Okay, here is the first crack at a depth chart for 2009. It should be noted that this is a first draft, and this listing should change over the course of the next few months. Also, the look of this chart will be cleaned up more down the road to make it easier to read. As always, this will be housed in the resource section for quick reference.
Some quick comments:
- Buffalo and Akron lineups are pretty much set. The one lineup which is tough to predict is Lake County, and the reason for that is that it is unknown what 2008 draft picks will go to Lake County and which ones will go on to Kinston. Typically, some of the higher round college picks skip Low-A and go right to High-A. I think Phelps is all but certain to start in Kinston, while I have Tice in Kinston mainly because of Abreu's presence in Lake County and not because I think Tice is ready for High-A.
- Lots of catchers to sort through for Lake County, and the backup situation at catcher in Kinston, Akron, and even Buffalo.
- Barring trades, injuries, Rule 5, or these guys sticking with the big league team out of camp, I believe this is your 2009 Columbus opening day pitching staff.
- Should be interesting to see if Lofgren starts or relieves, and where he opens the season. Due to depth at Columbus, he could open in Akron and move up to Columbus in May/June.
- Will also be interesting to see how the starters are handled in Kinston. De la Cruz, Berger and Mahalic should be locks for the rotation, but one of Archer, Miller, and Morris looks destined for the bullpen.
- I have no idea right now where Stowell will start, so I have him a bubble Kinston/Lake County guy.
- Bullpen in Lake County is wide open, and should be a tough spring training battle.
Columbus | < Bubble > | Akron | < Bubble > | Kinston | < Bubble > | Lake County | < Bubble | |
| OF | Matt LaPorta | John Drennen | Roman Pena | Bo Greenwell | ||||
| OF | Michael Brantley | Jose Constanza | Lucas Montero | Tim Fedroff | ||||
| OF | Trevor Crowe | Nick Weglarz | Matt Brown | Ryan Blair | ||||
| 1B | Jordan Brown | Beau Mills | Chris Nash | Adam Abraham | ||||
| 2B | Josh Barfield | Josh Rodriguez | Cord Phelps | Jason Smit | ||||
| SS | Andy Cannizaro | Carlos Rivero | Mark Thompson | Lonnie Chisenhall | ||||
| 3B | Wes Hodges | Jared Goedert | Jeremie Tice | Abner Abreu | ||||
| C | Wyatt Toregas | Carlos Santana | Matt McBride | Robbie Alcombrack | ||||
| DH | Michael Aubrey | Ryan Goleski | Todd Martin | Dustin Realini | Nate Recknagel | |||
| Bench | Chris Gimenez | Damaso Espino | Brian Juhl | Alex Castillo | Michael Valadez | Doug Pickens | Chun Chen | Richard Martinez |
| Bench | Stephen Head | Armando Camacaro | Jerad Head | Adam White | Delvi Cid | John Allman | ||
| Bench | Brandon Pinckney | Cirilo Cumberbatch | Brock Simpson | Cristo Arnal | Isaias Velasquez | Walter Diaz | ||
| Bench | Karexon Sanchez | Ronald Rivas | ||||||
Columbus | < Bubble > | Akron | < Bubble > | Kinston | < Bubble > | Lake County | < Bubble | |
| SP | David Huff | Hector Rondon | Kelvin De La Cruz | T.J. McFarland | ||||
| SP | Scott Lewis | Jeanmar Gomez | Chris Archer | Chris Jones | ||||
| SP | Aaron Laffey | Steven Wright | Eric Berger | Alexander Perez | ||||
| SP | Kevin Dixon | Chuck Lofgren | Joey Mahalic | Danny Salazar | ||||
| SP | Frank Herrmann | Carlton Smith | Ryan Morris | Zach Putnam | ||||
| RP | Ryan Edell | Matt Meyer | Ryan Miller | Bryce Stowell | Carlos Arias | Garrett Rieck | ||
| RP | John Meloan | Erik Stiller | Shawn Nottingham | John Gaub | Gary Campfield | Dave Roberts | Guido Fonseca | |
| RP | Tony Sipp | Josh Tomlin | Sung-Wei Tseng | Paolo Espino | Kyle Landis | Brad Hinkle | Eddie Burns | |
| RP | Randy Newsom | Scott Roehl | Heath Taylor | Dallas Cawiezell | Russell Young | Marty Popham | Brian Grening | |
| RP | Adam Miller | Michael Finocchi | Jonathan Holt | Wilfredo Ramirez | Jose Urena | |||
| RP | Rich Rundles | Neil Wagner | Josh Judy | Anillins Martinez | Steve Smith | |||
| CL | Jeff Stevens | Vinnie Pestano | Mike Pontius | Michael McGuire | Juan Diaz | |||
| Extended ST | Projected Releases | |||||||
| Rob Bryson (RHP) (rehab) | Joanniel Montero (RHP) | |||||||
| T.J. House (LHP) | Adam Davis © | |||||||
| Trey Haley (RHP) | Jason Denham (OF) | |||||||
| Roberto Perez © | Juan Valdes (OF) | |||||||
| Trent Baker (OF) | Matthew Willard (INF) | |||||||
| Kevin Rucker (OF) | Joe Ness (RHP) | |||||||
| Tim Palincsar (OF) | Jeff Hehr (INF) | |||||||
| Donnie Webb (OF) | P.J. Zoccho (RHP) | |||||||
| Angel Rodriguez (OF) | Travis Turek (RHP) | |||||||
| Jesus Brito (OF) | Kaimi Mead (LHP) | |||||||
| Jacob Reust (RHP) | Candido Jesus (LHP) | |||||||
| Santo Frias (RHP) | Jansy Infante (INF) | |||||||
| Kevin Fontanez (INF) | ||||||||
| Clayton Cook (RHP) | ||||||||
| Moises Montero (RHP) | ||||||||
| Franklin Soto (LHP) | ||||||||
| Lurvin Basabe (INF) | ||||||||
| Carlos Moncrief (RHP) | ||||||||
| Alexander Morales (RHP) | ||||||||
| Gregorio Rosario (RHP) | ||||||||
| Matthew Langwell (RHP) | ||||||||
| Rafael Vera (INF) | ||||||||
| Jose Camargo (INF) | ||||||||
| Juan Aponte (INF/C) | ||||||||
| Denny Montero (RHP) | ||||||||
| Sandy Mendez (RHP) | ||||||||
| Jose Jimenez (RHP) | ||||||||
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23 comments:
Where is Niuman Romero in the mix?
Great post!
A few other questions...
- What are they saying on how fast Cord Phelps could move up to the Club?
- Also, are they moving McBride to OF or 1B given the logjam at catcher?
- What are they saying about Jordan Brown? They brought up Garko when he had nothing yet to prove in AAA and he was hitting average. Is he in the plans at all?
- Any possibility of Mills, Santana or Gimenez at 3B?
Hey TL,
Really cool list. As usual, I am picky and most of it is the toughest place to project, Kinston.
Did you miss Lee or am I overlooking him? I think he will be at Kinston. I am also reasonably confident Putnam will be in Kinston's starting rotation. OFs suck so bad I think Fedroff will be there too. No Tice since I think DL at Lake County. 3B is Chisenhall in Kinston. I believe Stowell will be there as well. A lot of arms there but I do not think De La is long for NC.
I am thinking House is likely in Lake. Haley depends upon his progress with his mechanics but do not rule him out.
Really glad you went out on the limb on this instead of me.
Romero is a minor league free agent and may or may not resign with the Indians. Once any MLFA resigns, I'll update.
Phelps is the only obvious guy to go to Kinston from the 2008 Draft because of his advanced approach, age, and he played a god chunk in MV.
McBride is still a catcher. While he is playing outfield in Hawaii currently, he is still a full time catcher. This could change, but until then he is slotted as a catcher in Kinston to start.
Brown is certainly in the plans. Just needs an opportunity to open up and get a chance in Cleveland.
As of right now, no change on Mills, Gimenez, or Santana to 3B. Always the possibility. Santana a long shot, Mills has a chance to go back there at some point, and Gimenez has the best chance given that 3B is probably his strongest position.
Inker, I forgot about Lee. And yes, he will be in Kinston.
I am not sure on Putnam in Kinston. In years past only a few guys like Huff and Sowers skipped Low-A and started in High-A. Also, with De La, Mahalic, Berger, Archer, Morris and Miller already there (6 starters), there is no room for Putnam unless two of Archer, Miller and Morris are put in the bully. I don't see that happening. Berger is the one 2008 college guy who I believe starts in Kinston because of his success last year in MV, he got some work in already in short-season, his advanced pitching, etc.
I'm 50/50 on Fedroff in Kinston or LC. LC is short on outfielders, and Kinston has three guys the Indians like in Brown, Montero and Pena, so I still side with Fedroff starting in Lake Co. I do believe though he could move to Kinston quickly.
I am very certain Chisenhall starts in Lake County. Based in large part what the Indians said late in the year this year. He will only be 20 still, and the talk is he will stay at SS at least at the start of next season.
De La likely spends at least a half season in Kinston. It is viewed as the most critical stop for players by the Indians and they always want guys to get at least 400-500 at bats there and 100-120 innings. I do think at some point if he is performing he'll go to Akron.
Stowell did not even pitch anywhere this year, so I think he could very well open the year in Lake County to start. He has an outside shot at Kinston to me. Definitely a lot of arms to shake out in the starting rotation in Kinston and Lake Co!
