Spring Training Update

Spring training has begun, and players have started to establish their roles for the coming season. For this young team, quite a few names have stood out. We’ll take a look at both the good and the bad, and look into the bright future of this organization.

As clearly evident, the power numbers are a bit inflated. This is due to the prevailing winds over the spring training stadium, which have caused an unusually high number of home runs. However, the Indians have produced better numbers than their opponents, which does suggest that their offensive production has been much better than usual.

Bright Spring

1B Travis Hafner

Hafner has not disappointed, hitting .438-2-5 thus far. The favorite to win the starting first base job, Hafner should be in for a solid year. A former Ranger, this top prospect has been compared to a young Jim Thome. While it is unrealistic to expect Thome-like numbers this season, it is possible that Hafner will end up as one of the AL’s better first baseman by the end of the season. He certainly has the bat to produce big numbers, and makes a great sleeper for this season.

1B Ben Broussard

Like Hafner, Broussard has had an excellent spring, hitting .381-4-9. Last year, he was asked to learn multiple positions and his offensive production suffered as a result. Now back and determined to win a starting job, Broussard could force a trade of Ellis Burks. While no trade appears imminent, trading Burks for young talent would make sense and fits the team’s plan of rebuilding. Watch this situation closely, as a Burks trade would help everybody involved. As for Broussard, wait until he secures consistent playing time before picking him up in fantasy leagues.

OF Covelli “Coco” Crisp

Crisp is a talented young outfielder, and has shown much of his potential this spring. Hitting .500-2-4-2, Crisp has shown his ability to hit for average and power, while providing some stolen bases. Once established in the big leagues, look for Crisp to hit somewhere around .300-15-70-25. Not one tool is particularly polished, but Crisp provides a little bit of everything.

OF Jody Gerut

Gerut came to Cleveland from Colorado in the Jacob Cruz deal, and has spent his fair share of time in the minor leagues. Fighting for a roster spot, Gerut has made a favorable impression on Indians brass, hitting .353-3-9. Gerut isn’t considered a top prospect, but has provided solid production throughout his professional career. It will be hard for him to make the opening day roster, but don’t be surprised if Gerut is in the majors at some point this season.

3B Casey Blake

While the third base position is rather unsettled, Blake has made a strong case to be the starter there. Hitting .643-2-7, he has clearly outplayed the other candidates for the starting spot. Blake is not worth a roster spot in most fantasy leagues, but is a name to watch if he continues to produce. An interesting player to watch, Blake could surprise some people this year.

OF Shane Spencer

Signing Spencer has clogged up the outfield and decreased the playing time for many of the team’s young outfielders, but Spencer has had a solid spring. Hitting .421-0-5 with 4 doubles, Spencer will be the starting left fielder on opening day. It would be nice to see some of the youngsters get some work there, and Matt Lawton could also contend for the left field job when he returns from his shoulder injury. Don’t draft Spencer, despite his modest production.

OF Wendell Magee

Magee was signed as a free agent from Detroit, and was considered a long shot to make the roster. Howver, he has produced, hitting .500 with three doubles in 12 at-bats. It’s still early, and Magee still isn’t a favorite to start the year in the majors. Unless he has a sudden power surge, and the other outfielders fail to produce, expect Magee to start the season in Buffalo, or perhaps even looking for another job.

SS/3B Johnny Peralta

A natural shortstop, Peralta is being tested at third with the current question marks concerning that position. Peralta can hit, and is currently producing to the tune of .600-1-5 with a 1.100 slugging percentage. The front office would like to keep the 21-year-old in Buffalo, giving him a chance to work on refining his game. Peralta has a very bright future as an underrated prospect, and should be watched closely as a potential difference-maker in the future.

SP Ricardo Rodriguez

Acquired from Los Angeles in the Paul Shuey deal, Rodriguez has a very bright future ahead of him. He has all but secured the number four spot in the starting rotation, and has posted a 1.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP in 9 innings of work. Rodriguez shut down a talented Phillies lineup, holding them scoreless in four innings of work. A great sleeper in deeper leagues, Rodriguez could come out of relative obscurity to become a solid fantasy starter.

SP Jason Davis

Like Rodriguez, Davis is likely to open the season in the starting rotation. Davis has allowed no earned runs and three hits in five innings of work this spring, while other candidates for the fifth rotation spot have struggled. Davis jumped from single-A to the majors last year, and will likely struggle as a young starter in the big leagues. However, he is talented enough to make a difference in the long run, and is an overlooked part of this organization’s future.

SP/RP Jake Westbrook

Westbrook is another strong challenger for the fifth spot in the rotation, but will likely open the season in the bullpen. He could see some time as a starter later in the year, as it is likely that injury/performance concerns will create a hole amongst the current group of starters. Westbrook has allowed two hits and no runs in five innings of work, and appears to be recovered from past injury concerns.

Gloomy Beginning

SS Omar Vizquel

Vizquel got off to a rough start, although he did have a nice game yesterday. His .278 average isn’t quite as bad as it was earlier this spring, but he’s had only one solid game. It’s only spring training, and Vizquel should continue to be a low-end starting option in deeper leagues. However, his time in Cleveland likely would be over if he ever agrees to waive his no-trade clause, as the team has plenty of other options to fill the shortstop position for the future.

3B Bill Selby

Yet another player who got off to a rough start, Selby is also batting .278. He will need to do much better than that in order to unseat Casey Blake as the starting third baseman, but he could get a decent number of at-bats as a backup. Selby is somewhat versatile, which will help him to make the opening day club. However, if the club would rather keep an extra outfielder, Selby would be one of the top options to be designated for assignment.

OF Alex Escobar

Much was expected from Escobar, who was set to play in the offseason Venezuelan League before it was shut down due to political turmoil. Back from last year’s ACL tear, expectations for Escobar’s return were high. A talented young outfielder with all the tools, the key for Escobar will be improving his plate discipline. If he is able to live up to his potential, Escobar could quickly become one of the top outfielders in the game. Watch his progress this season, although he will likely spend much of the season in Buffalo. For now, a .091 average won’t cut it in the big leagues.

C Victor Martinez

Martinez will start the season in Buffalo, barring the unforeseen. The front office would like to keep him in the minors for the entire season, but with the way he has produced in the past, that may be hard to do. For now, Martinez is not producing, hitting .111 in nine at-bats. Josh Bard and either AJ Hinch or Josh Bard will open the season as the major league catchers, with Martinez refining his defense in the minors. A nice option for the future, Martinez will likely have a true impact next season.

SP C.C. Sabathia

Sabathia has lost his excess weight, and is in the best shape of his young professional career. For now, the weight loss has not translated to production, and Sabathia has allowed 7 earned runs, 7 hits, and 4 walks in 5 innings pitched. Better conditioning helped Sabathia excel down the stretch last season, and he should be able to turn things around this season, too. Don’t worry too much about the poor start to spring, but watch his progress closely.

RP Terry Mulholland

Mulholland was re-signed over the offseason to serve as a mentor to the young pitchers and another arm out of the bullpen. Mulholland’s useful days are in the past, but he can still eat innings out of the ‘pen. Mulholland is not a fantasy option, even in leagues that count holds. However, he could help the youngsters improve as a behind-the-scenes role model, which would help the fantasy values of young pitchers such as Rodriguez and Davis.

SP Brian Anderson

Anderson was signed to fill a rotation spot while the young pitchers develop, and is likely no more than a one-year stopgap. That’s good news, because his 15.75 ERA and 3.00 WHIP in four innings of work aren’t very encouraging. It’s early, and those numbers are sure to improve, but it doesn’t say much about his potential for this season. Look for lots of innings pitched, but not much else.