2019 Spring Training

sportscoach said:

I am not sure since I am a bit too young, but I do know he was one of the best steals in the draft, almost equal to Tom Brady since Nolan Ryan was a 12th round draft pick out of college. He also was said to hit 105 on a radar gun at one point and he knew how to limit hits. Ryan owns the most SOs in a career and the most walks as well, but he was like 6 hits per 9 innings and not even a HR per 9.

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and he had an incredible 7 no hitters, I remember watching him well, but I was too young too know baseball well.

Lee said:

and he had an incredible 7 no hitters, I remember watching him well, but I was too young too know baseball well.

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I am too young to remember watching him on TV so I can only go by whatever I can essentially find on youtube and stats.

Though I haven't gotten to finish the Dodgers game, I like the arm Bauers showed in the first inning to 1st base! At least we know peeps can throw out there!

Did anyone watch the game yesterday? I'm interested in how Hentges looked.

And, judging by Chang playing 2B yesterday, I imagine there's not a snowball's chance in hell he plays SS while Frankie's out. That's disappointing.

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:

Did anyone watch the game yesterday? I'm interested in how Hentges looked.

And, judging by Chang playing 2B yesterday, I imagine there's not a snowball's chance in hell he plays SS while Frankie's out. That's disappointing.

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It wasn't on TV so no one could watch it outside of some highlights. Hentges from what I can tell has looked really good this spring, so its likely he could get a chance to start at AA from the offset of the season. I think they are setting him up as a starter this year, but if he has a strong season, we could see him in late summer/Sept area in the bullpen (as long as everyone is healthy that is, injuries to Olson, Perez etc could make him at the bigs earlier).

Chang actually made the errors at SS in the dodgers game, but his bat has looked pretty good this spring (outside of the SOs). He still has a shot to do it, though Ernie Clement is actually having a good spring so he is making himself heard as well (He hasn't play above AA so I doubt Clement will break camp with the team this season, but we are going with the best 25 out of camp and he would have 4 option years not 3 if we do add him).

So far on the OF front, Martin has looked really, really good, and Allen seems to be playing well too. Joyce and Luplow haven't fared well, but Mercado has been looking pretty good out there. Bauers is seeing time in LF, and Naquin looks really healthy and has a nice spring in his step. At the moment Joyce isn't making the team and its not looking good for his chances.

Just wanted to point out that Kipnis is batting .833 which is sustainable and proof he is back.

Lee said:

Just wanted to point out that Kipnis is batting .833 which is sustainable and proof he is back.

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I should not have spoke so soon, Kipnis is down to .714, major slump.

Really hard to judge joking aside, some of the guys they are hitting against might never make the majors or are 2 or 3 years away. Spring training is just so odd.

Camp update for position players:
RF: Allen (it is his to loose)
LF: Bauers (If Hanley makes the roster)/Luplow Otherwise its Naquin/Luplow Platoon.
4th OF: Thompson
Util spots: Moroff and Flaherty (saying spots since one will start at SS when we break out of camp)

Players helping themselves:
Ernie Clement, Mark Mathias, Oscar Mercado, Trayce Thompson, Ryan Flaherty, Daniel Johnson, Wilson Garcia

Players hurting themselves:
Matt Joyce, Jordan Luplow, Eric Stamets,

I know its early, but I don't think Joyce can make the roster over who else we have in camp. Also Clement is positioning himself to stay in camp all spring and actually could make the roster out of camp if Lindor isn't ready yet. Still a long shot, but he is showing up this spring!

sportscoach said:

Camp update for position players:
RF: Allen (it is his to loose)
LF: Bauers (If Hanley makes the roster)/Luplow Otherwise its Naquin/Luplow Platoon.
4th OF: Thompson
Util spots: Moroff and Flaherty (saying spots since one will start at SS when we break out of camp)

Players helping themselves:
Ernie Clement, Mark Mathias, Oscar Mercado, Trayce Thompson, Ryan Flaherty, Daniel Johnson, Wilson Garcia

Players hurting themselves:
Matt Joyce, Jordan Luplow, Eric Stamets,

I know its early, but I don't think Joyce can make the roster over who else we have in camp. Also Clement is positioning himself to stay in camp all spring and actually could make the roster out of camp if Lindor isn't ready yet. Still a long shot, but he is showing up this spring!

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RF is going to be a platoon of Naquin and Luplow. Allen will be the extra outfielder on the 25 man roster and allow Martin to take a breather, so that he doesn't have to play everyday in CF.

Kevalier said:

RF is going to be a platoon of Naquin and Luplow. Allen will be the extra outfielder on the 25 man roster and allow Martin to take a breather, so that he doesn't have to play everyday in CF.

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Luplow has only played in LF this spring via any official games. Also Allen has been one of the best players so far this spring, so I don't know how you can put him to the 4th OF spot when the only person playing better than him is Martin in the OF. I am pretty sure RF is where Allen ends up playing everyday at the end of the day while maybe getting Martin a breather in CF against strong lefties.

I really do feel the OF will be LF Bauers/Luplow, CF Martin, RF Allen and Thompson on the bench. Then Hanley is at DH.

sportscoach said:

Luplow has only played in LF this spring via any official games. Also Allen has been one of the best players so far this spring, so I don't know how you can put him to the 4th OF spot when the only person playing better than him is Martin in the OF. I am pretty sure RF is where Allen ends up playing everyday at the end of the day while maybe getting Martin a breather in CF against strong lefties.

I really do feel the OF will be LF Bauers/Luplow, CF Martin, RF Allen and Thompson on the bench. Then Hanley is at DH.

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Trayce Thompson over Naquin? Not happening. Tito even says in this video that Naquin will be in RF.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJe-NdMpyf8

Kevalier said:

Trayce Thompson over Naquin? Not happening. Tito even says in this video that Naquin will be in RF.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJe-NdMpyf8

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So if Allen continues to outplay everyone else then he is the 4th OF? That makes no sense to me. Naquin still has time to make this roster, but at the moment, if we keep Hanley then Bauers ends up off of first base, and Naquin ends up being the odd man out. Bauers, Martin, Naquin, Allen, Luplow is our OF? He also said do not count out non roster invites as well, so we shall see, but something says Naquin is the RF unless he gets beat out/loses the job.

sportscoach said:

So if Allen continues to outplay everyone else then he is the 4th OF? That makes no sense to me. Naquin still has time to make this roster, but at the moment, if we keep Hanley then Bauers ends up off of first base, and Naquin ends up being the odd man out. Bauers, Martin, Naquin, Allen, Luplow is our OF? He also said do not count out non roster invites as well, so we shall see, but something says Naquin is the RF unless he gets beat out/loses the job.

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Correct. Hanley will be the DH as long as he shows even the slightest signs of life this spring.

Kevalier said:

Correct. Hanley will be the DH as long as he shows even the slightest signs of life this spring.

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To me personally, I feel if Allen has a good spring (which he has outplayed everyone so far outside of Martin) he should be given an everyday spot. If we keep Hanley, that forces Bauers into the OF and then that makes our RH Outfield likely Bauers, Martin and Allen and with a very heavy left handed/switch hitting lineup. Why I would keep Thompson over Naquin to go with Luplow on the bench (also both are a lot better fielders than Naquin is). This would allow for better versatility from the bench and protect us from the fact Martin cannot hit lefties well.

At the moment, Zimmer and Salazar will start the season on the 60 day DL, Lindor on the 10 day DL, then I have Hanley, Flaherty, Thompson, Wilson and Clippard making the roster, which means likely Taylor, Wittgren and Neil Ramirez get DFA'd.

sportscoach said:

To me personally, I feel if Allen has a good spring (which he has outplayed everyone so far outside of Martin) he should be given an everyday spot. If we keep Hanley, that forces Bauers into the OF and then that makes our RH Outfield likely Bauers, Martin and Allen and with a very heavy left handed/switch hitting lineup. Why I would keep Thompson over Naquin to go with Luplow on the bench (also both are a lot better fielders than Naquin is). This would allow for better versatility from the bench and protect us from the fact Martin cannot hit lefties well.

At the moment, Zimmer and Salazar will start the season on the 60 day DL, Lindor on the 10 day DL, then I have Hanley, Flaherty, Thompson, Wilson and Clippard making the roster, which means likely Taylor, Wittgren and Neil Ramirez get DFA'd.

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Wittgren still has a minor league option left, so I would imagine the Indians would assign him to Columbus if he doesn't make the 25 man roster out of spring training.

Needless to say that it's awfully early, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Trayce Thompson break camp with the team if he continues to barrel up balls like he has recently including a double today that had an exit velocity of 112 mph. I was under the impression that Jordan Luplow would essentially be handed a spot on the roster, but he hasn't been too impressive so far and still has a minor league option remaining unlike Trayce.