Mark Leonard

June 2008 - Posts

• Trying again to help Wedge

  What has been happening has not produced success. Any fool can see that, which is to say even the Indians' manager has to have noticed. Nonetheless, particularly since Eric Wedge today divulged that the upcoming road trip through Chicago, Minnesota and Det---three of the divisional teams Cleveland now trails---will decide conclusively whether the ballclub is a buyer or a seller during the run-up to the July 31 non-waiver deadline, it is felt nothing can be left to chance where the club's prospects are concerned. Therefore, this will once again be attempted. Sense will again be offered to the man making out the lineup and the batting order. Though critics complain he tinkers with them too much, he's yet to exercise profound adjustments, the likes of which both statistics and the season's stage beg for. For example, today leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore moved into the AL lead with 19 homers. Regrettably, this one was his 14th with the bases empty. Though moving him down in the order does not necessarily mean more runners will appear on base when he homers, it cannot be denied he's been following some of MLB's absolute worst table-setters, much as did catcher Victor Martinez when he was hitting in the .320s. Wedge seems to prefer staggering his hot bats rather than bunching them. He also seems to choose meat-of-the-order guys moreso by physique than by production. Maddening and demonstrably ineffective. It is not an accident the club struggles to score or that it is being described as baseball's worst offense. What is the point of logging OBP if it is going to be ignored? Why compute BA w/RISP if it is similarly dismissed when the lineup is being made? And while I'm asking questions: "Why, whenever I hear of an opposing player enduring a terrible period of slump, do I imagine GM Mark Shapiro will be acquiring the guy by game's end and that Wedge will be featuring him in the middle of the order, if only to further compromise Casey Blake's rbi figures, probably only to make him easier to re-sign in the off-season?" Back to my purpose in writing. Eric, please consider this batting order: Shin-Soo Choo in RF, batting .268 with a .379 OBP. Two homers, 14 rbi.  Jamey Carroll at 2b, hitting .297 with a .381 OBP. No homers, 15 rbi. Ben Francisco in LF, with a .286 BA and .343 OBP. Six dingers, 28 rbi, though the umps took 2 rbi and a HR. Grady Sizemore in CF, hitting .268 with a .372 OBP. Nineteen roundtrippers, with 45 rbi. Casey Blake at 3b, batting .281 with a .355 OBP. Seven homers, club-leading 46 rbi, over .420 w/ RISP. David Dellucci at DH, though he's down to .217 and .300. Has 7 homers and 25 rbi. Lineup needs a lefty here. Ryan Garko at 1b. Average is .242 and OBP .328. Six homers and 39 rbi. Aubrey up for Marte to platoon? Jhonny Peralta at SS by default. BA is .244. OBP a dreadful .294. Eleven homers, but only 32 rbi. Kelly Shoppach at C, with a .248 BA and ..315 OBP. Garko as job-share partner soon? With all due respect, Mr. AL Manager of the Year, your way isn't working, hasn't worked and is not likely to begin working soon. Since these upcoming games are so important, I thought I'd try one last time to help you rescue the season just as the stretch is about to commence. In essence, sir, the objective is to place those with a gift for OBP in front of those with the skills to drive them in. Those who can do neither and are slow, guys you typically feature at run-producing spot, belong in the bottom third, if only to keep their pulling-a-beer-truck running style from clogging the bases when they do get on. Whenever possible, bunching your better hitters is likely to generate more consistent offense than is spacing them indiscriminantly throughout the order. The latter method allows rally-killers to dominate, generally negating strong starting-pitching performances. Or hadn't you noticed? Posted Jun 29 2008, 01:42 PM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Garko back to catcher?

  Not long ago, this site opined that it was too early to throw in the towel on the Cleveland Indians' 2008 baseball season. Recent performances, however, call into question such perspectives. As things now stand, this is---as if anyone needs to be told---shaping up as a dreadfully boring, uninspiring, waste of an otherwise respectable spring and summer. Far more than injuries are holding this club back, not the least of which is its overmatched manager, the guy who made some ludicrous remarks in response to Omar Vizquel's squeeze bunt Tuesday evening. That incident was but one of three separators--- to employ an Eric Wedge word---distinguishing SF's Bruce Bochy from the reigning AL Manager of the Year. Finding himself in a close game, Bochy forced the action in at least three different ways, each enhancing the visitors' shot at winning. First, Bochy, with Randy Winn on first base and Ray Durham on third with two outs in the eighth, had Winn steal second base, forcing backup catcher Kelly Shoppach to decide if he would throw through or concede the base to Winn in deference to the possibility Durham might race home from third. Shoppach, who has struggled with his throwing since inheriting the job from the injured Victor Martinez, elected to make a play on Winn, only to have his throw bounce well in front of the bag. Making matters worse, veteran 2b Jamey Carroll appeared to arrive late at the bag, rendering himself unable to move toward the throw or otherwise keep it from bouncing into CF. Durham pranced in from 3b to break a 1-1 tie. Bochy's daring had stolen a gift run.  In the Giants' ninth, SF had a runner on first with one out. Journeyman infielder Jose Castillo, a waiver acquisition from Pittsburgh just before Opening Day, was at the plate. Bochy several times called for the run-and-hit, leading to a number of foul balls off Castillo's bat. But Bochy persevered and Carroll was eventually drawn out of position covering the bag at second. Castillo slapped a dribbler to the area Carroll vacated, enabling SF to have runners on first and third, setting up what became Vizquel's game-deciding squeeze. Bochy had, essentially, managed his club into generating three late-inning runs to decide a closely-contested ballgame. When was the last time Wedge, even when forced to go into battle with a mis-matched lineup needing every edge it could muster, took matters into his own hands and forced the action on an opposing ballclub? There are reasons the club struggles to score in late innings, finds itself unable to manage four runs per game---a figure that characteristically has foretold victory for his starting-pitching-strong roster---loses close games and is virtually impotent once it has fallen behind. One of those reasons is its manager. If it should be the preparation of the personnel dictates what can be done with it, whose fault is that? What is more, Wedge is not getting a whole helluva lot of help from the reigning MLB Executive of the Year. This writer is inclined to suspect at no time in his lengthy adult life has there been more dead weight on a Cleveland roster---excepting those days when the entire roster was dead weight. Things are so bad that Mark Shapiro has resorted to signing for his AAA club faded veterans well beyond the age of 30: Tony Graffanino (35), Jorge Velandia (33), Morgan Ensberg (32)---most probably because, at the time, there was not a legitimate positional prospect on that Buffalo roster who wasn't a slow lefthand-hitting 1b. Since, versatile catcher Chris Gimenez has been promoted from Akron, a fast-track manuever to protect against the collapse of 36-year-old import Sal Fasano, urgently added once Martinez became disabled. Foresight is clearly not an organizational forte. Fingers are no longer needed to count the positional keepers in the daily lineup. Those appendages on the side of one's head would suffice. Run-of-the-mill fill-ins populate the body of the lineup, with a few kids spiced in to contrast with those who began the year relied upon but have since proven themselves unworthy of being core components. SS Jhonny Peralta---about whom enough has been written here---and 1b Ryan Garko fit that last category. Neither deserves to have a defensive position reserved for him. Both are ordinary, slow and not good enough to be considered longterm regulars at their respective positons. Neither is a multi-dimensional talent nor a reliable run-producer. In fact, it occurs that Garko might best assist this club returned to his original position of catcher. He hits and runs like one and might salvage this campaign, in part, were he to use it to re-establish himself as a viability at that spot. This is so because a comparably-able offensive player is much harder to find behind the plate than at 1b, a position into which either Michael Aubrey or Jordan Brown might then ascend. Either is a much better offensive player than any other catchers in the system. Furthermore, Aubrey is out of options after this season, while Brown is the most promising hitting youngster in the upper levels. Inasmuch as base-stealing is no longer a major part of AL attacks, Garko's throwing would not be tested too vigorously while he re-acclimates to the tools of ignorance. Pairing with Shoppach, Garko would enable the organization to feel secure about itself offensively from the catcher position. Meanwhile, 1b would join DH as available slots for a middle-of-the-order piece to fill. Such a commodity is more likely to be found available for those vacancies than for any other in the sport. Though it must be admitted with emphasis that I cannot speak to the relative defensive abilities of Garko as a catcher, moving him there has considerable appeal, given the potential upside. If Ryan did nothing more than enhance his tradeability by showing some promise as a backstop, it would be an exercise worth pursuing. Best-case scenario, Garko, Shoppach and Martinez make the team uncommonly rich at one of baseball's perenially-leanest positions. Franklin Gutierrez' marketability as an excellent defensive CF prospect could readily be converted into a meaningful offensive addition, were more potential positions opened. The San Diego Padres might, for example, be willing to return Kevin Kouzmanoff in exchange for someone like Gut to police their spacious outfield expanses, particularly now that switch-hitting prospect Chase Headley has been elevated to the varsity. Ex-Indians Jody Gerut and Brian Giles could then concentrate on playing the corners. Kouz could play 1b---or DH while Aubrey mans first. Maybe David Dellucci could be moved to the Cubs for 28-year-old LH slugger Micah Huffpauir, who seems to be stuck at AAA. However, with Stephen Head, Beau Mills and Matthew Whitney (the only RH bat, other than Kouz, among them) also in the pipeline, it is not as if the team is not fortified with 1b/dh candidates. The only reasonable way to prune them is by first making way for auditions, something solely investing in Garko at the position would not permit. While dealing Ryan is always an option, his market value is not exceptional at this point, as he is not fast, slick with the glove, boasting enviable numbers in BA, HRs, rbi or OPS. Therefore, it seems wisest to employ Garko over Fasano as Shoppach's caddie, allowing for more potent alternatives at 1b. On another matter, the conversations pertaining to CC's impending free-agency always include the organization's balking over the number of required years. Sabathia's representatives are asking for seven years, while the club would prefer three or four at most, citing the injury risk for pitchers as their justification. Surely it has occurred to someone that Sabathia's demands can be agreed to, with the club simply dealing the southpaw as soon as it became uncomfortable with the hurler's durability. It is not as if the market price for lefty starters with Cy Young potential is going to soon bottom out. By that time, assuming it arrived before actual injury occurred, CC would likely be considered a relatively affordable bargain, one that would still bring back a sizeable booty (no pun intended) in trade.   Reports are the organization is preparing a last-ditch offer for CC in hopes of extending him. It might be wisest of all to deal him for helpful assets, only to bring him back during the winter for the agreed-upon terms negotiated beforehand. This way, CC returns to an enhanced roster. Such a thought is probably incredibly naive. Lastly, it is sincerely hoped Shapiro has not waited too long in liquidating Byrd and Dellucci, as both seem to be declining in value and performance. For all the grief DD has received, his production numbers are virtually identical to Ben Francisco's, save for the irrelevancy of batting average. Conversely, Gutierrez has negligibly out-paced Shin-Soo Choo, though he's had many more ABs. OBP probably more vividly enunciates their relative disparities.   Posted Jun 27 2008, 02:18 PM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Peralta now has 30 RBI!

  With the SS now coming off a productive offensive weekend in LA, it might be a good time to put his run-producing numbers into some perspective, particularly for those clinging to the idea that this is a core piece worth building around. Jhonny's 30 rbi have required 268 AB and have been somewhat aided by his 11 home runs, a sum second on the club to Grady Sizemore's 17. Grady is also the only Indian with more AB (290). Impaired DH Travis Hafner now trails JP by eight, though he's also had 110 fewer AB. David Dellucci trails by six, but in 90 fewer AB. Victor Martinez, who has yet to homer and has played hurt all spring, is but nine rbi behind JP, though that has occurred with 70 fewer AB. Franklin Gutierrez is demonstrably ineffective as a run producer, yet he trails Jhonny by only 12 rbi in 84 fewer trips to the plate. Most revealing for perspective's sake has been the work of Ben Francisco, the OF deemed inadequate for the MLB Opening Day roster. Ben is four rbi behind Jhonny in 99 fewer AB, though it must be remembered Francisco had two rbi stolen from him when umpires denied his homer against Texas. Casey Blake has fifteen more rbi than Peralta, in 31 fewer AB. Ryan Garko leads Jhonny by eight rbi in 29 fewer trips. Not only does this illustrate the inefficiency of Jhonny Peralta as a run-producer, but it mocks his employment as yesterday's cleanup bat. Bear in mind most of the above-mentioned have not been featured so favorably nor as prominently as has been Mr. Peralta, who is often found in the meat of the Cleveland order. What is more, such figures receive too little exposure, but Sizemore, Jamey Carroll, Francisco and, more recently, Shin-Soo Choo---batsmen who have many times preceded JP in Manager Eric Wedge's order---today display outstanding OBPs, meaning the opportunities have been there for the man hitting .189 w/RISP and .128 in such situations when two men are out. Clearly, a lot has been invested in the fortunes of Jhonny Peralta. One could argue that the manager has staked his job upon the play of this oversized, slow, lacking-any-semblance-of-range middle-infielder. What is more is 2b doesn't seem to be in his future---though the similarly-constructed Jeff Kent has made a fine career at that post---anymore than does 3b, where his arm would be an asset but his reactions likely lacking. Given that his career numbers do not compare favorably to Blake's, a player who has been diminished for his relatively unspectacular production in a corner infield role, JP would be even less profound offensively as a thirdbaseman. This is all a long way of saying it is hoped Jhonny Peralta is liquidated as soon as his market value is sufficiently high to allow it. Peralta is up to .243. He's participated in a lot of DPs on behalf of the pitching staff and his defensive mates. He's second on the club in runs scored. He's still young and affordable, with his inexpensive longterm contract having years to run. Someone might believe, as Wedge must surely do, that upside remains. Should that be the case, let that sucker have him. Peralta's best campaign was his first. Nothing personal, JP. You're just not cutting it. You'd help best moved for something with longterm viability at another position of need. With Gutierrez, you might be the most tradeable positional assets available to GM Mark Shapiro. Most certainly, you are expendable. Should you come back to haunt the organization, as so many dispatched from the Wigwam have, I'll accept full responsibility---for whatever that is worth. I've seen enough. Thanks, however, for trying. Posted Jun 23 2008, 09:13 AM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Tribe: Refrain from towel-tossing.

