2017 Spring Training Thread

[Kevalier]

1 - Santana
2 - Ramirez
3 - Lindor
4 - EE
5 - Brantley

Seems to be trending that way.

Santana or Ramirez can slide down when Kipnis inevitably returns, Yandy will bat 7/8 as Francona does with his rookies.

If Diaz is hitting second in a big league lineup, this team has larger issues.

Tito already stated this spring that if Brantley is in the lineup, then he will more than likely be hitting 3rd. He also mentioned how crucial J-Ram was in the 5 hole last season, so my guess is the opening day lineup will be something to the effect of:

1. Santana- 1B
2. Lindor-SS
3. Brantley- LF
4. Encarnacion- DH
5. Ramirez- 2B
6. Chisenhall/Guyer- RF
7. Gomes-C
8. Diaz- 3B
9. Naquin/Almonte- CF

 

[sportscoach]

Tito already stated this spring that if Brantley is in the lineup, then he will more than likely be hitting 3rd. He also mentioned how crucial J-Ram was in the 5 hole last season, so my guess is the opening day lineup will be something to the effect of:

1. Santana- 1B
2. Lindor-SS
3. Brantley- LF
4. Encarnacion- DH
5. Ramirez- 2B
6. Chisenhall/Guyer- RF
7. Gomes-C
8. Diaz- 3B
9. Naquin/Almonte- CF

Problem is Brantley is starting the season on the DL, which has been stated, so who is protecting EE? Thats the biggest issue right now for me since I would walk EE everytime if there isn't someone who is strong hitter behind him.

 

[Kevalier]

Problem is Brantley is starting the season on the DL, which has been stated, so who is protecting EE? Thats the biggest issue right now for me since I would walk EE everytime if there isn't someone who is strong hitter behind him.

Where are you getting the info that Brantley will begin the season on the DL? That certainly hasn't been reported as of yet by anyone covering the team.

 

[sportscoach]

Where are you getting the info that Brantley will begin the season on the DL? That certainly hasn't been reported as of yet by anyone covering the team.

http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/219796308/projecting-the-indians-opening-day-roster/

Pretty much Bastian says that it is very unlikely Brantley will start the season on the team. Aka he is likely going to get an extended spring training more than likely to get at bats. Though that being said it depends on how his at bats are looking in spring once he gets them, but i think they want to make sure he has gotten a lot of at bats before he is in the pros.

They took down the article that said he wouldn't be starting the season on the team and put that one up instead.

 

[AZ_]

Here is what he said:

With no firm date for his Cactus League debut, and knowing that he will not be playing consecutive games right away, it is hard to project him as part of the Opening Day roster. Almonte looks like a possible interim solution for left.

That has since changed, and we do have a firm date of him participating in the CL games.

It's today.

It's not firm one way or the other yet, by any stretch.

 

[sportscoach]

Here is what he said:



That has since changed, and we do have a firm date of him participating in the CL games.

It's today.

It's not firm one way or the other yet, by any stretch.

Personally I am planning on the worst based scenario so they question is what is your guys lineups if Brantley cannot start the season on the team?

 

[Kevalier]

We are all in agreement here that Yandy's bat is too strong to keep off the roster with Kipnis sidelined, and that he should be the opening day 3B instead of Urshela, correct?

 

[AZ_]

Diaz starting at 3B today.

So, yeah. That's probably happening.


Also, Lonnie in CF.

 

[ajz20]

Diaz starting at 3B today.

So, yeah. That's probably happening.


Also, Lonnie in CF.

Can you give us an idea of how good Diaz could be and his limitations?

 

[BimboColesHair]

Can you give us an idea of how good Diaz could be and his limitations?

Diaz is love. Diaz is life.

 

[Derek]

Can you give us an idea of how good Diaz could be and his limitations?

I'm not @AZ_, but he hits really well with a great approach, but without any power. He can play a bunch of positions, he's just not very good at any of them.

Martin Prado or Yunel Escobar without the ability to play SS might be safe player comps. His ceiling could be higher. He can really hit the ball.

Diaz is love. Diaz is life.

This is Yandy's swamp.

 

[AZ_]

Can you give us an idea of how good Diaz could be and his limitations?

Just seems to keep hitting and adding a bit more power.

If he can continue showing gap power to all fields, he's going to find a regular place in the lineup.

I've undersold him throughout most of his minor league career, but he's really got one of the better approaches and patience you'll see at the minor league level.

With the Indians valuing that so much, they can really turn him into something valuable in the long-term if he keeps showing more power.

 

[sportscoach]

Hence why I think he would be a two hole hitter. He will be a career .280+ batting average with around .370+ OBP%. He may not ever hit more than roughly ten HRs per season, but I'd be very surprised in 150 games he wouldn't get to the 190-200 hits in a season. So we all agree we want him on the team, just the question is do they trust his glove enough yet to be everyday or do they want to develop that more. He will be somewhere starting next season on the MLB roster I would sincerely think.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Can you give us an idea of how good Diaz could be and his limitations?

How good can he be? He can be as good as Ramirez was last season as a hitter. Both have similar career minor league slash lines (.307/.403/.410 for Diaz vs .304/.355/.411 for Ramirez), and both of them have really good BB:K numbers as well (198 BB:191 K for Diaz vs 113 BB:123 K for Ramirez).

Big thing with him is his power keeps jumping in the minors. .367 SLG in 2014, .402 SLG in 2015, .446 SLG in 2016. He's always going to be a work deep into counts, high average, high on base guy...those are the staples of his game. But if he keeps adding more and more power, I see no reason why he can't post a season like Ramirez just did at the MLB level, and do it consistently.

His limitations? Right now its probably still power numbers at the MLB level. Defensively, he needs more work on his footwork when throwing the ball from awkward fielding positions. He has soft hands, decent range, and is a good natural receiver, but his arm is too strong for his own good sometimes, and he gets sloppy with his footwork and sails throws a little too often from 3B.

 

[BimboColesHair]

View: https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/843861955144171520

Down to Gonzalez and Martinez for the utility role.