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The 2014 Cleveland Indians

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I'm pretty sure Swisher is solely an emergency option for RF this year. The plan is to keep him in the 1B/DH spot to prevent the injuries that hampered him most of last year.
 
With dad watching, Nick Hamilton makes debut

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Nick Hamilton already knew he was going to be an extra player for the Indians on Monday against the Reds. The Minor League outfielder had no idea what awaited him when he arrived at Goodyear Ballpark.

Roughly 15 minutes before the game's first pitch, Indians manager Terry Francona told Hamilton that he would serve as the starting designated hitter.

"I don't mind surprises," Hamilton said with a smile after the 8-3 Cactus League victory.

It was a feel-good moment for Hamilton, not only because it was his first taste of the big leagues, but because his father, Tom Hamilton, was watching from a booth at the field. The elder Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games for 25 seasons, did not take part in the broadcast on this afternoon.

"He just wanted to be a dad," said Jim Rosenhaus, Hamilton's partner in the booth.

The decision to slot the 24-year-old Hamilton in the lineup's ninth spot was made after some initial miscommunication. Nick Swisher was originally tabbed as Cleveland's DH, but the Reds wanted to have the pitchers bat in the game. After Swisher was given the day off, Cincinnati told Cleveland it could use the DH after all.

Francona felt it was a nice opportunity to give Nick Hamilton the chance to play in front of his dad.

"We were like, you know what? Hammy's sitting up in the booth," Francona said. "I think there's always maybe a little time in Spring Training to have a nice, special moment. I'm sure both of them thought it was really cool. I know our players got a kick out of it.

"We just thought it would be a nice touch to the day."

Hamilton -- a product of Avon Lake High School, located just west of Cleveland, and a part of Kent State's College World Series team in 2012 -- went 0-for-4 in the batter's box, but the statistical line was not important. What mattered to Hamilton, who was selected in the 35th round of the '12 First-Year Player Draft, was the experience.

"It was really just a lot of fun," Hamilton said. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be able to get out there and get that first taste of playing in the big leagues. It was just a lot of fun and something I can learn from and build on from here.

"Eventually, looking back, I'm sure this is definitely something that I'm going to cherish."
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Video here: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb...md=20140324&content_id=70053664&vkey=news_mlb
 
Huber. said:
With dad watching, Nick Hamilton makes debut



Video here: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb...md=20140324&content_id=70053664&vkey=news_mlb
Click to expand...


Another article:
Take his job out of it — just think of Tom Hamilton as a regular ol' dad watching his son, Nick, get his first MLB-level at-bat, and the moment is pretty special.

But consider Tom Hamilton's job, that he's "the voice of the Tribe" and will be calling Cleveland Indians games on the radio for his 25th year in 2014, and what happened Monday is an amazingly touching moment.

A moment that we all get to see too.

Nick Hamilton, an Indians prospect who was drafted in 2012 out of Kent State, got his first at-bat Monday at the major-league level, with proud papa Tom, watching from above. As you can imagine, the moment overwhelmed him and he teared up.

The younger Hamilton was just an extra player for Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, thrust into the DH role after some confusion about whether this particular spring game would use one. The Indians had already given Nick Swisher the day off, so Hamilton got the nod, even though he hadn't played a day past Single-A yet in his pro baseball career.

Tom Hamilton had already taken the day off from broadcasting, knowing that his son had a chance to play. He wanted to watch the game as a dad, not a play-by-play guy. So he sat in a booth above the field. He didn't know Nick would be in the starting lineup. Terry Francona didn't make that call until 15 minutes before first pitch, knowing Nick was available to play and Dad had a prime view.

After the game, Francona told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian:


"We were like, you know what? Hammy's sitting up in the booth," Francona said. "I think there's always maybe a little time in Spring Training to have a nice, special moment. I'm sure both of them thought it was really cool. I know our players got a kick out of it. We just thought it would be a nice touch to the day."

Nick Hamilton, 24, figures the totality of the moment hasn't hit him yet.


"I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be able to get out there and get that first taste of playing in the big leagues. It was just a lot of fun and something I can learn from and build on from here. Eventually, looking back, I'm sure this is definitely something that I'm going to cherish."

Nick went 0-for-4 Monday, grounding out to second base in that first at-bat. But, look at that beaming face. Tom Hamilton was proud of his son just the same.


Video and link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...s-first-mlb-at-bat--video-130302656.html?vp=1
 
According to Jordan Bastian, Francona said Carlos Santana is the 3B and will not platoon with anyone there. He also said that he will be the backup Catcher.

If Santana is really not in a platoon situation at 3B with Chiz, why did Chiz even make the team? What exactly does he offer? He can only play 3B (terribly at that) and he is horrible against lefties as well.

Pinch hitter against righties? Isn't that Giambi's main role?
 
Even though it isn't a platoon situation, I would still anticipate 30-40 games behind the plate along with whatever games he DH's or sits altogether.

That would give Chisenhall at least 60 starts at 3B along with whenever he DH's or gets the opportunity to pinch hit. Looks like about 250-300 AB role for him assuming Santana really can play 3B every day (I'm not convinced he can).

Chisenhall has already accomplished all he can in AAA, and I don't see anybody I'd rather have on the roster than him.
 
Gimme Some Mo said:
According to Jordan Bastian, Francona said Carlos Santana is the 3B and will not platoon with anyone there. He also said that he will be the backup Catcher.

If Santana is really not in a platoon situation at 3B with Chiz, why did Chiz even make the team? What exactly does he offer? He can only play 3B (terribly at that) and he is horrible against lefties as well.

Pinch hitter against righties? Isn't that Giambi's main role?
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Giambi won't be with the team for a while, and I'd imagine they're going to get him at-bats at DH and 3B when Santana catches or plays 1st.
 
If Santana ends up performing solid at third base (unlikely), does the Tribe look to try to trade Chiz while he's still young?
 
Stark said:
If Santana ends up performing solid at third base (unlikely), does the Tribe look to try to trade Chiz while he's still young?
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I'd imagine they'll be looking for a young starter. I mentioned Jacob Turner last week, but I'd prefer they make a play for someone more established and team controlled.
 
I can't get a read on the Chisenhall situation. They wouldn't trade him for Garza last year, but they're demoting him to a bench player this season?
 
Well... he landed on his feet quickly...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oh no, not Aaron Harang. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinMcAlpin">@KevinMcAlpin</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Braves&amp;src=hash">#Braves</a> will go with Teheran, Wood &amp; Harang in the opening series in Milwaukee.</p>&mdash; Jaymes Langrehr (@JaymesL) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaymesL/statuses/448489819086155777">March 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Amazing how devestated the Braves rotation is.
 
Day Man said:
I can't get a read on the Chisenhall situation. They wouldn't trade him for Garza last year, but they're demoting him to a bench player this season?
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Antonetti/Shapiro don't have a long history of trading young players they value for two or three month rentals.
 
If the Indians trade for Garza, they probably don't win the Wild Card.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tomlin to AAA: &quot;I thought everybody in the mix was deserving of that spot.&quot; Carrasco gets last spot. Presumably, Atchison &amp; Wood to bullpen.</p>&mdash; Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/statuses/448842354225451008">March 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Scott Atchison makes Indians bullpen.</p>&mdash; paul hoynes (@hoynsie) <a href="https://twitter.com/hoynsie/statuses/448844821239578624">March 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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