  This writer has been as down on and disappointed in the 2008 Cleveland Indians as any fan or follower. As many lines of personnel adjustments have emanated from these keys as have been generated anywhere. That this did not feel like a season for which to be complacent is evidenced in pieces dated as long ago as Feb. 17 and March 23. See for yourself if you doubt me. The first is about dealing CC to the Dodgers and the other is about the roster being too full of marginals. Recent commentators of far greater prominence have pronounced this a lost season, one best utilized to prepare for next season. Yet I do not believe this is necessarily a lost campaign, nor one that needs to be bagged. It is not time to dismantle nor to liquidate, though some judicious adjustments must occur. Minor tinkering would not, in and of itself, seem to be enough. Then again, this core group has never been about having the best personnel relative to its competitors. It has, instead, been characterized by a collection whose whole exceeds the sum of its parts. Recent entries representing the city of Cleveland in the American League, those led by Manager Eric Wedge, have collectively accomplished more than what might be expected from so motley a crew. Just today, in Terry Pluto's argument (available at cleveland.com/sports, the online site of the Cleveland Plain Dealer) that blowing-up the roster is imminent and justified, GM Mark Shapiro reminded that the Bartolo Colon deal---the one that brought back Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips---was consumated on June 26, an anniversary still a week away, and that the deal came relatively early on the baseball calendar. The point is, there is plenty of time for liquidations. The non-waiver trading deadline is nearly six weeks away, falling as it does on July 31. There is a significant meantime during which what remains of contention can be salvaged. It is not as if I'm a die-hard, either. Just a bit of a realist. At least from time to time. I think this year's club can still compete viably in the AL Central, where there is no dominant squad. Given the still-realistic possibilities that DH Travis Hafner, C Victor Martinez, RHS Fausto Carmona and 2b Josh Barfield can still return for meaningful late-season contributions, and that only three top-line starters typically make the post-season starts, this can still be a club that does serious damage at playoff time. Getting there first, of course, must be managed. That is where Wedge, Shapiro and the rest of the braintrust must rally themselves to enact a plan of action that affects positive change. It has not helped that interleague play resumed precisely at a time when this club could least afford to subtract yet another bat from its already impaired order. Losing the DH, regardless of how humble might be the production coming from that slot, was not a prescription for optimal success. Nonetheless, things are, as we've been told, as they are. The reality is the team appears again to be afflicted by offensive strain. The suspicion is that may be somewhat illusionary. Wedge is not entirely mistaken to point out some balls have been hit hard, but right at opponents. Colorado played some outstanding defense against the Tribe during their sweep. Allowing LH Jorge De La Rosa to achieve 67% of his outs on Ks, however, cannot be denied. But that is a digression. What the Rockies demonstrated is what an impact speed and defense can have upon a struggling squad. Swift CF Willy Taveras ran the visitors right out of his new residence, showing what a mistake it was to dismiss his candidacy as an everyday performer. Slick-fielding SS Omar Quintanilla was stellar and pesky all week, and was featured at both the bottom and top third of the Rockies' batting order, the promotion mysteriously coming against the LH Jeremy Sowers. Then there was the suddenly-torrid Jeff Baker, homering in all three contests, after having hit but one in his previous 41 MLB games. Baker revealed appealing versatility and a very live bat. So, the question must be asked: "Did it seem to anyone else that Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, who preceded Shapiro as John Hart's Assistant General Manager, might have been showcasing both Baker and Quintanilla for Cleveland's benefit?" I think he most assuredly was. Conveniently, Cleveland SS Jhonny Peralta failed to flag down more than a few grounders average MLB shortstops convert into much-needed outs, contrasting most graphically what it was that Quintanilla---a virtual unknown in the baseball universe and someone soon to return to the bench once Rockies' MVP Troy Tulowitzki regains his health---was bringing to a winning effort for his club. (Baker's role figures also to be affected by a currently-disabled but rapidly-returning infielder, Clint Barmes.)  Whatever the case in that regard, it is hoped the Tribe brass saw the benefits of attributes like quickness, base-stealing speed and fielding range, as each has been in short supply since Omar Vizquel and Kenny Lofton's heydays passed. So long as this year's club restores such gifts to its key middle infield spot and adds a potent bat to the middle third of its order, contention can yet be had along the North Coast in 2008. Before remarks begin saying that is all more easily said than done, be advised viabilities do exist affordably---though there is certainly no guarantee the solutions will definitely produce as recommended. Vizquel can be had from San Francisco. Dmitri Young can be imported from Washington. Neither guy would cost an arm nor a leg to acquire. And neither guy would need to have an earth-shaking season foreign to their recent pasts in order for them to combine to impact this year's club. Vizquel, now 41, would steady and undeniably enhance a defense that is supposed to complement a pitching-first organization. Young would need merely to DH in Hafner's stead, supplementing what Ryan Garko and Casey Blake contribute behind Grady Sizemore and Ben Francisco. Inasmuch as it is evident Peralta is not up to the dual tasks of fielding as an infield leader or producing runs in the meat of the order, something must be done about compensating for his deficiencies. To fail doing so would allow this year to go to waste entirely.  It would be fine if Jhonny and a secondary piece---such as whatever it is David Dellucci might bring from someone like the Cubs, for whom he'd become an off-the-bench asset---could bring from Colorado Quintanilla and Baker, with the duo assuming the keystone roles in Cleveland. But that cannot be counted on, though it is hereby wished for. Better, perhaps, to have Vizquel back to take charge of the Indian infield, with Peralta force-fed 2b, sink-or-swim. As an alternative, Jhonny has a remaining minor-league option. He could be demoted until he polishes the requisite skills, while the varsity moves further forward with Jamey Carroll as the 2b starter. I'm inclined to think farming JP is unnecessary, however.  Were Grady, Omar, Ben, Garko, Young, Blake, Choo, JP and Shoppach to comprise the order, this would not be a pushover offense or a permissive defense. Some resourceful and creative manuevering would be necessitated, certainly, but such execution might salvage what remains of this summer---at least before a definitive decision must be made on marketable vet hurlers CC Sabathia and Paul Byrd. Plenty of time would remain to explode the roster should such measures not pan out as hoped. A few things seem fairly certain. The OF is replete with worthwhile young candidates. A superior and more consistent corner OF bat might be desired; but shouldn't the organization first fully audition what it already has in-house? It is not as if anyone is going to be giving away a more proven run-producing OF at this point anyway, as only a contender would be dealing for what it is Shapiro has to barter and such a club would need its proven pieces. Similarly, the corner infield slots are respectably occupied by suitably productive batsmen in Garko and Blake, both of whom are having fine seasons thusfar. Catcher, with Martinez out, suffers some, but talent at that spot is always lacking in the sport and no one is making what they may have there available. This is all a long way of saying this lineup is best enhanced by addressing what it has in the middle of its shaky infield. O'Dowd may have been encouraging Shapiro to contemplate what could be up-the-middle. Or what transpired  could merely be coincidence.  Either way, if this team is to regain its status as the team to beat in the AL Central, it must fix itself in the middle of its infield, ideally with a wide-ranging gloveman at SS and a live bat at 2b---precisely what it was that most turned the Rockies series in favor of the home team. Assuming JP and Dellucci cannot be converted into Quintanilla and Baker, bringing back Vizquel (or a reasonable approximate, a description that does not allude to Jorge Velandia, incidentally) and adding an established vet bat like Young's may be as good as it would get. What is more, that just may be enough---not only to resurrect hopes for '08 contention, but also to persuade a certain lefthander to reinvest in Cleveland Indians baseball. Otherwise, what Pluto and so many others have to say is indeed true. Going on with what is being employed will not get it done. And this will prove itself to be a lost campaign, indeed. Landing an established and feared LHR like Damaso Marte would make the challenge easier, as well. Something impactful for the pen is quite possibly as essential as any possible addition. And Marte is one for whom this space has argued all spring.  Posted Jun 20 2008, 05:01 PM by MALeonard's Xanga

