El Diatribador pregunta, ¿por qué no Valbuena?

And it's a good question. The obvious thing in front of us is Peralta's struggles, but the Indians are unlikely to bench him for more than a couple of games and very unlikely to respond to his struggles at the plate by moving his position in the field. Still, as Paul notes, the Indians seem to be prepping our future 2B starter to step into the Carroll/Graffanino role in the short term, spending a little time at shortstop and a little more at 3B. Paul's more startling discovery is that Francisco is working on a run of 500 plate appearances that are literally sub-Dellichaels in their efficacy. It isn't outrageous to think that Valbuena can outhit Francis|crowe, and if the team comes to believe that's the case, why not send DeRosa to the outfield?

almost 3 years ago Jay 24 comments 0 recs |

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Two thoughts.

1. I miss Jamey Carroll. /cold drink of water/ I really miss Jamey Carroll.

2. Does anyone know if there’s a relevant service time issue for Valbuena this season?

by fleerdon on May 1, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

Covered this in another thread. Basically, he’s not close enough to a cut-off point to worry about it, if we really need him.

He started the year not only with 25 more days of service time than LaPorta, but also with 75 days more Triple-A experience.

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

by Jay on May 1, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks.

by fleerdon on May 1, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t mind giving this a shot.

Sometimes, I just like to b****.

by emd2k3 on May 1, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

I miss the Year of the Jhonny

Free LaPorta; when proper.

by Gradyforpresident on May 1, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

Me too. Kind of bitter about it. I mean, it’s not too late, but I was pretty excited about that.

I was also the guy hyping New Jake Westbrook last year coming out of spring training. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.

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

by Jay on May 1, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

It wasn’t the performance that didn’t live up to the ST expectations. It was the injury that may or may not have been correlated with the New+Improved Jake.

Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.

by westbrook on May 1, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, but the degree to which the result sucks is highly correlated.

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

by Jay on May 1, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn’t really expecting a Duke Lacrosse discussion when I clicked on that link.

Just when I thought I was out…

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

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 1, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Huh. Wrong thread. Damn tabbed browsing.

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

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 1, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m not really sure how much of an improvement Valbuena would be over Carroll in a utility role. However, this whole DeRosa to the OF thing might be interesting. However, we’ve got a guy in LaPorta who would really be without a spot if Valbuena plays the IF with DeRosa playing full-time in the OF. Garko could completely fall off the table, I know, but even in that case, we’ve got the 2-catcher thing and DeRosa who could play 1B in a pinch like he did in the WBC.

As for Graffanino, DFA his sorry ass the day Jamey comes back.

Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.

by westbrook on May 1, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

As for Graffanino, DFA his sorry ass the day Jamey comes back

by cleveland teamer on May 1, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

I wonder what this would look like on a green background?…

by APV on May 1, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I mentioned this in another thread. We occassionally (usually in disgust) throw out statements saying that maybe this team just isn’t that great, maybe we need to start over, or move to the next step. Maybe we just aren’t that good.

Well, the first step is Valbuena and Cabrera, and the end of Jhonny at short. And that could mean moving DeRosa to the outfield, or to a supersub role, or moving him altogether. Or it could mean moving Jhonny. All of those options are fine with me, depending on the answers to: First, can Jhonny even play third? And, what could we get for Jhonny or DeRosa?

This would be taking a step to our “next” team, without destroying this season.

by dgcambridge on May 1, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

I think the short-term step is just trying out Valbuena at 2B and 3B, without moving Peralta around much.

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

by Jay on May 1, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

where’s the petition for this? i’ll sign and get my wife to.

by Brick. on May 1, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

OK. Jhonny’s a sensitive fellow. At some point though, he’s going to wonder why all these Venezuelans are circling around him.

by dgcambridge on May 1, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Anyone else think that Shapiro, Antonetti & Co. pretty regularly look at their minor league report, see Valbuena’s name and kind of laugh while shaking their head and saying, “I can’t believe we got another one of these guys from Seattle…”

(note: Franklin Gutierrez, still an outstanding defender, still putting up an OBP under .300 while not hitting for power)

by APV on May 1, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Say what you want about the performance of the big league club (and Lord knows I have), but Shapiro’s value return with the Seattle dealings is nothing short of amazing.

Broussard/Perez/Davis/Gutierrez for Asdrubal/Valbuena/Choo/Nottingham/Jeanmar. Have to do a win share analysis of that in about 8 years.

by cheech99 on May 1, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions