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Acquired OF Michael Brantley (AA) from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the CC Sabathia trade

When the trade was first made, Mark Shapiro emphasized the PTBNL as a legitimate prospect. Michael Brantley certainly fits that description.

The Brewers drafted Brantley in the 7th round of the 2005 Draft out of high school. Since then, he's moved up the minor-league ladder pretty much on schedule. He spent his third full season entirely at AA Huntsville. 2008 was Brantley's Age 21 season, so he's been young for his levels. 

Good prospects usually have an unusual combination of skills or tools; Brantley's combination is plate discipline and baserunning. He's also consistently been a good average hitter (career .311), which compliments both his walk rates and stolen base rates.  Too often you see a speed guy without the skills to utilize his physical gifts; that hasn't been a problem with Brantley. In 2008, he walked twice as often as he struck out, posted a .398 on-base percentage, and stole bases at a 78% clip. In a Baseball America survey, he was voted both the best baserunner and having the best strike zone judgment in the Southern League. Again, it's the combination of skills that makes him such an intriguing prospect.

Defensively, Brantley has played left field, center field, or first base. I'm pretty confident that he'll be sticking to the outfield from now on. And if he makes it to Cleveland, that means he'll be a left fielder. His routes could improve, but I don't think defense is going to be a major concern for the Indians. He will, however, need to hit for at least gap power along with playing to his current strengths to be an everyday player. He is young enough to expect some power to develop as he enters his mid-20s.

With Matt LaPorta, the Indians got an impact power bat who could be ready in 2009. Brantley could also be ready sometime in 2009, and as an eventual top-of-the-order player.

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Okay … I’m now watching Sabathia pinch-hitting for Suppan in the 3rd inning.

Strikes out, in probably his last act as a Brewer. Phillies lead 5-0, going for the clinch.

by Jay on Oct 5, 2008 2:11 PM EDT   0 recs

From Joe Sheehan:

I can’t help but wonder, should the Brewers not win three straight games here, if it will have been worth it for them. Was it worth Matt LaPorta, a couple of other prospects, and the cash they paid Sabathia to have the September they had, and a couple of postseason home games? The cash will cancel out, so it just comes down to the question of whether the six years of LaPorta at below-market cost was worth it. We say, all the time, that flags fly forever; trading the future to win a championship is just something you have to do sometimes. But what happens when what you trade for is just a naked flagpole?

by APV on Oct 5, 2008 3:43 PM EDT   0 recs

I think its was worth it. As a GM you have to put your team in a position to win. Its better to make the playoffs and fail than to miss the playoffs altogether,

Besides, its not like the Brewers system is barren after trading for Sabathia. Not even close. They still have several top flight prospects who are nearly ready to contribute to the major league club. And lets not forget the compensation picks they’ll receive from CC, and Sheets. After you throw in a potential Prince Fielder and/or JJ Hardy trade, the Brewers are probably going to have the base farm system in the league.

And if I’m a betting man, I take the odds of CC helping us make the playoffs/push deep into the playoffs over the odds of LaPorta being a good to even great player. This isn;t to say that LaPorta is unlikely to make an impact in the major leagues, I just think the probability of CC making an impact in the playoff run is much higher, to the point of absolute certainty.

by world dictator on Oct 5, 2008 3:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I meant best farm system*

by world dictator on Oct 5, 2008 3:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don’t disagree. And this is not a situation where Milwaukee might think, ‘well…maybe we would have made it even without CC.’ No. CC got them to the playoffs, and that’s it.

by APV on Oct 5, 2008 5:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah. Sure, the Brewers lost in the NLDS, but they didn’t know that Sheets would break down at the end of the season and they would limp into the playoffs. They had to take a shot at it, and they did. It didn’t work out, but at least they tried. They certainly would not have made the playoffs without CC.

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

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 5, 2008 6:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

This talked-about Fielder-for-Matt-Cain trade would look good for the Brewers considering they’ve got Gamel in the wings.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 10:23 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

and Fielder is going to walk as a free agent

by Roger Dorn on Oct 6, 2008 11:18 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He, for damn sure, doesn’t sashay.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on Oct 6, 2008 4:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Back off Prince. He has two inside the park homers, you know. Two!

by FredOx on Oct 6, 2008 4:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

What park? Central Park?

by peter m on Oct 6, 2008 4:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

June 17, 2007 in Minnesota off Joe Nathan in the 9th, and June 19, 2008 at home off A.J. Burnett.

by FredOx on Oct 7, 2008 10:28 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

wouldn’t you love to see a foot race between Ryan Howard, Prince and CC?

proverbial "moron in a hurry"

by 94neverout on Oct 7, 2008 9:52 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh my god, the bouncing.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 7, 2008 9:56 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Prince, as in the Artist Formerly Known As?

by odradek on Oct 7, 2008 1:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

that’s a whole new kinda weird. it might be equally entertaining though.

proverbial "moron in a hurry"

by 94neverout on Oct 7, 2008 2:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

well, we know prince can ball, thanks to charlie murphy.

by macasson on Oct 7, 2008 3:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Prince is about 4’11", maybe the size of Eddie Arcaro.

by odradek on Oct 7, 2008 7:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

which makes for excellent comedy fodder, courtesy of the chappelle show

by macasson on Oct 8, 2008 11:42 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

best. episode. ever.

by APV on Oct 8, 2008 11:48 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Game. Blouses.

by macasson on Oct 8, 2008 3:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And then he made us pancakes.

by Peter Bendix on Oct 8, 2008 3:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

close behind for me are the racial draft and the s.t.d. puppets featuring Q-tip

by APV on Oct 8, 2008 6:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

the mtv real world skit is a good one, too. ah, mr. chappelle …

by macasson on Oct 9, 2008 3:04 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i swear that show was brilliant

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 8, 2008 3:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don’t know why but an image of Chapelle on the can yelling, “Granny don’t!” is never far from my mind.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 8, 2008 5:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Have you guys noticed that one of the Bud Light Drinkability spots involves what appears to be a Dave Chappelle impersonator?

by NickFantana on Oct 13, 2008 12:34 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes. He was also in one of those Cingular commercials, “shooting tiny hoops with the townies.”

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 13, 2008 8:21 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe Sheehan mentions it elsewhere, but he is neglecting the compensation picks the Brewers are getting for CC. Judging by their current farm system, those picks could end up cancelling out what losing LaPorta and Brantley (obviously it won’t be a 1:1 ratio of comparison) meant to the franchise. Hell, they could actually IMPROVE over those guys. We won’t know for another 5-6 years … and even then it will be murky as hell to determine a “winner”.

Which is why I say this trade was a “win-win” for both organizations, either way you look at it. Both accomplished their goals before the trade was made.

by Toxicadam on Oct 6, 2008 12:26 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Defensively, Brantley has played left field, center field, or first base. I’m pretty confident that he’ll be sticking to the outfield from now on. And if he makes it to Cleveland, that means he’ll be a left fielder.

Does that mean you’re assuming LaPorta is going to play 1B if both LaPorta and Brantley become starters in Cleveland?

by world dictator on Oct 5, 2008 3:56 PM EDT   0 recs

I think based on skill set alone, Brantley will be sticking to the Outfield. I’m not much on the idea that certain numbers correlate to certain positions, but he’ll probably remain in Left. LaPorta will play where he can, it’s much more important to get his bat in the lineup first.

by JRontherim on Oct 5, 2008 4:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

LaPorta will play where he can, it’s much more important to get his bat in the lineup first.

It depends on how the existing personnel are doing at the time. And if Hafner is Pronk or just Hafner, whether Shoppach is still around, and how Francisco and Garko are doing. In other words, if LaPorta is mashing at AAA, the Indians will figure out a way to get him in the lineup.

by Ryan on Oct 5, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Laporta may also be able to play RF.

by hans on Oct 5, 2008 6:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

LaPorta would play RF if Brantley were in the other corner. With Choo, he’d play LF.

