Cleveland Sports Forum

J.R. wrote:Most Disappointing Players And Managers From The 2017 MLB Season
By: Kean Doherty

20. Jonathan Lucroy, C, Colorado Rockies – Batting And Fielding

In 2016, the Texas Rangers, who were heading to the post-season, decided to trade some of their future to shore up their catching situation. That player was Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, while the players going the other way were top outfield prospect Lewis Brinson and pitcher Luis Ortiz. Lucroy did help down the stretch and got the Rangers to the post-season. However, this season was a disaster at the plate and in the field. His homers, between Texas and Colorado, dipped to just six from a high of 24 during the 2016 campaign, when he was an All-Star. Behind the plate, Lucroy had the worst DWAR of all qualified catchers at -0.2 and he threw out 12 percent fewer runners than he did in 2016. Not a good year, all around.

http://www.sportsbreak.com/mlb/most-dis ... t=mdo_us_d

Maybe the best argument of all for not pre-judging .......either deals or deals that aren't made.

How would the Cleveland Indians fare in 2018 if they stood pat this winter?
Posted November 06, 2017 at 11:01 AM | Updated November 06, 2017 at 01:56 PM


CLEVELAND, Ohio – The World Series is over. The Houston Astros have had their parade and been to Disneyland.

Baseball news has already shifted to free agents, trades and qualifying offers in preparation for the 2018 season.

This is the cycle all 30 big league teams go through every winter. Each team handles it differently. Some teams spend to stay on top, others spend to make a big splash to awaken their fans. Teams hold fire sales to start over or try to make under-the-radar trades and signings to continue their rebuilding plans.

How will the Indians prepare for 2018?

A team that won 102 games last season and reached Game 7 of the World Series in 2016 is not rebuilding. The window to win a World Series is still open, but the Indians must decide two things: How wide do they want to keep it open? And how are they going to get through it?

Do they make headlines once again with an Edwin Encarnacion-type free-agent signing? Or will they bring back one of their own free agents such as Carlos Santana, Jay Bruce, Austin Jackson or Bryan Shaw? Or will they just tinker?

Cleveland.com explores three paths that the Indians may take to get ready for 2018. On Friday, Joe Noga detailed what a conservative approach would look like. Today we’re going to look at what it would mean for the Indians basically to stand pat.

Now before you throw away your Francisco Lindor bobblehead over that statement, take a deep breath and count to 10. No one expects the Indians to stand pat this winter. If you’re standing pat, you’re getting worse, not better.

But there are some openings that Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff and the rest of the front office could fill internally, while saving their resources for one or two outside additions to the roster.

Let’s take a look at some of them.



Jason Kipnis

Two years ago, Kipnis had 610 at-bats and hit a career-high 23 homers. He hit .290 in the World Series. Now he’s a guy who the Indians sent home to Chicago at the end of this season without a position and just over $30 million left on his contract.

If the Indians don’t trade him -- which would be difficult considering he was on the disabled list three times this year and played in only 90 games -- they should be able to find a place for him to play. They most logical move would be to put him back to second base and move Jose Ramirez back to third. Yes, they’d lose something up the middle defensively, but it would certainly produce better offensive results than having Giovanny Urshela getting regular at-bats at third base.

Kipnis, 30, ended last season, including the entire AL Division Series, playing center field in place of injured Bradley Zimmer. It’s hard to imagine Kipnis being the starting center fielder next season with the range, arm and speed Zimmer showed this year, but could he play left field? Especially if he had a full spring training to make the transition and Michael Brantley is slow to recover from right ankle surgery?


Edwin Encarnacion

If free agent Carlos Santana doesn’t re-sign with the Indians, could Encarnacion become the regular first baseman?

He made only 23 starts at first last year, but that was because manager Terry Francona felt by DHing Encarnacion, he could keep him fresh and allow him to play in more games. Santana was also playing good defense at first.

Encarnacion made 74 starts at first base in 2016 and 59 in 2015 with Toronto with no ill effects on his offense. He will open next season at 35, so it’s unlikely he’s going to play 100 games at first. But Francona could increase his playing time there with platoon options available in Lonnie Chisenhall and, perhaps, Brantley.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals, September 15, 2017


Yandy Diaz

Diaz was the Indians' opening-day third baseman this year. He didn’t stay long, but he could return in 2018.

