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http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2009/09/terry_plutos_talkin_about_the_5.html
Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' challenges, Indians with potential and Cavs' camp
By Terry Pluto
September 26, 2009, 11:51PM
About the Indians ...
1. It looks like Michael Brantley should be the favorite to open in left field for the Indians. He takes over the leadoff spot, allowing Grady Sizemore to bat in the middle of the order. He also can play center when Sizemore needs a rest. He should give the Indians one of the best defensive outfields in the league. Shin-Soo Choo, Sizemore and Brantley all can run, although Choo is the only one with a good arm.
2. Brantley was 5-of-15 in this week's series against Detroit, a significant accomplishment because the Tigers are battling Minnesota for a playoff berth. The lefty hitter entered the weekend batting .337 with a .385 on-base percentage. The remarkable stat is that he's hitting .550 (11-of-20) vs. left-handers. He is.275 vs. righties.
3. When the Indians benched Andy Marte for much of September, it was not only to move Matt LaPorta to first base -- but also to give Trevor Crowe time in left field. Crowe can do everything Brantley can do, only not as well. Crowe is athletic and has a better arm than Brantley, but has little power. He entered the weekend batting .232 with one homer and 15 RBI. He is at .279 (24-of-86) since the All-Star break. The Indians consider Crowe a backup, but valuable.
4. Choo is finishing off a superb season, hitting .304 with 17 homers and 81 RBI entering the weekend. In the American League, Choo ranks eighth with a .397 on-base percentage, 13th with 37 doubles, 16th with an .882 OPS. He is batting .317 vs. righties, .272 vs. lefties and .292 with runners in scoring position. Only his 143 strikeouts (eighth) are a negative to what is otherwise an excellent all-around game, especially when you add 19-of-21 on stolen bases.
5. Despite starting only five of the Tribe's last 15 games entering the weekend, Marte (along with Crowe) seems to have secured a spot on the bench for 2010 -- at least written in pencil. The Indians see Marte as a backup at third and at first base.
6. But it's still annoying to see Marte playing so little. He received the two starts this week only because LaPorta hurt his hip. To Marte's credit, he went 4-for-6 vs. Detroit. Entering the weekend, Marte had five homers in 128 at-bats, good for 19 RBI. He was batting .243 vs. righties, 4-of-17 (.235) vs. lefties and .286 with runners in scoring position. Why not leave the guy in the lineup for the rest of the season to see what he can do?
7. The Indians consider Marte a solid third baseman, yet he has not played an inning there since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus. Jhonny Peralta (.183 in September) has played third nearly every day. When he did rest, manager Eric Wedge used Jamey Carroll at third. That made little sense.
8. Peralta is ending a discouraging season. His .262 batting average ranks 59th of 75 American League players considered "regulars" by ESPN. His .710 OPS is 69th of 75. His 126 strikeouts are 11th in the league. That's why it's strange that he has started all but two games in September.