Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

[EdMonix11]

Zimmer might be the only everyday OF next season. He’s a LOCK for CF provided he’s healthy. He’s too valuable to send down or not play everyday.

Allen, Mercado and Luplow are safe bets. People forget that Allen is VERY talented. He might be the 3rd most talented guy in the OF mix- behind Zimmer and Mercado.

Last spot likely comes down to Bauers vs. Naquin. But Naquin should get it. Though Bauers being able to play 1st would give the Tribe some positional flexibility.

Bauers, Johnson and Tom are likely destined for Columbus.

 

[Stark]

Zimmer might be the only everyday OF next season. He’s a LOCK for CF provided he’s healthy. He’s too valuable to send down or not play everyday.

Allen, Mercado and Luplow are safe bets. People forget that Allen is VERY talented. He might be the 3rd most talented guy in the OF mix- behind Zimmer and Mercado.

Last spot likely comes down to Bauers vs. Naquin. But Naquin should get it. Though Bauers being able to play 1st would give the Tribe some positional flexibility.

Bauers, Johnson and Tom are likely destined for Columbus.

Think Tom could be some good trade bait?

Having a nice year at Triple-A (.950 OPS) and probably never projects to play in Cleveland. Maybe a team with a barren outfield would take him?

 

[EdMonix11]

Bauers is the one that really needs to step up and flash some power to show he can be more than just an average player.

It bears reminding that Bauers is just 23 years old and still the youngest guy in the OF mix for next year.

 

[KluberSociety]

Zimmer might be the only everyday OF next season. He’s a LOCK for CF provided he’s healthy. He’s too valuable to send down or not play everyday.

A lock after he was sent down for poor performance and then missed over a year?

 

[EdMonix11]

Think Tom could be some good trade bait?

Having a nice year at Triple-A (.950 OPS) and probably never projects to play in Cleveland. Maybe a team with a barren outfield would take him?

I don’t think he’d fetch anything significant at the moment. Maybe International money? He’s a little bit older, had some injuries and he’s kinda small in stature.

He’s only 40 games into his AAA career. That’s why I don’t consider him to be in the OF mix in Cleveland. Nothing wrong with letting him ripen down there for a bit.

 

[N7RobBob]

We don't have anyone in our bullpen that strikes fear in hitters. They do their job which we shouldn't complain about, but they seem to all be junkball types. I wish we had atleast one guy that brought the heat.

 

[EdMonix11]

A lock after he was sent down for poor performance and then missed over a year?

He’s an elite defensive CF. Crazy valuable. He’s performed at the dish at every level. It’s your prerogative to judge a player by his first 400 AB’s in the bigs if you so choose.

But I do think it’s kinda disingenuous to say he was sent down for poor performance while NOT mentioning that he was coming off a rib injury and DL stint prior to his demotion.

Has some things to work on for sure but he has the tools and the MiLB track record to be very valuable if things sorta click. Teams tend to give those kind of guys every opportunity to succeed and I fully expect the Indians to do the same.

 

[AZ_]

He’s an elite defensive CF. Crazy valuable. He’s performed at the dish at every level. It’s your prerogative to judge a player by his first 400 AB’s in the bigs if you so choose.

But I do think it’s kinda disingenuous to say he was sent down for poor performance while NOT mentioning that he was coming off a rib injury and DL stint prior to his demotion.

Has some things to work on for sure but he has the tools and the MiLB track record to be very valuable if things sorta click. Teams tend to give those kind of guys every opportunity to succeed and I fully expect the Indians to do the same.

He’s missed a ton of development, and has never really hit in 500 or so at bats in the big leagues.

 

[kidduck]

Since his MLB debut on 5/16/17, Zimmer has a paltry 446 MLB plate appearances. His .671 career OPS would
rank him next to last on the current roster of position players. 27 years old next season. He either starts to
fulfill the player many thought he could be or he begins the slide into coulda, shoulda, woulda.

I guess he could get to Cleveland when the rosters get expanded but without an injury to a current
rotational outfielder, he has no chance to be on the postseason squad(assuming the Tribe makes
it there.)

 

[kidduck]

AL Central:

Twins: 77-50
Tribe: 74-53

ALWC

Tribe: 74-53
Rays: 74-54
A's: 72-53

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

AL Central:

Twins: 77-50
Tribe: 74-53

ALWC

Tribe: 74-53
Rays: 74-54
A's: 72-53

I know we are often assumed to make the playoffs and we are just posturing between wild card and division, but we are certainly no lock for the playoffs. Gotta shake this New York trip off and get back to winning baseball.

 

[shoes22]

Getting out of a National League park will help.

 

[EdMonix11]

Since his MLB debut on 5/16/17, Zimmer has a paltry 446 MLB plate appearances. His .671 career OPS would
rank him next to last on the current roster of position players. 27 years old next season. He either starts to
fulfill the player many thought he could be or he begins the slide into coulda, shoulda, woulda.

446 AB’s is like 3/4 of a season. I’m just not gonna judge a guy’s future on less than one season worth of AB’s.

Especially not when that guy has a track record of hitting in the minors and plays an elite CF.

I mean, shit, he was like the 20th ranked prospect in baseball when he was called up. They kinda have to give him an extended look in the majors.

I’m also fairly certain the Indians don’t have a guy in their OF mix who can play an average CF everyday other than Zimmer.

 

[Phil Mixtape]

I know we are often assumed to make the playoffs and we are just posturing between wild card and division, but we are certainly no lock for the playoffs. Gotta shake this New York trip off and get back to winning baseball.

Haven't wanted to say it. Absolutely have to feast on the bottom feeders and take as many from the twinks as possible. Could get wild down the stretch here . . .

 

[EdMonix11]

He’s missed a ton of development, and has never really hit in 500 or so at bats in the big leagues.

Honestly, that lost development time might’ve been exactly what he needed— i.e. time to revamp his hitting mechanics.

Have you seen him yet? Looks fantastic. Drastically different at the dish right now. Like he’s unrecognizable when he gets into the box.

His stance is WAY different now- closed off and very upright. Much shorter to the ball too. Very quiet upper body mechanics. Looks a lot like Naquin.