Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

[Kevalier]

Looking like we're counting on Franmil Reyes to be that guy out in LF. Tito says he doesn't want to regulate such a young guy as strictly a DH.

LF - Reyes
CF - Mercado / Zimmer
RF - Luplow / Allen / Johnson
3B - Ramirez
SS - Lindor
2B - Chang / Arroyo
1B - Santana
C - Perez

Second base and the other outfield slot look to be the most open, especially since Naquin is hurt.

I don’t see anyway that Reyes is spending regular time in LF, Stark. San Diego realized that he’s a full time DH. With that said, I would guess that the outfield comes down to Mercado and Zimmer with one of them in CF and the other in a corner spot, Luplow as a platoon partner with either Johnson or Bauers and the final outfield spot coming down to Allen or Tom.

 

[daddywags]

I agree that notwithstanding what Tito said Reyes is destined to be a DH. One way or another, though, we have to find another (right handed) power bat.

 

[kidduck]

2019 MLB team HR leaders
Yanks
Twins
Dodgers
Astros
A's


So the Rays at #20 are the only AL playoff team out of the top five in round trippers.

Tribe needs a big power bat to have any chance of reaching and having success in the playoffs. Even
dominant pitching is at the mercy of a bloop and a blast. Tribe needs the addition of the kind
of hitter that puts some fear of the homer into the opposing dugout for each of his
at bats.

I don't see how they get said player.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

2019 MLB team HR leaders
Yanks
Twins
Dodgers
Astros
A's


So the Rays at #20 are the only AL playoff team out of the top five in round trippers.

Tribe needs a big power bat to have any chance of reaching and having success in the playoffs. Even
dominant pitching is at the mercy of a bloop and a blast. Tribe needs the addition of the kind
of hitter that puts some fear of the homer into the opposing dugout for each of his
at bats.

I don't see how they get said player.

When healthy, Lindor/Jose/Franmil/Santana are all locks to get you 30+ home runs a season.

I truly believe that the Naquin/Luplow platoon is your fifth 30+ home run bat.

That equals Minnesota this year, right?

Also, there are other ways to win besides launching the long ball. It's a nice bonus but it's not a necessity.

 

[Derek]

The obsession with adding a power bat is never something I’ve understood. We just need good hitters.

Lindor
Ramirez
Santana
Reyes
Perez
Mercado

That’s 6 guys to pencil into the lineup next year as good hitters for their position.

Can Chang be productive as an every day player?

Can Zimmer at least be average to go with his tremendous glove in center?

Can we find that 3rd OF guy or DH (if they’re serious about giving Reyes a shot in left)

 

[kidduck]

One possible way around finding that Big Bopper would be to add a quality leadoff hitter and move Lindor
down to the middle of the order. Frankie doesn't draw many walks and it would be nice to utilize more of
his ABs in RBI situations. Heck, Trout hits second for the Angels.

 

[kidduck]

12 games left in the regular season

Tigers
Phillies
White Sox
Nationals

3 each, last 2 series on the road.

After today, if scores hold, Tribe could be one back of Rays in the loss column for second WC spot. A's up
3 in loss column. Forget about catching the Twins.

I'd say it will take at least 8-4 finish to have any chance to make it past 162 in 2019.

 

[Derek]

One possible way around finding that Big Bopper would be to add a quality leadoff hitter and move Lindor
down to the middle of the order. Frankie doesn't draw many walks and it would be nice to utilize more of
his ABs in RBI situations. Heck, Trout hits second for the Angels.

We don’t really need another big bopper. We already added Reyes, and might break the club record for HR in a season.

Ideally, I’d like to have Ramirez and Lindor hitting 2-3. It’s basic lineup construction to have your two best hitters in those spots.

If Zimmer or Allen could translate their high OBP% ways from the minors, either of them would be nice in the leadoff spot.

 

[CavsFanJapan]

Also, there are other ways to win besides launching the long ball. It's a nice bonus but it's not a necessity.

Like bunting....

 

[daddywags]

We don’t really need another big bopper. We already added Reyes, and might break the club record for HR in a season.

Ideally, I’d like to have Ramirez and Lindor hitting 2-3. It’s basic lineup construction to have your two best hitters in those spots.

If Zimmer or Allen could translate their high OBP% ways from the minors, either of them would be nice in the leadoff spot.

I'm not sure Allen will ever be more than a 4th OF in the big leagues and while it's certainly something to hope for I dont see how we can expect either Allen or Zimmer to be solid everyday players for us next year much less lead-off hitters. But suppose we can go Zimmer-JRam-Lindor 1-2-3 and, I suppose, Santana 4th. Who bats 5th? Reyes? As of now he's a K machine and an all or nothing streak hitter. There's just not enough meat in our lineup IMO.

