Cleveland Sports Forum

Our surplus of solid SS could be useful bargaining chips. We got something for Cabrera but not a lot. Ramirez and Gonzalez could be expendable with the highly promised skills of Lindor ready for promotion.

And don't forget Walters plays SS as well, if he hits he could replace Aviles,who actually I like but could be a chip.

True, although Walters is apparently second rate defensively.

Thanks for the tip civ

A Paternal Touch Yields a Smooth Swing
Cleveland's Brantley Succeeds at the Plate With Help From His Father

AUG. 9, 2014

By TYLER KEPNER

Hitters change their swings subtly throughout a season, with slight alterations that can make a big difference. Most of these are unintentional, but inevitable.

“It’s hard to keep your swing right, even when you practice it every day,” Cleveland Indians infielder Mike Aviles said. “There’s days you come in and you’re a little tired. Your arms don’t want to move the way you want them to. That’s just how it is.”

Michael Brantley, Aviles said, is an exception. As an opponent, Aviles admired the grace of Brantley’s smooth left-handed swing. As a teammate, he said, he is amazed by Brantley’s uncanny ability to keep it the same every day.

Brantley, the Indians’ center fielder, entered Saturday hitting .320 with 16 home runs, 73 runs batted in and an .891 on-base plus slugging percentage that ranked 11th in the majors. He does not take underhand flips in the batting cage, as many hitters do, favoring extensive work off a tee to emphasize the repetition of his swing.

“Good or bad that day, I know I prepared the same way and I was ready for the game,” Brantley said. “I just try to take the best swings I can and swing at good, quality pitches. I don’t always look at results or what happens. My whole goal is to get the barrel to the ball as consistently as possible. The results will come after that.”

If that sounds like the mantra of a hitting coach, it should. Brantley’s father, Mickey, held that position for the Mets in 1999, and later for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Brantley was born in Bellevue, Wash., a suburb of Seattle, where his father played for the Mariners. But he lives in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the Mets’ spring training home, because of his father’s time with the organization.

When the Mets started slowly in 1999, they fired three coaches after a June loss at Yankee Stadium and named Mickey Brantley, then their minor league hitting coordinator, to replace Tom Robson. The Mets went 70-38 the rest of the way to capture the National League wild card.

Robson returned in 2000 as a peace gesture to Manager Bobby Valentine, so Mickey Brantley, who was reassigned, missed the Mets’ pennant-winning follow-up season. But the summer joy ride in 1999 made an impact on Michael Brantley, who was 12 at the time.

“I’d go to the field with him almost every day, just be around the guys, shag fly balls, hit in the cage,” Brantley said. “Being around major league players at that young age, seeing how they acted, seeing how they prepared, it just made me want to get better and kind of showed me how to carry myself.”

Brantley said he would mimic the swings and stances of some of the Mets’ best hitters, like Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura, and when the Mets reached the National League Championship Series, Brantley took off from school to attend the first two games in Atlanta and the next three at Shea Stadium. He was in the stands for Ventura’s famous grand-slam single to win Game 5.

“We got to experience a playoff atmosphere last year with this team,” Brantley said, “but to experience it at 12 years old, that’s something I wanted to do as a kid.”

The Indians, who hosted the American League wild-card game last October but lost to Tampa Bay, have been sluggish this season, hovering around .500 for months. But Brantley has been a breakout star at 27, validating the Indians’ decision to sign him in February for four years and $25 million.

Brantley’s rise has also redeemed the Indians for the C. C. Sabathia trade in July 2008. Cleveland sent Sabathia, then the reigning A.L. Cy Young Award winner, to Milwaukee for three prospects, headlined by Matt LaPorta, and a player to be named. LaPorta would hit just .238 in four forgettable seasons with the Indians.

Brantley became the player to be named on Oct. 3, 2008, while Milwaukee was playing in the division series. The timing was not a coincidence.

“The rumors were that if Milwaukee made the playoffs, they could pick from a different list, and I was on that list,” Brantley said. “But if they didn’t, I was untouchable. Especially in Double A, you hear rumors and you don’t know if it’s made up or not. But once Milwaukee made the playoffs, a couple of days after, I found out I was being traded.”

The Indians, notably the scout Don Poplin, liked Brantley for his swing, his athleticism, his bloodlines and, perhaps most of all, his approach to the game.

“With Michael, one of the things we thought was a strength of his was his makeup, his demeanor, the way he carried himself, his professionalism,” General Manager Chris Antonetti said. “Having a chance to see that firsthand, to see how prepared he is for every game, how important it is for him to work and improve, it’s been incredibly fun to watch.”

Brantley showed signs of blossoming last season, when he hit .284 with 10 homers. He failed to make contact on just 9.9 percent of his swings, the second best ratio in the A.L. behind Jeff Keppinger of the Chicago White Sox.

After spending the last two winters recovering from injuries — wrist surgery in 2011 and sports-hernia surgery in 2012 — Brantley was able to pour himself into his off-season preparation, much of it with his father. The result has been his first All-Star season.

“He’s a nice guy to pencil in, because he wants to be better,” Manager Terry Francona said. “He wants to win desperately.”

Civ- You maybe right, his scouting report touts him as a third baseman:

An infield prospect from the Washington system, the fast-rising Zach Walters is at least MLB-bench ready right now, which is probably what inspired the Indians to snatch him up at 2014's trade deadline. Walters, who's competent across the infield but best-deployed at third thanks to his strong arm and quick feet, could also fill in at shortstop if necessary. Walters showed a bit of power in AA last season, slashing .293/.326/.518, which puts a nice frosting on his traditionally solid on-base game. He maintained most of that even after a bump to AAA (.269/.304/.399), which shows that he's got the skills to survive, if only as a bench player.

For now he can give us a RH sub for Chisenhall although our more desparate needs are in the OF. I want Urshela to get a September callup to tackle 3rd at least against LH pitchers.

If it was me I'd look for Kipnes to get healthy and trade him for a starting pitcher then put Ramierez and Lindor at the top of the lineup every night!!!

We need defense from our SS and 2B BAD!

Add Urshela at 3rd base and the infield defense is rock solid.

he Kansas City Royals made an attempt to bolster their offense on Monday, striking a deal with the Minnesota Twins for outfielder/designated hitter Josh Willingham. The Royals sent minor league pitcher Jason Adam to Minnesota in exchange, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City is in the thick of the American League playoff race, despite getting lackluster production from the DH spot. Willingham will get a chance to bolster that production, as McCullough reports he will DH for the Royals, splitting time with Raul Ibanez. Kansas City designated hitters have combined to produce just a .626 OPS this season.




Whether Willingham can bolster that number remains to be seen. A very productive hitter as recently as 2012, his numbers have dropped off considerably this season. On the year, he's hitting .210/.345/.402, though he's fared better against left-handers, with a .243/.357/.429 line. Platooning with Ibanez, he doesn't figure to face many right-handers the rest of the way.



The Royals took on salary in the deal, with McCullough reporting Kansas City will pay the what remains of Willingham's $7 million salary in 2014. The front office received clearance from owner David Glass to make the move. In a curious coincidence, Willingham's Twins just finished a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics, and his new team is hosting the A's for their own four-game set starting Monday; it's not often that a player faces the same opponent for eight straight days.

The 23-year-old Adam has split time between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He opened the season as the No. 9 prospect in the Kansas City farm system according to MLB.com, but dropped to No. 16 in their midseason rankings. He worked as a starting pitcher in Double-A, but came out of the bullpen after making the move to Triple-A.

Shutting Down Swisher May Be Best for Everyone

Mike Brandyberry | On 11, Aug 2014

There have been letdowns and disappointing seasons on the Cleveland Indians this year, and then there has been Nick Swisher.

Signed in December 2012 to become the new face of the franchise, things have not gone exactly as planned for Swisher. Since inking his four-year, $56 million deal that includes an option for 2017, Swisher has hit just .231 as an Indian, with nearly 25% of his plate appearances resulting in strikeouts.

In 2013, he hit .246 with 22 home runs and was clear in spring training this March that he felt last season was a down year for him, one that could be better in 2014.

“Was (last) year what I wanted? No,” Swisher said of his performance. “Was I happy about that? Hey, sometimes it happens. I’ve played for 11 seasons. It’s been crazy ups and downs.

“I’ve gotten myself back in shape and gotten myself back where I need to be. I’m super excited to get out there because last year wasn’t where I wanted to be. I set my goals higher than that.”

Swisher and the Indians are each falling short of their lofty goals.

This year has been full of strikeouts, injuries and defensive miscues. Swisher has struggled at the plate all season, hitting just .208 with eight home runs and a .278 on-base percentage. He’s struck out 111 times and walked just 36 times in 401 plate appearances. Defensively, he’s played as poorly as he’s hit, committing nine errors at first base in just 52 games. When the Indians signed Michael Bourn and Swisher was moved from the outfield to first base, Indians Manager Terry Francona said Swisher was a, “very good,” first baseman.

Nothing about Swisher in his 242 games with the Indians has been very good. He’s lost his spot at first base to Carlos Santana and been dropped deep in the lineup. In many interleague games this year—when a designated hitter hasn’t been available—Swisher has found himself on the bench. With his big contract and disappointing production, he’s become a target for fans to boo and a centerpiece to blame for the team’s struggles.

Last Sunday, after striking out three times, he was booed, then pinch-hit for by Chris Dickerson as the start of a ninth inning rally. It was announced after the game that Swisher was hampered by a sore wrist. He missed two games before returning to the outfield in Cincinnati, where he misplayed a ball that led to a run and a loss. After two games in the outfield in New York, Swisher left Saturday’s game after limping around the bases. He couldn’t score from second base on a base hit to center field and was forced out at the plate on the next play.

Sunday, Swisher was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season, hampered by a sore left knee.

“I can’t keep playing like this,” Swisher told Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. “We have to find out what’s going on.”

Indians fans, and likely the front office, would have to completely agree. No one is satisfied, Swisher included, with his production. His contract, now nearly half complete, has been a huge mistake to this point and now hangs over the Indians like an anchor as they try to rebuild a roster that needs starting pitching like the desert needs rain. Cleveland already has over $62 million committed in salary for 2015, with $15 million that headed Swisher’s way.

Starting pitching is arguably the most valuable position in baseball. It’s the toughest to trade for and the most expensive to sign on the free agent market. If the Indians continue to operate on a $85 million payroll, after money is appropriated for arbitration eligible players, the Indians will only have about $10-13 million available to help a roster in desperate need of starting pitching and improved defense. Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti will have to re-appropriate funds to improve the rotation, but moving Swisher’s contract is likely impossible. Next season’s roster will have to be built around Swisher’s contract.

Sunday, when the Indians announced Swisher’s second trip to the disabled list this season, Francona didn’t think it was a season-ending injury.

“I don’t think so,” Francona told the media. “I think it’s going to be something he’s going to have to manage. And, when he feels good, he’s going to have to continue to manage it. As you start to get, whether it’s arthritic changes or with some wear and tear, he’s going to have to take care of it. He’s never had to deal with that before.”

The Indians may continue to feel like they are in the Wild Card race after taking two of three from the New York Yankees and getting back to .500. However, Cleveland is in third place in the American League Central Division and 5.5 games back. They’re five games back in the Wild Card race, but three teams are in front of them in their pursuit of the Kansas City Royals.

With 44 games remaining, Cleveland isn’t out of it, but they’ll likely need a 10-game win streak similar to the one they tore off last September to leap all the teams in front of them. If Swisher is to help this team, he has to return healthy, not in a “manage it” mode. It’s probably safe to assume Swisher has tried to manage his knee issues all season and it hasn’t worked.

The Indians should give him all the time he needs to rehabilitate and return to the lineup at 100%. If he can do that in 2014, it would be great. He’s tried to play through injury most of this season and it hasn’t worked. If the Indians are still in playoff contention, and he returns healthy in September, he could provide a spark. Even if the Indians are out of contention, a strong two or three weeks of healthy production in September would go a long way toward everyone’s psyche for 2015.

And most importantly, if Swisher can’t get 100% by the end of the season, or can’t produce better than the numbers he’s put up in 2014, they need to shut him down for the year. Swisher isn’t the only reason the Indians have underachieved in 2014, but he’s one of them. His contract can’t become an anchor to the roster and the franchise for the next two to three years. He has to be healthy entering 2015.

Production at the plate and in the field from Swisher is imperative to the success of the organization for the future. Signed to be the face of the franchise before the 2013 season, he’s sacrificed for others and played through pain.

“Last year wasn’t even about me,” Swisher said. “It was about the resurrection of the organization. (It was about) getting back to where this team belongs and where this team was.”

Getting the Indians back to where they belong in 2015, and resurrecting Swisher’s career are now probably tied together. The best way to manage the remainder of Swisher’s 2014 may be to shut it down in hopes of the best Swisher the Indians have seen next season.

Photo: Otto Greule/Getty Images

[These picks for most underrated and overrated Tribesman won't surprise anyone here, since Swisher has not been rated as anything better than a bust on the forum for at least this year if not last and who in NE Ohio doesn't know that Kluber has been incredible.]

Most Overrated: OF/1B/DH Nick Swisher

In the blink of an eye, Nick Swisher transformed into Jason Giambi: a great teammate that you don't want anywhere near the field of play.

Hitting only .208/.278/.331 for Cleveland this season, it's possible that his offensive struggles are a result of a balky knee that just landed him on the 15-day disabled list. Or perhaps it's a continuation of a trend that began last season, when his numbers took a fairly large step in the wrong direction.

What makes matters worse is that Swisher has become a defensive liability, whether it be in the outfield or at first base. That makes him best suited to be a full-time designated hitter, and a DH who doesn't hit is about as useful as conducting batting practice without any balls.



Most Underrated: SP Corey Kluber

It's time to play a little game.

Below, you'll see the second-half stats for two pitchers, both with the initials "C.K." Your job is to figure out which stats belong to the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, and which belong to Cleveland's Corey Kluber.


Player

W-L (GS)

ERA

WHIP

BB/9

K/9

C.K. No. 1 4-1 (5) 0.68 0.65 0.70 10.1
C.K. No. 2 4-0 (5) 1.80 0.93 1.4 8.3

If you guessed Kershaw was CK No. 1, you'd be...wrong.

Those gaudy numbers belong to Kluber, who has walked more batters (four) than he's allowed earned runs (three) over his last 40 innings of work.

Here's another game we can play: Think about how insanely ridiculous that is for a second.

Now try and make an argument that Kluber isn't underrated.

Baseball Reference with rankings of Top 100 players for year to date.

46. C Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians (Previous: NR)


BA/OBP/SLG

OPS+

H

2B

HR

RBI

R

SB

WAR


.285/.327/.482 128 103 21 16 52 49 0 4.0

After posting a 4.2 WAR as a part-time player last year, Gomes has been terrific as the Indians' primary backstop this season. On top of his fantastic receiving skills, he's also hitting .378/.410/.662 in the second half, giving him some of the best all-around numbers of any catcher.

Speaking of underrated:



21. SP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians (Previous: 96)


21. SP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians (Previous: 96)

Jason Miller/Getty Images




GS

IP

W-L

ERA

FIP

WHIP

BB/9

K/9

WAR


25 171.2 13-6 2.46 2.43 1.072 1.9 9.8 5.2

Corey Kluber was 11-5 with a 3.85 ERA last season, but his peripheral numbers told a different story, as he had a 3.30 FIP and improved both his walk rate (2.6 BB/9 to 2.0 BB/9) and strikeout rate (7.7 K/9 to 8.3 K/9) from the previous season.

He opened the season 2-3 with a 4.14 ERA in April, but he's been an absolute stud since, going 11-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 10.2 K/9. The 28-year-old is 15-of-19 on quality starts over that span, and he's thrust himself into the AL Cy Young conversation as a result.

13. LF Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians (Previous: 22)


13. LF Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians (Previous: 22)

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images




BA/OBP/SLG

OPS+

H

2B

HR

RBI

R

SB

WAR


.324/.384/.518 156 144 31 17 76 77 13 4.8

If the 2013 season was a breakout year for Michael Brantley, then 2014 has been nothing short of an offensive explosion. The 27-year-old has taken a huge step forward, raising his OPS from .729 to .902 and already setting career highs in home runs and RBI.

The Indians' decision to lock him up with a four-year, $25 million extension this past offseason looks like a stroke of genius now. The deal also includes an $11 million option for 2018, as the team essentially bought out the prime of his career for $36 million.

Kluber, Brantley Have Followed Similar Paths to Success

Craig Gifford | On 15, Aug 2014

From obscurity to elite, Cleveland Indians stars Michael Brantley and Corey Kluber have ridden very similar paths to the amazing seasons they have enjoyed this summer. It is almost eerie how similar the Tribe’s offensive leader and pitching ace have gotten to this point in their careers.

It starts with neither player being particularly bally-hooed from Day 1. Brantley was a 2005, seventh-round draft selection by Milwaukee, while Kluber was selected in the fourth round of 2007 draft by San Diego. Both arrived in Cleveland via trades of former Opening Day starting pitchers. Neither Brantley nor Kluber were highly thought of when the transactions went down.

Brantley was the infamous player-to-be-named from the Brewers in the trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee in 2008. Brantley was thought to be a future Major Leaguer with some talent. However, the prize of the deal for the Indians was Matt Laporta.

Kluber, a relatively unknown prospect with the Padres went to the Tribe as part of a three-team deal that saw Jake Westbrook shipped off to the Cardinals in a 2010 trade deadline deal. There was hope he would eventually reach the majors, but nothing was a given.

Neither player lit things up at the minor league level. However, each did just enough to continue moving up the ladder and to get noticed by Tribe brass. Brantley made his Cleveland debut in 2009, but was not a regular in the lineup until 2011. Likewise, Kluber pitched his first game with the Indians in 2011, but was not regularly in the Major League rotation until 2013.

Both Brantley and Kluber got off to slow starts, until gradually proving themselves as guys who truly could contribute to a playoff-contending team in 2013. Neither guy was a star for last year’s Wild Card-qualifying squad, but both played key roles. Brantley had career highs with 10 home runs and 73 RBI to go with a .284 batting average that was just four points off his career-best .288 if 2012. Kluber’s 2013 saw him turn in a solid year and established himself as a trustworthy middle-of-the-order pitcher with an 11-5 record and 3.85 ERA.

Following good, but not great, 2013s, Brantley and Kluber were both considered key cogs to what would hopefully be another postseason push this year. The front office, so happy with Brantley’s continued growth, gave the 27-year-old outfielder an extension that will see him earn $19 million from 2015-2017 with an $11 million team option for 2018. Kluber, just a year older than Brantley, is under team control through the 2019 campaign. Chances are, the Indians could work out a long-term deal in the next couple offseasons with their new-found ace.

Perhaps most importantly in following very identical paths is that Brantley and Kluber have both busted out in a big way this season. The two are enjoying career years and are the reasons that the Indians are at .500 and still in postseason position despite injuries and down years from other key players.

Brantley earned his first All-Star nod this year and is currently hitting .325 with 17 bombs, 78 RBI and 13 steals. He has gone from solid contributor to one of the game’s 10 best outfielders.

Kluber is 13-6 with a 2.46 ERA. The 13 victories are already a career high. He was an All-Star snub and has been nearly unhittable since the Mid-Summer Classic. He has become Cleveland’s ace and would be even if Justin Masterson had not been traded a couple weeks ago. Kluber has gone from dependable starter to perhaps one of the top five hurlers in the game as of now.

Now, the hope is that Brantley and Kluber will continue following the same path and keep on the path of great play. To a degree the amazing success each has enjoyed this year came out of nowhere. Neither was a star before this season and neither was thought to ever become a star. Good to very good seemed to be the ceiling. Both have rocketed through that ceiling.

Unfortunately, when a player goes seemingly beyond the heights previously thought to be hit, he takes a step back eventually. See Lonnie Chisenhall‘s 2014 campaign as an example of that – great for three months and then reverted back to his former, non-hitting ways.

However, two things point to Brantley and Kluber being closer to the real deals than guys who will go back to being slightly above average after this season ends. One is that both have been great all year. Neither one had one of those aberration-type months early on that they are now clinging to on the way back down, a la Mark Reynolds of 2013. Brantley and Kluber have each been consistent. It is hard to be consistently good if you are an average player.

Secondly, both Brantley and Kluber have gotten better with each season. While the pair have come nowhere near their 2014 numbers in seasons past, each continued to post better stats and player bigger roles with every passing summer. That also indicates their seasons are more a continued upward trend than those of one-year wonders. Also and 27 and 28, Brantley and Kluber are both hitting that age in which a player proves whether he will be very good, good, average or something worse. In short, both are now entering their primes.

In Brantley and Kluber, the Indians now seem to have the cornerstones of their lineup and pitching staff for at least the next half decade. To think both came from such humble beginnings of being unwanted and under valued by other teams. Brantley and Kluber’s careers may be eeriely similar, but nothing scary for Tribe fans who have enjoyed watching them blossom into stars this year.

Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images