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Brantley it is.

Apparently, the decision on the PTBNL has been made.

Link about 1 month ago Tiny CBusSteve Comment 222 comments 0 recs |

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Excellent!

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 12:56 PM EDT   0 recs

+1! :-)

Welcome aboard Brantley, and do well!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Oct 5, 2008 8:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Comment from the article:

Brewers should have put a clause in the trade contract that stated if you walk a pitcher in the playoffs with two outs and then eventually give up a granny the Brewers get to keep everyone.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 3, 2008 12:58 PM EDT   0 recs

Good to see that their commenters are as enlightened as those on cleveland.com. Another one I enjoyed:

"AWFUL TRADE, AND I SAID IT FROM DAY 1 UNLIKE YOU DUMB HAYSEEDS. I CALLED THIS ONE.

SABATHIA WAS A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT."

Looks like they like to use the ol’ caps lock key as well

by millionairesrow on Oct 3, 2008 1:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If this guy thinks Sabathia was a “major disappointment” for the Brewers, then his expectations were way, way, way too high.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 3, 2008 5:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Story up on BP today suggests that in terms of immediate payoff, Sabathia is tied for the most successful mid-season acquisition in the history of the game.

by Jay on Oct 3, 2008 5:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I’ll believe that.

by Voltaire on Oct 5, 2008 1:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Who is he tied with?

by pandroid on Oct 5, 2008 9:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Braves acquire 2B Red Schoendienst from the New York Giants for INF Danny O’Connell, RHP Ray Crone, and OF Bobby Thomson, June 15, 1957.

Red apparently was the Brian Roberts of his day, not necessarily the best hitter or defender among second basemen, but probably the best all-around player at the position. (Okay, that would actually be Chase Utley, but don’t worry about that.)

A close 3rd is the Cardinals getting Lou Brock and two other guys in 1964. Teixeira (this year) and Manny also make the top 10, and almost all of the top 15 spots are from the past 20 years, many from the past five years.

Full article.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 12:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

seriously … wtf

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Oct 3, 2008 6:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow, that was even dumber than some of the stuff I’ve said in here.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Oct 4, 2008 2:10 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

No Indians fan would sign a clause like that. You’d be nuts, because you’d know there was at least a 6-5 chance of that happening.

by odradek on Oct 3, 2008 1:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Not to be pedantic, but I’d take that clause, given that what Sabathia did has only happened once before in baseball history, in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series when Dave Stewart walked and scored on a Jose Canseco two-out GS (off Tim Belcher). The Dodgers, of course, won that game on the Kirk Gibson homer.

by FredOx on Oct 3, 2008 2:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Random fact: Tim Belcher attended the high school where I teach. He still lives in the district and his kids go to school there (in elementary school), and his sister-in-law is an English teacher at my school.

He is an instructor for the Indians at spring training (and I think he does some advance scouting for them). When he was down there this spring, his sister-in-law told him about my accident and that I was a big Indians fan, so he got the whole team to sign a T-shirt for me. It’s pretty cool.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 3, 2008 5:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You somehow forgot to show this to me when I was in town last month.

by Cols714 on Oct 3, 2008 5:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Uhh, sorry, I forgot. I also got a big ESPN banner (like the ones they hang at games) signed by a lot of their anchors and hosts. It’s from John Seibel, who hosts the SportsNation radio show. His wife went to high school with my wife, and when they came to visit me after my accident he brought that as a gift. It’s huge.

You know, sometimes it pays to get in a near-fatal car accident. (Emphasis on the sometimes.)

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 4, 2008 10:36 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I’d also emphasize the near.

by CBusSteve on Oct 4, 2008 12:12 PM EDT to parent up   1 recs

Excellant point.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 4, 2008 12:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

MOAC pride. Did you know that Ben Curtis was a Buckeye Valley Baron?

by ClarkM on Oct 5, 2008 5:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

No, I did not. I knew nothing of Highland (or any other MOAC school) until I started teaching there 5 years ago. Where did you go to school?

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 5, 2008 6:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ridgedale. It’s in Marion County.

by ClarkM on Oct 5, 2008 6:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I will add here that I spent my junior high school and first two years of high school attending Cardington schools before moving back to greater Cleveland. It was mighty disheartening and lonely being an Indians fan in Morrow County during the Big Red Machine Era. Though, my 8th grade year, Cardington won the state championship in baseball, winning two 1-0 games in the state final four, two of the most amazing baseball games I’ve ever seen.

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Oct 6, 2008 9:07 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Most people at my school are Indians fans now. There are a few kids that wear Reds gear, but I see mostly Indians stuff. And most of the teachers here that are sports fans follow the Indians. I’m sure their sucess in the 90’s got a lot of fans in central Ohio to follow the Tribe.

Also, most of the baseball fans that I met at Ohio State were Indians fans. (Of course, most of them were from northern Ohio — I didn’t really know many “natives” from Columbus.)

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 6, 2008 10:08 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don’t think that’s pedantry. But I was being sarcastic. C.C. walking a pitcher in the postseason—it would make me somewhat nervous to sign that clause, but the likelihood of it happening is off the charts.

by odradek on Oct 3, 2008 9:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Interesting. That article mentions a list of 4 players

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 1:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If I had to guess I’d say Lucroy and Cain.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 3, 2008 1:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder if we didn’t fleece Carlos Santana from the Dodgers, if Lucroy would have been more in play

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 1:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He appeared in 62 games in center field and 21 games in left field and first base.

That has to be the oddest skill set for a first baseman I’ve seen in quite some time.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 3, 2008 1:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

1st base? wow, you’re right, his skill set doesn’t quite fit as a first baseman, at least in our organization…

One of these days... bang, zoom, straight to the moon...

by mixmasterasia on Oct 3, 2008 1:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And the comments there are as enlightened as ever!

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Oct 3, 2008 3:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It’s been said before, but from AA down we suddenly have a nice-looking list of hitters that profile to contribute in the major leagues.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 3, 2008 1:09 PM EDT   0 recs

I’d probably put our hitters down like this:

Laporta
Santana (although I wouldn’t be surprised for a little return to reality next year)
Weglarz
Mills
Brantley

by APV on Oct 3, 2008 1:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

and yes…this is probably the most exciting group of hitters we have had coming through since right that 2002 season when we added a lot of talent to the system

by APV on Oct 3, 2008 1:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It’s pretty amazing if Mills is indeed our fourth best hitting prospect. Guy was absolutely on fire the second half

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 1:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wegz gets the edge just because of his age. Mills was probably the better hitter this year.

by APV on Oct 3, 2008 2:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Where does this put Crowe?

by millionairesrow on Oct 3, 2008 1:35 PM EDT   0 recs

In Columbus.

by peter m on Oct 3, 2008 1:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

on the DL again next year…

One of these days... bang, zoom, straight to the moon...

by mixmasterasia on Oct 3, 2008 1:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Michael Brantley = Same skill set and stats at AA, just 3 1/2 years younger than Crowe.

by JesseAK on Oct 3, 2008 1:48 PM EDT   0 recs

Winner.

by Jay on Oct 3, 2008 3:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So there was a reason to root for the Brewers. Luckily we have the Mets.

by oxforddave on Oct 3, 2008 2:04 PM EDT   0 recs

It’ll be interesting to see where Cleveland decides to start Brantley next year. Given he was a little banged up this year and he’s young, I’d expect Akron. But he’s already spent a season and a half at AA, so maybe he’ll be slotted with Crowe into Columbus’ outfield.

by APV on Oct 3, 2008 2:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Here are Brantley’s career stats

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Michael%20Brantley&pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=488726

Also, he could pass as Kellen Winslow Jr.’s twin brother

by millionairesrow on Oct 3, 2008 2:53 PM EDT   0 recs

He’s from just outside Seattle, too, so let’s hope there’s a relationship to Grady!!

by peter m on Oct 3, 2008 3:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, he does look like K2. Hope he stays away from motorcycles.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 3, 2008 5:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh good, we need more soldiers on this team.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 4, 2008 12:12 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He is considered a leadoff-type hitter (.395 OBP) with little or no power but good speed and strong defensive skills.

So that means that Grady will have to move down in the order….

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Oct 3, 2008 3:32 PM EDT   0 recs

Strong defensive skills? He must have improved in 2008 because BAs Prospect Book indicated he was limited to LF.

by kov on Oct 3, 2008 4:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I could see his speed making him a better defender when he learned to read the ball better. But someone on the comment sections of the Milwaukee Journal report (note: I am aware this is a random comment) said they saw him in action and his arm looks pretty good. That would be an odd thing to suddenly “develop.”

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 4, 2008 12:13 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Who needs to draft well when you can pick off other GMs trading away your upcoming free agents?

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 3:34 PM EDT   0 recs

I know he’s not a power hitter but 27 SO’s in 420 AB’s gets me all sorts of hot and bothered.

by Joe. on Oct 3, 2008 4:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Shap has some quotes in the official article now. Brantley will start in Columbus and will be with the team in spring training. Expects his power to develop as he ages given his 6’2 frame

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 4:46 PM EDT   0 recs

I like everything about this. He’s pretty much proven he’s ready for AAA based on his SO/BB ratio alone. I like the fact that they are being a little more aggressive. Both he and Laporta should be in AAA (unless Laporta can win a job in spring training…..oh one can dream)

by hans on Oct 3, 2008 5:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I was hoping that Laporta would be the starting 1b next year, assuming they trade Shoppach and Martinez was the full time catcher. It doesn’t seem to make sense anymore to move LaPorta to the OF when he is a good 1B and they are starting to build some OF depth with Shoo, Francisco, Gutz, and now Brantley.

by Cols714 on Oct 3, 2008 5:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If you judge by previous history, it would take a hell of spring training for LaPorta to outright win the job. Although, with Garks spending a few months in the dog house, maybe things have changed.

by Toxicadam on Oct 3, 2008 5:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I know. But Garko was so bad for most of last year that I think Laporta could out hit him next year.

by Cols714 on Oct 3, 2008 5:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hello Cols714,

In Garko’s defense, he did rebound in the last month or so of the season.

Moreover, however, it’s likely LaPorta will start at AAA to begin 2008. Recall Adam Miller’s excellent 2007 Spring Training, yet he didn’t make the ballclub. Granted, Miller had an arm/shoulder issue in 2006, but recall that LaPorta struggled a bit coming over to Cleveland, likely due to all the happenings occurring in his life (grandfather’s funeral, he and his girlfriend finding a home, the Olympics, the beaning in the Olympics, etc.).

Besides, it won’t hurt him to spend a half-season or so in AAA, a level he hasn’t experienced yet. With the depth of 1B we have now in the system, I’ll be surprised if Garko/Martinez doesn’t start the season at 1B next year. The only way I see Garko NOT being a part of that pair is if Garko gets traded for something OTHER than a 1B (we need to keep it open for Laporta/Mills/even Weglarz, who was originally a 1B coming up through the system, though of course, only one of the three can be the Indians future 1B).

Presuming Martinez spends time there next season, I’m not sure they’ll trade Shoppach unless a great offer comes along – Shoppach will keep Martinez fresh, and hopefully, healthy to allow him to have a big year, which will be very helpful to the offense, especially if Hafner doesn’t find his old form (and that’s something I’m not confident in at this point).

Just my 2 cents.

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Oct 5, 2008 8:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hello again,

I meant to add that LaPorta would have to excel at the level Miller had in 2007 ST for the Indians to even consider LaPorta making the club out of Spring Training, along with injuries to Garko, Martinez, and/or both. In other words, LaPorta’s chances of making the club out of ST are probably less than 1%.

Just my 2 cents.

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Oct 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree. And I think you’re right that Garko will either be traded or will be one of our first baseman at the beginning of the year next year.

by peter m on Oct 5, 2008 9:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Well Laporta remains more valuable if he can play the outfield. And I think we should all avoid counting these chickens before the eggs hatch

by hans on Oct 3, 2008 5:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

yo guys by the way, it appears that Laporta is playing in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Caracas Lions( Leones del Caracas), i have the link to the official Caracas Lions Website but it is in spanish so i guess it wont be so helpful….. hopefully ill go to some games this winter and see him play over here…

http://www.leones.com/detalle_noticia.php?id=240

by luifer5 on Oct 3, 2008 5:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Why does everyone insist on plugging in LaPorta at 1b? The guy can play LF. What are you planning on doing with Mills?

by Joe. on Oct 3, 2008 6:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And Brantley?

And Weglarz?

by Jay on Oct 3, 2008 8:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Jay is right. We have four guys who can probably only play three positions: LF,1B, and DH. That’s assuming they can outplay the veterans who occupy those positions now. None of these four appear to be outstanding defensively, so it may not matter if LaPorta is LF, 1B or DH.

by kov on Oct 3, 2008 9:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Look, I’m not saying under no circumstances should we play LaPorta at 1b. I’m just curious as to why we’re in suhc a hurry to move him there.

by Joe. on Oct 3, 2008 9:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I assume everyone’s in a rush because they believe we have a hole at 1B. Sure we can have Vic play there with Shoppach to catch, but if LaPorta win a starting spot at 1B we could trade Shoppach.

