2021 Series #36 | Indians @ Tigers | Aug. 13-15

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I think Bradley, Zimmer, Mercado, and Chang have the remainder of this season to build a case for themselves. I have no problem with running them out there until the end of the season that way when the 22 season rolls around we know exactly where they stand.

I have to say that having Zimmer, Mercado, and Straw in the OF won't strike fear into opposing pitchers, but they're a spectacle defensively. I don't know if I've ever witnessed a better defensive trio in the OF?

Yes and yes. Let them either make a case for themselves or fail utterly. Although it will probably be somewhere in that gray area in between.

I think Bradley is safe because he has fewer than 200 major league at-bats and the cloud of Jesus Aguilar is still hanging over the organization. And Bradley's potential is tantalizing. He could be a Chris Davis in his prime for a few years. Davis topped out at 53 home runs and 138 RBI's at age 27 and struck out 199 times. I don't think any Orioles fans complained about the K's.

But I'm not expecting it. Davis became a regular at 26 and hit .270/.827 with 33 HR's. Bradley just turned 25 and I don't expect him to hit those numbers next year, except maybe the home runs if he plays every day. However, there was not nearly as much shifting in 2013 as there is now, so Davis probably would not have hit .270 today.

I think Zimmer and Chang are long shots. However, Zimmer's OBP is .358 over his last 250 AB's which combined with his range in the outfield, arm, and speed on the bases might just earn him another shot on a team that isn't exactly stacked with outfielders. Also, he just hit the longest home run of any Indians' player since they started tracking distances six years ago. Zimmer is kind of an intriguing mix of speed, defense, OBP, and power. You can see why he was a first round pick. But it's pretty easy to strike him out with inside fastballs and that might be the death of him.

I'd play Chang every day and let him make his case. Rotate him between third, second, and first.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Zimmer's 2021 OPS+ is 95; his career number Is 78. This suggests he may be still improving. He only has 620 career at-bats; about one full season's worth. He had more than half of those at-bats way back in 2017 and it's been a serious of injuries and underperformance since then.

The question is whether he can maintain an OPS+ of 5% below league average into the future and if so, does his superior defense and base running enough to keep him in the majors as a corner outfielder where defense isn't as big an asset.

Right field seems like his position with Straw in center, but Nolan Jones and Josh Naylor may have something to say about that. In any case, Zimmer should play every day from here on out.

 

[CATS44]

Man, a lot of us are still sitting at the bus stop, waiting for Zimmer and Chang and Harold and Mercado to arrive...after all these years.

In the case of Zimmer and Chang, still looking for that elusive power that nobody has seen over more than a handful of games since 2017.

All four are out of options, meaning they have to remain on the active roster next year or be lost for nothing. And every one of them kept means another decent prospect being exposed to Rule Five.

Not one of them projects to being an every day player....at best a fourth OF, dime a dozen util inf, or platoon bat.

With the OFs we have no choice, because they are the only bodies left.

A better idea than playing Chang would be to play Gimenez every freaking day.

 

[Criznit]

Haven't heard too many Mercado fans on here and though Harold can hit a little not sure who'd take him over Zimmer. I think both Harold and Mercado are gone or in the minors for 2022.

Your 2022 OF is

CF - Straw
LF - Naylor or
RF - Naylor or
4th - Zimmer.

Right now Zimmer is a lock to platoon/replace/backup in 2022. Straw is lock to play CF/OF most days. Naylor is the favorite to lock down one of the corners, but that isn't a done deal.

The FO likes Zimmer and Chang. I think both stick around. We have a lot of OF depth at AA and above. It doesn't really line up for a promotion for most this year, but we have internal options and its time to see who is good enough to stick around. Jones, Ogonz, D.Johnson, Palacios and Call are your current AAA depth with Kwan, Benson and uber-prospect Valera a level or so back. Yes, Valera is in high-A but moving to AA along with Kwan moving to AAA before seasons end seems doable/likely and certainly to start in 2022.

All that said, bringing in a corner OF/1B bat should be a priority.

Though 2021 was definitely a rebuild on the fly year, barring some major shakeup (trade/FA) 2022 will see some heavy lifting/on the job learning.

 

[mopete12]

At least Miggy didn’t hit it

 

[Stark]

Sam Hentges might be the worst Cleveland starter in recent memory. Would rather go pluck 48-year old Bartolo out of the Mexican League and watch him.

 

[KluberSociety]

Haven't heard too many Mercado fans on here and though Harold can hit a little not sure who'd take him over Zimmer. I think both Harold and Mercado are gone or in the minors for 2022.

The main value of Mercado to me is he is someone who can play while Zimmer sits against LHP. I don't really think there is a case to be made for Zimmer to be everyday player but if he makes the case that he should be starting versus righties we need someone to pair him up with.

Though I don't think there's any reason why it has to be Mercado, and not someone like Miller or HRam. So if we have to let him go, so be it. We're not losing much.

 

[CATS44]

We keep squandering opportunities to hammer Peralta.

 

[CATS44]

The only lock to be in our OF next year is Straw. The only OF locks to be on the roster are Straw and Naylor.

 

[Criznit]

The only lock to be in our OF next year is Straw. The only OF locks to be on the roster are Straw and Naylor.

The only way Zimmer isn't on our 2022 roster is he is traded, retired or injured. He will not be DFA'd.

 

[sportscoach]

The only way Zimmer isn't on our 2022 roster is he is traded, retired or injured. He will not be DFA'd.

If Zimmer is here in 22 then Johnson is gone... We aren't keeping both guys...

 

[CATS44]

It might get overturned, but thats a slick 4-6-3.

 

[Criznit]

If Zimmer is here in 22 then Johnson is gone... We aren't keeping both guys...

Seems reasonable. Mercado and Harold are certainly on shaky ground too

 

[CATS44]

The only way Zimmer isn't on our 2022 roster is he is traded, retired or injured. He will not be DFA'd.

Which prospect do you want to lose to keep Zimmer, who is arby eligible and out of options on the 40 man?

Keeping Zimmer past November means that he is being given a guaranteed roster spot in 2022. We aren't gonna risk losing a solid prospect to give him yet another tryout in spring training....and pay him arby money to do it. So, if he is retained, he is on the opening day roster.

 

[CATS44]

Just like that, we are down three.