So could Ramirez, Urshela, Erik Gonzalez or Francisco Mejia. In his last two years at Class AAA Columbus, Diaz hit .325 (117-for-360) and .350 (108-for-309, so it’s time for him to make the next step. Last season he hit .263 (41-for-156) in 49 games for the Indians.

The Indians recalled Diaz on Aug. 22 and he hit .304 (28-for-92) with 10 RBI and a .810 OPS the rest of the way. Mejia, the team’s top catching prospect, is in the Arizona Fall League learning to play third base. He’s leading the AFL with a .396 (19-for-48) batting average.

If the Indians put Kipnis back at second and Ramirez at third, Diaz could make the club as a right-handed hitter off the bench.

Michael Brantley

The Indians, to the surprise of some, exercised Brantley’s $12 million option for 2018. Now what do they do with him?

Brantley has played only 101 of a possible 323 games over the last two regular seasons because of shoulder and ankle injuries. He’s currently on the shelf for four to five months following surgery on his right ankle.

Can Brantley, 30, return to be an All-Star-caliber left fielder as he was last year and in 2014? Or is a position change needed to keep him out of harm’s way?

If Brantley moved to first, Kipnis, Brandon Guyer, Abraham Almonte and Greg Allen could be candidates to replace him in left field. Tyler Naquin is available as well, but he would be more of an option in center and right field because of his arm strength.

Danny Salazar

The Indians could lose relievers Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith and Boone Logan to free agency this winter. If they do, could Salazar replace one of them?

No question he has the arm to do it, but if Salazar is healthy he’ll almost assuredly opening the season in the starting rotation. It’s doubtful his right arm could survive in the bullpen, especially if he was going to be Shaw’s replacement.

Salazar, even as a starter, has had trouble staying healthy. He threw just 103 innings last season because of two trips to the disabled list with shoulder and elbow problems. In 2016 he threw only 137 1/3 because of a sore right elbow.

The Indians feel Salazar’s main value is as a starter. If he was healthy at the end of this season, Salazar would have started Game 4 of the ALDS instead of Trevor Bauer on short rest.

Regarding who could fill the empty spots in the bullpen, rookie lefty Tyler Olson did a nice job replacing Logan and Andrew Miller when they were out with injuries. Olson did not allow a run in 30 appearances. Nick Goody made 56 appearances last season, registering a 2.60 ERA. Dan Otero and Zach McAllister have shown durability, and Shawn Armstrong could get a longer look in 2018.

Lonnie Chisenhall

Quick question. Who was leading the Indians in RBI at the All-Star break?

If you said Lonnie Chisenhall, give yourself a gold star for having a good memory.

Next question, who played just 12 games after the All-Star break because of a strained right calf muscle? If you said Chisenhall, give yourself another gold star.

Chisenhall not only went into the break hitting .305 (57-for-187) with 12 homers and 51 RBI, he went into the break with a right calf injury. He was on the disabled list from July 11 through Aug. 31 with the injury, prompting the Indians to trade for Jay Bruce to replace Chisenhall in right field.

Bruce is a free agent this winter and the Indians have to be wondering how much they can depend on Chisenhall, 30, for next season? He made three trips to the DL last season and still posted an .881 OPS. Chisenhall appeared in 45 games in right field, made 19 starts in center, eight in left and appeared in seven games at first base.

If Chisenhall can stay on the field, he's proven he can be a productive hitter and solid defender. The outfield platoon of Chisenhall and Guyer proved to be effective in 2016.

Kind of forgot how good a 1/2 season Lonnie had. It seems unlikely that he will stay at that level, but that would be a nice boost. He also is an option for 1st base if they are full up in the outfield, he's played there from time to time.

Cleveland Indians don't think they'll be able to keep iron-man free agent Bryan Shaw


By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

phoynes@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Bryan Shaw, the busiest reliever in the big leagues over the last five years, is not expected to be back with the Indians next year.

The Indians, it has been learned, don't think that they will be able to compete with the kind of offers Shaw is expected to receive this winter on the free agent market. Shaw and five other Indians will be free to field bids from other teams on Tuesday.

