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

'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

A Look At... Indians Trade Possibilities

I could rant until the cows come home about the Indians 5 errors today (YES 5 ERRORS, UGH), but I won't do that. Being no-hit is bad enough, although I will say that Ervin Santana is a great pitcher and Mike Hegan repeatedly said on the radio broadcast that he'd never seen Santana pitch so well. However, we've got to play good fundamental baseball if we want to make it to the playoffs. This division is weak, and if we get back to playing good ball again, we'll be just fine. But this team is definitely flawed right now.

But this post is supposed to be about trade possibilities, so I'll get to that now. A lot has been written by a lot of different people about who the Indians could trade for but I'd like to talk about who I'm willing to trade. It looks like Carlos Beltran is not going to be one of those people we could acquire, but based off of the report that the Indians were willing to take on Beltran's salary and give up a "good player," I'd be surprised if we didn't make a deal by the deadline. Colby Rasmus (LH outfielder) is also off the board as he's been traded to the Blue Jays. So, that leaves BJ Upton, Hiroki Kuroda, Ryan Ludwick, Coco Crisp, and I believe Aaron Harang as players the Indians are maybe considering. At least from most reports. (UPDATE: Apparently, the Indians are in on Ubaldo Jimenez too, and are strong contenders to land him. Me likey.)

So let's get to it, who would I not mind the Indians trading?

Well, unless they're offering up one of the best players in the league, we better not give up Kipnis, Chisenhall, White or Pomerantz. These guys are huge keys to our future, especially since we have drafted so poorly from the 90s until really '08, when we drafted Chisenhall in the 1st round. I know GM Chris Antonetti has said that no player is "untouchable" but honestly, I don't think those guys are going anywhere.

That brings us to the next level of prospects that we have, and I think we have some really good ones. We have a three headed monster of B-level starters in Jenmar Gomez, Zach McAllister and David Huff. All three of those guys have had great years at AAA, and I'd be more than willing to trade two of them --  if not all three for the right deal (*Ahem* BJ Upton). I know we need starters and Huff is currently in the rotation and has pitched quite well in his two starts, but I just don't think he factors into the rotation in 2012 and beyond.

Think about it, the first three spots in the rotation are locked up for next year -- Masterson, Tomlin and Carrasco. Even though he's not coming back in the rotation this year, Alex White would appear to at least be penciled in for the 4th spot. And then you have Fausto Carmona for the 5th spot. You'd have to expect that Drew Pomerantz would follow a similar tract to that of White and find himself in the rotation too by mid-season, and at that point you have to get rid of somebody (probably Carmona...). Of course, you need starting pitching depth, but as long as you've got one of Huff/Gomez/McAllister, for next year, I think we'll be alright. So that's why I'd say we can trade at least two of those guys and be alright.

For infielders, I'd say we could stand to lose Cord Phelps, Luis Valbuena and -- this one might surprise you -- Matt LaPorta. Phelps has had a pretty good year in AAA, but he's a second baseman -- hello Jason Kipnis. He was sort of being groomed to be a utility player, but his defense looked abysmal in his stint in the majors earlier this season. We also have Jason Donald down in AAA, also being groomed to be a utility player. Because Donald is more proven at the major league level, I'd say Phelps is expendable (but, Donald is too by that same token).

If you looked at any of the games the Indians played against Minnesota last week and saw Valbuena play in the outfield (which was an incredible emergency situation) you know why he's expendable. He's actually had a great year in AAA, so if someone wants a LH second baseman, then they can have him. I'm sure of that.

Now, Matt LaPorta. If anybody wants him, I'd say that they can have him. I don't even care about getting a first baseman back. Here's the deal, Carlos Santana has been really bad behind the dish lately, and -- as Hammy said on the radio today -- it's getting harder to let Sweet Lou Marson sit on the bench when he's a much better defensive catcher. When LaPorta was on the DL earlier in the year, Santana mostly played first base while Marson caught and I just don't think Santana has been as comfortable back there since then. So, since LaPorta has only hit .238 with 9 HR and 35 RBI this season, and only plays average defense, I think we could stand to trade the former '07 first round draft pick. He just can't seem to put it together up here, and at this point I would rather have Santana at first and Lou Marson behind the plate every day.

