LaPorta, Valbuena, Barfield coming up
Smith DL'd, Crowe option'd, Graffanino DFA'd.
Good things come in threes, too, right?
almost 3 years ago
fleerdon
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Wedge said LaPorta will serve as a complement to David Dellucci, Valbuena will be the utility guy in the infield, and Barfield will be back to his old role as a late replacement on the basepaths and potential help in the infield and outfield.
Yeah, yeah, Castro.
by fleerdon on May 1, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions
Yessssss, BARFIELD!
I refuse to ever root for a team that routinely does the MVP chant for opposing players.
by TheVanillaGorilla on May 1, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
So, what do you speculate will happen when Anonymous Smith gets healthy again? Ben Fran gets sent down?
Is he even actually hurt?
Anyway, no, I’d guess the next move will be LaPorta back down.
by fleerdon on May 1, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Or Valbuena.
Real question is, when do Perez and Stomp get sent down?
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I was thinking the same thing regarding Perez and Stomp, though I do agree with westbrook that I think Stomp is “in the lead” for going down first – 6 HRs in however many innings is way too many. Perez has shown some signs of life and dominance, though he needs to do it much more consistently, certainly.
If Perez and Stomp don’t figure it out within the next 1-2 weeks, max., then either or both should be sent down.
Right now, I think the bullpen should go like this:
9th – Wood
8th – Betancourt (yes, Betancourt isn’t the 2007 form, but based on his track record and his better stuff than Lewis, he has to be the setup man – you just hope he can recapture the consistency he showed between 2003-2006, or better yet, 2007).
7th/8th – Sipp (it’s not ideal that you have to turn to Sipp in a setup role at this point, being that he is not that experienced, but I think and hope that his above-average to excellent stuff, along with a bulldog mentality, will help to compensate for the lack of experience – at this point, he’s a better option than both Perez and Lewis).
6th/7th – Perez and Lewis – work them in here and hope that they can find themselves quickly; otherwise, one or both should head down to AAA.
I don’t know when to mix in Kobayashi and Chulk, but I would suspect 6th/7th, maybe mix them in in the 8th along with Betancourt if you don’t want to put Sipp fully in that role yet, or if you use Sipp earlier (I don’t know if Sipp can go multiple innings at this point – I know he did so in the minors before the TJ surgery).
It’s not the ideal situation, but too often over the course of this season, Perez and Lewis have either given up leads/ties or they’ve made games that should have been solidly in the bag into nailbiters.
I know many have questioned whether Betancourt can regain his old form (and I’m not saying his 2007 form, but more his 2003-2006 form when he was a very solid reliever), but I’m starting to wonder about the legitimacy of Lewis as a set-up guy.
Yes, he has that bulldog mentality, but his stuff doesn’t seem that impressive to me (Betancourt has a plus fastball and Perez has a plus slider, but what “plus” pitch does Lewis have?) Ever since Lewis’ velocity dipped from his ML debut (2007), it seems his margin for error has grown increasingly smaller, and being that his command is not a “plus” either, that’s what seems to make him more susceptible to giving up the big hit and big innings, especially so far in 2009. If Lewis has a little better stuff (i.e. better velocity and/or better command), I think he might be more dominant like he was during that 2007 season; since then, he just looks like he has a good stretch with that bulldog mentality, but then makes a mistake and gives up a huge hit and a huge inning. I almost think he’d be better off as a 6th/7th inning guy rather than an 8th inning guy, which is all the more reason why I leave Betancourt in there for the time being, and leave him there unless Betancourt totally flames and Lewis totally excels over an extended period.
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Ever since Lewis’ velocity dipped from his ML debut (2007), it seems his margin for error has grown increasingly smaller, and being that his command is not a "plus" either, that’s what seems to make him more susceptible to giving up the big hit and big innings, especially so far in 2009.
But his velocity has returned. However, hitters aren’t as late on his fastball as they were in 2007. It’s either location or he’s easier to pick up, or maybe both.
He’s still missing the pitch that made him really good when he first came up – a rising 93-94 heater that climbed up out of the zone and was irresistable to hitters with 2 strikes on them. Everything else is there, just not that strikeout pitch that had a little extra juice on it.
So when do we see LaPorta? Do you sit Francisco and put both Dellucci and LaPorta in the lineup against RHP Miner and/or Verlander, or do you wait until Toronto to play LaPorta at DH against the LHP?
