Lineup Next Year

[redneckofsc]

With Reynolds at 1B, and Stubbs, Brantley and Swisher in the OF, who is projected to DH?

Also, what do you expect the rotation to be with the addition of Myers?

[gotribe31]

With Reynolds at 1B, and Stubbs, Brantley and Swisher in the OF, who is projected to DH?

Also, what do you expect the rotation to be with the addition of Myers?

1. Branyan
2. Branyan
3. Branyan
4. Branyan
5. Branyan
6. Branyan
7. Branyan
8. Branyan
9. Branyan

[motherscratcher]

I've heard Canzler.

Seriously. Apparently the dude we cut a month or so ago is going to be the/A DH.

[pup]

Think they plan to use it as kind of an off day for the regulars to keep their bats in the lineup.

I would guess Santana twice a week, Canzler a couple times and then some combo of Swish/Assdribble/Kipnis/Chiz when they "need" a break.

[CAVSTRIBEBROWNSin07!]

Seriously. Apparently the dude we cut a month or so ago is going to be the/A DH.

I think its time to ditch the DH. DHs used to be beasts. Now, outside of Ortiz, they're generally old washed up guys in the bottom 3rd of the lineup, or a player who needs a day off in the field. Just let the pitcher bat and be done with this farce.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Like Pup said, the "giving guys a break" system is likely to make a combination of Aviles/Marson our "DH of sorts" - in the sense that they will be filling in at various positions as other guys rotate through the DH role.

I'm still hoping that Canzler doesn't get anywhere near what you would describe as everyday ABs.

[danwismar]

I prefer the idea of a rotation of Santana, Reynolds, Canzler, and whomever else...but

...incredibly, there's a legit case to be made to resign Hafner. The line has got to be as short as the one for Pat Shurmer head coach interviews.

[redneckofsc]

With Reynolds at 1B, and Stubbs, Brantley and Swisher in the OF, who is projected to DH?

Also, what do you expect the rotation to be with the addition of Myers?

1. Branyan
2. Branyan
3. Branyan
4. Branyan
5. Branyan
6. Branyan
7. Branyan
8. Branyan
9. Branyan

Have to go change my pants now.

[motherscratcher]

Seriously. Apparently the dude we cut a month or so ago is going to be the/A DH.

I think its time to ditch the DH. DHs used to be beasts. Now, outside of Ortiz, they're generally old washed up guys in the bottom 3rd of the lineup, or a player who needs a day off in the field. Just let the pitcher bat and be done with this farce.

Screw that. Bring the DH to the NL. And don't give me any of that crap about NL strategy, as if it takes a brain surgeon to understand a double switch. Tommy Friggin Lasorda coached for 100 years with no problem for Pete's sake.

I want to watch pitchers hit about as much as I want to be dipped in shit.

[e0y2e3]

So you really, really, really want to watch pitchers hit?

[peeker643]

So you really, really, really want to watch pitchers hit?

It means either that or that he'll pay big money in Vegas to a whore for that service.

Can't figure out which...or maybe both?

[googleeph2]

But banning the DH would take away our right to watch baseball managers think.

And it would remove our chance to appreciate the time-honored NL philosophy of piecing together lineups that are suited to giving up outs. And there are plenty of baseball guys who still ascribe to the strategy of playing not to score very many runs.

[bac5665]

I don't know about the lineup, but I'm excited to see the rotation this year. We have, or will have by midseason 4, count them, FOUR guys with FOR potential. Masterson, Carrasco, Bauer, and Jimenez. While it certainly would be TCE for all four of them to be terrible, there is no reason to expect that; I think that Bauer and Carrasco both have good chances to really play well this year and Masterson is likely to have flashes of greatness, even if consistency remains beyond him. And hell, Jimenez is probably a lost cause, but who knows what could happen if we had good luck for once?

But Masterson/Carrasco/Bauer/Myers/Jimenez actually sounds pretty good. Full of potential anyway. Which probably means they'll all have 7.00+ ERAs.

[googleeph2]

Insert lohse or one of the other FAs, bring CarCar along, and I'm there with ya.

Make it Marcum, and I will use a publicity photo of Larry Freekin Dolan as my avatar.

[YouCanPutItOnTheBoardYES!]

I'm still hoping that Canzler doesn't get anywhere near what you would describe as everyday ABs.

No need to worry.

paul hoynes ‏@hoynsie
Russ Canzler DFA's again to make room for Brett Myers. Claimed on waivers by Yankees. #indians.

[British_Pharaoh]

I'm still hoping that Canzler doesn't get anywhere near what you would describe as everyday ABs.

No need to worry.

paul hoynes ‏@hoynsie
Russ Canzler DFA's again to make room for Brett Myers. Claimed on waivers by Yankees. #indians.

Yankees claimed INF/OF Russ Canzler off waivers from the Indians.
Canzler has now gone from the Indians to the Blue Jays back to the Indians and now to the Yankees in the span of two weeks. The 26-year-old batted just .269/.299/.398 in 97 plate appearances last season but has fared well at Triple-A and could conceivably win a bench spot

Rotoworld

[NH Tribe Fan]

I'd say, if you lose the DH....you also lose some payroll.

At this point having a DH only benefits teams in the large markets (Bos, NYY, LAA). While the majority of the rest of the AL puts in has beens and AAAA types.

[motherscratcher]

The Yankees just stole our DH?! Fuck baseball. The rich get richer.

What a bunch of bullshit.

[gotribe31]

I'd say, if you lose the DH....you also lose some payroll.

At this point having a DH only benefits teams in the large markets (Bos, NYY, LAA). While the majority of the rest of the AL puts in has beens and AAAA types.

AL DH's as a whole posted a 101 OPS+ last year. Only position higher was CF, at 102. Hit 325 HR, more than any position besides 1B (370). Hardly useless.

[leadpipe]

I'd say, if you lose the DH....you also lose some payroll.

At this point having a DH only benefits teams in the large markets (Bos, NYY, LAA). While the majority of the rest of the AL puts in has beens and AAAA types.

AL DH's as a whole posted a 101 OPS+ last year. Only position higher was CF, at 102. Hit 325 HR, more than any position besides 1B (370). Hardly useless.

Yeah, I think more teams are using the position a bit more creatively - with at bats going to players like Mauer, A-Rod and the like to give them a break from time to time. But if you put a stiff in there you are losing ground to the better teams.

[redneckofsc]

Antonetti said today Travis "Sean Casey Lite" Hafner could be brought back to DH this season.

Other options to DH would be Aviles, Fedroff, MCGuiness.

Think we might be better off just letting the pitcher hit.

[bookelly]

Antonetti said today Travis "Sean Casey Lite" Hafner could be brought back to DH this season.

Other options to DH would be Aviles, Fedroff, MCGuiness.

Think we might be better off just letting the pitcher hit.

As long as he plays for free (he should pay us) I'm cool with that. Especially if you only play him sparingly and use the DH slot to rest guys. 3 games a week for Hafner and he may stay heathy.

[bookelly]

With Pronk (or any LH DH - Thome?) you'd have:

Vs. righty

LF Brantly - L
2B Kipnis - L
SS Droobs - S
RF Swisher - S
C Carlos - S
DH Pronk - L
1B Reynolds - R
3B Chiz - L
CF Stubbs - R

Vs. Lefties

LF Brantley/Zeek - L/R
2B Kipnis/Aviles - L/R
SS Droobs - S
RF Swisher - S
1B Carlos - S
DH Reynolds - R
3B Chiz/Aviles/Gomes - L/R/R
C Marson - R
Cf Stubbs - R

I put the extra guys in there to show the options. Obviously the lineups would change in order.

They have a MUCH more balanced offense this year. And it has some length. There's serious pop at the bottom of those lineups. And lots and lots and lots of K's. I would strongly consider moving Chiz up to 6th as we will go mad watching Reynolds whiff with men on base. But I have him 7th vs. Lefties 'cause we're really not sure how well he hits those yet, and I think Aviles will play a ton this year.

Rotation:

??? (Marcum)
Justin
Ubaldo
CarCar
Myers
Bauer
McAllister
Kluber
Flotsam
Jetsam
Reclamation Project

We better get another starter or we're in deep trouble. We actually need two. If you want to win, you need nine guys that can start. We have six.

[1Perry]

The Indians have enough guys that can hit that I agree with the idea of rotating the DH position to give guys a rest as opposed to using a spot on Hafner.

[googleeph2]

Definitely. If you hamstring a roster spot with a guy that can't do anything but hit, he needs to be reliable. Pass.

[skatingtripods]

Antonetti said today Travis "Sean Casey Lite" Hafner could be brought back to DH this season.

Other options to DH would be Aviles, Fedroff, MCGuiness.

Think we might be better off just letting the pitcher hit.

Hafner wouldn't be the worst option in the world.

