2020 Lineup Discussion

[NEOLeo]

The FO has been really good about finding bats at the deadline (even the old Aug 31 waiver deadline), and outside of last year’s Bauer trade none of them were blockbusters. They’ve found productive bats each year since 2015 (the last time they were in sale mode when we shipped out a bunch of veterans in Swisher, Bourne, Murphy and Moss).

2019: Reyes/Puig
2018: Martin & Donaldson
2017: Bruce
2016: Guyer & Crisp

Each of these players (as they were in their acquired seasons) would be a huge upgrade this year.

 

[xmasbuck]

to be sure pillar is 100 ops+ this season - same as naquin who everyone on here seems to like

compare to luplow 50, zimmer 68, deshields 58, santana 60, allen 43, mercado -23! - would defnitely be an upgrade - would be cheap both acquistion cost and salary - i think he would be a significant upgrade --- problem might be other clubs interested in him also

 

[LL3]

to be sure pillar is 100 ops+ this season - same as naquin who everyone on here seems to like

compare to luplow 50, zimmer 68, deshields 58, santana 60, allen 43, mercado -23! - would defnitely be an upgrade - would be cheap both acquistion cost and salary - i think he would be a significant upgrade --- problem might be other clubs interested in him also

....and now, we really are in sprint mode -- just 30 games to go. I'd be surprised if the Tribe does not try to catch some low cost lightning in a bottle. There are not many low cost CF options.

 

[Kevalier]

The FO has been really good about finding bats at the deadline (even the old Aug 31 waiver deadline), and outside of last year’s Bauer trade none of them were blockbusters. They’ve found productive bats each year since 2015 (the last time they were in sale mode when we shipped out a bunch of veterans in Swisher, Bourne, Murphy and Moss).

2019: Reyes/Puig
2018: Martin & Donaldson
2017: Bruce
2016: Guyer & Crisp

Each of these players (as they were in their acquired seasons) would be a huge upgrade this year.

I’ll take Teoscar Hernandez as part of a Clevinger deal and Kevin Pillar in a smaller deal.

2B- C. Hernandez
3B- Ramirez
SS-Lindor
LF- T. Hernandez
1B- Santana
DH- Reyes
RF- Naquin/Luplow
C- Perez
CF- Pillar

 

[NEOLeo]

This OF is unbalanced. I think they were hoping D Santana would play everyday (OF/DH back when they thought Reyes might play some OF). Then you had Luplow/Naquin platooning, and Mercado in CF.
With Naquin hitting like he is, he’s earning everyday ABs, which removes the lefty from the Luplow platoon. Insert Allen. But with Naquin locked into one corner, Luplow/Allen in another, and Reyes DHing full time, there’s no room for Santana. And with Mercado not hitting that leaves DeShields in CF full time.

Any chance D Santana (with his power potential and team option for next year) and a low level sweetener can fetch the rental bat we’re looking for, either a power hitting lefty corner OF or an everyday CF, just to give some better balance?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Any chance D Santana (with his power potential and team option for next year) and a low level sweetener can fetch the rental bat we’re looking for, either a power hitting lefty corner OF or an everyday CF, just to give some better balance?

We need better balance but who's going to give us anything for Domingo and a "low level sweetener"?

 

[Criznit]

This OF is unbalanced. I think they were hoping D Santana would play everyday (OF/DH back when they thought Reyes might play some OF). Then you had Luplow/Naquin platooning, and Mercado in CF.
With Naquin hitting like he is, he’s earning everyday ABs, which removes the lefty from the Luplow platoon. Insert Allen. But with Naquin locked into one corner, Luplow/Allen in another, and Reyes DHing full time, there’s no room for Santana. And with Mercado not hitting that leaves DeShields in CF full time.

Any chance D Santana (with his power potential and team option for next year) and a low level sweetener can fetch the rental bat we’re looking for, either a power hitting lefty corner OF or an everyday CF, just to give some better balance?

If anyone is interested in our warty outfielders, they will want Luplow, not Santana. Santana has very little value at this point.

 

[NEOLeo]

We need better balance but who's going to give us anything for Domingo and a "low level sweetener"?

