Special_K19
05-04-2003, 12:12 PM
Posted on Sun, May 04, 2003
It's right for now
Tribe's plan for future is better than some of past options
By Terry Pluto
I'm hearing from a lot of very unhappy Tribe fans.
They don't like losing. They're not used to losing. They are scared that all the Indians will do is lose, now and forever, amen.
But the Indians are doing the right thing.
I repeat: The Indians are doing the right thing.
In their attempt to win a World Series in the 1990s, they traded away too many prospects. They signed a lot of veterans. The team got too old too quick. They couldn't keep doing business that way, because the team was too gray. And Larry Dolan paid too much money at just the wrong economic time when he bought the Tribe in 2000.
We can keep rehashing the old hash, but nothing will change: ``Dolan should not have bought the team.'' ``This guy should not have been traded.'' ``That guy should have been signed, blah, blah, blah.''
The real question is what did the Indians need to do to return to contention? That required a bold, new blueprint that fits with the reality of the franchise today.
I like the plan, even if some of the details aren't perfect and I don't agree with everything the Indians have done. I'd rather go young, assuming you have a lot of talented young players from which to choose.
The Indians do.
Besides, what were their options?
• Should they have kept Robbie Alomar?
The trade with the Mets lacks the impact of some of the later deals, because they picked up Matt Lawton and foolishly signed him to that four-year, $27 million deal. Alex Escobar is a mess at Class AAA Buffalo, hitting .175 as he comes off major knee surgery. But Billy Traber is intriguing. The Indians must keep getting him consistent innings, whether it's in the rotation or bullpen.
This season, heading into the weekend, Alomar is batting .240. He's hitting only .259 since the trade. He's had only 61 RBI and 18 steals in 177 games with the Mets. He's 35, and there are now questions about his ability to remain a premier player. He'll be a free agent at the end of the season.
• Should they have kept Juan Gonzalez?
He's been hitting this season, with 11 HR and 26 RBI and batting .296. But a year ago, he had several minor injuries, played only 70 games and hit a mere eight homers. It's hard to know if he can stay healthy for a full season, as his body seems a very old 33.
• Should they have kept Kenny Lofton?
He's hitting a dismal .219 for Pittsburgh.
• Should they have kept David Justice?
David Justice? This has turned out to be one of the Tribe's better little deals. From the Yankees, the Indians picked up Zach Day and Jake Westbrook for Justice, who is now retired. Later, Day was traded for Milton Bradley. So the Tribe has Westbrook and Bradley to show for a player out of baseball.
• Should they have kept Paul Shuey?
He's allowed only one run in 13 innings for the Dodgers, but he makes $3.6 million and is on the disabled list (knee injury) again. Besides, he turned into Ricardo Rodriguez.
• Should they have kept Chuck Finley?
He's out of baseball, and the Indians dealt him for Coco Crisp (.349 at Buffalo), who should be the leadoff hitter of the near future. Another little deal that looks big was Jacob Cruz to the Rockies for Josh Bard and Jody Gerut.
• The player they miss the most is Jim Thome, who after a hot first week with the Phillies had his usual lousy April, batting .240 with four HR and 19 RBI. Strangely, he's batting .155 at home, .348 on the road. But Thome will hit. His 19 RBI would be leading the Indians, and they miss his bat in the middle of the lineup.
• Bartolo Colon is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA for the White Sox. A 20-game winner last season, Colon is headed to big-bucks free agency. It's doubtful the Indians would have re-signed him. The big question is whether the Indians received the right players for him. Will Brandon Phillips become a star? Can Cliff Lee get healthy and attain his potential? Is Grady Sizemore as promising as he seems at Class AA Akron? The answers to those questions will not be known for a few years.
Talkin' prospects
Taking a look at the
up-and-coming
• Don't you like Ricardo Rodriguez? Don't you think he has a chance to be a consistent 12-15 game winner?