2012: 191 PA, .361 OBP, .798 OPS v. RHP
2011: 260 PA, .404 OBP, .886 OPS v. RHP
2010: 351 PA, .385 OBP, .863 OPS v. RHP

Play him three times a week against RHP, preferably guys who won't expose his deteoriating bat speed. Guys who throw in the high 80s, low 90s. Should come fairly cheap since there's very little interest. Still a productive hitter in a part-time role. Still gives you 3-4 times a week to rotate guys into the DH spot and give them an off day.

Not like you're hard-pressed for that 25th roster spot. Marson, Aviles, 4th OF (Carrera). Aviles should be able to play OF in a pinch as well.

[bookelly]

Gomes has value as a super utility guy (C, 3B, corner OF, 1B). He's interesting. And they have the rule 5 guy McGuiness who hits Lh'ed. If they don't sign anyone I suppose he fits the mold of a 3-4 day a week DH.

I think they sign Pronk. It just seems to make sense. That would mean a competition between Gomes and McGuiness for the 25th spot.

I wish they had kept Canzler.

[statmasta]

Without Hafner, I think I'd go with this...

1. Jason Kipnis 2B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera SS
3. Carlos Santana C
4. Nick Swisher RF
5. Michael Brantley LF
6. Mark Reynolds 1B
7. Lonnie Chisenhall 3B
8. Drew Stubbs CF
9. Yan Gomes DH

I'd like to have Santana somewhere in the top 3 due to his excellent on-base skills. But putting him at #3 assumes his bat improves to where we all expected it to be. If his on-base skills stay ahead of his ability to actually hit the ball, he may be better suited for a table-setting role at #1 or #2. Not a typical top of the order, hitter, sure, but he'd be an effective one with how often he walks. I'm sure we'd all rather have speed up there, but Brantley and Stubbs simply don't get on base enough. But Brantley can put the ball in play, so I wouldn't mind having him in a run-producing spot at #5. Again, atypical, but this roster is atypical. I hate the DH options of Gomes, Fedroff, McGuiness, and McDade. Hopefully they get Hafner back.

[dazindiansfanuk]

DH dilemma solved: -

‏@Ken_Rosenthal
Ben Broussard, who last played in the majors in '08, worked out for five teams today in Austin, Tx. . . .

@Ken_Rosenthal
Broussard, 36, played winter ball in Mexico. He took grounders at first and flyballs in left during his audition today.

[skatingtripods]

DH dilemma solved: -

‏@Ken_Rosenthal
Ben Broussard, who last played in the majors in '08, worked out for five teams today in Austin, Tx. . . .

@Ken_Rosenthal
Broussard, 36, played winter ball in Mexico. He took grounders at first and flyballs in left during his audition today.

Guess his music career didn't take off the way he thought it would.

[Adverb Harry]

Man, it's hard to believe he's been out of the majors since '08. Can't believe he's trying a comeback now...it'll reset his Hall of Fame eligibility, and he's so close right now.

[skatingtripods]

Throwing this here, because, well, I don't want to start another thread.

$7.3M to Chris Perez.

I knew it was coming, but for fuck's sake. That could have been Marcum money. I know it was the amount MLBTR's Matt Swartz projected, so it's dead-on, but damnit.

Add that to $3.15M for Joe Smith and that's why I wanted both of these guys traded this offseason.

Oh, and as if I wasn't worried enough about Lonnie Chisenhall's lateral movement, he, reportedly, weighs 216 lbs now.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Yeah but he's a chiseled 216.

[gotribe31]

Throwing this here, because, well, I don't want to start another thread.

$7.3M to Chris Perez.

I knew it was coming, but for fuck's sake. That could have been Marcum money. I know it was the amount MLBTR's Matt Swartz projected, so it's dead-on, but damnit.

Add that to $3.15M for Joe Smith and that's why I wanted both of these guys traded this offseason.

Oh, and as if I wasn't worried enough about Lonnie Chisenhall's lateral movement, he, reportedly, weighs 216 lbs now.

Better to keep them and pay them than dump em for pennies on the dollar if the right offer isn't there. Will always have a chance to move em in July if they're too far back.

As for Chiz, he's not a SS anymore. Might as well bulk up a little. Lateral range is far less important at a quick first step.

[skatingtripods]

Better to keep them and pay them than dump em for pennies on the dollar if the right offer isn't there. Will always have a chance to move em in July if they're too far back.

As for Chiz, he's not a SS anymore. Might as well bulk up a little. Lateral range is far less important at a quick first step.

