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Who should go when Hafner returns?

Hi everybody. This is my first Fanpost after about two years of lurking and occasionally commenting here.

As the title indicates, I'm wondering who will lose his spot on the roster when Hafner comes off the DL. I've seen some of you speculate that LaPorta will be shown la porta, and that may be correct. But my current inclination is to disagree with such a move. (If I've missed detailed analysis of this, I apologize).

There are a couple of options that I would be OK with.

Star-divide

(A) Option Valbuena.

Sending LaPorta down might make sense if you think along the lines of replacing one not-so-great defensive player with another, but there needs to be a better reason than that. The Indians might decide that his bat's not ready, but I doubt it. And comparing LaPorta and Valbuena, I think the former will help us more than the latter, offensively.

So why not send Valbuena down? Sure, this will give us five outfielders, putting Francisco and Dellucci on the bench. But that's not a bad thing if you've got the other spots filled. We would have DeRosa at third, Peralta at short, Superman Cabrera at second, and Martinez, Garko and Shoppach sharing catcher/first base duties. Jamie Caroll would be the backup infielder. Francisco can serve as pinch runner.

That's one possibility. Here's another:

(B) DFA Dellucci.

This is my preferred option. If Valbuena's bat is ready (is it?), why not send Dellucci packing? We can't realistically expect any more from Dellucci than his usual suckitude at the plate, and he doesn't run particularly fast nor play particularly great defense. IMO, it's time to cut him loose.

This would give Valbuena an extended chance to prove himself as a regular (provided that he doesn't become Dominoes Champion II - ughh). Cabrera would move to short and Jhonny to third. DeRosa can be a super-sub, between first, second, third, and the corner outfield.

Poll
What should we do when Hafner returns?
Send Valbuena down.
16 votes
DFA Dellucci.
96 votes
Send LaPorta down.
24 votes
Hafner won't be back this season.
19 votes
Something else.
8 votes

163 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 21 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Comments

Display:

I’m torn. I feel like the Indians are going to give Dellucci 60-80 PA’s before they decide what to do. With Carroll back, he represents a similar skillset that Valbuena represents. So, I think Valbuena may be the odd man out this time.

by Toxicadam on May 15, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions  

from a best team this year standpoint, i send down francisco. from a best long-term move, i send down laporta for a month or whatever till his clock is safe.

by Brick. on May 15, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions  

not Frisco. Who’d be our backup CF? I think we’ll always have Frisco or Crowe on the roster (or maybe Barfield).

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

but they’re still on the roster. just not the 40-man. worst case scenario, you go one game with choo at CF. and you call someone else up the next game.

by Brick. on May 15, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

just not the 25-man. you know what i mean. point is, you don’t have your 7th and 8th SP’s on the active roster, but they still are there if you need them.

by Brick. on May 15, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

I know what you mean. It would be an unusual bench – heavy on the bats, light on speed and defense, but it could work.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

i guess i just assume go ahead and send back the service time. i really just want francisco not starting.

by Brick. on May 15, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

I get your point…but I’m not sure that I’d call Francisco, Dellucci and Carroll “heavy on the bats.” :)

Baseball isn't boring. YOU ARE.

by Matt Y. on May 15, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Any word on when this might happen?

by jakesinger777 on May 15, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions  

First week in August.

by odradek on May 15, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

Let me guess, you were one of the cheery optimists who voted that Hafner wouldn’t return this season

by Roger Dorn on May 15, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Voting is for optimists. I refrained.

by odradek on May 16, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

They said perhaps sometime on this road trip, but if it doesn’t happen early, they’ll probably just wait until they get back home. They start interleague play next Friday in Cincy, so not much value in having Hafner back for that.

by TribeJay on May 15, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

I forgot that LaPorta’s “clock” might still be a factor. Also I forgot to check Francisco’s options.

Oh well; I wouldn’t mind optioning Francisco, but otherwise it doesn’t change my opinion all that much.

Baseball isn't boring. YOU ARE.

by Matt Y. on May 15, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions  

I’m in favor of keeping Laporta down long enough to avoid super-2 status – then DFA’ing Dellucci

by APV on May 16, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

The “DFA Dellucci” option has been at 60-63% every time I’ve checked since about 15 votes, and at 62-63% every time since about 24.

Baseball isn't boring. YOU ARE.

by Matt Y. on May 15, 2009 9:31 PM EDT reply actions  

went with DFA dellucci because Valbuena bats left-handed.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 16, 2009 1:37 PM EDT reply actions  

laporta needs everyday at-bats. it’s not time for him to be an everyday contributor. send him down.

There is a significant lack of beards in this year's clubhouse...

by mixmasterasia on May 17, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions  

I don’t see “what difference does it make” as an option.

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

by emd2k3 on May 18, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions  

how about sending Wedge down?

Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on May 21, 2009 8:48 PM EDT reply actions  

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