So that's what I think. Hopefully we will see the Indians make a move int he next few days. Who they'll get, I'm not really sure, but I'm hoping for BJ Upton. The fact that we'd have him under contrat for next year makes him a very attractive player to me. We will see Tribe fans.

~MAS

Start Me Up - It's Tribe Time!

It's Opening Day in Cleveland! What isn't exciting about that? I've been to a few Opening Day games and they're always great. The one that comes to mind is the '06 opener where Travis Hafner smacked 2 homers and Casey Blake hit a grand slam in what was a really foggy day on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. But all that's in the past, we have a core of pretty young players this season and despite the youth I'm optimistic about them. In fact, I'll go as far as to say if  healthy, the Indians will be competitive this season.

Yes, I said it and I believe it's true so I'll say it again.

If they stay healthy, the Indians will be competitive and fun to watch this season.

Carlos Santana

Okay, now let me elaborate. I don't really think they'll make a huge run for the playoffs or anything like that - although it is baseball, anything is possible - but I do think they have a great opportunity to forge their way back into mediocrity. Think about it, a lineup with a healthy Grady Sizemore, Carlos Santana, Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo is already pretty potent. Add in a contributing-to-his-potential Matt LaPorta, The Man Formerly Known As Pronk  (yeah, that's not going to happen), Austin Kerns and Michael Brantley and this lineup doesn't look so bad, does it?

"Ace" Fausto Carmona

What's going to stop the Tribe this season is their starting rotation. Other than Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson (who still think might be better suited for relief...but what do I know?) the rotation has way too many question marks. Mitch Talbot? He had a nice first half of the season going 8-8 with a 3.99 ERA, but then the wheels really came off in the second as he went 2-5 with an ERA of 5.29. And it certainly doesn't help that he had a disastrous spring this season. Carlos Corrasco? He's going to be a big key to the rotation as well, but aside from his few starts at the end of last season he's extremely unproven. Manny Acta is very much in this guy's corner though, saying earlier this spring that he has the potential to be one of the top pitchers in the American League. I'm not so sure about that...but it could happen. Josh Tomlin rounds out the rotation, winning the fifth starters job after a nice spring, but again he's very green throwing just 12 starts last year.

That being said, I really think the starting group has some good potential. Today's Opening Day starter, Fausto can come back and be the ace-in-training we saw in 2007, that would be a huge boost. I've read a lot about how the Indians basically have a bunch of guys who are all middle of the rotation guys, but I remember what Carmona did '07 and I believe he can get back to that level. Or maybe I'm just a victim of too much positive thinking.

Lonnie Chisenhall

If there are two positions I'm very concerned about for the upcoming season it has to be third and first base. Yes, we've got prospect Lonnie Chisenhall waiting in the wings (and Terry Pluto responded to a question I asked him on his Facebook page that the Indians are really hoping he can Chisenhall can be up in the big leagues in June), but right now we've got Jack Hannahan at third and Matt LaPorta at first. Defensively, these two should both be at least above-average, but offensively...these two could be the dregs of the Indians lineup. Now, this is alright for Hannahan as he's a stopgap and will hopefully have no place on this team beyond June, but LaPorta was one of the keys to the CC Sabathia deal. It's extremely important that he show the power and average he's always displayed in AAA ball this season at the big league level. My fear is that LaPorta is going to be another "Brandon Phillips"—we'll trade the guy and then he'll become the impact player we wanted someplace else. The same thing happened with Jeremy Guthrie, a former Indians draft pick who now starts for the Baltimore Orioles. Sometimes in baseball a change of scenery is all a player needs to start playing better, but in LaPorta's case it better just be the change from the Arizona hot to the Cleveland cold.

Matt LaPorta

So, since this is a Start Me Up, it's got to end with a prediction. And, as the title of this post might imply, I'm going to be pretty optimistic.

The Prediction: 81-81, 3rd place in the AL Central.

I wanted so badly to say 2nd place, but I'd rather be right. So consider this me second guessing myself and I will claim both as my prediction at the end of the season.

Enjoy Opening Day today Tribe fans. I wish I could catch the game on TV, but hearing Tom Hamilton and Mike Heagan call the game from WTAM's online stream will be more than good enough for me.

~MAS