Jake of all trades: Indians counting on new arrival Bauers

Feb 22, 2019 , By GABRIELLA KREUZ
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) The Cleveland Indians are heading into the 2019 season missing some big bats from last year's lineup. They hope Jake Bauers brought one from Tampa.

Bauers, who came over in a December trade with the Rays, is being counted on to help fill the power void left with the departures of sluggers Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso in trades and the Indians' decision not to re-sign All-Star Michael Brantley as a free agent.

As the three-time defending AL Central champions contend with unusually chilly and wet weather that has dumped an inch of rain on this arid area the past two days - significant for a region that typically only gets about eight inches a year - the 23-year-old Bauers has been getting in work to make sure he sprays the ball around this season.

"I'm trying to use the whole field again, trying to stay left center-center field and open everything up as opposed to just kind of pulling the ball too much," said Bauers, who batted .201 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs in 96 games after being brought up by the Rays last season.

This year, Bauers is optimistic he can make an impact in all facets of the game.

"Getting on base, maybe taking the extra base when I can, driving in runs, basically just doing whatever the situation calls for," the easygoing Bauers said while sipping coffee in the clubhouse on Friday. "I think that's what I was taught at a young age and it's something I'm fairly good at."

Bauers can play first base and he'll be one of several candidates to get a shot in a crowded outfield, a topic he discussed in a recent meeting with Indians manager Terry Francona.

"We talked a lot about playing first base or left field and what the mix is going to be like," said Bauers, who spends down time during camp hiking with his 9-month-old Golden Retriever-Cocker Spaniel mix, Praxton. "They just have some things to figure out. I'm sure as we get deeper into the spring, we'll sort that all out."

Bauers has displayed versatility, so what's his biggest strength?

With eyebrows raised, the self-proclaimed bad surfer from Huntington Beach, California, took in the question along with a deep breath.

"Knowing how to win," he said after a short pause. "I think that's an underrated thing in today's game. I think the things you can't put on paper aren't valued as much as they could be."

Bauers could also help the Indians in another vital area. The loss of Brantley, starter Josh Tomlin, All-Star catcher Yan Gomes and closer Cody Allen has created a vacuum in the clubhouse and dugout.

"We've lost some guys that had terrific leadership qualities," Francona said. "Guys like Tomlin, Brantley, there's no getting around that. We don't need to anoint leaders. The best way to lead is by example."

If Bauers can produce offensively the way he did for the Rays after his call-up last June, he'll be leading in no time.

Bauers batted .252 with five home runs in his first 36 games last season before the All-Star break. His numbers dipped toward the end of 2018, but the potential is evident.

He's eager to show his new teammates what he can do, and anxious to start at first when the Indians open their Cactus League season on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds.

"I think I got those excited butterflies when I think about it," said Bauers, who will bat second.

NOTES: Bench coach Brad Mills pulled a fast one on Francona. With the help of general manager Mike Chernoff, Mills orchestrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the USS Tito, a makeshift wooden boat that was constructed outside the Indians' complex. The Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Thomas Modly, was flown in for the event and took pictures with Francona, who was given his own captain's hat. Asked for remarks upon receiving his ship, Francona chuckled, "I'm humiliated." ... Adam Plutko will start Cleveland's opener against Cincinnati. For the Reds, Tanner Roark fills in for Sonny Gray, who was scratched with elbow stiffness.

---

Recap: Indians Q&A with Zack Meisel



Zack Meisel
Feb 22, 2019 86 Comments

Wade D.
22h ago
Hey Zack, what are your thoughts on Kipnis having a bounce back year? While he was pretty awful for the first few months last season he was at least decent in the second half. Although he didn't play up to his contract, the narrative around him seems so negative for a player who still contributed 1.6 WAR.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Wade D. So, I spoke to him for a while the other day (he's always really candid, which is helpful and appreciated and makes it easier to relay these sorts of messages to fans) and I arrived at this conclusion: He desperately needs to have a better season. The Indians desperately need him to have a better season. They're kind of in this together. He knows it's a contract year, so he spent his offseason training with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also didn't even know it, but he played last season with a torn labrum in his hip.

Will he return to his .280/.350/.450 form? Who knows? It'd be hard to bet on that. But he might be the most important person on the team, because that lineup looks bleak after Lindor/Ramirez/Santana. They need to be able to stick him somewhere near the top of the order.

10
Reston A.
22h ago
@Zack Meisel Tell him that we're rooting for him!

7
Alex V.
23h ago
What’s your over/under on the number of Indians playing in the All Star Game on their home field this summer?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Alex V. Interesting. Let's first establish some candidates: Kluber, Bauer, Carrasco, Clevinger, Lindor, Ramirez, Hand. That's seven. I'll set the O/U at 3.5. And I'll guess they get four, with Ramirez headlining the HR Derby, too.

9
Alex V.
22h ago
I like it, 4 feels about right. Perez is my dark horse - he has to regress to the mean a bit and catcher is always such a crap shoot for the ASG.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Alex V. Everyday playing time is half the battle at that position

2
Andrew C.
22h ago
Is there any clubhouse chatter when something like that SI story on Bauer comes out? Or is it mostly business-as-usual?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Andrew C. Business as usual, aside from Bieber/Clevinger/Kipnis absolutely wearing him out about his dating rules.

9
Michael J.
22h ago
Zach,

With the Indians signing a surplus of relievers to minor league deals do you think they'll address the outfield next with similar deals?

Michael J.
22h ago
Forgive me Zack. I forgot the proper spelling for a second.

1
Zachary A.
22h ago
No you spelled it right. Don't let the false name prophet speak sins to your ear.

5

Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Michael J. I could see them adding one more guy, but I'm not sure the "best" OFs remaining are going to fall to minor-league deals and I'm not sure the ones who will fall to minor-league deals are any better than what the Indians already have.

2
Josh B.
22h ago
Physically speaking, who appears to have changed the most this off-season (put on the most muscle, cut weight, or "best shape of their lives")?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Josh B. I'll list a handful of names:

Francisco Lindor's arms are nearing Yandy territory
Jose Ramirez does look a little slimmer (he says he lost six pounds, which doesn't seem like much, but it's noticeable)
Cody Anderson is always looking like he could destroy you with one poke
Brooks Pounders looks just how his name sounds

8
Lewie B.
22h ago
Hey Zack, its Lewie all the way from Hawaii! We know who our starting rotation is going to be. Do you think you could give us your best guess at line-up/bench and bullpen?

Lewie B.
22h ago
Also I am referring to Opening Day assuming Lindor is still injured.

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Lewie B. Lewie, I'm jealous of your whereabouts. Thanks for waking up early to join us.

I'll guess the following position players will make the Opening Day roster: Lindor, Kipnis, Ramirez, Santana, Bauers, Joyce, Naquin, Martin, Perez. Plawecki, Allen, Luplow and Moroff on the bench.

The bullpen is a crapshoot. So many similar options. I'll guess: Hand, Otero, Cimber, Olson, Perez, Wilson, Clippard. I feel like I'm forgetting 158 guys.

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
If Lindor isn't ready, toss Ryan Flaherty in there, I suppose

1
Lewie B.
22h ago
Its been a tough off season for the Tribe. As fans though I have hated seeing everyone jump off the train.

If the Indians are sitting pretty around All Star break and grab Castellanos from the Tigers then another reliever we would all be praising them. I wish as fans we’d trust the tribe. Indians made the WS a few years ago with three or four key injuries.

Also, Bauers excited me. I hated seeing Yandy go but man Bauers ceiling looks amazing. How high do you think his ceiling is? .27?/3?/100?

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Lewie B. Bauers is intriguing. I truly have no idea what his ceiling is, because he's been undergoing some swing refinement. But the guy was a highly touted prospect.

1
Lewie B.
22h ago
Awesome stuff Zack, I miss the Indians like no other since i moved to HI 5 years ago. Hard to catch all the games with time difference (not to mention nobody here sells Indians ball caps, really want the new red bill one). Excited for the 2019 season. I read your chats every week and almost every article you write. You’re doing an awesome job. Also, tweets are very good too! Have a great season. Talk again soon.

1

Zack Meisel
21h ago
@Lewie B. Thanks so much for reading and following along. I hope to make it back to your neck of the woods later this year or next.

1
Danny K.
22h ago
Do you think Bobby Bradley gets a call-up any time this year to play meaningful games? Or still a year off?

P.S. We're still on board with Harper hasn't signed because he's holding out for an Indians offer, right?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Danny K. With Bradley, I'd say a year off, but I have no clue how they'll end up positioning Bauers/Santana, so it's not impossible for him to crack the lineup this season.

And dude, Travis Harper hasn't played in the majors since 2006. I sure hope he isn't holding out for an Indians offer, no matter how weak the outfield looks.

2

Zack Meisel
22h ago
bullpen* dammit, couldn't stick the landing

4
Tiffany D.
22h ago
How to you wade through all the tired angry repetitive 'the sky is falling' comments on Twitter to find ones with value?? Or do you just not read any comments?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Tiffany D. Thankfully, The Athletic has done a lot of that for us. The comment sections on here are far and away better than Twitter or, say, a certain Cleveland-based dot com website. There are plenty of thoughtful opinions shared by all of you every day.

I think I just know what I'm getting into when I spend time on Twitter. I have a billion people muted and I'm quick to mute conversations if the replies to my tweets are annoying.

6
David A.
22h ago
Of the players in the outfield mix, who still has minor league options?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@David A. All of 'em

6
Craig C.
22h ago
@Zack Meisel this made me lol

Zachary A.
23h ago
Zack, how do we make it so that Carlos Santana's walk up song is "Smooth" by Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Zachary A. Oye Como Va would be a little more upbeat, no?

5
Zachary A.
22h ago
What it makes up for in upbeatness it lacks in late 90s Rob Thomas voice. Plus, everyone knows that starting guitar lick.

1
Ben J.
22h ago
Hey Zack, hope you're staying dry down in AZ. How does the FO look at Trevor Bauer? Teammates mostly seem to like the guy but given the recent comments post arb., Twitter outbursts and SI article I can't imagine those things sit well with our FO. Do you think these distractions will impact another teams willingness to go give him the mega 1 year deals that he wants? As long as the product on the field stays consistent I'm sure we won't hear any backlash but there have been a good handful of times I'm sure the FO wants to grab him by the neck and tell him to stop.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Ben J. Were you eavesdropping on my dinner conversation last night? (By the way: Thai Orchid Garden, for anyone visiting Goodyear.) We spent at least a half hour on this topic.

Bauer hears from the PR staff, the front office and the manager about each issue. After the SI story came out, he told me he "got in trouble, but when am I not in trouble?" The Indians know he'll be here two years max. He won't have as much trade value next winter, so I'm not sure how easy it'll be to deal him, but I also wonder if the Indians will pay both him and Lindor what they'll earn in arbitration.

As for the 1-year deals: He'll be limiting his number of suitors. How many teams would've offered him the 1/30ish he would've wanted this winter? You're limiting yourself to contenders, and likely big-market contenders. But the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers have all been spending super judiciously. Not to mention, Bauer also has claimed it takes him 2-3 years to get comfortable with a new clubhouse/surroundings/teammates. I'm fascinated to see how this all unfolds.

5
Bryan F.
22h ago
With the starting pitching staff getting more expensive and the lineup filled with platoon options over every day guys, how long do you feel the Indians contention window will last before they start trading off pieces? Seems like the Astros and Red Sox will be tough to overcome during the next couple years


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Bryan F. I could see them trading a SP next winter and trading Lindor the winter after that. But they still think they'll be at or near the top of their division by replacing those guys with the pieces they acquire via trade, McKenzie, Nolan Jones.

4
Todd P.
22h ago
I see the Twins are rumored to be connected to Marwin now. I know the Indians will still be the favorites of the division, but at what point are we no longer expecting the AL Central to be the cakewalk it was in 2018? Are we already there?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Todd P. Oh, I don't think it'll be a cakewalk. The Indians should still be the favorites, Marwin or no Marwin. But I'm expecting some dicey moments throughout the year.

1
Robert J.
22h ago
What is Marwin looking for? Seems like a great fit in CLE


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Robert J. He's Tito's dream.

3
Patrick F.
21h ago
Are there any coaching changes from last year? Any of our coaches move to higher positions in other organizations?

1

Zack Meisel
21h ago
@Patrick F. Nothing on the major-league side. Steve Karsay went from Indians AAA pitching coach to Brewers bullpen coach. Chris Tremie went from Indians AAA manager to Reds field coordinator.

2
Derek W.
23h ago
Does the Machado signing increase the chances of the Padres making a move for an Indians starter?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Derek W. I think that ship has sailed for this offseason

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
The thing about the Padres is, the Machado addition improves their floor by a bit for 2018, but their window really starts when they tap into their top-rated farm system over the next few years. So, probably makes more sense for them to acquire a younger pitcher (than Kluber) with more team control, or wait until next winter.

2
Austin L.
22h ago
Is the Ben Taylor-Adam Plutko mustache battle as intense as it seems?

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Austin L. I believe Plutko ceded the competition to Taylor yesterday, but whew, what a week that was

2
Frank S.
22h ago
Who are 3 guys I should keep my eyes (or ears) on for the next month?


Zack Meisel
21h ago
@Frank S. Matt Joyce, Yu Chang, Cody Anderson

2
Frank S.
21h ago
Love it. Can't wait to hear hammy Saturday. Keep up the good work.

Reid S.
23h ago
Hey Zack! Assuming the Indians don’t sign Harper and effectively break the internet, how do you see the OF competition shaking out? Naquin/Luplow platoon in RF, Martin/Allen platoon in CF, and Joyce in LF? You see it any differently? Over/Under on HRs for that combined OF is 29.5. Thoughts?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Reid S. I'm guessing Naquin, Luplow, Martin, Allen and Joyce will all make the team. Martin will probably play nearly every day and Naquin/Joyce will face RHP and Luplow/Allen will face LHP? It doesn't need to be explicitly divided like that, though.

1
Reid S.
22h ago
Are you going over 29.5 HRs combined or under for the entire OF?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Reid S. That's a good one. I'll take the over by a few.

1
Craig C.
22h ago
I asked a question about zimmer like 2 months ago...since then, I've seen some instagrams from the indians with him hitting and participating in spring. how's he coming along? Still out until at least May/June? Don't want to hurt that shoulder again but they have to work on that swing.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Craig C. The one thing he can't do yet is unrestricted throwing. He's been doing most other things, but it's still a process. And even when he's healthy, he's probably ticketed for AAA to get his swing in form.

2
John C.
23h ago
Has Naquin been overlooked by fans?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@John C. Perhaps. He could hit right-handed pitching and play decent defense and I wouldn't be surprised. But his rookie season seemed over-the-top and we've never seen him demonstrate any sort of consistency, so it's hard to know what to expect from him.

1
John C.
22h ago
Haven't injuries been primary culprit for inconsistentcy?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@John C. Yeah, health is paramount, and he says he feels great

1
Brittany H.
22h ago
1) You mentioned in a previous chat that the FO’s original asking price for Yan Gomes was so high that other front offices were laughing at them. What were they originally looking for? Were they basing their original asking price on Gomes for, ironically, what the Brewers received for Lucroy?
2) I noticed there is a new advanced stat called Deserved Runs Created (DRC+). Is that going to replace WRC+? Will TJ and you use that stat in future articles?

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Brittany H. Initially for Gomes, I think they were seeking a young, ML-ready pitcher, knowing they were going to dangle Kluber/Bauer, plus another decent prospect.

I don't think wRC+ is going anywhere. That's still my preference.

1
Daniel M.
22h ago
Who is going to get more starts at 1B, Bauers or Santana? Will Luplow, Martin, and Naquin be the primary outfielders when Bauers is at first and Santana is the DH?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Daniel M. This might be the most fascinating (eh, that's a little strong) storyline to follow in camp. If they go with Bauers in LF and Santana at 1B, then why the hell did they not add another hitter who could be the DH? Bauers at DH wastes his athleticism. Santana at DH is not what Santana prefers. So, I'm not sure how it'll shake out. I think some combination of Luplow/Joyce/Martin/Allen/Naquin will be the Opening Day OF combination.

1
Scott T.
22h ago
Zack, when you show the bullpen you never mention Wittgren. What do you see from him that doesn't have him in the pen. I was impressed with him last year and was hoping we picked him up then.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Scott T. He's in that mix, too. There are just so many candidates, but I think they'll take a couple of non-roster veterans over guys who have options

1
Brandon B.
22h ago
If Yu Chang can fill in for Lindor in spring and hit, do you think he has a chance at some time with tribe at 3rd to start year and Jose to second?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Brandon B. Only if Lindor will be out for a little while. I think they're pretty set on Kipnis at 2B and Chang in AAA, otherwise.

1

Zack Meisel
21h ago
Thanks for chatting, everyone. Enjoy your weekend. Indians-Reds tomorrow afternoon.

1
James S.
22h ago
Are you the least bit worried about Jose bouncing back? Pre All-star break he was on pace to put up one of the greatest offensive seasons by a 3rd baseman of all time. However, he fell off a cliff the last two plus months. If he isn't the player he was during the first half of 2018 the Indians offense could be in serious trouble.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@James S. It could be in serious trouble either way. He and the Indians have had four months to figure out what the hell happened, so I'd assume he puts up a more even-keeled season. I mean, his final numbers were still off the charts. If I said he'll be an MVP finalist again, I think everyone would take it.

1
Joshua T.
22h ago
What was the thinking behind letting Chisenhall and Melky go and bringing in Joyce. I know Chiz has injury issues but Melky was solid and seems to be a better option over Joyce.


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Joshua T. With Chisenhall, they didn't want to risk devoting salary to a guy who can't stay on the field. Melky certainly helped them at the plate, but he's a nightmare in the outfield. Joyce was hurt last year, but productive the two previous seasons. I think they felt he was the better bet, but who knows how these 30-somethings will actually produce.

1
Nicholas S.
22h ago
Any chance Mercado or Chang get real chances to win a job outright this spring?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Nicholas S. Not Mercado. Too many guys ahead of him. Chang, maybe, but I don't think Lindor will be out long enough. But I do think Chang forces his way into the picture at some point.

1
John S.
22h ago
By how much do you expect ticket sales to drop off from the previous 2-3 seasons?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@John S. A little dip, but I think having the All-Star Game helps stave off any sort of sharp decline

1
Eric F.
22h ago
Is there any update on the Club seat renovations?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Eric F. I'll inquire

1
Quincy W.
22h ago
Any chance they actually play a game today?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Quincy W. No, but I'm pretty confident they'll get tomorrow's Cactus League opener in.

1

Zack Meisel
22h ago
Greetings from rainy, cold Arizona. Let's chat.

Alex R.
23h ago
The Indians need a lot of help in the outfield, and contingency plans in the infield.... it seems like marwin would be the perfect fit, but do you believe ownership when they say they won’t spend anymore money?


Zack Meisel
22h ago
@Alex R. Yeah, because otherwise the team would've addressed the outfield by now. They've been granted approval for adding a bit of salary via a midseason trade, but everything I've heard points to an extremely limited allowance otherwise.

Can Hanley Ramírez help the Indians? We examine recent history for hard-hitting clues
By T.J. Zuppe 2h ago 5
How​ much life​ remains in​ the bat of Hanley​ Ramírez? There isn’t much​ anyone can say​ with​ certainty, nor​ can anyone​​ guarantee Ramírez will even make the Indians’ Opening Day roster. He has yet to pass his physical, so, other than The Athletic’s original report about reaching an agreement on a minor-league deal, nothing has been officially confirmed.

Is there something in the data that suggests he could help, even in a platoon role against lefties? Or, is this just the desperation of a team under a mandate to keep costs more within ownership’s comfort zone, a reality that has generated warranted frustration?

On the surface, it’s one giant shrug emoji.

Doubting Ramírez’s capability of making a tangible difference is not exactly the sort of fiery take worth plugging into the galaxy brain internet meme. You can expect that sort of career arc of almost any aging hitter, especially one released during the final season of a four-year, $88 million pact with the Red Sox. The 35-year-old has also had shoulder issues, undergone a procedure at the end of the 2017 campaign and followed up an encouraging April last season (138 wRC+) with a horrific May (26 wRC+), leading to his release.

So, yeah, taking a more cynical stance is probably the easiest course. The advantage of being a skeptic is, over time, you typically end up being correct. Rarely is a player not worth a closer look on a non-roster tryout.

Maybe there’s something positive that can be gleaned from his respectable .266/.360/.469 slash line in 75 offseason plate appearances in the Dominican Winter League. Maybe the hitter who posted a .286/.361/.505 slash line and slugged 30 bombs in 2016 isn’t completely gone. Perhaps they’ll even be able to answer some questions before needing to craft their Opening Day roster.

Regardless, there are some encouraging signs, at least when comparing last year’s 195 plate appearance with his recent career.

Most notably, Ramírez proved capable of still hitting the ball hard. His 46.5 percent hard-hit rate was his highest rate of the past four seasons. Statcast defines hard-hit as balls that register an exit velocity of at least 95 mph
His average exit velocity was also his highest tracked in the Statcast era, ranking 27th in baseball among hitters with at least 100 results. Ramírez’s 91.6 mph average exit velocity was equal to Manny Machado and finished ahead of Mike Trout (91.2 mph). Of course, before you say it, yes, Ramírez also posted his in a much smaller sample size. But in fairness, exit velocity is a metric that typically requires a little less time to stabilize. If you can do it more than a few times, there’s probably something to it.

Now, hitting the ball hard isn’t the only important factor when evaluating hitting, but as you can expect, it’s a good place to start. Last year, players registered a .525 batting average and 1.050 slugging percentage when hitting the ball at 95 mph or harder. Accomplish that, and you’ve already raised your floor.

Adding to the encouragement, Ramírez, unlike other aging sluggers, didn’t need to sell out to create that hard contact. His whiff rate actually dropped over 5 percent from 2017, and his strikeout rate decreased by over 3 percent. He also didn’t chase outside the zone as frequently as we’ve recently seen. Given that hitters posted a .485 slugging percentage on pitches inside the zone compared with a .213 rate on balls outside the zone, swinging at strikes is important.
So, now you’re wondering why that didn’t translate into a better wRC+ than 89 or OPS just above .700. Our first clue comes when examining the outcomes of his hard contact.

Overall, Ramírez hit a grounder 50.7 percent of the time, his highest rate since 2011. That’s probably not a good trend to pair with a declining average sprint speed. But it’s not enough to simply point to the fewer chances to drive the ball in the air. The types of grounders Ramírez hit suggest some of his solid contact might have been wasted.

The league ground ball rate on hard-hit balls was just below 40 percent. Meanwhile, nearly 63 percent of Ramírez’s hard-hit balls were grounders. The breakdown of those outcomes, as you can guess, show that he had much better success when he kept the ball off the ground.

Average Slugging
Hard-hit GBs 0.333 0.357
Hard-hit FBs/LDs 0.520 1.440
Adding to the puzzle, one glance at his heat map from last year demonstrates where most of his hard contact was clustered.
For more context, compare that with Francisco Lindor’s heat map on hard-hit balls.
What does that mean? Well, not only do grounders — even when hit hard — open the door for someone to scoop them up, they also don’t do much to generate extra-base pop. Simply, it’s a lot harder to hit a double, triple or homer when you hit the ball in the hole between third and short or just past the pitcher (though it would be fun to watch him try).

So, it’s not just about Ramírez hitting the ball on the ground. It’s the timing of those grounders that seemed to somewhat neutralize his respectable rate of hard-hit balls. It also helps explain why, despite healthy exit velocity, his expected weighted on-base average (the Statcast metric that accounts for quality and frequency of contact) was just 3.5 percent better than league average.

There are two ways to look at this.

The first — the cynical point of view — is to conclude that he’s just not capable of slugging like he once was. And given his past shoulder issues, you might be correct.

The more optimistic outlook, however, still focuses on the hard contact he generated last year. A significant drop in hard-hit rate would be a bit more alarming. Given he was still capable of registering a max exit velocity of 117.5 mph last year — the highest rate of the past four years — it’s fair to theorize that there’s still some life left somewhere in his bat.

While it’s a considerable stretch to believe he’s still a significant difference-maker, perhaps he’s an adjustment or two away from some above-average offensive production.

If nothing else, Ramírez still remains deadly to left-handed pitching (he owns a 130 wRC+ and .898 OPS against lefties over the past three years). The Indians could certainly use some right-handed thump to counter their abundance of left-handed bats. Whether that warrants carrying a platoon DH when they already have Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers on the roster remains to be seen.

However, as we dig for answers, the data we have, unfortunately, is still a reflection of the past. It includes a stretch where he wasn’t at peak health and doesn’t provide an extremely trustworthy sample size.

Even if there are some encouraging signs below the surface, we’re still far more concerned with the type of hitter he can be moving forward. To know with any certainty whether his addition is anything more than another deep dive into baseball’s bargain bin, the Indians will need to examine him closely this spring.

Luckily, that’s exactly the type of opportunity a no-risk minor-league deal creates.

(Photo of Hanley Ramírez: Adam Hunger / USA Today Sports)

Indians hope bullpen ‘reconfiguration’ leads to success

Updated Feb 24, 2019 at 8:19 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Dan Otero is a man of words. Not just because the steady reliever fills out crossword puzzles, but because he chooses words carefully, as in politely noting the operative word for the Indians’ bullpen status is “reconfiguration” as opposed to “rebuild.”

Following an injury-plagued, subpar 2018 performance and the loss of career saves leader Cody Allen and left-handed virtuoso Andrew Miller to free agency, the three-time defending AL Central champions are intent on improving the back end of their bullpen.

Indians relievers had a 4.60 ERA last season, a substantial drop from a successful run — 2.89 in 2017, 3.45 in 2016, and 3.12 in 2015 and 2014.

Otero is confident the corps can return to past form.

“We have all the pieces here to be a successful bullpen,” he said Thursday in the clubhouse on a rare rainy day at camp. “And most, if not everyone, was here last year at some point and in some capacity. And everyone has had prominent success in the big leagues, maybe not sustained as much as we like, but everybody has had prominent success.”


That number includes former two-time All-Star Tyler Clippard, who agreed Wednesday to sign a minor-league deal, pending a physical. Clippard’s expected arrival boosts the nonroster pitcher number to 12, nine of whom have MLB relief experience.

“Anytime you get a chance to get a major-league pitcher ... it’s kind of hard to not want to bring him in,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We’re really excited to bring him in and get a look at him and see where it could go. He’ll go right into that mix of that group competing for bullpen spots.”

With 15 more relievers on the 40-man camp roster, evaluating the best bullpen candidates before the March 28 season opener at the Minnesota Twins will be incredibly challenging for Francona, beginning his seventh season with the Indians.

“You can make some really bad mistakes with looking at ERAs, things like that,” he said. “For guys that have track records, it is a little easier because you can go back and say, `Is this the same guy? Is his velocity down?′ ”

Francona used Otero as an example. In spring training 2016, his ERA was over 6.0, but “every groundball found its way through the infield,” Francona said. “But we thought he pitched very well.”

Otero wound up with 1.53 ERA, the best in the bullpen.

The skipper also pointed out that in spring training games, the late-inning batters — facing Francona’s bullpen candidates — are often long shots to make rosters.

“They’re facing No. 99; we don’t know who they are,” Francona said. “That might be the biggest at-bat of their life. They’re going to call home after that at-bat and tell mom and dad that they faced Tyler Clippard. It’s hard. You try to see who can pitch to a scouting report.”

As for combining the eye test with spin rates from data collecting technology, Francona said, “it’s just another way of getting to the answer; you try not to guess. There is really good technology out there that we use and believe in.”

The human element is always part of the equation, as players who are more comfortable tend to perform better. That might be the case for Adam Cimber and closer Brad Hand, who were acquired last July from the San Diego Padres.

“It’s human nature, you’re not introducing yourself to people, you are reacquainting yourself,” Francona said.

As Hand revealed, he made a quick adjustment, in part, because he’s changed teams previously, from the Miami Marlins to the Padres in 2016. In contrast, Cimber had only known the Padres.

“When you leave your first team, that’s as close to family as you are ever going to get in a professional setting,” Francona said. “So, the first time it can be a little challenging, especially in the middle of the year.”

While Allen and Miller left massive holes, Francona does have some reliable arms coming back he knows he can count on.

Veteran left-hander Oliver Perez was solid during most of his 51 appearances last season after he signed in June following his release while in the minors with the New York Yankees. Nick Goody and Tyler Olson, two dominant relievers from 2017, might factor in with bounce-back years, and Jon Edwards showed promise in brief appearances late last season.

Edwards said he is focusing on spin efficiency, among other aspects, in spring training. Certainly, Indians relievers seek a return to past dominance.

“There’s an eagerness among guys, including myself, to pick that up and show we can help the team win and be a stabilizer at the back part of the game,” Edwards said.

Ben Taylor moves himself to the back of the line after a 7 run outing yesterday.

There’s no doubt in Hanley Ramírez’s mind: There’s still some buzz in his bat

By Zack Meisel 1h ago 3

GOODYEAR,​ Ariz. —​ When Terry​ Francona returned from a split-squad game​ one evening in​ 2005, his trusty​ sidekick,​ Red Sox​ bench coach​​ Brad Mills, was waiting for him.

“Hey, man,” Mills said. “You have to see this Ramírez kid. He’s a man.”

Mills was referring to Hanley Ramírez, then a 21-year-old prospect ticketed for Class AA. He logged two September plate appearances with Boston later that year before the Red Sox dealt him to the Marlins for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell.

That was 14 years ago, though. Then, Ramírez was a speedy shortstop who could steal bases and rack up doubles and triples. Now, he’s a designated hitter who only stands a chance at breaking camp with the Indians if he can prove there’s still some buzz in his bat.

“The hope is (he’s) a middle-of-the-order-type bat,” Francona said.

“And I will be,” Ramírez said.

No, Ramírez isn’t short on confidence. In fact, when asked Thursday morning when he might be ready to join the Indians’ spring lineup, he replied: “Tomorrow. I’m gonna tell (Francona) right now. I’m ready to go.”

Francona pumped the brakes on that plan. The manager said Ramírez might need “four or five days,” since he hasn’t yet run the bases and could benefit from some additional rounds of batting practice.

Ramírez arrived at the Indians’ clubhouse Tuesday morning, a Red Sox duffel bag resting at the foot of his locker. Wearing a navy Tribe hoodie, he shook hands with teammates before heading to the batting cages. Ty Van Burkleo monitored that session, as well as Ramírez’s on-field batting practice Wednesday morning.

“He’s looked really good,” Van Burkleo said. “You’d like to think that he has a chance to really help us. We’ll see. You look at the swing and the path and the direction and it’s in a good place right now. There’s still bat speed. There’s no reason to think that he can’t be a guy who can help us.”

That swing will dictate everything, especially since Francona indicated that Ramírez probably doesn’t need to tote a glove to Goodyear Ballpark.

His shortstop days ended long ago, and with good measure, considering he totaled minus-73 defensive runs saved across parts of 10 seasons at the position, with a career-worst mark of minus-28 in 2007.

His experiment in left field crashed and burned in 2015, with minus-19 defensive runs saved in 92 games.

There isn’t much of a point to him playing first base since the team has a couple of capable fielders onboard in Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers.

If the Indians reserve Ramírez a seat on the team’s charter to Minneapolis in four weeks, it’ll create a roster ripple effect. Bauers or Santana would wind up in left field. That would mean one fewer spot for the cast of outfield candidates, which includes — assuming Leonys Martín and Tyler Naquin have secured real estate on the roster — Jordan Luplow, Greg Allen, Matt Joyce, Brandon Barnes, Trayce Thompson and Oscar Mercado.

Related: T.J. Zuppe examines whether Ramírez can still provide some pop

Ramírez’s 2018 campaign ended in late May, when the Red Sox severed ties with the three-time All-Star, despite owing him most of his $22.75 million salary.

“After that happened, there were teams calling me to come back,” Ramírez said. “I told my agent I just wanted to stay home and get my body healthy and come back next year. And he told me, ‘Next year, it’s going to be a little bit harder to get back. It might be a minor-league deal.’

“You know what I told him? I trust in myself. I know I can hit. It doesn’t matter.”

When Ramírez participated in his first big-league camp with the Red Sox, veteran players stressed to him to “enjoy your time, because time flies.” He shrugged off the advice, but a few days ago, it resurfaced in his mind.

“I was like, ‘Wow, they were right,’ ” Ramírez said. “Look at where I am right now, with 14 years in the big leagues.”

Whether that number swells to 15 depends on his performance over the next few weeks. The Indians won’t judge him on his spring slash line. They’re looking for bat speed and strength. And Ramírez contends they’ll like what they find.

“I’m a veteran guy and I know what I need to do to get ready for the season,” Ramírez said. “The difference is, I have to start earlier this year, to start raking as soon as I can.”

Cleveland Indians pushed hard to get Bryce Harper last year at trade deadline

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com | Posted March 02, 2019 at 07:00 AM | Updated March 02, 2019 at 10:51 AM


Bryce Harper. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press)


How Bryce Harper dovetails into Francisco Lindor

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Last year at the July 31 trading deadline the Indians were seriously pursuing a trade for Washington’s Bryce Harper. The same Bryce Harper who agreed Thursday to the biggest contract in MLB history with the Phillies.

The Indians needed help in the outfield. Bradley Zimmer was out for the year with a damaged right shoulder. Tyler Naquin’s right hip was hurting. Brandon Guyer’s left wrist was still sore from his postseason surgery in 2017.

Besides that, the Indians weren’t getting much production out of the outfielders who were playing every day. Michael Brantley was fine, but he wasn’t getting a whole lot of help.

Harper would have been a great addition. The Indians could have rented him for the last two months of the season and the postseason. Then they could have watched him file for free agency before agreeing to a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Phillies.

The Nationals wanted some of the Tribe’s prospects. The Tribe was willing to give them up, but in the end the Nationals hung on to Harper, the face of the franchise. Trading him would have been an ownership decision and the sense was the Lerner family really didn’t want to trade him. How much of a difference would he have made for the Tribe?

It would have been interesting to find out.

Harper struggled in the first half, hitting .214 (70-for-34) with 23 homers and 54 RBI. He came on strong after the All-Star break, hitting .300 (67-for-223) with 11 homers, 46 RBI and a .972 OPS.

He certainly would have had more of a chance to contribute than Josh Donaldson, acquired by the Tribe before the Aug. 31 deadline. Donaldson was still recovering from a strained left calf that basically ruined his season.

The deals that Harper, Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado have agreed to over the last two weeks will have a profound effect on the Tribe’s ability to keep Francisco Lindor. The All-Star shortstop becomes a free agent after the 2021 season.

The Indians would love to keep Lindor and have tried several times to talk extension with his agent, David Meter. The talks have gone nowhere.

It leaves the Indians in a fluid position. Three years can be a career in the big leagues. Think of the Tribe’s 2018 team. They let Brantley, Cody Allen, Andrew Miller, Lonnie Chisenhall and Josh Tomlin reach free agency without moving them because they felt they had a chance to win the World Series. They did the same thing with Bryan Shaw and Carlos Santana in 2017.

This winter they cut payroll, but are still favored to win their fourth straight AL Central Division title. This will be the seventh straight year they’ve put a team on the field that they believe is not only capable of winning, but winning in the postseason.

So what happens if they hit a bump in the road somewhere between 2019 and 2021? Would they trade Lindor or let him walk at the end of the 2021 season for draft pick compensation? And would a trade of Lindor start a full-scale rebuild?

Theoretical: Indians put a 10yr/$300M contract in front of Lindor. What does he do?

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:21pm
@Danny K. Wonders who forged the signatures on the document

20
Danny K.
Mar 1, 4:39pm
I wish I didn't laugh at this ://

3
John S.
Mar 1, 4:02pm
Have the Indians contacted the Phillies about Bryce Harper potentially waiving his no-trade clause and coming to Cleveland?

8

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:15pm
@John S. Yeah, he said sure

9
Kevin S.
Mar 1, 4:45pm
Is Paul Dolan going to make himself available to the media to take accountability for imposing austerity measures on the payroll? Or is the organization going to hide behind snarky social media accounts and certain scribes parroting their talking points about attendance figures forcing the Dolan family to eat Ramen and bologna.

4

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:47pm
@Kevin S. I've made the request. I'm optimistic it'll happen, but we'll see. I've written and said it needs to happen. There's no excuse.

12
Sean C.
Mar 1, 3:49pm
If Hanley breaks camp could we see him in the field or is he strictly here to audition for the DH role?

Lewie B.
Mar 1, 3:56pm
@Sean C. Tito said the other day he only says him as primarily a DH and has hope he can be middle of line up type bat.

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:04pm
@Sean C. Strictly a DH. I'd tell you to go look at his defensive metrics on FanGraphs, but it's NSFW.

10
Seth L.
Mar 1, 4:05pm
Why is this franchise trying to be half pregnant? If they're out of money and not a serious threat to win a world series, instead of just getting moderately worse, why not just do something unprecedented and trade players like Lindor, Ramirez, Bauer, and Kluber with years left on their deals for an entire farm system?

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:16pm
@Seth L. Because they'd be relocated to Portland or Charlotte or Montreal after the season-ticket holder base dropped to 150

9
Jake G.
Mar 1, 3:52pm
We gonna get any prospect coverage? Interested to hear your opinion on the farm, especially with all the young talent like Valera, Rocchio, Freeman, Torres, etc. that could be making big jumps in prospect stock this year.

1
Scott T.
Mar 1, 3:54pm
I agree on Torres, saw him pitch last year and was impressed.

Jesse W.
Mar 1, 3:58pm
Between Torres, Hankins, Jean Carlos Mejia, Carlos Vargas, and Luis Oviedo, I’ll be paying a whole lot of attention the low minors this year.

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:09pm
@Jake G. Yeah, minor-league camp is getting underway. I'll be heading over there a couple times over the next week.

7
Eric B.
Mar 1, 4:06pm
How many trips to In-and-Out do you expect to make this spring? Also, animal style is gross.


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:17pm
@Eric B. One, tops. Overrated. I've never understood the hype. It's fine, but I'm not going out of my way to seek it out.

6
Andrew C.
Mar 1, 3:39pm
How's the clubhouse vibe compare this year to last?

1
David A.
Mar 1, 3:48pm
Similar question: I saw Lindors interview with MLB Network when they were in Goodyear for 30 Clubs in 30 days and he did not seem happy about the front office moves this offseason. Is that negative vibe carrying through the clubhouse?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:01pm
@Andrew C. Seems fine, a little quieter. Think guys are still getting to know each other since there are so many new faces.

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:02pm
@David A. Lindor repeated the same thing to reporters as he did to MLBN, that he trusts the front office knows what he's doing. I didn't take a negative vibe from that and, no, I wouldn't say there's a negative vibe in the clubhouse at all.

4
Michael H.
Mar 1, 3:46pm
What do you think the starting OF will be?

How do Santana and Bauers split at 1B?

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:03pm
@Michael H. Depends on Hanley and on who's on the mound for the opposition. There will probably be 1-2 platoons. Martin in CF, Naquin/Luplow in RF, maybe Allen/Joyce in LF. But if Hanley makes the team, one of those guys doesn't and Bauers probably heads to LF.

4
Gregg R.
Mar 1, 4:22pm
All of the Vegas books have the Indians in the ball park of 91 wins. Early read, which do you take?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:26pm
@Gregg R. Hoo boy. I suppose the under, but they should feast on DET/KC/CHI and maybe they can fare a little better against everyone else than they did last year? The 2018 team just never clicked, never felt right. They were on cruise control all season. I think the Twins will challenge this year's team, and maybe that'll be a good thing for the Indians. I'd take the under, but there are a bunch of other O/Us I feel more confident in.

5
Gregg R.
Mar 1, 4:33pm
We can hope, will need to find a way to best the AL East (2-5 NYY and 2-4 TBR). Will check back at the end of the month and see if your thoughts have changed.

Reston A.
Mar 1, 4:38pm
Do you think Bauer would really have been able to fix Allen's curveball in 2 days?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:42pm
@Reston A. Ha. I wouldn't doubt it. He's helped out Clevinger, Bieber, Cimber, Goody, Neil Ramirez over the last year.

3

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:45pm
(That said, I have no idea if a conversation between Allen and Bauer even took place, or the tone in which Bauer said that quote.)

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:59pm
Always appreciate the questions, everyone. Have a great weekend. First night game of the spring slate for the Indians tonight at Goodyear Ballpark. If you're around the park or the complex, say hello!

3
Frank S.
Mar 1, 3:46pm
Thoughts on when Daniel Johnson could help the major league club? He had a banner game the other day and looks like another gem unearthed by the FO...

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:04pm
@Frank S. How about March 28? No, I don't think he'll be breaking camp with the team, but he's been super impressive, even hitting LHP, which has been tough for him. I could see him and Oscar Mercado vying for OF at-bats next season for sure.

2
Lewie B.
Mar 1, 3:47pm
Yo Zack! Here from Hawaii again. I’ve been keeping track of the games this week (even got to watch a few). Do you have a different view on the opening day roster now? I’ve been impressed with a few names I wasn’t familiar with. Any way a young guy gets on the opening day roster spot? If Hanley makes the roster who (that we expected) gets cut out of playing time?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:06pm
@Lewie B. I think they'll lean toward the veterans (Hanley, maybe Matt Joyce), just to get any last drop of production out of them before they turn to an unproven guy. Hanley's addition would mean one less outfielder in the mix, so that would put pressure on Luplow, Allen, Joyce.

1
Lewie B.
Mar 1, 4:14pm
@Zack Meisel Thanks for the info. Allen's AB's especially when he has been at the top of the order this week have been very good AB's! Saw a lot of pitches and kept a good zone. I (as well as probably the whole fan base) really hope that this Hanley thing can be a Napoli 2.0 type deal. Seems like that's what the Indians were hoping for too. Also, as much as I rather see youth play in the OF and developed if Joyce can find what he had 2 years ago I'd love to see him start in LF.


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:23pm
@Lewie B. Yeah, Joyce is a wild card. He had a really productive 2016-17, but hurt his back last year and his numbers suffered. Allen is promising, too. Interested to see how they wind up splitting up the outfield playing time.

1
Lewie B.
Mar 1, 4:27pm
@Zack Meisel Oliver Perez came to the squad super late last year. With Wilson (Who I think makes the team) and maybe Clippard it seems to me maybe the bullpen will already be set this year. Hand, Perez, Olson, Wilson, Clippard, Goody then maybe Allen or Salazar. Seems like it is set. When should we start to expect the Tribe to start to cut down the roster? There was like 60 guys in the dugout the other day when I was watching. A bit excessive. Also, who is starting at SS opening day if Lindor isn't ready?

Lewie B.
Mar 1, 4:28pm
I forgot to type in Climber there too.


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:31pm
@Lewie B. Cuts usually begin a couple weeks into March. You'll see some younger guys reassigned to minor-league camp first. There are a lot more decisions to make this spring than there have been the last few years.

1
Adam F.
Mar 1, 4:10pm
Know it's early, but which bullpen arms have shown promise in the first couple of games of Spring training? Additionally, do you see Greg Allen potentially becoming the leadoff guy for the season based off his hot start?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:20pm
@Adam F. The relievers have thrown 1-2 innings, so it's impossible to say. I can give you that Tyler Olson struck out the side in a perfect inning the other day. If he can be anything close to what he was in 2017, that'll be huge.

Allen won't be the leadoff guy. Francona even came out and said he doesn't see it happening. He has the tools for it to be a possibility in the future, though. He needs to return to his days of having a high walk rate and stealing a ton of bases. That's a good combo, and being a switch-hitter helps, too.

3
Jesse W.
Mar 1, 3:56pm
Have you noticed any players stepping up their leadership in the wake of losing Brantley and Gomes?

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:12pm
@Jesse W. I think Lindor and Bauer will assume the throne

2
Dennis M.
Mar 1, 3:59pm
Cody Anderson and/or Nick Goody alive?

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:14pm
@Dennis M. Yeah, they each threw a side session within the last two days. I'd guess they'll get into games soon.

1
Bryan F.
Mar 1, 3:54pm
Who are a couple guys that have impressed so far that have a realistic shot at the opening day roster that were afterthoughts going into spring training


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:12pm
@Bryan F. Still too early. A guy like Daniel Johnson has been super impressive, but he'd need a couple guys to get hurt to have a realistic shot, I think. Pitchers have only thrown once or twice, so too early for that.

2
Keith B.
Mar 1, 3:53pm
Any set roles in the bullpen established yet? Closer? Set up?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:10pm
@Keith B. Hand is the closer/highest-leverage guy. Everything else is up in the air, and Francona even admitted yesterday that it's going to take some time early in the season for guys to fit into roles. There will be a trial-and-error period.

1
David A.
Mar 1, 3:51pm
Kipnis got 2 at bats Saturday and hasn't played since. Anything to be concerned about or veteran being allowed to ease into camp?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:08pm
@David A. It's on my list to ask about today. Noticed he wasn't taking part in fielding drills on Wednesday, though they've given him days off in the spring in the past because of his history of shoulder trouble. But since he hasn't played since, I'll ask about it today. I know he's still been in the weight room and whatnot all week.

1
Brian K.
Mar 1, 4:10pm
Do you see any chance at all that the Indians break out the checkbook and actually pay Lindor long term?

Are there any surprises roster wise we could see before opening day?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:18pm
@Brian K. The only way they'd do it is if they raised their payroll in general. They aren't going to spend 25-30% of their payroll on one player. So, I don't see it happening.

There could be plenty of surprises, just because there are so many candidates for the outfield and bullpen. It'll make it hard to have a good feel for who the favorites are.

1
Brian T.
Mar 1, 4:14pm
Any chance of any of the remaining bullpen FAs to be brought into camp on a minor league deal? A Tony Sipp reunion could be a fit for both sides. His numbers were strong last year, albeit in limited use. Ryan Madson as well. Thoughts?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:22pm
@Brian T. I think they're good with lefties, with Hand, Perez and Olson, so probably a no to Sipp. Madson is old. Honestly, I think they're content with the depth they have. Not sure adding another fringe veteran will make a difference. I'm weirdly at peace with the bullpen.

1
Gary M.
Mar 1, 4:27pm
Arizona must be nice. But do you miss Pearl and the White Chicken Chili from Miles Market?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:29pm
@Gary M. So much. There are so few non-chain restaurants in Goodyear. I'll take the weather, though.

1
Justin L.
Mar 1, 4:31pm
Saw you mention Hafner was is camp recently. Is Sizemore still helping out in any capacity?

Justin L.
Mar 1, 4:31pm
Or is he waiting for a minor league deal to compete for an OF spot here too?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:36pm
@Justin L. No sign of Sizemore. Believe he was last here in 2017.

1
Lewie B.
Mar 1, 4:37pm
Thoughts on Clement and Moroff? Big League guys in the next few years?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:41pm
@Lewie B. Clement has been impressive. (Mark Mathias, too, while we're at it.) Francona said the other day that Clement has played "like he has a jet up his ass." Moroff is probably the leading candidate for the utility role right now. I'm guessing Clement will start the season in Akron, could move up to Columbus during the season. Great contact hitter and can run a bit.

1
Josh B.
Mar 1, 3:57pm
Do any of the guys here on minor league deals have a good shot at making the opening day roster?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:13pm
@Josh B. Sure. Tyler Clippard, Alex Wilson, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Joyce could all make it. I'm guessing they'll take at least 2-3.

1
Scott T.
Mar 1, 3:53pm
Have you heard anything on Aiken? Is there a chance Haase beats out Plawecki?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:10pm
@Scott T. On Aiken, just that the hope is for him to have a normal, productive year. He's on my list for when I head to minor-league camp in the coming days. I don't think there's a realistic chance Haase beats out Plawecki, no.

1

Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:00pm
Greetings. Let's chat.

Josh B.
Mar 1, 4:36pm
Any new restaurant finds in the Phoenix area worth checking out?


Zack Meisel
Mar 1, 4:44pm
I need to do some more exploring. I've single-handedly kept PF Changs and Chipotle in business in Goodyear. It's time to venture out of this town. I do know a person in the industry who keeps a spreadsheet of the best restaurants in the area, and he's trying to visit as many as possible this spring. I'll have to consult with him and get back to you.

Longtime Indians OF Michael Brantley adjusting to Astros

Mar 2, 2019 , By KRISTIE RIEKEN

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) After spending his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, Michael Brantley likened joining the Houston Astros to going to a new high school.

Those first day butterflies quickly dissipated, and the outfielder is fitting in famously with his new teammates. He has already moved into a leadership role on this veteran team.

"One of the best things about this locker room is when I came in, everybody was willing to help and make me feel comfortable and talk," he said. "You come in every morning, you look around and everybody's smiling and playing cards, and it's just a great atmosphere all-around that they created."

The free agent outfielder signed a $32 million, two-year contract with Houston in December after spending his first 10 seasons with the Indians.

Manager AJ Hinch has admired Brantley and is just as impressed after seeing him up close for the past couple of weeks.

"He fits in perfectly," Hinch said. "He could walk in all 30 clubhouses and immediately garner the respect that he deserves. He's very professional. He's very consistent."

Houston wasn't lacking in veteran leadership with a team which includes Jose Altuve, George Springer, Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel. Brantley has still managed to make a mark.

"He's quickly become a very important person in our clubhouse," Hinch said. "He's someone I know our position players will look up to or will look to when it comes to maintaining the balance that it takes to be a position player for us."

The career .295 hitter gives the Astros an upgrade to an outfield anchored by Springer and adds a left-handed bat to a predominantly right-handed lineup. He's enjoyed camp so far and used it as a chance to bond with his new teammates on and off the field.

"The whole goal of spring training is developing a relationship with your teammates and getting comfortable with reads and breaks and just getting back into baseball shape," he said. "But also learning what the guy wants next to you and learning how you can help and what you can do to make your teammates better."

The three-time All-Star hit .309 with 17 homers, 36 doubles and 76 RBIs in 143 games last season, making 134 starts in left field. His best season came in 2014, when he finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting 20 homers with 97 RBIs - both career highs.

He's excited about the possibility of helping the Astros win another World Series after they took their first title in 2017. And with the group of guys he's joining, he will be careful to simply be himself instead of trying to do too much to wow his new teammates.

"You know how good everybody is in this locker room so I'm just going to come in and try to do exactly what I'm doing, and if that helps the team win games that's all I care about," he said.

---

Found this interesting. Basically it is a comparison of the amount of swinging strikes induced from 1st half to 2nd half of last year.

Extra interesting of course that the Tribe had 3 of the top 12 guys with increased swinging strikes from 1st to 2nd half. Especially Cookie - #2 in increase but also #2 overall in the 2nd half with over 17%

Meisel listed his bullpen Hand, Perez, Olson, Wilson, Clippard, Goody then maybe Allen or Salazar [then added Cimber]. Allen was a typo, but who did he mean?

Ya got me, but for the record it appears Lewie B typed that, not Zack.

Probably Cody Anderson. The Cody got him messed up with Allen.

That would make sense.

Makes sense and is a real possibility some time this summer if not when they break camp. Happy to not see Ramirez on the list.