Houston Hold Indians To Split Series

As we get ready to enter the month of May your Cleveland Indians are 15-12.

This is despite Jose Ramirez, an MVP candidate in 2018, looking like a malfunctioning android at the plate. He is batting .188 with 2 homers for a 51 wRC+.

This is despite the team's heart and soul, Francisco Lindor, missing all of spring training and most of April with injuries. The shortstop only returned on April 20, and has already hit 3 home runs in eight games.

This is with an outfield so patched together that it's a daily challenge to remember who is still on the roster and who is in Triple-A. No, Oscar Mercado is not on the 25-man roster, but Jordan Luplow is.

With all of the uncertainty surrounding the team this year, for them to possess a 15-12 record at the end of April (a month the Indians historically struggle in), it's okay. It's not amazing, it's not impressive, but it's decent.

Things could be worse. Just ask Boston.

The Tribe completed a four-game set in Houston this weekend, against those pesky Astros responsible for our ignominious ALDS exit last year, and managed to split the series two games apiece. Let's go over some of the talking points from the series, some of the positives and negatives to take away from Minute Maid Park.

The Good

Trevor Bauer toed the rubber for game one of the series and continued his fine start to the season with another dominant outing and victory in a 2-1 Tribe win.

Faced against his old UCLA teammate Gerrit Cole, the pair of premier pitchers put on a pitching masterclass, but it was Bauer who came out on top. The 28 year-old worked 8 innings and gave up just 4 hits and 1 run (an early homer by George Springer). Strangely, Bauer surrendered 6 walks and struck out just 3 batters, but was able to pitch so deep into the game thanks to his ability to induce weak contact from the Houston lineup. He wasn't even experiencing difficulties with his pitches - the last two fastballs he threw clocked in at 97.1 and 97.6 mph, his fastest of the night.

Bauer has long enjoyed success against the Astros, and is one of just two active pitchers who have made nine starts against Houston without recording a loss (the other pitcher is Justin Verlander, who plays for them!)

He didn't hesitate to savor the moment either, reigniting his feud with Astros third baseman Alex Bregman on social media:

👋🏻👋🏻 @ABREG_1 #TakeItBack #RallyTogether @astros @Indians @MLBNetwork @IntentionalTalk @barstoolsports @Starting9 pic.twitter.com/koQV8vD5ph

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) April 27, 2019

Bauer kept Bregman hitless and celebrated the only way Bauer knows how. For a recap of their ongoing battle, check out MLB.com's recent rundown containing all their history.

Another highlight of the series was the Indians' timely hitting - both victories in the series lent themselves to key hits at important moments.

In Bauer's game one start, the lineup provided him with limited run support but thankfully Leonys Martin and Jake Bauers each launched a solo homer to back their starter. Martin had a pair of home runs in the series and Bauers, whilst not as eye-catching as Yandy Diaz perhaps (the man he was traded for), is developing into a considerable presence at the plate. The young Bauers had a hit in every game of the series, batting 5-for-13 overall.

Clutch hitting was responsible for the Tribe's second victory as well. After starter Corey Kluber battled through 5 innings and 3 earned runs, the bullpen took over and were superb (especially Brad Hand), managing to keep them off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

It was up to the Indians hitters to rescue the day and with the score tied in the top of the 7th inning, Tyler Naquin emerged as the unlikely hero. Naquin crushed a 95mph fastball into the gap in right-center field for a huge double, plating Greg Allen to push the Indians ahead. In the top of the 9th, Lindor put the result beyond doubt with a 2-run shot to opposite field, sealing the 6-3 victory. It was his second home run of the day, and the 101st of his career.

The Bad

Jason Kipnis began the season on the injured list but returned to the team on April 15th and played well, bringing some much-needed stability to the lineup. Kip batted .308 in his first seven games back and I for one was happy to see him out there.

Sadly that nice little run came to an abrupt end in Houston, as Kipnis went 0-for-16 against the Astros with 5 strikeouts. His average has since plummeted to .190 and the "out with Kipnis" naysayers have returned. It didn't take them long did it?

It's an incredibly small sample against one of the best teams in the league, so I think Kipnis, after his many years of service to Cleveland, deserves to be cut some slack before fans start calling for his head. The idea that Brad Miller should have been retained on the roster at Kip's expense, based purely on their April numbers, is laughable.

Kipnis certainly wasn't alone in his struggles against the Astros. Carlos Carrasco was enjoying a fine day on the mound before being stung late in the 7th inning, taking the loss in 4-1 defeat that secured Houston a split series.

Carrasco was cruising through the Astros' lineup, and had a 1-0 lead thanks to a Carlos Santana home run from the 4th inning. He ran into serious trouble in the 7th though, when a Michael Brantley (ouch) single marked the beginning of the end for the Venezuelan native.

The Astros tied the game when a Yuli Gurriel double scored Brantley, but it was the decision to intentionally walk Josh Reddick that came back to bite the Indians. Reddick was issued a free pass in favor of Robinson Chirinos and theoretically the move made some sense; Reddick entered the day with a .354 average, and Chirinos was batting .279. Terry Francona chose to attack the seemingly inferior player.

With two outs and men on first and second, Carrasco tried to muscle a low and inside fastball past Chirinos but the big Venezuelan wasn't fooled and absolutely destroyed the ball for a 3-run homer.

Carrasco was rocked and didn't recover. Two straight singles later and he was toasted; within the span of 14 pitches Carrasco's terrific performance was completely undone and the Tribe couldn't come back. The score remained 4-1 to Houston.

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The Indians move on from Texas and enjoy an off day before they take on the Marlins for a brief two game series in Miami.

Perhaps the Florida sunshine is just what this team needs.

Don't Forget About Me: Leonys Martin

When the Indians acquired center fielder Leonys Martin from the Tigers on July 30 2018, it was not the type of trade deadline move many fans had hoped for. Martin’s addition to the roster was a very practical but unheralded move by the Indians and immediately addressed one of the team's biggest needs, upgrading their poor outfield defense.

Martin made a good first impression with his new team, batting .333 with two homers and four RBIs over his first 6 games. Thanks to an adjustment on his launch angle (16.2 degrees, compared to his career 10.6 degree mark), Martin was set to have more of an impact with his bat than perhaps the Indians had originally anticipated.

Just over a week into his tenure in Cleveland, Martin began to feel significant pain in his mid section and sadly would not feature for the Indians again in 2018. It was discovered that Martin had contracted a life-threatening bacterial infection in his bloodstream that attacked his internal organs and even his heart. The situation looked dire when Martin spent nearly a week in intensive care, fighting for his life. At that point, his baseball career was no longer the top priority - his health and a full recovery was of the utmost importance instead.

Thankfully, Martin and his doctors in Cleveland got the infection under control and in late November he was given the all-clear, and could begin the slow and steady rehabilitation process ahead of the 2019 season.

From almost losing his life to preparing for his ninth season in the majors, Martin has certainly experienced his fair share of drama during his brief time in Cleveland.

Now reportedly back to full fitness and with spring training on the horizon, Martin enters camp as one of the forgotten contributors on this Indians team. However, despite flying under the radar, he will be absolutely integral to the Tribe's defense, especially when you consider the uncertainty still prevalent in this outfield. His veteran presence and consistency will be depended on if he finds himself flanked in the corners by the relatively unproven duo of Jordan Luplow and Tyler Naquin. Unless the club make any more outfield signings or trades in the coming weeks, that's the situation Martin should expect come Opening Day.

Martin will be 31 years-old once the season begins so his status as Cleveland's everyday center fielder may change as the year goes on, dependent on performance, but for now he's surely penciled in as the starter. It is wise to temper our expectations with Martin though; he is returning from a pretty significant setback to his body, which may take longer to recover from than originally thought. Martin's prowess at the plate has never been his defining attribute but if he can hit to a league-average level from the bottom half of the lineup, then his overall contribution will be of immense value to the Indians, particularly when he costs just $3 million this year. His defensive contributions should validate his playing time alone.

2019 is essentially a second chance for Martin and his Indians career, after his brief and unfortunate start last August. The left-handed hitting Cuban is considered by most to be the consensus choice for the team's best outfielder, and in the absence of Michael Brantley (newly relocated to Houston), Martin will be essential if the Tribe harbor hopes of winning the AL Central for a fourth consecutive year.

Gomes Propels Indians To First Series Win

On Sunday afternoon, at a frigid Progressive Field, the Indians sealed their first series win of 2018 in walk-off fashion, when Yan Gomes took a Brandon Maurer pitch over the left field wall for a 2-run blast that knocked out the Kansas City Royals in a grueling 3-1 Tribe victory.

With one out in the ninth inning and Erik Gonzalez pinch running at first base, Gomes battled Maurer in an epic at-bat, fouling off pitch after pitch. With a full count, Gomes watched a low pitch and absolutely golfed it. I was certain the ball would die in the wind, as so many fly balls had done previously throughout the series, but it kept carrying, over the heads of the Royals outfielders, before ricocheting off the fans in left field.

It was a euphoric finish to what had been an arduous afternoon of baseball. My arms were raised in joy as the crowd went wild, but they were also raised in relief. I don’t think I could have endured extra innings, of having to watch more scoreless baseball.

A moment that stood out to me: as Gomes completed his postgame interview with Andre Knott (SportsTime Ohio’s sideline broadcaster), he walked back to the dugout to collect his catcher’s gear. With his chest protector safely tucked under his arm, Gomes turned around to catch the replay of his walk-off blast playing on the big screen in center field. As Tom Hamilton called the winning play, Gomes gave a nod of modest satisfaction, with the smallest hint of a smile on his face. It was a classy moment for the Brazilian backstop, and endeared him to me even more.

Let’s take a peak at some of the talking points from the Tribe’s first home stand of this season:

Cleveland In April: Where Fly Balls Go To Die

This entire series was heavily affected by the weather conditions and both team’s offensive output suffered as a result. To any fans reading this who were in the stands, I salute you.

The Indians’ offense have hardly started 2018 on a tear but their first home stand really ground things to a halt. It was evident right from the start of the home opener on Friday afternoon: anything hit in the air was not going far.

The strength of the wind knocked down everything, and outfielders often found themselves having to break inward on line drives, instead of ranging back as they usually would. The wind helped the ball settle nicely into their gloves, whereas most of those hits would have resulted in extra bases on a normal day. Jason Kipnis in particular had a couple of long fly-outs over the weekend that could have been doubles at the very least in normal conditions. Sunday’s rubber game was reported to be 32℉, the coldest regular season game in Progressive Field history, even though the sun was shining all day.

Brantley Returns and Offensive Woes

Michael Brantley made his return to the club just in time for Friday afternoon’s home opener, and made an instant impact.

After Tribe starter Carlos Carrasco scuffled in the first inning and put the Indians in an early 2-0 hole, Royals’ starter Danny Duffy followed suit and found himself in hot water too. Duffy couldn’t find his location and Brantley made him pay in his first at-bat. With the bases loaded and the Indians trailing 2-1, Brantley stepped into the batters box and lined a single into right field to score two runs and put the home side ahead 3-2. It turned out to be the last runs of the day, as Carrasco and Duffy began a pitchers duel from the second inning onward, and the Indians held on for the win.

In fact, the Indians didn’t score another run until the eighth inning of Sunday’s game. That’s 23 consecutive innings, the longest scoring drought in Terry Francona’s tenure as Cleveland manager. That’s a measure of just how bad this series was for the Tribe offense.

Despite their anemic hitting, the Indians prevailed, outscoring the Royals 6-4 for the two-to-one series win.

Here are some other snippets of note during the series:

• Tyler Naquin was sent down to Triple-A before Friday’s opener, to make room for Brantley’s return. However, Naquin never made it to Colombus, as Lonnie Chisenhall hurt himself early in Saturday’s game (calf strain) and was placed on the 10-day DL. Estimates are predicting Chisenhall could miss 4-6 weeks, so Naquin has been gifted another opportunity to impress. I expect he will split time in right field with Brandon Guyer, and spell Brantley in left field as the veteran eases his way back into regular everyday play.
• Mike Clevinger got the start on Sunday and was superb over 7.1 innings. Despite being far from sharp (often pitching behind in the count), Clevinger really battled, both the elements and the Royals. The right-hander scattered 9 hits, issued 2 walks and struck out 4. This outing was a career high for him in terms of length, both in innings pitched and total number of pitches (110). 
• Trevor Bauer pitched an absolute gem on Saturday, and was very unlucky to lose, as the offense couldn’t back him at all in a 1-0 loss. Kansas City’s lone run came from a Lucas Duda solo shot, the only mistake Bauer made over 8 stellar innings. Bauer’s off-speed pitches were especially nice to watch, and he struck out 7 Royals, only giving up 3 hits and 2 walks over 100 pitches. His maturity on the mound has impressed me a lot so far this year.

Cleveland now have a 4-5 record and will remain at home, as they host Detroit for a four game series. The Tribe are expected to send Corey Kluber to the mound in a bid to continue their winning ways, and gain some early momentum in this young season.

Opening Day Roster Taking Shape

The Indians had a burst of roster activity yesterday when Terry Francona informed reporters that Rajai Davis and Erik Gonzalez will both be on the Opening Day roster. Davis will be the veteran outfield presence off the bench, with the ability to run and steal on the basepaths, and Gonzalez will be the Tribe's utility infielder, after he impressed this spring.

Gonzalez is the beneficiary of Giovanny Urshela's recent hamstring injury, meaning he will begin the season on the disabled list. Recovery is expected to take a couple of weeks. Both men have enjoyed successful pre-seasons but offensively, Urshela (.500/.512/.857 in 42 at-bats, 1.369 OPS) had the edge on Gonzalez (.300/.364/.350 in 40 at-bats, .714 OPS). Urshela's injury is bad luck indeed but the window is now open for Gonzalez to make the most of this opportunity.

There were some other moves and updates:

• Mike Napoli has been released but plans are in place to resign him. Discussions have taken place about Napoli starting the season at Triple-A Columbus but credit to him, Napoli doesn't want to block a prospect's path to the majors by eating into their playing time. A decision will be reached within the next few days if he decides to try his luck elsewhere. 
• Greg Allen was reassigned to Triple-A Columbus to start the year, as expected. The club want him playing everyday at this stage in his career, not just getting one at-bat a week off the bench. I like this decision and it will benefit Allen's development long-term. He shouldn't be rushed and the Indians don't necessarily need him right now.

• Right-handed reliever Alexi Ogando was re-assigned to minor league camp and will start the year in Columbus as well. The 34 year-old pitched 10 innings this spring with 13 strikeouts and 5 walks, with a 1.80 ERA, and by all accounts made a good impression with the management. Apparently the organisation plans to use him as a starter for the Clippers. Francona said, "We want to get him stretched out at Triple-A. The reason being he can always pitch out of the bullpen, but if he starts to get stretched he has a better chance and he can use all his pitches, including his change up." If Ogando can be utilised as a starter, he could be a very valuable depth asset in the rotation.
• No decision has been made on outfielders Tyler Naquin and Rob Refsnyder yet, but Naquin is considered by most to be the leading candidate. I only wrote recently about the 26 year-old and his chances of breaking camp with the team. The choice on who to choose will likely depend as much on their performances as it does on the health of  Michael Brantley and Brandon Guyer, and if they are ready to open the season. The decision on how many relievers to start the year with will also probably have an impact on Naquin and Refsnyder's immediate future.
• Finally, left-handed pitcher Ryan Merritt, who is out of options, is still wondering where his place will be. He'll likely hear what Francona's decision will be today. Merritt has not enjoyed the best spring training, throwing 9.2 innings and surrendering 17 hits and 10 earned runs, for a bloated 9.31 ERA, to go along with 10 strikeouts and just 1 walk. Alarmingly he gave up 4 home runs in this short period of time. I've always liked Merritt a lot but I think his future will be somewhere else.

That's a lot of excitement for one day, and I expect we'll start to see the final decisions come through over the course of this weekend. 

Thursday's trip to Seattle to start the season can't come soon enough.

There's Something About Tyler

When the Indians arrived in camp to begin their spring preparations ahead of the 2018 season, Tyler Naquin was on the very edge of my radar as a potential Indians player. In the race for a spot on this club’s Opening Day roster, I had hardly factored him in at all.

That was before last night. Settled on my sofa, on a cold Sunday evening to watch a split-squad Indians team take on the Mariners, with snow still on the ground in below-freezing England, Mr Naquin suddenly reappeared in my sights.

The 26 year-old outfielder, and former 1st-round draft pick, all of a sudden made me sit up and pay attention. Naquin swung the bat really well against Seattle, recording 3 hits in 4 at-bats, and recording 2 RBI in an Indians rout. Each swing of the bat felt like it had a real message behind it, every hit a statement, declaring that Naquin deserved your attention.

I hear what you’re saying though; It’s one meaningless spring training game, in a month full of meaningless games. You’re right, 100% correct, but for Naquin these games are anything but meaningless. These are the only games he’s got to make an impression. So far this spring, Naquin is slashing .282/.349/.538 (BA/OBP/SLG) for an .887 OPS, with 2 home runs and 6 RBI over the course of 39 at-bats.

Not bad, but not enough perhaps to really change Terry Francona’s mind (so far). When Naquin burst onto the scene in the spring of 2016, he slashed .397/.444/.759 for an 1.203 OPS, with 4 home runs, over 58 at-bats. It was enough to earn him a place as a starter on a team that made the World Series.

Two years later, Naquin’s prospects don’t look quite as rosy. The folks at Fangraphs predicted Naquin’s impact in 2018 to be limited at best. Their quick opinion was scathing, declaring Naquin a ‘complete non-factor’ ahead of this season. Ouch.

In their defense, his 2017 numbers don’t help his case much. Naquin had just 40 plate appearances with the Indians last year, despite being an integral piece of the successful 2016 squad (when he accumulated 365 at-bats). He spent the rest of 2017 at Triple-A Columbus, where he performed very well: 10 home runs, 51 RBI, a .298/.359/.475 slashline in 330 plate appearances.

However, when a center field position became available, the club turned to Bradley Zimmer, another bright outfield prospect, and never looked back. Zimmer looks to have usurped Naquin as the chosen center fielder of the Indians’ future.

Naquin’s future as an Indian isn’t over by any means. With Michael Brantley easing his way back into the lineup, and with doubts still surrounding his longevity, there could be room for Naquin to spell the veteran left fielder from time-to-time, maybe even replace him entirely if the injury bug strikes Brantley once again. Brantley’s return to health appears to be on schedule however, with Opening Day a distinct possibility, becoming more achievable with every passing day.

Therefore, a bench role would appear to be the most realistic target in Naquin’s crosshairs, especially for a junior player on a contending club like Cleveland.

However, he faces yet another obstacle in his path. Naquin is a left-handed hitter, and by all accounts a solid one. Unfortunately for him, the Indians lineup is already loaded with left-handed hitters, with all three projected starting outfielders (Brantley, Zimmer and Chisenhall) batting from that side of the plate.

What the Tribe could really benefit from is a right-handed hitter off the bench. Coincidentally, they had three such hitters vying for spots on this team: Rajai Davis, Melvin Upton Jr., and Brandon Barnes.

As of this afternoon, news just broke that Upton and Barnes are out of the running. Barnes was the quintessential darkhorse of the trio, and with a .143 batting average in 35 at-bats so far this spring, was unlikely to stick with the Indians when they broke camp. He has since been reassigned to the minors. Upton has been released entirely, the 33 year-old failing to make the impact he would have hoped. His numbers this spring (37 AB, .189/.250/.297 slashline, and 1 HR) tell the story.

Davis has realistic ambitions though, and the veteran is now Naquin's direct competition for a bench spot. Davis is also a known quantity, having made such a positive impact in 2016, so he likely had the advantage over Upton and Barnes, and possibly still possesses an edge over Naquin.

Ultimately, Naquin is probably going to have to rely on some breaks going his way if he wants to see significant playing time in Cleveland this year. Much as it pains me to say it, injuries to key players do happen, and a guy like Naquin needs to stay ready for that sort of opportunity.

It might be the only one he gets.

Sonny Days Or Gray Clouds Ahead?

Sonny Gray is a quality pitcher. At the time of writing, everyone wants a piece of Sonny Gray. He's the hottest girl in school, and guys are lining up to ask him to prom.

He had a rough go of it in 2016, thanks to injuries and inconsistency, but so far this season he looks close to the Sonny Gray of old, the All Star pitcher from 2015. The 27 year-old is probably the most fawned over player on the trade block this month and the Oakland A's have a bevy of suitors willing to part with some golden nuggets in exchange for his services. Contending clubs left and right are putting together prospect packages for Gray, and the Indians are rumored to be one of those clubs. Whoever snags him will have to pay a heavy price however, as demand for starting pitchers this summer is high. A lot of clubs are in the market to upgrade their rotation, and the A's ace represents a significant upgrade for many.

Today I thought I'd run through some potential trade ideas the Tribe could fashion together to entice Oakland to part with their ace pitcher. It's no secret that Cleveland's rotation has been out of sorts this season, with only Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco performing well (although Mike Clevinger is developing nicely). The addition of an arm like Gray's would certainly boost the Indian's chances of success in the postseason.

On paper he looks to be a good match for the Tribe; he's under club control until 2020 and is having a strong season: a 3.72 ERA in 84.2 innings of work, with 79 strikeouts, all for a 113 ERA+ and a 5-4 record. He's been improving as the season has progressed, and his last 3 weeks have been superb, including a 6 inning, 2 hit shutout victory against the Indians on July 14th.

I'll rank the following potential deals with different grades, ranging from "In A Heartbeat" to "Over My Dead Body." Simple enough? Let's begin:

Trade Scenario 1

Oakland trade RHP Sonny Gray
Cleveland trade C Francisco Mejia

How about a straight up trade of Oakland's best pitcher for Cleveland's best prospect? I really like Sonny Gray, and have for a few years now, but I am firmly against giving up Mejia for him. I consider Gray a top of the rotation kind of guy but he's not elite enough to surrender a prospect who could become a marquee catcher for the next decade. With Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez struggling to prove themselves as long-term solutions (their sublime defense aside), Mejia's value is currently much higher to the Indians than it would be for the A's. In the very near future, catcher is looking like a position of real need for the Tribe so it doesn't make sense to jettison the one man already under control who could solve the problem. Catchers that can hit like Mejia don't come around very often; at Double-A Akron, the young backstop is slashing .336/.385/.552 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 10 home runs, 35 RBI and 5 stolen bases. Scouts and experts absolutely rave about the kid's hitting skills, and grade him high defensively too.

Mejia is the sole trade chip the Indians can dangle in front of Oakland that could persuade the A's to ignore the treasures offered by other interested clubs, but if I were Indians Team President Chris Antonetti, I would not be willing to risk losing a future star like Mejia. Even for an admittedly great pitcher like Gray.

Trade rating: Over My Dead Body

Trade Scenario 2

Oakland trade RHP Sonny Gray
Cleveland trade CF Tyler Naquin and RHP Triston McKenzie

This is more like it. Naquin narrowly missed out on winning the AL Rookie of the Year award last season and McKenzie is widely ranked as the Indians' number 2 prospect overall, and their top pitching prospect. The real jewel in this deal would be McKenzie but Naquin is a nice bonus. He's not had the best 2017 campaign so far, spending most of his time at Triple-A Columbus, but he's still young enough to retain some of his former value.  The potential is still there. Would the A's go for someone like Naquin? Given their history of taking guys seemingly off the scrapheap and getting production from them, I think they'd be more open to the idea than perhaps you might think.

Many fans consider McKenzie a 'hands-off' prospect in the same category as Mejia but I have other feelings. My thinking is this: McKenzie could be a superstar, but trading him for a pitcher already established as above-average when the rest of your team is so agonizingly close to competing for a championship, it's a no-brainer. Yes, there's some risk involved with Gray's injury history, so the Indians need to be absolutely sure he's back to full health. If the A's were willing, the Indians could trade McKenzie for Gray in a straight swap, but considering the young pitcher hasn't even reached Double-A yet, Oakland would almost certainly need a sweetener. Naquin could be that guy.

Trade rating: In A Heartbeat

Trade Scenario 3

Oakland trade RHP Sonny Gray
Cleveland trade CF Greg Allen, LHP Brady Aiken and SS Erik Gonzalez

Despite Brady Aiken being ranked above Greg Allen on most prospect boards, I actually think the loss of Allen is more significant in this trade. I absolutely love Allen. If Zimmer wasn't blocking his direct path to the majors, he'd be on track to contribute for the Indians within the next two years. As it currently stands, he still could, but Zimmer has started his career in the majors so well that it looks like Allen will have great difficulty forcing his way onto the big club roster. As a result, the young outfielder has become a pretty good trade chip, one that could come in very handy to acquire a player of Gray's caliber.

Aiken and Gonzalez aren't exactly throw-ins either. Aiken, despite his struggles this year (a 4.10 ERA and 14.1% strikeout percentage at A-ball Lake County), is still considered a top prospect and the former first round draft pick has time on his side to redeem himself.

Gonzalez has featured in 25 major league games this season and has performed well, and is likely to see an increase in playing time until Jason Kipnis returns from the disabled list. This is his opportunity to put himself in the shop window, as the Tribe's infield is already crowded with talent. Similar to Allen, it will be difficult to break into an established group of All Stars, so Gonzalez's future as a major league infielder could lie elsewhere.

The major difficulty with this trade is it's attractiveness. You just know that clubs like the Yankees and Astros have more frills to woo Oakland with, so I don't expect a deal like this would be tempting enough. However it's a win-win for the Indians if they could pull it off and persuade the A's to embrace it more than the other offers out there.

Trade rating: In A Heartbeat

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As I've mentioned, the competition for Gray's services is steep. The Yankees in particular are desperate to give their fans October baseball and they need starting pitching, and have a deep collection of prospects they could throw at the A's. The Astros rightfully think this could be their year and have a top 5 farm system to seduce Oakland with, including monstrous prospect Derek Fisher. Even the upstart Brewers are reportedly going all-in to acquire Gray, and could pull off a July trade deal similar to the CC Sabathia acquisition back in 2008.

I always enjoy the hot stove season and the race for Sonny Gray will keep things extra interesting this year. Do I expect the Indians to land him? I honestly think that the other interested teams have flashier prospects, and could be more willing to chuck everything at Oakland to make a deal. Cleveland has some tempting players on offer but I just don't see them risking all of that future talent on one 27 year-old pitcher, still recovering from a bad 2016 campaign. I would love to add Gray to the rotation, don't get me wrong, but there's definitely a limit, and it looks like a 5'10, 180lb switch-hitting 21 year-old Dominican catcher who absolutely rakes.

Thanks for reading.

Welcome To The Show Bradley Zimmer

Cleveland's number one prospect and great center-field-hope Bradley Zimmer got the call to join the big club on Tuesday, making his debut at home against the Rays. This move is much sooner than I had expected but has been brought on out of necessity. Since Abraham Almonte hit the disabled list (and Brandon Guyer and Austin Jackson are still unavailable too), Zimmer will replace Abe and slot straight into center field, likely pushing Lonnie Chisenhall back to his customary corner outfield spot. Zimmer has taken the number 4 jersey, formerly worn last year by fellow outfielder Coco Crisp.

Zimmer was the Indians’ first-round pick in 2014 and has developed nicely in the past few years. This season he's gotten off to a particularly fast start at Triple-A Columbus and was hitting .294/.371/.532 with 5 home runs and 9 stolen bases at the time of his promotion. He altered the mechanics in his swing in the Arizona Fall League and so far it's been working wonders for the 24 year-old.

Perhaps the largest issue that has plagued Zimmer's rise through the minor has been strikeouts. His K% (strikeouts per plate appearance) has progressively increased each season and at each level of the minor leagues. It has consistently hovered in the mid twenties but got as high as 37.3% in Columbus last year, albeit in a small sample of just 37 games. It's something that will be worth keeping an eye on during his major league development. For instance, in his debut last night he struck out in all 3 at-bats... Not exactly the best first impression when you take into account his previous history.

However we should shed some light on what he does well, and what he offers this Indians team. Zimmer had a very impressive spring training in Arizona and we finally got to see some of that stellar defense in center field that we had heard so much about. When compared with the Tribe's other center field prospect Tyler Naquin, it's pretty clear Zimmer is the superior defender, in fact he's considered the top defensive outfielder on the roster. His 6-foot-5 frame glides to the ball with zero effort. Francona said, "as he gets to know the league, you're going to see an above-average defender."

It is wise to temper our expectations somewhat with Zimmer; it's unlikely he will provide the same sort of spark that Francisco Lindor did when he first joined the Indians. However, given the Tribe's outfield struggles so far in 2017, Zimmer can really help this club right now, with some solid defense and a good eye at the plate. Even if he's just average with the bat, his defense should help the team enormously.

Welcome to Cleveland Bradley.

Center Of Attention: A Discussion

For the first year in a long time the Indians' roster is fairly settled across the board heading into spring training. The lineup is strong and the pitching is top notch but there is always room for improvement. One particular area of uncertainly is in center field; with Michael Brantley penciled in left field (once healthy) and the effective platoon partnership of Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer in right field, it's the men in the middle who currently present the outfield's biggest question mark. In this post I'm going to have a look at the Indians' current options ahead of the 2017 season.