His arm is better than his range, and more balls are hit to LF than RF, and preventing htis is more important than holding baserunners.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 12:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

His arm is better than his range

Are we talking LaPorta here or Brantley? I would think LaPorta.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 1:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

LaPorta.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 1:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Okay. Because you’d think range wouldn’t be a problem for a speedy guy in the outfield.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 2:32 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Does that mean you’re assuming LaPorta is going to play 1B if both LaPorta and Brantley become starters in Cleveland?

Yeah, that’s my assumption.

by Ryan on Oct 5, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I would assume that, too, but that still assumes that we have a bigger hole at 1B than we do in the outfield, when that time arrives.

I don’t know how all this sorts out if we have Mills and Weglarz also descending on the big-league club at the same time, all I know is, that would be a nice problem to have.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 12:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

See: Milwaukee in 2008.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 1:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hardly. Gamel was terrible in the second half, and LaPorta never reached Triple-A before or after being traded.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 1:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I still think the general principle of having a surplus in talent being close to the major leagues applies. (And the corollary of being able to use that surplus of prospects to trade for big league studs)

by world dictator on Oct 6, 2008 2:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I’m just saying, those two guys were not exactly descending on the big-league club in 2008. They were not on-field assets for this season.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 11:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

if hafner keeps sucking, at some point will we have to trade him and pick up like 3/4 of his salary just to get the DH spot open for an excess – whether it be laporta, mills, etc – hitter?

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 5, 2008 5:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Quite possibly. Mills is in the 1b pipeline. I see LaPorta inheriting the DH job if we have to let Pronk go.

by ken from alexandria on Oct 5, 2008 8:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hafner’s extension hasn’t even started yet. I’d be astonished if we let him go in the next 2 years

by Roger Dorn on Oct 5, 2008 8:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

<blockquoteHafner’s extension hasn’t even started yet.

Man, that’s depressing to think about. Let’s hope he shows signs of life next year.

by cleveland teamer on Oct 5, 2008 11:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

(end blockquote)

ehh, boy. guess I should note that I’m drinking and hoping Boston loses this game

by cleveland teamer on Oct 5, 2008 11:30 PM EDT to parent up   1 recs

Rec for reading my mind last night.

by Ohiokie on Oct 6, 2008 11:08 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ugh

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 5, 2008 11:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I guess that’s 50 million dollar question going into next year … how long can you allow a player to hit .220 with limited power in a DH spot? When almost anyone on your bench or at AAA level could match or beat those numbers?

Even the Dodgers sat Andruw Jones at some point (and will most likely do the same next year).

Also, if I hear Heegan/Hammy say “Maybe that’s the hit Pronk needs to get himself going..” anymore, I will break my radio.

by Toxicadam on Oct 6, 2008 12:30 AM EDT to parent up   1 recs

I hope Hafner goes Cliff Lee on all of us next year. Much hand-wringing would end.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 10:24 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

a return of Fausto v.2007 and Hafner v.2006 would go an awful long way to making us really good

by APV on Oct 6, 2008 11:11 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

best year evah

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 6, 2008 12:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You sound like a Boston fan

by NickFantana on Oct 6, 2008 1:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

no

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 6, 2008 1:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Listen, at some point he gets cut loose if he can’t hit. It seems unthinkable, but it happens.

The Indians aren’t going to be swayed much by sunk costs — the money has already been spent. If they keep Hafner around, it’s going to be to recoup whatever ability they still think he has, not to recoup some fantasy of money that’s already gone. Once they decide his upside is limited and he’s not their best option to hold a roster spot, he will be moved.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 1:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes, but when? Next year? The year after? There really isn’t any historical reference to predict exactly what this FO will do. Matt Lawton is the nearest example I can think of and they stuck with him the length of his contract.

If Hafner still does this into August/September of next year, but the Indians are successful (13+ over .500 and 5 games in first place), I don’t see them making a change. They will carry him along hoping he “figures it out”.

by Toxicadam on Oct 6, 2008 2:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

well in that scenario he’s likely DL’d like this season and the roster spot is used. They aren’t going to carry him around on the roster if he can’t hit enough to be above replacement level (for a DH) and doesn’t play defense (which he never has, so its starting DH or off the roster all together).

by hans on Oct 6, 2008 2:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

My guess is that if Hafner doesn’t rebound he’ll still have some decent stats allowing us to trade him, giving him a change of scenary.

by world dictator on Oct 6, 2008 2:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

They actually traded Lawton with a year remaining.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 11:12 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I said the first two years because I just don’t think it’s very likely that he will be cut during that time even if he hits like he did this past season. My frame of reference, also cited below, was Matt Lawton and Dellucci

by Roger Dorn on Oct 6, 2008 3:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If he’s relatively healthy next season, and hits like he did this season, then he will not make the 2010 roster. They may in fact DFA him and try to get him to go to Columbus, but at that point they’d have to be prepared to lose him altogether.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 11:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

OT: On the Rays-Sox broadcast, Harold Reynolds just declared “[for] the Indians, the window is closing.” That’s unfortunate, I suppose I should just give up now.

by Fios on Oct 6, 2008 6:56 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh, and “the team to watch is Kansas City”

by Fios on Oct 6, 2008 6:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I’ve decided that the concept of “window” is cliche and not relevant. A window with a specific set of players perhaps, but it just doesn’t work that way. If it did, the White Sox would not be playing right now

by Roger Dorn on Oct 6, 2008 7:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Needs recs.

by Jay on Oct 6, 2008 11:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That thing went green pretty fast after you requested it.

You should flaunt your power more often.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 11:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I like to catch the comments that seem to have gotten lost in the shuffle.

by Jay on Oct 7, 2008 12:24 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That’s a shame, I thought Reynolds was having a pretty good LDS prior to that. Buck Martinez wasn’t doing so bad either.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 9:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hello Fios,

With all due respect to Reynolds, I think he misidentified the window.

That window sounds more like the team that got knocked out earlier today (White Sox) – most of their players are over 30, and their farm system has very little in it by most accounts.

As mentioned below, the Indians have some good, young talent at both the ML level and in the Minor League pipeline. While losing Sabathia from the rotation doesn’t help, it’s not a loss that can’t be overcome, especially if Lee can continue pitching at a high level (a reasonable chance of doing that, though perhaps not quite as good as 2008, but still well above-average) and if Carmona can stay healthy and find his 2007 form (a reasonable possibility, based on his youth and having a year to recover from the long 2007 season). Combine that with a surprise or two from a guy like Lewis, Huff, Sowers, Jackson, or Reyes, along with a rebound and some reinforcements (Sipp, Stevens, Meloan, Wagner, etc.) in the bullpen, and the Indians can be right there in 2009, so to me, the window is far from closing.

In fact, the window might be opening a bit more for the Indians going into 2009, while I think it IS closing on the White Sox, little by little at least with each passing season. As I said above, I think Reynolds misidentified the window. :-)

Just my 2 cents.

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

by indiansfan on Oct 6, 2008 11:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I wasn’t sure where to post this, but I was reading ESPN.com’s baseball rumor section. One of the posts mentioned that the Braves would look to trade 2B Kelly Johnson this offseason given the Braves high opinion of Martin Prado. I don’t know much about Johnson since I don’t follow the national league, but he appears to have some solid numbers offensively and would be a potential upgrade at 2B if we were to move Asdrubal to SS. A cursory glance at his defensive statistics looks to put him about slightly above average.

Would anyone be able to offer additional insight into Johnson, someone that has seen him play more often than I? Also potentially what the Tribe would have to think about offering to acquire him. It would be nice to have two starters named Kelly going into next season

by Roger Dorn on Oct 6, 2008 7:05 PM EDT   0 recs

It would be nice to have two starters named Kelly going into next season

Why, so you can go around singing Woody’s “Kelly” love song all of next season?

by talonk on Oct 6, 2008 7:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

what do you think it would take to pry him away from the Braves.

by world dictator on Oct 6, 2008 8:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

All I could find about Johnson’s D in terms of plus/minus was this line:

Although Oakland second baseman Mark Ellis and Atlanta shortstop Yunel Escobar grade extremely well in Dewan’s system, their double-play partners, Bobby Crosby and Kelly Johnson, do not.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 6, 2008 10:05 PM EDT