MadThinker88
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Well stated...
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2021 Minor League Thread
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MadThinker88
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Its going to be an interesting competition between Miller and Tyler Freeman for replacing C Hernandez...
I think both players will help the club for many years to come..
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As for your response to my statement: understand I was responding to Cats44 wanting for Miller to play at 1B "everyday for a month". I am not in favor of that and from your post I believe you are not in favor of that as well.
BimboColesHair
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Espino will just naturally out stuff and out talent hitters until AA, at least.
He was a little amped up during his start a few days ago and wild as a result (all these guys are, big reason BBs are up all over the minors) but for someone with his arm at his age he is pretty controlled most of the time. Just needs to settle down, which everyone will by this time next week.
And his makeup is special. Little doubt that once he gets to a level where he’ll have to sequence and outthink hitters more often that he’ll be fine.
Think he could be the Indians #1 prospect soon for a reason.
Where are the present holes in the Tribe lineup?
1B and CF.
Unless Naylor moves to 1B fulltime or Bauers plays a lot better than he has ever played for us, we have no replacement at first.
Bobby Bradley is not the answer...in spite of the occasional home run. He also has seven Ks already. Its not a SSS...its a continuation of seven years of pro ball.
With Miller playing first every day and Jones playing RF, the org can cover both options, depending where Naylor ends up playing.
We have only three of seven position players playing the same position every day. If we are going to contend this year, this cannot continue.
No trophies are handed out for most positions our prospects can play in Akron and Columbus and Cleveland. Plus, we can not fit nine or ten MIFs into two positions. Some of them need to learn the positions of need we have in Cleveland...and they better do it ASAP.
Miller seems to be the closest to MLB ready, but we have a 2B, SS, and 3B. If you want to see Millers bat in the Indians lineup this year...and at the same time watch us contend...he has to learn to play 1B.
thestatman
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Well said, Whereby I wouldn't give up on Bradley just yet, the best way to get Miller's bat up here is first base. Don't really care where Miller plays, but this team needs his bat ASAP. If his future is at second base so be it. He can play first now and switch next year. Playing first this year will not hinder him as a second baseman in the future one bit.
BimboColesHair
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Was just about to post the cliff-notes for a report I got this morning.
Sat 90-92, touched 94. Late life on his fastball with good arm side run that he spotted well away to righties to set up his slider. Worked quickly, attacked hitters, sequenced well. Essentially all the typecasts you hear when you see the Indians take a college starter.
It’ll be interesting to watch the logjam in the upper levels for the SP depth. Him, Allen, and Hickman aren’t going to stay in Lake County all season.
CDAV45
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Absolutely! If anyone follows a similar path to Bieber, Civale, and Plesac it will be this young man IMO. He's already a fairly polished pitcher that can locate his pitches. He's not tall(6'), but he's got a strong, solid frame. He should be able to log significant innings as long as his mechanics are clean. Not only is he prototypical for this organization, but this organization is perfect for someone like him. If I had to choose a comparison is would be Sonny Gray.
CDAV45
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I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with what is being said here because I need a couple of questions answered before I can determine what I would do. The first question, is Miller's arm strong enough to play OF? Clearly he runs better than Jones, but how does his arm profile from an OF position? Is Jones even "fleet of foot" enough to play OF? I have my doubts and I'd prefer to see him at the corner IF spots for now. What if Miller could play passably in CF and Jones can play passably at 1B? Naylor can remain in RF or if Jones is a better fit he can play RF while Naylor remains at 1B. If they carry their offensive prowess to the highest level and can play some defense we might be on to something. Either way, Miller's bat needs to be in Cleveland's lineup yesterday.
CalBuckeyeRob
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Be interesting to see how teams choose to move guys this year. Will they treat 2020 like it never happened or will they try to move more guys multiple levels to get them back where they would have expected them to be without the pandemic.
CalBuckeyeRob
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If Miller can handle 1B he just takes the Yu Chang role for now and gets a perfect audition for the 2B spot in 2022 or late in the year if they chose to deal Hernandez.
CDAV45
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I didn't mean to come across as they can't reach the bigs as 21 yr olds. I think Sabathia was 20 or 21 when he was called up. I was just trying to explain that the extra polish and IP in college prepares pitchers to move quickly through the lower levels or skip them altogether.
On another note. I can only assume that you're not a Hentges fan based on your comments. I would agree that he isn't quite ready for the major leagues, but he is only in the rotation because Allen failed(injury?) and the others (McKenzie and Quantrill) have IP limits. There are 2 things I think you need to take from Hentges being called up. 1) Our ready SP depth is a bit sketchy/unproven 2) Hentges has enormous potential if it can be harnessed.
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CDAV45
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I have to say that both are extraordinary hitters and we're blessed to have them in Cleveland's organization. I wouldn't be against using Freeman(in a package of course) to acquire a young, controllable SP. I have enough confidence in Miller and Freeman's value is much higher outside the organization for now which is why I would use him. I also actually like Miller's swing better and think that it will carry more power than Freeman's in the end. Having said that, I'm certainly not against both of them finding their way to Cleveland at different positions either. I'd like to see one of them learn CF and Freeman's speed might make him a better option to do so.
Yeah, I'm not in favor of Miller playing 1B "everyday for a month" either, but I acknowledge CATS could be right. Miller could end up being another Christian Walker with a better hit tool.
MadThinker88
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@CDAV45
I would prefer to deal Miller (in lieu of Freeman) as part of package but my 1st preference is keeping & using both in CLE.
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I agree CATS could be right about Miller helping at 1B but my response was focused on the "everyday for a month" part of his comment.
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As for "why using Hentges now" it seems to be forgotten that Hentges & JC Mejia have burnt (or are about to burn) their final options. With the coming influx of talent due roster protection (like Miller & Freeman), CLE has to get a better understanding what it has already on the roster. Perhaps a healthy Eli Morgan or Scott Moss would have been called up 1st but at the time of need, Hentges was the best available. It remains to be seen if he stays in rotation thru May: that will be determined by his performance and the readiness/ health of other alternatives.
I would prefer to deal Miller (in lieu of Freeman) as part of package but my 1st preference is keeping & using both in CLE.
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I agree CATS could be right about Miller helping at 1B but my response was focused on the "everyday for a month" part of his comment.
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As for "why using Hentges now" it seems to be forgotten that Hentges & JC Mejia have burnt (or are about to burn) their final options. With the coming influx of talent due roster protection (like Miller & Freeman), CLE has to get a better understanding what it has already on the roster. Perhaps a healthy Eli Morgan or Scott Moss would have been called up 1st but at the time of need, Hentges was the best available. It remains to be seen if he stays in rotation thru May: that will be determined by his performance and the readiness/ health of other alternatives.
CDAV45
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We don't have to agree on Miller and Freeman because I don't think either of us is wrong and we'd both like to see them in CLE.
As long as Jones is on the Columbus roster, nobody(unless it's him) should be playing 1B everyday for a month.
Hentges was the best available, and they do need to see what he can give them. Moss and Morgan were also injured at the time of Hentges' call up so they were extremely limited. I would like to see Mejia given an opportunity though. I think he is a bit undervalued by fans. I also think that his control is better than Hentges which is his sole issue.