The Current Crop

Currently atop the center field depth chart sits Tyler Naquin. The 25 year-old finished third on the AL Rookie of the Year ballot last season after exploding onto the scene during spring training. Naquin took his opportunity last spring and ran with it; he played in 116 games and batted .296/.372/.514 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 14 home runs, culminating in an impressive 135 WRC+ and 2.5 WAR. Naquin was especially effective against right handed pitchers and slashed .301/.372/.526 in 289 at-bats (in fact he only faced a lefty 32 times). Not too shabby for a rookie and he'll be forever remembered for that unforgettable inside-the-park homer against the Jays. If he goes on to have a Hall of Fame career in Cleveland, you can already picture that fist pump immortalised as a statue.

Yet despite Naquin's prowess at the plate (and my wishful thinking), his defensive abilities leave something to be desired. This was noticeably obvious in Game 6 of the World Series but Naquin's flaws in the field were evident throughout the regular season as well. According to Fangraphs, Naquin graded as the second worst defensive center fielder in the majors with a -17 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved). Now I don't entirely trust defensive metrics as I feel action in the field, especially somewhere so open like the outfield, can be hard to quantify with accuracy, but the numbers don't make for pretty reading. Even the casual fans among us noticed that his routes to the ball were rather, err, wobbly all season. Even so, he rarely looked like a complete novice out there, despite what the numbers would indicate. When you weigh up the pros and cons, overall I felt that Naquin's bat compensated for his mistakes in the field.

Naquin's closest rival is Abraham Almonte, who this time last year was the clear favorite to play center field on Opening Day. That was before it emerged Almonte had violated the MLB Drug Policy and was suspended for 80 games, paving the way for Naquin's emergence. Almonte returned to the team on July 3rd and played in 67 games, slashing .264/.294/401 over that span and played solid defense. He had a decent stretch as a starter in August and September but was eventually relegated to a pinch hitting role as the regular season came to an end, due to his postseason ineligibility.

Unless Naquin struggles right out of the gate (he was looking more and more susceptible to high fastballs as 2016 progressed) and Almonte gets off to a fast start, I can't see the 27 year-old Dominican becoming the permanent center fielder for a while. He'll likely platoon with Naquin and probably play some left field until Brantley is ready to take over full time again. I grew to really like Almonte in 2015 when his addition to the club jolted the team to life but his 2016 suspension left a sour taste in the mouth, even if it turns out he was innocent. Almonte will be hoping for a lot of reps this spring so he can stake a claim for center field but I can't see Naquin regressing to such an extent that he's not gonna be the everyday guy out there to start 2017.

The Outsiders

Naquin and Almonte should feel pretty secure in their jobs but they will face some outside competition this spring; some men will have their eyes on that center field spot whereas other will satisfy themselves with a place on the roster.

Austin Jackson signed a minor league deal with the Tribe just prior to his 30th birthday and the veteran outfielder will be hoping for a late present, a spot on the Opening Day roster wrapped in a box with a bow on top. Jackson only managed 54 appearances in 2016, thanks to a left knee injury that ruled him out of action from June onward. He's a career .272 hitter and has primarily featured in center field during that time. I think Jackson could be a very useful addition to the team. He'll start the spring with a point to prove, to show the league he can still be a productive everyday player for a top ballclub. He certainly lends some much needed depth to the outfield at the very least but he'll likely need an injury from a rival or a drop in performance to firmly earn his place.

As it currently stands the only other outfielder on a minor league contract with hopes of making the team is Daniel Robertson (unless Wily Mo Pena wants to return to center field!). The 31 year-old journeyman outfielder has primarily featured in left field so won't realistically be expected to figure much in center. Robertson played in just 9 games last year for the Mariners in 2016 but had a decent season at AAA Tacoma. With all of the Indians' other outfield options, I don't see Robertson featuring for the Indians on Opening Day and unless injury strikes, I don't imagine we'll see him figure at all in 2017.

The Prospects

Last but not least we come to the prospects. These guys have been cooking nicely down on the farm but are they ready for a big league job?

The honest answer is no, they probably are not. The top dog for the center field job is Bradley Zimmer, who has been developing nicely in recent years. I've already covered Zimmer and his chances of making the team in part two of my spring wishlist, which you can read here. I think Zimmer will need a bit more maturing in Columbus this year before he's fully prepped for the show. A September call-up should be his goal in 2017, although a nice showing this spring wouldn't hurt his chances.

Greg Allen is the Tribe's dark horse to take over center field in the next year or so and the young speedster received a spring training invite for his sterling work in the minors last season. The 6th round pick from the 2014 MLB draft announced himself in a big way in 2016, leading all of minor league baseball in runs with 119. That's completely insane considering he has yet to reach the AAA level. The switch-hitting 23 year-old began the year at A+ Lynchburg before getting a promotion to AA Akron in late July but his performance didn't suffer at all. Between the two leagues he slashed .295/.416/.413 with 7 home runs, 44 RBI and 45 stolen bases (the highest in the Indians' entire system). You may as well call him Barry Allen as he's so frickin' fast on the basepaths.

Allen had 77 walks to 78 strikeouts, a fantastic ratio and the polar opposite to Zimmer (77 walks to 171 strikeouts). So far in his career Allen has displayed all the attributes of a perfect leadoff hitter. He plays a superb center field too, collecting the 2016 MiLB Gold Glove award for that position, an impressive feat given Rawlings only award this to one guy in the entire minor leagues. Overall I think the dude is a surefire stud and fans should be paying attention to Allen in 2017. He'll likely start the year in Akron but don't be surprised if he gets promoted to Columbus sooner rather than later. Here's hoping we get to see a September cameo from him before the season concludes.

The final center field prospect is Yandy Diaz but realistically he's unlikely to compete for that position this year, if ever. I took a look at Diaz when I analysed Zimmer and despite how versatile and effective Diaz has been throughout his career thus far, his time in center has been limited. He played all of 2 innings there in Columbus, the first time he's featured in center in his professional career. Whilst I think Diaz may have a future in the outfield ahead of him, it's more than likely going to be in the corners.

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Who do you think will claim the center field mantle in 2017? Can Naquin rediscover his early 2016 form and fend off the future advances of prospects like Zimmer and Allen? Or will Almonte and the other veterans elevate themselves during the spring and force their way into Francona's plans? Or could the position feature a revolving door of candidates, rotating in and out of center field depending on whether they're hot or cold?

Whatever happens the center field position should be a topic of conversation all year long.

Thanks for reading.

ALDS Review - Boston Brushed Aside

I have been conspicuously absent on England Tribe this season. I've been following the Indians all year long but quietly, hidden offline, limited to checking box scores every morning.

I'm a bit sad I haven't found the time to write more, especially when you consider what an amazing season the Tribe have had thus far. The last time Cleveland made the post-season was 2013 and England Tribe was there for every big moment. This year, not so much.

With Arsenal taking up most of my time, even when it comes to blogging, I just haven't had the chance to keep this site going.

But October baseball has returned to the corner of Carnegie and Ontariro and so I have returned also, out of the darkness of blog purgatory. So here we go, with an ALDS review of Cleveland's stunning sweep over the heavily favored Red Sox:

Unlike 2013, there was no single game Wild Card duel this time around, as the AL Central champion Indians advanced straight into the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Boston Red Sox, AL East champions and owners of one of my favorite major league players and MVP candidate Mookie Betts.

However for this series, it wasn't hard to bury my admiration for Betts because this was easily the most important series of games in my short lifetime as an Indians fan.

Game 1 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - Progressive Field

With Progressive Field absolutely rocking at the return of post-season baseball to Cleveland, it was vitally important the Indians made the most of their home field advantage and they did so in style, crushing 3 home runs in the bottom of the third inning to distance themselves from a stubborn Boston squad that did everything they could not to concede first blood. Roberto Perez, Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor launched solo efforts in that turning point of an inning before skipper Terry Francona's masterful use of his bullpen saw the game out, as the Indians emerged 5-4 victors.

Relief ace Andrew Miller was brought into the game with 2 outs in the fifth inning after Tribe starter Trevor Bauer had done an admirable job holding the Boston behemoth lineup at bay. Miller took the ball much earlier than he was used to but he never looked back. The giant lefty dominated for 2 innings, striking out 4 and conceding just 1 hit and 1 walk. Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen took the reigns after Miller's superb performance, and the duo held the lead until the end despite making the home crowd sweat a bit, especially when Allen battled through a 5 out, nail-biter of a save.

Game 2 - Friday, October 7, 2016 - Progressive Field

Progressive Field witnessed the battle of the aces but it was the Tribe's 2014 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber who got the best of Boston's 2012 AL Cy Young champ David Price in a comprehensive 6-0 win.

In the end Price was a shadow of his former self and appeared to succumb to the post-season pressures that have plagued his October career. The Indians got off to a hot start, hanging 4 runs on Price before the second inning had finished, with a Brandon Guyer RBI and a Lonnie Chisenhall 3 run homer putting a good distance between the two teams.

Kluber on the other hand, making his first post-season start and battling a nagging quad injury, showed no signs of nerves on the big stage. The 30 year-old right hander was magnificent and the Sox could hardly touch him. After game 1 made good use of Cleveland's top bullpen arms, it was imperative Kluber provide innings at the very least in game 2. As is the ace's habit, Kluber went the extra mile and pitched seven stellar innings, with 3 hits, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts over 104 pitches. Not bad for a guy coming off an injury, as Kluber routinely pitched inside to the frightening Boston lineup and kept them off balance all game. It was exactly what the Indians needed from him and Kluber delivered.

Game 3 - Monday, October 10, 2016 - Fenway Park

Before the ALDS began, it was only in my wildest dreams I could imagine the Indians taking a 2-0 lead to Fenway Park, forcing Boston into an elimination game they surely never expected to be facing, at least so soon. Well the Indians went one step better and picked up another win to take an unlikely series sweep and progress to the ALCS.

Josh Tomlin took the mound for the Tribe and did sterling work, limiting the Red Sox over 5 innings. He gave up 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk and struck out 4 before handing the game to the bullpen, who have been such a strength for the Tribe this season.

Yet again Andrew Miller stood up when it mattered, striking out 3 over 2 clean innings, the only blip being Dustin Pedroia scoring on a sac-fly that was tabbed on Tomlin. Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined, nervously at times, to go the rest of the way, keeping the Sox at arm's reach.

Tyler Naquin, a strong AL Rookie of the Year candidate (and a guy I tipped to break out in 2016), got the offense started for Cleveland in the top of the fourth inning, lining a single into right field that plated 2 runs to give the Tribe a lead they never relinquished. Coco Crisp, picked up in a late August trade with the A's, probably wasn't expected to contribute much this post-season but the veteran outfielder clubbed a deep home run over the Monster in the top of the sixth inning to stretch the Indians' lead to 4-1. It proved to be just enough as the Red Sox couldn't draw even.

After the final out, a fly ball gloved by Lonnie Chisenhall in right field, the Indians celebrated in front of a stunned and silent Fenway crowd. I don't think anyone gave the Tribe much of a chance in this series but they shocked the baseball world by not just beating Boston but sweeping them out of the playoffs.

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The Indians will now battle the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League pennant, and their first match-up will be on Friday in the ALCS opener. It's likely Corey Kluber will get the nod for the Tribe and should now have sufficient rest before taking the mound. There's rumors Danny Salazar, battling his way back from a forearm injury, could be activated in time for the series, providing a late boost to the Tribe rotation.

This ALDS victory is one to be savored for sure, a huge playoff win over a rival who have so often gotten the better of us in the past. In 2007 when I was only just learning what baseball really was, that ALDS series against the Yankees went straight over my head. I didn't know how massive it was at the time, how rare these playoff wins can be. Now in 2016 I fully appreciate everything about this Boston sweep and will cherish it for some time.