Still thinking calling up LaPorta was unnecessary, unless they’re gonna do some service time management later in the season.
I think that is a realistic possibility, being that Francisco is struggling mightily.
Besides that, we know LaPorta
1. Is not a platoon guy
2. wasn’t called up to admire the scenery from the bench – he WILL play at some point (as I believe Valbuena will as well – moreso than Graffanino did).
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Wedge said the 24-year-old LaPorta…will serve as the right-handed complement to left-handed veteran Dellucci. That could mean LaPorta is due to see regular playing time against left-handed starters.
LaPorta has evinced a pronounced reverse platoon split over his minor league career.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
Thanks for the info. – still, I don’t think LaPorta is being looked upon long-term as being a platoon guy, not with all the accolades and his projected future as being the middle-of-the-order hitter. He may serve initially as a complement to Dellucci, but chances are, he’ll likely get some chances against RHP, and provided he does well, see more time against them.
After all, Dellucci is not in the long-term plans – I wonder if Dellucci can continue to produce at a high level if the Indians would trade him, especially if we can’t rebound from our slow start (I know it’s early – I’m certainly not giving up on the season yet, especially only being 3 out, but we certainly need to get going – hopefully, Friday’s game was the start of something good and sustaining! :-)
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Reverse platoon splits should be taken with deep skepticism — they almost never persist. LaPorta’s whole minor league career is only 645 PA, which is just one full season, and only 146 PA against lefties. If you luck-neutralize the numbers on minorleaguesplits, the difference shrinks considerably.
In short, I think it is extremely likely that LaPorta’s platoon splits will disappear and probably reverse to “normal,” and that left-handed pitchers will find him basically terrifying over the course of his career.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on May 2, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
!!!!???!?!
Free LaPorta; when proper.
by Gradyforpresident on May 1, 2009 11:45 PM EDT reply actions
So why fake a Smith injury instead of just sending him to AAA?
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
Maybe Smith really does have an injury?
Or perhaps to avoid burning up an option, though I think that would be extreme, so I presume the injury is legit.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
lookss like Castro edited his soreness thing to a rotator cuff injury. That sounds more real.
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
Thanks for the info. – unfortunately, though, that sounds even more serious. Perhaps that partly explains why he hasn’t been that effective, even against RHP, which is supposedly to be his speciality.
Hopefully, he gets 100% soon, but hearing rotator cuff always make me weary. Let’s hope it’s not serious.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
I think I asked this last year, but don’t remember if I ever figured it out.
What does prevent teams from completely making up injuries?
Il faut d'abord durer.
Geebus. Very uncharacteristic, particularly the Laporta callup. Would love to be a fly on the wall in the inner sanctum the last 48 hrs.
All I can say is, shake it! Hey ya, shake it like a polaroid picture!
Yeah, I’m already scratching my head for upcoming lineups. I take it as a given that Barf will still be #25, but Laporta and Valgood will be getting at bats right away.
Sooo, Francisco and Peralta, and a little Derosa are going to see less? They might just stick Laporta in the DH role immediately and leave him there for a few games. Delooch platoons with Ben Fran, and Valgood takes a start or two at 2B, with Droobs bumping Jhonny…
geebus.
I do find it awesome that Droobs and Valgood started rookie ball in the same middle infield, and sometime real soon they’ll be doing it again.
Besides Marte,
Brantley
Hodges
Aubrey
Brown
Head
Plenty of solid to above-average hitting prospects still remain – don’t you just love quality prospect depth? :-)
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Head doesen’t belong on any list of solid or above-average prospects … or prospects.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on May 2, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Hello Jay,
I can understand that point of view, but at this point, neither does Marte, so if Marte is mentioned, Head has to be mentioned also. After all, Head has done something the past two seasons, whereas Marte has done virtually nothing or next-to-nothing, so much so that the two are almost interchangeable or irrelevant at this point. Realize also that both are the same age – 25 – (Marte born in October 1983, Head in January 1984).
By all accounts, Head can play multiple positions well (RF/LF and 1B), plus seems to have the propensity to use the whole field, so I wouldn’t consider him totally irrelevant. Insignificant, probably, but not totally off the radar yet. One more slip-up would likely knock him off the radar, but unlike Marte the past two seasons, he’s actually made some noise, which is why I included him on that list.
Granted, SSS (40 ABs), but notice that Head is hitting .317/.375/.512 (including 2 2Bs and 2 HRs) against RHP, which would likely be where he would be used at the ML level. That’s again why I thought he deserved to be on the list, just making the “solid” category (moreso than Marte, who was also mentioned).