Shaw has made more appearances than any big-league reliever in the last five years. He's pitched in 378 games, all with the Indians, in that time. He was acquired from Arizona along with Trevor Bauer in a three-team trade in December of 2012.

The Indians have had one of the top bullpens in baseball over the last several years. The cost of keeping that pen intact has grown. Closer Cody Allen is expected to make an estimated $11 million through arbitration this winter. Set-up man Andrew Miller, entering the last year of his deal, will make $9 million this year.

Shaw made $4.6 million this season. He's expected to be in line for a three or four-year deal worth an estimated $8 million a year.

If the Indians tried to keep Shaw at those prices, it would mean they'd be paying their top three relievers close between $28 million and $30 million in 2018.


Shaw, 29 on Wednesday, has never been on the disabled list and should be a hot commodity on the open market. As manager Terry Francona said at the end of last season, "If he doesn't come back, it will take two guys to replace him."

Last year St. Louis signed left-hander Brett Cecil to a four-year $30.5 million contract. He appeared in a career high 73 games, going 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA in 67 1/3 innings.

Shaw made 79 appearances last season, going 4-6 with a 3.52 ERA in 76 2/3 innings. Kansas City's Peter Moylan and Shaw tied for the AL lead in appearances this year. Shaw led the league outright in 2014 and 2016 with 80 and 74 appearances, respectively. He is the only Indians pitcher to appear in 70 or more games in five seasons.

"He is the most consistent human being I've ever seen," said Allen.

Allen ranks first in franchise history with 386 appearances. Shaw is second with 378.

If Shaw does not return, who will replace him? It could mean more work for relievers such as Dan Otero, Nick Goody and Zach McAllister. They all made 50 or more appearances last year, but were left off the roster for the AL Division Series as the Indians kept three starters in the in the bullpen in Josh Tomlin, Mike Clevinger and Danny Salazar.


It could mean more opportunities for right-hander Shawn Armstrong, who bounced between Cleveland and Class AAA Columbus nine times this year. The same goes for left-hander Tyler Olson, who made 30 appearances as a rookie last season without allowing an earned run.

The Indians could increase their efforts to sign Joe Smith. Like Shaw, Smith is one of the Tribe's free agents. They acquired him at the July 31st trading deadline from Toronto.

Smith went 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA in 59 appearances with Toronto and the Indians this year. He struck out 71 and walked 10 in 54 innings.

Shaw, in fact, appears to be following a career path blazed by Smith. From 2009 through 2013, Smith appeared in 303 games for the Indians. After the 2013 season, he turned free agent and signed a three-year $15 million deal with the Angels.

The Indians could also move Salazar into a late-inning relief role. He certainly has the velocity, but his durability and strike-throwing ability is questionable.

Tribe bullpen is full of cheaper innings-eaters.

Tito got more than his money's worth out of Shaw.

Not a big loss.

5 years never on the DL, was well worth whatever he was paid. But he's replaceable.

seagull wrote:Tribe bullpen is full of cheaper innings-eaters.

Tito got more than his money's worth out of Shaw.

Not a big loss.

Pretty sure they will agree with that sentiment.

It's also possible that Tito may have overused him, so there is a good possibility that his performance will suffer in future seasons.

Cleveland Indians go 0-for-4 in AL Gold Glove awards
Updated Nov 7, 11:06 PM; Posted Nov 7, 10:50 PM


By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

phoynes@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - There will be no gold for the Indians this year.

The Indians, despite having four players as finalists, did not win a Gold Glove award on Tuesday night when the awards were presented on ESPN. First baseman Carlos Santana, shortstop Francisco Lindor, third baseman Ramirez and catcher Yan Gomes came up empty after being named one of three finalists at their respective positions last week.

Voting for the Gold Gloves was done by big league managers and coaches. Twenty five percent of balloting was based on defensive metrics.

Santana tied for the AL lead among first basemen for defensive runs saved. He made 139 starts at first base.

Lindor made 158 starts at shortstop. He committed 10 errors, two fewer than he made last season when he won the Gold Glove and the Platinum Glove as the best defender in the AL.

Gomes controlled the running game better than any catcher in the AL. He threw out 42 percent of the runners in he faced. Over the last two years, he's thrown out 38 percent of would-be basestealers.

Ramirez started the All-Star Game at third base, but for the second straight year proved his versatility. He started 86 games at third base and 65 at second base.

But none of that mattered in the eyes of the voters.

The American League Gold Glove winners were:

First base: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City.

Second base: Brian Dozier, Minnesota.

Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Angels.

Third base: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay.

Catcher: Martin Maldonado, Angels.

Left fielder: Alex Gordon, Kansas City.

Center fielder: Byron Buxton, Minnesota.

Right fielder: Mookie Betts, Boston.

Pitcher: Marcus Stroman, Toronto.

National League Gold Glove winners.

First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona.

Second base: D.J. LaMahieu, Colorado.

Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, San Francisco.

Third base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado.

Catcher: Tucker Barnhart, Cincinnati.

Left fielder: Marcell Ozuna, Miami.

Center fielder: Ender Inciarte, Atlanta.

Right fielder: Jayson Heyward, Cubs.

Pitcher: Zack Greinke, Arizona.

Gold Glove Awards 2017: Which Cleveland Indians player was snubbed the worst?

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

jnoga@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians players were shut out Tuesday when results of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced.

Four Cleveland players were finalists for the awards at their respective positions: Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor, Yan Gomes and Jose Ramirez.

Despite having the top fielding defense in the American League throughout the 2017 regular season, the Indians wound up without a single Gold Glove defender following a vote of managers and coaches combined with a sabermetric element that comprised about 25 percent of the selection process.

Gomes finished behind Angels catcher Martin Maldonado, despite leading all AL catchers in caught stealing percentage. Maldonado topped the AL in assists, putouts and caught stealing. His SABR Defensive Index of 14.1 was far superior to Gomes (3.5). It was Maldonado's first Gold Glove and the second time Gomes finished among the top three vote-getters at his position.

Ramirez played in only 86 games at third base, but had the league's fourth-highest SABR Defensive Index score (3.7). Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria, who won the award at third for the AL for the third time in his career, ranked third in the league in assists and just outside the top 20 in all of baseball in defensive WAR.

Santana lost out to Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer, who picked up his fourth Gold Glove Award. Despite leading the league in assists by a first baseman and finishing second in the AL in double plays turned at 1B, Santana appeared to fall victim to Hosmer's reputation with the glove. His SABR Defensive Index number of 6.7 led all AL first basemen, while Hosmer's SDI was near the bottom among qualifiers (-2.6).

Lindor had perhaps the toughest argument against Angels winner Andrelton Simmons. The Tribe shortstop won last year's Platinum Glove, marking the best overall defender in the AL, but Simmons put up dazzling numbers during the regular season, leading all of baseball with a 3.25 defensive WAR mark, while finishing second in putouts and third in assists in the AL. His SABR Defensive Index number of 18.8 was the highest among any infielder in MLB.

So, which Indians player had the best argument for the award? Vote in the poll below and defend your response in the comments.

Which Indians player was snubbed the worst by Gold Glove voters?
Carlos Santana 49.33% (403 votes)


Francisco Lindor 32.31% (264 votes)


Yan Gomes 12.12% (99 votes)


Jose Ramirez 6.24% (51 votes)



Total Votes: 817

4 second or third place finishers is OK. The 7 errors in the last 2 series games was another of those series of totally unexpected causes of the elimination.

Kluber will win his second Cy. Tito could win another MOY. Jose's 3rd place is pretty solid finish.

Cleveland Indians: The Carlos Santana question -- Terry Pluto (video)


By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

terrypluto2003@yahoo.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlos Santana is a free agent.

So is Jay Bruce.

Can the Cleveland Indians keep both? Either one?

I think there's almost a zero chance both will return.

But I wonder if the Tribe can find a way to keep at least one.

Let's start with the $17.4 million qualifying offer given Santana. The Indians would be delighted if he accepted it.

That's right, they are willing to pay him $17.4 million next season.

Why?

Because the Tribe is willing to pay big ... for a single season.

ABOUT MICHAEL BRANTLEY

That's why they picked up the $12 million option on Michael Brantley, knowing he's coming off ankle surgery. And the fact Brantley has been hurt most of the last two seasons.

They believe Brantley can come back and become an All-Star again. Brantley did make the 2017 All-Star team, batting .299 (.801 OPS) with 9 HR and 52 RBI. But he played only 90 games as the ankle issues continued to grow worse.

The Tribe considers the $12 million a good bet because it's for a single season.

Their fear is a long-term deal for a player who is aging. That was the lesson from signing Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to four-year deals worth a combined $102 million.

That was in 2013.

By 2015, both were in major decline because of injuries.

The Tribe did give Edwin Encarnacion a three-year, $60 million deal last winter. He will turn 35 on January 7, 2018. So they did break from that strategy.

They will be careful doing it again.

FREE AGENT OUTLOOK

Brantley will turn 31 on May 15, 2018.

Santana will be 32 on April 6, 2018.

Santana batted .259 with 23 HR and 79 RBI. His defense at first has grown to the point where he is a finalist for a Gold Glove at first base.

My guess is the Tribe would be willing to give Santana something like a three-year deal with the third year at a team option.

But they'd prefer him to take the qualifying offer.

As for Jay Bruce, he was not with the team for the entire season. That's why the Tribe could not offer him a qualifying offer.

Of course, they could offer Bruce a lucrative short-term deal.

So the Indians have a lot of decisions to make.

Let's talk about it.

https://youtu.be/JTvwwUi_f1U

I'm for longer term contracts for non-free agents. Buy out their arbitration years.

I'm for short term contracts for FAs. Produce or you're gone.

Santana is very replaceable.

Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez win first career Silver Slugger Awards


By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

jnoga@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians teammates Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez both received Silver Slugger Awards in the American League on Thursday based on their offensive production in 2017.

Lindor and Ramirez were among eight players this year to win the award for the first time. Both were also finalists at their defensive positions for Gold Glove Awards, but came up short earlier this week.

The Indians were among five teams with multiple Silver Slugger Award winners, including Houston, Miami, Colorado and the New York Yankees.

Lindor becomes the first Indians shortstop to claim the honor since Asdrubal Cabrera in 2011. Ramirez is the third Tribe third baseman to earn the award since back-to-back wins by Jim Thome (1996) and Matt Williams (1997). Ramirez appeared in 88 games at third base and 71 at second base during the regular season.

The duo combined for 62 home runs and 172 extra-base hits as the American League Central Division champion Indians won 102 games, including an AL-record 22 straight.

Lindor, an All-Star at shortstop for the second time in his career, experienced a tremendous power surge compared to his 2016 campaign. The 23-year-old more than doubled his home run total in 2017. He collected 178 hits, including 33 home runs, 44 doubles and four triples. His home run total and extra-base hits (81) were club records for a middle infielder, and the most by a major league shortstop in 10 seasons.

Among MLB switch-hitting shortstops, Lindor's 33 home runs ranks first, ahead of Jimmy Rollins (2007) and Jose Valentin (2004), who each hit 30.

Ramirez, 25, had a historic season at the plate, posting the third-most doubles (56) and fourth-most extra-base hits (91) in franchise history.

Selected to his first All-Star Game, Ramirez scored 107 runs and collected 186 hits, including 29 home runs. His extra-base hit total was the second-most ever by a switch-hitter in MLB history behind Lance Berkman's 94 in 2001.

Ramirez tied a MLB record with five extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs, during a Sept. 3 game at Detroit.

Here is the entire list of 2017 Silver Slugger Award winners.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Catcher: Gary Sanchez (Yankees)
First base: Eric Hosmer (Royals)
Second base: Jose Altuve (Astros)
Third base: Jose Ramirez (Indians)
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor (Indians)
Outfield: Aaron Judge (Yankees)
Outfield: Justin Upton (Angels)
Outfield: George Springer (Astros)
Designated hitter: Nelson Cruz (Mariners)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Catcher: Buster Posey (Giants)
First base: Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs)
Second base: Daniel Murphy (Nationals)
Third base: Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
Shortstop: Corey Seager (Dodgers)
Outfield: Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins)
Outfield: Marcell Ozuna (Marlins)
Outfield: Charlie Blackmon (Rockies)
Pitcher: Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
ADVERTISING

Silver Slugger Awards, first handed out in 1980, are among the most coveted offensive awards in baseball. Coaches and managers of MLB teams vote for players at their respective positions in each league based on batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Coaches and managers are not allowed to vote for players on their own team.