Cleveland Indians (official 2012 season)

[Bucklion]

Yeah. Fortunately, Antonetti appears to put more stock in the draft than they have in the past. So hopefully the days of almost all of our 1st rounders washing out in AA-ball are over.

Here's hoping...someone must know how to scout baseball talent...

 

[y0yoyoin]

at this point you have to question Antonetti...even if this shit is halfway true, what the fuck? upgrade over shelly duncan or player B? yes?!?! at least Duncan can hit a HR every 30 AB's...i will take Duncan

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that a trade sending Bobby Abreu to the Indians is only "50-50" to happen.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported Thursday evening that the deal was "on the verge" of being finalized. But it has apparently hit a snag. Abreu, 38, will serve as the Indians' primary left fielder this season if the trade is ultimately completed. He batted .253/.353/.365 with eight home runs and 60 RBI in 585 plate appearances last year for Anaheim and is owed a $9 million salary in 2012.
Related: Indians

Source: FOX Sports

more....

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/mlb/40210/308/abreus-apprehension

Twisting in the wind since the Angels? stealth acquisition of Albert Pujols, Bobby Abreu learned there?s a 50-50 chance he'll be dealt to the Indians, who have been scouring high-and-low for help in the outfield. Although Abreu would be of use to a team currently set to go with Aaron Cunningham and Shelley Duncan in left field, it wouldn?t be with his defense, where he hasn?t been an asset since George W. Bush?s first term.

The move may not even be a boon for the Tribe at the dish. Abreu has been in methodical decline as a hitter, seeing his OPS drop precipitously each of the past three years, falling all the way to .717 (across 585 plate appearances) in 2011. That?s better than what Cunningham mustered in 101 plate appearances for the Padres (.624), but nowhere near the pop Duncan provided in 247 trips to the plate (.808).

Of course, Duncan?s numbers came as a part-time player (a righty, he was oddly much more effective against right-handers than southpaws), but it?s arguable that?s what Abreu should be after hitting .238/.319/.279 in 167 plate appearances against lefties last season. Throw in that Abreu turned 38 on March 11 and is hitting .087/.160/.130 this spring (200th out of 200 qualifying players), and you have a move that would be anything but a slam dunk.

 

[Zippercat]

another Indians draft dud on his way out

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/03/indians-close-to-trading-trevor-crowe.html



Crowe was the Indians 1st round pick in 2005 (#14 overall) and has managed a .245 AVG with 3 HR 55 RBI and 29 SBs in 205 MLB games (713 plate appearances)

Just what did Crowe do to be dumped into the Tribe doghouse?

He played much of 2010 with a torn rotator cuff..... at least that was the story released... and still hit .251 with .640 OPS and played at least decent defense. He was certainly an acceptable OF compared to most every other stiff the Tribe has had in LF the past few years (here are a few: Austin Kearns, Ben Francisco, Matt LaPorta, Jason Michaels, David Dellucci). He spent 2011 rehabbing from shoulder surgury, then shows up at Spring Training this year to find out that they've taken his number away and given it to a non-roster invitee. Nobody, from Antonetti to DiBiasio to Acta, even mentions his name when talking about LF candidates. He outhits the crew of outcasts and misfits they assemble to try to play LF, so just a couple weeks into Spring Training they dump him into the minor league camp.

Now they're apparently trying to dump him somewhere, like with the Angels, where he will be behind ML talent that will keep him buried in the minors so he can't embarrass the Tribe by being successful. Obviously he must have pissed off somebody somewhere in the Indians' organization!

 

[Bucky32]

Just what did Crowe do to be dumped into the Tribe doghouse?

He played much of 2010 with a torn rotator cuff..... at least that was the story released... and still hit .251 with .640 OPS and played at least decent defense. He was certainly an acceptable OF compared to most every other stiff the Tribe has had in LF the past few years (here are a few: Austin Kearns, Ben Francisco, Matt LaPorta, Jason Michaels, David Dellucci). He spent 2011 rehabbing from shoulder surgury, then shows up at Spring Training this year to find out that they've taken his number away and given it to a non-roster invitee. Nobody, from Antonetti to DiBiasio to Acta, even mentions his name when talking about LF candidates. He outhits the crew of outcasts and misfits they assemble to try to play LF, so just a couple weeks into Spring Training they dump him into the minor league camp.

Now they're apparently trying to dump him somewhere, like with the Angels, where he will be behind ML talent that will keep him buried in the minors so he can't embarrass the Tribe by being successful. Obviously he must have [censored]ed off somebody somewhere in the Indians' organization!

His OPS and OPS+ are nothing special. His OBP has consistently been below the league average. Fielding-wise he's average as well. When you compare him to Duncan or even Cunningham he doesn't really stack up. I'm not saying that warrants a ticket to the minors, but he certainly shouldn't be competing for a starting spot.

 

[Bucklion]

Just what did Crowe do to be dumped into the Tribe doghouse?

