Indians Need a Power Hitter for 2016

[buckeyefan]

Wouldn't Alvarez be better then nothing? As a DH, he's probably the best power option we have since Chris Davis is out of our price range.

 

[AZ_]

Chris Carter hit 37 home runs, 88 RBIs, and had a .491 slugging average in 2014. In just 129 games in 2015 he hit 24 home runs, 64 RBIs, and hit for a .427 slugging average. I hardly call that kinda power "average."

Take him out of Minute Maid, so his HR totals go down significantly.

He can't make contact, so let's add 150+ strikeouts.

He can't hit or get on base consistently.

He can't field.


But he's big and occasionally runs into one. Good for him, I'll still pass.

 

[JFT]

Take him out of Minute Maid, so his HR totals go down significantly.

He can't make contact, so let's add 150+ strikeouts.

He can't hit or get on base consistently.

He can't field.

But he's big and occasionally runs into one. Good for him, I'll still pass.

Progressive and Minute Maid are almost exactly the same size distance wise and fence height wise.

Many, many power hitters strike out a ton and don't reach base often. That doesn't diminish our need for power in the middle of the lineup. Just hit home runs and doubles and I'll be happy. Let Kip, Brantley, and Lindor hit for averages.

He's a DH so no need to field.

And I think he could be had for a very reasonable salary. Last year's was $4.1M.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Take him out of Minute Maid, so his HR totals go down significantly.

He can't make contact, so let's add 150+ strikeouts.

He can't hit or get on base consistently.

He can't field.


But he's big and occasionally runs into one. Good for him, I'll still pass.

With you...saw a lot of Carter in Houston...he really feasted on the Crawford Boxes.

I like Alvarez as a DH/occasional 1B, even with him being a lefty...

How does the park factor differ from PNC to Progressive Field to RF?

 

[AZ_]

If power was the only thing you were looking for, while accepting the fact he's terrible at everything else, I'd still probably pass.

He's not a guy who should hit in the middle of the order any more than Santana is.

Let's also not forget Brantley will likely be taking a large number of DH reps when he comes back from shoulder surgery.

And no, the parks are not the same size.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Progressive and Minute Maid are almost exactly the same size distance wise and fence height wise.

Many, many power hitters strike out a ton and don't reach base often. That doesn't diminish our need for power in the middle of the lineup. Just hit home runs and doubles and I'll be happy. Let Kip, Brantley, and Lindor hit for averages.

He's a DH so no need to field.

And I think he could be had for a very reasonable salary. Last year's was $4.1M.

Distance and fence don't mean that much...go and check park factors, and I am sure every thing you will see will tell you Minute Maid is a much more favorable park to hit in than Progressive Field....willing to bet Minute Maid is up there in the top 3rd for HR rate.

 

[JFT]

If power was the only thing you were looking for, while accepting the fact he's terrible at everything else, I'd still probably pass.

He's not a guy who should hit in the middle of the order any more than Santana is.

Let's also not forget Brantley will likely be taking a large number of DH reps when he comes back from shoulder surgery.

And no, the parks are not the same size.

Yes, that's what this thread is about --power hitters. Not fielders, batting averages, etc. Just power hitters.

Yes, the parks are nearly identical. Less than 10 feet in nearly all distance and fence heights. Wiki them.

 

[AZ_]

Well, the Indians don't need just a power hitter.

Hence, pass.

 

[JFT]

Distance and fence don't mean that much...go and check park factors, and I am sure every thing you will see will tell you Minute Maid is a much more favorable park to hit in than Progressive Field....willing to bet Minute Maid is up there in the top 3rd for HR rate.

Well it would seem to me that physics and the players that play in each park would dictate home runs in each park, not other characteristics like the location of home town dugouts, artificial vs blue grass turf, etc.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Well it would seem to me that physics and the players that play in each park would dictate home runs in each park, not other characteristics like the location of home town dugouts, artificial vs blue grass turf, etc.

If you seriously think weather, jet streams created by the stadium itself, and other factors don't matter in making a ballpark friendlier for hitters, I don't know what to tell you....maybe watch a Yankees game sometime, or a game in Arlington in the summer...

9th highest HR rate at Minute Maid last season...18th at Progressive Field..."but the fence heights and distances are the same!!!"...

 

[JFT]

Well, the Indians don't need just a power hitter.

Hence, pass.

You're kidding right? Power hitting is the number 1 deficiency on this team. Pitching is very good, fielding so, so but we have a young team. Core players in Kip, Lindor, and Brantley, and several players coming up in the minors over the next few years.

Surely we could add other players, like at third and in center, but what we really, really need to add is a couple above average power hitters.

 

[BimboColesHair]

You're kidding right? Power hitting is the number 1 deficiency on this team. Pitching is very good, fielding so, so but we have a young team. Core players in Kip, Lindor, and Brantley, and several players coming up in the minors over the next few years.

Surely we could add other players, like at third and in center, but what we really, really need to add is a couple above average power hitters.

No, its not...its a middle order bat, which doesn't call for just power...

 

[AZ_]

You're kidding right? Power hitting is the number 1 deficiency on this team. Pitching is very good, fielding so, so but we have a young team. Core players in Kip, Lindor, and Brantley, and several players coming up in the minors over the next few years.

Surely we could add other players, like at third and in center, but what we really, really need to add is a couple above average power hitters.

That doesn't mean you plug a one-dimensional player into the middle of your lineup.

It's a horrible idea, quite frankly. Carter isn't a middle of the order hitter.

Pretty impressive to only put up a 1.8 WAR when you hit 30+ bombs. Carter is that bad, though.

 

[BimboColesHair]

That doesn't mean you plug a one-dimensional player into the middle of your lineup.

It's a horrible idea, quite frankly. Carter isn't a middle of the order hitter.

People already hate Santana for his inconsistencies putting the ball in play with runners on...imagine having a guy with as low of a contact rate as Carter there...guarantee JFT is calling for his head a month into the season...

 

[JFT]

If you seriously think weather, jet streams created by the stadium itself, and other factors don't matter in making a ballpark friendlier for hitters, I don't know what to tell you....maybe watch a Yankees game sometime, or a game in Arlington in the summer...

9th highest HR rate at Minute Maid last season...18th at Progressive Field..."but the fence heights and distances are the same!!!"...

Oh come on, 9th vs 18th...little difference statistically. That's not why there are more home runs and slugging going on in Minute Maid. Take a look at the team ERAs of Houston pitchers and Indians pitchers over the last few years. And look at the hitters that go to those parks and hit home runs. For example, compare all slugging related stats, the parks average for HRs, 2B, 3B, and RUNS between parks is nearly the same. It's really the players that make difference.

Heck, even in Oakland in just 218 ABs in 2012, Carter hit 16 home runs, had 39 RBIs, and slugged at a .519 average. The Oakland Coliseum was ranked 27th last year. I think he'd do just fine at Progressive and wouldn't be a huge salary burden.