I am also very certain Haley and House open in extended spring. Haley is 100% as he even told me that is what the org told him. House likely the same because neither really pitched with the Indians last year, both are out of HS, and the Indians like to use the first spring training and EST to get them acclimated to the professional game with routine building and all that. Both are likely in the starting rotation for the Arizona League team which opens play in June.
you like dixon as the 4th guy in Columbus? what is the rationale there? i thought edell would be more likely for a rotation spot there or a retread (a la Jeff Harris etc).
Not 100% on Dixon, but I like him to remain in the roation more than Edell who I think is going to be moved to the bullpen. There is the possibility as you suggest that if a 4A vet signing is acquired that he would replace Dixon...until then, Dixon is "holding" the #5 spot in Buffalo (don't pay attention to the order of the five starter on the sheet).
ha, so you're finally agreeing with me that Sowers makes the big league club ;)
ha, just messing with ya. Good list.
-Hermie13
Kaimi Mead getting cut? He has been the best pitcher for the Tribe in the Hawaii league and seems likea decent bullpen arm for LC. Everything else looks great. Thanks!!
Yeah, nothing against Mead, but it is all about limited spots. He could very well stick in EST and go back to Mahoning Valley again, but with all the pitching going to Lake County, it will be hard for him to trump anyone. He has no shot as a starting spot, although could figure into a relief spot. With only 12 pithings spots, it is hard to crack that team when guys like Stowell, Putnam, Perez, Salazar, McFarland, Jones, Roberts, Popham and a few others will be there. Actually, come to think of it, Mead could be a bubble guy, but at this point I like the others better.
Also, is there any chance that young stud DR SP Elvis Araujo will get any time at LC this year or is he definitely destined to get his feet wet playing in the USA for the first time with the AZ team?
Yeah, DSL guys don't jump right to a full season team. Elvis will likely stay stateside for the first time, stick in EST, and then open with the new Arizona rookie team. Lake Co looks probable in 2010 though.
tony,
great list. very early so i realize its not complete, understandably. a few notable omissions from the pitchers standpoint: TJ Burton (Free agent), JD Martin (FA), Slocum, Buzachero. also are you assuming muijicia, jackson and mastny are all starting in the bigs. i see that columbus bullpen being packed. and although this staff could "get it done" probably, you know shapiro will sign at least one but more likely three "jeff harris" types to flesh out the roster. its a no doubter. also not sure but was steven wright on the list? anyway great job and it will be interesting to see how things shake out.
Steven Wright is listed as a starter in Akron.
Also, I have not included any Indians minor league free agents like Martin, Romero, etc. Also, I have Mastny and Mujica both on the major league team because they are both still on the 40-man and until they sign or trade for someone that is where they will slot. As the Indians sign players to major and minor league deals, and maybe makes some trades, this will change.
This listing will undoubtedly change throughout the offseason....this is just a starting point. It is always really a guess until rosters are made official 48-72 hours before the season starts since they do not tell anyone (media, players, agents, etc) where these guys will be going.
Is anybody else ready for "Thirsty Thursdays" in Akron with Santana, Weglarz and Mills this year? It's gonna make the winter seem longer...
Just curious as to what criteria is used to categorize a player as a "projected release". (I am not trying to be sarcastic or critical, just genuinely uniformed about how those classifications are made)
The projected releases are nothing personal.....since 15-20+ guys will be released in camp, just trying to target who may in fact be let go. The criteria simply has to do with guys who have been in the system for awhile and have stalled, or recent college draft picks who just don't slot onto a full season roster.
For example, Jeff Hehr. He had a rough year in Lake County, and with guys like Tice, Abreu and Chisenhall commanding time at Lake County and Kinston, there is no spot for him. Just one of the unfortunate realities of the game. Only so many roster spots. I wouldn't even list the projected releases, but just offering up my predictions on that based on some of those roster crunch circumstances, prospect value, performance and their growth as a player.
And it should be noted that I missed on some of those projected releases last year....so this in no fact means it will happen.:-)
Thanks for the insight. So are you saying that at spring training it is possible that a player could come back very strong and remain in the system?
Can we just go ahead and take half of that Columbus bullpen up to Cleveland with us?
Well, guys can have a very good camp. Unfortunately, in most cases it doesn't matter as the org has a pretty good idea of where guys will go before camp starts. Now, there are some exceptions where guys can change some opinions, but according to Atkins himself, they pretty much are set going in (check out his comments in this link):
http://www.indiansprospectinsider.com/2007/09/season-ending-conversation-with-ross.html
I didn't see our new Taiwanese side arming relief pitcher Chen-Chang Lee anywhere on your minor league deptch chart. He seems destined to be part of the LC or KIN bullpen for certain.
Yeah, Lee should be in Kinston. In my final depth chart I put in the book I had him in there. I actually will be updating this and cleaning it up here within the week.
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