Spring Training Battles

by Ryan on Mar 22, 2009 12:30 PM EDT in Analysis

As a coda to the transactions entry, here's the players left in camp, and the roster spots available:

Fifth Starter

Aaron Laffey

Scott Lewis

Jeremy Sowers

Laffey came into camp the favorite, and I still think he's the best option, but Scott Lewis has pitched the best of the three. I think it's a matter of time until Sowers is optioned down, leaving Laffey and Lewis to battle it out over the next two weeks.

Seventh Reliever

RHP Vinnie Chulk

LHP Zach Jackson

RHP Edward Mujica

RHP Matt Herges

RHP Kirk Saarloos

With Adam Miller gone, it's a wide open race. I'd like to see the Indians go with more of a longman, and Zach Jackson looks like the best fit for that role. Vinnie Chulk has pitched well, and has a mid-May out in his contract if he's not with the Indians by then. If Mujica doesn't make the team, he has to pass through waivers.

Thirteenth Position Player

2B Josh Barfield

OF Trevor Crowe

IF Tony Graffanino

This one's a tough call. Usually the last guy on the bench of an American League team doesn't get a lot of playing time, so I'd rather Trevor Crowe go to Columbus and get regular at-bats. With Josh Barfield doing well in the outfield, I think he's the right fit, with Graffanino playing shortstop in Columbus.

Others Still in Camp, but with no shot of making the team:

RHP Greg Aquino

IF Andy Cannizaro

IF Andy Marte

IF Wilson Valdez

OF Michael Brantley

OF Matt LaPorta

C Chris Gimenez

C Wyatt Toregas

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Comments

~~Mujica~~

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Mar 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

~~General Tsowers~~

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Mar 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

Pavano has 2, possibly 3, spring training appearances left. I wonder what he’d have to do to pitch his way off the team?

by APV on Mar 22, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think he can pitch his way of the team this spring. But he definitely can by May. Huff, Sowers, and Laffey/Lewis should not get too comfortable in Columbus.

by oxforddave on Mar 22, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m hesitant to put Jackson into a relief role until mid-summer. If there’s a place for him then, and we feel good about the rotation, then fine, but if we convert him to a reliever now, and need him to start later, we may not be able to afford the lag time to stretch him back out.

I’d like it to be Chulk, because I’ve decided to call him the Vincredible Chulk and I just don’t see that making much difference if he’s not on the team.

RE: Crowe … do we really think any more time at AAA will finish him? If there was some kind of legit need for him topside, I don’t think I’d stress over whether he’d had enough opportunities to ripen.

by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I agree with you about Crowe and while Graffinino will probably hit for a better average as a pinch hitter, Crowe gives you that speedy base stealer that comes in handy about once a week, when you need a pinch runner late in the game.

Really, the only thing Barfield is riding on is his Padre stats. He hasn’t done anything to justify a roster spot since then. Graffinino is a better hitter and Crowe is a better OF’er and base runner.

Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT

by Toxicadam on Mar 22, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Really, the only thing Barfield is riding on is his Padre stats

the only thing he’s riding on is the indians trading for luis valbena.

by Brick. on Mar 22, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the advantage of having Crowe in AAA is that having him get at bats everyday in AAA would better prepare him to take over as a long-term replacement in center. That’s where he is most valuable to the team as the difference between him and Barfield in the13th position player role is minimal.

by ClarkM on Mar 22, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

prepare him to take over as a long-term replacement in center.

Grady Sizemore: born August 2, 1982

by Brick. on Mar 22, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

In case of a Sizemore injury, was that not obvious?

by ClarkM on Mar 22, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

flag.

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

by westbrook on Mar 22, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear what you’re saying but, at this point, I think we’d see Choo, Francisco or Brantley in centerfield before Crowe in a long-term injury situation (and I am frantically knocking on wood as I write that.)

by NickFantana on Mar 22, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s actually pretty clear that if Grady were to be unavailable for more than a few days, Crowe would get the call-up at this point, and he’d get a decent look as an everyday player at least for a few weeks.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t mean to be confrontational but what gives you this impression? I don’t remember reading anything to this effect.

by NickFantana on Mar 22, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s because I haven’t published it.

How good do you think Choo can be in center field if you need him to play there?

We think he’s best suited on the corners, but think he has the ability to potentially back up in center field on a short-term basis, if we needed to rest Grady a day or something like that, either he or Ben would probably go to center, but he is best defensively in a corner outfield spot, at least in our opinion.

If there was a need for someone to play center for a month, you would probably bring someone else in?

Crowe or Brantley probably would be the two alternatives for us at this point, for a long-term injury in center field.

Yes, I realize this is totally unfair. In the short term, “Crowe or Brantley” = “Crowe” since he’s on the 40-man roster.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think this is hilarious. It makes me very happy to be involved with an enterprise that has such a depth and breadth of information.

Thanks for publishing this bit early.

by NickFantana on Mar 22, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

ha, rec.

by Brick. on Mar 23, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Crowe is viewed as a viable everyday player at this point, but he still could be really nice as a role player, and he still needs to get some reps in as a minor leaguer.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe the more ABs Crowe gets and does well, the better chance we have to use him as trade bait, ala Crisp, since I don’t expect he’ll br manning LF or RF in the upcoming years (LaPorta, Choo, Francisco, Weglarz, etc).

by talonk on Mar 22, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m with you on Jackson. It makes way more sense to check and see if we somehow caught lightning in a bottle with Chulk and leave Jackson in AAA as our #7 starter/Chulk’s replacement as 7th bullpen guy.

Somewhat relatedly, I can’t believe Sowers is going to be our #8 starter.

by NickFantana on Mar 22, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I agree with this.

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

by westbrook on Mar 22, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

RE: Crowe … do we really think any more time at AAA will finish him? If there was some kind of legit need for him topside, I don’t think I’d stress over whether he’d had enough opportunities to ripen.

I look at it this way: being the 25th man isn’t real conducive to staying sharp offensively, and the Indians are much more likely to need Crowe to play everyday than Barfield. If/when Dellucci gets released, then there’s your spot for Crowe. And Barfield is a pretty good baserunner – that’s generally what Wedge’s 25th men are used for anyway. I’m not saying Barfield is a better player than Crowe, I’m saying he’s the better fit.

by Ryan on Mar 22, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

This is what I was trying to say.

by ClarkM on Mar 22, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Works for me. Thanks.

by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

yup

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

by westbrook on Mar 22, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m hesitant to put Jackson into a relief role until mid-summer. If there’s a place for him then, and we feel good about the rotation, then fine, but if we convert him to a reliever now, and need him to start later, we may not be able to afford the lag time to stretch him back out.

Well, you’d have Huff, Sowers, and the loser of the Lewis/Laffey battle in Columbus, with Westbrook coming back in June/July. I know the Indians haven’t gone with a spot starter/longman in the bullpen the last couple years, but that was with a rotation full of innings eaters. I think with this rotation you need more length in the bullpen.

by Ryan on Mar 22, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Been having the same thought.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Mar 22, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably I’m more afraid of not having a replacement starter and needing one, than I am of not having a long man. I think Sowers is not ML viable, and that Westbrook is more like August/September than he is June/July. I’ll admit that I’m taking an underdog’s interest in Jackson and would rather not see him so close to the exit.

by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, if you’re cheering for him, it might be a better showcase for him to be in the major league bullpen than to be the #9ish starter. The last guy in the pen will get innings in Cleveland.

by dgcambridge on Mar 23, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Isnt’ the long man also a replacement starter? I don’t see these roles as mutually exclusive.

by Ryan Kelsey on Mar 23, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Vincredible Chulk

I can’t believe this didn’t get a million recs.

by ken from alexandria on Mar 22, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

If Mujica doesn’t make the team, he has to pass through waivers.

Yeah. I’m really worried about that.

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

by westbrook on Mar 22, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve gone from ‘Mujica would have to pass through waivers!’ to ‘Mujica would have to pass through waivers.’ It’s like the fine print they mumble at the end of a car dealer commercial on the radio.

by Ryan on Mar 22, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions