Cleveland Sports Forum

Since Damon has been mostly a DH in recent times I hope we don't need to rely on him for RF. Checking his career history, he has played a grand total of 71 innings in RF from 1999-2011, and only 3 of those innings in the most recent decade.

The Damon deals sounds like a Shapiro favor to another Boras client that couldn't find a job. Hope Boras repays the favor.

Favors are done all the time in MLB.

Look at Thome in Philly.

I just looked. Ugh. 2-18 with 10 strikeouts and 3 walks. He still walks a lot.

Walks are not always what they seem. Sometimes you get a walk because you fail to put the strikes you get in play.

Baseball buzz builds as Indians enter May atop Central Division: Terry Pluto
Published: Tuesday, May 01, 2012, 7:35 AM Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012, 7:41 AM
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

April has ended with the Indians in first place.

That’s a critical fact to those who love baseball in this town.

Never forget that Cleveland in the spring is where most fans simply want to hear, “The Browns are on the clock!”

It doesn’t matter how low the Browns sink. You can put an empty orange helmet on the 50-yard line at Cleveland Browns Stadium and 50,000 people would pay 20 bucks to stare at it.

It’s as if no one cares how many times the Browns are 4-12 or 5-11, as has been the case in six of the past eight years.

Not so with the Tribe.

They are a team that is judged guilty until proved otherwise by many fans. That’s especially true because the Tribe hasn’t had back-to-back winning records since 2000-01 — and the sense that the Dolan ownership won’t spend enough to win.

Unlike the NFL, baseball doesn’t have an amateur draft that brings immediate help and excitement to the major-league team. The lack of a salary cap means teams such as the Tribe are at a competitive disadvantage.

The winter and off-season sizzle belongs to the big spenders in free agency.

Not the lads in Wahoo red, white and blue.

But in April, everyone is 0-0. In April, the game is played on the field, not on a payroll chart.

In April, the Tribe can begin to build a following or watch the summer develop into a season when the team motto is “Good seats always available.”

“I think the 40-game mark is the best time to judge a team,” said Tribe President Mark Shapiro. “But April sets a tone, you want a positive aura around the team with the fans.”

So 11-9 in April means a lot to the Tribe, especially in a division where highly rated (and paid) Detroit stumbled to an 11-11 start.

And 11-9 is surprising after the Indians opened 1-4 on their first homestand — and with half the lineup so stuck in a slump, it looked as if some of them couldn’t hit .200 in a T-ball league.

“No one makes the playoffs in April,” said Tribe General Manager Chris Antonetti. “But would I rather have a good April? Of course. It can help build confidence within the team. No one wants to be 5-20 in April.”

Or 7-20, as the Indians were when they finished 68-94 in 2003.

Or 8-14, which led to a 65-97 record in 2009.

Or 9-13, which led to a 69-93 record in 2010.

Or even having a losing record in April, which the Tribe did five times between 2003 and 2009. Only twice (2005 and 2007), did they finish with a winning season.

Fast starts matter

With about 8,200 season tickets sold, fast starts are important in terms of building interest and attendance.

The Indians were 18-8 in April last season and peaked at 30-15. While some media members and fans dwell on them finishing 50-67 for a final record of 80-82, the strong start is fun to watch. They also entered September only 5½ games out of first place.

They traded for veterans Jim Thome, Kosuke Fukudome and Ubaldo Jimenez, rather than trading away stars in July before they become free agents.

Remember the deals for CC Sabathia in 2008, along with Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez in 2009, and the fan-base trauma that followed.

In 2011, they added payroll — not a lot, but it was much better than trimming the budget.

And the attendance rose from 1,391,644 in 2010 to 1,840,835.

In the end, the fast start of 2011 was a tease — but it was enjoyable, rather than frustrating. It had fans talking Tribe all summer.

“There was a good feeling around the team last year,” Shapiro said.

In addition to attendance being up 459,191 from 2010, television ratings nearly doubled and merchandise sales were up.

If you’re going to finish 80-82, do it with a 30-15 start that attracts attention.

In 2008, the Indians were 41-53 after the All-Star break and finished 81-81. Hardly anyone noticed because the team started 13-15 in April. That was also the summer of the Sabathia trade, as dreams of returning to the playoffs evaporated.

The Indians are averaging only 14,486 fans at Progressive Field, the lowest in the majors this season.

“The truth is, with the NFL draft, it seems hardly anyone knows we are playing,” Shapiro said. “We also had some bad weather last week that killed the walk-up crowds. We started to really draw last year when school let out [at the end of May], and that can happen again if we are playing well.”

April means what?

In the past 12 years, the Tribe has had two dominate Aprils — 2011 and 2007.

The 2007 team was 14-8 in April, finished 96-66 and came within a game of reaching the World Series.

Since 2000, the Tribe has never had a strong April followed by a massive collapse.

Manager Manny Acta likes to talk about wanting a good start in April — fearing it may not happen. But in his three seasons, he’s played his regulars during the last week of spring training — trying to put them in a regular season mind-set.

His three April records with the Tribe are 9-13, 18-8 and 11-9.

By comparison, Eric Wedge had only two winning Aprils in his seven years with the Tribe.

Antonetti said the Tribe’s recent 7-2 trip “was key because we started to [play] good fundamental baseball and the bullpen pitched well after a bad first week [1-4] at home.”

Antonetti said the Tribe’s defensive efficiency ratings have them ranked fourth in the American League. They were eighth last season.

“Part of the reason Derek Lowe (4-1, 2.27 ERA) is pitching so well is he gives up a lot of ground balls and we are turning them into outs,” Antonetti said. “Derek has been outstanding and brought a lot [of experience] to us.”

In 2011, the Indians were 18-8 in April, leading the league in runs scored while batting .272.
This season, the Tribe is hitting .244 and is eighth in runs scored.

They haven’t homered in the past 11 games and have scored only 17 runs in the past seven.
It was obvious the offense overachieved in 2011. Not so this year.

“I think we can play better overall,” Antonetti said. “We played six of those games without Asdrubal [Cabrera, who was out on funeral leave]. We’ve not played at our best, and we’re 11-9 in April. So I’m encouraged.”

Indians' Smith refuses to get sidetracked by adversity

Published: Monday, April 30, 2012, 9:31 PM Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012, 10:17 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The road to the future is rarely smooth. There are ruts and potholes. A detour here, a run in with a psycho-vampire motorcycle gang there.

All right, maybe there are no such things as hog-riding vampires, but every now and then, you're going to have a blowout.

It's all part of the journey, the test to get from Point A to Point B. Ballplayers such as Joe Smith understand this.

In June 2010, the Indians called up Smith from Class AAA Columbus after he had spent a shaky April in Cleveland. Three games into his return to the big leagues, Smith gave up four runs on five hits in two innings. It happened in Cincinnati, Smith's hometown, with friends and family watching.

Smith didn't like pitching poorly at home, but there was something else bothering him. He didn't feel comfortable on the mound.

In 2007, Smith made his big-league debut with the Mets. He pitched in 54 games. The next year, he made 82 appearances. Along the way, then-Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson changed his delivery. What had always been a fairly simple motion to the plate grew more complicated, but Smith adjusted and continued to pitch well.

The Indians acquired Smith and Luis Valbuena in December 2008 in a three-team deal with the Mets and Mariners. He made 34 appearances in 2009 and opened the 2010 season with the Tribe. The balloon burst when Smith was sent to Columbus on April 30 with a 7.71 ERA.

When he returned in June, it looked like more of the same. After the game against the Reds, he talked with bullpen coach Scott Radinsky, who is now the Indians' pitching coach.

"Rad asked me, 'How did you feel the most comfortable throwing the ball?' " Smith said. "I told him the most comfortable I felt is when I came out of college.' He said, 'OK, let's try it. We'll throw a bullpen tomorrow.' "

Inwardly, Smith groaned because he'd thrown a season-high 37 pitches against the Reds. But he threw a bullpen session the next day and another shorter version a couple of days later.

"I kept saying, 'I can't change in the middle of the season,' " Smith said. "Rad said, 'Let's just see if you can throw strikes.' "

Smith not only threw strikes, but his velocity jumped from 90 mph to between 91 and 94 mph. Thirty-seven of his last 41 appearances were scoreless.

"It allowed him to drop and drive and let the hill [mound] take him to the plate," Radinsky said. "It was a natural thing for him. It's where he felt comfortable. It's a good story."

The story doesn't end there. There was another chapter, disguised as a five-mile stretch of orange barrels, along Smith's highway.

In spring training last year, he strained an oblique muscle and opened the year on the disabled list. In Cleveland, the Bullpen Mafia was just gaining a rep. Lefty Tony Sipp and righty Vinnie Pestano took over as closer Chris Perez's late-inning setup men, a role Smith flirted with in 2010.

When Smith rejoined the team in mid-April, the middle innings were the only ones open to him. Not the best place to be, but it gave the side-arming, right-handed Smith a chance to do something he always believed he could do -- get left-handed hitters out.

"Manny [Acta] was throwing me in there just to get work, to get back up to speed," Smith said. "We could be up a lot, or down a lot. It wasn't like matchup situations. Fortunately, I was able to get left-handers out and gain some confidence as the year went on."

The change was startling. After hitting .342 (13-for-38) against Smith in 2010, lefties hit .152 (12-for-79) against him last year. By the end of the year, Smith and Sipp were sharing the seventh inning to pave the way for Pestano and Perez in the eighth and ninth.

Smith went 3-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 71 appearances. The opposition hit .217 against him. It was a career year that started with a trip to the disabled list.

"Sometimes in this game, you get one chance to show what you can do," Smith said.

This season, Smith has a 1.74 ERA in nine games. Lefties are hitting .214 (3-for-34) and righties .217 (5-for-23) against him. He has allowed one run in his past six games and already has four holds.

Finally: Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall was placed on the seven-day disabled list at Columbus with a strained calf. . . . Matt LaPorta, another Indian waiting at Columbus, was named the International League Hitter of the Week.

It's a matter of adjustments for Ubaldo Jimenez: Indians Insider

Published: Wednesday, May 02, 2012, 9:50 PM Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012, 2:00 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer


CHICAGO -- The Indians aren't trying to overhaul Ubaldo Jimenez's mechanics. They're much too complicated. What they want to do is make a slight change in hopes that it lets Jimenez avoid a repeat of Tuesday's performance at U.S. Cellular Field.

Jimenez says the adjustment has to do with his left shoulder.

"I've been trying to create more power and torque with my front [left] shoulder," he said.
Jimenez said pitching coach Scott Radinsky, in comparing video from his starts in 2010 to those in 2011 and this year, found that his left shoulder isn't in the same position it was in 2010 when he won 19 games for the Rockies.

"I've been trying to get myself to have a better delivery," said Jimenez. "I haven't been doing that. My front shoulder is probably too open ... I didn't know I was doing it until the pitching coach showed me video of 2010, 2011 and this year."

Jimenez gave up seven runs, four earned, in 4 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 7-2 loss. He walked six, struck out one and threw 105 pitches. He felt the adjustment worked for the first two innings. Outside of A.J. Pierzynski's homer in the second, he felt good.

Then came the Indians' ugliest inning of the season, a four-run third in which third baseman Jason Donald lost a fly ball in the smoke from the fireworks that celebrated Gordon Beckham's leadoff homer. Asdrubal Cabrera made an error at shortstop and dropped another pop up on the mound.

Jimenez did not help matters with consecutive walks to Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko to force home a run following Cabrera's error.

In Jimenez's 105 pitches, the White Sox swung and missed just three times. They did not swing and miss until his 92nd pitch. Jimenez hit 96 mph during the game, but in general his velocity was down. Manager Manny Acta said it was because of the adjustment.

"This is the first game he's tried it," said Acta. "In Colorado his [left arm] was up during his delivery. He's been pitching with it down [with the Indians]."

Acta says they've continually checked with Jimenez to see if he's healthy. Jimenez has told them since spring training that he's not injured.

Up in smoke: Donald blamed the people who ignited the fireworks after Beckham's homer for causing Alejandro De Aza's fly ball disappear in a puff of smoke.

The same cloud hovered over the infield after Pierzynski's homer in the first. Jimenez, however, stepped off the mound and waited for it to clear. He did not wait after Beckham's homer.

"I said to myself, 'If someone hits a ball in the air, no one is going to see it,'" said Donald. "I saw the ball go off the bat and I knew I was in the general vicinity, but as for knowing exactly where it was, I had no clue."

Added Donald, "It's unfortunate that something like happens in a big-league park. You have to have a feel for something like that. The first time you see it happen, you can't allow it to happen again.

"It's not going to magically disappear the second time. It's going to do the exact same thing it did the first time."

Surprise: Cabrera received a gift Wednesday when MLB overturned an error call in Sunday's 4-0 victory over the Angels and awarded him a two-run double. The play in question took place in the fifth inning when Gold Glove right fielder Torii Hunter lost Cabrera's fly ball in the sun.

The ball fell right next to Hunter as two Indians scored for a 2-0 lead. Indians players petitioned the team PR department to get the play reviewed by MLB, which ruled in Cabrera's favor.

The ruling flies in the face of what MLB told official scorers during the off-season. They said if a player lost a ball in the sun at the last moment, it should be ruled an error. Hunter never signaled for help and seemed to see the ball until the very end when he fanned on it.

In another scoring change from the series, Angels shortstop Erick Aybar was credited with an infield hit in the fourth inning of Saturday's 2-1 victory. Second baseman Jason Kipnis was originally charged with an error.

Finally: Shin-Soo Choo returned to the lineup after missing six games with a strained left hamstring. Choo hit sixth for the first time this year. He's spent 15 games in the No.3 spot. ... As for how Acta will use Johnny Damon and Shelley Duncan in left field, it sounds like Acta will go series by series until he sees how much Damon has left. Damon, who made his debut Wednesday, will start again Thursday.

Indians Chatter

Clubhouse confidential: First baseman Matt LaPorta is hitting .380 (30-for-79) with six doubles, eight homers and 17 RBI in 21 games at Class AAA Columbus. First baseman Casey Kotchman is hitting .149 (10-for-67) with one double, two homers and four RBI for the Tribe.

Does that mean a promotion is in LaPorta's immediate future?

“We're happy that Matt, Lonnie Chisenhall and some other guys are doing well down there,” said manager Manny Acta. “We're not contemplating any moves right now. It's only been one month. We have to give everyone up here a fair shot.”

Change it up: Acta told leadoff hitter Michael Brantley that Johnny Damon will be batting leadoff when he plays. When asked what he thought of the move, Brantley said, “That's a better question for Manny.”

Regarding Damon, Brantley said, “He's phenomenal. He's a class act. He's already teaching the young guys some things.” When asked if he would hit leadoff when Damon doesn't play, Brantley said, “I think that's a better question for Manny. My job is to come here and play baseball hard every day.”

Acta said that when he told Brantley of the move, Brantley said, “Whatever helps the team, Skip.” When asked if Brantley, hitting .238 with a .307 on-base percentage, would return to the leadoff spot when Damon isn't playing, Acta said, “Let's wait on that.”

Stat of the day: The Indians, who have played the fewest games in the AL, rank last in hits with 176.
— Paul Hoynes

Can the Cleveland Indians salvage Ubaldo Jimenez? Terry Pluto
Published: Thursday, May 03, 2012, 5:05 PM Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012, 5:06 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan O'Dowd made it known that Ubaldo Jimenez was available; it was as much a warning as an opportunity.

The Tribe knew that. Just as they know O'Dowd well. He is the team's former assistant general manager from 1988-98. He has been the Rockies' GM since 1999. Colorado is a franchise that always needs pitchers, so why would O'Dowd be willing to trade Jimenez in the summer of 2011?

This was the same Jimenez who started for the National League in the 2010 All-Star Game, who was 19-8 with as 2.88 ERA that season. In July of 2011, Jimenez was only 27. He had a contract running through 2014 at very reasonable dollars.

It would seem the last thing you do is trade a guy like that. But Jimenez was 6-9 with a 4.46 ERA on July 31, 2011, when he was traded to Cleveland. The Indians thought they could fix him. If not in the middle of 2011, certainly by opening day of 2012.

Jimenez had been bothered by a groin pull in 2011 spring training. His fastball velocity was down (from an average of 96.1 in 2010 to 93.5). He also was upset because several teammates had received long and lucrative extensions, but O'Dowd declined to do the same for his ace right-hander.

The Indians were aware of all this.

"We knew his velocity was down a tick," said Tribe GM Chris Antonetti. "We knew he had been injured, and he had some complex mechanics that needed to be worked through. But we thought if we could get him healthy, he could still be a front of the rotation guy for us."

At the least, the Tribe thought they'd have the Jimenez of 2008 (12-12, 3.99) or the Jimenez of 2009 (15-12, 3.47). That Jimenez averaged more than 200 innings a year and was not intimidated by pitching in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

They still believe they can help Jimenez regain the form that makes him an effective major-league starter.

But now they realize it's deeper than Jimenez pitching last year with a leg injury.

It's all those moving parts -- the arms and legs flying in different directions rather than flowing together. Jimenez is not trying to do it, but his deliveries are often like a blizzard of snowflakes -- none are exactly the same.

That is causing problems. Big problems.

Major disappointment

Losing it

Indians right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez has seen his fastball velocity and his swinging strikes decline over the last two seasons, according to numbers from fangraphs.com. The numbers show the average velocity on his fastball in mph, and the percentage of his pitches that result in a swinging strike:

2008: 94.9 / 8.9 percent
2009: 96.1 / 9.6
2010: 96.1 / 9.1
2011: 93.5 / 7.5
2012: 92.0 / 4.9

Since coming to the Indians, Jimenez is 6-6 with a 5.07 ERA. This season, he's 2-2 and 5.02, averaging more walks per nine innings (5.6) than strikeouts (4.5). His average fastball is now 92.0.

In Colorado, Jimenez averaged 8.2 strikeouts compared to 3.9 walks per nine innings. He still had frustrating moments, because his motion sometimes looked like a man falling down a flight of stairs as he piled up massive pitch counts (usually in the top 10 in the majors).

But Jimenez had a fastball that zinged, a sinker that dove and a change-up that deceived. Yes, he had too many pitches -- claimed to have six. There should be a rule than you can't have more than the catcher has fingers for signals.

And that violent, hiccup of a motion hinted of a future arm injury waiting to strike. But it's still hard to imagine the startling decline of a pitcher in his late 20s -- a pitcher who should be entering his prime.

It's also confusing. Antonetti said Jimenez worked hard in the off-season program assigned to him. He came into spring training in excellent condition.

The Indians didn't worry about him failing to average 96 mph. They believe with decent control, he would win a lot of games with a fastball in the 92-93 mph range, well above the big-league average of 90. But the control is erratic, his fastball is straight and hitters seldom swing and miss -- that rate is down from 7.5 in his mediocre 2011 season to 4.9 this year.

He's not fooling many hitters, period. They foul off a lot of pitches, raising his pitch count to close to 100 in the fifth inning of most starts.

Looking at Jimenez, this much is obvious: He's not only lost something off his fastball, he's lost a lot of confidence. And none of this is going to quickly change.

"Keep in mind, there was risk on both sides of the deal," said Tribe president Mark Shapiro. "It's often like that when you trade a lot of pitchers, but they do get hurt [more often than position players]."

The Indians sent prized pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White to the Rockies, along with pitcher Joe Gardner. White was coming off a major finger injury. The Indians don't say it, but the organization is skittish when it comes to pitchers with bad fingers -- phenom Adam Miller had his career crash because of an injury to the same finger that White injured in 2011.

White was hammered with the Rockies last season -- 2-4 with an 8.42 ERA and 12 homers in 36 innings. He is 1-3 this season with a 2.92 ERA at Class AAA. While he's in the starting rotation, his future may be in the bullpen -- something the Indians believed when they made him their top pick of the 2009 draft.
Gardner, 24, is 1-0 with a 4.84 ERA at Class AA Tulsa. He was 3-3 with a 2.84 ERA for that same team in 2011. While a starter, he also may end up in the bullpen.

The key to the deal for the Rockies is Pomeranz, who allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings against the Dodgers in his last start on Wednesday. He is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in four starts. He did miss a start earlier in the season with a sore forearm.

The Tribe's top pick in 2010, Pomeranz had some arm issues in college. Even now, his fastball is averaging 89 mph, below the 92-94 range in college. But the 23-year-old lefty has fanned 18 in 20 innings -- compared to 12 walks. If he stays healthy, he could be an impact starter.

I didn't like the Jimenez deal on the day it was made -- and wrote two negative stories about it. But I also never expected the bottom to fall out of Jimenez, not at the age of 28.

I wonder if Jimenez can put all the pieces back together. He had a 15-1 record with a 2.20 ERA at the 2010 All-Star break. Since then, he's 16-22 with a 4.70 ERA. It's almost a two-year trend.

Both Shapiro and Antonetti stressed that it's "far too early to evaluate the trade." Jimenez was brought in to help the Tribe in the 2011 playoff race, and he flopped. He's not showing any major signs of recovery as he tinkers with his windup during the season.

But in Colorado, no one was thrilled when both White and Pomeranz were arrested on separate DUI incidents. Odd things happened, such as Pomeranz having an appendectomy. White had a 6.12 ERA in spring training before being sent to the minors, where he is building a case for a promotion. There remains anxiety about his finger, even though has been healthy this season.

On the mound, plenty of risk

Trying to figure out pitchers can drive general managers into despair. The Yankees' Brian Cashman is catching heat after trading for prime pitching prospect Michael Pineda, who needs surgery.

"I'm devastated..." Cashman told the New York media. "I'm doing a job and that job involves making very difficult decisions. You hope that those decisions work out."

Then consider the case of 38-year-old Derek Lowe, who was 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA for the Braves in 2011. Who thought he'd open 2012 at 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA for the Tribe? Certainly not Atlanta, which picked up $10 million of Lowe's $15 million salary in a trade for a marginal Tribe prospect named Chris Jones.

The Braves simply wrote off Lowe, who is pitching close to what the Indians hoped they'd receive from Jimenez. The deal is now steal for the Tribe.

Talking about his trade of phenom catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle for Pineda, the Yankees' Cashman said: "I don't think judgment or anything of that nature was compromised. I think the process is strong.
The evaluations are accurate. But there's always inherent risk when you deal with pitching. ... It's not looking good at all, so you're experiencing the blowback from that. I see it and I'll wear it."

The Indians have to do the same with the Jimenez trade.

Not a bad story by one of the Tony Lastoria team about 1st base. He suggests Hannahan at first and Lonnie at 3rd. And what would we do with Kotchum? I'd be startled if Mr. Glove, No Hit has any options remaining. [BTW, to some extent the 2010 stats cited below for Kotchum were worse than this year's as both his OBA-AVG and his isolated power i.e. SLG-AVG were worse. Bottom line: he had one pretty good offensive season in 2011 and even that didn't measure up to what is expected from a 1st baseman.

The future of first base

Casey Kotchman (Photo: AP)By Steve Orbanek
May 4, 2012 ShareThis

Who’s on first? The 2012 MLB season is just 23 games old, and it seems as if Indians fans would love to answer that question with anyone other than Casey Kotchman.

It was not supposed to be this way. Kotchman, the Indians big free agent signing (take note of the sarcasm), was supposed to fill one of the Indians’ glaring holes from the 2011 season. On paper, it seemed to be a pretty nice fit. Kotchman would provide the Indians with plus-defense while also hitting at a pretty decent clip. He might not have been the best solution to the team’s first base predicament, but he certainly was not the worst either.

Or so we thought.

23 games into the season Kotchman currently ranks 21 out of 21 Major League qualified first basemen with his batting average of .162. Overall, the left-handed hitter has a line of .162/.253/.257. In other words, he is the worst hitting first baseman in all of the Major Leagues.

Take a look at that line again (I know it hurts but just force yourself).

There is a sharp difference between that line and the one that Kotchman recorded last year as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays (.306/.378/.422). There is even a noticeable difference between that line and the poor one that Kotchman recorded two years ago with the Los Angeles Angels (.218/.284/.287). Now that line was poor, but even it pales in comparison to Kotchman’s current performance at the plate.

Still, it is important to remember that the season is still young. There is plenty of time for Kotchman to recover his 2011 form. But what if Kotchman and his struggles persist? The Indians need to at least be thinking of a backup plan.

Regardless of whether Kotchman solves his problems this season, first base will still be a question mark for the Indians for the foreseeable future. Tribe fans might not consider first base to be as dire a situation as the team’s outfield, but it is a concern nonetheless. Thus, short term and long term answers need to be considered, especially if Kotchman is still hitting below .200 come June 1st.

What kind of internal answers do the Indians have? Take a look.

Matt LaPorta, Age 27, Bats: Right, Throws: Right

In the last week or so, there has been a strong, public outcry for the promotion of Matt LaPorta to the big league club. His numbers certainly suggest that he is a worthy candidate as the right-handed hitter has been raking at Class AAA Columbus with a line of .371/.447/.742 to go along with nine home runs and 20 RBIs. That gives LaPorta an OPS of 1.188!?!?!? I know, crazy stuff. Even Indians Prospect Insider editor Jim Pete has changed his tune and indicated that he believes LaPorta should eventually be called up in a recent “Around the Farm." However, if LaPorta has a Major League future, it likely lies in the outfield. His defensive work at first base last year for the Indians was poor at best as evidenced by his UZR/150 of -8.6. Clearly, LaPorta was not setting the world on fire with his glove, and that likely would not change. Plus, who knows if LaPorta has really figured out Major League pitching. Sure his numbers are quite gaudy, but he has always hit in the minors; he has a career line of .304/.395/.581. All things considered, if and when LaPorta makes it back to the Indians, he should probably stick to the outfield.

Shelley Duncan, Age 32, Bats: Right, Throws: Right

While Duncan still technically shares the Indians’ starting left field spot along with Johnny Damon, a move to first base might not be the worst thing for the Indians’ right-handed slugger. While Duncan is neither a defensive wizard in left field or at first base, his defense might be more passable at the not-so-hot corner. Plus, if Grady Sizemore returns in June as planned, this would ensure that Duncan maintains a roster spot. Duncan is far from a perfect Major League player, but what you see is what you get. He may be best suited for a platoon role, but as a starter, he is likely to give a team about a .235 average along with 20 home runs or so. Right now, those numbers look quite appeasing compared to Kotchman’s performance at the plate.

Jack Hannahan, Age 32, Bats: Left, Throws: Right

This is where my vote goes. We all know the defensive wizardry that Hannahan possesses. I have no doubts that his glove would translate well from third base to first base. Also, consider the slight chance that Hannahan might have finally figured out Major League pitching. So far, he has a line of .290/.375/.406 and has delivered many clutch hits for the Tribe. Plus, this would allow the Indians to recall Lonnie Chisenhall from Class AAA. While Matt LaPorta has received the most acclaim for his contributions at Columbus, Chisenhall has almost been equally as dominant. The left-handed hitter currently owns a .326/.351/.562 line. That is a bat I would like to have in Cleveland and moving Hannahan to first base would allow for this to happen.

Beau Mills, Age 25, Bats: Left, Throws: Right

The forgotten Beau Mills. I have to be honest, I have a soft spot for Beau Mills. First and foremost, the name just sounds like a Major League hitter. Say it once. “Beau Mills.” It just rolls off the tongue. Can you think of a better name for a Major League slugger? I sure cannot. Mills has become somewhat lost in the shuffle at Columbus because of the presence of LaPorta and Russ Canzler. The 13th overall pick of the 2007 Draft, the clock is now ticking on Mills. He currently has a .273/.319/.545 line at Columbus to go along with three home runs and eight RBIs. While he is not likely an immediate answer to the first base dilemma, the Indians would be wise to give him a look this season, perhaps after September call-ups. Mills is not nearly the prospect that he once was, but he still might be worthy of a chance.

Russ Canzler, Age 26, Bats: Right, Throws: Right

Dogged with the organizational player tag, Russ Canzler could still be a potential stopgap option for the Indians at first base. In the majority of his games played (22 games) this year at Columbus, he has gotten time at first base (14 games), and he has a .286/.330/.337 line. The batting average is nice, but the plate discipline has been poor as Canzler has struck out 29 times compared to just seven walks. That has to change before he can even be considered as a Major League option at first base.

Chun-Hsiu Chen, Age 23, Bats: Right, Throws: Right

If Chun-Hsiu Chen is to become the Indians first baseman, it will not be this season. Unlike the other players mentioned, Chen is still a ways away. The right-handed hitter is currently at Class AA Akron and has a .303/.374/.382 line. Chen converted from catcher to first base during the offseason and so far, the results have been encouraging. Chen might get a chance to eventually become the Indians first baseman of the future, but two things need to change. He must improve his plate discipline, which has been a problem for him since last season. Chen has 24 strikeouts compared to 10 walks this year, and he had 122 strikeouts compared to just 43 walks last season. Secondly, he must rediscover his power stroke that he had previously displayed. Chen hit 16 home runs in 2011, but he has been homerless thus far during the 2012 campaign.

