While We’re Waiting… Trying to Distract Ourselves From the Browns
December 6, 2011Celebrating Cecil Shorts’ First NFL Touchdown
December 6, 2011
The Browns are an absolute abomination. Why do we do this to ourselves each week? At what point is there going to be some sort of backlash? I can’t take it. Thank goodness they aren’t the only game in town. The team that is closest to contention in this three-pro sport town is clearly the Indians at this point. But they obviously have their flaws. It seems like I keep coming back to the same Tribe topic.
So here again, is my weekly look into the on-going search for a real right-handed, middle of the order bat.
This weekend brought some under the radar Tribe news. Late last week, reports surfaced that the Indians were making inquiries into the health of infielder Mark DeRosa, who hasn’t been relevant since 2009 when the Indians dealt him to the Cardinals for two relievers (one of whom turned out to be closer Chris Perez). He will be 37 years old in 2012 and hasn’t played in more than 47 games since that ’09 season. DeRosa’s best year is now four seasons behind him with the Cubs (149 games – 285/.376/.857/21 HR/87 RBI
I think I see Chris Antonetti working; he wants right-handed veteran leaders who can play multiple positions coming off the bench.
Then came Saturday. Across my Twitter timeline came this nugget: The Indians are one of nine teams interested in veteran third baseman Casey Blake. My initial response was “ NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!” Readers of mine know how I feel about our old friend Casey. There is a strong faction of Wahoo Nation who loves the guy. I am not one of them. Blake played six seasons for the Red, White, and Blue, and gave a solid, unspectacular run. He did everything he was asked to do. He was a starting third baseman for most of those years, but moved to right field out of necessity during the 2006 season. Casey Blake epitomizes the Eric Wedge era – he grinded and played all over the diamond.
To me the best thing that Casey did here was bring Carlos Santana to Cleveland, as he did at the trade deadline in 2009.
Taking a look at his numbers, he was the model of consistency – in 810 games in Cleveland, Blake hit .266 with an on-base percentage of .337, an OPS of .787, hit 116 homers, and drive in 417 runs. Amazingly, in his three-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit .260/.338./768.
You see those numbers and wonder why I would be so upset with the thought of bringing him back. I’m not; not exactly.
Follow me here. Blake will be 38 next season and coming off of a year where injuries to his neck and back limited him to 63 games (.252/.342/.713). Besides the fact that I can never forget the 5-4-3 inning-ending double play the very next pitch after “The Skinner Stop Sign,” Blake’s best years, which weren’t great to begin with, are way behind him. If you are going to tell me that Casey will be signed to a cheap, one-year deal, to be a backup OF/corner IF, and right-handed pinch hitter, than fine.
But I have a strange feeling that he will be more than that if he returns.
You already have Jack Hannahan as the corner IF backup (unless he is given the starting 3B job with Lonnie Chisenhall starting the year back in AAA). Your fourth OF for 2012 could very easily become an everyday guy (as Kosuke Fukudome was last year), considering the fact that you can’t count on Grady Sizemore’s health, so one would think Antonetti and his people would want someone younger with more pop for that role. Do we know if Casey is going to even be able to handle something like that at this point?
The other thing that worries me is this nostalgia kick the Indians are on. It was one thing when they brought Jim Thome back for a month to sell some tickets and heal some old wounds, but it’s quite another to go back to the well with DeRosa or Blake who at this point in their careers offer little other than veteran leadership. It must be noted that DeRosa is regarded as one of the best clubhouse guys in the game and Blake was also always very popular with his teammates in both Cleveland and Los Angeles.
I just keep getting this sinking feeling that with the DeRosa and Blake speculation, the Indians may be looking at other ways to fill the roster with right-handed bats to mix and match, rather than get that middle of the order, legitimate run producer that they need so much. I will go on record with this – if the Indians do not acquire the bat I was just speaking of one way or another, they will have no chance to compete for a playoff spot next year, no matter how good their pitching could be.
29 Comments
TD, I have to admit that I literally ‘lol-led” at your opening line:
“The Browns are an absolute abomination.”
What a perfect distillation of the ineffable mess that is The Cleveland Browns, especially when juxtaposed w/ a picture and headline implying a hot stove league article about two journeymen baseball players.
Brilliant.
What realistic and good options are there for the tribe? I read the tribe insider piece from the www and came out unimpressed with most. Is the general consensus right now that 1B is the only spot they are going to improve, possibly with a guy in his late 30s? Would they be willing to deal Chris Perez to bring back a hitter or 2?
I’m with you on Blake, never liked the guy either, and was excited when they managed to dump him for more than nothing.
I agree, without a consistent Righty hitting in the middle of the lineup, we have no shot. Add in Blake or Derosa playing meaningful amounts of games & we’re screwed.
Can we look for YOUNG cheap players or is there a rule against that in the new CBA? Why does it seem like we only want to sign some1 who is 35? I’d rather take a flyer on a 25 yr old who has been released by another team than sign a washed up Vet
I think the right-handed power hitter thing is overblown. Yes, it’d be nice to have one, but I don’t think a 2 WAR player like Josh Willingham is going to make or break this team.
Casey … yesss! What’s a tribe season without the washed up “clubhouse presence” who can’t play any more.
BTW, what’s up with the veteran stick we signed last off-season who was rehabbing his wrist injury in the minors? Is he healthy and still under contract?
Blake or DeRosa is not the answer for this team… Neither is Willingham or Ludwick for that matter.
Let’s stay flexible, let’s keep working the trade lines. Let’s not spend money and a roster spot on David Delucci 2.0.
I read that Manny Ramirez is coming out of retirement. Maybe a one year, incentive-laden deal?
@6 I think you’re talking about Nick Johnson… and I have no idea.
If we’re supposed to be all in these next two seasons…why don’t we spend like it? We keep looking for bargains like we’re rebuilding but this is our window they’ve been telling us about for the past how many years. Lets go all in for the next two seasons and not regret missing that one player.
No chance to even COMPETE? They most certainly have a chance to at least compete for a playoff spot, even with the roster as it is right now…. But I do agree that the #1 goal right now is to try to work a trade for a RH Slugger. I like Youk from Boston. I think we have enough relief pitching (C. Perez, J. Smith, R. Perez) and some young prospects (Wolters, Washington, Phelps) to at the very least make an offer. Bringing him in could be great cuz he is a very good defender at 3rd and 1st, great run producer and he’s had winning experience. Maybe since there is so much turnover in BOS that a deal could be done. What do you think? Am I crazy?
Take a look at this years free agent list. Outside of Willingham there really are no other right handed power bats. So other than Willingham there is no one to sign. People can say ‘sign a young right handed power hitter’ but its kind of hard to do when none are available. And even if one were available its a two way street, he also has to want to come to Cleveland.
I think next time someone says ‘sign this type of player’ they should have to say who it is they want to sign, because this years free agent class, outside of Pujols, sucks.
Also, Casey Blake > Matt LaPorta
Casey Blake for the Indians. Anthony Parker for the Cavs. Who would be the Browns equivalent?
@Tim,
I’m not saying we should sign a RH power bat, I’m saying we should find one on the trade market. Marlon Byrd isn’t amazing, but he can play all 3 OF positions and could be available from the Cubs. He’d fit.
We should be kicking the tires on Gaby Sanchez if the Marlins are looking to move him. A Tomlin-Sanchez trade could make sense for both teams.
I doubt very much that the Marlins would give up Sanchez for just Tomlin. Again, and I am not saying you do this dwhit110, but fans tend to think we just go make any trade we want and always overvalue players they see play everyday
For example, when we see Tomlin we see a guy who can eat innings and throw strikes. We like him and value him because he is an Indian and we see him play a lot. When the Marlins look at him they see a guy who gives up a ton of homeruns, lacks a power arm, and has very limited upside.
@13 – John St. Clair
The reminder of the Skinner stop sign just ruined my day. Sigh…Kenny would have scored easily.
Saying the Indians would have no chance without a RH middle of the order bat is pretty dumb. Sorry TD, but speaking in absolutes, especially about baseball is not a bright move. This team competed into September without that RH bat you speak of, and that’s with a down year from Choo, and partial seasons of Kipnis, Chisenhall and Jimenez. I’m not going to sit here and guarantee they will compete, but this looks like an 85 or so win team. I agree they definitely should make a push to add another bat, but like NJ said, Willingham wouldn’t make or break this team.
I agree with the assessment that working a trade is our best option for a legit answer at 1B.
Sanchez is a possibility if the Marlins get Pujols. He’d be a nice addition, but I don’t think he’s so great as to break the bank.
The Reds have a 1B prospect rotting behind Votto. I forget his name. I guess that’s a possibility though I have to imagine the asking price would be pretty high.
I think once Pujols and Fielder land, the dominos will start to fall. I’m not holding my breath for a major acquisition though. And like Steve said, we already have a competitive roster with some major parts returning and/or maturing.
Florida is spending, oh the irony.
@Shamrock – why is it ironic?
@13
If you think the Marlins would give up Sanchez for just Tomlin, you’re wrong. If they wind up with Pujols and need to deal Gabby, they aren’t just going to give him away. I think Tomlin is another guy that some of us Cleveland fans over-value. Realistically, he will end up being a long reliever when it’s all said and done. My guess is that it would cost at minimum Tomlin & Gomez and then our pitching depth would be non-existant.
I threw Tomlin-Sanchez out there, but it certainly could be a more complex trade than that, including a guy like Cord Phelps, Zach McAllister, or someone else.
Ultimately the point is that we should be looking to trade for players because @Tim is right when he says the FA market isn’t looking very robust based on our needs.
And what about Cuddyer? Going into the off season I thought he was the best fit – and is still available. Would they “open the bank” for him? He’s RH with some pop and would give us great position flexibility.
Another flexible player – I thought I saw somewhere the Braves may make Martin Prado available – another righty we could put at either corner or in the OF.
I think there will be some options out there…
I would gladly slot Derrek Lee or Carlos Pena, even Cuddyer at First. Any of those would be a huge upgrade. Could we nab one of them for around $7M?
architrance,
Did you see Lee last year? He is done.
@13 Dennis Northcutt signs with the Browns to boost the receiving corps!
@10 couldn’t agree more, by trading for ubaldo, we are definitely going all in these next two years, but for some reason we can’t afford to bring the payroll to 75 million??? When the twins white sox and tigers are all over 100 mill, we are left feeding off these spring training invitee scraps. I really don’t understand why Cuddyer (12 mill for 2 years plus an option for a third year) is out of our price range. I hate to rag on Dolan, but when we aren’t even being proactive in our “window”, I see little reason for optimism this offseason. Better hope for our young core to stay healthy and productive.
@mgbode because Florida defeated us to have as many championships and will probably end up with more despite having less then lackluster fan support.