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.
(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.
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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.
not Frisco. Who’d be our backup CF? I think we’ll always have Frisco or Crowe on the roster (or maybe Barfield).
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.
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.
I know what you mean. It would be an unusual bench – heavy on the bats, light on speed and defense, but it could work.
i guess i just assume go ahead and send back the service time. i really just want francisco not starting.
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.

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