• How about Jason Davis? He has a 95-mph fastball and a sneaky sinker. Yes, he has been up-and-down and sometimes loses his composure, as was the case Friday. But it is remarkable that Davis started last season losing 5-of-6 games at Class A Kinston, and now he's in the majors.
• How about Jake Westbrook? Doesn't he seem solid? Maybe even better than that? Even if other young starters emerge who are better, Westbrook can help in the bullpen.
• How about C.C. Sabathia? He might not be all that he can be at the moment, but he's only 22 and already has 30 big-league victories. This season, he's 0-2, but his ERA is a very respectable 3.79. In his six starts, only once has he allowed more than three runs.
• How about Jeremy Guthrie, who is 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA at Akron? He recently threw a three-hit shutout; he needed only 94 pitches and didn't walk a batter.
• How about Billy Traber, who was 17-5 in the minors last year. Or Cliff Lee, assuming he gets healthy? So here are the young pitchers from which to put together a rotation: Sabathia, Davis, Lee, Rodriguez, Traber, Westbrook and Guthrie. That's seven names for five spots, which is good because someone always gets hurt.
• Jason Phillips is off to a strong start (4-0, 1.50 ERA) at Buffalo. He pitched well for the Tribe last season until he hurt his elbow. He could be recalled if the Indians need a spot starter or long reliever.
• Director of Player Development John Farrell said Class AAA catcher Victor Martinez ``is an excellent first baseman. He played it three times a week in winter ball.'' He plays the spot about once a week at Buffalo, catching the other times. Martinez is hitting .263 for the Bisons and is second on the team with 12 RBI. The Indians keep saying they want to see him catch -- at least for now.
• It will be fun to see what Dave Elder can do with the Tribe. He didn't allow a run in 12 2/3 innings at Buffalo. When he faced batters with runners on base, they were 0-for-18. He also didn't allow a run in spring training. They picked him up for John Rocker, and they need help in the bullpen. This is a great chance for him and could turn out to be a terrific deal for the Tribe.
• Until Travis Hafner backs off the plate and starts to hit the inside pitch, he's in trouble. The standard strategy of pitching to power hitters is to keep the ball on the outside corner. Hafner crushes those pitches, which explains his success in the spring and minors. Now, scouts have discovered a weakness, and it's up to the first baseman to adjust.
Talkin' Browns
After the draft, nothing
is out of the question
Here are questions the Browns face now that the draft is over and a major free-agent signing (other than Jamir Miller) is doubtful.
• Can Anthony Henry take over for Corey Fuller at cornerback? Last year, Henry struggled when he replaced Fuller or Daylon McCutcheon in the lineup. He went from 10 interceptions as a rookie in nickel and dime defenses to only two last season -- both against New Orleans. Henry has emerged as a very important player for the Browns.
• Can Chris Crocker become another Anthony Henry? When Henry was drafted in the fourth round out of South Florida, no one knew his name or what to expect. He has established himself as a useful player, and maybe more. Crocker is a third-rounder from Marshall, supposedly a gifted natural athlete. Critics claim the Browns never should have drafted him that high. Can he prove them wrong?
• Can Jeff Faine become an anchor on the offensive line? Of all the questions asked about the young players, the first-rounder from Notre Dame appears the closest to being a sure thing.
• Can new defensive coordinator Dave Campo take young linebackers Kevin Bentley, Andra Davis, Ben Taylor and second-round-pick Chaun Thompson and make them ready for prime time? He has journeymen Brant Boyer and Barry Gardner to help, but a couple of the kids have to come through. Campo says he likes swift, athletic linebackers. Can he teach them the game fast enough so they can immediately play?
• Can Campo motivate Gerard Warren? Will Warren get in shape and stay in shape?
• Can Campo find a way to keep Courtney Brown healthy and get him to pressure the quarterback?
• Can Campo make the kind of difference with the defense that the Browns believe?
• Can the Browns find another Dennis Northcutt? A year ago, there was talk that Northcutt was a bust, and likely to be cut. Then the second-rounder from 2000 not only saved his career, but also became an impact player on offense. The Browns need someone to do that, especially on defense. They need a player who has been around for a few seasons to have a breakout year.