Yet again the Indians will enter a series as underdogs, as the Jays are already tipped to advance to the World Series. But history has shown that people don't always learn from their mistakes, and those who have already written off this gutsy Indians team may just have a surprise coming their way.

Thanks for reading.

Spring Training 2016 Part 1: Position Players

Spring Training is finally underway and MLB teams are playing baseball again. It is glorious. The wins and losses don't count but there's still a lot of important baseball to watch and discuss.

Your 2016 Cleveland Indians have a few questions to be answered before the season gets started in just under a month's time. Let's take a look at some talking points:

Who The Hell Is Playing The Outfield?

With the news last November that Michael Brantley underwent shoulder surgery, the already uncertain Indians outfield suddenly found itself without it's most important player. He's in camp seemingly ahead of schedule but the club are being cautious with his return. Although he could potentially be healthy for Opening Day, it's probably better in the long run if he makes a slow return during April before stepping up activities into May.

Then came the revelation that Abraham Almonte, likely the Tribe's starting center fielder, will miss the first 80 games of the season after testing positive for performing-enhancing drugs. And just like that, Cleveland's outfield situation went from bad to worse.

Which leads us to the biggest and most concerning question entering the 2016 season: who have Cleveland got to man the outfield?

With the center field job open, there's one candidate who can take this opportunity and run with it. Mr Tyler Wesley Naquin, come on down and collect your prize.

Naquin, the 15th pick in the 2012 draft out of Texas A&M, is now 24 years-old and will be 25 by the end of April. He bats left-handed, throws right-handed, and is currently ranked by Baseball America as the Indians' 6th best prospect. Naquin spent 2015 between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, playing 84 games with a .300/.381/.446 (BA/OBP/SLG) batting line, clubbing 7 home runs, 27 RBI, to go along with 13 stolen bases and 40 walks. He missed a lot of time due to injuries, first missing a chunk of time after colliding with the outfield wall in late July and then missing the rest of the season after mid-August with a hip injury.

Naquin is still a bit of an unknown developmentally. Will he a power hitter? His career numbers thus far don't indicate that will be the case. Can he steal bases? Yes, he can, but he's not exactly a speedster. What Naquin does do well is get on base and play a solid outfield defensively. His abilities don't get fans quite as excited as his fellow outfield prospects Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier, but Naquin could become a reliable option and more importantly, he could be that right now, whereas Zimmer and Frazier are still a year or two away in their progress.

This is where Naquin has the advantage. He has the experience Zimmer and Frazier lack, and now with Almonte and Brantley suddenly absent, this is Naquin's chance to show the club he can be an option in the future, and a good one at that. I'm rooting for him, and it'd be nice to see a homegrown draft pick become a key contributor to the team. If he has a successful Spring, then the skipper will have little choice but to keep him on the roster and make him a starter on Opening Day. It won't be the end of the world if he doesn't make the team out of camp, since he still has options to play at AAA, but it will definitely feel like a huge opportunity missed. Naquin just has to impress over these coming weeks. Easier said than done.

The alternatives to Naquin are a bit less inspiring. The likely candidates to play center field and man left field until Brantley returns are Rajai Davis and Collin Cowgill. Both players are good defensively but I'd probably lean towards Davis over Cowgill. Davis has the major league deal and his threat on the base paths gives him the edge. The Indians have invested nearly $5 million in him so you might as well see what he can offer. James Ramsey could also be an option here, after having a decent 2015 at AAA Columbus (.243/.327/.382 with 12 homers).

The dark horses for the outfield spots are Will Venable, recently signed to a minor league deal, Joey Butler, Robbie Grossman, Michael Choice, Shane Robinson and Zach Walters. Murderer's Row they most certainly are not...

Out of the bunch I'd like to see what Venable could bring, and I've rated him in the past. Whoever proves their worth, Terry Francona will have a wealth of platoon options this season. At the very least this Indians outfield has some depth to it.

On a positive note, right field has a sense of stability. After transitioning from third base midway through 2015, Lonnie Chisenhall looks to have made right field his own and despite his streaky bat, his defense is more than respectable.

There's Some New Guys In The Infield

The Indians signed Mike Napoli back in mid-December to be their everyday first baseman but recently upgraded third base with the addition of Juan Uribe, on a one-year deal worth $4.5 million.

Uribe joins the Tribe after a 2015 season in which he traveled a lot. Juan split his time between three teams last year, playing in LA for the Dodgers, before enduring a stint in Atlanta, and finally ending up in New York with the Mets, going all the way to the World Series with them. Uribe had a batting line of 253/.320/.417 with 14 home runs and 43 RBI, with a 104 wRC+ and 1.9 WAR.

Uribe will be 37 years-old by Opening Day and even if he hasn't got much left in the tank, his bat is still an improvement at third base over the young Giovanny Urshela, even if his glove isn't quite as good. Urshela flashed outstanding defense at the hot corner in 2015 but his offensive production still needs some work. With the signing of Uribe, it's almost certain that Urshela will open the season at AAA Columbus. This is probably for the best, as he can develop his bat away from the bright lights and pressure of the MLB stage. I'm a fan of Urshela and hope he can improve enough in 2016 that when Uribe likely departs after this season, Gio will be ready to step into his shoes.

I think the Indians will have no problems at all seeing Napoli and Uribe slot into this team. Both men bring a tonne of veteran experience and can be great mentors to the other young infielders on the club like Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, Jose Ramirez and Jesus Aguilar.

Part of me would have liked to have seen the Tribe add David Freese over Uribe but Freese probably would have cost more and wanted a longer deal. I'm happy with the Uribe addition and I hope he can bring some much-needed offense to this lineup. Plus, there's something loveable about Uribe's face.

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That'll do for the first part of this Spring Training preview/analysis/chit-chat. Up next I'll be taking a look at the questions surrounding the bullpen and the rotation, and who's in contention for those open spots.

Thanks for reading.

Photo credits to Jordan Bastian at MLB.com and Jonathan Quilter at Columbus Dispatch.