2019 Spring Training

[sportscoach]

He’s actually someone I’ve seen play for a while now. Saw him in college while I was getting my masters.

Always liked how long he has his bat in the hitting zone. Allows him to cover well vs LHP and generate nice power for how short he is, and that’s a big reason he’s put up some real nice swings vs LHP so far.

But he pops on the field. Fast as hell. Covered a ton of ground in right center earlier in this game and was flying on his triple.

But man. Hentges threw a couple sliders to Daniel Murphy that gave Blue Jays players Andrew Miller ALCS flashbacks. He is filthy, everything he throws moves a ton.

I have liked what i have seen of Daniel Johnson so far!

Is it odd to you that Krieger was playing third? I didn't see anything about him playing a new position this off season? I know he has been playing the OF, but his arm strength was always a question mark hence why he was at 2nd for a long time.

Karinchak just hit 100 on a few guns

I feel him and Sandlin could get some MLB playing time this season if injuries/the bullpen struggles! How was Karinchaks control looking today?

Any chance he plays for the Tribe this year?

It's like a 10% chance in a sense. He will likely have this year between AA and AAA and next season is when he could make the roster, but injuries and/or struggling MLB players could move him up sometime this season. I agree with AZ_ that next year will likely be his shot, but seems like all the tools will be there for him to make it to the pros in the next year or two, just up to him to get it all together.

If he was right handed he would actually have had a chance to make the ball club this season since we lack RH bats in general.

 

[sportscoach]

Who are you more bullish on at the moment between Hentges and Luis Oviedo?

Oviedo is considered the better prospect of the two, but Hentges is a big guy and a lefty which has been a struggle to find good ones within the organization. He is throwing harder since the tommy john, so to find a big left hander that throws in the mid 90s, with even decent command is few and far between. Oviedo may end up being a better pitcher, but Hentges has the chance to still make an impact for this roster in due time.

 

[sportscoach]

Well its a split squad day today! 3:05 starting time

TV: Indians vs Brewers

Pitcher: Bieber

Lineup:
DH Daniel Johnson
RF Naquin
1B Bauers
C Perez
LF Joyce
SS Flaherty
CF Allen
3B Mark Mathias
2B Ernie Clement

Radio: MLB.com: Mariners vs Indians

Pitcher: Plutko

Lineup:
CF Oscar Mercado
LF Luplow
3B Jose Ramirez
1B Santana
DH Martin
RF Trayce Thompson
C Haase
2B Moroff
SS Stamets

Later innings we will see a lot of minor league guys, so I don't know who traveled with each team yet!

 

[Derek]

Oviedo is considered the better prospect of the two, but Hentges is a big guy and a lefty which has been a struggle to find good ones within the organization. He is throwing harder since the tommy john, so to find a big left hander that throws in the mid 90s, with even decent command is few and far between. Oviedo may end up being a better pitcher, but Hentges has the chance to still make an impact for this roster in due time.

That's not really true. Hentges is more highly regarded by Baseball America (my personal favorite outlet), but even accounting for all the different outlets, they are similarly regarded.

Hentges is much closer to making it to Cleveland than Oviedo, who is still a long ways away.

 

[Lee]

That's not really true. Hentges is more highly regarded by Baseball America (my personal favorite outlet), but even accounting for all the different outlets, they are similarly regarded.

Hentges is much closer to making it to Cleveland than Oviedo, who is still a long ways away.

Do you or any of the other knowledgeable guys have a top 10 minor league list for the Indians, what level they are at and position?

You can give personal opinions too. Later I will ask for a write up of what to watch at the game and who to watch out for.

 

[Derek]

Do you or any of the other knowledgeable guys have a top 10 minor league list for the Indians, what level they are at and position?

You can give personal opinions too. Later I will ask for a write up of what to watch at the game and who to watch out for.

I don't have a personal list, I'm sure @AZ_ and @BimboColesHair do, but there are links to such lists by professional outlets in the 2019 Minor League Thread.

 

[sportscoach]

That's not really true. Hentges is more highly regarded by Baseball America (my personal favorite outlet), but even accounting for all the different outlets, they are similarly regarded.

Hentges is much closer to making it to Cleveland than Oviedo, who is still a long ways away.

I am pretty sure a lot of places have Oviedo listed above Hentges, but its really only by a slim margin. (Like going through the interwebs on average he is rated higher). I think one placed had him as the Indians number 2 prospect, but at the end of the day difference really is people feel Oviedo will have better control overall than Hentges and thats what puts him higher. No need to argue since both have potential for the bigs and Hentges being a lefty, has a very good shot of getting to the pros in some capacity.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Who are you more bullish on at the moment between Hentges and Luis Oviedo?

Tough one.

As far as a prospect goes? Oviedo, strictly because I don’t think Hentges will start at the MLB level anymore, and starters will always have more value as a prospect.

But I think Hentges could really help the MLB team as soon as this year and well beyond as a backend of the bullpen guy.

So it’s kind of a what are you higher on...someone who could help you 2-3 years from now or someone who you probably see at the MLB level this year at some point.

I’m really bullish on both. I’ve always liked Hentges even when he struggled prior to having TJ.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Man. Hu Chih-Wei Hu throws one of the flattest fastballs I have seen in a while. Needs to figure that out, cause I like all of his other stuff. But that shit gets rocked by MLB level hitters.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Man. Hu Chih-Wei Hu throws one of the flattest fastballs I have seen in a while. Needs to figure that out, cause I like all of his other stuff. But that shit gets rocked by MLB level hitters.

Whenever I hear about flat, straight fastballs, my mind immediately goes back to Rafael Betancourt. He's the first guy where I thought "Wow, there's like zero movement on that... it's a perfect line to the plate." Yet all the guy threw was his fastball, and he was successful. I'll never figure that one out.

 

[Lee]

I love early season and spring training stats. The starter for the Diamondbacks lasted only a third of an inning and gave up 3 earned runs, he is listed as having an ERA of 81, lol.

 

[BMAN]

Man. Hu Chih-Wei Hu throws one of the flattest fastballs I have seen in a while. Needs to figure that out, cause I like all of his other stuff. But that shit gets rocked by MLB level hitters.

What a name.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Whenever I hear about flat, straight fastballs, my mind immediately goes back to Rafael Betancourt. He's the first guy where I thought "Wow, there's like zero movement on that... it's a perfect line to the plate." Yet all the guy threw was his fastball, and he was successful. I'll never figure that one out.

Jason Davis.

 

[Lee]

So for those in the know, did Nolan Ryan have allot of movement or was he just such straight heat it didn't matter?

 

[sportscoach]

So for those in the know, did Nolan Ryan have allot of movement or was he just such straight heat it didn't matter?

I am not sure since I am a bit too young, but I do know he was one of the best steals in the draft, almost equal to Tom Brady since Nolan Ryan was a 12th round draft pick out of college. He also was said to hit 105 on a radar gun at one point and he knew how to limit hits. Ryan owns the most SOs in a career and the most walks as well, but he was like 6 hits per 9 innings and not even a HR per 9.