Draft Reviews: Cleveland Indians

2009 Draft Slot: 15th overall
Draft Preference (2006-08): Definitely college players
MLB Club Need: Pitching, Pitching, more Pitching, and Third base
Organizational Need: Center field, Right field, LHP Pitching, RHP Pitching
Organizational Strength: 1B/LF, Third base
Notes: The club has not really made a splash with its first overall pick in quite some time… although Chisenhall could change that. The club is picking in the middle of the first round, so a lot is up in the air… but you have to figure the club is leaning to a college pitcher, unless a good (college) bat finds its way to them.

almost 3 years ago Matt in LA 18 comments 0 recs |

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Organizational Need: Center field, Right field, LHP Pitching, RHP Pitching

I think I’d disagree with this (unless they say every team needs more pitching)

by APV on May 4, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed. No team can have enough pitching depth in the minors, but we’re pretty well stocked from Lake County to Columbus. I thought our organizational need is pretty clearly position players, pretty much everywhere but 1B.

by jds16 on May 4, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we’re pretty set for outfielders, actually, and we have four middle infielders on our 25-man roster who are aged 23, 23, 24, and almost 27.

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

by Jay on May 4, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t mind drafting a HS middle infielder or two, to ideally be MLB-ready around the time the youngsters on the Indians roster end their arbitration years.

I also wouldn’t mind seeing the Indians win this game tonight.

by jds16 on May 4, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I disagree with the center field, unless they don’t consider Brantley a true center fielder. Right field is weird. I have a hard time thinking of guys who come up strictly as right fielders. Do they just mean we don’t have many outfield prospects with good arms?

by fleerdon on May 4, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

i don’t get how we’re organizationally strong at 3b. is that assuming chiz as a 3B, or that mills will make it there (assuming fangraphs would know this not to be the case)?

by emil minty on May 4, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

and not catcher?

by emil minty on May 4, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know what the team building strategists think of drafting a catcher, but I have a theory about this.

First off, I don’t care much about the position of the player we draft. I hope for the best available talent, but don’t mind it if they avoid the extreme draft bonuses.

The one thing I want the team to avoid is to draft a catcher with their precious first pick with the intent of keeping him as a catcher, (as opposed to a changing his position or making him a pitcher or something). You don’t let the rule stop you if the guy can hit like Daric Barton, but you don’t settle for less of a hitter to try to get more of a catcher. You’ll wind up with Will Hartley.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to use a top pick on a catcher in part because of injury risk, and also because it seems to me like a “late-bloomers” position. A grunt. It’s hard to spot a fledgling grunt among the 18-21 crowd.

I’m in favor of producing young catchers (through position shifts), and acquiring those who’ve accomplished something in the minors (like with Shoppach or Bard). Joe Mauer is the only highly drafted catcher I can think of who’s become a giant. They almost always become Jeff Clement, Ben Davis, Tyler Houston, and so on.

by jhon on May 4, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Mauer is the only in recent memory who I can think of, I mean **

by jhon on May 4, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure I entirely agree with this, but I think there is something to this. Some people take catchers off the defensive spectrum because the skills needed to become a catcher don’t normally translate to the other “up-the-middle” positions. If a shortstop prospect can’t stick there, he likely still has the ability to stick at second or center, and at least third. That’s much less likely to be the case with a catcher.

Varitek (14th overall pick) is one to add to the pro-list and we may have to add Weiters soon.

by ClarkM on May 5, 2009 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions

my surprise, rather, was that fangraphs doesn’t consider us organizationally strong at catcher.

by emil minty on May 5, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Chiz is slotted there it seems and well we got Hodges (depth at least). But beyond that it does seem empty, but APV or Indiansfan would know better.

by hans on May 4, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

You’ll have to ask indiansfan or APV to be sure, of course, but I think that Abner Abreu is pretty well regarded.

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

by Jay on May 4, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

oh yeah forgot about him too. so yeah him too.

by hans on May 4, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

They’ve switched Abreu to the OF as far as I know

by APV on May 4, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

And Dave Huff “hasn’t pitched in the majors yet.” The nerve.

by fleerdon on May 4, 2009 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

Also “His ceiling is that of a third or fourth starter”. Really? his ceiling.

by hans on May 4, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Just shows how difficult it is to cover more than a couple of teams with any depth or insight. Anyone who closely follows the Indians knows that that statement is silly.

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

by Jay on May 5, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions