Cleveland Sports Forum

It can be frequently misleading to look at stats for a full season for a guy.

Stuff happens!

Looking at his game by game performance log, until his trade to the Cardinals, is not very impressive either.

The coaches filled Axford in on the secret that he had been tipping his pitches for years.

Years...plural????

Wonder how many secrets teams know about Tribe pitching.

Former Indian Travis Hafner joins Notre Dame College baseball staff


By Guy Cipriano, The News-Herald

Posted: 01/15/14, 2:11 PM EST | Updated: 7 hrs ago

Former Indians slugger Travis Hafner will begin his coaching career close to where he produced the best moments of his playing career.

Notre Dame College announced Wednesday that Hafner has agreed to join the school’s baseball staff as an assistant coach. The 36-year-old Hafner will work with NDC’s hitters and aid all other parts of Coach Len Barker’s program. Barker, like Hafner, played for the Indians.

Barker said in an interview Wednesday he had been talking with Hafner “on and off for the last few years” about joining the Falcons’ staff.

Hafner was close to joining the staff last year, but he signed a one-year deal with the New York Yankees on Jan. 31. Hafner’s wife, Amy, is a cheerleading coach at NDC, so Hafner is familiar with the South Euclid school.

“I told him, ‘If you want to start your coaching career, it would be great for you to come over here,’” Barker said.

Hafner, a free agent, has not informed Barker whether he has formally ended his playing career. Hafner hit .202 with 12 homers and 37 RBI in 82 games with the Yankees last season.

He spent the bulk of his career with the Indians, hitting .278 with 200 homers with 688 RBI in 1,078 games from 2003-12. Barker said his players are “ecstatic” about getting the chance to work with Hafner.

NDC started practice Monday. The Falcons begin the season Feb. 22 against King College in Bristol, Tenn. The Falcons make their debut in the Mountain East Conference this spring and will play their home games at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon.

“It’s going to help immensely having a guy like Travis,” Barker said. “He was such a good ballplayer and a big name here in Cleveland for a long time. It’s going to help with recruiting. I don’t know if Travis is going to be in on that. It’s whatever he wants to do. We are really going to sit down and talk about what he wants to do. We have already told some of our recruits about the possibility of Travis joining the staff.”

The News-Herald learned of the possibility of Hafner joining Barker’s staff on Tuesday night. NDC made an official announcement Wednesday afternoon after Hafner completed his paperwork.

“We’re ecstatic to have someone as accomplished as Travis as a part of our department,” Athletic Director Scott Swain said in a statement. “His remarkable career with the Indians is well documented, and his presence, hard work, and dedication should help us a ton moving forward.”

I saw that article and was going to post it myself, with this question: Is Notre Dame coed now? Back in my time in Cleveland it was a woman's college.

From Wikipedia:

Notre Dame College, also known as Notre Dame College of Ohio or simply NDC, is a Catholic, coeducational, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio, USA. Established in 1922 as a women's college, it has been coeducational since January 2001. Notre Dame offers 29 majors, individually designed majors and confers undergraduate and graduate degrees through nine colleges and schools and has current enrollment of 2,120 students. The 53-acre (21.4 ha) main academic and residential campus is located 10 miles (16 km) east of Cleveland in South Euclid.

The source for everything! Was it sort of a sister college to John Carroll, which I believe was males only back then. I know where to look for that answer!

Answer: In September 1968, the University made the transition from full-time male enrollment to a fully coeducational institution, admitting women to the College of Arts and Sciences for the first time.

Also found this JCU/Indians connection:
In 2003, the University opened the $66 million, 265,000 ft² (25,000 m²) Dolan Center for Science and Technology, named after alumnus Charles Dolan, founder of Cablevision, and his wife Helen Dolan.

The Mariners and Indians are the favorites to sign Scott Baker, according to a source of MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo.
There are five to seven teams in on the right-hander, Cotillo said. Baker will likely have to settle for a minor league deal after making just three starts since 2011. The 32-year-old's three starts all came last season after returning from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.60 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through 15 innings.

Related: Indians, Mariners
Source: Chris Cotillo on Twitter Jan 18 - 9:48 PM

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell credits Cleveland Indians and makes good on a promise

By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

on January 19, 2014 at 7:55 AM, updated January 19, 2014 at 8:13 AM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In 2013, John Farrell won a World Series ring in his first season as Boston Red Sox manager. He owes it all to his work as Cleveland Indians director of player development from November 2001 through 2006.

OK, not all -- but some.

