Gone, but not forgotten (yet)

by APV on Jun 3, 2011 3:26 PM EDT

The Akron Aeros announced today that Nick Johnson was being activated and would make his major league debut with the Indians organization this weekend. Johnson is just one of several Tribe assets who have yet to play this season because of injury. Johnson, and his career .401 OBP across nearly 800 games in the majors, has a better chance than most to make an impact in Cleveland this season. But it is worth reminding ourselves that although the Indians have had a fairly strong start to the minor league season, there are a number of assets that have not yet been in play.

Nick Weglarz: Weglarz has probably been hurt the most, professionally, by his time on the DL this year. Coming off a 2010 campaign in which he hit .285/.390/.503 splitting time between Akron and Columbus and already on the 40-man roster, Weglarz would certainly have been a candidate to help out during the absence of Sizemore and Hafner. Instead, a meniscus tear while running the bases in spring training has had him shelved. He should begin a rehab assignment soon, though.

Hector Rondon: Like Weglarz, it would have been easy 14 months ago to envision Rondon occupying a spot in Cleveland right now. Rondon was the top pitcher in the system in 2009, holding AA and AAA hitters at bay with exceptional control (8.4 K/9, 1.8 BB/9). 2010 began terribly for Rondon, however, and news of an ulnar ligament tear followed quickly thereafter, accompanied by TJ surgery. Rondon should be back on the mound by the end of the season, but won't be in the Cleveland mix till spring training 2012.

Alexander Perez: If Rondon was the best pitcher in the system, Perez was the biggest breakout. As a 19-year old, he rolled across LC and Kinston, showing excellent command and intriguing projection. Instead, he stepped off the mound during his second start last season holding his elbow, following Rondon to mid-season TJ surgery. Perez is further from the majors than Rondon, with his future timeline subsequently more in doubt.

Rob Bryson: The "other guy" from the CC Sabathia trade, Bryson came back healthy last season with a vengeance. Bryson struck out 40% of the batters he faced across a broad swath of the Indians' system (LC, Kinston, Akron), setting himself up for the Columbus call-up mix in 2011. Bryson's snakebite this time, thankfully, did not involve his arm, but instead involved a freak broken foot. Bryson is also a late summer rehab candidate, so he is likely out of the mix until 2012 (while he potentially gets passed by a big group of active relievers).

Jason Knapp: The "other guy" in the Cliff Lee trade, Knapp, according to team officials, isn't actually injured. He is spending time in extended spring training as a way of limiting his pitching load, given that he did only pitch 30 innings last year because of injury. In those 30 innings he looked good, though. Should start in Kinston sometime in the next 6 weeks.

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Seems like its becoming more and more apparent that there is quite a gap between the small army of solid bat IF at Columbus and a collection of intriguing bats at LC. The Tribe offense will be left to sink or swim for at least a couple years based on the impact of players either already on the roster or very soon to be.

I keep telling myself that 1B would be one of the better positions to have a failed prospect since it should be one of the easiest to find cheap production, but when considering the lack of power bats on the way, LaPorta and Weglarz’s development is pretty important.

by TKilbane on Jun 3, 2011 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

I think you are probably right….but the turnover in position players is less than that of pitchers. Brantley’s strong season is a huge plus, as corner outfield is certainly our weakest position in the upper minors. But if Brantley continues to stick, that’s not much of a problem. It would be nice to see a few more interesting positional players in this year’s draft cohort.

by APV on Jun 3, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I know he’s a favorite of many of the LGT contingent, but I’ll be shocked if Weglarz ever amounts to anything. Walks and Power (and mostly theoretical power) from a guy who really has no position and is constantly injured. Doesn’t seem to be a fit in this organization, particularly with the new emphasis on defense.

by cheech99 on Jun 3, 2011 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn’t go as far as “shocked,” but the modal expectation for him has to be zero major league value. In addition to being fragile, he seems to have “old ballplayer-skills” tattooed Ed Helms style on his face. But…last year was his best year yet.

by APV on Jun 3, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not buying the Knapp story; it’s just too weird. There are lots of other ways of limiting a guy’s innings.

by ken from alexandria on Jun 3, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

I concur, but it is what we have. I wonder if they are trying to rework his mechanics to make him less breakable.

by APV on Jun 3, 2011 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

just asked Shapiro about it. Looks like Antonetti hasn’t tweeted in a month, so Shap will have to do.

"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady

by westbrook on Jun 3, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Antonetti is busy looking for a right handed hitter.

by callmrplow on Jun 6, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I think I remember hearing earlier this year that the organization was looking to limit pitchers’ innings in the beginning of the year rather than shutting them down early towards the end.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Jun 4, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Ha-even you forgot the most forgotten of them all, Anthony Reyes. Has he evaporated in the desert heat, or gone into the witness protection program? It wouldn’t surprise me if they have released him and just forgot to mention it to anyone.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
Oh, and could you get Mike Adams for the bullpen, please?

by jillsinmo on Jun 3, 2011 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

http://reyeswatch.blogspot.com/

by Jay on Jun 4, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Pure gold.

Time to pull the Cord.

by USSChoo on Jun 4, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought about adding Reyes, but decided that he is a little too far off the radar to bother with. Last report is that he is just hanging out in Goodyear waiting for a spot to open up somewhere in the system. If he can’t get a spot anywhere, I assume he is broken beyond repair.

Bryson just got activated today, though.

by APV on Jun 4, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions