News and Notes: Kerry Wood's Out
by Ryan on Mar 21, 2010 5:49 AM EDT
in News
112 comments
There's been some injuries to players who had chances of making the club (Jordan Brown, Jeremy Sowers, Jason Grilli), but until today, the only Opening Day player ticketed for the DL was Russell Branyan and his balky back, and that hasn't come as much of a surprise. So I guess Kerry Wood missing 6-8 weeks with strained back muscle is the first injury that's going to adversely affect the Opening Day roster. The Indians were going with Brantley in left field before they signed Branyan, but Wood's injury is going to lead to bullpen configurations that you'd hope you wouldn't see until much later in the season. I think Chris Perez is going to be fine in the ninth, but the relievers now elevated into more important roles (Tony Sipp, Joe Smith, Rafael Perez) I'm a lot less confident about. There's going to be a lot of games early this season where the bullpen will have to throw four or five innings, and with Wood's injury, pulling off that feat is going to be a lot more difficult.
In a perverse piece of good news, Wood missing this much time just about a guarantees that his 2011 option won't be triggered, which will also mean clubs will be more interested in him at the deadline. A lot of teams could use Kerry Wood over a couple months, but the specter of the option triggering would have kept Wood an Indian through the end of the season.
Wood's injury could also mean that the loser of the starter battle starts the season in the bullpen, which also means that the Indians could keep Mitch Talbot without placing him in the rotation. I think placing a starter in the bullpen would have made sense before Wood's injury, but now, having a pitcher or two who can pitch 3-4 innings if needed seems a necessity.
At least the offense is looking good. Travis Hafner blasted a home run in yesterday's 12-4 win over Oakland, but perhaps more encouraging (if one can be encouraged by a Spring Training line) was Jhonny Peralta's 3-for-3. This is a huge season for Jhonny on two fronts: he's going to have to show the Indians (and everyone else in baseball) that he can play third base, and also hit enough to either make for any defensive deficiencies or meet the offensive requirements that come with playing the position. It's looking more and more possible that Lonnie Chisenhall is the Indians' 2011 third baseman, and if that's true Jhonny's option next year will have to picked up by somebody else.
Today's Game:
Cleveland at Los Angeles, 4:05 PM
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I was being almost stupidly optimistic for 2010, but this bullpen is really killing my buzz.
by supermarioelia on Mar 21, 2010 10:45 AM EDT reply actions
I was beingalmost stupidlyoptimistic for 2006, 2008, 2009, & 2010 but this bullpen is really killing my buzz.
fixed
"...maybe this year, there's no gorilla" - YoDaddyWags
by woodsmeister on Mar 21, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Tony said this on his site:
No Chance: Outfielder Michael Brantley was told at the outset of spring training that no matter how he performed that he was going to open the season in the minors with Triple-A Columbus. The Indians would like him to finish off his development in the minors for a month or two before coming topside to the big league club for good in May or June. The biggest reason for sending him to the minors – though they will never say so publicly – is to align his service time clock as I mentioned a few weeks back.
I really wish Tony would provide some kind of sourcing on these kinds of statements, because this one in particular surprises me.
Especially as Terry Pluto says this in this morning’s paper:
2. If Branyan opens on the disabled list, it appears Michael Brantley will be the starting left fielder with Matt LaPorta at first base.
I love Pluto, but it seems to me that he writes a fair amount of things that are his opinion and they come off as sourced “facts.” Also, he’s fallen too in love with the numbered paragraph style. I’m trusting Tony on this more than Pluto.
Il faut d'abord durer.
tribesman22 wrote:
please let r. branyan be hurt for the year so mr brantley can start in cleveland. if one of you guys tells me about an arbitration clock you are banned from talking on this website
First comment after the news of Brantley being pulled from today’s game was posted on MLB.COM.
I’m not emotional about iPad...
Why surprised? Didn’t we discuss here that Brantley in AAA makes sense to start the season…and I’d assume that any such statement is subject to injuries to the major league club?
You can usually figure that it is prominent person in scouting department so, flip a coin…
by stuart dean on Mar 22, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I am skeptical that Tony’s sources are prominent. They’re wrong far too often to be in the inner circle, or even the circle adjacent to the inner one.