(For the record, I do realize sarcasmdave was likely being facetious mentioning Marte – I just thought I mentioned more significant reasons why Columbus could win).
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Marte was better at age 19 than Head is now or has ever been. Head has never performed like a real prospect. His stats over 20 games do not change his whole profile.
Playing multiple non-skill positions isn’t particularly valuable, it just means your organization thinks so little of you that they stick you wherever they want, to accommodate the real prospects.
Head is a worse hitter than Crowe and doesn’t have Crowe’s speed. He’s just a non-subject, roster filler. At least Marte plays a slick third base — that’s a real skill.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on May 2, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I figured it was a facetious question. :-)
Still, as mentioned, I just wanted to test my knowledge – I thought it would be a good brainteaser with all the recent moves between Columbus and Cleveland.
I guess you can also add Crowe to that list too – another move that one must keep track of to know who is where, Columbus or Cleveland.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
who will mentor Laporta and Valbuena on how to properly run the bases?
by for the record on May 2, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s telling that I just got an email with the subject line “Impossible!” and containing only the link to the story.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 2, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions
I’m not certain I could recite the Indians’ roster at this point.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 2, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions
No bragging intended, but I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could name the new 25-man roster.
I was able to, but I was stuck on “Dellucci” and “Wood” until I thought about it some more. The others I typed out quickly.
Again, no bragging intended – just wanted to see if I could do it or not, and how long – took about 3 minutes or so.
1. Sizemore
2. Cabrera
3. Martinez
4. Garko
5. Peralta
6. DeRosa
7. Francisco
8. Choo
9. Shoppach
10. LaPorta
11. Valbuena
12. Barfield
13. Dellucci
14. Lee
15. Carmona
16. Pavano
17. Laffey
18. Reyes
19. Betancourt
20. Lewis
21. Perez
22. Kobayashi
23. Sipp
24. Chulk
25. Wood
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
WEDGE: So, Mark.
SHAPIRO: (idly perusing FHM) Mmm?
WEDGE: I was thinking about the roster.
SHAPIRO: (turns page)
WEDGE: I could reeeally use some better options off the bench.
SHAPIRO:
WEDGE: Crowe, he’s just not ready, and Graff, well, he’s just not Jamey.
SHAPIRO:
WEDGE: I figure, let’s bring up the kids, I’ll find them some at-bats. They can’t possibly be any worse than our bench right now. And I’m in danger of running the regulars ragged if I don’t get them some help.
SHAPIRO:
WEDGE: Mark?
SHAPIRO: Oh, that’s probably a good idea. (puts magazine down) Hey, what do you think about promoting a few of the kids, beef up the bench?
WEDGE: !!!
by fleerdon on May 2, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Yech.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on May 2, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions
A very fair point
Free LaPorta; when proper.
by Gradyforpresident on May 2, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
only chuck gets 5 replies all at 12:30.
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
This seems a bit knee jerk. But it’s exciting. BOTH LaPorta and Valbuena? Wow. This is going to be nuts. And tomorrow’s Saturday! Oh good, why would I want to watch that game? Thanks for the blackout, Fox.
Il faut d'abord durer.
Oh crap, I was just about to set up the Tivo.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on May 2, 2009 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t want to give credit where credit isn’t due, and I’m always harsh on Wedge, but I bet these were moves that he wanted. Shapiro has admitted before that his manager has a seat at the table in making these decisions, and he said as much in his interview during the game this week that Wedge really wanted Sipp to start in AAA (and that’s what happened, not that Shapiro didn’t agree).
I think Wedge’s use of Crowe earlier this year shows that Francisco is being treated as the fourth outfielder that he really is. If the Indians are going to start LaPorta’s clock, they better use him. He instantly becomes one of our three best outfielders, and that should entail playing nearly every day.
Very hard to parse this stuff. I’d love to know how much this was Wedge and how much Shap. Hard to believe that such a dramatic move was seamlessly a meeting of the minds.
One thing I do know is that Shap, Antonelli and Atkins have been paying a lot more attention to Laporta and Valbuena than Wedge has the last month, as is appropriate. I can see Wedge saying or admitting that a change is needed, but I can’t see him asking for specific players that he hasn’t even been watching. To be fair, that’s way above his job description.
From what I gather, we can’t forget that Valbuena is going to back up 3B. When Wedge wants to give Jhonny a day off, you’ll see Droobs at SS and Valbuena at 2B. I just don’t want Valbuena to take 3B and DeRosa to shift out to left field, because at that point you’re choosing Valbuena over LaPorta.
Don’t forget about LaPorta being the DH or playing at 1B – that combination you mentioned doesn’t guarantee LaPorta won’t be in the lineup.
Granted, I don’t see where Dellucci and Garko won’t get playing time, but I suspect LaPorta will play DH and could see a game or two at 1B (though I know the Indians were mostly preparing him to play in the OF, but 1B is likely always an option – he has played there for a brief period, so he is familiar with the position, albeit without much experience).
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
I don’t think he’s going to get any time at 1B right now, not with the way Vic has been swinging. I’m all for having LaPorta DH every day he’s not in the outfield. I just don’t know if Wedge is going to quit Francisco cold turkey.
He probably won’t quit on Francisco cold turkey, since Francisco is LIKELY the better OFer than LaPorta and Dellucci (in other words, Francisco is the 3rd best defensive OFer on this team, after Grady and Choo); still, he’ll likely cut back on his playing time to give him a breather in the hopes that his bat will come around and to utilize him more in a 4th OFer setting, which could also help his bat come around.
As for 1B, Vic will still catch on the days Carmona is pitching, along with a few other days, and Shoppach has been inconsistent, so I wouldn’t put it out of the realm of possibility that LaPorta sees a start or two at 1B. Unlikely, perhaps, but not impossible, especially if Dellucci keeps hitting and/or Francisco starts hitting and Garko doesn’t start hitting more consistently.
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Just riffing:
The one constant over the last few years is that an extraordinary percentage of callups from AAA, not the 4-A kind but the up and coming kind, have had an immediate, positive and in many cases, crucial, effect on the fortunes of the major league ballclub.
While not every player called up has been able to sustain their initial good fortune, the recent history is undeniable, if unexplainable, in the same way that continuously calling heads and having the damn coin come up heads over and over is.
Starting with Grady, the list is quite long and remarkable. In no particular order: Grady, Sowers, Laffey, Ben Fran, Gutz, Choo, JLew, Perez, Droobs, Garko, Sipp, Carmona, SLew. Am I missing anyone?
I’m having trouble thinking of prospects that were called up out necessity, and didn’t perform well. Marte wasn’t really called up, he was handed the job. Guthrie was called up, but not in his role as starter. Slocum? A bit of Crowe?
In any case, despite the middle-market credo of having a plan for incorporating farm talent into the 25 man, most if not all of the profitable callups have been made out of necessity, either because of injury or complete ineffectiveness on specific slots in the ML roster. This is a little different. This is a shake-up, a preemptive strike, a departure, perhaps a “message”.
It’s almost like the supremely rational FO took a look at recent empirical results and bet that the coin will come up heads again, because it seems to have a tendency to do so.
I’d like to believe this is true. But if it is a message, who is it directed to? The fans?
This team has taken a few serious injuries in the past week. It had to fill slots and wasn’t characteristically cautious or conservative. But is it going to mean that much?
Certainly not the fans. This is an internal shakeup of sorts, if not of heirarchy, at least of implementation. A lot of us have noted (complained) that Shap’s “Plan” of continually feeding the roster from the farm has been compromised by insistence on mediocre vets on the 25. But the way its worked out, the plan has kinda worked, altho by necessity rather than any particular plan or structure for how to introduce talent.
I hope the trend of callup success will continue. The but is that this time the callups are expected to fix something rather than just fill a slot out of necessity. They are talented tho, and hopefully wide-eyed enuf to be at least temporarily immune to expectation.
I agree that it looks like an internal shakeup of sorts, and in that sense a little out of character for this team. Less so than firing the manager, however.
by ken from alexandria on May 2, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
already sent a congratulatory tweet to @Gator4God.
There is a significant lack of beards in this year's clubhouse...
His latest tweet (about an hour ago) was that his flight got cancelled. Wouldn’t you just bus the 3 guys from Columbus to Detroit? Little I-33 to I-75 action (stop in Lima for breakfast) and then on up to Hockeytown?
If I were in Columbus, I’d drive them myself.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 2, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions
If I were still in college…
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 2, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
any idea what number laporta is going to wear? i assume valbuena will pick #1.
There is a significant lack of beards in this year's clubhouse...
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