Spring Training Battles (Update)
by APV on Mar 24, 2009 12:29 PM EDT
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PrintUpdating Ryan's post below:
Indians make a few more roster moves (PD story, mlb.com story)
Fifth Starter
Aaron Laffey
Scott Lewis
Jeremy Sowers
Hoynes and Ocker speculate Lewis is now in front. I'm skeptical. Here's Shapiro:
"Scott Lewis has probably been the most consistent of the group," said Shapiro. "He's pounded the strike zone. Commanded his fastball. He's shown the ability to throw his breaking ball for strikes as well."
Seventh Reliever
RHP Vinnie Chulk
LHP Zach Jackson
RHP Edward Mujica
RHP Matt Herges
RHP Kirk Saarloos
Saarloos is a depth starter in Columbus. This seems to be all about Mujica, Jackson and Chulk. Hoynes says Shapiro is looking for additional bullpen help.
Thirteenth Position Player
2B Josh Barfield
OF Trevor Crowe
IF Tony Graffanino
I'm sure Graffanino is around to fill positions the final two weeks. Crowe would still seem to have an outside shot, but it is Barfield's to lose (which is not to say he can't lose it).
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
Gimenez clearly seems to have moved ahead of Toregas in the 3rd catcher pecking order.
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I also think it is interesting Marte will still be palling around with the big league boys. Seems to me he isn’t really being viewed as a part of that Columbus team. Keeping him with the big league camp might give him a little more exposure to opposing GMs.
This was my first reaction (except I didn’t make the exposure connection). It’s got to be awkward for the poor guy.
by Fire Slider on Mar 24, 2009 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it heretical to suggest Laffey for a bullpen spot? I loved when he was back there in 2007 and we could use another lefty not named Perez.
Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT
I think I’d prefer to keep him stretched out as a starter for the eventual end of the Pavano experiment.
DISCLAIMER: I may be bitter.
“Scott Lewis has probably been the most consistent of the group,” said Shapiro.
heck, even I could say that
by Brick. on Mar 24, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I know he hasnt’ exactly been lights out this spring, but I’d like to see Jackson grab the 7th bullpen spot to give the team some length, especially with some injury questions and youth at the bottom of the rotation.
I could’ve sworn that Wood was supposed to provide us some length.
by supermarioelia on Mar 24, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah I’m leaning toward this as well, all it takes is a 1 1/3 inning clunker by any of the #3-5 rotation guys to burn through that bullpen fast, having Jackson there to slaggle (word? up) his way through five or so innings would be nice.
Yeah at this point I’m suddenly leaning towards Jackson in the bullpen. To me it has nothing to do with a long reliever or anything, just that he’s a lefty and (what the hell) you never know how he could look in that role.
Steel Nick
So, there is no chance that Gimenez has played his way into the discussion for the 13th position player…right?
Like, what if they want to DH Martinez or Shoppach while Garko plays first and the ‘still working on his timing’ Hafner takes a few days off. If that is a plausible situation (mabye against a tough LHP?), it would be nice to have a third catcher available in case of injury. Gimenez also could back up 1st, 3rd, and corner OF. Certainly improves roster flexibility.
But still, it seems unlikely.
by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on Mar 25, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
He can play C, 1B, 3B, LF, RF. Seems more flexible than what Crowe gives you and he probably could out hit Graffanino and Barfield combined, right now. Plus, I don’t konw if Gimenez projects to much more than a bench player, so getting him every day ABs at AAA isn’t quite as important.
by Ryan Kelsey on Mar 25, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with all that.
On the other hand, Crowe provides OF depth and somebody who can play a credible CF. Maybe Barfield eventually does that as well. And both of them would be good pinch-running options. With Carroll on the bench, and DeRosa’s flexibility, I think they have the infield flexibility they need and that the OF depth and pinch-running needs will be given priority.
I think Gimenez will go to Columbus to start the year, but if any non-pitcher other than Sizemore get’s hurt, he’s probably the first guy to get called up. I think Barfield will the the 13th guy with Crowe getting playing time at AAA. But I’m rooting for Gimenez.
by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on Mar 25, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Gimenez certainly provides tremendous flexibility, which is why he has a future role on this team at some point. I think they do want him to get more regular ABs at Columbus before that time comes, though. He only has 229 PAs at AAA, and in that time last year, he wasn’t able to bring all the offensive gains he made in Akron with him. I think the front office would probably like to see him consolidate some of those offensive gains at AAA before giving him a role in Cleveland. There’s no reason he can’t play 5 days a week in Columbus for two months, manning a different position everyday if the team wants it that way, and really get his offense in line – something he can’t do in Cleveland.
Yeah, I don’t really think Gimenez has a shot, but the fact that he is still with the team after this latest round of cuts and how well he is playing, I thought maybe they are considering him for this 25th man spot.
by Ryan Kelsey on Mar 25, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
He prob won’t make the roster, but the fact that he’s lasted this long makes me think they see a bright future for him as a super utility guy. A utility man who plays C would be huge. His AA numbers are comparable to Pablo Sandoval’s over in SF (granted a small sample size/high BABIP for both guys), and Gimenez actually walks a bit more. Sandoval is similarly versatile and looks to have made the jump from AA to the bigs pretty quickly and may turn out to be a really nice role player for them.
It seems like the team is leaning on sending Crowe to Columbus as well, grooming him to take that 4th OF spot eventually (I’d rather have him than Dellucci right now, but I guess we’ll have to wait till in season for that). They have to give Barfield one more shot to try to make good on the Kouzmanoff trade. Granted he’s nothing special, but Kouz could have given us at least Casey Blake level production at 3B with slightly better defense (I’m not knocking DeRosa here but I worry that he won’t repeat his power from ’08 and obviously hindsight is always 20/20).
The difference between the two being 1986 and 1982 – as in Sandoval’s DOB and Gimenez’s. Gimenez is a potentially useful part, Sandoval is probably a legit prospect.
Most scouts felt that Kouzmanoff’s defense was absolutely terrible at 3B, that moving him to 1B was probably inevitable. Whether that’s changed, I can’t say. The jury also is still out on whether he will hit any better or even as well as Blake — and whether he would if he were in a tougher league and in a division with strong pitching. Kouzmanoff had a pretty good chance of being a very aggravating young player for us.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I’m surprising myself and coming around on Giminez. I think there’s at least an outside shot he fashions a career as a Royals starter for himself. And I mean that as a compliment.
Someone get him on the line with Willie Bloomquist’s agent.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 25, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
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