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By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:40 p.m. EDT, Mar 20, 2009
GOODYEAR, ARIZ.: Even after cuts that sent 15 players to the minor-league complex this week, 44 players remain in the Indians' training camp.
Of these, 22 have secure roster spots. One pitcher, Jake Westbrook, is rehabbing from Tommy John elbow surgery and probably won't return to the active roster until June.
The rotation consists of Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Carl Pavano and Anthony Reyes, though manager Eric Wedge has not made Reyes' spot official. In the bullpen, closer Kerry Wood, setup men Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt, plus Joe Smith and Masa Kobayashi, are virtually locks to open the season on the roster.
Among the position players, first baseman Ryan Garko, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, third baseman Mark DeRosa, catchers Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach, plus utility infielder Jamey Carroll, own the infield roster spots.
In the outfield, Grady Sizemore, Ben Francisco, Shin-Soo Choo and David Dellucci have made the team. So, too, designated hitter Travis Hafner.
That leaves 21 players in limbo, but not really. Wedge already has said that top prospects Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley will head to the minor-league camp at some point, barring an extraordinary set of circumstances.
In other words, unless at least two outfielders cannot start the season because of injuries, neither of these players has a chance to make the team in spring training. If one outfielder was unable to answer the opening bell April 6, Trevor Crowe, another prospect who already has played at Triple-A, would be given that spot, unless General Manager Mark Shapiro were able to work a trade.
When a reporter asked Wedge earlier in the week to narrow the field of pitchers competing for the final berth in the bullpen, he refused, saying, ''I want to keep that close to the vest.''
However, even in baseball, common sense can put things in perspective. There is simply no room for competition at catcher, so Damaso Espino will be visiting the minor-league camp soon. Infielders Wilson Valdez and Andy Cannizaro, both non-roster invitees, will follow Espino.
A notch above these players in the Tribe pecking order are first baseman Michael Aubrey, catchers Wyatt Toregas and Chris Gimenez, who is learning to be a jack of all trades. These players are thought to have a future in the big leagues, but not now.
Of course, third baseman Andy Marte remains in camp for now, but he will encamp in the minor-league clubhouse any day now, if he isn't released. In addition, Adam Miller's finger injury has taken him out of the competition for a job in the bullpen.
That means three scarce roster spots — a starting pitcher, reliever and utility player — are being contested by 10 players.
As noted, Wedge is reluctant to even name the primary competitors, let alone who might be leading each race.
But it's clear that Josh Barfield has the edge in the contest to be the final position player chosen. Barfield probably isn't a lock yet. The career second baseman was asked to learn to play the outfield and third base this spring. He has done well in the outfield, but he has struggled at third, both with catching the ball and throwing it.
Barfield's competition is veteran utility player Tony Graffanino, who forever has done all the things Barfield is just learning to do. But Barfield has an edge: At 26, he is 10 years younger than Graffanino and should be a contributor — maybe even as a regular — for many seasons.
With Miller out of the picture, the bullpen competition has plenty of participants, none of whom has really separated himself from the pack. It is this roster spot that might produce the biggest surprise.
In other words, non-roster pitchers Kirk Saarloos, Vinnie Chulk and Matt Herges still have a shot. Zach Jackson, ostensibly in the race to be the No. 5 starter, is really battling for the last job in the bullpen, and he is helped by being accustomed — as is Saarloos, who has started for much of his career — to throwing multiple innings.
Edward Mujica pitched in the Tribe bullpen before, though not for long stretches. He was totally ineffective in his first few spring appearances but has made up a little ground since then.
If Wedge has a favorite, he isn't tipping his hand. Nor should any of these pitchers be packing for Cleveland just yet.
That leaves the three-way battle for the No. 5 starter. In recent outings, Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey and Scott Lewis all have pitched well. Is there a leader in the clubhouse? It might be Lewis, the starter with the least experience.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
GOODYEAR, ARIZ.: Even after cuts that sent 15 players to the minor-league complex this week, 44 players remain in the Indians' training camp.
Of these, 22 have secure roster spots. One pitcher, Jake Westbrook, is rehabbing from Tommy John elbow surgery and probably won't return to the active roster until June.
The rotation consists of Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Carl Pavano and Anthony Reyes, though manager Eric Wedge has not made Reyes' spot official. In the bullpen, closer Kerry Wood, setup men Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt, plus Joe Smith and Masa Kobayashi, are virtually locks to open the season on the roster.
Among the position players, first baseman Ryan Garko, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, third baseman Mark DeRosa, catchers Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach, plus utility infielder Jamey Carroll, own the infield roster spots.
In the outfield, Grady Sizemore, Ben Francisco, Shin-Soo Choo and David Dellucci have made the team. So, too, designated hitter Travis Hafner.
That leaves 21 players in limbo, but not really. Wedge already has said that top prospects Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley will head to the minor-league camp at some point, barring an extraordinary set of circumstances.
In other words, unless at least two outfielders cannot start the season because of injuries, neither of these players has a chance to make the team in spring training. If one outfielder was unable to answer the opening bell April 6, Trevor Crowe, another prospect who already has played at Triple-A, would be given that spot, unless General Manager Mark Shapiro were able to work a trade.
When a reporter asked Wedge earlier in the week to narrow the field of pitchers competing for the final berth in the bullpen, he refused, saying, ''I want to keep that close to the vest.''
However, even in baseball, common sense can put things in perspective. There is simply no room for competition at catcher, so Damaso Espino will be visiting the minor-league camp soon. Infielders Wilson Valdez and Andy Cannizaro, both non-roster invitees, will follow Espino.
A notch above these players in the Tribe pecking order are first baseman Michael Aubrey, catchers Wyatt Toregas and Chris Gimenez, who is learning to be a jack of all trades. These players are thought to have a future in the big leagues, but not now.
Of course, third baseman Andy Marte remains in camp for now, but he will encamp in the minor-league clubhouse any day now, if he isn't released. In addition, Adam Miller's finger injury has taken him out of the competition for a job in the bullpen.
That means three scarce roster spots — a starting pitcher, reliever and utility player — are being contested by 10 players.
As noted, Wedge is reluctant to even name the primary competitors, let alone who might be leading each race.
But it's clear that Josh Barfield has the edge in the contest to be the final position player chosen. Barfield probably isn't a lock yet. The career second baseman was asked to learn to play the outfield and third base this spring. He has done well in the outfield, but he has struggled at third, both with catching the ball and throwing it.
Barfield's competition is veteran utility player Tony Graffanino, who forever has done all the things Barfield is just learning to do. But Barfield has an edge: At 26, he is 10 years younger than Graffanino and should be a contributor — maybe even as a regular — for many seasons.
With Miller out of the picture, the bullpen competition has plenty of participants, none of whom has really separated himself from the pack. It is this roster spot that might produce the biggest surprise.
In other words, non-roster pitchers Kirk Saarloos, Vinnie Chulk and Matt Herges still have a shot. Zach Jackson, ostensibly in the race to be the No. 5 starter, is really battling for the last job in the bullpen, and he is helped by being accustomed — as is Saarloos, who has started for much of his career — to throwing multiple innings.
Edward Mujica pitched in the Tribe bullpen before, though not for long stretches. He was totally ineffective in his first few spring appearances but has made up a little ground since then.
If Wedge has a favorite, he isn't tipping his hand. Nor should any of these pitchers be packing for Cleveland just yet.
That leaves the three-way battle for the No. 5 starter. In recent outings, Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey and Scott Lewis all have pitched well. Is there a leader in the clubhouse? It might be Lewis, the starter with the least experience.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
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