He played much of 2010 with a torn rotator cuff..... at least that was the story released... and still hit .251 with .640 OPS and played at least decent defense. He was certainly an acceptable OF compared to most every other stiff the Tribe has had in LF the past few years (here are a few: Austin Kearns, Ben Francisco, Matt LaPorta, Jason Michaels, David Dellucci). He spent 2011 rehabbing from shoulder surgury, then shows up at Spring Training this year to find out that they've taken his number away and given it to a non-roster invitee. Nobody, from Antonetti to DiBiasio to Acta, even mentions his name when talking about LF candidates. He outhits the crew of outcasts and misfits they assemble to try to play LF, so just a couple weeks into Spring Training they dump him into the minor league camp.

Now they're apparently trying to dump him somewhere, like with the Angels, where he will be behind ML talent that will keep him buried in the minors so he can't embarrass the Tribe by being successful. Obviously he must have [censored]ed off somebody somewhere in the Indians' organization!

Crowe was never going to be a regular, even for the Indians. He's one of those guys that the organization always swears there's someone better than. I would have liked to see him get a better look, but they've seen him in several spring trainings and apparently they don't think he has a high ceiling.

 

[Bucky32]

Buster Olney
‏@Buster_ESPN

Travis Hafner is fine, so if CLE did acquire Bobby Abreu, it would be to platoon with Shelley Duncan in LF.

 

[y0yoyoin]

2012 Organizational Rankings - Cleveland Indians #21

#30 ? Baltimore
#29 ? Houston
#28 ? Oakland
#27 ? Pittsburgh
#26 ? San Diego
#25 ? Minnesota
#24 ? Chicago White Sox
#23 ? Seattle
#22 ? Kansas City
Clevaland?s 2011 Ranking: #26

Once upon a time, in the mid-2000s, the Indians were brimming with young talent and very valuable major league pieces in C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner. They peaked in 2007, with a 96-66 record, and an AL Central crown. Since then, a combination of untimely injuries, poor drafting, and a lack of acquired talent ? especially through trading Sabathia and Lee ? has kept the Indians below the .500 mark. While the Indians may win more than 81 games in 2012, the oddly constructed roster is unlikely to contend for a playoff berth. Scoring a 47 on the 20-80 scale is appropriate, as they are a middle of the pack team that would need a lot to break right to challenge for one of the Wild Card spots. Crazier things have happened, but when Shelley Duncan projects to log 400+ PAs for your team, the odds aren?t ever in your favor.
Of the aforementioned quintet, only Hafner can be counted on to contribute in 2012, and he?ll be helped in the lineup by Carlos Santana, Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo. Those three players ranked highly at their respective positions in our Positional Rankings, while the Indians were below average at every other spot on the diamond.

cont...

2013+ Outlook: 45 (23rd)
Through a combination of poor drafting, acquiring Jimenez, and not bringing back close to commensurate value for Sabathia and Lee, the Indians have one of the worst farm systems in baseball. Marc Hulet remarked that he had some difficulty in ranking the system, as there was a ton of turnover from last year to this season. In fact, Nick Hagadone is the only prospect on last year’s rankings that remained on his 2012 rankings.
Overall, the farm system ranked 28th out of the 30 teams, but fared a bit better in the overall 2013+ view since players like Santana, Chisenhall and Kipnis are considered to have “graduated” from the farm. The Indians have several young players under control – or under affordable contracts – for the next few years, but there doesn’t seem to be much impact talent knocking on the door.

cont...

 

[Bucklion]

According to Matt Underwood (local here), a deal with the Angels is likely dead. It is still possible the Angels release him and the Indians then sign him.

 

[Jake]

seriously, is there a team that over the years has stockpiled other teams scrap more than the Indians?

Over the last 20 years, anyway, I can think of one. :ohwell:

 

[Jake]

According to Matt Underwood (local here), a deal with the Angels is likely dead. It is still possible the Angels release him and the Indians then sign him.

Which is the only way the Indians should even consider Abreu at this point in his career. Trading a used fungo bat for him would be too much, especially with his contract.

 

[Jake]

Buster Olney
‏@Buster_ESPN:

"Travis Hafner is fine"

What's the over/under for how many days that stays true?

 

[itownbuckeye]

Which is the only way the Indians should even consider Abreu at this point in his career. Trading a used fungo bat for him would be too much, especially with his contract.

It sounds like the only way they would have taken him was if the Angels ate a bunch of his salary. I would have been okay with them giving up a AAAA guy for him in that scenario (Indians have enough of those types to spare one).

 

[Zippercat]

It sounds like the only way they would have taken him was if the Angels ate nearly all of his salary. I would have been okay with them giving up a AAAA guy for him in that scenario (Indians have enough of those types to spare one).

FIFY :(

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Which is the only way the Indians should even consider Abreu at this point in his career. Trading a used fungo bat for him would be too much, especially with his contract.

Getting rid of a fungo is never a bad thing, Jake.

 

[buckeyemania11]

great....

TonyIPI So Gomez leaves today's game with some sort of leg injury. Ay carumba. Slowey may get 5th spot by default.