I pride myself on operating in circles that are adjacent to important circles.
by afh4 on Mar 22, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I pride myself on approaching important circles tangentially.
"...maybe this year, there's no gorilla" - YoDaddyWags
by woodsmeister on Mar 22, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Chris Perez hasn’t looked that sharp the couple of times I’ve seen him this spring. Hopefully he’s just working through spring training stuff. If not, it could be ugly early.
Bullpen, I think. Having Wood out moves everyone up a notch. If Joe Smith and Raffy Perez don’t rise to the occasion, the Tribe is back in a familiar situation. Sipp, too.
CFP or no.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on Mar 23, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Talbot’s looking like a rotation guy so far. Since we’ll need a long man for the bullpen, Ambriz should be considered a possibility. Wood’s injury seems to me to greatly enhance Hector’s chances of sticking with the big league club at least for a while. Huff back to Columbus, imho.
I’ve always prefered “imhotep” to “imho.”
“In my humble opinion that everybody ’preciates.”
by fleerdon on Mar 21, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I believe it was the name of the mummy from The Mummy.
by fleerdon on Mar 22, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
The ’preciates is a nice touch.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Mar 23, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow, I really screwed that up didn’t I? I meant, Do we think that Chisenhall opens 2011 at 3B in Cleveland.
I can’t speak for “we,” but I think there’s little reason to make suppositions until we see how he plays this season. We have options for 2011 — if Marte stays on the roster, that makes three viable options for 2011, each with drawbacks.
My best guess on Chisenhall is that he’s no closer to the 2011 starting job than Santana is to a 2010 starting jbo.
My best guess on Chisenhall is that he’s no closer to the 2011 starting job than Santana is to a 2010 starting job.
But the situations would seem to be roughly comparable…
by stuart dean on Mar 22, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I misread Jay – unnecessary reiteration…
by stuart dean on Mar 22, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve watched a few games down in AZ this week. The one guy who I would like to see on the team who probably won’t be is Judy. Both times I saw him, he was flawless and he seemed to do it so effortlessly. Unless the bullpen, really does well, I suspect we will see him called up by mid-season at the latest.
Yep. In fact, it would be remarkable, and great, if our pen was good enough not to need him well before September.
by dgcambridge on Mar 22, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Scott Radinsky has one of the largest skateparks in LA, his own clothing line, 15 CDs w/ Pulley, is a cancer survivor and Indians BP coach.
That’s from the pgammo twitter account, which I’m 90% sure is the real Peter Gammons.
most boring line-up ever:
Hernandez-SS, Grudzielanek-DH, LaPorta-1B, Peralta-3B, Kearns-LF, Redmond-C, Constanza-CF, Gimenez-RF, Bixler-2B
I just came here to post the same thought.
by dgcambridge on Mar 22, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
nice find.
Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.
by NormanConquest on Mar 29, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, closest yet to having a major leaguer who is my size. Saw the highlight of a squeeze bunt of his the other day and said “wow he looks tiny”
... Paul Hoynes is a really great guy ...
3.2 innings pitched, Carmona still going strong. Always a welcome sign.
Anything in life is possible, except for skiing through revolving doors.
by MooneysRebellion on Mar 22, 2010 5:02 PM EDT reply actions
4 innings pitched for Carmona, 4 grounders, 6 flyouts (3 weak popups in foul territory), 0 Ks, 0 BBs, 1 hit.
Anything in life is possible, except for skiing through revolving doors.
by MooneysRebellion on Mar 22, 2010 5:08 PM EDT reply actions
Redmond is so clutch. As is Constanza. Bloop and a bunt. Both get a run in.
I’m not emotional about iPad...
Man, Gimenez looks like he has no business being at bat in a major league game.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
We have a winner
Anything in life is possible, except for skiing through revolving doors.
by MooneysRebellion on Mar 22, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Kearns filling up the box score again. Wish I knew how to rate his defense. He used to be thought of as a very good defender. Of course, he used to be a pretty good hitter too.
Screw it, I’m climbing back on the Kearns-for-reserve-outfielder wagon.
I’m pretty close to being on the Kearns-for-everyday-left fielder wagon. I saw a lot of him when he played for the Nats. He looked to me like a pretty reliable outfielder with decent range and a strong enough arm for RF.
by ken from alexandria on Mar 22, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
The Cubs announcers talking about how Soriano can only hit fastballs, but saying thats OK if you don’t swing at the breaking balls out of the zone. Well, I hate to tell them, there are also breaking balls that are strikes. It is possible.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
By the way, in yesterday’s minor league action, Kipnis had a HR, Chiz-Wegz-Carlos each were on base at least twice, and Abner Abreu had a walk! Scott Lewis even pitched for Columbus, and no injury has yet been reported.
This is encouraging, but not nearly as encouraging as Fausto.
... Paul Hoynes is a really great guy ...
The plan is to get him up to the bigs before June 1, and have him pitch two-thirds of an inning before he takes himself out of the game with a bum elbow.
SLewis is a determined guy, though. I bet he makes it to the majors, and then back to the DL, ahead of schedule.
by Jay on Mar 23, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Announcers making it sound as if Carmona is throwing a significant amount of breaking pitches today.
Anything in life is possible, except for skiing through revolving doors.
by MooneysRebellion on Mar 22, 2010 5:28 PM EDT reply actions
I’ve got it on the DVR (Cubs broadcast), so if I’m able to watch it tonight I’ll throw out my opinion.
But, based on the line, I doubt any opinion I’d offer would be terribly enlightening. I’m sure he looked pretty good!
I did watch most of it, and as Mooneys says above, he did throw a lot of sliders. In fact, that’s one of the best sliders I’ve ever seen him have. Out of around 70 total pitches, he probably threw 25 sliders. I always thought that pitch was below-average for him. But if that comes around to be an average pitch, that’s one more weapon against righties, and I think throwing that pitch keeps him more mechanically sound since it forces him not to rush his delivery. Doesn’t help much against lefties, but oh well. I think I saw two changeups the entire day. I didn’t think he had especially good command of his sinker, but it wasn’t awful either.
By the way, it was reported last night that Redmond will be Fausto’s personal catcher to start the year.
I was just casually watching, he wasn’t overly dominate but he seemed to have good downward action on the sinker, instead of off to the right. Looked pretty good.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
My goal for this season is to teach everyone here the word “dominant.”
Dream small?
by Jay on Mar 22, 2010 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think Kearns was on his way to making the club along with Crowe, even before the Brantley injury. And the last two days have clinched it. The bench will be Crowe, Redmond, Marte, and the utility infielder. Kearns will start in left, with Crowe getting some time against righties, particularly sinkerballers. Branyan to the DL.
My best guess is that Hernandez will be the utility infielder, with either Valbuena or Grudzielanek starting at second and the loser being cut/sent down. The reason I say this is that I don’t believe Valbuena has played SS this spring, and that would tell me they want the utility guy to give Cabrera a rest every couple of weeks. And that’s not Grudzielanek. And they’re not going to move Peralta to SS every once in awhile. But maybe that doesn’t mean anything, or Luis has played SS this spring and I’ve just missed it.
Perez X 2, Sipp, and Smith are bullpen locks. My guess here is both Wright and Rivera make the club, with the last spot either going to Laffey/Talbot or Lewis.
Forgot to mention that with Brantley, it’s just not this organization’s M.O. to start the player in the bigs right away. I think they feel it’s much easier for the player to become a full-time player by getting in a groove in the minors and then coming up. As long as they have healthy alternatives, that’s been the way they’ve gone lately. You probably have to go back to Victor and Jhonny to see that, and those guys either had a decent amount of experience, dominated AAA, or there weren’t other real alternatives. Sizemore could qualify here, but he was headed to AAA until Juan Gone came up lame.
Peralta is the last guy I can think of who was really handed a starting job essentially as a rookie. He had spent a few months in the majors, but it was years earlier, with no real expectation that he could perform as a regular in the lineup. He basically didn’t play in the majors in 2004 at all — jut 28 PA — but truly was the Opening Day starter in 2005.
Sizemore, on the other hand, played the last 60-odd games of 2004 in the majors before getting the job (sort of) for 2005, so he too essentially was broken in mid-season. As were LaPorta, Hafner, Martinez, etc.
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