Cleveland Indians Hot Stove---2011-2012

• mucalum49

  

  Few tweets to consider from Buster Olney:
  

  @Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
  Projected CLE lineup: Sizemore, A.Cabrera, Choo, Santana, Kotchman, Hafner, Brantley, Kipnis, Chisenhall. If Choo rebounds, a good lineup.

  @Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
  Many of you noting CLE is very heavy with left-handers in their lineup. It's worth mentioning: DET heavy with RHers in its rotation.

• Mulva

  

  @Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
  Projected CLE lineup: Sizemore, A.Cabrera, Choo, Santana, Kotchman, Hafner, Brantley, Kipnis, Chisenhall. If Choo rebounds, a good lineup.

  "If Choo rebounds" really simplifies things.
  
  I'd say if Choo and Sizemore rebound, Cabrera repeats his performance, Santana and/or Hafner stay healthy, and Kipnis and Chiz progress and develop then it's a good lineup. But that's a lot of ifs.
• IggyPride00

  

  Mulva;1073735 wrote:"If Choo rebounds" really simplifies things.
  
  I'd say if Choo and Sizemore rebound, Cabrera repeats his performance, Santana and/or Hafner stay healthy, and Kipnis and Chiz progress and develop then it's a good lineup. But that's a lot of ifs.

  I do think Grady is going to have a good year.
  
  This is his free agent year, and last real shot at getting a big pay day. It's either now or never for him. He is still young enough that with a real good year he could get a good size 4-5 year deal.
  
  If he only plays 40-50 games again though that's it for him.
• grodt

  

  I actually agree with Jordan Bastian. Unless Chiz lights it up in spring training he's most likely going to start the year in AAA. Hannahan is going to make the team regardless, either as the starting 3B or a super-utility guy. For that reason, Chiz making the team takes a spot on the bench that could go to a corner outfielder/first base backup. Now I'm sure they'd love for Chiz to grab the 3B job but they won't force it with him since he has options.
• Footwedge

  mucalum49;1073733 wrote:Few tweets to consider from Buster Olney:

  tribe loses 70 points off their average facing a southpaw with that lineup.
• Wooball

  

  Footwedge;1074011 wrote:tribe loses 70 points off their average facing a southpaw with that lineup.

  Good thing that wouldn't be their lineup facing a lefty.
• royal_k

  

  Another signing that gets the blood pumping....lol. The good thing is he puts the ball in play, which 75% of the rest of the line up doesn't. He's also very good defensively. But a possible 7 starting LH hitting line up will be exposed in late innings facing LH relievers.
• grodt

  

  Kotchman did note that he's made fewer errors at 1B in his career then our first basemen did all last season. If nothing else that should help our groundball heavy staff.
• HitsRus

  

  If nothing else that should help our groundball heavy staff.

  yeah but one of theose great groundball pitchers is/was the pitcher formerly known as Fausto....
• grodt

  

  True and he was replaced by a fly-ball pitcher (Slowey) but it's still 3-2 in favor of groundballers.
• iclfan2

  

  I don't know how you can't like the Kotchman signing. He is a good fielder, batted over .300, and was in the top 10 for OBP in the American League. No, he won't be hitting homers, but he's better than LaPorta. That is all that matters. Sure I'd rather have someone else, but LaPorta sucks.
• Mulva

  

  iclfan2;1074651 wrote:I don't know how you can't like the Kotchman signing

  I don't mind the signing, but I don't know how you can really get excited about it either. A corner player with no power who won't drive in runs?
  
  Hopefully he hits like last season and not like 2010.
• Crimson streak

  

  The more I think about it I get so pissed we could have easily gotten pence from Houston last year. Probably with out giving up both white and pomeranz
• OQB

  

  Mulva;1074691 wrote:I don't mind the signing, but I don't know how you can really get excited about it either. A corner player with no power who won't drive in runs?
  
  Hopefully he hits like last season and not like 2010.

  
  Hope for the 2011 numbers, expect the 2010 numbers lol.

  Crimson streak;1074692 wrote:The more I think about it I get so pissed we could have easily gotten pence from Houston last year. Probably with out giving up both white and pomeranz

  We could have had Cuddyer as well....but unfortunately this is the wallet that Antonetti was given by the Dolan's....
  
  
• HitsRus

  

  Wow....fans are so excited that the thread has slipped to page 2......time to kick it to the top.
  
  1) the equipment trucks are loaded and heading for Arizona!
  
  2) The Tribe continues luke warm talks with Druby Cabrera....Cabrera wants to stay in Cleveland and looking for a long term contract. The front office is more interested in avioding arbitration. ???...The Tribe has offered $3.75 Million... Druby is asking for $5.2 million.
  I think I'm going to be sick.
  
  3) Manny Acta stated today (sic) that Grady Sizemore will not be able to play everyday because of his multiple surgeries and ailments from which he is still not fully recovered. Can anyone explain to me why we paid him $5 Million for this year (plus incentives) and didn't even get an option for next year????
• hoops23

  

  Dolan needs to open the fucking wallet and pay Druby what he's asking, for multiple years. He's young and has improved just about every season.
• IggyPride00

  

  3) Manny Acta stated today (sic) that Grady Sizemore will not be able to play everyday because of his multiple surgeries and ailments from which he is still not fully recovered. Can anyone explain to me why we paid him $5 Million for this year (plus incentives) and didn't even get an option for next year????

  I listened to that on Rizzo this morning, and was flabergasted with the way Acta talked about Grady. You get the sense they are not counting on him at all for the most part.
  
  As Greg Brinda was saying today on his afternoon show, when you are cash strapped like the Indians and can't add payroll, how in the world do you give a guy $5 million a year assuming you're lucky if he plays 110 games.
  
  A $5 million dollar player to the Indians is like a $15 million dollar player to other teams. We can't just throw that kind of money away on a guy that they basically have no expectations for. It is the most mind blowing thing I have heard in a while with regard to this organization.
• hoops23

  

  Grady was re-signed to keep the casual fans (mostly the female demographic) happy.
• TBone14

  

  Druby is worth 3x or more what Grady is worth. Give him what he wants. The arbitrator is going to look as his numbers comparable to other SS and end up awarding in his favor. Might as well just pay him.
• HitsRus

  

  here's an opportunity to lock in a core player for a number of years and they are letting it go by.
• grodt

  

  It's not gone yet. They haven't had the arbitration meeting and even if they do they can still negotiate an extension.
• royal_k

  

  HitsRus;1079399 wrote:here's an opportunity to lock in a core player for a number of years and they are letting it go by.

  This
  
  It's the way they did it in the 90's. You lock up your core players when you have the chance. This guy wants to play here. Pay the man!
  
  $5 mill a year is a bargain for Druby
• stlouiedipalma

  royal_k;1079597 wrote:This
  
  It's the way they did it in the 90's. You lock up your core players when you have the chance. This guy wants to play here. Pay the man!
  
  $5 mill a year is a bargain for Druby

  
  Couldn't say it better myself. Time to shit or get off the pot.
• GOONx19

  

  Keith Law's farm system rankings are out. Indians at 29th, ahead of only the White Sox.
  
  http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/keith-law-ranks-indians-farm-system-29th-in-mlb/
• like_that

  

  GOONx19;1079808 wrote:Keith Law's farm system rankings are out. Indians at 29th, ahead of only the White Sox.
  
  http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/keith-law-ranks-indians-farm-system-29th-in-mlb/

  Good thing they traded their top 2 pitching prospects.