Who goes?

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 11:21 AM EDT Comment 62 comments

Eric Wedge said David Dellucci should return sometime next week. The reports have been positive on Dellucci's rehab stint at Triple-A Buffalo. He's hit in all six games played, including a 3-for-4 effort last night. He's made one start in the outfield. As for who the Indians will cut loose to make room for Dellucci, I doubt it will be Trevor Crowe. It's more likely the Indians will use Dellucci's callup to go back to a 12-man pitching staff.

The first discussion is, of course, which is needed more on the active roster right now: A 5th outfielder, not counting (DeRosa or G-Raff) or the extra arm in the Pen? Then once you have decided that, who goes from that selection set?

If the answer is to keep the arms and ditch the pinch-runner, the most obvious choice would be Crowe. An argument could be made to use up Francisco’s option as well. The difference, or lack there of, between the two has been discussed before, but either could reasonably be the odd man out.

If the answer is to trim back to a more traditional 12-man pitching staff, then there are a number of ways to go. Sipp has been marvelous thus far, but in this economy sometimes the last guy in the door is the first guy out, even if he’s shown he can be pretty valuable. Chulk and Masa would need to be DFA’d. Chulk, it would seem, has shown enough that someone out there would snag him up. Masa, coming into the year, would have been an obvious choice here, but has been pretty effective so far. Perez might have been the choice a few days ago with the struggles he showed, but has come out of it somewhat in his last two outings. Smith, who has yet to show he can get lefties out, has also given up some hits and walks to righties that have been costly.

I think it’s between Crowe and Smith. What do you think?

Poll

Who Goes?

Crowe

71 votes

Francisco

19 votes

Masa

11 votes

Smith

15 votes

Perez

3 votes

Chulk

10 votes

Sipp

2 votes

131 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 62 comments

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Comments

I seriously doubt that it’ll be Smith. I’m voting BenFran.

by JulioBernazard on Apr 29, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think if it’s a bullpen guy, he goes. if simply for the fact that he seems right now like the 13th guy in the pen. he has limited usage. he’s got options. and he hasn’t been all that effective. in 6 1/3 IP, he’s walked 5 (4 righties) and K’d 6 (3 righties) and given up 7 Hits (5 to righties). And he’s pitched the fewest inning of anyone except Sipp.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I voted for Smith.

by NickFantana on Apr 29, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can not wrap my mind around this. The 7th guy in the pen is more limited in his usage then the 6th outfielder? On this team? I know Crowe almost got in the game last night (he had to stretch), but I don’t see it.

by dgcambridge on Apr 29, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, I did an unbelievably poor job of reading Brick’s comment. Let’s pretend I posted this as a reply to the Castro quote below.

by dgcambridge on Apr 29, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, it did help correct my “13th guy in the pen” mistake.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The 13th guy in the pen and the 6th outfielder are both Trevor Crowe.

by dgcambridge on Apr 29, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

This and you really don’t want Smith used in long relief. Masa & Vinnie are better suited to be stretched out. Smith makes sense. And wasn’t it mentioned recently that they were tinkering with his (Smith’s) approach to help him get lefties out? It be good to practice that in AAA.

by JK in CBus on Apr 29, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Castro believes it will be a pitcher

Eric Wedge said David Dellucci should return sometime next week. The reports have been positive on Dellucci’s rehab stint at Triple-A Buffalo. He’s hit in all six games played, including a 3-for-4 effort last night. He’s made one start in the outfield. As for who the Indians will cut loose to make room for Dellucci, I doubt it will be Trevor Crowe. It’s more likely the Indians will use Dellucci’s callup to go back to a 12-man pitching staff.

by volapuk on Apr 29, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh I see what you did there. Nice.

by jakesinger777 on Apr 29, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i fail to.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What’s he doing in Buffalo?

by jhon on Apr 29, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i didn’t notice that either. i’m still not getting the comment post of the exact thing i quoted and linked in the body of the fanpost.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Crowe, although Castro disagrees with me:

