Your 2018 Cleveland Indians

[Derek]

Defensive metrics from 2016-2018:

From 2018 alone:

And, batting from 2016-2018:

Batting from 2018 alone:

I'd be willing to take Kiermaier and his entire contract off Tampa's hands. He'd be fantastic in CF behind our elite pitching, and in today's fly ball era, I think that's a huge asset. Assuming Tampa won't move him, I'd kick the tires on Pillar getting healthy, and then Hamilton. I really think they're all significant upgrades over Davis/Allen at this point.

Although, if Zimmer were healthy, I wouldn't even bother with any of them

Kiermaier and Pillar are clearly the best two of the bunch, but they are either hurt or on an awful contract. Hamilton blows, I have no interest in him.

I'd argue in today's heavy strikeout era where the ball is in play less than ever that, to an extent, the defense is actually less important.

Our defense is already one of the best in the league. In my opinion it's not worth making a trade for an outfielder unless they are a significant improvement at the plate, which none of these guys are.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Kiermaier and Pillar are clearly the best two of the bunch, but they are either hurt or on an awful contract. Hamilton blows, I have no interest in him.

I'd argue in today's heavy strikeout era where the ball is in play less than ever that, to an extent, the defense is actually less important.

Our defense is already one of the best in the league. In my opinion it's not worth making a trade for an outfielder unless they are a significant improvement at the plate, which none of these guys are.

I agree with you that the ball is in play less--so defense is less valuable. I think between all the K's and HR's, balls-in-play are down 20% from the mid 2000's.

However, I think that skews towards infield defense being less valuable. I don't have data to back it up, but I believe fly ball rates are up, leading to outfield defense still having value.

I see Kiermaier and Pillar as huge upgrades, and would gladly take either one. I just don't believe that Raj is still a good CF--I just haven't seen it from him.

Also, even fangraphs themselves says to not give the defensive metrics much value until you have about three years' worth of data. Off the eye test, Allen is probably a better CF than Rajai at this point, but neither of them gives me confidence.

Hamilton might suck at the plate (no worse than our current situation) but if Pillar and Kiermaier aren't possible, man would I love his speed and range in center. He shouldn't cost much more than a bag of peanuts as well.

 

[OptimusPrime]

I want no part of trading for any more guys that can't hit. We have enough of them. Outfield defense should be the last of our concerns. Hell, if we could go get someone like Asdrubal Cabrera to play 3B, I would be fine sending Kipnis back out to CF.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I want no part of trading for any more guys that can't hit. We have enough of them. Outfield defense should be the last of our concerns. Hell, if we could go get someone like Asdrubal Cabrera to play 3B, I would be fine sending Kipnis back out to CF.

That's an interesting take. I think that we need to find a bat in RF, but after that... with good hitting at pretty much 8/9 positions, I'm perfectly fine with our #9 hitting CF being a defensive specialist covering some ground that Brantley and our RF just can't get to anymore. I really think that will save more runs than an improved bat will generate runs.

 

[Derek]

I agree with you that the ball is in play less--so defense is less valuable. I think between all the K's and HR's, balls-in-play are down 20% from the mid 2000's.

However, I think that skews towards infield defense being less valuable. I don't have data to back it up, but I believe fly ball rates are up, leading to outfield defense still having value.

I see Kiermaier and Pillar as huge upgrades, and would gladly take either one. I just don't believe that Raj is still a good CF--I just haven't seen it from him.

Also, even fangraphs themselves says to not give the defensive metrics much value until you have about three years' worth of data. Off the eye test, Allen is probably a better CF than Rajai at this point, but neither of them gives me confidence.

Hamilton might suck at the plate (no worse than our current situation) but if Pillar and Kiermaier aren't possible, man would I love his speed and range in center. He shouldn't cost much more than a bag of peanuts as well.

FWIW I think Rajai blows. I was just using him express how low I am on these defensive specialists.

Pillar, if healthy, is the only interesting one.

 

[OptimusPrime]

That's an interesting take. I think that we need to find a bat in RF, but after that... with good hitting at pretty much 8/9 positions, I'm perfectly fine with our #9 hitting CF being a defensive specialist covering some ground that Brantley and our RF just can't get to anymore. I really think that will save more runs than an improved bat will generate runs.

I mean, if we bring in a RF bat, then we probably aren't getting another bat too, in which case I'm fine with what we have in CF. I don't know or care what advanced defensive metrics say, but Allen is solid enough out there, or you can get someone off waivers for that kind of role. I'm not trading any kind of prospect to address that.

I don't know where this slugging RF is going to come from though. There seem to be more options for infielders, which would be fine with me, even though it means moving Kipnis back to the outfield. I just don't want to be caught without enough offense again. You can't beat New York or Houston in a series if your lineup has too many holes. We saw that last season when we got nothing out of the LF, 3B, and DH after Edwin went down, not to mention Lindor and Jose. As nice as the infield defense was, they needed the offense from someone better than Urshela. These teams aren't going to be testing our defense. They are going to be pounding the ball out of the yard.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I mean, if we bring in a RF bat, then we probably aren't getting another bat too, in which case I'm fine with what we have in CF. I don't know or care what advanced defensive metrics say, but Allen is solid enough out there, or you can get someone off waivers for that kind of role. I'm not trading any kind of prospect to address that.

I don't know where this slugging RF is going to come from though. There seem to be more options for infielders, which would be fine with me, even though it means moving Kipnis back to the outfield. I just don't want to be caught without enough offense again. You can't beat New York or Houston in a series if your lineup has too many holes. We saw that last season when we got nothing out of the LF, 3B, and DH after Edwin went down, not to mention Lindor and Jose. As nice as the infield defense was, they needed the offense from someone better than Urshela. These teams aren't going to be testing our defense. They are going to be pounding the ball out of the yard.

I don't know why you think we wouldn't make two moves to address the OF.

When you say "I'm not trading any kind of prospect to address that" what do you actually mean? The price for some of these guys should be roughly what Jay Bruce's tag was last year. Do you consider a minor league scrub like Ryder Ryan a prospect that you wouldn't move off of?

I'm not sure why you say you don't know where this slugging RF is going to come from. Adam Jones should 100% be moved, and McCutchen/Dietrich are realistic possibilities that we've already discussed.

And offense is unpredictable. Take Jose and Lindor last year. Having a guy with a .270 average looks way better on paper than a guy with a .240 average, but does it really matter in a five-game series? That's an average of 1 out of every 33 at bats going differently. Give me things that are dependable--pitching and defense.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Severino shelled again today

Damn Bauer might start looking more and more like the Cy Young if Kluber can't right the ship in a hurry...

 

[Urban]

Crazy stat for this morning:

Aaron Judge Home Splits- .371 / .486 / .754 (1.240 OPS, 18 HR, 44 RBI in 175 ABs)
Aaron Judge Road Splits- .202 / .311 / .367 (.678 OPS, 8 HR, 16 RBI in 188 ABs)

Yankees now 6 back from Boston

 

[EdMonix11]

Indians claimed Johnny Field from TB

 

[Real Deal]

Indians claimed Johnny Field from TB

Johnny Baseball !!!

 

[PIP]

Indians claimed Johnny Field from TB

Oh very nice...Had my eye on him this year down in St.Pete and was hoping he’d become available..Just didn’t think it would happen ??

Reminds me quite a bit of Butch Huskey...And only 26 years of age... So it’s like Mets Butch Huskey..

Great day all around...

 

[Urban]

From my very brief research, it seems like Field has a good reputation for being hard working among Rays fans. Seems to hit LHP OK. Don't see him as an upgrade to anyone.

 

[Real Deal]

 

[MGMT]

Typically when I try to toss a ball to myself I have to try 4-5 times before I make contact tbh