unless he's absolutely hopeless.  The Carroll trade sends Barfield to Buffalo and opens a spot for Marte, I would guess.  They're going to be afraid of the Brandon Phillips scenario, so they won't dump him for nothing.

I would like to see them give him a shot.  Blake is what he is -- a .270 hitter with a little pop (and poor numbers w/RISP over his career); he's an adequate third baseman with no range who makes Peralta's lack of range even more of a problem.  I hope everyone remembers watching a certain Boston 3rd baseman cutting off balls to his left at least once a game. When's the last time you saw Blake do that?

I like the scenario involving trading Michaels  and creating a 3-way platoon for 2 positions.  That would make use of Blake, who is still a useful player, and give Marte a chance to earn Wedge's trust, something that's apparently hard to do (and hard to lose once you've earned it).

I would also like to see Marte get an extended (half-season) look at 3B.  But I think the likelihood of that happening depends in part on the success guys around Marte are having.  If he gets off to a slow start, it's a lot easier to keep him in the lineup if others are doing well.  Consider last season.  

When Marte went down at the end of April last season he was putting up a .179/.220/.333 line.  Terrible.  But look at what some other regulars were doing at that point. (roughly April 23)

Jhonny Peralta: .196/.303/.357
Casey Blake: .196/.288/.314
Josh Barfield: .132/.164/.226 (!)
Trot Nixon: .243/.317/.351

That meant we had 3-5 holes in the lineup everyday in April.  A huge proportion of our offense those first few weeks came about solely because of Grady, Vic and Hafner.  Marte, especially with the injury, was probably the easiest way to shake up the lineup and get some different options.  If I were Marte, I'd be rooting hard for everyone (aside from probably Casey Blake) to get off to hot starts at the plate in April so that the FO and coaching staff feel less pressure to shake things up.

I say play the kid using Blake as a super-utility.  I've always thought that Blake gets worn down over the course of the season.  This would keep him fresher, even if Marte eventually bombs.

I think you give Marte the nod 5 times per week at least through the end of June.  If he doesn't pan out and we'll know it, but otherwise I fear another Phillips debacle.  I have hope that he pans out well for us.  Nothing to necessarily back that up, just irrational gut instinct.  (Note: I had the same gut instinct last year with Garko, that Guthrie would eventually pan out, and that Phillips would be fine.  Then again, the same gut instinct always said players like Schilling are overrated).

What are we giving up for Marte's potential upside though?

Worst-case Marte bats for a low average, but still probably has a pretty good slugging percentage.

I would call Marte's upside significant. We know exactly what we are getting with Blake at best and given his age, it could be much worse. Play the kid

Sounds like most here favor giving Marte extended at bats at 3rd base. The obvious problem with that is getting Casey Blake at bats as well.

Does this make Jason Michaels completely redundant? Trading him allows Casey to get regular time in the OF, which is probably an upgrade, and also gives Ben Francisco a roster spot as the 5th OF.

Marte gets his shot, with Casey in reserve should he not pan out, Ben Fran providing depth for that move.

I like it. Not sure Wedge would go for it, but I like it.

Who is this Andy Marte character?

Traded

For spare parts and a few dusty air fresheners.