Jesus Aguilar, Age 21, Bats: Right, Throws: Right

Perhaps the most popular name on the list, Aguilar will not turn 22 until June 30 of this year. Currently at High-A Carolina, Aguilar has been impressive with a .333/.400/.586 line to go along with five home runs and 14 RBIs. He still needs to improve on his plate discipline (21 strikeouts compared to 9 walks this year), but he has the power stroke to make it as a Major League first baseman. He is a few years away, but his future is very bright. If there is a silver lining in regards to the Indians and their first baseman dilemma, consider this. Yes, the situation seems pretty bleak right now, but if Indians fans can just hold out a little longer, Aguilar could potentially become the hulking, slugging first baseman that the team has desperately been seeking. I realize that is like asking a child to wait for Christmas, but if everything works out right, Aguilar will hopefully ensure that a column like this never has to be written again. That is, at least until he is eligible for free agency…

So Jimenez has gone from a potential top of the rotation guy to a guy they hope can get to the 5th inning without getting hammered all over the place.

Welcome to Cleveland.

OK so when going after Latin pitchers stay away from the odd names like Fausto and Ubaldo. Stick with more familiar ones like Luis (Tiant) and Dennis (Martinez).

Great strategy!

How about position players: I'm hoping we're good with Jesus (Aguillar), Francisco (Lindor) and Luigi (sounds like product of a mixed marriage) Rodriguez?

Terry Pluto

About the Tribe...

1. The Indians may have a very special player in Jason Kipnis, who went into Saturday's game with 229 career big-league at-bats. Yes, the sample is small, beginning with his promotion to the Tribe late in July. But in that span he has 11 homers, 12 doubles and 36 RBI. He's hitting .284 (.864 OPS) and has made himself into a viable second baseman.

2. But Kipnis is so much more than numbers, more than a coverted outfielder whose pro career didn't start until 2009. He learned to play second base in 2010, and has attacked the position with the same fullback mentality that he brings to the plate or the bases. Everything Kipnis does has a certain swagger along with an intention to get his uniform dirty as soon as possible. He loves to slide and dive, and seems to live to race around the bases.

3. The 25-year-old Kipnis is not the Tribe's fastest player, but he's stolen bases successfully six of seven attempts this season, and is 11-of-12 for his career. Because he's a burly 5-11, 185 pounds, Kipnis doesn't look quick. But his speed is like his power -- a real surprise. He also has only one error in 24 games, compared to six in 36 games in 2011.

4. Because Jeanmar Gomez first made the majors in 2010, it seems as if he's been around a long time. But Gomez is 24, a year younger than Kipnis. This season, he is 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA. For his career, Gomez is 11-9 with a 4.29 ERA. Quietly, he has emerged as a top pitching prospect thanks to the addition of a slider this spring -- and terrific control.

5. For the Indians to contend, they need what the team calls "internal improvement" from young players such as Kipnis and Gomez. Add to that list how Carlos Santana has performed behind the plate, where he does a much better job blocking balls. He has thrown out five of 12 runners this season, compared to 15 of 71 a year ago. Give coach Sandy Alomar some of the credit. But also give a nod to Santana, who has to want to be coached. He is in a tremendous spot to become an All-Star because of Alomar's presence on the coaching staff.

6. It's easy (and sometimes dangerous) to assume a bullpen will perform the same way as it did the previous season. But that's what has happened with Vinnie Pestano and Chris Perez. A year ago, if the Indians had a lead after seven innings, it usually was safe. It's the same this season with Pestano owning the eighth inning, Perez racking up saves in the ninth.

7. Heading into Saturday, Perez is 10 of 11 in saves this season -- 46-of-51 since opening day of 2011. Anything over 90 percent is outstanding. While I've been critical of some recent Tribe moves such as re-signing Grady Sizemore and the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, it is worth mentioning that Perez arrived in a deal for Mark DeRosa, who is 3-of-37 with Washington. That trade was a steal, as were these deals: Santana (Casey Blake), Asdrubal Cabrera (Eduardo Perez) and Shin-Soo Choo (Ben Broussard).

8. On May 19 at 10:30 a.m., the Wahoo Club will host a lunch with Hall of Famer Phil Niekro at the Club at Key Center. Call Bob Rosen at 440-724-8350 or go to wahooclub.com for more information.