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Do IT this week: Layering
Giving up young pitchers for Carl Crawford, trading Peralta would be wise
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
POSTED: 03:12 p.m. EDT, Sep 29, 2007
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Before Indians fans plunge headlong into the playoffs with their hearts, it might be wise to begin thinking with their heads about next season.
Obviously, this is not a perfect team, American League Central Division title or not. Not that this comes as a surprise. All four AL playoff qualifiers have serious flaws, and each of them is far better off than their lodge brothers in the National League.
Pound for pound, man for man, arm for arm and bat for bat, the Tribe might be farther along the road to perfection than any other franchise in the league. The Indians have two superstar starters in C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona ` and I don't think I'm jumping the gun on Carmona ` plus one of the better No. 3 starters in the game: Jake Westbrook.
That gives the Indians a big edge over almost any other team. Consider what the loss of Francisco Liriano meant to the Minnesota Twins, who had to rely on Johan Santana (and no real top-of-the-line No. 3 starter) to carry the load. And proving that even a two-time Cy Young Award winner isn't Superman, Santana still could pitch only once every five days.
I can't say whether Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro will exercise his option on Joe Borowski, but I presume he will. After all, regardless of Borowski's frailty, he is leading the league in saves. On the other hand, if I were GM, I'd look around at the available closers. I might even think about making Rafael Betancourt the guy who pitches in the ninth with the lead. On the other hand, Betancourt never has had a season like this one ` most pitchers haven't ` and it's far from certain that he will perform in this manner again.
Rafael Perez will be counted on to play an important role in next year's bullpen, and for good reason. Jensen Lewis has solidified his spot on the roster for 2008, and Aaron Fultz has performed capably, but that leaves at least two vacancies and maybe three, depending on how Shapiro views Borowski.
At the moment, it is uncertain whether Tom Mastny will earn a roster spot, and there are no sure-fire phenoms ready to make the climb from the farm system. Edward Mujica and Juan Lara have gotten their toes singed in the big leagues, but Lara, in particular, hasn't pitched nearly enough to make a positive or negative impression.
So count on Shapiro to hit the free-agent lists or possibly make a deal for at least one back-end reliever. David Riske, who has a player option with the Kansas City Royals, might be worth considering, though he is hardly in a class by himself.
As for the rotation beyond the Big Three, the Indians hold a club option on Paul Byrd. Should they exercise it? Byrd is closing in on his second-best season. When was he better? In 2002, he compiled a 17-11 record and 3.90 ERA with the Royals.
That said, he will be 37 when next season begins. Only Barry Bonds has improved at that age, and it is not in Byrd's nature to follow Bonds' example. Moreover, Shapiro has plenty of alternatives: Aaron Laffey, Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers have been through the wars, and each of them has the ability to succeed, given the proper mind-set and a little more seasoning.
Then there's the farm system's top prospect, Adam Miller. Shapiro probably was hoping (counting on might be too strong a phrase) that Miller would make his major-league debut in 2008. Whether he believed that the firethrower would barge his way into the rotation in spring training is another matter. And because Miller lost time due to injuries this year, his timetable probably has been pushed back, at least a little.
Miller does not represent the end of the line for the Tribe regarding minor-league starters who might be close to taking that final and most difficult step, reaching the majors. Yes, I'm setting something up here, so bear with me.
Chuck Lofgren made a move at Double-A Akron (12-7, 4.37 ERA) and was given a chance to start one game at Triple-A Buffalo. Scott Lewis, like Lofgren a left-hander, also pitched well for the Aeros. Both pitchers might be ready to make the jump to the big leagues sometime in 2008.
What I'm getting at is this: The Indians are one of the few teams that can afford to trade a pitcher or two. Why trade pitching? To acquire what they need most, a left-fielder who can hit. I mean really hit. Not just against lefties, not just against righties. Someone who customarily bats .300, amasses 45 or more doubles and triples, produces 80 RBI, scores runs in bunches and steals 50 bases routinely.
I'm talking about Carl Crawford, the ideal No. 2 hitter in any team's lineup. He's 26 and a left-handed batter who is hitting .314 against righties and .318 against left-handers. He plays inside plastic-covered Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but Crawford is not a guy who bounces hits off the turf. He is batting .299 on the artificial stuff and .335 on real grass.
So why would the Rays part with Carl Crawford? They probably wouldn't, at least not unless Shapiro made them a deal they couldn't refuse. Such as giving them pitching. I don't know the combination of pitchers I would offer. Maybe Lee, Laffey and an A-ball semi-prospect. Or how about Sowers and Lofgren plus a kid in the low minors. And I can't say that the Rays would go for it, but I'd make an effort to persuade them, because the lengthy, team-wide batting slumps that plagued the Tribe this year are almost sure to return if something isn't done about the lineup.
Probably like many of you, I bought into the idea that the one thing the Indians didn't have to worry about was offense. That turned out to be a fallacy, and it wasn't just one of those mysterious, ethereal things that people talk about as ‘‘That's baseball.’’ There was a reason.
This team probably has four guys who will make their reputation as excellent hitters: Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko and Travis Hafner (He really was only in a slump). Everyone else is like most players: The ability to hit comes and goes; sometimes a guy is hot, often he isn't. If the Indians could latch on to a left fielder with Crawford's ability, it would give them five top-shelf hitters.
One other thing: It's time to part with Jhonny Peralta, who should be a very tradeable commodity. What's wrong with Peralta? He seems to lapse into periods of inattention; Gbc non-attention Gec he appears to lose focus for weeks at a time. Some baseball people would label him a guy who is not a ‘‘winning player,’’ and I agree.
Asdrubal Cabrera isn't a mirage. This kid has the kind of ability that makes me wonder why someone in the Seattle Mariners' front office didn't get fired when they traded him to the Indians for Eduardo Perez.
Cabrera has been playing second base like a seasoned pro, but he's a better shortstop. Plus, he might turn out to be the team's sixth very good hitter (if Crawford becomes the fifth) in time.
Who would play second if not Cabrera? Josh Barfield is no stiff. What he did for the San Diego Padres in his rookie year of 2006 was real. Like many players who have the misfortune to be successful in their first major-league season, Barfield slumped in his second. But I don't think we saw the genuine article this year. Next season we will.
So there you are. The Indians will never be a perfect team, but they can get closer. The fans' favorite way to do this would be to sign Sabathia. And who knows? It's possible. Right now, that's as optimistic as anyone can be on that topic.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
THE WRITE STUFF
Sheldon:
Born in the mid-’50s, Tribe fan since ’63, tempered by thousands of defeats, disappointed by two near-misses, capable of separating baloney from beef, a realist and a reader of yours since you’re column began.
0-6 against the Yanks, 2-5 against the Red Sox, 5-5 against the Angels and beneficiaries of a soft division, except for the Tigers. I guess that’s why my last name is the same as he apostle who doubted.
John Thomas
Kent
Dear John:
John might have doubted, but in the end he was known as John the Believer. The Tribe does not need a resurrection, only the skill, the determination and the luck to win a few more games. Let me remind you of an apt expression ` and this is not in the Bible ` that carries a lot of weight and might ease your trepidations: ‘‘That’s why they play the games.’’
Sheldon Ocker
Sheldon:
The Indians are in the playoffs. GREAT. What do we do with a one-run lead in the ninth? Joe Borowski is scarier on the mound in that situation than Bob Wickman. I know that Borowski is probably going to lead the league in saves, but I led my house in bottles of Pepto-Bismol drank because of him.
Tom McCallum
Wadsworth
Dear Tom:
What do you propose to do about it? The Indians probably could sign Goose Gossage or Rollie Fingers, but I’m guessing that wouldn’t help. Besides, Halloween is supposed to be a scary time of the year ` and you’re supposed to like it. If I were you, I’d worry about getting a lead in the ninth, not keeping it.
S.O.
Sheldon:
My PROPOSAL: C.C. worth $30 million on the market. Sign him at 25 for three years. He makes 16.250 million first year and loses $5 million last two + five.
Money for cutting:
Borowski $4 million
Byrd $7 million
Nixon $3 million
Dellucci $3.75 million
Michaels $2.05 million
Now if they still have more time on contracts, trade them for whatever they can get. Other teams and even the Indians are proving that kids are the new future for MLB. We don’t need washed up vets. Also consider Lofton and Blake.