Eric Wedge said David Dellucci should return sometime next week. The reports have been positive on Dellucci’s rehab stint at Triple-A Buffalo. He’s hit in all six games played, including a 3-for-4 effort last night. He’s made one start in the outfield. As for who the Indians will cut loose to make room for Dellucci, I doubt it will be Trevor Crowe. It’s more likely the Indians will use Dellucci’s callup to go back to a 12-man pitching staff.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 29, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

see, this i get.

best i can come up with was the implication this should have been a fanshot? but i still stick to the ‘something to share’ vs. ‘something to discuss’ rule of thumb. i’m not so much sharing his opinion, a waste of a fanshot, but using it as a point of departure for discussing the topic of what we should do. besides, can’t to a poll in a fanshot.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This isn’t the first time I’ve piled on a joke I didn’t get.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 29, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Outburstor.

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

by Jay on Apr 29, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will bear the stigma like a scarlet O.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 29, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

First, this is a perfect example of a FanPost. So screw whatever point may or may not have been getting made.

Second, Castro is smart and obviously well sourced, but he’s not always right when he speculates, so it’s certainly worth discussing.

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

by Jay on Apr 29, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Hoynsie said Buffalo rather than Castro, there would be calls for his head. How lazy can you get, Vince? How hard is it to use your brain?

by odradek on Apr 30, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree. Not that I don’t find Hoynse lazy and terrible.

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Apr 30, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think that’s true. PH has shown some real apathy at time, beyond a simple Buffalo/Columbus mistake. One that we’ve all been making.

by dgcambridge on Apr 30, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually am screwing around, but you get my point: Hoynsie makes mistakes just like everybody else.

by odradek on Apr 30, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s what I was trying to figure out, too. I was making fun of him..either I missed something or I made you all miss something.

by jakesinger777 on Apr 29, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m hanging on to BenFran for now. It’s either Crowe or Smith, like you said, in my humble opinion. I think BenFran can pinch run, donchathink? Either way, I think Smith is the right call for now.

by jakesinger777 on Apr 29, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not saying I disagree with not sending BenFran down, but I don’t think his pinchrunning ability is what would keep him up over Crowe.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Apr 29, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, it’s his hitting. I think he can hit better than Crowe. Don’t you?

by jakesinger777 on Apr 29, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Without looking at the stats, I’d say yes, albeit marginally. Crowe’s superior defense and speed makes it closer to a wash than you’d think on the surface. Last night’s HR notwithstanding, BenFran hasn’t excited me much this year (to be fair, Crowe hasn’t done much either).

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Apr 29, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It really is going to depend on how heavily the bullpen gets taxed over the next week. In general, I would think they intend eventually to go back to a seven-man bullpen. But it’s not going to happen after a game like last night’s.

If it was today? Crowe. In a week, it might be Smith, or Masa could get the boot if he warrants it. He may well be the first guy out of the pen tonight.

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

by Jay on Apr 29, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, i think all the ‘depends on what happens’ and ‘decision will be made for them’ provisos apply. i agree it’s crowe’s demotion to loose.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smith. I didn’t know he had options.

by Ryan Kelsey on Apr 29, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not altogether related to this – but what happened to Juan Salas?

by APV on Apr 29, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think I remember a Lastoria mention that there is some sort of injury, but I can’t quite remember.

by TribeJay on Apr 29, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was he not the guy where he turned out to be injured, and the Indians got MLB to annul the waiver claim and send him back to Oakland?

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

by Jay on Apr 29, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

San Diego.

by Voltaire on Apr 29, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody really knows what it means …

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

by Jay on Apr 29, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re thinking of Jae Kuk Ryu.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 29, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Founded by the Germans…

by KevinV on Apr 29, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No. Salas was the guy we picked up from Tampa. Here’s what Tony had, but this was way back on April 8:

He was optioned out on March 19th, pitched in a minor league spring game on March 21st and only threw a third of an inning and ten pitches before being removed. Since that game, he has never been seen. I was out at the complex for ten days and never saw him once, though I am not familiar with what he looks like. That said, I never saw a jersey with “Salas” on the back….and more importantly he never pitched in any of the minor league spring games for the two weeks after that last appearance.

Apparently, he is on the minor league reserve list. There has been no official move to the disabled list for anything (yet). The fact he was taken out of the middle of an inning on just ten pitches and has not pitched since to me implies he is hurt, but there has been no announcement of an injury which is odd. The fact he is on the reserve list to me may instead imply something else is going on behind the scenes from a personal standpoint or something came up between him and the team. I’ll see if I can dig up more on him, though I have a feeling the fact nothing has been said of his whereabouts may be on purpose.

by APV on Apr 29, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t know where he is, but I’m guessing Rosario is there with him.

by dgcambridge on Apr 29, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and apparently my sense of optimism

by APV on Apr 29, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fascinating.

by NickFantana on Apr 29, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone thought of looking for him in Buffalo?

by odradek on Apr 30, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Is there a compelling reason to keep Crowe?

I become an expert simply by doing something.

by fwembt on Apr 29, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

compelling? certainly not. i, personally, like his defense a little better – especially to back up CF. I, again subjectively, think he’s a little faster. francisco would be burning his last option and has more power, though, so i’d give him the nod.

by Brick. on Apr 29, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well we got our answer to this poll today: Travis Hafner.

Resident LGT results-oriented boob.

by mauichuck on Apr 30, 2009 3:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think there maybe several moves coming… I think Rundles for Dellucci is a given…. However I am pretty sure we will see Luis Valbuena… I am not sure if he will be Hafners replacement but with the way Jhonny is struggling and how much Wedge like to be able to move players around I think thats what might happen. I could also see a senerio (probably in my dreams) that they send GRAF down and bring up Laporta also. So I think if I am Shapiro and Wedge; Dellucci, Valbuena, and Laporta up… RR and Graf (down) and Haf to the DL…. Any Thoughts

by NCTRIB on Apr 30, 2009 8:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I think bringing LaPorta up now would be expensive and stupid. As to the immediate point, you have at least two tiers of moves coming. You need an extra bullpen arm for at least a couple of days after Reyes’ implosion the other night, and a supreme lack of confidence that they won’t do it again. Once you’re sure nobody’s arm is going to fly off and spear a Tiger in the head (a less appetizing vision now that Sheff is gone), then you can send down a pitcher and bring up a hitter. Or perhaps a “hitter” as we’re talking about Dellucci. I would prefer Smith, but wouldn’t be surprised if I’m wrong.

by FredOx on Apr 30, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

graf can’t just (down). he stays.

by Brick. on Apr 30, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I think we will have either Carroll or Graf on our team all through the season. It doesn’t make sense to have both, and I think will risk losing Graf.

by dgcambridge on Apr 30, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes, when carroll comes back. it shouldn’t happen till then, but it should happen then.

by Brick. on Apr 30, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know. I want Valbuena to play, every day (or at least 5 days a week). Same with Laporta. I don’t see us making any move that does otherwise.

by dgcambridge on Apr 30, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jay/Brick, can you clarify the arb situation on Luis V?

by afh4 on Apr 30, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always go here for my quick hits.

Valbuena, Luis: INF
Contract: MIN
Option years remaining: 3
ML Service Time: 0.025

The time he has was from his shot of espresso in seattle last year. i get utterly lost with the super 2 stuff, but i would think that valbuena wouldn’t be a permanent call-up this year, regardles. So you’re going to have some peice of a partial year this after this year, but no-where near enough to get him to super 2 if he’s up for good starting next year, opening day.

by Brick. on Apr 30, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is there any “fear” of him coming up and raking and thus not being sent back down?

by afh4 on Apr 30, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of all the actual realistic moves that we have available, the one that is the most dramatic would be plugging Valbuena and Cabrera in as our everyday middle infield. We’re not near that point yet, but if the season continues to go to crap…

by dgcambridge on Apr 30, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not quite.

Those 25 days put him at +37 in terms of free agency, i.e., he needs to spend 38 days in the minors to slip a year.

If we need him early, he’s going to end up in arbitration as a Super Two, nothing really can be done about it (as with Fausto), because he’d need 90-95 days in the minors to avoid it. You might fudge these things for 35 days, but not for 75 days, not if there’s a clear need and a clear upgrade.

I think it’s unlikely that he’ll spend much time in the majors this season, but if he does, he’ll end up as a Super Two.

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

by Jay on Apr 30, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs