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| Anthony Reyes (Photo: AP) |
If you have a question on anything pertaining to the Cleveland Indians from the minors to the big leagues that you would like answered in a future inbox, feel free to contact me. I also pull from questions in the comments sections in articles, and also from Twitter, so you can post your question there as well.
To the IPI Inbox we go.....
J. Sweeney wrote: I'm baffled why Anthony Reyes is he still in the organization. I have heard from more than one source he's ready to pitch and that they have no place to put him. If they wanted him, they'd make a spot for him. Why waste his time, their time, the training staff's time, the money on the minor league salary I presume they are paying him if he's so low on the depth chart as to be the last one on it? It seems at this point it would be better for both parties if they simply gave him his release. So, again, why is he here?
Me: You bring up a good question, but one which there is no fair answer. Right now Reyes is simply starting pitching depth for the organization. He signed a minor league contract with the Indians in the offseason, so now has to abide by it until after this season when he becomes a free agent (or the Indians release him prior to that). I agree it appears unfair that he is sitting in wait in Arizona to pitch somewhere in the organization, be it Cleveland, Columbus, or even Akron. But this is the risk players take when they sign minor league deals.
This is part of the unfair nature of baseball where teams have so much control over players. Once they are signed to a deal the team can pretty much do whatever they want with a player the rest of the contract. Reyes is like so many other players in Triple-A or in that purgatory between the big leagues and Triple-A who want out and want a new opportunity with a new team. Right now there are probably at least a half dozen guys in Columbus who would give anything to be traded because they are buried in the organization, but there is nothing they can do because they are bound by the roster rules of baseball.
From an organizational perspective, there is no need to release or trade Reyes right now. From a player perspective, he surely wants out. It is often the same dynamic that exists at the Triple-A level where so many players want out of the organization because of limited opportunities, yet few if any ever are granted a trade/release request. This is the case with how unfair MLB is at times as teams can hold players hostage until the end of the year when that player becomes a free agent. Often times when teams like the Indians already have so much invested with rehab time and surgery with a player they will hold onto the player to see if there is ever a return on the investment or a need at the big league level.
Bottom line there has to be a spot in Columbus for Reyes to go to, and right now there is no spot. Injuries to the Indians pitching staff are starting to mount up where it appears that another injury or two will create the spot and opportunity Reyes needs, but for now it looks like he will remain in limbo in Arizona. I personally don't think he will see time in Cleveland this year unless a rash of injuries occurs with the starting rotation, which would be good for him but unfortunate for the team. He is simply an extreme backup plan. One that the team has liberty to keep around based on the contract he signed. I don't agree with it, but it is money already spent, he’s being paid, and just the unfair setup in the game for the players.
Brendan M. wrote (via Twitter): Do you think Cord Phelps could replace Adam Everett in the near future?
Me: This is the most common question asked these days. With Phelps hitting .310 with 7 HR, 29 RBI and a .937 OPS for Triple-A Columbus and showing the versatility to play shortstop and third base as well as an everyday player at second base, the time is now for Phelps to join the Indians roster.
With a team desperate for some offensive punch with outfielder Grady Sizemore and designated hitter Travis Hafner both out injured, it would make sense to bring Phelps up now to take some of the everyday duties away from Cabrera at second base and also fill the role Everett has as the backup infielder. Clearly Everett is a better defensive option at shortstop and third base than Phelps, but both are about the same defensively at second base and Phelps has much more potential with the bat to impact the lineup when he plays. Also Phelps is an athletic player with good quickness so he could also fill Everett’s pinch running role too.
As to why the Indians have yet to call up Phelps it could mostly be that they do not want to mess around too much with the team chemistry. Everett is a popular player in the clubhouse and has done a solid job in the utility role. Also there may be some consideration to avoid bringing Phelps up a few more weeks in order to potentially be in the clear of Super 2 arbitration with him down the road.
Chengy wrote: Look at some of the pitchers [the Indians] have faced in May.
Weaver, Haren, Shields, Price, Cahill, Gonzalez, etc. I think any offense will look to be sputtering against those guys. Maybe when we get back into facing more average pitchers the offense will pick up again.
Me: To me you learn the most about your team in any sport when they face good competition, and to me facing the pitching the Indians have this month has helped them much better assess the needs of the team than any of the games played in April. You learn very little when you face a bad team, or one with poor pitching and hitting. So yeah, even though we have faced some good pitching, I also believe it has helped us see some of the complimentary parts may not be long term fits for the duration of this season.
Some good and bad things have shown during this stretch against some very good pitching. On the positive side shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is proving he is a legit star in the making and outfielder Michael Brantley is going to have a long, successful career. On the negative side of the ledger the days may be numbered for third baseman Jack Hannahan and second baseman Orlando Cabrera. Both are gaping holes in the lineup offensively as they can be pitched to.
I don’t see the Indians replacing Cabrera unless he gets hurt, but I could see them reducing his playing time some from everyday to four to five days a week. He is showing some wear as after a good start the first week and a half of the season, since April 12th he is hitting just .238 with 1 HR, 17 RBI and a .567 OPS. His defense has also been sloppy of late. Hannahan continues to be very good defensively, but he has been awful at the plate where since April 26th he is hitting .194 with 0 HR, 6 RBI and a .523 OPS.