• No positional depth in tribe organization

  There is no question that the Cleveland Indians have been hit with some serious misfortune relative to their 2008 MLB season. Some of the complications that have materialized could hardly have been foreseen, as GM Mark Shapiro intimated during his extended visit with the media Wednesday. DH Travis Hafner's continued struggles, the injuries to rotational regulars Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook, catcher Victor Martinez' various ailments which robbed him of his extra-base potency, reliever Rafael Betancourt's mysterious unfamiliarity with pitch location, an unprecedented and inexplicable wholesale offensive slump---these are just the more conspicuous problems confronting Shapiro, Manager Eric Wedge and long-suffering Indian fans. Today's announcements that both Martinez and 2b Josh Barfield---who injured a finger checking his swing, of all acts---underscores an under-reported but very salient issue. This is very evidently not an organization deep in positional prospects. So barren is the system, in fact, that only three minor-league non-pitchers began the day on the 40-man roster: LH 1b Michael Aubrey, LH OF Brad Snyder and RH C Wyatt Toregas And this may well be the final year in the chain for the first two listed, with the third justifiably bypassed when a replacement for Martinez was needed. Instead, a 40-man spot must be cleared for journeyman Yamid Haad (.159, 3 rbi at Buffalo), as well as for the much-traveled 33-year-old utility infielder Jorge Velandia. (The guess is both Westbrook at AAA RHP Adam Miller will be moved from the 15- to the 60-day DL to make room for them.) Victor will be out 6-8 weeks, we're now being told, with the inflamation in his right elbow. The good news is that should be quite sufficient for him to also regain full flexibility and stability in his troublesome hamstring. The bad news is reports suggest surgery will be necessary. To complete the allusion to Aubrey and Snyder's departures, each will be out of options once this season has expired. They can be expected to leave as minor-league free agents---unless one or both suddenly finds he's integral to '09 plans. All of this, coupled with the impending free agency of LHS CC Sabathia, argues for Shapiro to get busy liquidating his disposable assets, not necessarily for a firesale or housecleaning as for heartily-prescribed replenishing and fortifications. It is not as if the current formula is working, after all, the events of last summer now placed fully to the side, as all things historic should be. Maybe RHS Paul Byrd can bring Cardinals' LH AAA C Brian Anderson. Maybe David Dellucci can return a piece to package with soft-tossing lefty Jeremy Sowers and RH OF Franklin Gutierrez for that desperately-needed corner OF thumper. (Gutierrez would make someone a very outstanding CF, don't ya' think?) Maybe Jhonny Peralta and Andy Marte could be exchanged for a pair of legitimate middle-infielders with quickness and speed, such as the Nationals' tandem of Felipe Lopez and Christian Guzman, who is in a contract year. Maybe Wedge can will better utilize his assets by re-thinking his absurd batting order, seemingly constructed around a five-hole "hitter" who can't deliver with men on base.   Yeah, none of it is likely; but something must be done---and it won't be that "single deal" that Shapiro keeps dismissing, as if doing so justifies total inactivity. This is a front office that needs to get creative, to be resourceful, to be somewhat daring but inspired. It would be very fine if recent manuevers could simply be reversed---Kevin Kouzmanoff for Barfield, Brandon Phillips for Jeff Stevens, Coco Crisp for Marte---but that cannot be done and the stench of them cannot inhibit subsequent acts of courage. Referencing Sowers with Byrd as expendable, when both seem so vital to a now-depleted rotation, results from the plethora of lefthanded starting pitchers performing so admirably on the farms. David Huff was recently bumped from Akron to Buffalo and is thought of as a fast-riser. Ryan Edell last week went into the eighth inning with a perfect game in AA, where Baseball America favorite Chuck Lofgren also toils. Lake County has three southpaws representing in their all-star game.  Since something of substance must be sacrificed in order to bring in something of significance---and, let's face it, this season demonstrates more than minor tinkering is required---Sowers and Gutierrez may be the best this team can package, particularly if also packaged with either Aubrey or fellow LH 1b Jordan Brown. (These last two are as close as it gets for positional prospects in the pipeline.) As for what might be done to absorb the rotation duties, RHP Brian Slocum, also on his final option, could be auditioned, though the thought is his future might be in the pen. Until Carmona returns at the end of the month, Matt Ginter could be granted the opportunity for which he consented to labor in Buffalo. The former Chisox reliever has at least flashed at this level. The bottom line is concern for the rotation should not prevent acts of restoration. In the meantime, once-heralded names like Matt Whitney, Trevor Crowe and Ryan Goleski today belong to non-prospects, at least based upon what they're not getting done at AA. 3b Wes Hodges and C Chris Giminez, in fact, seem to have passed them as the fast lane approaches. If any of them is going to resurrect his viability with this organization, this would be an outstanding summer to show it. Injuries have certainly factored in the cases of Whitney (ankle) and Crowe (back), but the organization might also motivate them via promotion to AAA. It is not as if there is superior upside in further investing in Ryan Mulhern, Jason Cooper, Jason Tyner, Andy Gonzalez, the error-prone and positionless Aaron Herr or Giant-A's castoff Todd Linden. It is an awful place for Shapiro to find himself---needing desperately to do something about rectifying a spiraling situation---but it is not as if he'd planned well for succession at numerous roster spots. This is a bed he and his manager made for themselves. Here's hoping they don't continue to sleep in it too much longer.  As for the nonsense that CC won't bring as much as Johan Santana did, voices mouthing that company line fail to acknowledge Minn overplayed its hand. What is more, there is plenty of indicators saying Santana is a declining talent. Such is not the case of the merely 27-year-old Sabathia. While it most certainly would have been wiser to move Sabathia during last off-season, as this writer encouraged them to do, it is not too late to optimize CC's marketability. And Shapiro knows this quite well, though his minions recite what he wants for them to say on his behalf.   Posted Jun 12 2008, 02:48 PM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Wishing Bentley well

  Since this is the day Cleveland Browns' OL LeCharles Bentley is to take his pre-mini-camp physical, possibly clearing the way at last for him to resume what had been a seriously stellar NFL career, it is with sincere best wishes he is considered. He is, after all, a hometown kid who prepped at St. Ignatius, starred collegiately at the Ohio State University and wanted nothing more, when his shot at free agency arrived, to play for his favorite childhood professional outfit, displayed conspicuously through excitement and exuberance at the press conference announcing his arrival. Bentley, however, tore a patellar tendon during a non-contact drill on what was the very first snap of his initial Browns' walk-through. Subsequently, he contracted a staph infection that nearly resulted in amputation. Two full seasons have been missed and countless hours of arduous rehabilitation have been invested in readying himself for the comeback that may be green-lighted today. While it might ordinarily be thought unjustified to feel sorry for a millionaire or to think he'd need good fortune, those are nonetheless the emotions for the man. May he again be a vicious road-grading interior force---not only to benefit the Browns and their supporters, but also because that is what he had  been, wants to recover and was meant to be. Innocent childhood dreams should not end any other way. ------------------ As for the balance of the club, it seems fair to say the Browns of 2007 had a rather profound effect on many of the league's teams. There is the Joe-Thomas-effect, whereby eight clubs went out to snatch for themselves OT hopefuls in Round One of the 2008 NFL draft---as many as had been taken in that round of the past four drafts combined---stats attributed to Sporting News' Dennis Dillon in the June 9 issue. All came among the process's top 26 selections. Two of those teams dealt up in the round to assure themselves such a commodity, with a third spending a choice it had acquired for a veteran Pro-Bowler. It can be reasonably assumed they all hope to experience as marked an offensive improvement as Thomas helped affect on the Browns. There is also the Josh-Cribbs-effect, whereby several organizations saw wisdom in shoring-up their special teams, particularly those competing against the Browns in the AFC North. For example, Scouts.com released its 2008 Fox Sports Fantasy Draft Guide to reveal that all three of the Browns' divisional rivals made the fortification of their 'teams a high priority during the off-season, further evidence that this is a copy-cat league. On page 68, it is written: "The coverage units will be rebuilt...the Steelers have been dreadful the last half-dozen or so seasons. Mike Tomlin had kick-coverage in mind when he drafted." Page 70 reports: "Cincy special teams could utilize an influx of athleticism and youth to reach an even higher level...the Bengals staff is placing an emphasis on improved consistency in all facets of the kicking game." The next page is devoted to the Baltimore Ravens, whose "New Head Coach John Harbaugh...has made (special teams) a point of emphasis...to inject some speed and toughness to kick coverage." That magazine picks the Browns to tie Pitts for the North crown, with Ed Thompson writing: "Don't expect this Browns team to come up short of the playoffs again this year." The OBR's Barry McBride and Lane Atkins also contribute as writers therein. -------------- It has long been this commentator's perspective that losing NFL outfits, as the Browns so undeniably had been, should do all the rules empower them to do to relentlessly reinforce their needy rosters. For example, league rules permit teams with available varsity roster spots to raid the practice squads (DEVs) of competitors, though those outfits can protect their investments so long as they are willing to open a varsity slot for that desired talent. Nonetheless, Butch Davis allowed now-Pro-Bowl OLT Jason Peters to reside undisturbed on the Bills' DEV, at a time when injuries had ravaged the Browns' roster, opening a plethora of roster slots. Similarly, he ignored Tampa's Anthony Davis, who started at OLT for two seasons before moving inside to guard. (See the above paragraphs for evidence of the value of a starting-caliber NFL OLT.) Conversely, the Bucs have made considerable hay with former members of the Browns' DEV---and their diligence paid off handsomely, virtually rescuing the franchise at a time when wholesale decline seemed certain. Tampa rose from worst-to-first in the NFC South largely because RB Earnest Graham and DT Jovan Haye seemingly came out of nowhere for John Gruden's bunch in '07. In fact, TSN's June 2 issue ranks Haye as the NFC's fourth-best DT. Graham, a Byner-type, carried the Bucs' on the ground last year, complementing the efforts of another junk-pile reclamation who labored in Cleveland, QB Jeff Garcia. I think this is Year Five of that division's incredible streak of having its cellar-dweller ascend to the crown, with each of the four rivals having a turn at the top. AtL figures to end that run, however, as they would appear to be the sport's worst ballclub right now. ----------------- A player to watch in the upcoming campaign could be Detroit's Kevin Smith, a third-rounder out of Central Florida. The 6-1 212 RB was within 62 rushing yards of bursting former Lion Barry Sanders' Division I single-season record of 2,628. Not only did he achieve the second-best time in the 3-cone drill among runners at the combine, an indication of impressive quickness, but he'll find himself in the right system for the right coach, as Head Coach Rod Marinelli is re-committing to a time-consuming ground game.  Smith might remind those old enough to remember of one-time Lion star Mel Farr, Sr., the fairly upright and tallish UCLA product who, coincidently wore Smith's collegiate number 24. The rookie has inherited Kevin Jones' 34 in Motown, however. ----------------------- Moving on to the other Cleveland sports clubs, why is it the Cavaliers have repeatedly passed on the availabilty of Twinsburg's James Posey, who helped eliminate them this spring as a member of the Celtics. Posey, who was featured extremely favorably in a recent Plain Dealer piece, has always seemed ideal for Cleveland needs. What is more, he's a quality young man who is selfless and defensive-minded, able to hit an occassional three, as well. He seems poised to claim his second world's championship ring. A less-regarded individual, at least where character is concerned, is local product Ruben Patterson, another accomplished defender with some shooting range. Would he not be a nice complement to Lebron James on a wing? He was on the street for most of the past NBA season and would figure to come affordably, should his hometown club be interested. As for the Tribe, the recent return and demotion of RHP Brian Slocum serves to remind it was he who got a pair of late-season 2006 out-of-contention starts when it seemed imperative the organization afford itself a last-gasp examination of a fellow RH who'd been made a first-round bonus baby. Instead Jeremy Guthrie was granted a single MLB start during his three years in the Wigwam, inexplicably mis-cast as a long-man, an assignment he'd never performed and one for which he always seemed ill-suited. That Slocum would receive those opportunities when Guthrie was out of options and headed elsewhere speaks volumes about a heralded organization that does not always exhibit appropriate foresight. Slocum, obviously, remains under Tribe control---and is being converted to the bullpen!---while Guthrie is Baltimore's premier starter, boasting a 3.40 ERA though only a 3-6 record. The Stanford Cardinal was the O's Opening Day hurler after finding himself last season via regular rotational work.   With the team suddenly thin in starting pitching and with four of the five being lefthanders, a commodity like Guthrie would be nice to have. On that count, doesn't it seem Jeremy Sowers, yet another Cleveland first-round selection, will need to go elsewhere---possibly to a big-park NL club like San Diego---to find his excellence? Having Cliff Lee and Aaron Laffey seemingly entrenched in the Cleveland rotation, is there room for a soft-tossing lefty like Sowers? Especially given that the organization's top-rated hurling prospects are almost unanimously lefthanded, Sowers may soon find himself an expendable trade element. While on the subject of former number-one draft picks, as well as the recent rotation injuries, it seems mistaken to assume LH 1b Michael Aubrey was demoted due to any deficiencies of his own. More likely, Aubrey was fingered because the brass was already quite aware Jake Westbrook's elbow would prevent him from making his start last week in Texas. Tom Mastny was summoned to fill Aubrey's roster spot, probably to get him settled-in a full day before he'd be needed to fill in for Jake. Then, with that outing having gone so terribly, and with the pen having been consumed in managing it, additional arm reinforcements were needed to get the club through the balance of that series. Slocum and Rick Bauer were summarily added. In the meantime, Ryan Garko, thankfully, regained his through-the-middle approach that served him so well when first he arrived on the scene, enabling him to accumulate 45 rbi in but 50 2006 games. That any demoted minor-leaguer, barring injury at his position, must remain in the bushes for at least 10 days, also conspires against Aubrey's imminent return. What is more, unless Aubrey is going to appear regularly, if only on a platoon basis, he is better off getting daily ABs at AAA, especially inasmuch as this could be his final year under Cleveland control. He would seem ready to become a six-year minor-league free agent. Lastly, at least where the Tribe is concerned, it is encouraging to finally witness other local analysts and commentators awakening to what a devastation Jhonny Peralta is as an everyday player. He is currently 9 for 56 with RISP, making yesterday's "Hey Hoynsie!" remark that "I don't think you can call him (JP) a disappointment" both pathetic and laughable. Meaning no disrespect to one of the area's best beat writers and an entertaining personality---despite the tone of that above characterization---Hoynes must have a peculiar definition of "disappointment." Anyone appearing in the five-hole hitting .168 with RISP who simultaneously has but 21 rbi accompanying his 11 home runs---while bringing nothing in the areas of speed, range, winning body language or plate discipline (16 walks to go with 51 K)---qualifies as a serious "disappointment" in my book. To be (barely?) fair, perhaps Hoynes means "relative to what he is being paid," which would do some justice to the original question. Also disturbing is Hoynes' assessment that "Peralta certainly falls into that category" when discussing "bright young talent." In deference to Hoynes' superior experience and proximity, perhaps I should conclude it's me. I just don't see it, though I've seen enough of Jhonny Peralta. I'm ready to bid him "adieu." If only someone would offer something of value for him. ------------------ Count me as one of those who loves those "On this date in sports" mentions. I'm especially amused by birthdays, such as that yesterday's was shared by stellar NFL CBs Herb Adderley and Troy Vincent (both with ties to Philadelphia), as well as by track stars Willie Davenport and Butch Reynolds. It is expected to be received as old news, but maybe there are a few who still aren't aware Jim Brown and Michael Jordan share Feb. 17, much as Sandy Koufax, Mel Renfro, Tiger Woods and Lebron James do Dec. 30, which also happens to be the anniversary of birth for AFL FB Jim Nance and NFL QB Kerry Collins. Also interesting is that MLB's top two HR hitters of all time---excepting the allegedly medically-enhanced Barry Bonds (who shares a birthday with Karl Malone, one day before Walter Payton's)---were born on consecutive dates: Henry Aaron on Feb. 5 and Babe Ruth on Feb. 6.   I'm sure it amounts to nothing of significance, but the Browns have had several guys born on June 12 and Dec. 23. If you don't believe me, look it up.    Posted Jun 09 2008, 07:30 AM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Tribe tidbits

  Questions about CC Sabathia's relative tough-mindedness gained some steam last evening in Texas, though he successfully worked his way out of a few jams prior to his departure. Foremost among the ammunition was his again yielding two-out runs. Coming off just such an unfortunate outing in KC, CC surrendered four of his five runs yesterday in two-out situations. What is more, the innings resulting in two-out Ranger runs featured the bottom of the Texas order. Three walks did not aid Sabathia's evening, nor did requiring 119 pitches to span six innings. What with the days of the Vallejo, Ca. native in a Tribe uniform dwindling and his trade for needed roster reinforcements all but imminent, those resigned to such destinies point to the lefty's inability to show in last autumn's AL post-season. Letting Thursday's 4-0 lead---attained before he'd even thrown his first pitch---escape him in a must-have game versus a sub-.500 ballclub was not the performance of an ace, nor of one worth more than $17/yr.   Sabathia seems to possess a marvelous disposition, a good heart and a congenial personality---as well as some very fine career numbers---but for the price he is demanding through his representation, an increasingly-vocal proportion of Cleveland fans would very much like to see greater dominance and consistency. CC is now 3-8 with a 4.81 ERA, not Cy Young-like numbers, though this morning's Plain Dealer reminds that the ERA has been 2.06 over his last nine starts. Dishearteningly, the offense is complicit in his 3-5 record over that period. Readers wanting more on Sabathia are encouraged to scroll back for the pre-season entry (dated Feb. 17) arguing that he should've been moved to the Dodgers for a package to include young OF Matt Kemp and vet RHP Derek Lowe, who is also a free-agent-to-be. While you're at it, be encouraged to see March 23rd's, as well. -------------- CC was bested by '05 Tribe teammate Kevin Millwood, who left after a Jamey Carroll leadoff single in the seventh. Disappointingly, Grady Sizemore, Ben Francisco and Victor Martinez immediately allowed relievers Eddie Guardado and Frankie Francisco to retire them on a mere ten pitches, not the type of patience one might like to see from top-of-the-order and best-in-the-lineup bats confronting a floundering Rangers' pen, one that had been decimated during earlier contests in the series. ------------- A development during the Texas series has been the bunching in Manager's Eric Wedge's batting order, whereby the Indians began mimicking what the Rangers have going on, though with less-spectacular results. Whereas Texas has Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley---with the first three ranking, in some configuration, 1-3 in the AL in both hits and runs, and the last two third and fourth in batting average---Wedge countered with Sizemore, Francisco, Martinez and the suddenly-torrid Ryan Garko. None rank among league-leaders in any category, though Ben (.330) might after sufficient plate appearances. What Texas also has are the AL's leader in doubles (David Murphy's 20) and its leader in homers and RBI (Hamilton's 17 and 68, respectively.) Furthermore, Bradley and Murphy join Hamilton in the top seven in AL RBI. What was fascinating was watching the two clubs' top four batters go head-to-head in the final two games of the four-game set. Cleveland's combined for 15 hits and 11 RBI; Texas' had 14 and 10. Bradley went 12 for 23 against his former mates, with four dingers, as if he were deliberately rubbing it into the nose of the alienated Wedge. With Ranger 3b Ramon Vasquez also tormenting the Tribe and Sabathia, it gets one to thinking: "Would it be better to trade today's lineup for the one that went elsewhere since Wedge's arrival?" What might be the order, instead? How about Vasquez at 2b, followed by Coco Crisp in LF, Brandon Phillips at SS, Bradley in CF, Ryan Ludwick at 1b, Ryan Church platooning in RF with Jason Michaels, Kevin Kouzmanoff at third, Luke Scott sharing LF with Brian Barton, Josh Bard catching and a bench bunch including Willy Tavares, Omar Vizquel and Ronnie Belliard? License was taken in placing Ludwick at first base; but this was just for fun, anyway. --------------- Odd how only Jhonny Peralta remains from the middle-infield quartet that included Vasquez, Phillips and Belliard. Some might maintain the one that remains is the one who is least desireable now, though Ronnie is older and injured. It was astonishing to witness JP producing two run-producing hits as the series was closing. He now has 21 rbi to better accompany his 11 home runs. His BA with RISP may be approaching .150 by now. -------------- Does it not now look all the more absurd that the Cleveland brass elected not to claim certain Hall-of-Fame OF Manny Ramirez off Red Sox waivers a few seasons back, at a time when Matt Lawton was still active and under contract? It has been written here before---and will probably be again some time down the road---but Manny is one talent who should never have been allowed to escape the Wigwam. What is more, it has since been reported former owner Dick Jacobs extracted at least $30-$70 million more for the franchise from current owner Larry Dolan than it was actually worth. You'd think for that kind of profit Jacobs might've exercised the foresight and opportunity to lock-up Manny before turning over the asset. It doesn't work that way, though, does it? Not any more than does the option of exchanging the current lineup for the departed one. --------------- Inasmuch as Manny and former Indian 1b Jim Thome have now joined DH Eddie Murray in the career 500-homer club, reportedly the only trio of teammates to ever achieve the distinction, it should be considered that the mid-90's lineup that also included Albert Belle, Carlos Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Vizquel and the Alomars probably accounted for more lifetime dingers than any in MLB history. For overall ability, that was also a rare grouping. Cleveland fans were certainly blessed and probably spoiled by such a collection of brilliance. ------------- Be advised pages 39-43 in this week's Sporting News feature news of anticipated interest to fans of the Indians. The team's ability to deal starting pitching, though the piece was written before Jake Westbrook went down, is discussed on those pages, as is the-one-who-got-away, Chisox LF Carlos Quentin, the steal of the off-season, whom GM Mark Shapiro failed to secure when Arizona was "willing to deal him at a bargain price." Without question, there is deserved pressure on the Cleveland GM to finally do something about a lineup Sean Deveney describes with words like: "...the entire lineup has been sucked into a slump..." and "They need hitting at all positions," as well as "...they're expected to look for deals to improve their bullpen, too." But, having accomplished at least 15 hits in three straight games for the first time since 1999 (credit PD's Paul Hoynes for the stat), maybe the order is about to put the slump behind itself. Hopefully, the "braintrust" won't be again mis-led into thinking standing pat is the wisest course. ----------------- A recent entry discussed the foolishness relative to placing Peralta higher in the batting order than Casey Blake, who also has been hitting, at least against RHP, behind Garko and David Dellucci. (Naturally, more recent events have somewhat validated the manager's decisions.) Research (as of 6/04/08) indicates these career numbers for the quartet. Readers can draw their own conclusions as to the best overall of the quartet. Not displayed is Blake's being the best in MLB with RISP in 2008.                      (last 30 days)                   (career-high figures for these)                   (these columns for OBP)                    vs. LHP    vs. RHP        Dbls.  HR     RBI     Slg. %    OPS             2008   career    best season                                                                                Blake            .125         .255             36     23        78      .478       .840               .316    .331      .356 Garko           .343         .219             29     21        61      .483       .842               .335    .353      .359 Peralta          .244         .240             24     24        78      .520        .886              .297    .332      .366 Dellucci        .000          .239             19     29        65      .530       .899               .314   .343      .369    Peralta's career highs all occurred in his initial fulltime season, 2005, with declining figures in each subsequent campaign, clearly indicating the league has adjusted more successfully than has the player. Garko's bests came in 2007, but he is the least experienced of the group. Dellucci is a platoon player, of course. Blake is the only player to establish a new individual standard in five successive seasons, 2004-2008, suggesting he is rounding-out his game as he matures. Career OPS (on-base plus slugging) for the respective players are: .773, .809, .760, .786. A contention confirmed by these numbers is that Peralta is more deserving of the seven-hole in the order than is Blake, underscored by JP's '08 .128 BA with RISP. As slow as he is, eighth might be his most appropriate slot. As an aside, fans and commentators need to look less at homers and BA and more at things such as doubles, OBP, OPS and BA w/RISP when assessing an individuals' relative achievements. As many have argued, "Batting average is the most over-rated stat in baseball." Jhonny is evidence that HRs can rank up there, too.   Posted Jun 06 2008, 01:11 PM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Wedgie out of order

  The Cleveland Indians' website offers a story today about hoped-for consistencies from the everyday lineup. Manager Eric Wedge should be identified as an individual heavily responsible for its struggles. While he "got away with it" last night in Texas, what Wedge put out there in the opener of the Rangers' series defies logic. What could have been the rationalization for the order he created and employed? Delivering the skipper from his own blunder was MLB's top-rated hitter with RISP, vet 3b Casey Blake, who powered a pair of two-run dingers to go with a bases-loaded double, totaling a personal-best seven RBI in what became a 13-9 victory. Yet Blake's .442 BA w/RISP was inexplicably relegated to the seven-hole in the batting order. Would it not seem more reasonable and prudent to utilize that type of production right after those hitters boasting the highest OBP? Isn't the idea to "get 'em on, get 'em over and get 'em in"? Apparently not in Wedge's World, evidenced by his team's 6-24 record when scoring three or fewer runs. Eric, the reigning AL Manager of the Year, instead situated struggling 1b Ryan Garko at cleanup and SS Jhonny Peralta fifth. Their respective averages with RISP were .219 and .128 when last I noticed. What is the point in such lunacy? David Dellucci was also more prominently featured than Blake, preceding Casey in the sixth slot, a guy who needed to be "picked up" twice in the early innings because he had failed to deliver with runners on ahead of the 3b who came in second on the club in RBI. This writer doesn't need to be reminded that Blake has shown limitations as a big-league run producer, but he is the only one among all those thusfar identified with an 80-rbi campaign. And his 2008 numbers more than merely suggest it is he who should be hitting in the four hole for this ballclub. Only he is producing with men on base with desired regularity. Let this be repeated: Casey Blake leads all of MLB in hitting with Runners in Scoring Position, an accident(?) that confirmed itself again last night, three separate times. Some aberration, eh, Eric? By the way, was it a mistake to make so much of Ranger Josh Hamilton's second successive month as the AL Player of the Month, the first ever time any player in league history had accomplished such a distinction? Shouldn't such enthusiasm have been instead devoted to Peralta's having 19 rbi in a season highlighted by 11 homers? Surely no one has ever had so few rbi to go with as many homers. That, to go with that .128 w/RISP certainly recommends him for a meat-of-the-order batting slot, right? No wonder this outfit struggles to score with regularity, much less with consistency. Reiterating, JP has never had as many as 80 rbi in a single professional season. What is more, Peralta's OBP (.300) exceeds only Asdrubal Cabrera's (.288) in the Cleveland lineup. He is also tied for the team lead in K's, though the competition is intense. (Hafner has 44 with Grady right behind at 43.)  Were Wedgie to put out this lineup: Dellucci, Francisco, Grady, Blake, Victor, Peralta, Garko, Choo, 2b, it would be quite likely he'd manage a team scoring at least four runs per game. The team is 19-7 when achieving that scoring figure, by the way. While it would certainly not be a prototypical batting order, what with a .236 bat at cleanup and another with zero dingers right behind him, it would probably be a more successfully consistent unit than what has preceded it. And that supposedly is a priority, at least according to the team's website. The alternative order proposed here at least utilizes statistics that justify it. What possible explanation could exist for what it was Wedgie put out there last night? Admittedly, his resulted in a victory. How? I'd nominate "dumb luck" as a title for it---with emphasis on the first of the words. ------------ As an addendum to yesterday's piece, Adam Melhuse is an on-the-street vet LH catcher who could be given Andy Marte's roster spot. When Adam played, Victor could assume duties at 1b. (Other than as a last-resort OF reserve, Dellucci's role would consist exclusively as DH vs. RHP.) Against LHP, Garko would play first, Kelly catcher (batting in Choo's spot) and Franklin Gutierrez (OBP .299) last and in RF. Were Ronnie Belliard acquired for 2b, with Cabrera demoted to AAA, he'd bring up the rear vs. RHP, but leadoff vs. lefties. Incidentally, the left labrum injury sustained by Nationals' starting 3b Ryan Zimmerman might motivate Washington to accept Marte for Belliard, though Ronnie can also play third and another former Tribesman, Aaron Boone, is also on hand to protect the hot corner. An alternative to Melhuse might be the Reds' switch-hitting backup Javier Valentin or recent Cinn castoff Scott Hattieburg, a superb contact hitter but one who hasn't done much catching in several years. At 38, it might be unrealistic to expect him to do much now. He is otherwise the best of all readily-available options. The salient point motivating these deliberations is to get Martinez as much positional rest as possible, in order to heal his impairing hamstring and restore his extra-base power. -------------- A deal that would make sense for both ballclubs would send Richie Sexson from Sea to the Mets for Carlos Delgado. Both teams are disenchanted with their precipitously-declining, grossly-overpaid, no-longer-young first-basemen and might experience benefit from a mutually-agreeable change-of-scenery transaction. What is more, the M's could use another LH bat in their order and Richie had some fine power years in the NL. Sea continues to look like the best place for a Barry Bonds comeback, though its upstaging of Ichiro---among other reasons---may prevent it.  --------------- So as to end on an up note regarding the Tribe, Peralta is so much better a hitter when going with the pitch to RF. So long as he does that, he is an asset to the club and one that might out-hit his other deficiencies. In general, all Cleveland hitters---if not all in baseball---are better when going with the pitch. Hafner, Sizemore, Garko, Gutierrez and certainly Cabrera have all been far too much pull-happy thusfar this year. Francisco also appears to be acclimating to the first round of league adjustments to him, the pitching of him on the outer half of the plate. Much of what has enabled unheralded lineups like Oak's to contend this year is that team's disciplined approach to going with the pitch and working the counts. In fairness to Wedge, these concepts have been staples in his philosophy and what he means when he complains about too many "wasted at-bats." Most certainly, in this instance, it is entirely upon the well-compensated players to adhere and improve. Posted Jun 03 2008, 08:30 AM by MALeonard's Xanga

• Catcher in Tribe's near future?

  No, this is not an article about the MLB draft, scheduled to begin Thursday. It is also not an over-reaction to what was confirmed in today's Cleveland Plain Dealer, relative to Victor Martinez' nagging hamstring probably affecting his shortage of extra-base power (39 of his 49 base hits have been singles; none has been a home run). As much had been speculated on this site weeks ago. What it is about, however, is that the Cleveland Indians' front office may have decided that the best course of action in response to injuries to both DH Travis Hafner and Martinez would be to DH the aforementioned catcher so as to possibly promote healing of his troubled leg. That Hafner is unavailable, quite possibly for the balance of this nearly-new month (at least), plays into things inasmuch as it opens the option for Manager Eric Wedge and challenged GM Mark Shapiro, who seemingly with certainty must do something constructive about what ails the disappointing offense. It is mentioned that Hafner's absence my extend well beyond his permitted return a week from today because the team would be permitted as many as 20 days to rehab him in the minors, where he might also regain his confidence and work out his mechanical issues. With inter-league play dominating the June schedule---though some of it is at home, where the DH is permitted---there is some fortuitous timing to Hafner's DL stint. It would seem reasonable to assume the many taxing acts of a catcher conspire against what is best for rehabilitating a "tender hamstring," as it is described by PD beat writer Paul Hoynes. That LH rookie 1b Michael Aubrey was demoted today, instead of retained for platooning duties with struggling RH 1b Ryan Garko, seems to add fuel to the suspicion that someone else might be in-the-mix for coverage of the first-base and DH duties. Let's step back for a moment to take in the "big picture," at least where the active varsity roster is concerned. The OF suddenly appears as if it might be on the threshold of stability. Manager Wedge now has speed, range, throwing arms and youthful potential to call upon in the persons of Ben Francisco, Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo and Franklin Gutierrez. Most likely, they will consistently align just that way, from left to right, with the last two platooning, for the most part. The left side of baseball's least-threatening (except to their manager's job security) infield should be expected to be with us for at least the balance of this season. Neither 3b Casey Blake nor SS Jhonny Peralta figures to inspire many trade offers, so upgrades at their respective positions would seem unlikely. While that is not necessarily so, it nonetheless looks as if Indians' fans are stuck with them for the foreseeable future. They're not likely to be going anywhere. Until this morning's developments, the same seemed about true for both catcher and 1b, where the status quo and a platoon, respectively, were expected to prevail. Now, the club may be in the market for a foreign infusion, most probably behind the plate to job-share with Kelly Shoppach. It could be David Dellucci will replace Aubrey as Garko's platoon partner, but in the DH role, with Victor assuming 1b. It could be Dellucci will depart to bring back another commodity, maybe that needed catcher or maybe a more MLB-ready LH 1b to team with Garko so Victor can DH. Of course, that answer cannot be completely clear at this point; but the point remains that something significant may be in the works, as the club attempts to do something about having both its two most heretofore potent middle-of-the-order run-producing bats impaired by nettlesome injuries. As for where Dellucci might go, should he in fact be marketed, SD, AtL and the Mets are clubs for whom he might realistically contribute regularly. For that matter, the last two might also welcome a vet rotation piece such Paul Byrd, whose contract is expiring. Packaged together, DD and Byrd might bring back something of significance able to address what is not happening offensively. That piece would not be a star, but it might be helpful, serviceable and of assistance to a sleep-inducing "attack." What does seem certain is this week could be profound where the club's fortunes are concerned. They could be involved in a splashy transaction of some impact. They could be involved in some other type of shakeup regarding the ballclub. They could snap out of their funk collectively, with the in-house personnel clung to optimistically in the off-season suddenly regaining its 96-win form of 2007. And the cow might jump over the moon at the sight of the flying pigs. There is surety in none of this, but the indications are that something might be up. Perhaps these are merely the wishful thoughts of a frustrated and determined follower who reasons that what has been happening cannot go on much longer. Whatever will manifest as the case, clarity at 2b should be high on the organization's to-do list. Jamey Carroll, bless his little heart, is playing entirely too much, partly attributable to his excellent average vs. LHP and partly due to the abysmal campaign being authored by second-year-man Asdrubal Cabrera, who clearly needs to be demoted to AAA Buffalo for additional seasoning. In fact, it could be 33-year-old journeyman Jorge Velandia was recently signed to the Bison roster in order to ready him to replace Cabrera is the dual role of 2b/backup SS. Josh Barfield, who is playing second in western NY, is not exhibiting the kind of improvements he was sent there to enact (drawing walks, enhancing OBP, etc.) Should it not be the brass is concerned with a dual-purpose candidate in Cabrera's spot, then it is high time they go out and land for this club a legit keystone piece able to solidify the lineup. KC's Mark Grudzielanek could be such an item. (Would Andy Marte be enough to secure him?) So might one-time Tribesman Ronnie Belliard, who nowadays sees only spot duty with the floundering Nationals. It must not be that Blake could be that solution, as some have speculated, or the Barfield deal would not have occurred. In fact, so long as LH 1b Nick Johnson is able to resume his fulltime duties in Washington, a package of Belliard and switch-hitting 1b/DH Dmitri Young might be one worth pursuing. The cost would be reasonable and their talents would be welcomed. (Wouldn't it make the Blake-Peralta duo on the left appear much better if contrasted with the ugly-in-their-uniforms tandem of Belliard and Young on the right?) What Tribe fans need to quit clamoring for is the Buffalo shuttle. There is nothing in Wings City worth promoting, at least not among the positional pieces. For all the hype the Cleveland organization loves to hear about its farm system, justification cannot be found examining the Buffalo roster. With Aubrey returning there for at least ten days and Barfield a fringe prospect at this point, but one player among the non-pitchers promises bonafide big-league potential, LH 1b Jordan Brown, still only two months into his first exposure above AA. What Buffalo has to offer cannot be properly described as AAAA-types; more accurately they'd be AA.5's. Accomplished at AA but not showing legitimate AAA competency, much less meriting that fourth "A." Their individual and collective numbers affirm this assessment. It is genuinely regrettable the organization cannot call back the many youngsters frittered away for scanty compensation: RH 3b Kevin Kouzmanoff, RH middle-infielder Brandon Phillips, switch-hitting middle infielder Maicer Izturis, LH OFs Ryan Church and Luke Scott, RH OFs Willy Tavares and Brian Barton, switch-hitting OFs Coco Crisp and Milton Bradley, to name a few. The squad representing the city of Cleveland against professional outfits from other organizations could surely use some of those talents today. As it now situates, the organization seems confronted with one of two seriously delicate realities: either it stands pat with only minor adjustments available or it commences to packaging some of its prized pitching prospects, much of it lefthanded---a genuinely frightening proposition in that mistakes can easily be made when attempting to determine which to keep and which to retain. Other than these alternatives, there is only the liquidation of the free-agent-to-be LH Cy Young award winner, whose trading was argued for on this site well before the start of the season. While that subject may be revisited soon, more likely it is a bridge crossed only after some minor tinkering and another few weeks' time.  Posted Jun 02 2008, 10:14 AM by MALeonard's Xanga