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| Matt LaPorta (Photo: AP) |
Note of disclosure: The topic for this column was thought up before Monday night’s 19-run offensive explosion in Kansas City.
The basic premise was to question what needed to be done offensively by the club to maintain the lead the Indians had built in the American League Central Division. It was a question particularly pressing considering Grady Sizemore had just returned to the Disabled List.
After considerable thought in the warm afterglow of those 19 runs, it is a question that probably still needs to be raised. Throw out Monday’s game and the trends show the team’s offense is slowing down.
Sizemore’s injury, on the surface, would appear to add to those offensive problems. That is until you dig below the surface.
Sizemore is undoubtedly going to be key to the Indians across the long haul of this season. And he’s not going to be out that long. His replacement on the roster, Travis Buck, has torn up AAA since his demotion earlier in the season. Watching him in Columbus, the ball really jumps off his bat. Buck also proved in Oakland earlier in his career he can put up good numbers in the Major Leagues when he can avoid the injury bug and he’s healthy now.
There will likely be little drop off in production, especially with Michael Brantley now back batting leadoff. Even with Sizemore in the lineup, there are many who believe the offense is better with Brantley in the one hole. He gets on base, steals bases, and is quickly developing power at the plate. Improving the Tribe’s offense might just mean moving Sizemore down in the lineup when he returns.
There will likely be little drop off in production, especially with Michael Brantley now back batting leadoff. Even with Sizemore in the lineup, there are many who believe the offense is better with Brantley in the one hole. He gets on base, steals bases, and is quickly developing power at the plate. Improving the Tribe’s offense might just mean moving Sizemore down in the lineup when he returns.
It may also mean moving Carlos Santana down the batting order immediately. To be clear, there is little doubt he will eventually hit. He has done so prodigiously at every stop he’s made in his baseball career. But he should not be batting cleanup at this point. He needs to earn a spot in the middle of the order. Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome had to earn their spots in the heart of the order back in the 90s, and now so should Santana.
Shin-Soo Choo, though, should continue batting third. His big league track record is strong. He’ll get through this rough stretch and will be a strong contributor to the lineup by the middle of the year.
So barring any unforeseen additional injuries, the only legitimate points of concern lie with Orlando Cabrera and Jack Hannahan. Both veterans were pleasant surprises at the start of the season. They provided strong defense as expected while adding unexpected offensive production. But each man is now seeing a steady decline in that production. Cabrera’s age makes it unlikely he will turn it back around; Hannahan’s track record shows he won’t. It is doubtful Cabrera will become a complete offensive liability, while Hannahan will be.
Fortunately, Cabrera and Hannahan play second and third, the positions currently manned in AAA by the Indians best positional prospects, Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall and utility man extraordinaire Cord Phelps. Could the offense find a shot of adrenaline in the promotion of one or more of these prospects?
Fortunately, Cabrera and Hannahan play second and third, the positions currently manned in AAA by the Indians best positional prospects, Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall and utility man extraordinaire Cord Phelps. Could the offense find a shot of adrenaline in the promotion of one or more of these prospects?
Possibly.
But keep in mind the true reason for the Indians strong start lies in the starting pitching aided by consistent defensive play behind the hurlers. Cabrera and Hannahan have only committed two errors apiece. Down in Columbus, Kipnis leads the Clippers with six errors, one more than Chisenhall’s five. The Tribe would be sacrificing defense in the name of offense. Such a sacrifice is probably not the best idea for a contending team. Phelps, on the other hand, has only two errors playing multiple positions while putting together a very strong offensive season.
But keep in mind the true reason for the Indians strong start lies in the starting pitching aided by consistent defensive play behind the hurlers. Cabrera and Hannahan have only committed two errors apiece. Down in Columbus, Kipnis leads the Clippers with six errors, one more than Chisenhall’s five. The Tribe would be sacrificing defense in the name of offense. Such a sacrifice is probably not the best idea for a contending team. Phelps, on the other hand, has only two errors playing multiple positions while putting together a very strong offensive season.
