Santana to start for the Tribe?

[Nicky_Sats]

Courtesy of ESPNinsider

Top prospect to start for Tribe?
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Carlos Santana, acquired in the July, 2008 trade that sent Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers, is in Arizona getting his injured hand back to 100 percent and readying himself to battle for role of starting catcher.

During a Q&A with ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure, Jr., Santana downplayed the potential that he could begin the year in the bigs and even as the regular backstop in Cleveland.

"I'm not really thinking about next season yet," Santana said. "I just want to do my work and when they decide to give me a chance to play then I have to take advantage of it."

After the trade of Victor Martinez to Boston last summer, Santana and Lou Marson are at the top of the depth chart at catcher in the Indians' organization, and one of them is likely to be the mainstay at some point in the next year or so. We checked in with ESPN Insider's Keith Law, who ranked Santana the No. 3 overall prospect, on the future fo the switch-hitting former third baseman.

 

[CBBI]

I would say there is about a 0.00001% chance of Santana opening the season in Cleveland as the starting catcher.

He could hit .600 with 10 HRs in spring training and I think he's still going to Columbus for at least 2 months.

 

[Nicky_Sats]

I also agree. Though it wouldn't shock me if he took over before the midway point. The offense should be pretty solid, and catcher isn't the biggest priority. Let's get a legitimate 1-2-3 starter. (well, one that wasn't on the shelf for 2 years)

 

[Chris]

Yeah, no way he starts. At all.

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

Why is there absolutely no chance he starts? It's not like we have anything special ahead of him. I guess you can you don't want to "rush" him, but if he is clearly our best catcher in camp, then let him play.

I need something to watch this season. :chuckles:

 

[AZ_]

Shapiro already came out and said he's ticketed for Columbus.

 

[Gunther]

Why is there absolutely no chance he starts? It's not like we have anything special ahead of him. I guess you can you don't want to "rush" him, but if he is clearly our best catcher in camp, then let him play.

I need something to watch this season. :chuckles:

Shap has said that Santana needs time at AAA to learn more about defense behind the plate as well as how to handle a pitching staff, especially how to work with pitchers and call pitch sequences. He has not done this above the AA level, so they're going to start him in AAA. This lack of experience has contributed to the hirings of Sandy Alomar at first base coach and Mike Redmond as a backup catcher - they're both very experienced and Shap hopes Santana will learn from their mentoring as the season wears on. Sounds like a good plan to me. It's tough to just throw a kid in at catcher and expect him to do well, or learn on the job.

He'll be up some time this season. I'm just guessing, but all signs indicate the All Star Break.

 

[Chris]

Why is there absolutely no chance he starts? It's not like we have anything special ahead of him. I guess you can you don't want to "rush" him, but if he is clearly our best catcher in camp, then let him play.

I need something to watch this season. :chuckles:

Oh I agree all we have are fillers in front of him, but it was just my prediction as to how Shapiro and Co. think. They would never get him with the big league club when he hasn't had a AAA at bat.

 

[Nicky_Sats]

I would assume depending on how we start (my estimation is pretty bad), he would be up within the first two months on the roster and potentially starting by the break.

 

[Damage]

I would say there is about a 0.00001% chance of Santana opening the season in Cleveland as the starting catcher.

He could hit .600 with 10 HRs in spring training and I think he's still going to Columbus for at least 2 months.

Listen, chicklet tooth, if he hits .600 wiht 10HRs, he ain't going to CBus. Shapiro won't make the same mistake with Santana that he almost made with Sizemore (thank god Juan Gone got injured)

 

[Nicky_Sats]

Damage, that's a great point and I kind of had the same feeling about it too.

Realistically, we do not have a good shot at the playoffs, and developing a talent early on could help him out for sure. And, thank god Juan Gone got hurt, who knows what might have happened had Sizemore not had the opportunity.

 

[AZ_]

Marson projects to be a pretty decent catcher....always has.

 

[Nicky_Sats]

I think we can gamble a bit to see if we have a superstar though.

 

[Damage]

I think we can gamble a bit to see if we have a superstar though.

boobie is dead on about Marson. Dude is a poor mans Mauer ( pre HR spurt): dude will mash for a high avg and rake doubles. However, Santana can do that and blast out 25-35 hr's. Marson would be an ideal hitter in the 2 hole if he had speed.

 

[Nicky_Sats]

Either way, we should give them each a fair shot. Both are young, and seem to have the "tools" that transcend to the next level.

But in terms of how they "translate"- Santana has much more upside.

Granted- potential is the most overused and dangerous word in all of sports.