Friday, February 24, 2012

Grady Sizemore's back!

Looks like we won't be seeing this swing in uniform for a
while, Tribe fans.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
—is injured.

Yes, everyone, Grady Sizemore will not be ready for Opening Day because of another injury—this time it came when he was rehabbing his knee and hurt his back.

While this is a pretty big blow, were you really expecting him to be healthy all year long? I know I certainly wasn't.

The days of Grady playing all 162 games and being the heart and soul of the Indians lineup are long over.  The most realistic picture of a healthy season for him was probably 120-130 games, with 20-25 HRs and 70-80 RBIs. And based on what he's been doing lately, .250 would probably be a realistic batting average.

But alas, it was not meant to be. Sizemore has turned out to be as fragile as the teacup that covered his junk in those leaked pictures from a few years ago. And by that, I mean really freaking fragile.

We can all debate the merits of re-signing Sizemore for $5 million, but at the price we got him and with the rest of the free agent market pretty thin (although I still think we should've made a big play for Michael Cuddyer...), it was probably worth it. Hell, it could still be worth it if Sizemore comes back and plays his butt off in order to try and prove that he's healthy enough to get a good deal in free agency.

The prospect of cashing in during free agency can make athletes play at a significantly higher level.

But now we've got a hole in our outfield to fill, and we don't have a highly touted prospect with which to fill it.

We do, however, have a bunch of guys that could really make some things happen if the stars align properly. I think we'll see Michael Brantley slide over to center which makes a hole over in left. So with that in mind, let's take a look at some of the Grady replacement possibilites!

Shelly Duncan
The Dunk Tank already had a leg up on the competition for a bench spot, but now he could take center stage in left field. Duncan, who is 32 and has had a fairly up and down career, had a great September batting .265 with 7 HRs and 23 RBIs—including a game where he hit two jacks off of eventual Cy Young and MVP, Justin Verlander. If he has a good Spring, I wouldn't be surprised if his name were in the lineup every day—if not against lefties as a platoon guy.

Jason Donald
The Indians have been trying to groom him as a "Super Utility" man, but I think he could be a dark horse to fill this everyday role. Donald, of course, was supposed to be the Opening Day third baseman last year, but was injured in Spring Training. That opened the door for Jack Hannahan to flash his superb glove at third, and the rest is history. Donald did well last year in 39 games, batting .318 with sic doubles, one triple, one HR and eight RBIs. He did strike out 35 times, though—a number that's got to be cut down if he's going to play every day. He's a dark horse in this race, but from everything I've heard, he did well in the outfield in winter ball. Donald is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Matt LaPorta
Manager Manny Acta said a few days ago that Lappy was competing for a 1B/LF/DH backup role, but with this injury to Sizemore, LaPorta could maybe go back to his natural position and finally become the hitter everyone wants him to be. At 27, it's time for him to get his mess together to prove he was worthy of being picked in the first round in 2007, and not just a AAAA player. Perhaps going back to his natural position of left field would do that for him. That said, I really don't see LaPorta opening the season anywhere but Columbus.

Aaron Cunningham
The Indians acquired this guy from the San Diego Padres for a low level pitcher, and at the time it was considered a depth move. Cunningham is only 25, and was drafted by the White Sox in the sixth round of the '05 draft. He's been around a while, but has never truly made an impact at the major league level. To be honest, if he does end up with a role, it'll probably be as a backup. His career numbers are nothing to write home about (his career average is just above the Mendoza line), and although he's right handed, his numbers against lefties don't really inspire much confidence. He'll have to have a fantastic Spring for Acta 'n co. to put their faith in him.

Ezequiel Carrera 
This little dude's claim to fame was a suicide squeeze bunt early in the season against the Red Sox, but as the season went on and Carrera made the trip multiple times form Columbus to Cleveland and back again, it because more and more apparent that Carerra is most likely destined to be a fourth outfielder. September was especially unkind to the Porsche as he hit just .197 with two doubles, two triples, and eight runs scored in 23 games. He also struck out 13 times in that span and had an OBP of just .238. Yikes. Experience can be valuable, but I'd be pretty shocked if he opened up the season in left.

Russ Canzler
Okay, I saved him for last because right now, he's the one I want to have the job. The Indians received him from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash a few days before signing Casey Kotchman. Here's the deal, he played all four corner positions last season at AAA Durham (a part of the Rays organization) where he showed pretty good defensive prowess in the outfield—he made no errors in 60 games in left. Canzler ended up being the International League MVP by hitting .314 with 18 HRs and 83 RBIs to go along with 40 doubles. And that's where I get excited—to me if you can have a guy who bats right handed in this lineup with a .270-.300 average who can get you 30-40 doubles, that's exactly what we need. Canzler has only played in three games with just five plate appearances—I think it's time he got a shot at an everyday role. It stinks that Sizemore had to go down for this chance, but if there's any horse I'm pulling for in this race to see who'll be the left fielder, it's definitely Canzler.

Keep checking back as Spring Training rolls along, friends, as I'm sure there will be more stuff about which I'll have an opinion!
~MAS

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Start Me Up - Super Bowl Sunday!!

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
As I say every year, it's an unofficial holiday in the good ol' US of A as people around the country are getting ready for the Super Bowl.

Honestly, if you're not planning on watching this game tonight, I say you're being completely un-American!

...Okay, so maybe that's a bit harsh. But I honestly can't contain my excitement over this game today. I think we're really about to see one of the better Super Bowls of all time.

Why? Well, for one, Tom Brady is a man on a mission this year. Cursing out offensive coordinators, making mincemeat out of Tim Tebow—if there's any year that Brady wants to get that fourth ring, it's this one.

On the other sideline, you've got the New York Giants who surprised pretty much everybody (except my mom) by beating the Packers a few weeks ago. I also will give a little credit to myself, as I figured if they could beat Dallas week 17, they'd have a good chance at going all the way.

So who do I think has an edge in tonight's game?

Madonna, even though her new song is complete trash (seriously, it's awful). 

But for the game itself, I'm honestly not sure. Both of these teams have been playing at a very high level for weeks.

You could say that the Giants might have an edge because they beat the Patriots earlier this season on a very clutch Eli Manning touchdown pass to Jake Ballard.

But on the other hand, back in 2007 the Patriots beat the Giants in week 17 and then ended up losing the Super Bowl to them a month later.

What does all this mean?

Any given Sunday, one team can beat out another.

Maybe someday in the distant future this Start Me Up will be about the Browns. I'm not holding my breath, but I do think that it could happen someday.

But for now, I'm picking the team my mom said at the beginning of the Playoffs would be the one to rise above and get that Lombardi trophy.

The Prediction: New York Football Giants 24 - New England Patriots 21

I'm thinking a late Patriots turnover will force the game into overtime (Buffalo Wild Wings at work) and Lawrence Tynes will get a game winning field goal.

Enjoy the game, everyone! I know I will.
~MAS

Thursday, February 2, 2012

'You want free agents? You'll get Casey Kotchman and like it!'

Kotchman last year with the Rays
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
So I've been hearing a lot of positive reaction to the Indians signing Casey Kotchman, and I've gotta say that I'm not totally in favor of this deal.

"What? Why wouldn't you want an upgrade over Matt LaPorta, someone you have constantly hammered?"


Yes, yes, I know, I don't like Lappy.

But here's the thing—is Kotchman really an improvement?

First of all, we signed him for a 1-year, $3 million deal. For most teams, that's absolute chump change. For the Indians, it's a fairly significant investment. So let's take a look at what we're getting.

Kotchman is coming off of a year where he hit a  10 home runs and 48 RBI with a career best .306 average. Can't say those stats exactly set the world on fire...although none of the Indians hitters broke .300 on their final averages last year. What's even more "blah" to me is that he only had a total 36 extra base hits in 146 games! That's 10 home runs, 24 doubles and two triples.

What's more is that in 2010, Kotchman had a pretty awful season with the Mariners, batting just .217 with 9 HR, 51 RBI, and just 20 doubles in 125 games.

Honestly, Kotchman has never been much of power hitter—he's only hit a total of 96 extra base hits over the last three seasons, and average of 32 per year. This would would be fine, but he's a corner infielder. And our other hot corner is going to be manned by either youngin' Lonnie Chisenhall or the veteran Jack Hannahan—who, as much as I absolutely love his glove, is never going to be confused for an offensive specialist.

So what am I saying here?

Well, let's take a look at the numbers of Matt LaPorta. I have never been a LaPorta apologist, and I really think he should be replaced, but for comparisons sake, let's just look at the numbers, huh?

In what can be considered his second full season, Lappy played in 107 games, hit 11 home runs, drove in 53 runs, and had 23 doubles.

Wait a second, that's 34 extra base hits in just 107 games—not even counting his one fluke triple!

...see where I'm going with this?

I know LaPorta is not that good, strikes out way more than he should, has a biological clock clicking like a time bomb at age 27, and honestly has been a terrible disappointment from the CC Sabathia trade, but are we really improving that much with Kotchman?

I don't know that we are.

To be completely honest, I'd almost rather see the kid we just bought from traded Tampa Bay for cash for, Russ Canzler, get a shot at first base. At least he's younger—only 25—and has shown that he can get some extra base hits.

But at least for now, it looks like we're going to be stuck with Kotchman.

Wow.

And since we're on the subject of free agents, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that Kotchman is the only free agnet the Indians have been able to reel in on a major league deal. Yes, they've made a heck of a lot of depth moves, and that's fine with me. But...this is it, guys.

(Okay, aside from Grady Sizemore, but he was re-signed so that doesn't really count.)

However—and this is not something I was ever expecting to say—I really don't think this is the Dolan's fault.

Stay with me on this—the Indians have been reportedly interested in at least three big name free agents, and they've all said they're not interested. I'm talking about Roy Oswalt, Carlos Pena and Carlos Beltran.

According to the PD's Paul Hoynes, the Indians offered Pena a 1-year $8 million deal and got told no. They offered Beltran 2-years, $24 million and were told no from him as well. Oswalt told them no before they even got to the negotiating table.

It's not like GM Chris Antonetti isn't trying, it's just that guys don't want to come here. That's the sad reality.

Honestly, right now it looks like the only way the Indians could get a "big name" free agent to sign here is if they severely overpaid—and you know the Dolans aren't going to do that.

Do I want the Dolan's to sell the team because of that? I'm not sure. But I do know this—if the Indians can prove to the world that they can stand up to the Motor City Fat Cats (see what I did there?), they will probably have a much easier time singing free agents better than Casey freaking Kotchman next winter.

But hey, just over 60 days left till Opening Day. Can't say I'm not excited.
~MAS