http://danobaseball.com Dan O Baseball website is devoted to the love of Cleveland Indians baseball and the latest news developments in American League Central Division. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:49:26 +0000 http://snappages.com en http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/04/18/browns-draft-2012-weighing-the-options http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/04/18/browns-draft-2012-weighing-the-options Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:49:26 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/04/18/browns-draft-2012-weighing-the-options
]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/03/23/matt-flynn-2012 http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/03/23/matt-flynn-2012 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:58:45 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/03/23/matt-flynn-2012 As I finished typed "Matt Flynn" into the Google search bar, "Matt Flynn Browns" was the first suggested search. I couldn't help but wonder if Google had the right idea.

Flynn drew major attention when he threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a single game last season. Flynn is still only 26 years old and owns a 92.8 career QB [...]]]> As I finished typed "Matt Flynn" into the Google search bar, "Matt Flynn Browns" was the first suggested search. I couldn't help but wonder if Google had the right idea.

Flynn drew major attention when he threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a single game last season. Flynn is still only 26 years old and owns a 92.8 career QB rating.

Obviously it was only ONE amazing game, it's hard to project him from such limited action, but it's a difficult to ignore such big numbers. Heck if Flynn threw half as good as he did in that one game, I'd still take a look at him.

He would fit nicely into Holmgrem's system and he seems to be a safer bet than Robert Griffin III. However, there is growing speculation that Flynn will go to Miami to reunite with his former offensive coordinator, Joe Philbin.

I'm ready to move on from Colt McCoy love Colt McCoy's passion and intanglibles but I don't believe he has what it takes to be an elite or borderline elite quarterback in the NFL. Elite/Borderline elite quarterbacks win superbowls.

Flynn is a gamble signing. Now is his chance to prove he can lead an offense.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/31/indians-aquire-russ-canzler http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/31/indians-aquire-russ-canzler Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:40:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/31/indians-aquire-russ-canzler
I like the fact he had a [...]]]>
I like the fact he had a .314 BA and .931 OPS

Notable AAA players that have posted .300+ BA and 900+ OPS
2005 Corey Hart
2005 Carlos Quentin
2005 Shane Victorino
2006 Nelson Cruz
2006 James Loney
2007 Adam Jones
2008 Nelson Cruz
2010 Mark Trumbo

Back in August, FanGraphs.com wrote the following on Canzler…

“Russ Canzler has quietly been one of the most productive minor-league hitters over the past two seasons without a big league at-bat to his credit. In fact, Canzler, who is younger than Allen, has hit .280/.350/.470 in over 2,400 minor-league plate appearances spanning eight seasons.
[…]
While Canzler is not a threat to Evan Longoria for playing time at third base – nor does he have much of a future in a well-covered Tampa Bay outfield – his right-handed bat does have value to the big league roster. As it stands, the Rays have few bench options from the right-handed batter’s box. Switch-hitting infielder Elliot Johnson, and the team’s backup catcher of the day, serve as Maddon’s only bench alternatives from that side.”

That being said, there are concerns with Canzler. He strikes out a lot and might just have “average” major league power. And for the past few years he's been considered a "fringe" prospect. At the end of the day, it’s a good move for the Indians because they bought low and may end up with solid contributor to the starting lineup.


]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/22/carmona-and-the-temptation-of-mlb-success http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/22/carmona-and-the-temptation-of-mlb-success Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/22/carmona-and-the-temptation-of-mlb-success
Carmona broke into the leaugue back in 2006 and struggled, posting a 5.42 ERA. The year after he put up a Cy Young performance going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA. Carmona regressed in 2008 and 2009, made the All Star [...]]]>
Carmona broke into the leaugue back in 2006 and struggled, posting a 5.42 ERA. The year after he put up a Cy Young performance going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA. Carmona regressed in 2008 and 2009, made the All Star game in 2010. And last year he had some quality starts and some awful starts.

And now, before the 2012 season starts, Carmona is arrested in the Dominican Republic for using an alias name. It's easy to be frustrated with Fausto for his current situation but you have to realize that he is a product of crooked system. Tony Lastoria of IndiansProspectInsider.com said it best...

"Carmona’s situation brings to light an ever growing problem in the Latin American countries. Players and their families are so desperate to get away from rampant poverty in their countries that identities are often altered to help their chances as a professional baseball player. Every year players that sign professional contracts as alleged 16-17 year olds are voided as teams find through the verification process that they falsified their information, and even for the ones who clear inspection there is always a feeling of uncertainty for teams.

A lot of people may fault Carmona, but he is a product of a bad system. Major League Baseball is doing their best to police the problems with age and name falsification and the rampant use of steroids. On top of that players are often bribed by buscones (street agents) where they are promised food, shelter, training, and help with getting a signing bonus in exchange for a pre-arranged sum of money. There is only so much the league can do to control it."

The Dominican Republic is an impoverished country, they have an ineffective electricity system that experiences frequent blackouts, the country heavily involved with traffiking of cocaine and Columbian drug cartels. Dengue plague is rampant, the HIV/AIDS rate nearly twice as much as the United State's, shelters are in horrible condition and those who commit violent crimes receive light sanctions.

Who wouldn't pass up the opportunity to play baseball in the United States?

Today, we (the fans), complain when players leave for bigger contracts. They go from x-sum of millions to an even greater x-sum of millions. Can we really be mad at Latin American players obtaining contracts to escape the harsh realities of their home country?

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/08/browns-draft-talk-and-mock-moves http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/08/browns-draft-talk-and-mock-moves Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:27:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2012/01/08/browns-draft-talk-and-mock-moves 30th in the NFL in points per game with 13.6.

Whether it's trades, free agency, or the draft there's [...]]]> 30th in the NFL in points per game with 13.6.

Whether it's trades, free agency, or the draft there's numerous scenerios that could play out. Here's a few I would consider.

1. Trade both first round picks (and possibly more) for the number one overall pick and draft Andrew Luck. The NFL is becoming a pass heavy league. Teams don't need a number one tier running back to compete for the Super Bowl.

2. Trade down*. *BUT NOT too far down (remain in top 10), and ONLY if the return is big. Robert Griffin III doesn't fit Holmgren's west coast offense. But, I found it interesting the Tony Dungy likes Griffin over Andrew Luck. And wideout Justin Blackmon isn't nearly as projected as Calvin Johnson or AJ Green were. However, I wouldn't be upset if the Browns took Blackmon.

3. Draft wide receiver Justin Blackmon. While Phil Taylor had a nice rookie season, the Browns passed on Julio Jones who had 959 receiving yards in 13 games played.

4. Quarterback competition. This isn't my favorite. A competition between McCoy, Wallace, and others sounds boring. McCoy isn't a bust yet, he lacked offensive weapons to stretch the field and his offensive line was often inconsistent. However, McCoy did miss key throws when he had the chance.

There is no quick fix for the Browns. Obviously, expectations for 2012 are more wins and improvements from Shurmur and both sides of the ball.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/12/07/indians-trade-rumors-50-guesses http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/12/07/indians-trade-rumors-50-guesses Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:41:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/12/07/indians-trade-rumors-50-guesses 50 guesses.

That doesn’t necessary [...]]]> 50 guesses.

That doesn’t necessary mean a blockbuster, but it’s definitely an intriguing statement. Here a few of my guesses…




Scenario 1: Ike Davis to Cleveland
Chris Perez and Josh Tomlin to NY Mets

Pros: -Davis is 24 years old
-Davis is under control for several seasons.
-Davis would be cheap
-In 2010, Davis hit .264, .351 OBP, .440 slug%, .345 wOBP, 19 home
runs, 71 RBI.
-Before Davis got hurt last year he was hitting .302 with a .383 OBP and
averaging 1 home run every 21 at bats (that's about 26 home runs with 550
at bats).

Cons: -He is a lefty
-His ankle might be a concern.
-A little over a year of MLB experience
-This trade would create a hole in the rotation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scenario 2: Carlos Lee to Cleveland
Rafael Perez and Chris Perez to Houston

Pros: -Lee an accomplished right handed power hitter
-Lee has had 89+ RBI for 9 straight seasons
-Lee plays first base and outfield

Cons: -Lee will is 36 years old
-Lee will make 18.5 million in 2012 (the final year of his contract), Astros
would have to eat at least half of that
-This trade could hurt the bullpen

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scenario 3: Kevin Youkilis to Cleveland
Joe Smith, Rafael Perez and a player to be named later to Boston.

Pros: -Youkilis is an accomplished right handed power hitter
-He is versatile, he can play first base, third base and outfield

Cons: -Youkilis has dealt with hip problems in the past few years and hasn’t reached
500 at bats since 2008.
-he will make 12 million in 2012, Boston would have to eat some of that contract.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scenario 4: Gabby Sanchez to Cleveland
Josh Tomlin, and 2 prospects to Miami

Pro: -Sanchez is a young, solid right handed power hitter
-He is under control for several years
-He is cheap
-He has a solid glove

Cons: In both 2010 and 2011, his "post all star break" batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage dropped off significantly

Comments: The Sanchez deal would be the best fit for the Indians. The fact he is young, cheap, healthy and a proven major leaguer would fit perfectly with the Indians. However, since Pujols has turned down the Marlins offer it makes it more likely the Marlins will hang on to him. But, the Marlins may be in the running for Prince Fielder.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/26/week-3-clutch-colt http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/26/week-3-clutch-colt Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:30:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/26/week-3-clutch-colt game was on the line. Colt showed off his intangibles of mental toughness and leadership. MoMass helped Colt out by making an outstanding [...]]]> game was on the line. Colt showed off his intangibles of mental toughness and leadership. MoMass helped Colt out by making an outstanding catch.

As much as I liked Colt's 4th quarter drive, I am still concerned. He missed a lot of open receivers throughout the game. And in 3 games this year Colt is averaging under 6 yards per completion. He cannot continue to live under 6 yards. He doesn't have to average over 8 yards such as a Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers or Ben Rothlisberger, but he could live above 7 yards such as Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck or Joe Flacco.

But, McCoy is still very young, he still has a lot of time to improve. He is showing signs of beig first legitimate quarterback since the Browns 1999 return. Colt is known for working hard, so you know he will continue to address all weaknesses of his game.

Other Highlights
-Montario Hardesty amassing 86 total yards in Hillis' absence.
-Cribbs catching 49 yards and a TD.
-Watson catching 64 yards.
-Browns defense holding Miami out of goal range in the final seconds of the game, sacks from Antyba Rubin, Phil Taylor, D'Qwell Jackson, Jayme Mitchell, Chris Gocong, and Mike Adams game ending interception.






]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/15/post-browns-game-1-and-an-excedrin-run http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/15/post-browns-game-1-and-an-excedrin-run Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:07:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/15/post-browns-game-1-and-an-excedrin-run Well, what a drastic change of emotions that was. Yes, it's only one game. But given the circumstance and expectations, it was a game that should have been won. The Browns were playing at home against a rookie quarterback. And the rookie quarterback's backup, delivered the finals blows in the fourth quarter.

First impressions [...]]]> Well, what a drastic change of emotions that was. Yes, it's only one game. But given the circumstance and expectations, it was a game that should have been won. The Browns were playing at home against a rookie quarterback. And the rookie quarterback's backup, delivered the finals blows in the fourth quarter.

First impressions of this game; the Browns looked unprepared and lacked discipline. And that goes from the management to the players. They looked like they had regressed from last year. I didn’t expect much from the Browns this year but when you have a young Bengals team at home, who was widely ranked last in the league in power rankings, you have to beat them.

It didn’t help that the offensive line is missing two big pieces in Eric Steinbach and Tony Pashos. It didn’t help that the punter, Richmond McGee, went into the game injured and booted three punts under 30 yards (14 year veteran, Brad Maynard, was signed to take over punting duties while McGee is on the injured reserve). It didn’t help that the team lacked awareness in the fourth quarter.

It’s hard to evaluate Colt McCoy’s McCoy’s performance. He looked to be settling in a groove in the second quarter, but then the offensive line proved to be a big flaw.

Some positives to take from the game....
-Mo Massaquoi caught 3 passes for 77 yards
-Montario Hardesty showed some explosive bursts in his runs,
-Cribbs’ provided a much needed kickoff return (of 51 yards) to swing some momentum in the Browns’ favor.

Shurmur has made it clear improvements will be made from himself to the players. Much more football is left. This Sunday the Browns take on a Colts team missing their offensive captain, Peyton Manning. And their defensive captain, Gary Brackett. This doesn’t mean it will be easy, but hopefully the Browns take advantage the Colts’ missing pieces.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/11/1st-browns-game-and-expectations-for-2011 http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/11/1st-browns-game-and-expectations-for-2011 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:01:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/09/11/1st-browns-game-and-expectations-for-2011
This year is particularly exciting as Pat Shurmur helms the Browns in his first year as a head football coach in the NFL. Although Shurmur may seem unknown to the average football fan, he is familiar [...]]]>
This year is particularly exciting as Pat Shurmur helms the Browns in his first year as a head football coach in the NFL. Although Shurmur may seem unknown to the average football fan, he is familiar with Holmgren’s style of westcoast offense and he is considered a major development factor in the careers of quarterbacks, Donavon McNabb and Sam Bradford.

I expect the Browns to improve, although it won’t really show up in the win-loss column. I can see the Browns finishing 5-11. Young defensive players such as Joe Haden, TJ Ward, and Ahtyba Rubin made solid contributions last year and incoming defensive players, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, will look to add to that success.

The offensive line is taking a hit with Eric Steinbach beginning the year on the injured reserve, but the line should be relatively strong protection for Colt and Peyton.

Peyton Hillis was a workhorse last year. He took so much of a beating that in his final three games he played with cracked ribs. In 2011, he needs help to carry the workload. The Browns addressed this need by signing veteran Brandon Jackson. Jackson had experience rushing and receiving as a running back. Unfortunately, Jackson suffered a bad toe injury and will miss the season. That leaves Montario Hardesty and Armond Smith as backups, both have a combined ZERO NFL games played.

And now, the man who has been heralded as the team leader, the man with maturity and fearlessness, the man known for his strong work ethic, that man is, Colt McCoy. The Texas Longhorn has MUCH to prove in the NFL. I still have concerns over his arm strength, size, and “top ten” QB potential . I am not sure that he can be a quarterback that matches up with Ben Rothlisberger or Joe Flacco. I do know is that we will know what kind of quarterback Colt is by the end of this season.

I know that Colt McCoy has the mental makeup of a quarterback. He’s tough, patient and intelligent. But in 2011, he needs to prove he has the “NFL talent” to be a long term QB.



]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/08/16/2011-2012-off-season-priorities http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/08/16/2011-2012-off-season-priorities Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:06:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/08/16/2011-2012-off-season-priorities
1. Lockup Asdrubal longterm.
2. Aquire a right handed power bat
3. Offer extension to Ubaldo
4. Determine what to do with Sizemore
5. Determine what to do [...]]]>
1. Lockup Asdrubal longterm.
2. Aquire a right handed power bat
3. Offer extension to Ubaldo
4. Determine what to do with Sizemore
5. Determine what to do with Carmona
6. Offer Choo reasonable arbitration
7. Determine what to do with LaPorta

Since 4, 5, and 7 are debateable. Here's what I would do

4. Don't pick up Sizemore's 8.5 million option. I love Grady, but for the past three years he has found numerous trips to the DL. Putting that much money into him isn't worth it. I would offer him 3 million with incentives.

5. Carmona has found his groove after the All Star break. He has a 7 milion dollar club option for 2012. I would pick that option up. Having him as your 4th or 5th starter is pretty impressive.

7. As I said in an earlier piece, LaPorta can hit in the clutch. But he compared to other AL Central firstbasemen (Paul Konerko, Miguel Cabrera) LaPorta's numbers are weak. The window of opportunity is just opening and if the Indians can find a firstbasemen this offseason, then that would be the best option. I'd keep LaPorta on as a firstbasemen/outfielder though.



]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/08/12/matt-laporta-can-hit-in-the-clutch http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/08/12/matt-laporta-can-hit-in-the-clutch Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:12:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/08/12/matt-laporta-can-hit-in-the-clutch Matt LaPorta had a huge go ahead double in tonight's Twins-Indians game in the bottom of the 8th inning. Obviously, Indians firstbasemen, Matt LaPorta hasn't lived up to the "corner stone" firstbasemen he was made out to be in the CC trade (so far). But LaPorta has been hitting quite well with runners on base.

RISP SLG%
Hafner [...]]]> Matt LaPorta had a huge go ahead double in tonight's Twins-Indians game in the bottom of the 8th inning. Obviously, Indians firstbasemen, Matt LaPorta hasn't lived up to the "corner stone" firstbasemen he was made out to be in the CC trade (so far). But LaPorta has been hitting quite well with runners on base.

RISP SLG%
Hafner .730
LAPORTA .515
A.Cabrera .509
Santana .459
Brantley .455
Fukudome .424
Buck .400
Hannahan .381
Sizemore .315
Choo .313
Duncan .294
Kearns .265
Marson .194

*I didn't include Chisenhall or Kipnis because they still have a low sample size of numbers.

============================================================

Now, lets compare this to other firstbasemen in 2011...

RISP SLG%
Votto .754
Morse .596
Teixeira .574
Fielder .569
Pujols .522
LAPORTA .515
Howard .508
M.Cabrera .507
A.Gonzalez .489
Lind .489
Butler .460
Trumbo .423
Cuddyer .405
Freeman .378
Kotchman .374
Sanchez .372
Moreland .365
Helton .333
Konerko .327
Huff .320
Loney .269

I know, I know, this doesn't mean by any standards that LaPorta is better than Ryan Howard or Adrian Gonzalez or Miguel Cabrera (I'd any of them over LaPorta, no brainer, no question). This is just one stat area to look at. But, I think LaPorta's ability to hit with runners in scoring position holds a great deal of importance to this team.

And LaPorta has much much much more to accomplish before he becomes an upper tier firstbasemen (raising his OBP, wOBA, and overall power). Maybe he has more development left? Maybe not, it's hard to say with him being 26 years old. In fact, I wouldn't be upset if the Indians found an upgrade over LaPorta this offseason.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/31/your-newest-indian-ubaldo-jimenez http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/31/your-newest-indian-ubaldo-jimenez Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:18:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/31/your-newest-indian-ubaldo-jimenez
I'm stunned. The Indians gave up quite a bit. I envisioned future pitching staffs with Pomeranz [...]]]>
I'm stunned. The Indians gave up quite a bit. I envisioned future pitching staffs with Pomeranz and White composing 2 of the top 3. Granted, it's minor league talent. But, Jimenez is a proven Major League ace. He is 27 years old and the Indians control his friendly contract through 2012 and options year of 2013 and 2014. You may point out his 4.20 ERA this year, however, his ERA in hitter friendly Coors Field is 5.55, his ERA away is 2.83.

I'm still concerned with the Indians offense. They definatley need another bat with some pop (And they may very well add one by tomorrow). You might be thinking, "They could have used those prospects to get a power bat." I too thought that. But it's the old philosophy, "Pitching wins Championships." You might have wanted Hunter Pence, but his value over-skyrocketed as the deadline drew near. I think the Indians will address the right handed power bat this offseason. But just think, a playoff of rotation of Masterson, Jimenez, and Tomlin would be fantastic.

Pomeranz and White could be several years away from their prime, they might be aces, but that might not happen until 2013 or beyond. Jimenez gives the Indians the chance to have top tier rotation for now until 2014. I still see the Indians adding a bat before the deadline tomorrow. Let's all take a deep breath before judging this trade too quickly.






]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/28/tribe-acquires-fukudome http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/28/tribe-acquires-fukudome Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:31:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/28/tribe-acquires-fukudome
There's no question the Fukudome will be better than Kearns/Buck/Duncan. But there is a question to the degree of impact he will have on the Indians lineup. Fukudome will fit [...]]]>
There's no question the Fukudome will be better than Kearns/Buck/Duncan. But there is a question to the degree of impact he will have on the Indians lineup. Fukudome will fit nicely batting second with his .374 OBP (compared to Buck and Kearns with .275 and .318). He has average speed, an average arm and doesn't strikeout often. He doesn't have the power the Indians were hoping to aquire, but they may not be done trading.

According to Jordan Bastian Fukudome currently would qualify as Type B free agent and would be worth draft compensation if offered arbitration and he declines. Fukudome is 34 years old.

The Indians gave up AAA Reliever, Carlton Smith, this season he is carrying 4.50 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 45 innings. And, Outfielder Abner Abreu, who is best remember for his breakout year at Lake County in 2009, but he has tailed off since then posting OPS of .651 in 2010 and .723 this season.

Overall, the Indians didn't put there future at risk by aquiring Fukudome. He is a nice piece who won't soley put the Indians into AL Central Champs. But the Indians may be one power bat away from helping their offensive struggles.




]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/25/indians-interested-in-bj-upton http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/25/indians-interested-in-bj-upton Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:14:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/25/indians-interested-in-bj-upton NBC, the Cleveland Indians (and Washington Nationals) are showing a lot of interest in Ray's outfielder, BJ Upton.

While Upton is having a down year, he would be an [...]]]> NBC, the Cleveland Indians (and Washington Nationals) are showing a lot of interest in Ray's outfielder, BJ Upton.

While Upton is having a down year, he would be an instant upgrade over Travis Buck, Austin Kearns, or Shelley Duncan. Upton brings a combination of speed, power, and defense. However, his batting average, on base percentage and strikeout rate isn't very impressive. In 2007 Upton posted a 4.5 WAR (6th best in the AL) followed by 5.0 (4th best in the AL), 2.3, and 3.9 (9th best in the AL) in the years following.

Upton is still young at 26 years old. If aquired the Indians would have him through 2012. He could replace the often injured Grady Sizemore in centerfield. The Indians have a surplus of relievers (Major League and Minor League) that they could offer.

Upton would fit in nicely batting second behind Michael Brantley and in front of Asdrubal and Hafner. Or He could even bat 5th or 6th with his power potential. I wouldn't be surprised if the Indians made a move. But, it has to be the right move, it can't mortgage our future for contending because the window of opportunity is just opening.


]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/15/santanas-value-in-the-second-half http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/15/santanas-value-in-the-second-half Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:16:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/15/santanas-value-in-the-second-half
With Sizemore's questionable health and Choo and the DL, the Indians will be relying on [...]]]>
With Sizemore's questionable health and Choo and the DL, the Indians will be relying on Santana to lead the offense. Hopefully, Santana can evolve into the middle of the order threat we have envisioned in him.

Down the road, I wouldn't mind converting Santana to a full time firstbasemen. I think his bat is to valuable to keep at catcher and a firstbasemen's careers last longer (and healthier) than catchers. However, I wouldn't do that until this team has solid offensive contributors at other positions (second base, third base, outfield).

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/13/indians-mlb-trade-deadline http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/13/indians-mlb-trade-deadline Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:51:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/07/13/indians-mlb-trade-deadline
Cleveland could use some offensive help. They currently have the 5th most runs in the AL and 7th best OBP. That's not bad, but given the recent offensive slumps, they could use another bat to bolster the offense.

The Indians have a surplus of relief pitching prospects that they could dangle. Some possibilities out there are David Wright and Ryan Ludwick. Giving up a Chisenhall, Kipnis or Alex White isn't worth it.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/27/lonnie-chisenhall-era-begins http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/27/lonnie-chisenhall-era-begins Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:52:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/27/lonnie-chisenhall-era-begins
Chisenhall was drafted first overall by Cleveland in 2008. While he may have been available in second round, he has proven to be one of the top tier prospects of that draft. Scouts rave over his swing and consistent/patient approach at the plate.

With the Indians offense sputtering, they needed to make a move. Hannahan has played outstanding defense at third base. If other players weren't struggling as much, I'd say leave Hannahan in there because his defense is worth it. However, this team needs to start scoring more runs.

For years to come I hope Chisenhall will hit around .290, hit 15-20 home runs, and drive in 80-90 RBI.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/24/irving-the-right-choice-at-1 http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/24/irving-the-right-choice-at-1 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:18:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/24/irving-the-right-choice-at-1
NBADraft.net

"A “true” PG with a great feel for the game … Great vision and passing [...]]]>
NBADraft.net

"A “true” PG with a great feel for the game … Great vision and passing skills … Great burst. Has the blow by speed to get past defenders off the dribble … Good decision maker. Looks to make the right play instead of always trying to dazzle [...] Has range out to NBA three and just needs time to gain consistency on it [...] Lack of experience at the college level is concerning considering how difficult it is to master the position at the next level … Could struggle with the transition to the NBA game with just 8 games of NCAA experience under his belt. He's super quick, and makes it almost impossible for his defender to stay in front of him on a one on one basis ... Will cause havoc with his ability to get into the lane and open things up [...] His pick and roll potential could be a big weapon moving forward, as he can make the initial pass or use his impressive change of speed ability coming off a screen to get to the rim [...] Defensively he plays aggressive on ball defense, showing quick footwork and the ability to stay in front of his man with a high motor and high intensity ... Very composed, mature young man both on and off the floor ... His quickness and talent combine to make him a pleasure to watch, as he should blossom into a premier guard in the country within his first year.

CBS Sports

" [...] Despite lacking great elevation, Irving knows how to compensate with good determination and above-average slashing ability to get to the basket and draw contact with his inside game. Has a great work ethic and attitude, bringing energy to the court and leadership to the locker room .... Has the valid speed to elude defenders coming off the screen on attempts to get to the rim [...] Compares To: CHRIS PAUL, New Orleans Hornets -- Irving is by far the elite point guard in the 2011 draft, but lacks the explosive quickness of the premier point men taken in recent drafts -- Derrick Rose (Chicago) and John Wall (Washington). He played well within the Duke's system and is at his best in the open floor. A point guard in size, he yearns to let the shooting guard mentality take over his game. As a defender, he plays true to his undersized frame. His position requires a few years to develop the skills for leading an offense, but he has a very high basketball IQ. He still needs to work on his outside jump shot and could be more selective from the 3-point range."


]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/23/decision-2011-nba-draft http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/23/decision-2011-nba-draft Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:59:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/23/decision-2011-nba-draft Tonight, the Cavaliers will be making their first overall selections since...you know who. It's looking like Kyrie Irving will be the Cavaliers man at number one overall. I'm all for Kyrie Irving, he fits Byron Scott's system and the NBA is becoming a point guard league.

What the Cavs do with the 4th overall pick depends on what [...]]]>

Tonight, the Cavaliers will be making their first overall selections since...you know who. It's looking like Kyrie Irving will be the Cavaliers man at number one overall. I'm all for Kyrie Irving, he fits Byron Scott's system and the NBA is becoming a point guard league.

What the Cavs do with the 4th overall pick depends on what the Timberwolves and Jazz do. The Cavs want to add a big man next, it's looking like Enes Kanter or Jonas Valanciunas. I think it will end up being Lithuanian Center Jonas Valanciunas, whom idolizes and is compared to Žydrūnas Ilgauskas. Valanciunas (who needs a good nickname) won't be ready to play until next year, but his upside is considered "great" perhaps even better than Kanter.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/15/the-importance-of-travis-hafner http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/15/the-importance-of-travis-hafner Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:37:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/15/the-importance-of-travis-hafner
Even though Choo and Santana had a good six game homestand, it's important [...]]]>
Even though Choo and Santana had a good six game homestand, it's important they continue to hit to compliment Hafner's ability to for average and power. Overall this season, they have played below expectations. .

The Indians are 25-14 when Hafner plays.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/08/a-look-at-franciso-lindor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/08/a-look-at-franciso-lindor Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:52:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/08/a-look-at-franciso-lindor
From MLB.com
"Lindor, a high school shortstop in Florida, has the chance to be an impact player on both sides of the ball at a premium position. [...]]]>
From MLB.com
"Lindor, a high school shortstop in Florida, has the chance to be an impact player on both sides of the ball at a premium position. He'll definitely be able to stay at shortstop with plus defense, showing outstanding range and a strong arm. At the plate, he's gotten stronger and he could grow into enough power to hit 15 or so homers annually, enough to keep pitchers honest, along with hitting .290-.300 every year.

While he's a solid average runner, he could be a potential leadoff hitter in the future, thanks to his strike-zone knowledge and willingness to take a walk to go along with his ability to swing the bat from both sides of the plate.

Lindor is a high-energy player with good makeup, one who is almost certainly the top high school position player, according to talent, in this Draft class."

From BaseballAmerica.com
"A baseball rat, Lindor has tremendous work ethic to go with above-average tools, and he plays the game with ease and passion. He's a switch-hitter with a line-drive stroke from both sides of the plate, and he has excellent hands that work both at the plate and in the field. He has the tools to play shortstop well at the highest level, with smooth actions, fluidity, instincts and good fundamentals. He's a plus runner but not a burner.
Lindor's power is the biggest question about him. He has flashed more than just gap power at times, which was pushing him up draft boards. His season ended in April, and he wasn't expected to play in Florida's high school all-star game, instead working out on his own. Scouts haven't scoffed at Omar Vizquel comparisons. Scouting directors said Lindor was a legitimate candidate for the No. 1 overall pick, but more likely he'll slot in just behind that."

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/06/mlb-draft-day-is-here http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/06/mlb-draft-day-is-here Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:38:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/06/06/mlb-draft-day-is-here
BaseballAmerica.com - Jed Bradley, LHP, [...]]]>
BaseballAmerica.com - Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech

BleacherReport.com - Matt Barnes, RHP, UConn

Rivals.com - Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde (Fla.) Montverde Academy

MLB.com - Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech






]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/26/indians-all-star-candidates http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/26/indians-all-star-candidates Thu, 26 May 2011 16:00:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/26/indians-all-star-candidates
With an off day today, it's seems like a good opportunity to evaluate possible tribe all-stars. The Indians currently have a 5 and 1/2 game lead over Detroit in the AL Central, with a 30-17 record. Recently manager




With an off day today, it's seems like a good opportunity to evaluate possible tribe all-stars. The Indians currently have a 5 and 1/2 game lead over Detroit in the AL Central, with a 30-17 record. Recently manager Manny Acta was named to the coaching staff, and even though Ron Washington picked him in Spring Training, it's a well deserved honor. Here's who is deserving and on the bubble to represent the Indians on July 12.

