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Do IT this week: Layering
Numbers giving Indians good reason to consider keeping versatile infielder
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008
ANAHEIM, CALIF.: With his contract set to expire in October, there is no guarantee that Casey Blake will return to the Indians next year.
Here is what the team might be missing if Blake is jettisoned: He is third in the club in runs (45) and homers (11); second in doubles (23), walks (33) and on-base percentage (.363) and first in RBI (58), batting average — players with more than .250 at-bats — (.287) and in average with runners in scoring position (.402).
The rest of the team is batting a collective .254 with runners on second or third.
''I don't really think about it,'' Blake said of his impending free agency. ''It's a long way off. I think I'll be in a good position, but I've learned not to look ahead too far and not to look in the past. I try to live in the moment.''
To Blake's advantage is his versatility. He can play third, first and the corner outfield positions with above-average skill. His one handicap: He will be 35 in August, so it would be unrealistic for him to expect more than a three-year deal, and more likely, he will be offered guarantees of not more than two seasons.
But will the Indians try to keep him? If not, who will play third base? There seems to be a reluctance on the part of management to commit to Blake, probably because he is making $6.1 million this year and will command more in 2009 and beyond.
So it remains to be seen whether General Manager Mark Shapiro will stick with the known or opt to take a chance on Andy Marte or go outside the organization.
''If you asked me six or seven years ago if I would be in
this position, I would say probably no,'' Blake said.
''This came to me because of the opportunity I got with the Indians. I was blessed with a chance to prove myself. Not everybody gets that chance.''
Blake was an unknown utility player with the Minnesota Twins when he was signed by the Tribe in December 2002. He came to spring training in 2003 and won the third-base job by default. He has kept it — and sometimes played first and the outfield — by far exceeding expectations.
''Casey is a very mature player,'' manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday.
''He is the consummate professional. He is a much bigger part of this team than people realize. Part of that is his personality and attitude in the clubhouse. He has always been a great teammate.''
For his first five years in Cleveland, Blake averaged 32 doubles, 21 home runs and 72 RBI, while compiling a .264 batting average.
He has a chance to exceed each of those numbers this season.
''I'm proud of the way I came out of that early season funk,'' he said.
''But it's tough with the team not being where we want it to be. It's tough to think about personal statistics.''
One statistic that plagued him last year was hitting .190 with runners in scoring position, a figure that made him a target of the fans and some members of the media. Blake thinks the statistic is overblown.
''All my hits early this season happened to come with runners in scoring position, and I mean just about every hit,'' he said. ''But I didn't fare so well when guys weren't in scoring position.''
In Blake's mind, it's a matter of luck. ''Yeah, that's what happens,'' he said.
Blake does concede that stress might be a factor in the outcome of a hitter's at-bat.
''Maybe in that situation, you might be pressing,'' he said. ''This year, for some reason, I'm not. Whether it's because I'm older and wiser, I don't know.''
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
ANAHEIM, CALIF.: With his contract set to expire in October, there is no guarantee that Casey Blake will return to the Indians next year.
Get the full article here.
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