Yep. I went against the grain on the Perez signing for my View from the Porch today: http://bit.ly/WpDaOt

I don't hate it, by any means, and it's market value for a closer with his track record - one year as a very good setup guy/closer, one year as a proven closer.


I know Chiz isn't a SS anymore and bigger guys like Scott Rolen have been able to play the position at a high level. I said "lateral movement", not just range. That, to me, includes his first step. We'll see how he fares, though I don't have high hopes.

[skatingtripods]

Plan the parade route, boys. Ben Francisco is back in the organization.

[Adverb Harry]

Plan the parade route, boys. Ben Francisco is back in the organization.

Carlton's back!





On a serious note, now that he's back, it really helps make that trade look better for us. Now it's balanced back out in our favor.

[swerb]

Saw Chiz at Tribefest Saturday. Dude looks like he is in excellent shape. Bigger, but definitely not fat.

[kennesawmountainwahoo]

Plan the parade route, boys. Ben Francisco is back in the organization.

Did the Tigers just sign Andy Sonnanstine?

[leadpipe]

Saw Chiz at Tribefest Saturday. Dude looks like he is in excellent shape. Bigger, but definitely not fat.

This is just what I was gonna ask. There's Mel Turpin weight which indicates not only flab, but that they guy sat on his ass all winter. Or there's good weight.

[swerb]

Saw Chiz at Tribefest Saturday. Dude looks like he is in excellent shape. Bigger, but definitely not fat.

This is just what I was gonna ask. There's Mel Turpin weight which indicates not only flab, but that they guy sat on his ass all winter. Or there's good weight.

He looked GOOD. In shape, solid. My guess is that it wasn't Doritos weight he added this offseason.

No one talking about Chiz when talking bout the things this team needs to go right for it to have a chance to win 90 games.

He has that sweet effortless stroke. With Aviles, Reynolds ... he won't be fed to the lions.

[gotribe31]

Saw Chiz at Tribefest Saturday. Dude looks like he is in excellent shape. Bigger, but definitely not fat.

This is just what I was gonna ask. There's Mel Turpin weight which indicates not only flab, but that they guy sat on his ass all winter. Or there's good weight.

He looked GOOD. In shape, solid. My guess is that it wasn't Doritos weight he added this offseason.

No one talking about Chiz when talking bout the things this team needs to go right for it to have a chance to win 90 games.

He has that sweet effortless stroke. With Aviles, Reynolds ... he won't be fed to the lions.

I was impressed with both his attitude and performance when he came back at the end of 2012. Swing looked good, and talking to him when he was down with Akron rehabbing he seemed more intense than before. Really wanted to put these injury issues behind him, and said he was really going to step up his training this offseason. Guess he really meant it.

[skatingtripods]

He has that sweet effortless stroke. With Aviles, Reynolds ... he won't be fed to the lions.

Yep, they can protect him against tough lefties and keep him from getting all out of whack or in a funk.

Interested to see what he does with regular playing time. Ease him into the grind by getting Aviles some PT and getting a look at how bad Reynolds truly is at 3B and then give him the reins.

I wish he'd walk a little more, but give me 20 HR and don't kill us defensively and I'll be happy.

[swerb]

Chiz is totally on my fantasy baseball sleeper list this year. Gut tells me this kid has a breakout year. .280, 22, 80, 80 .. hitting in a run producing spot in the lineup by the heart of summer. Clearly needs to get on base more than the 30-31% he has. I just hope they don't terrify him into looking for walks. Kid has a great swing. Let him get up there and be him and swing it.

[redneckofsc]

Heyman said the Indians are looking into bringing back one of Thome, Hafner or Manny Ramirez.

[peeker643]

Heyman said the Indians are looking into bringing back one of Thome, Hafner or Manny Ramirez.

Still no Branyan news?

Shit.

[bookelly]

Also rumors about Luke Scott. Who cannot hit Lefties for shit, but is pretty solid against Righties. But hell, we don't need a guy who hits lefties when Reynolds can DH and Carlos can "rest" at 1B.

Any of the guys we sign (except Manny - and that ain't happening) won't sniff LF'ers.

[skatingtripods]

Wrote up my thoughts on the DH situation: http://bit.ly/WgFeuC

[swerb]

Wrote up my thoughts on the DH situation: http://bit.ly/WgFeuC

Great read Adam.

[justmebd]

I'm already excited for this season. It's going to be a fun year. I have a hunch.