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The 2013 Cleveland Indians
- Thread starter Steve_424
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- The White Sox and Indians are two of the three teams that MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reports as suitors for 19-year-old Cuban right-hander Leandro Linares (Twitter links). The Marlins also have interest in Linares, who does fall under the newest CBA's international signing guidelines.
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Indians near deal with RHP Leando Linares of Cuba
The Indians are closing in on a deal with Cuban teenage right-hander Leando Linares Gonzalez worth an estimated $1 million, according to an industry source.
Linares, 19, pitched for the Cuban National Team 16-and-under squad in competitions in Chinese Taipei in 2009 and Lagos de Moreno, Mexico in 2010. The 6-ft-3, 205-pound pitcher made a name for himself on the island by starring for Villa Clara in the 16-and-under and 18-and-under divisions in the National Championships in Cuba from 2009 to 2012.
Because he is not at least 23 years old and has not played at least three seasons in a Cuban professional league, Linares Gonzalez is subject to the new international signing guidelines established by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Indians have signed four players, including shortstop Willy Castro who signed for $850,000, for a total close to $1.4 million since the international signing period began on July 2nd. Cleveland entered the international signing period with a bonus pool of $3,636,900.
http://js.mlblogs.com/2013/07/21/indians-near-deal-with-rhp-leando-linares-of-cuba/
The Indians are closing in on a deal with Cuban teenage right-hander Leando Linares Gonzalez worth an estimated $1 million, according to an industry source.
Linares, 19, pitched for the Cuban National Team 16-and-under squad in competitions in Chinese Taipei in 2009 and Lagos de Moreno, Mexico in 2010. The 6-ft-3, 205-pound pitcher made a name for himself on the island by starring for Villa Clara in the 16-and-under and 18-and-under divisions in the National Championships in Cuba from 2009 to 2012.
Because he is not at least 23 years old and has not played at least three seasons in a Cuban professional league, Linares Gonzalez is subject to the new international signing guidelines established by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Indians have signed four players, including shortstop Willy Castro who signed for $850,000, for a total close to $1.4 million since the international signing period began on July 2nd. Cleveland entered the international signing period with a bonus pool of $3,636,900.
http://js.mlblogs.com/2013/07/21/indians-near-deal-with-rhp-leando-linares-of-cuba/
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Corey Kluber has a lower SIERA than Kershaw, Cliff Lee, Bumgarner, Strasburg, and Masterson. Time for the team shop to sell his jersey.</p>— Aaron Wilson (@wahoo_baseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/wahoo_baseball/statuses/359346333087301633">July 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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This day in Indians history: In 1960, Cleveland center fielder Jimmy Piersall was ejected from a game against the Red Sox after ignoring home-plate umpire Eddie Hurley's repeated warnings to stop running around the outfield with his arms raised while Ted Williams was at the plate.
Second Thoughts: Lineup optimization and Yan Gomes
Yan Gomes (Photo: AP)
After consuming the unmatched Festivus episode of Seinfield, I have decided to air my grievances about an offense strewn with inconsistency. It may be a challenge to pick at an offense that just dropped 10 runs in Seattle but we all know that the week preceding was an offensive struggle.
The Indians have scored three runs or less four out of the six games post all-star game and two or less runs in three of those games. Yes, it is just six games and creating panic would be idiotic, especially since the Indians are fifth in MLB in runs scored and second (second!) in walk rate.
However, lineup construction and playing time for a few specific players have become concerning. In generality, Francona’s ability to move guys around both on the field and in the lineup has been impressive especially with super subs like Raburn and Aviles.
Two recent trends have become alarming; the first is Cabrera’s movement to the fourth hole in the lineup. I have no issue with the Swisher shift because his batting average though disappointing to date is covered by his still impressive OBP.
Returning to Cabrera, who has underperformed on a large scale and is still given less scrutiny than Swisher. Alas injuries may be the cause of each players regression but Swisher’s OBP and solid defense at first base offer some redemption of value.
Returning to the four hole, Cabrera is absolutely the wrong fit right now. Asdrubel’s struggles offensively are not tied to bad luck (BABIP) or lack of lineup protection. No, they are almost directly connected to one thing, which is his increased strikeout rate.
Cabrera’s plate discipline issues have been touched upon in the past on this site in other avenues.
Simply, until Cabrera’s plate discipline improves, and substantially, he simply should not be in the four hole. I know Indians fans have trepidation about Carlos Santana in the four hole but it is just the right fit. Santana has an elite ability to get on base and offers more power as well as having a good second half track record.
Ideally, the strongest lineup when healthy is something like this: Bourn, Swisher, Kipnis, Santana, Brantley, Cabrera, Chisenhall, Gomes, Stubbs. With Raburn, Aviles and Reynolds sprinkled in based on matchups, need for rest, and defensive considerations.
Gomes in line for more playing time
Outside of his success as Kazmir’s personal catcher, Gomes has had a really successful season offensively to date with some really positive steps and some unsustainable production as well.
All of these things come with the caveat that we have only a 42 game sample from Yan Gomes and thus extrapolating too much is irrational. However, his wRC+ is 119, average being 100, 125 being good/all-star level production.
Second, both Gomes' BABIP and HR/FB are sustainable and his real increase in success is derived directly from a legitimate shift in plate discipline and decrease in strikeout rate compared to last season’s cup of coffee with the Blue Jays.
Last is Gomes' defensive value. While UZR and UZR/150 are somewhat flawed, we can use them to confirm or question what the eye test tells us. With Gomes his UZR/150 is that of a very good defender and his UZR at least a tick above average. Which with his efficiency throwing runners out (11-for-20 caught stealing) and him being at least average to a tick above blocking balls it is easy to see his defensive value.
Thus the question becomes this: if you could improve defensive production behind the plate with solid offense, hideMark Reynolds and give Santana more time at DH, why would you not start Gomes more frequently behind the plate?
Lastly, on sample, when a player who is young and has legitimate upside has success in a small sample that is a case that he deserves a larger and larger sample in order to offer light on their value and true potential. This is the case with Yan Gomes.
Yan Gomes (Photo: AP)
After consuming the unmatched Festivus episode of Seinfield, I have decided to air my grievances about an offense strewn with inconsistency. It may be a challenge to pick at an offense that just dropped 10 runs in Seattle but we all know that the week preceding was an offensive struggle.
The Indians have scored three runs or less four out of the six games post all-star game and two or less runs in three of those games. Yes, it is just six games and creating panic would be idiotic, especially since the Indians are fifth in MLB in runs scored and second (second!) in walk rate.
However, lineup construction and playing time for a few specific players have become concerning. In generality, Francona’s ability to move guys around both on the field and in the lineup has been impressive especially with super subs like Raburn and Aviles.
Two recent trends have become alarming; the first is Cabrera’s movement to the fourth hole in the lineup. I have no issue with the Swisher shift because his batting average though disappointing to date is covered by his still impressive OBP.
Returning to Cabrera, who has underperformed on a large scale and is still given less scrutiny than Swisher. Alas injuries may be the cause of each players regression but Swisher’s OBP and solid defense at first base offer some redemption of value.
Returning to the four hole, Cabrera is absolutely the wrong fit right now. Asdrubel’s struggles offensively are not tied to bad luck (BABIP) or lack of lineup protection. No, they are almost directly connected to one thing, which is his increased strikeout rate.
Cabrera’s plate discipline issues have been touched upon in the past on this site in other avenues.
Simply, until Cabrera’s plate discipline improves, and substantially, he simply should not be in the four hole. I know Indians fans have trepidation about Carlos Santana in the four hole but it is just the right fit. Santana has an elite ability to get on base and offers more power as well as having a good second half track record.
Ideally, the strongest lineup when healthy is something like this: Bourn, Swisher, Kipnis, Santana, Brantley, Cabrera, Chisenhall, Gomes, Stubbs. With Raburn, Aviles and Reynolds sprinkled in based on matchups, need for rest, and defensive considerations.
Gomes in line for more playing time
Outside of his success as Kazmir’s personal catcher, Gomes has had a really successful season offensively to date with some really positive steps and some unsustainable production as well.
All of these things come with the caveat that we have only a 42 game sample from Yan Gomes and thus extrapolating too much is irrational. However, his wRC+ is 119, average being 100, 125 being good/all-star level production.
Second, both Gomes' BABIP and HR/FB are sustainable and his real increase in success is derived directly from a legitimate shift in plate discipline and decrease in strikeout rate compared to last season’s cup of coffee with the Blue Jays.
Last is Gomes' defensive value. While UZR and UZR/150 are somewhat flawed, we can use them to confirm or question what the eye test tells us. With Gomes his UZR/150 is that of a very good defender and his UZR at least a tick above average. Which with his efficiency throwing runners out (11-for-20 caught stealing) and him being at least average to a tick above blocking balls it is easy to see his defensive value.
Thus the question becomes this: if you could improve defensive production behind the plate with solid offense, hideMark Reynolds and give Santana more time at DH, why would you not start Gomes more frequently behind the plate?
Lastly, on sample, when a player who is young and has legitimate upside has success in a small sample that is a case that he deserves a larger and larger sample in order to offer light on their value and true potential. This is the case with Yan Gomes.
Miles to go, but a Tribe win and an Oriole loss today ties those clubs in the loss column for the final WC.
With the Tigers only 3 games out front in the Division, signs of pennant fever swirl in the air.
Very refreshing.
With the Tigers only 3 games out front in the Division, signs of pennant fever swirl in the air.
Very refreshing.
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It'll be interesting to see after the next 10 games or so. The suspensions should be coming down for the biogenesis fiasco. If Peralta decides to appeal to help Detroit or if he just takes the suspension will be one of the biggest stories for Tribe fans.
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elcheato
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I'd prefer he doesn't return to the big league club
Stark
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Well going into next season, there is definitely a chance that Ubaldo and/or Kazmir won't be here. No harm in letting him fight for a job out of ST.
Stark
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That's looking like it's going to happen. Boston leads Baltimore 5-0 in the 9th.