Deserving

Asdrubal Cabrera - no shortstop is having a better season than AC. His power is off the charts this season, an outstanding wOBA (.401) and clutch hitting. One day he might be the future face of the team.

Chris Perez - Tied for the AL lead in save with Mariano Rivera. Perez has converted 12 saves in 13 opportunities.

Josh Tomlin - Entering spring training, Tomlin was battling for the 5th spot in the Tribe rotation. The front office almost signed a veteran to take the 5th spot. So far, it looks like it was the right move. Tomlin has not had a bad start all year, each of his nine starts have been quality starts.

On the bubble

Justin Masterson - In Part II of The Year of the Pitcher, the field of all star pitching candidates is thick. Masterson is having a fantastic year, ultimately it will come down to Masterson's remaining starts and how Ron Washington evaluates the AL pitchers.

Michael Brantley - Brantley has excelled in the leadoff role with the absence of Grady. His patience at the plate and big hits have been extremely valuable.

Orlando Cabrera - O-Cabs most valuable asset can't be measured by statistics. His leadership and clubhouse prescene have made a noticable difference in the team's play and swagger. O-Cab's wOBA hasn't been good (.280). But his 24 RBI ranks third among AL secondbasemen.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/22/whats-not-to-like http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/22/whats-not-to-like Sun, 22 May 2011 22:38:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/22/whats-not-to-like Nick Gilbert won over audiences watching the 2011 NBA draft with his humor and fashion style. Following that, the ping pong balls bounced into the Cavaliers favor, landing them the 1st and 4th overall picks in the draft. Thus, Nick was proclaimed Cleveland's favorite [...]]]> Nick Gilbert won over audiences watching the 2011 NBA draft with his humor and fashion style. Following that, the ping pong balls bounced into the Cavaliers favor, landing them the 1st and 4th overall picks in the draft. Thus, Nick was proclaimed Cleveland's favorite new face and potentially a good luck charm.

Yes, it is considered a "weak" draft. But, the Cavs have a chance to add a solid piece (or two) for years to come. I believe that starts with Duke's Kyrie Irving. The league is becoming more and more point guard dominated (Rose, Nash, and Westbrook). And Byron Scott's teams have been built around star point guards (Jason Kidd and Chris Paul). Irving has been described as a player who "makes his team better." Derrick Williams is the other option for first overall, he does have the potential to be a "monster" under the boards, but his may be undersized for a power forward.

The 4th pick will be determined based on what Minnesota does with there pick. If Minnesota passes on Enes Kanter, it's possible the Cavs draft him. The Cavs are also considering Jan Vesely (Forward), Bismack Biyambo (Power Forward), and Kawhi Leonard (Small Forward).

By the way, you can get your "What's Not To Like" t-shirts here, 100% of the proceeds benefit to The Children's Tumor Foundation to help find a cure for Neurofibromatosis.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/15/browns-drafting-smart http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/15/browns-drafting-smart Sun, 15 May 2011 18:33:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/15/browns-drafting-smart
I'll admit when I first found [...]]]>
I'll admit when I first found out the Browns traded that far down I was somewhat confused, but then I heard the Browns got Atlanta's 2011 first round pick, 2011 second round pick, 2011 4th round pick, 2012 first round pick and 2012 4th round pick, I was pretty excited.

I know many of us wanted a playmaker (Julio Jones), but the bottom line was that Julio Jones isn't going to make this team a contender over night, Jones would only see 3 - 5 catches a game his first season. The Browns have multiple needs at multiple positions. Holmgren and Heckert attacking multiple needs at once. The Browns had the 6th worst run defense last year, and they hope to resolve some of that with the addition of Phil Taylor.

While Julio Jones may very well be a future star, there were concerns with his hands, being labled as inconsistent. Whether it's a lack of concentration or a "coachable" issue remains to be seen. It will be interesting to see how Greg Little (the wide receiver the Browns took in the second round) compares to Jones in the following years.

Bottom line is that the Browns wanted defense in this years draft. It's no coincidence that Steelers and Packers were ranked 1 and 2 in points allowed per game in 2010.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/04/draft-talk-2011 http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/04/draft-talk-2011 Wed, 04 May 2011 15:13:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/05/04/draft-talk-2011 2005 (Which saw the likes of Justin Upton, Ricky Romero, Alex Gordon, Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, Troy [...]]]> 2005 (Which saw the likes of Justin Upton, Ricky Romero, Alex Gordon, Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, Troy Tulowitzki, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Bucholz)

The Indians hold the 8th overall pick in the draft, meaning a potential multi-year all-star could land in their lap. Here is the some potential prospects that the Indians could draft, ranking and commentary is from Baseball America.

*Indicates high school player

4. Sonny Gray, RHP, - Has outstanding fastball/curveball combo, with competitiveness off the charts.

5. Jed Bradley, LHP - Owns the best all-around repertoire of any lefthander in this draft class.

6. *Bubba Starling OF - Quarterback commit to Nebraska is a freak athlete with the highest ceiling in the draft.

7. *Franciso Lindor SS - Athletic switch-hitter is a fluid shortstop and one of the draft's youngest players.

8. Travis Bauer, RHP - He's unorthodox, but he's also on pace to lead NCAA Division I in strikeouts for the second straight year.

9. *Dylan Bundy, RHP - Has moved to head of prep pitching class with mid-90s fastball, four-pitch mix and good mechanics.

10. George Springer, OF - Best college athlete available is regaining momentum after a low start.

11. *Taylor Guerrieri, RHP - Has the most helium of any player this year after touching 98 mph with his fastball.

12. *Archie Bradley, RHP - Another quarterback recruit (Oklahoma), he has prototypical size and stuff.

13. Taylor Jungmann, RHP - The best pitcher on talented Longhorns staffs for three years running.

14. Matt Barnes, RHP - How deep is 2011? Barnes would have been in the running to be top college pitcher drafted in 2010.

15. Matt Burke, LHP - Inconsistent spring has some scouts wondering if there's more than a blister problem to blame.


]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/04/29/lovin-the-tribe-in-2011 http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/04/29/lovin-the-tribe-in-2011 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:03:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2011/04/29/lovin-the-tribe-in-2011
The Indians have got this song stuck in [...]]]>
The Indians have got this song stuck in my head and I'm not complaining.

The weather is getting warmer and classes will soon let out. At this point the Indian's success is a tremendous sigh of relief after watching LeBron **** on Cleveland on national TV, the Cavs terrible season, and the Browns losing season (although I am optimistic for their future).

I'm NOT ready to call them contenders. I have enjoyed this 10 game winning streak at home. I really do like Manny Acta over Eric Wedge. And I really like how Acta is able to utilize small ball and find ways to get the bench players get involved.

On a small note, the Tribe is 1-4 vs Chicago and Minnesota. BUT at this point that's still a small sample size, and we have many more games to go against them. Success against the AL Central is critical (The 2010 White Sox were below .500 against the AL central despite their winning record). The 2007 Indians won 67% of their against the AL central (59% overall). Right now the Indians are 6-6 against AL Central opponents.

Our infield defense is "ground ball oriented" for pitchers like Masterson, Carmona, and Carrasco.

.....As far as our division rivals......

Minnesota, Justin Morneau is still HOMERLESS and the Twins have approx. 34 million on the DL, so that plays in the Indians favor (not that I root for players to get hurt).

Kansas City, since there 10-4 start they have fallen to 12-13.

Detroit, despite their 12-13 record, the Tigers have the veterans and experience to contend for the division (Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera). They also have some intriguing young talent in (Austin Jackson, Alex Avila).

Chicago, - Chicago is another veteran ridden team (average age of 29.9 years, the oldest in the AL Central) sitting at 10-16. Quentin-Konerko-Dunn is arguably the best three-four-five punch in the AL.

-----------------------------------------------
Interesting Stats....

DIFFs = Run Differentials

BEST DIFFs in MLB
Cleveland +41
Yankees +35
St Louis +35
Philly +24
Colorado +23

AL CENTRAL DIFFs
Cleveland +41
Kansas City -9
Detroit -16
Chicago -24
Minnesota -47

Again, I'm not calling the Indians contenders just yet, but the AL Central is a "Win-able" Division.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/08/07/kenny-lofton-to-be-inducted-into-indians-hall http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/08/07/kenny-lofton-to-be-inducted-into-indians-hall Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:23:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/08/07/kenny-lofton-to-be-inducted-into-indians-hall
Career Highlights and Accomplishments
6 Time All Star
5 Time League Leader in Stolen Bases
4 Time Gold Glover
Led league in hits (1994)
Led league in triples (1995)
Led league in at bats [...]]]>
Career Highlights and Accomplishments
6 Time All Star
5 Time League Leader in Stolen Bases
4 Time Gold Glover
Led league in hits (1994)
Led league in triples (1995)
Led league in at bats (1996)
.299 Career batting average
622 Career stolen bases

Indians History
1st - Stolen Bases
3rd - Runs
9th - Hits
10th - At Bats
18th - Batting Average

Kenny was arguably the most exciting player of those 90's teams because he would steal extra bases from oponents in the field, stretch singles into doubles, doubles into triples, and swipe bags faster than you could say Alvaro Espinoza He was the ideal sparkplug and leadoff hitter a legitimate contender could ask for.

My favorite memory of Kenny was when he scored the game winning run in the 12-run comeback against the Mariners. There won't be another centerfielder like him.


]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/31/fan-in-lebron-heat-jersey http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/31/fan-in-lebron-heat-jersey Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:59:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/31/fan-in-lebron-heat-jersey
]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/28/laporta-1-sabathia-0 http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/28/laporta-1-sabathia-0 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:07:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/28/laporta-1-sabathia-0
Another big story on the night was that Josh Tomlin, In his first major league start, made easy work of the Yankees by going 7 [...]]]>
Another big story on the night was that Josh Tomlin, In his first major league start, made easy work of the Yankees by going 7 innings and surrending only one run. It's a shame he will be sent down again, he has proven he can excel at AAA.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/20/well-rested-and-on-fire-indians-win-5th-in-a-row http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/20/well-rested-and-on-fire-indians-win-5th-in-a-row Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:35:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/07/20/well-rested-and-on-fire-indians-win-5th-in-a-row
After sweeping the playoff contending Detroit Tigers, the Indians dominated the another playoff contending team, Minnesota Twins, monday night by a final score of 10 to 4. Between the Indians and Twins they had 32 hits. The difference was that the Indians capitalized on 2 out situational hitting. Starting pitcher, Aaron Laffey did not surrender an earned run in 5 innings pitched.

Now we know, it's far to late for the Indians to contend for anything. It's good to see some of the young talent develop now. In recent weeks, it has been exciting to watch LaPorta and Santana beginning to make names for themselves.

To add to the good news, Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera will be returning from the disabled list on Friday. A starting lineup with Cabrera, Choo, Santana and LaPorta sounds pretty good to me.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/24/5th-starter-decision-still-awaits-tomlin-would-be-interesting http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/24/5th-starter-decision-still-awaits-tomlin-would-be-interesting Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:55:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/24/5th-starter-decision-still-awaits-tomlin-would-be-interesting Just three days ago the Indians optioned struggling southpaw, David Huff, to AAA Columbus. It's been widely speculated that the call up will go to Aaron Laffey. However, I think we should see what Josh Tomlin has to offer. Tomlin leads all Clippers starters in ERA, putting him 8th overall in the International League. Tomlin has 7 wins, [...]]]>

Just three days ago the Indians optioned struggling southpaw, David Huff, to AAA Columbus. It's been widely speculated that the call up will go to Aaron Laffey. However, I think we should see what Josh Tomlin has to offer. Tomlin leads all Clippers starters in ERA, putting him 8th overall in the International League. Tomlin has 7 wins, putting him ahead of all other Clippers starters. According to Tony Lastoria of IndiansProspectInsider.com, Tomlin doesn't have dominating stuff, but has a 4 pitch mix with an above average slider.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/14/carlos-santana-era-begins http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/14/carlos-santana-era-begins Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:36:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/14/carlos-santana-era-begins
Many comparisons have been made between Santana and Victor Martinez. Both were infielders converted to catchers and both are switch hitters (heck, they both even wear #41). The main difference between them will be that Carlos is going to hit for a lower average than Victor, but Carlos will complement that by hitting for more power than Victor.



]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/08/indians-take-pomeranz-with-their-first-pick http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/08/indians-take-pomeranz-with-their-first-pick Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:29:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/08/indians-take-pomeranz-with-their-first-pick
=====================================================================

Fastball: Pomeranz throws his fastball up to 94 mph and sits comfortably in the 91-92 mph range.

Fastball movement: Shows plenty of arm side movement. When he's up in the zone, there's a little hop above the bat at times.

Curve: Not 12-to-6, it's a power breaking ball, thrown 77-81 mph. But there's enough tilt to it that it can be called a curve. He changes it, throwing it for a strike to get ahead, then turning it into more of a wipeout pitch to get hitters to chase.

Changeup: This pitch is greatly improved, with better deception coming from arm speed. He's throwing it for strikes now; next step is commanding it within the zone.

Control: His command is solid-average to a tick above average with the fastball and curve, though it will be interesting to see how he adjusts when hitters stop chasing the fastball he purposely throws out of the zone.

Poise: As Mississippi's Friday starter, he's got good mound presence and is used to getting the ball in big games.

Physical Description: Pomeranz is a big, well-developed lefty with a durable and strong lower half.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: The chance to have a three-pitch mix, with all three grading out above average in the future. Size, durability also a plus.

Weaknesses: There's a little stiffness in his arm action behind his back, which might lead some to worry about future arm trouble, though it won't concern most. He's not good at holding runners on.

Summary: Pomeranz has established himself as the top lefty arm in a Draft class that hasn't got a deep the southpaw pool. Big, strong and durable, he's got the makings of an above-average three-pitch mix. He commands his fastball and breaking ball very well, and, while the changeup is a bit behind, it's improving quickly. There's little not to like about Pomeranz -- most criticisms are on the nit-picky side -- and it seems likely that he'll hear his name called very early on Draft Day.

=====================================================================

Day 2 of the draft begins at noon

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/05/joyces-call-could-have-been-avoided http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/05/joyces-call-could-have-been-avoided Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:21:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/06/05/joyces-call-could-have-been-avoided
Miguel Cabrera should have let his second basemen take the play, it was a routine play for a second basemen. Cabrera has less room to cover than Galaragga. It was more [...]]]>
Miguel Cabrera should have let his second basemen take the play, it was a routine play for a second basemen. Cabrera has less room to cover than Galaragga. It was more challenging for Galaragga to make the play because he had to cover firstbase on the run.

Joyce could have had a better position on the play. Replays from earlier in the game showed him making calls further away from the foul line.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/27/projecting-the-indians-first-draft-pick http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/27/projecting-the-indians-first-draft-pick Thu, 27 May 2010 20:10:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/27/projecting-the-indians-first-draft-pick
ESPN.com - Drew [...]]]>
ESPN.com - Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss
MLB.com - Yasmani Grandal, C, University of Miami
ScoutBuzz.com – Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington
DraftSite.com – Michael Choice
MyMLBDraft.com – Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast
MLB.FanHouse.com – Chris Sale
ProspectJunkies.com – Chris Sale
5ToolTalk.com – Chris Sale
Highschool.Rivals.com – Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
BaseballDraftReport.com – Kolbrin Vitek, 2B, Ball State

Even though Indians have a poor draft history, they have a relatively new director of scouting, Brad Grant, who oversaw the drafts of 2008 and 2009. Grant's first round picks in both those years (Lonnie Chisenhall and Alex White) have received great critical acclaim.






]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/24/potential-tribe-all-stars http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/24/potential-tribe-all-stars Mon, 24 May 2010 13:20:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/24/potential-tribe-all-stars
Mitch Talbot 5-3, 3.88 ERA, 1 CG (tied for 2nd in American League wins, his last start inflated his ERA)

Fausto Carmona 4-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP

Tony Sipp 0-0, [...]]]>
We just passed the 1/4 mark of the season and it's time to start discussing possible All-Stars for the Indians. Here are the potentials...

Mitch Talbot 5-3, 3.88 ERA, 1 CG (tied for 2nd in American League wins, his last start inflated his ERA)

Fausto Carmona 4-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP

Tony Sipp 0-0, 1.40 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 6 holds, 20 k's in 19 IP (I know...he isn't a closer, his chances aren't that great...he's a darkhorse)

Shin-Soo Choo .308 BA, .421 OBP, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB (among AL outfielders...1st in OBP, 6th in batting average, T-8th in RBI, T-8th in HR, 8th in SLG, 10th in SB)

Right now, The CHOOsen One, is the only worthy All-Star. Hitting for contact, hitting for power, stealing bases, and a powerful throwing arm, makes Choo is one of the best overall players in baseball.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/05/its-time-to-bring-up-donald-send-down-valbuena http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/05/its-time-to-bring-up-donald-send-down-valbuena Wed, 05 May 2010 16:23:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/05/05/its-time-to-bring-up-donald-send-down-valbuena
You may argue the Indians need power bats if anything. But with the team batting average low as it is now, the Indians need baserunners first and foremost.

Defensively, Donald is considered to have more range and softer hands than Valbuena.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/30/offense-continues-to-slump-remains-a-mystery http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/30/offense-continues-to-slump-remains-a-mystery Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:08:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/30/offense-continues-to-slump-remains-a-mystery
Run Scored - 13th
Home Runs - 13th
Batting Average - 12th
On Base % - 8th
Slugging % - 13th

Whats even more disturbing is that 5 players [...]]]>
Run Scored - 13th
Home Runs - 13th
Batting Average - 12th
On Base % - 8th
Slugging % - 13th

Whats even more disturbing is that 5 players are hitting .196 and below, that's more than half of the starting lineup (Valbuena .196, Sizemore .192, Peralta .190, Hafner .190, Marson .171).

Meanwhile, Shin- Soo Choo has been absolutely phenomenal...batting .338, 15 RBI,.452 OBP and 4 stolen bags. He quickly emerging as one of the best hitters, if not player, in the game today.

Also, veteran outfielder Austin Kearns has provided a spark off the bench hitting .383 with 10 RBI.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/24/backups-and-carmona-deliver-against-as http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/24/backups-and-carmona-deliver-against-as Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:44:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/24/backups-and-carmona-deliver-against-as
Fausto Carmona is pitching like he did back in 2007. Carmona went into the 8th inning today, surrendered 1 one and [...]]]>
Fausto Carmona is pitching like he did back in 2007. Carmona went into the 8th inning today, surrendered 1 one and earned his 3rd victory on the season.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/19/branyan-activated-brantley-sent-down http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/19/branyan-activated-brantley-sent-down Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:04:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/19/branyan-activated-brantley-sent-down
While I wasn't a fan of the Branyan signing, it may be a good move considering Brantley has struggled at the plate, hitting .156 this season with the Indians. Brantley is still young (22 years old), Some [...]]]>
While I wasn't a fan of the Branyan signing, it may be a good move considering Brantley has struggled at the plate, hitting .156 this season with the Indians. Brantley is still young (22 years old), Some extra time in Columbus will give him the chance to tune his offense.

The Indians offense has been inconsistent and lacking power. They are averaging just 3.8 runs per game. While Russell the Muscle is no Pujols, his bat could help the Indians produce more runs.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/15/surprise-starting-rotation-is-the-strength-thus-far http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/15/surprise-starting-rotation-is-the-strength-thus-far Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:06:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/15/surprise-starting-rotation-is-the-strength-thus-far
]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/15/peralta-off-to-a-bad-start http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/15/peralta-off-to-a-bad-start Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:43:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/15/peralta-off-to-a-bad-start
It's still early, but it wouldn't make much sense to move Peralta back to shortstop. The current shortstop, Asdrubal Cabrera, has much more range and softer hands than Peralta. Not to mention shortstops typically receive more groundballs then thirdbasemen.

Let's hope Peralta can get it together because a long season awaits.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/11/implosion-indians-at-detroit http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/11/implosion-indians-at-detroit Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:06:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/11/implosion-indians-at-detroit
In his second start of the season, Jake Westbrook went 5.2 innings and allowed 3 earned runs, much better than his opening day performance (which consisted of 4 wild pitches, 4 walks and 5 earned runs).

What frustrating about this loss, is that the Indian's offense has been struggling and they finally were able to generate 8 runs, but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

At 6 games deep this year, its far to early to hit the panic button.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/09/indians-take-series-in-chicago http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/09/indians-take-series-in-chicago Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:15:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/04/09/indians-take-series-in-chicago
Starting Pitching - 6/10, Westbrook missed many of his locations and threw four wild pitches, Carmona wasn't in 2007 form, but he gave the Indians a chance to win the game. Masterson pitched 5 solid innings, but in the future he needs [...]]]>
Starting Pitching - 6/10, Westbrook missed many of his locations and threw four wild pitches, Carmona wasn't in 2007 form, but he gave the Indians a chance to win the game. Masterson pitched 5 solid innings, but in the future he needs to eat more innings.

Offense - 7/10, struggled against Mark Buerhle, but scored 5 runs in each game after. On wednesday they rallied from a 3-0 deficit, and on thursday a one run deficit when trailing after the 7th inning.

Bullpen - 9/10, the bullpen was bold with a 2.08 ERA, which included Chris Perez closing out two games in two save situations

Defense - 8/10, no between the legs, no look flip for the Indians (see Buerhle). However, no errors in chicago.

Coaching - 9/10, Good start for Acta, he became the first Latin-American MLB manager to win multiple games in both leagues. Acta pulled the pitchers at the right times and put the Indians above .500 for the first time since 2008.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/31/jeremy-sowers-placed-on-waivers-sent-to-columbus http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/31/jeremy-sowers-placed-on-waivers-sent-to-columbus Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:32:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/31/jeremy-sowers-placed-on-waivers-sent-to-columbus
As a starter he seemed to pitch very well for 3 to 4 [...]]]>
As a starter he seemed to pitch very well for 3 to 4 innings then implode around the 5th and 6th innings. I believe it's time to make Sowers a reliever. He has the ability shutout an offense for a few innings and he could bridge the gap between the starting pitcher and the closer. He might even have what it takes to be a closer.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/29/fantasy-baseball-2010-picking-indians http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/29/fantasy-baseball-2010-picking-indians Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:05:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/29/fantasy-baseball-2010-picking-indians
Studs
1. Grady Sizemore -OF- coming off injury filled 09' season. Expect Grady to return to his old self.
2. Shin-Soo Choo -OF- Put up all-star numbers in 09 and it was no fluke. Expect .290+ batting average, 20+ home runs, and 20+ steals. [...]]]>
Studs
1. Grady Sizemore -OF- coming off injury filled 09' season. Expect Grady to return to his old self.
2. Shin-Soo Choo -OF- Put up all-star numbers in 09 and it was no fluke. Expect .290+ batting average, 20+ home runs, and 20+ steals. Choo is continuing to improve and we may see a bigger season in 2010.
3. Asdrubal Cabrera -2B/SS- Led the Indians in batting average last year hitting .308. He may increase his runs with Sizemore and a healthy Hafner hitting behind him.