Personally, I’d rather see what value we can get for Shoppach on the trade market before we move Vic to 1B. I doubt Shoppach will ever have more value than he does right now, and I think everyone is overreacting to Vic’s injury, (Those saying he won’t be able to handle catching a full season anymore. )

Though I do see some logic in the argument that Vic’s batting ability might get better if he were a 1B rather than a catcher.

As for LaPorta, the obvious solution, IMO is to have LaPorta play both LF and 1B. The more flexibility the better. It probably wouldn’t bother LaPorta too much since he played 1B in college.

by world dictator on Oct 3, 2008 9:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

See that’s reasonable. I just don’t want him permanently moving to 1b. Also, I agree with you on Shoppach in that his value will never be higher. We need to trade him assuming we get decent offers for him.

by Joe. on Oct 3, 2008 9:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don’t know why you’d ever limit a player to one position when they can plausibly play multiple positions.

by world dictator on Oct 3, 2008 9:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

First, LaPorta isn’t going to win a starting spot.

Second, we’re not going to wait for him to “win” a spot — and only THEN trade Shoppach. Makes no sense. Trading or keeping Shoppach is a strategic decision that needs to be made under the assumption that we’re not getting a starting 1B from the minors to start the season.

by Jay on Oct 4, 2008 2:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

LaPorta is the fastest mover of those guys. Obviously if they all pan out moves are going to be made but I don’t see the point in lowering LaPorta’s value when we have a similar player who can play 1b in one or two years. If Weglarz pans out and Choo keeps hitting, or Brantley emerges, then you can talk about DHing Mills or LaPorta and putting the other at 1b. But I don’t see the rush to put LaPorta at a position that would lower his value to the team (or to potential suitors if somehow all these guys end up panning out).

by Joe. on Oct 3, 2008 9:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn’t assume LaPorta will move the fastest, although he probably will.

Younger guys often jump past older guys, because they are developing more rapidly. LaPorta will be 24 soon, he’s not a young prospect.

by Jay on Oct 4, 2008 2:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So listened to the full Shap conference. Most interesting part was that Shapiro indicated the contingency option was a gentleman’s agreement and not part of the league’s standard procedure.

by Roger Dorn on Oct 3, 2008 7:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That was in response to a question by Hoynes, and in all honesty i think i had a little bit of an impact on the aggressiveness Paul showed, using the word “precedent.” I wrote Hoynesie earlier in the week saying that I didn’t believe that could be the case (that the choice was based on if the Brewers made the playoff). Here was my email:

I’m calling you out. There’s no way that the team who chooses the player to be named later in the CC deal is based on whether or not the Brewers made the playoffs. There is no precedent for this type of deal in baseball, and Shapiro and Antonetti are way too intelligent to let “a major piece of the trade” be subject to the whims of another GM and the performance of 24 players that have nothing to do with the Indians.

Now, I admit I don’t know if there is a precedent,

by kwoog on Oct 3, 2008 8:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

(whoops, didn’t mean to post. to continue)

just that I’ve never heard of one. Regardless precedent, I think my point about lacking control over a “major piece” is valid. Thus, I considered the news of this “gentlemen’s agreement” interesting/surprising as well… it seems very (too?) generous of Shapiro (the Brewers paid for CC’s services, and they got them. If the Mets don’t tank, why should our value in turn be any less?).

I doubt Kenny Williams would ever agree to something like this. (I am not saying I think KW is half the GM Mark is… I’m a huge Shapiro fan… I guess I’m just surprised/disappointed that he’d deviate from pure value driven decision making… into an almost derivative/option deal… but I’m no economist, so perhaps I’m way off base).

by kwoog on Oct 3, 2008 8:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

btw, hoynes did write me back, simply saying “why would i write something that I know wasn’t true?”

by kwoog on Oct 3, 2008 8:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Thing is, I can see Shapiro and Melvin coming to this to resolve an impasse.

If it wasn’t an official part of the deal, though, Melvin would have had to rely on Shapiro’s good faith — the deal language would have had to let him be the one doing the picking.

by Jay on Oct 3, 2008 8:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs