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The 2020 Cleveland Indians

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You guys are awfully high and optimistic on Domingo Santana.

If he provides more than Hanley Ramirez, I'm counting that as a win.
I'd be shocked if Domingo doesn't carve out at least a semi-regular role on this team due to his bat. Hanley was completely washed when he came to us.

Domingo has a 114 wRC+ since the start of 2016, and a 107 wRC+ just last year. Hanley had a negative WAR and sub-100 wRC+ in 3/4 years prior to joining the Indians. Domingo has been nowhere near that bad.

The biggest problem with Domingo is his glove. He is what is he is at the plate, average to above-average production albeit inconsistent due to his heavy K%.

While he is a couple of years older and was disastrous in the field last year, Santana's production really isn't that different than Franmil's.
 
I'd be shocked if Domingo doesn't carve out at least a semi-regular role on this team due to his bat. Hanley was completely washed when he came to us.

Domingo has a 114 wRC+ since the start of 2016, and a 107 wRC+ just last year. Hanley had a negative WAR and sub-100 wRC+ in 3/4 years prior to joining the Indians. Domingo has been nowhere near that bad.

The biggest problem with Domingo is his glove. He is what is he is at the plate, average to above-average production albeit inconsistent due to his heavy K%.

While he is a couple of years older and was disastrous in the field last year, Santana's production really isn't that different than Franmil's.
I agree with you that Santana's bat should play. But an awful fielder who's just slightly above average production with a gross K% coming off injury is not something I bet on. If he pans out, great. But, like Zimmer, he's just not someone I'm counting on to produce.

Also, Domingo Santana has never hit the way Franmil did in his rookie season, and only one season (2017 in Milwaukee) matched what Franmil was doing last year before coming over to us. OPS+ of 130 in 2018, 120 in 2019 before struggling after shifting to this organization. If the Franimal can just get back to what he showed in his first two seasons, let alone any improvements due to maturation or his new, sleak, aerodynamic form :chuckle: then I don't think the comparison is even close.
 
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I agree with you that Santana's bat should play. But an awful fielder who's just slightly above average production with a gross K% coming off injury is not something I bet on. If he pans out, great. But, like Zimmer, he's just not someone I'm counting on to produce.

Also, Domingo Santana has never hit the way Franmil did in his rookie season, and only one season (2017 in Milwaukee) matched what Franmil was doing last year before coming over to us. OPS+ of 130 in 2018, 120 in 2019 before struggling after shifting to this organization. If the Franimal can just get back to what he showed in his first two seasons, let alone any improvements due to maturation or his new, sleak, aerodynamic form :chuckle: then I don't think the comparison is even close.
Franmil's rookie season was 87 games and he posted a 129 wRC+, Santana posted a 127 wRC+ in 151 games during the '17 season.

Franmil posted a 109 wRC+ last year while Santana had a 107.

It seems pretty close to me. I didn't say they were equals, but the difference isn't much. So far, Santana has the best season of the two with his 2017 production dwarfing both of Franmil's seasons.
 
You guys are awfully high and optimistic on Domingo Santana.

If he provides more than Hanley Ramirez, I'm counting that as a win.

I was originally gonna write up something long, but I thought against it lol

Domingo when healthy should put up between an OPS of .780-.800 with 20+ HRs with a 30% SO rate and 10-12% walk rate in 500 ABs. He does lack fielding but that being said we will have a guy like DeShields on the bench every game who can come in either as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. If he can limit errors then his hitting should overcome his downfalls out there.
 
I was originally gonna write up something long, but I thought against it lol

Domingo when healthy should put up between an OPS of .780-.800 with 20+ HRs with a 30% SO rate and 10-12% walk rate in 500 ABs. He does lack fielding but that being said we will have a guy like DeShields on the bench every game who can come in either as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. If he can limit errors then his hitting should overcome his downfalls out there.

I would be shocked if Santana plays very much in the outfield at all.

Feels like he’s strictly going to be a DH and pinch hitter.

v. RHP

LF: Reyes
CF: Mercado
RF: Allen (until Naquin is ready)
DH: Santana
Defensive Sub/Pinch Runner: DeShields
Pinch Hitter: Luplow

v. LHP
LF: Luplow
CF: DeShields
RF: Mercado
DH: Reyes
Defensive Sub/Pinch Runner: Allen
Pinch hitter: Santana

The two things I don’t know - the first is how close is Naquin? The second is Bauers beating out Allen for a spot.

Obviously how all of these guys hit will determine how often they play. If Santana is crushing the ball and Reyes shows he can handle the OF reasonably, I’d imagine both guys will just play every day with Reyes in a corner and Santana at DH.
 
The two things I don’t know - the first is how close is Naquin? The second is Bauers beating out Allen for a spot.

In regards to Naquin, from Zack Meisel's article on Monday 2/17 . No specific timeline but: Tyler Naquin exhibits no signs that he’s recovering from major knee surgery when he walks around the clubhouse. He has been running and hitting and ramping up the volume of each activity as the days pass. Naquin said he consulted teammate Mike Freeman and Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber for tips, as both players have experience with ACL tears.

There are so many moving parts and a lot to unpack.

About the only thing Allen does better than DeShields is strike out a bit less. I see him as an extremely redundant player so long as Mercado and DeShields are healthy.

Luplow has certainly earned the chance to get a crack at some playing time vs. RHP and Bauers won't just be handed an everyday role like last season. But how beneficial is it for Bauers' to be getting non-regular playing time at a crucial development period in his career? How important is it that no one other than Santana can really play 1B?

In the event that everyone is healthy and no one is slumping hard, this would be the optimal setup, in my opinion.

LF- Naquin/Luplow platoon
CF- Mercado
RF- Reyes/Domingo (Reyes playing 70% of the time in RF)
DH- Domingo/Reyes (Domingo playing 70% of the time at DH
DeShields- late inning defensive sub, pinch runner, rotates around when giving regulars rest, etc.
 
I would be shocked if Santana plays very much in the outfield at all.

Feels like he’s strictly going to be a DH and pinch hitter.

v. RHP

LF: Reyes
CF: Mercado
RF: Allen (until Naquin is ready)
DH: Santana
Defensive Sub/Pinch Runner: DeShields
Pinch Hitter: Luplow

v. LHP
LF: Luplow
CF: DeShields
RF: Mercado
DH: Reyes
Defensive Sub/Pinch Runner: Allen
Pinch hitter: Santana

The two things I don’t know - the first is how close is Naquin? The second is Bauers beating out Allen for a spot.

Obviously how all of these guys hit will determine how often they play. If Santana is crushing the ball and Reyes shows he can handle the OF reasonably, I’d imagine both guys will just play every day with Reyes in a corner and Santana at DH.

From what I can tell about Naquin he is ahead of schedule and likely will start the season on the 10 day DL rather than the 60 it feels like. Now they could put him on the 60 day so he doesnt rush, but I personally expect him somewhere in May
 
In regards to Naquin, from Zack Meisel's article on Monday 2/17 . No specific timeline but: Tyler Naquin exhibits no signs that he’s recovering from major knee surgery when he walks around the clubhouse. He has been running and hitting and ramping up the volume of each activity as the days pass. Naquin said he consulted teammate Mike Freeman and Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber for tips, as both players have experience with ACL tears.

There are so many moving parts and a lot to unpack.

About the only thing Allen does better than DeShields is strike out a bit less. I see him as an extremely redundant player so long as Mercado and DeShields are healthy.

Luplow has certainly earned the chance to get a crack at some playing time vs. RHP and Bauers won't just be handed an everyday role like last season. But how beneficial is it for Bauers' to be getting non-regular playing time at a crucial development period in his career? How important is it that no one other than Santana can really play 1B?

In the event that everyone is healthy and no one is slumping hard, this would be the optimal setup, in my opinion.

LF- Naquin/Luplow platoon
CF- Mercado
RF- Reyes/Domingo (Reyes playing 70% of the time in RF)
DH- Domingo/Reyes (Domingo playing 70% of the time at DH
DeShields- late inning defensive sub, pinch runner, rotates around when giving regulars rest, etc.

This is pretty much how I see it unfolding, with Bauers in the Naquin role if he isn't ready to start the year. DeShields could get the occasional start against LHP as well.
 
This is pretty much how I see it unfolding, with Bauers in the Naquin role if he isn't ready to start the year. DeShields could get the occasional start against LHP as well.

If Naquin isn't ready, I would think they give Luplow the opportunity to prove himself with everyday playing time in LF. Just basing that off what Tito has said in interviews.

And lost in this whole OF discussion from this page is we haven't even discussed Zimmer or Daniel Johnson, the latter of which I think we can assume will need quite a few of things to break his way (or unfavorably for the Indians) to really get much of a shot this season. So many moving parts.
 
If Naquin isn't ready, I would think they give Luplow the opportunity to prove himself with everyday playing time in LF. Just basing that off what Tito has said in interviews.

And lost in this whole OF discussion from this page is we haven't even discussed Zimmer or Daniel Johnson, the latter of which I think we can assume will need quite a few of things to break his way (or unfavorably for the Indians) to really get much of a shot this season. So many moving parts.


Zimmer homered a couple of days ago off Carlos Estevez, who had a 1.6 bWAR as a reliever for the Rockies in 2019.
Not to be confused with another Carlos Estevez; the birth name of one Charlie Sheen.
 

Zimmer homered a couple of days ago off Carlos Estevez, who had a 1.6 bWAR as a reliever for the Rockies in 2019.
Not to be confused with another Carlos Estevez; the birth name of one Charlie Sheen.

I wonder what Ricky Vaughn’s bWAR was for the 1989 season.
 
In regards to Naquin, from Zack Meisel's article on Monday 2/17 . No specific timeline but: Tyler Naquin exhibits no signs that he’s recovering from major knee surgery when he walks around the clubhouse. He has been running and hitting and ramping up the volume of each activity as the days pass. Naquin said he consulted teammate Mike Freeman and Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber for tips, as both players have experience with ACL tears.

There are so many moving parts and a lot to unpack.

About the only thing Allen does better than DeShields is strike out a bit less. I see him as an extremely redundant player so long as Mercado and DeShields are healthy.

Luplow has certainly earned the chance to get a crack at some playing time vs. RHP and Bauers won't just be handed an everyday role like last season. But how beneficial is it for Bauers' to be getting non-regular playing time at a crucial development period in his career? How important is it that no one other than Santana can really play 1B?

In the event that everyone is healthy and no one is slumping hard, this would be the optimal setup, in my opinion.

LF- Naquin/Luplow platoon
CF- Mercado
RF- Reyes/Domingo (Reyes playing 70% of the time in RF)
DH- Domingo/Reyes (Domingo playing 70% of the time at DH
DeShields- late inning defensive sub, pinch runner, rotates around when giving regulars rest, etc.

"exhibits no signs that he's recovering".....am I misreading that? I guess we should just go ahead and resign him then and force chisenhall back out of retirement.

#jizz4chiz
#norecovery
 

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