Indians sign David Dellucci??

[SportMcAllister]

I never said it was a bad thing but I was being basically told I had no ability to discuss sports by "Saves"

Well youj still need to work at it, but you have potential.

We do have a cluster at 1st base...

Yes we do. So? Oh was this your comment concerning packaging some of our minor league talent at first base for a pitcher? Well i hardly considered people on the major league roster as minor league talent, but yes it is possible that Garko could still be traded for pitching help.

they had Victor there for a few games..Shoppach should be our catcher..

Disagree. The only issue with Martinez as a catcher is his caught stealing percentage - i can deal with that w/everything else he brings to the plate.

We got a solid young guy in Barfield who had a solid fielding percentage for one of the sloppiest infields in baseball...also his numbers were masked offensively as he was playing a lot of games at San Diegos pitcher friendly ballpark..

Accurate. But according to your original post the Indians were deep in the minors at second?

So because I'm not a Tribe Supporter of being cheap and finishing 4th in the division I should follow another team?

Well if that's your idea of being intellectual...eesh

Its because you are expecting Dolan to do something Jacobs would not do when Jacobs was making money with this team hand over fist. Owners, as a whole, spend what they take in.

 

[crazedcav333]

True. Resigning the core of the Tribe is 1st priority, but unless they all improve we need more guys. Pray that David passes his physical!

 

[chiefwahoo]

The glaring weakness right now is the bullpen. If Shapiro can get that straightened out I expect us to be as good or better than we were in 2005. We are fine offensively.

I don't know much about Barfield but I hear he is speedy. Does anyone think he will be able to take over the leadoff spot so we can move Grady into the 3 hole?

 

[crazedcav333]

Grady Hafner Victor would be one of the top 345 lineups in the AL. I'm not sure on having a .280 hitter there though.

Does anyone know of Dellucci's toughness? Will he be able to play 162 if called upon?

 

[lebron720]

I would not mind having Barfield lead-off. but Sizemore loves that spot, so it would take awhile for it to happen.

 

[CornerThree]

Grady Hafner Victor would be one of the top 345 lineups in the AL. I'm not sure on having a .280 hitter there though.

Does anyone know of Dellucci's toughness? Will he be able to play 162 if called upon?

He can't play 162, he can't hit lefties. But he had a .899 ops last year, and a similar one the year before. So I'd say he should be a great player for around 300 AB in the OF and at DH.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Does anyone know of Dellucci's toughness? Will he be able to play 162 if called upon?

The team has already stated they plan to start Dellucci against righties and Michaels against lefties. So we definitely won't need him in every game in LF.

"Dellucci, a left-handed hitter, will face all right-handers in left field. Jason Michaels, last season's starting left fielder, will face lefties. Michaels also could play right field with Shin-Soo Choo, if Casey Blake moves to first base." link: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1164708164233100.xml&coll=2

 

[crazedcav333]

Another guy who can't hit both L and R. The position battle between Choo, Blake, Garko, and Shoppach will be very interesting. Two spots and four guys. Victor can't be comfortable right now, since if Shoppach does very well, Vic plays first, but if he struggles and Garko or Blake do well, he's out and Vic plays C.

The way it's looking, Choo may be a backup. Casey is getting on in years IMO, but he's still producing. Choo looked fantastic at years end though, so this spring training will be a heated one unless Wedge puts the hammer down.

It's a process. Choo and Blake battling for RF is first. If Choo wins, Blake and Garko then battle for first base. However, if Shoppach beats them both out, Vic plays first as long as Wedge allows it. If Shoppach loses, Garko or Blake will play first.

No matter what, we have great depth and very good versatility and nearly every position. Vic and Shoppach, Blake and Garko, Barfield and Inglett, Peralta and Inglett, Marte and Blake, and OF consisting of Grady, Blake, Choo, Michaels, Dellucci, Franklin (maybe) and Inglett possibly.

We are not good but deep even at SP and RP.

Also I know I may be a little wired, but I love pre-season position battles in every sport, can't get enough of it.

 

[SportMcAllister]

You have it "crazedcav" - good post!! The key to this Indians team is going to be flexibility at every position.

 

[crazedcav333]

This from ESPN.com

CLEVELAND -- Promised Cleveland's starting job in left field, free agent David Dellucci has reached preliminary agreement on an $11.5 million, three-year contract with the Indians.

The 33-year-old Dellucci has a physical scheduled for Thursday in Cleveland, and he'll finalize his deal with the Indians if he passes it.

"The key factor there was his role," agent Joe Longo said. "They've given him the left fielder's job. He also felt he wanted to be in a lineup that had a chance to win. He wanted to come back to the American League. That was the best fit."

Dellucci batted .292 with 13 homers and 39 RBI in 132 games for the Philadelphia Phillies last season. Before that, he spent two seasons with Texas and has also played for the New York Yankees, Arizona and Baltimore.

Dellucci hit 29 homers for the Rangers in 2005.

Longo said several teams were in the hunt for Dellucci, a left-handed hitter who has a .263 career average.

"He had a lot of interest," Longo said. "We probably had serious interest from 12 teams. He wanted a three-year guarantee. That was the main thing, the every day job. He really wanted to play every day on a contender."

Dellucci's deal would pay him $3.75 million next season, $3.75 million in 2008 and $4 million in 2009.

If they sign Dellucci, the Indians will have more options in their outfield. Jason Michaels would likely back up Dellucci in left, Shin-Soo Choo could become the everyday starter in right with Casey Blake, a former infielder, moving to first base.

Dellucci can play both corner outfield positions.

It also says on the team site Dellucci was promised the everyday job at LF


Now this makes it sound like Dellucci will play everyday. Which would mean Michaels is gone with everything else remaining the same. I would have to question David's ability to come to the ballpark 162 times in a season. I also think Garko has a legit chance at beating out Casey at 1B if Choo can perform in RF. How is Choo's arm?

 

[chiefwahoo]

This from ESPN.com



It also says on the team site Dellucci was promised the everyday job at LF


Now this makes it sound like Dellucci will play everyday. Which would mean Michaels is gone with everything else remaining the same. I would have to question David's ability to come to the ballpark 162 times in a season. I also think Garko has a legit chance at beating out Casey at 1B if Choo can perform in RF. How is Choo's arm?

I think you're reading that article too literally. He will play against righties but sit against lefties. Look at his numbers against lefties over the last 3 years. Awful.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=5823&type=batting3

 

[cavincali]

This leaves out Garko. WTF?

 

[lebron720]

choo throws a 97MPH fastball. But does not like to pitch.

 

[crazedcav333]

Garko and Blake will battle for first if Choo wins RF. I think Garko is just as good, but I doubt we leave Casey out in the cold.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Casey is a decent bat and way too versatile a player to let go. He will be on the team in some capacity for sure this year.