Here is a quick recap of how the players in the Cleveland Indians' system did in fall/winter league action on Friday October 29th:
- Scott Barnes - SP, Peoria Javelinas: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Barnes was credited with the win, though he clearly was not as sharp as he was in his first three outings as he threw just 37 of his 68 pitches for strikes (54.4%).
- Eric Berger - RP, Peoria Javelinas: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Berger has still yet to allow a run in 5 games, though is walking on the wild side with 5 walks and 4 hits in 5.0 innings. He also only threw 11 of 21 pitches for strikes (52.4%).
- Bryan Price- RP, Peoria Javelinas: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. A clean outing for Price, his first one that he did not yield a run in 5 appearances. He threw 6 of his 10 pitches for strikes (60.0%).
- Cord Phelps - 3B, Peoria Javelinas: 2-for-4, 3 R, 2B, BB, 2 K, E. Great game at the plate for Phelps as he got on base three times and scored all three times. He did have a fielding error, his fifth.
- Roberto Perez - C, Peoria Javelinas: 0-for-5, 2 K. Another rough day at the plate for Perez, but he continues to show promise behind it picking off a runner at first base.
- Matt McBride - LF, Gigantes del Cibao: 2-for-3, R, BB. McBride's best game at the plate so far in 7 games played in the Dominican Republic reaching base in three of his four at bats.
- Juan Diaz - SS, Gigantes del Cibao: 0-for-2, K. Got the start at shortstop for the second straight night, but was subbed for late in the game.
- Jerad Head - LF, Gigantes de Carolina: 2-for-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K. Head crushed his first home run of the winter season in the 4th inning, a two-run shot with two outs.
- Juan Apodaca - DH, Aguilas del Zulia: 0-0. Late game substitution and did not record an official at bat.
- Jared Goedert - 1B, Leones del Caracas: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K. Goedert at first base again, and looks like is where he is going to play most of this winter. In 12 games is hitting .308/.460/.410. The batting average and on-base% are nice to see, but need to see more power.
- Ezequiel Carrera - CF, Navegantes del Magallanes: 0-for-5, 3 K. Rough night at plate breaks a string of 8 games where he was 14-for-31 at the plate (.452).
- Luis Valbuena - SS, Cardenales de Lara: 0-for-3, 2 K. That's now three straight games without a hit (0-for-9). Played first 10 games at second base, but has now played shortstop ever since.
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8 comments:
Tony, do you have any idea what the Indians are going to do with Goedert, Kipnis and Phelps long-term? It seems as though there is a lot of experimenting going on right now. Is this, perhaps, an attempt to get all these guys up at some point in 2011? While it may be an attempt to get these guys as much work as possible this winter, it consistently frustrates me watching the Tribe brass move these guys around like utility guys, then act surprised when they have defensive deficiencies, or can't hit while they are trying out their third position in four years.
Yeah, I am never a fan of moving guys all around the diamond. But, in this case, the experiments with Phelps and Goedert are out of necessity. Both are not expected to be with the big league club out of spring training, so they need to find a position for them to play since Chisenhall will be the regular 3B and Kipnis the regular 2B at Columbus. Phelps needs to be more versatile and Goedert does too so they can stay in the lineup. I believe Goedert is going to begin to transition into a corner utility role. Since both Goedert and Phelps are not considered everyday big league players, moving them around the diamond is not a big deal and creating versatility with them is a must.
Cord Phelps is first and foremost an athlete. He has the ability to play just about any position except the battery, so, utilizing his athletic talents can and should be his path to the major leagues. Oh.... and he can hit.. IF you can hit.. they'll find a way to use you..
It strikes me as a tad absurd for Cord Phelps to be dismissed as a career back-up guy at this point in time.
I hope for the best for Cord and am one of his biggest supporters. Unfortunately, the reality is, scouts just don't view him as an everyday big league player. Hopefully he proves them wrong.
He may not be, but that is what scouts thought of Brian Giles and countless other studs when they was Phelps' age, too. The scouts are notorious pessimists. Phelps has done nothing but get better as he has played tougher competition. He may well not make it, the odds are against all but a few, but he is very much a legitimate prospect for now.
I'm not about to agree or disagree about what scouts thought of Brian Giles back in the day...I'm not going to come out and say it...but don't forget the era he played in....Cord Phelps might have been Chase Utley in the 90's.
Robert, I don't think we are far apart here. I personally believe Phelps will no doubt be a major league player. What is surely in doubt is whether he will ever be an every day guy. To be that, because he is not a plus defender and lacks power, he is gonna have to be a pretty good hitter. We'll see. The fact the Indians are toying with him at 3B to give him versatility shows partly their doubt he can be an everyday guy, and partly their need to fill other positions and create flexibility for him so they can play two higher valued guys in Kipnis and Chisenhall at their respective positions. I'm not doubt a Phelps fan....have been since he was drafted. May be switch-hitting version of Jason Donald minus the abiity to play shortstop.
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