Richard Bragg
Richfield
Dear Richard:
My proposal: Return immediately to fourth grade and learn how to write a sentence.
S.O.
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Before Indians fans plunge headlong into the playoffs with their hearts, it might be wise to begin thinking with their heads about next season.
Obviously, this is not a perfect team, American League Central Division title or not. Not that this comes as a surprise. All four AL playoff qualifiers have serious flaws, and each of them is far better off than their lodge brothers in the National League.
Pound for pound, man for man, arm for arm and bat for bat, the Tribe might be farther along the road to perfection than any other franchise in the league. The Indians have two superstar starters in C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona ` and I don't think I'm jumping the gun on Carmona ` plus one of the better No. 3 starters in the game: Jake Westbrook.
That gives the Indians a big edge over almost any other team. Consider what the loss of Francisco Liriano meant to the Minnesota Twins, who had to rely on Johan Santana (and no real top-of-the-line No. 3 starter) to carry the load. And proving that even a two-time Cy Young Award winner isn't Superman, Santana still could pitch only once every five days.
I can't say whether Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro will exercise his option on Joe Borowski, but I presume he will. After all, regardless of Borowski's frailty, he is leading the league in saves. On the other hand, if I were GM, I'd look around at the available closers. I might even think about making Rafael Betancourt the guy who pitches in the ninth with the lead. On the other hand, Betancourt never has had a season like this one ` most pitchers haven't ` and it's far from certain that he will perform in this manner again.
Rafael Perez will be counted on to play an important role in next year's bullpen, and for good reason. Jensen Lewis has solidified his spot on the roster for 2008, and Aaron Fultz has performed capably, but that leaves at least two vacancies and maybe three, depending on how Shapiro views Borowski.
At the moment, it is uncertain whether Tom Mastny will earn a roster spot, and there are no sure-fire phenoms ready to make the climb from the farm system. Edward Mujica and Juan Lara have gotten their toes singed in the big leagues, but Lara, in particular, hasn't pitched nearly enough to make a positive or negative impression.
So count on Shapiro to hit the free-agent lists or possibly make a deal for at least one back-end reliever. David Riske, who has a player option with the Kansas City Royals, might be worth considering, though he is hardly in a class by himself.
As for the rotation beyond the Big Three, the Indians hold a club option on Paul Byrd. Should they exercise it? Byrd is closing in on his second-best season. When was he better? In 2002, he compiled a 17-11 record and 3.90 ERA with the Royals.
That said, he will be 37 when next season begins. Only Barry Bonds has improved at that age, and it is not in Byrd's nature to follow Bonds' example. Moreover, Shapiro has plenty of alternatives: Aaron Laffey, Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers have been through the wars, and each of them has the ability to succeed, given the proper mind-set and a little more seasoning.
Then there's the farm system's top prospect, Adam Miller. Shapiro probably was hoping (counting on might be too strong a phrase) that Miller would make his major-league debut in 2008. Whether he believed that the firethrower would barge his way into the rotation in spring training is another matter. And because Miller lost time due to injuries this year, his timetable probably has been pushed back, at least a little.
Miller does not represent the end of the line for the Tribe regarding minor-league starters who might be close to taking that final and most difficult step, reaching the majors. Yes, I'm setting something up here, so bear with me.
Chuck Lofgren made a move at Double-A Akron (12-7, 4.37 ERA) and was given a chance to start one game at Triple-A Buffalo. Scott Lewis, like Lofgren a left-hander, also pitched well for the Aeros. Both pitchers might be ready to make the jump to the big leagues sometime in 2008.
What I'm getting at is this: The Indians are one of the few teams that can afford to trade a pitcher or two. Why trade pitching? To acquire what they need most, a left-fielder who can hit. I mean really hit. Not just against lefties, not just against righties. Someone who customarily bats .300, amasses 45 or more doubles and triples, produces 80 RBI, scores runs in bunches and steals 50 bases routinely.
I'm talking about Carl Crawford, the ideal No. 2 hitter in any team's lineup. He's 26 and a left-handed batter who is hitting .314 against righties and .318 against left-handers. He plays inside plastic-covered Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but Crawford is not a guy who bounces hits off the turf. He is batting .299 on the artificial stuff and .335 on real grass.
So why would the Rays part with Carl Crawford? They probably wouldn't, at least not unless Shapiro made them a deal they couldn't refuse. Such as giving them pitching. I don't know the combination of pitchers I would offer. Maybe Lee, Laffey and an A-ball semi-prospect. Or how about Sowers and Lofgren plus a kid in the low minors. And I can't say that the Rays would go for it, but I'd make an effort to persuade them, because the lengthy, team-wide batting slumps that plagued the Tribe this year are almost sure to return if something isn't done about the lineup.
Probably like many of you, I bought into the idea that the one thing the Indians didn't have to worry about was offense. That turned out to be a fallacy, and it wasn't just one of those mysterious, ethereal things that people talk about as ‘‘That's baseball.’’ There was a reason.
This team probably has four guys who will make their reputation as excellent hitters: Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko and Travis Hafner (He really was only in a slump). Everyone else is like most players: The ability to hit comes and goes; sometimes a guy is hot, often he isn't. If the Indians could latch on to a left fielder with Crawford's ability, it would give them five top-shelf hitters.
One other thing: It's time to part with Jhonny Peralta, who should be a very tradeable commodity. What's wrong with Peralta? He seems to lapse into periods of inattention; Gbc non-attention Gec he appears to lose focus for weeks at a time. Some baseball people would label him a guy who is not a ‘‘winning player,’’ and I agree.
Asdrubal Cabrera isn't a mirage. This kid has the kind of ability that makes me wonder why someone in the Seattle Mariners' front office didn't get fired when they traded him to the Indians for Eduardo Perez.
Cabrera has been playing second base like a seasoned pro, but he's a better shortstop. Plus, he might turn out to be the team's sixth very good hitter (if Crawford becomes the fifth) in time.
Who would play second if not Cabrera? Josh Barfield is no stiff. What he did for the San Diego Padres in his rookie year of 2006 was real. Like many players who have the misfortune to be successful in their first major-league season, Barfield slumped in his second. But I don't think we saw the genuine article this year. Next season we will.
So there you are. The Indians will never be a perfect team, but they can get closer. The fans' favorite way to do this would be to sign Sabathia. And who knows? It's possible. Right now, that's as optimistic as anyone can be on that topic.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
THE WRITE STUFF
Sheldon:
Born in the mid-’50s, Tribe fan since ’63, tempered by thousands of defeats, disappointed by two near-misses, capable of separating baloney from beef, a realist and a reader of yours since you’re column began.
0-6 against the Yanks, 2-5 against the Red Sox, 5-5 against the Angels and beneficiaries of a soft division, except for the Tigers. I guess that’s why my last name is the same as he apostle who doubted.
John Thomas
Kent
Dear John:
John might have doubted, but in the end he was known as John the Believer. The Tribe does not need a resurrection, only the skill, the determination and the luck to win a few more games. Let me remind you of an apt expression ` and this is not in the Bible ` that carries a lot of weight and might ease your trepidations: ‘‘That’s why they play the games.’’
Sheldon Ocker
Sheldon:
The Indians are in the playoffs. GREAT. What do we do with a one-run lead in the ninth? Joe Borowski is scarier on the mound in that situation than Bob Wickman. I know that Borowski is probably going to lead the league in saves, but I led my house in bottles of Pepto-Bismol drank because of him.
Tom McCallum
Wadsworth
Dear Tom:
What do you propose to do about it? The Indians probably could sign Goose Gossage or Rollie Fingers, but I’m guessing that wouldn’t help. Besides, Halloween is supposed to be a scary time of the year ` and you’re supposed to like it. If I were you, I’d worry about getting a lead in the ninth, not keeping it.
S.O.
Sheldon:
My PROPOSAL: C.C. worth $30 million on the market. Sign him at 25 for three years. He makes 16.250 million first year and loses $5 million last two + five.
Money for cutting:
Borowski $4 million
Byrd $7 million
Nixon $3 million
Dellucci $3.75 million
Michaels $2.05 million
Now if they still have more time on contracts, trade them for whatever they can get. Other teams and even the Indians are proving that kids are the new future for MLB. We don’t need washed up vets. Also consider Lofton and Blake.
Richard Bragg
Richfield
Dear Richard:
My proposal: Return immediately to fourth grade and learn how to write a sentence.
S.O.
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