It's right for now
Tribe's plan for future is better than some of past options
By Terry Pluto
I'm hearing from a lot of very unhappy Tribe fans.
They don't like losing. They're not used to losing. They are scared that all the Indians will do is lose, now and forever, amen.
But the Indians are doing the right thing.
I repeat: The Indians are doing the right thing.
In their attempt to win a World Series in the 1990s, they traded away too many prospects. They signed a lot of veterans. The team got too old too quick. They couldn't keep doing business that way, because the team was too gray. And Larry Dolan paid too much money at just the wrong economic time when he bought the Tribe in 2000.
We can keep rehashing the old hash, but nothing will change: ``Dolan should not have bought the team.'' ``This guy should not have been traded.'' ``That guy should have been signed, blah, blah, blah.''
The real question is what did the Indians need to do to return to contention? That required a bold, new blueprint that fits with the reality of the franchise today.
I like the plan, even if some of the details aren't perfect and I don't agree with everything the Indians have done. I'd rather go young, assuming you have a lot of talented young players from which to choose.
The Indians do.
Besides, what were their options?
• Should they have kept Robbie Alomar?
The trade with the Mets lacks the impact of some of the later deals, because they picked up Matt Lawton and foolishly signed him to that four-year, $27 million deal. Alex Escobar is a mess at Class AAA Buffalo, hitting .175 as he comes off major knee surgery. But Billy Traber is intriguing. The Indians must keep getting him consistent innings, whether it's in the rotation or bullpen.
This season, heading into the weekend, Alomar is batting .240. He's hitting only .259 since the trade. He's had only 61 RBI and 18 steals in 177 games with the Mets. He's 35, and there are now questions about his ability to remain a premier player. He'll be a free agent at the end of the season.
• Should they have kept Juan Gonzalez?
He's been hitting this season, with 11 HR and 26 RBI and batting .296. But a year ago, he had several minor injuries, played only 70 games and hit a mere eight homers. It's hard to know if he can stay healthy for a full season, as his body seems a very old 33.
• Should they have kept Kenny Lofton?
He's hitting a dismal .219 for Pittsburgh.
• Should they have kept David Justice?
David Justice? This has turned out to be one of the Tribe's better little deals. From the Yankees, the Indians picked up Zach Day and Jake Westbrook for Justice, who is now retired. Later, Day was traded for Milton Bradley. So the Tribe has Westbrook and Bradley to show for a player out of baseball.
• Should they have kept Paul Shuey?
He's allowed only one run in 13 innings for the Dodgers, but he makes $3.6 million and is on the disabled list (knee injury) again. Besides, he turned into Ricardo Rodriguez.
• Should they have kept Chuck Finley?
He's out of baseball, and the Indians dealt him for Coco Crisp (.349 at Buffalo), who should be the leadoff hitter of the near future. Another little deal that looks big was Jacob Cruz to the Rockies for Josh Bard and Jody Gerut.
• The player they miss the most is Jim Thome, who after a hot first week with the Phillies had his usual lousy April, batting .240 with four HR and 19 RBI. Strangely, he's batting .155 at home, .348 on the road. But Thome will hit. His 19 RBI would be leading the Indians, and they miss his bat in the middle of the lineup.
• Bartolo Colon is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA for the White Sox. A 20-game winner last season, Colon is headed to big-bucks free agency. It's doubtful the Indians would have re-signed him. The big question is whether the Indians received the right players for him. Will Brandon Phillips become a star? Can Cliff Lee get healthy and attain his potential? Is Grady Sizemore as promising as he seems at Class AA Akron? The answers to those questions will not be known for a few years.
Talkin' prospects
Taking a look at the
up-and-coming
• Don't you like Ricardo Rodriguez? Don't you think he has a chance to be a consistent 12-15 game winner?
• How about Jason Davis? He has a 95-mph fastball and a sneaky sinker. Yes, he has been up-and-down and sometimes loses his composure, as was the case Friday. But it is remarkable that Davis started last season losing 5-of-6 games at Class A Kinston, and now he's in the majors.
• How about Jake Westbrook? Doesn't he seem solid? Maybe even better than that? Even if other young starters emerge who are better, Westbrook can help in the bullpen.
• How about C.C. Sabathia? He might not be all that he can be at the moment, but he's only 22 and already has 30 big-league victories. This season, he's 0-2, but his ERA is a very respectable 3.79. In his six starts, only once has he allowed more than three runs.
• How about Jeremy Guthrie, who is 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA at Akron? He recently threw a three-hit shutout; he needed only 94 pitches and didn't walk a batter.
• How about Billy Traber, who was 17-5 in the minors last year. Or Cliff Lee, assuming he gets healthy? So here are the young pitchers from which to put together a rotation: Sabathia, Davis, Lee, Rodriguez, Traber, Westbrook and Guthrie. That's seven names for five spots, which is good because someone always gets hurt.
• Jason Phillips is off to a strong start (4-0, 1.50 ERA) at Buffalo. He pitched well for the Tribe last season until he hurt his elbow. He could be recalled if the Indians need a spot starter or long reliever.
• Director of Player Development John Farrell said Class AAA catcher Victor Martinez ``is an excellent first baseman. He played it three times a week in winter ball.'' He plays the spot about once a week at Buffalo, catching the other times. Martinez is hitting .263 for the Bisons and is second on the team with 12 RBI. The Indians keep saying they want to see him catch -- at least for now.
• It will be fun to see what Dave Elder can do with the Tribe. He didn't allow a run in 12 2/3 innings at Buffalo. When he faced batters with runners on base, they were 0-for-18. He also didn't allow a run in spring training. They picked him up for John Rocker, and they need help in the bullpen. This is a great chance for him and could turn out to be a terrific deal for the Tribe.
• Until Travis Hafner backs off the plate and starts to hit the inside pitch, he's in trouble. The standard strategy of pitching to power hitters is to keep the ball on the outside corner. Hafner crushes those pitches, which explains his success in the spring and minors. Now, scouts have discovered a weakness, and it's up to the first baseman to adjust.
Talkin' Browns
After the draft, nothing
is out of the question
Here are questions the Browns face now that the draft is over and a major free-agent signing (other than Jamir Miller) is doubtful.
• Can Anthony Henry take over for Corey Fuller at cornerback? Last year, Henry struggled when he replaced Fuller or Daylon McCutcheon in the lineup. He went from 10 interceptions as a rookie in nickel and dime defenses to only two last season -- both against New Orleans. Henry has emerged as a very important player for the Browns.
• Can Chris Crocker become another Anthony Henry? When Henry was drafted in the fourth round out of South Florida, no one knew his name or what to expect. He has established himself as a useful player, and maybe more. Crocker is a third-rounder from Marshall, supposedly a gifted natural athlete. Critics claim the Browns never should have drafted him that high. Can he prove them wrong?
• Can Jeff Faine become an anchor on the offensive line? Of all the questions asked about the young players, the first-rounder from Notre Dame appears the closest to being a sure thing.
• Can new defensive coordinator Dave Campo take young linebackers Kevin Bentley, Andra Davis, Ben Taylor and second-round-pick Chaun Thompson and make them ready for prime time? He has journeymen Brant Boyer and Barry Gardner to help, but a couple of the kids have to come through. Campo says he likes swift, athletic linebackers. Can he teach them the game fast enough so they can immediately play?
• Can Campo motivate Gerard Warren? Will Warren get in shape and stay in shape?
• Can Campo find a way to keep Courtney Brown healthy and get him to pressure the quarterback?
• Can Campo make the kind of difference with the defense that the Browns believe?
• Can the Browns find another Dennis Northcutt? A year ago, there was talk that Northcutt was a bust, and likely to be cut. Then the second-rounder from 2000 not only saved his career, but also became an impact player on offense. The Browns need someone to do that, especially on defense. They need a player who has been around for a few seasons to have a breakout year.