2019 Minor League Thread

[sportscoach]

I was about to say, I did ask multiple times at the start of the season about Josh Smith and Zach Plesac and I was ignored/told they weren't anything and yet the Indians added them to the big league club. Would be nice from our experts here to at least get a report on guys if asked about them. Lurkers do like to read about the players in the farm team since they would only be here if they were curious/wanted to know what we thought.

 

[sportscoach]

@EdMonix11 @Derek @AZ_ @BimboColesHair

This is a question for next season, but if we decide to keep Ramirez at 3rd, Who do feel takes over for Kipnis at 2B? in 15 area one would have said maybe Krieger but he hasn't lived up to his hype, so a battle between Mathias and Chang?

 

[EdMonix11]

@EdMonix11@Derek@AZ_@BimboColesHair

This is a question for next season, but if we decide to keep Ramirez at 3rd, Who do feel takes over for Kipnis at 2B? in 15 area one would have said maybe Krieger but he hasn't lived up to his hype, so a battle between Mathias and Chang?

Clement or Chang can keep the seat warm for Tyler Freeman.

 

[sportscoach]

Clement or Chang can keep the seat warm for Tyler Freeman.

So Mark Mathias is a guy who wouldn't be a contender at all?

 

[MVD]

So Mark Mathias is a guy who wouldn't be a contender at all?

Hitting the best out of all the 2nd and SS in Cbus right now. If Kip ends up on the DL at some point(which he will) I'd give Mathias a shot.

 

[Kevalier]

Clement or Chang can keep the seat warm for Tyler Freeman.

Clement strikes me as a super utility guy, with the potential to be Tito's wet dream if he pans out.

 

[EdMonix11]

So Mark Mathias is a guy who wouldn't be a contender at all?

Not a prospect at the moment. Didn't hit at all in Akron and wasn't promoted to Columbus on merit. Getting playing time due lack of depth at the moment. He's getting an opportunity so the window isn't entirely closed but there isn't much success with the stick in the upper minors with him.

 

[daddywags]

Andruw Monasterio? Maybe an option st some point. Hasn't done much yet but has been young at every stop and is in AA at 21. There is a reason we selected him as PTBNL in the Gomes deal.

 

[EdMonix11]

Clement strikes me as a super utility guy, with the potential to be Tito's wet dream if he pans out.

He's sneaky good.

I think there's a decent chance he's everyday guy but I wouldn't be disappointed if he's a super utility guy. I mean, he's a 70 runner and walks more than he strikes out. He can play anywhere so that could conceivably help him find an everyday home in the bigs eventually.

Admittedly, I have a HUGE thing for guys who walk more than they strikeout. I know it's kinda old school because strikeouts don't really matter analytically but I just think those guys have such a great command at the dish-- the strike zone, their hitting zone, pitch recognition, etc.

 

[sportscoach]

Not a prospect at the moment. Didn't hit at all in Akron and wasn't promoted to Columbus on merit. Getting playing time due lack of depth at the moment. He's getting an opportunity so the window isn't entirely closed but there isn't much success with the stick in the upper minors with him.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/mark-mathias-664029?stats=career-r-hitting-milb

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Mathias won the Big West Conference batting title in 2014, when he hit .386 as a sophomore at Cal Poly, and then played for the U.S. collegiate national team over the summer. He underwent labrum surgery that offseason after injuring his shoulder with Team USA, and it kept him from playing the field until the second half of his junior season. Shoulder injuries plagued Mathias once again in 2017, as he suffered a dislocated left shoulder during Spring Training and then logged just 35 games back in Double-A before returning to the disabled list due to ongoing soreness.

When healthy, Indians officials regard Mathias as one the system's better pure hitters. He makes a lot of hard contact from the right side of the plate, producing line drives across the whole field thanks to a combination of bat speed and barrel control. He has an advanced approach and controls the strike zone well, in turn fueling his on-base skills. Though he projects for below-average over-the-fence power, Mathias, with his strength and knack for barreling the ball, has plenty of pop to the gaps and tallied 40 doubles in his full-season debut.

Mathias' best position is second base, where he profiles as an above-average defender with an average arm. If he can remain healthy and stay on the field, Mathias could develop into a future utility infielder if he's unable to carve out a role as an everyday second baseman.
​

That is the scouting report from Baseball Savant, and it looks like some people in the organization really like him since he got the chance to play at levels above probably where he should have been this season. We will know when next season starts since he is Rule 5 eligible so with Kipnis likely being cut, he would be added to the 40 man if they feel he can play.

Also I do like Clement as well, especially the way he performed in Spring training. I kind of want to leave Jose at 3rd and let Mathias, Clement, Stamets, Freeman and Chang battle out for 2nd and the utility spot next season.

 

[sportscoach]

Hitting the best out of all the 2nd and SS in Cbus right now. If Kip ends up on the DL at some point(which he will) I'd give Mathias a shot.

It doesn't always mean much, but in the past before the shoulder injuries he was considered a solid hitting prospect with a good glove at second base.

Ps. Did you used to talk on the old Cavs forums about baseball? I swear I know your name from there! I could be wrong, but I thought you were.

 

[MVD]

It doesn't always mean much, but in the past before the shoulder injuries he was considered a solid hitting prospect with a good glove at second base.

Ps. Did you used to talk on the old Cavs forums about baseball? I swear I know your name from there! I could be wrong, but I thought you were.

Yeah, I was on Cavfanatic and the other board after it switched and it disappeared. Noticed you and a few others from there over here.

 

[sportscoach]

Yeah, I was on Cavfanatic and the other board after it switched and it disappeared. Noticed you and a few others from there over here.

Nice! I tried to convince Starvin Marvin to come over here as well, but he never did sadly! They should have never taken down that forum at the end of the day and switched it to the one they did. This is a really good board for the most part, just don't mind AZ_'s attitude!

Numbers at AAA don't always tell the whole story of a player, but lately a lot of the under the radar style of players have been doing well for the Indians and Mathias to me looked pretty good in the field during spring training when he was out there. With him next off season will be the tell tale sign of what the organizations think of him since he is Rule 5 eligible.

 

[MVD]

Nice! I tried to convince Starvin Marvin to come over here as well, but he never did sadly! They should have never taken down that forum at the end of the day and switched it to the one they did. This is a really good board for the most part, just don't mind AZ_'s attitude!

Numbers at AAA don't always tell the whole story of a player, but lately a lot of the under the radar style of players have been doing well for the Indians and Mathias to me looked pretty good in the field during spring training when he was out there. With him next off season will be the tell tale sign of what the organizations think of him since he is Rule 5 eligible.

Yeah, it all started to go downhill after they kept switching forums every few years. Went throigh 3 firum switches and it was getting old. I looked at other Cleveland sports message boards and this was the best one.

Hope he atleast gets a chance to play some up here. Idk if we will trade Kip at the deadline though. Might just let him play his contract out.

 

[BMAN]

Bobby Bradley with two more homeruns..