Late Round Gambles
1. Matt LaPorta -OF/1B- has excelled at every level he's been at. Great maturity. Has potential to hit 20 or more home runs this year.
2. Fausto Carmona -SP- phenomenal spring, which only says so much, but he could turn out to be a steal.
3. Justin Masterson -SP- has an excellent aresenal. He just needs to locate his pitches better.

Likely to go undrafted, but keep an eye on
Mitch Talbot -SP- like carmona, an excellent spring. He easily won over the coaching staff by staying sharp and consistent.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/22/weighing-the-pros-and-cons-of-manny-acta http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/22/weighing-the-pros-and-cons-of-manny-acta Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:05:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/22/weighing-the-pros-and-cons-of-manny-acta Both Houston and Cleveland (the only two teams looking for managers in the offseason) offered Acta contracts. Acta choose Cleveland because they offered three guaranteed years while Houston offered two.



Pros

- He's [...]]]> Both Houston and Cleveland (the only two teams looking for managers in the offseason) offered Acta contracts. Acta choose Cleveland because they offered three guaranteed years while Houston offered two.



Pros

- He's bilingual, it will be easy for him to communicate with latin players on the team such as
Fausto Carmona, Asdrubal Cabrera, Rafael Perez, and Luis Valbuena.

- He was highly recommended by Atlanta Braves manager, Bobby Cox (in a phone call to Mark
Shapiro).

- Acta has a demonstrated high energy and high passion, much more than his predecesoor, Eric
Wedge.

- A "Hands On" manager. He participates in spring training drills by hitting fungoes to infielders,
shags fly balls in the outfield and even helps clean up after the day is done. Whereas, Eric
Wedge oversaw the drills.

Cons

- Acta rarely gets thrown out of baseball games. Sometimes its good to be thrown out to let the
players know the manager has their back whether they are right or wrong.

- Acta owns a poor manager record at 158-252 (.385) in two and a half seasons with the
Washington Nationals.

Conclusion

It's hard to evaluate Acta with the abysmal talent the Nationals had. Joe Torre's Mets (1977-1979) finished last in the division in his first three years of managing (Now, Torre has 4 World Championships under his belt). It's unfair to say that getting thrown out of games results in success, Wedge was among the leaders in manager ejections each year, yet he only took the Indians to the playoffs once in 7 seasons. However, two of the games top managers, Mike Scioscia and Ozzie Guillen, are well known for getting thrown out of games, and they each have a World Series title.

A new season is on the horizon and it's time Acta and Indians to have a fresh start.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/19/indians-continue-to-show-spring-success http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/19/indians-continue-to-show-spring-success Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/19/indians-continue-to-show-spring-success
Outfielder, Michael Brantley has strong presence at the plate batting .320 with a .469 on base percentage. Grady Sizemore, coming off an injury plagued 2009, has hit .353 and driven in 8 runs. Shin-Soo Choo has picked off from his 2009 season and hit .375 while driving in 6.

A long season begins in April, lets hope these kids can carry the momentum from spring training to the regular season.



]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/18/a-productive-hafner-is-needed http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/18/a-productive-hafner-is-needed Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:53:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/18/a-productive-hafner-is-needed CCleveland's DH, Travis Hafner hasn't had 100 RBIs since 2007, a .400+ On Base Percentage since 2006, and 30+ home runs since 2006. Injuries cost him most of the 2008 season and allowed him to play sparingly during 2009. At age 32 it's not likely he will return to his old self. But, a .280 batting average, 20+ home runs, and 90+ RBI [...]]]> CCleveland's DH, Travis Hafner hasn't had 100 RBIs since 2007, a .400+ On Base Percentage since 2006, and 30+ home runs since 2006. Injuries cost him most of the 2008 season and allowed him to play sparingly during 2009. At age 32 it's not likely he will return to his old self. But, a .280 batting average, 20+ home runs, and 90+ RBI would benefit the Indians greatly in 2010.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/12/tribes-2010-success-hinges-on-starting-rotation http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/12/tribes-2010-success-hinges-on-starting-rotation Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:15:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2010/03/12/tribes-2010-success-hinges-on-starting-rotation The Indians enter the 2010 baseball season with low expectations from the fans. And why shouldn't they have low expectations with the departures of Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, etc? However, the starting lineup will have no trouble scoring runs, thanks to 2009's breakout stars in Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo. The 2009 [...]]]> The Indians enter the 2010 baseball season with low expectations from the fans. And why shouldn't they have low expectations with the departures of Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, etc? However, the starting lineup will have no trouble scoring runs, thanks to 2009's breakout stars in Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo. The 2009 bullpen made great strides ever since Chris Perez, Tony Sipp, and Joe Smith came to fruition.

The AL Central will be a wide open race in 2010. The Twins won the division last year with only 87 wins. A stable starting rotation could make the Indians an AL Central contender. However, the starting rotation has the biggest question marks.

2010 Projected Starting Rotation
1. Jake Westbook - coming off tommy john surgery and has not pitched in a big league game
since May 28th, 2008.

2. Fausto Carmona - posted a 5.89 ERA in the past two seasons, far from his Cy Young numbers in 2007. This past winter-ball, Fausto made mechanical adjustments in his pitching delivery, showing good signs to manager Manny Acta.

3. Justin Masterson - Questions still linger to whether he is a starter or long inning reliever. His teammate, Jake Westbrook, told Sports Time Ohio, that he believes Masterson could have an impressive year.

4. David Huff - coming off a rookie season in which he went 11-8 and a 5.61 ERA. During his last 5 starts in 2009 he went 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA.

5. Aaron Laffey - "groundball pitcher," in the mold of Jake Westrbook. Has had consistency issues in the big leagues.

]]> http://danobaseball.com/blog/2002/01/02/indians-interested-in-bj-upton http://danobaseball.com/blog/2002/01/02/indians-interested-in-bj-upton Wed, 02 Jan 2002 18:11:00 +0000 Dan O'Connor http://danobaseball.com/blog/2002/01/02/indians-interested-in-bj-upton NBC, the Cleveland Indians (and Washington Nationals) are showing a lot of interest in Ray's outfielder, BJ Upton.

While Upton is having a down year, he would be an [...]]]> NBC, the Cleveland Indians (and Washington Nationals) are showing a lot of interest in Ray's outfielder, BJ Upton.

While Upton is having a down year, he would be an instant upgrade over Travis Buck, Austin Kearns, or Shelley Duncan. Upton brings a combination of speed, power, and defense. However, his batting average and on base percentage isn't very impressive. In 2007 Upton posted a 4.5 WAR (6th best in the AL) followed by 5.0 (4th best in the AL), 2.3, and 3.9 (9th best in the AL) in the years following.

Upton is still young at 26 years old. If aquired the Indians would have him through 2012. He could replace the often injured Grady Sizemore in centerfield.

Upton would fit in nicely batting second behind Michael Brantley and in front of Asdrubal and Hafner. Or He could even bat 5th or 6th with his power potential. I wouldn't be surprised if the Indians made a move. But, it has to be the right move, it can't mortgage our future for contending because the window of opportunity is just opening.


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