As of today, looking to next season, the only regulars I can pretty confidenly say will hit more than .250 are Frankie, Ramirez, Santana and probably Mercado. A Luplow/Bauers platoon should also hit .250ish (as of today they have 563 ABs between them this year and a combined .246 average). As I see it we need one back end bullpen guy and one middle of the order bat and we're good to go next season. But without another bat who can hit 4th or 5th we'll be relying on guys to do much more than they have shown capable of so far IMO.

 

[Derek]

I'm not sure Allen will ever be more than a 4th OF in the big leagues and while it's certainly something to hope for I dont see how we can expect either Allen or Zimmer to be solid everyday players for us next year much less lead-off hitters. But suppose we can go Zimmer-JRam-Lindor 1-2-3 and, I suppose, Santana 4th. Who bats 5th? Reyes? As of now he's a K machine and an all or nothing streak hitter. There's just not enough meat in our lineup IMO.

As of today, looking to next season, the only regulars I can pretty confidenly say will hit more than .250 are Frankie, Ramirez, Santana and probably Mercado. A Luplow/Bauers platoon should also hit .250ish (as of today they have 563 ABs between them this year and a combined .246 average). As I see it we need one back end bullpen guy and one middle of the order bat and we're good to go next season. But without another bat who can hit 4th or 5th we'll be relying on guys to do much more than they have shown capable of so far IMO.

I really don’t care about BA%

I already listed the guys I’m confident will be above average producers at the plate next year, and that’s enough to be a top 5 offense next year.

I hope we add a reliable bat, but the need for a middle of the order hitter is way overblown.

A nice 6 or 7 hitter would be great, because Ramirez-Lindor-Santana-Reyes is a murderous 2-5

 

[daddywags]

I really don’t care about BA%

I already listed the guys I’m confident will be above average producers at the plate next year, and that’s enough to be a top 5 offense next year.

I hope we add a reliable bat, but the need for a middle of the order hitter is way overblown.

A nice 6 or 7 hitter would be great, because Ramirez-Lindor-Santana-Reyes is a murderous 2-5

We'll disagree then. We're at 4.71 runs per game this year. League average is 4.89. Lowest in top 5 is 5.34. That's a lot of room to make up with just the same guys even assuming good health for everyone. I hope you're right, because it could be tough to add the middle order bat, but I'm much less confident than you about going into 2020 with the same basic hitters and expecting major improvement in the final product.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

We'll disagree then. We're at 4.71 runs per game this year. League average is 4.89. Lowest in top 5 is 5.34. That's a lot of room to make up with just the same guys even assuming good health for everyone. I hope you're right, because it could be tough to add the middle order bat, but I'm much less confident than you about going into 2020 with the same basic hitters and expecting major improvement in the final product.

Month, Runs, Games, Runs per game:

March/April: 109 28 3.89
May 120 29 4.13
June 128 26 4.92
July 142 24 5.91
August 139 29 4.79
September 64 13 4.92

If you say that our offense from the beginning of this year was unable to compete, I agree. Remember, that was without Lindor. That was with Jose being the worst everyday player in baseball. That was without Reyes. That was without Kipnis at times.

If you're going to say that our team, as currently composed, can't compete offensively with everyone healthy, then I strongly disagree.

 

[daddywags]

Give me an everyday lineup without Puig or Kipnis.

"Compete" has levels.

Month, Runs, Games, Runs per game:

March/April: 109 28 3.89
May 120 29 4.13
June 128 26 4.92
July 142 24 5.91
August 139 29 4.79
September 64 13 4.92

If you say that our offense from the beginning of this year was unable to compete, I agree. Remember, that was without Lindor. That was with Jose being the worst everyday player in baseball. That was without Reyes. That was without Kipnis at times.

If you're going to say that our team, as currently composed, can't compete offensively with everyone healthy, then I strongly disagree.

Fair enough. I assume we certainly will subtract Puig and quite likely Kipnis, so it won't be exactly as currently composed. So yes I think we will need to add a strong middle of the order bat in order to seriously compete for a World Series title.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Give me an everyday lineup without Puig or Kipnis.

"Compete" has levels.


Fair enough. I assume we certainly will subtract Puig and quite likely Kipnis, so it won't be exactly as currently composed. So yes I think we will need to add a strong middle of the order bat in order to seriously compete for a World Series title.

You realize Puig hasn't been very good, right? If Naquin comes back healthy, he alone produces more than Puig, let alone having the Naquin/Luplow platoon absolutely mashing.

I agree that losing Kip will leave a hole in this lineup--and in our locker room. I'm not sure how to fill it. I have my fingers cross we terminate his contract but agree to a new deal afterwards for cheap.