The Indians should promote Phelps at the expense of Adam Everett. Let him be the primary third baseman while Chisenhall continues to refine his defense. It is the one move that makes the most sense offensively and defensively at this point in the season. When Sizemore returns, keep Buck at the expense of Austin Kearns.
Monday night was largely an aberration. Without having to go outside the organization, these are the best alternatives for the Indians at this point to improve the offense. But with Brantley at the top of the order and Santana moved down, it is going to put a lot of pressure for Matt LaPorta to build some consistency out of his performance in the Kansas City massacre. He needs to move up to help balance a left-hand heavy lineup. If he can’t be more than the inconsistent but serviceable performer he’s been thus far this season, the Indians might need to start scouring the trade market for some right-handed power alternatives.
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3 comments:
I see a couple of problems with this. One being Keeping Buck at the expense of Kearns. Leaving Brantley, Sizemore, Choo, Buck all left handed hitters. Shelley Duncan would be the only Right Handed hitting possibility for an outfield position, unless you want to see LaPorta out there....
As a team they are just so Left handed it is ridiculous until we get a serious Right handed threat, good left handed pitchers ala David Price will just continue to tear us apart. You mentioned all this but I guess I am emphasizing it and posing the question the merits of keeping Buck over Kearns, granted Kearns is struggling Hardcore.
Now remember all of our pitchers are groundball and pitch to contact pitchers, there needs to be some serious consideration into whether the offenseive output that Phelps provides over Hanahan is worth what can only be a significant downgrade in Defense. Now, replacing Orlando Cabrera who has limited range at this point in time with Phelps seems like a win win to me. Orlando will still be a very useful player.
Now, finally on Santana. His hitting is coming around, not in a huge break out but he has been solid for a week or so. Plus that man draws a walk among the best in MLB. His OBP is still over 100 points over his BA. He has the patience and will not get cheated, he makes an pitcher work which to me is pretty valuable out of the 4 hole, so I'd keep him there.
LaPorta needs to be moved up in the lineup. He should not be hitting behind the likes of Orlando Cabrera and Buck. His wOBA is .369 which is only behind Sizemore, Hafner, and Astro. He seems to be finally coming around and I am happy for him I think he should be rewarded.
For all of the focus on Santana, Choo's been much worse. At least Santana's getting on base at a good clip. For what it's worth, over the past two weeks he's at .281/.439/.406. I do think it is time for Acta to shuffle the lineup. Moving Laporta up and Sizemore down when he comes back should pay dividends. I would do this:
Brantley
Cabrera
Choo
Hafner
Santana
Sizemore
Laporta
O. Cabrera
Hannahan
That way you have Sizemore hitting behind two guys who're getting on base a lot. And Sizemore is still tied for the team lead in doubles and HRs, so he's pretty clearly their number one power threat. Could also flipflop Laporta and Santana in that lineup, depending on how they perform going forward.
I've thought a lot about this lefty/righty thing in the outfield....and you know what, it doesn't matter. Think about it. All three outfielders when healthy (Sizemore/Choo/Brantley) are going to play almost every day. Sure, ideally you'd like a RH in there when you sit one of them versus a tough lefty....but even hitting lefty Buck is 100 times the player than Kearns right now from the right side. Okay, an exagerration, but hopefully you get my point. The key in this is a guy like Duncan....there is the RH bat to occassionally use in the outfield. And if he stumles, you replace him with someone else. So I have no problems with an all LH outfield, because really in the lineup that's just what it is.
But there are other places in the lineup where they can upgrade the RH options, namely 3B and 2B. Obviously with Chisenhall in the mix and Hannahan holding his own I don't expect a move at 3B other than internal....but 2B could be a spot they look to upgrade offensively/defensively later on. I think Phelps gets the first crack, but if things don't work out with Phelps/Cabrera then you may see them target a RH bat there.
Man, I dunno. This is the problem when a team is playing well....no one wants to make changes and needs are not easily identified. That's why we need another 5-7 weeks for the needs of the team to truly flesh themselves out.
Oh, and Seth, I agree on that lineup you proposed. I like it.
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