I’m thinking a team with the opposite need. A team with multiple CFers and no power. Or 3 lefties and no right handed bat. Or no DH. I’m not suggesting we’d get a core piece, simply a Santana-level, average major leaguer that actually fits on the roster for the rest of the year. Like Bruce and Crisp and Guyer and the other examples of non blockbuster trades I posted up thread that would be an upgrade to this lineup.

Each of those guys were acquired for less (Nathan Lukes is the only “low level sweetener” that has advanced past AA and he put up a 600 OPS as a 24 year old in AAA last year). I could see Santana having appeal to a team that’s out of it this year but thinks they have a shot next year since they’d control his option, as opposed to two Nathan Lukes.

 

[Derek]

Over the last 2 weeks (12 games), Carlos Santana is hitting .298/.393/.511 with a 141 wRC+ bringing him up to .229/.414/.362 on the year with a 122 wRC+.

Maybe he didn't forget how to hit after all and just had a couple of tough weeks to start the year.

 

[sportscoach]

Domingo is worth cash and that may be it. I actually think his value is very minimum at best. If we get another OF he could be cut since he isnt bringing value on defense or offense. I feel bad for him since this season was all screwy and he didn't get a good chance to show what he can do but we cannot sit there and keep a guy who cannot do nothing and would be due 5 mil next season.

Also I do have a hunch if Clev is traded, we should be getting a nice haul overall so I expect a guy or two cut after the move from the big league roster.

 

[sportscoach]

Over the last 2 weeks (12 games), Carlos Santana is hitting .298/.393/.511 with a 141 wRC+ bringing him up to .229/.414/.362 on the year with a 122 wRC+.

Maybe he didn't forget how to hit after all and just had a couple of tough weeks to start the year.

Carlos has always had cold streaks (outside of last year), but i wasn't super worried since he was taking pitch after pitch and taking his walks. He was seeing the ball well, just his bat wasn't ready yet in a sense. I feel like from the fact Naquin is hitting, Lindor is putting up better swings, that the offense will be much better in the last 30 games.

Cleveland has much more reliable arms than the Twins and white soxs overall so if we producing at a solid clip with the bats, we should win the division.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Indians could have scored more than 14 runs last night if not for three players getting thrown out on the bases. That double play in the 4th inning was ridiculous.

According to Elias Sports, it was the first 3-2-8 double play in baseball’s expansion era (since 1961).

I love it. First base to catcher to center field. I can't blame Hosey too much. As he retreated to second base he saw Lindor was already there so he waved Lindor back to first. Lindor took off for first and nobody was covering first base so he would have made it. Hosey could have got back to second safely but he could see the second baseman was off the bag so Hosey stopped to see if the Cardinals would try to chase Lindor, giving Hosey a shot at going to third. He didn't see the centerfielder sneaking in behind him to cover second base. He had all the infielders accounted for so he assumed the bag was uncovered and he was fine where he was. Oops.

Just a really interesting and unusual play. That was really great hustle for the centerfielder to run all the way in and cover second in a rundown. The dumb mistake was Hernandez on third base jogging halfway to the plate on a ground ball right to the first baseman and getting himself out while leaving Hosey hung out to dry. That could have been a triple play of Molina played it right.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Over the last 2 weeks (12 games), Carlos Santana is hitting .298/.393/.511 with a 141 wRC+ bringing him up to .229/.414/.362 on the year with a 122 wRC+.

Maybe he didn't forget how to hit after all and just had a couple of tough weeks to start the year.

And Reyes is hitting .394 with 19 RBI's in his last 19 games. Lindor has 13 hits in his last 8 games. The 3-4-5 spots in the order are starting to come around.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Manny signs with a team Down Under at age 48. Maybe Julio Franco will join him.

Manny being Manny: Ramirez to play in Australia

Manny Ramirez, 48, is signing a one-year deal to play for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League, team owner Adam Dobb told theabl.com.au. Ramirez retired from the majors in 2011 after failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

www.espn.com

 

[xmasbuck]

And Reyes is hitting .394 with 19 RBI's in his last 19 games. Lindor has 13 hits in his last 8 games. The 3-4-5 spots in the order are starting to come around.

one of those two will be with us next season