Of the two Hannahan will probably be replaced, but his defense is so valuable that until uber prospect Lonnie Chisenhall replaces him at third he will likely continue to be the regular player there. What may help is to reduce his playing time much like Cabrera, which as mentioned above would make a great opportunity to get Cord Phelps some playing time as an alternative to both of them.
Chad L. wrote: Is there any way that Matt McBride could be similar to what Casey Blake was for the Indians? He is a jack-of-all-trades kind of player. I know that he can play catcher, first base, and outfield but I didn't know if the organization was maybe going to try him out at third base so he can be the ultimate role player.
Me: No, while McBride has some versatility, he lacks the athleticism someone like Blake has to be a true super utility player. McBride is average at times but is mostly a below average defender in the outfield and at first base. He is not an option at any other infield position as he simply does not have the quickness and athleticism to play third base or even shortstop and second base. Also, his catching days are behind as he is strictly only an emergency catcher.
When McBride came into the system he no doubt had a chance to become a Major League catcher. As with any player though, injuries kill or stall careers and that is what his shoulder injury did to him. No longer a catcher, he does not profile well at any other position. Catcher is where it needed to happen. This is meant as no disrespect to McBride who has one of the best makeups of anyone in the organization, but players who play first base and corner outfield who are sub par defensively are a dime a dozen in the minors. This is why he will be hard pressed to make the big leagues with the Indians or any team. He has good power, but his hitting is too inconsistent. He's at the point now where little growth is expected and he really is what he is as a player.
Personally I am a big fan of McBride's as I love the way he plays. But being honest, he is going to find it hard to get to the big leagues. That being said he still can make a good baseball career and living playing Triple-A ball where I think he can play a long time which would allow him to possibly get a cup of coffee in the big leagues at some point.
Steve wrote (via Twitter): When a minor leaguer is brought up to the bigs to fill in for an injury and eventually sent back down does it count as one of his options?
Me: Anytime a player who is on the 40-man roster is not on the 25-man active roster and has been assigned to the minor leagues, he is using an option. Options are not counted by each occurrence but for each year, so you can option a guy up and down 50 times over the course of a season and it still counts as one option.
When a player on the 40-man roster does not make the opening day roster and is sent to the minors to open the season, an option is used. Whether he stays in the minors all year and never pitches in the big leagues, or if he is called up and down several times, it all counts as one option year.
As an example, right-hander Zach McAllister is on the 40-man roster but is using one of his three option years this season as he was optioned to the minors at the end of spring training. He may never pitch in Cleveland this year, but it still counts. On the flip side right-handed pitcher Frank Herrmann has been called up and down a few times, and he too will use one option year like McAllister this season.
Marty W. wrote: What is the status of Alexander Perez? Is he in extended spring training yet? What affiliate is he likely assigned to when he is ready to pitch again?
Me: Perez is in Goodyear, Arizona at the Indians Player Development Complex where he is participating in the Indians extended spring training program. He is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and on a return to throw program. Due to the nature of the injury and the rehab involved, an exact timetable on when he will pitch is still unknown. The likely scenario is he probably will see some action pitching in a few games for the rookie level Arizona League team which starts play at the end of June. He probably will make a few appearances there in July and may join up with a major affiliate in August if all goes well. If he is assigned to a team, my guess is High-A Kinston. All that having been said I expect most of his innings this year to be thrown in fall and winter ball.
Josh W. wrote (via Twitter): Any idea on what is going on with Trey Haley? Is he pitching in Lake County?
Me: Haley was shut down for a short bit because of a groin strain and because the coaches were working on his mechanics. Since returning to Lake County he has been pitching out of the bullpen and he has found some success there. He is still expected to move back into the starting rotation later this season and will continue to be developed there, but long term it looks like a bullpen role may suit him better as he has the talent to be dominating in short stints. I actually will have a lot more to say about Haley in my Minor Happenings column tomorrow.
Bob wrote: What is the status of Rob Bryson?
Me: Bryson is recovering well from his broken foot and is now taking part in conditioning drills and running out in Arizona. He will probably make his season debut pitching in a few rehab games for rookie level Arizona in late June and early July, and if all goes well will probably be assigned to Double-A Akron by the end of July or early August. He looks like a guy who is definitely going to pitch in the Arizona Fall League this year to make up innings.
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2 comments:
Man adding to mine we just ran into one hell of a buzzsaw in having to face buccholz, Beckett, and Lester. No other team has a better top 3 going right now.
What I think we learned. We need to work on some base running. We weren't over our heads facing the best lineup in baseball. Talbot probably wasn't ready. We are really going to miss Sizemore and Hafner when having to face tough righties in beckett and Buccholz. We really like to throw inside on lefties. Boston has something against Orlando Cabrera.
Indians may have the best record, but the best team in baseball is the Red Sox. That pitching staff and lineup is sick.
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