Oh, I see now, Civ. Gotcha.

Heard a couple weeks ago, I think it was Andre Knott on STO, that the plan was to play Naquin every day next year, even against lefties. At least give him a shot for a while.

if we are a young developing team that strategy would make sense; but if we're a championship caliber team I'm not so sure. I suppose they could give that approach a test for a month or two and see where it gets them. Although I have been impressed by Naquin, his game still has some notable flaws: far too many strikeouts compared to walks; a fielder who's not good enough to avoid replacement at the end of games by a non-star Michael Martinez. I think Zimmer is still more likely to win the CF battle in the long run, Naquin may turn out to be trade bait or if necessary Brantley's replacement in LF. Too many left-handed bats in the OF for all to stay around longterm.

Staffing our return to the Series:

CLE AFL Allen, Greg CF 1 0 0 0 .323
CLE AFL Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 3 1 2 0 .333 2B (3), BB (2) [he won't stay at SS but he's a good hitter]
CLE AFL Zimmer, Bradley RF 4 2 1 1 .258 2B (4), BB (10), SB (7) [walks, steals continue]
CLE DL Mejia, Francisco C 3 0 0 0 .286
CLE MPL Choice, Michael LF 3 0 1 0 .257 BB (2) [going, going gone]
CLE VL Diaz, Yandy LF 4 1 2 0 .429 2B (1) [first man to Cleveland]
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 3 0 1 2 .308 2B (2) [future with the Tribe, or trade piece?]

The night before Allen went 1-3 with 2 walks, 2 runs and a stolen base.

Granted, Fall League pitching, but he is really coming on. I've always liked him but he's getting even better than I thought. That Lucroy non-trade is looking better all the time.

Allen, Mejia and Chang for Napoli's replacement in 2017. I am glad it didn't happen. Wasn't there a 4th player too on our side of the deal?

We don't have a Other Teams Minor Matters, so I'll post what Baseball America says about the guys we traded to NYY for the Great Andrew Miller.


No 2. on the just published Top 10: Clint Frazier, of

Born: Sept. 6, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 201. Drafted: HS—Loganville, Ga., 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Brad Tyler (Indians).

Background: The Indians used the fifth overall selection in the 2013 draft to take Frazier, the BA High School Player of the Year, and they signed him for $3.5 million. Cleveland dealt Frazier to the Yankees in 2016 along with lefthander Justus Sheffield and relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller in the deal that sent closer Andrew Miller to the Indians.

Scouting Report: Frazier’s calling card is his elite bat speed, which is generated by a taut, muscular frame and huge forearms. That bat speed produces well above-average raw power. He has worked to quiet his pre-swing movement to help cut down on his growing strikeout totals. He’s got above-average speed, which has served him well both on the bases and in the field. He has worked at all three outfield positions in his career, but his above-average throwing arm would serve him well in a corner spot. His range could be helpful in left field, which evaluators have noted is more challenging than right field at Yankee Stadium.

The Future: Frazier struggled at both Triple-A stops in 2016 and will return there in 2017. A student of the game, he will continue to work on pitch recognition and cutting down his strikeout rate in the hopes that he can make his debut late in the season.
[only 22, he has lots of time to finish the polishing process]

No. 7. Justus Sheffield, lhp

Born: May 13, 1996. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Tullahoma, Tenn., 2014 (1st round). Signed by: Chuck Bartlett (Indians).

Background: Sheffield was set to pitch at Vanderbilt with his brother Jordan before the Indians made him a first-round pick and signed him for $1.6 million. He blitzed the competition in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his debut but was arrested in the offseason for underage drinking and criminal trespass. He pled guilty to those charges. Cleveland traded him to the Yankees at the 2016 trade deadline, along with outfielder Clint Frazier and relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller, in the deal that sent closer Andrew Miller to the Indians.

Scouting Report: A short lefthander, Sheffield owns three plus or potential plus pitches. His fastball, which has sinking action, sits in the 93-95 mph range and can touch 97 at times. He complements it with a short-breaking slider in the low- to mid-80s and a changeup in the same range. His slider is his best secondary pitch, but he has good feel for his changeup, and with more reps it could be as good as the slider.

The Future: Sheffield, who will open 2017 as a 20-year-old, is probably headed for a return to Double-A Trenton with a future as a mid-rotation starter if he achieves his ceiling.

[Remains an awfully hard thrower contradicting the standard crafty little left stereotype. See: Merritt, Ryan]

Q&A related to any of these guys:

Frank (Indianapolis IN): How many of these guys are likely to make the BA 100?
Josh Norris: With the caveat that the Top 100 is a long way off, but I could very easily see Nos. 1 through 8 in this system making the Top 100. That’s Torres, Frazier, Rutherford, Mateo, Kaprielian, Judge, Sheffield, Adams. It’s a really, really good system.

Jason (Marlboro): Can Justus Sheffield be a number two or is he more of a mid rotation guy?

Josh Norris: He’s probably closer to a mid-rotation guy than a No. 2 starter at this point, but the latter scenario is certainly not out of the question if everything breaks right. A lefty with the dynamic FB/SL combo he has certainly is a great base on which to build.

Pretty short session, no opportunity for anyone to ask about Heller or Feyeriesan.
And if that's going to be the offseason standard this year, we'll not learn a lot about the Tribe farm system either.

So the day after my last post Greg Allen went 3-5 with 2 homers. The following day he went 2-5 with 1 homer. His slash line this fall is now .366/.435/.683 in 11 games.

Same day Allen hit his 2 homers Yandy Diaz went 2-5 with a 3 run homer. Yesterday Yandy went 2-4 with a double. His slash line in Venezuela is now .400/.455/.650. He has hit safely in all 5 games he's played in.

Looks like the talent pipeline continues.

Sunday games:

CLE DL Rodriguez, Nellie 1B 4 0 0 0 .211
CLE DL Rodriguez, Ronny SS 4 1 1 0 .111 2B (1)
CLE PRL Murphy, Taylor RF 2 0 0 1 .286 BB (3)
CLE PRL Pantoja, Alexis 2B 2 0 0 0 .000
CLE VL Diaz, Yandy LF 4 0 2 0 .400 2B (2)
CLE VL Quiroz, Guillermo C 2 0 0 0 .000
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 4 0 3 1 .353 [don't forget him, although I don't what we can do with him]

Some recent roster moves:

Joey Butler and Collin Cowgill become free men.

Among former Tribesters:

Jerry Sands a free agent, Matt McBride ditto, Frank Herrmann re-ups with the Phillies, Trey Haley with the Pirates, Jarrett Grube [didn't he get one day with the Tribe?] a free agent, LHP Michael Roth a free agent; C Jake Lowery signs with Washington

In other baseball action Tuesday:

CLE AFL Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 3 0 1 0 .333
CLE AFL Zimmer, Bradley DH 4 0 0 0 .233 [we need better OF. Is he it?]
CLE MAJ Naquin, Tyler CF 2 0 0 0 .143 [he may not be, but at least he's better than Chisenhall]
CLE PRL Murphy, Taylor RF 3 0 2 0 .462
CLE VL Diaz, Yandy CF 5 0 2 1 .400 3B(1), BB (2) [playing CF? He gets a big shot in March]
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 4 0 0 0 .316
CLE VL Aguilar, Jesus 1B 3 1 3 1 1.000 HR (1), BB (1)
CLE VL Medina, Yhoxian PR 0 0 0 0 .200
CLE MAJ Clevinger, Mike 2 2 2 2 2 1 4.50 [after everyone went to bed]

I kind of wish Yandy had been given a shot this year, Next year he can replace Martinez.

I expect him to do more than that; he can take over 3rd or at least a RH platoon in the outfield. Tito could keep him busy playing all over the field. I believe he got some at first base too, to add to his numerous options in 2017