“The experience was invaluable,’’ Farrell said. “I often reference things I learned as farm director. It affects how I address problems and deal with certain situations today. I’m indebted to Mark Shapiro, Chris Antonetti and the Dolans for the opportunity.’’

During most of Farrell’s tenure, I covered the Tribe farm system. Farrell and I spoke at least once a week throughout the season, and during those interviews, I often brought up two subjects: 1. His ending Paul Molitor’s hitting streak at 39 games while a starting pitcher for the Indians in 1987; 2. His future as a major-league manager. Of the former, Farrell said he was happy to be linked to Molitor in some way; of the latter, Farrell said he was focused on being the best farm director he could be.

Farrell became Red Sox pitching coach under Terry Francona in 2007 (They won a World Series that year). Before he left Cleveland, I told him I wanted a 1-on-1 after he won his first World Series as manager.

“Deal,’’ he said with a chuckle.

When Farrell did, indeed, become a manager, it was in Toronto. His Blue Jays went 81-81 in 2011 and 73-89 in 2012. The Blue Jays sent him to the Red Sox in a deal that involved Mike Aviles, now with the Indians.

Farrell did not accomplish much in his first year in Boston -- other than guide his club to a 97-65 record in the regular season and victories over Tampa Bay in the ALDS, Detroit in the ALCS and St. Louis in the World Series.

I let the calendar flip before seeing if Farrell would make good on his “promise.’’ He got back to me the next day by phone from Fenway Park.

DM: Why didn’t it work out in Toronto?

JF: We were building in 2011 and, in 2012, we were contending in the middle of June but got ravaged by injuries, particularly to the starting rotation. Injuries took away from a core group that was very promising. That’s not an excuse; just fact. I am very thankful for the opportunity provided by the Blue Jays.

DM: When did you begin to think you had something special with the 2013 Red Sox?

JF: I knew when I got the job that the Red Sox had a very strong group, guys who had been successful. But injuries, much like in 2012 with the Blue Jays, were a huge factor. So I thought the key was to get guys healthy and back to their normal levels of performance.

DM: As you began to have success, then sustained it, how did you handle the comparisons to Bobby Valentine? Given Valentine’s three-ring circus as Red Sox manager in 2012, you were viewed as the anti-Bobby V.

JF: Those are your words, not mine. From the first day of spring training, we set out to return the focus to the field. The most important thing every day was the game that night. That would drive our preparation and performance.

DM: Good dodge.

JF: I wasn’t with the Red Sox in 2012. It didn’t do any of us any good to revisit the past.

DM: Red Sox players became known for the lengthy hair on their heads and faces. What was the genesis of the sideshow?

JF: Guys came to spring training with varying lengths of growth. It turned into a bonding mechanism; if someone trimmed his, he probably would hear about it from teammates.

DM: I don’t recall seeing you with a beard.

JF: Correct. I’ve never had one.

DM: Did players ask you to wear one?

JF: Multiple times.

DM: Why decline?

JF: For one, I’d never had a beard and wasn’t going to start. Most importantly, though, I felt like this was something that connected the players. I firmly believe this game always will be about the players. The players came up with the idea and had the freedom to do with it what they wished – as long as it didn’t adversely affect their preparation and performance.

DM: You could have scored points with the players by going along. How do you toe the line between being a ‘players’ manager’ and being their boss?

JF: Baseball is a very difficult game to play, especially at the highest level. Having played it, what I’ve always tried to keep in mind is: Players are doing their best. So when they struggle, it’s important to show some compassion. But I also know – and I learned this my first day as pitching coach under Tito – that players want some form of direction. They want to know where the boundaries are. Finding that balance isn’t too difficult if you’re open and honest from the start.

DM: Do you have an open-door policy? If so, is it legit, or do you quietly hope the players don’t keep coming in and overstaying their welcome?

JF: I’m a firm believer in inclusion. If you don’t invite that inclusion – from players and coaches -- then you limit their ownership of a given situation. In this position, I can’t just be a good listener; I’ve got to be a great listener. I’d be shortsighted if I didn’t encourage feedback. And in my experience, even when the door is open, players won’t abuse the privilege. They’ve got more important things to do than hang with the manager.

DM: As you watched the Rays-Indians wild-card game, did you allow yourself to think what it would be like to face Tito’s Tribe in the division series?

JF: You’re preparing for both, and you know full well that if it’s Cleveland, it’s going to be something. There are so many relationships, so many connections, just as there were when we played Cleveland in the ALCS in 2007. Tito is probably the best at what he does, he is the most successful manager in Red Sox history, and he is revered. There would be a lot of attention paid to him – and deservedly so. I’d be one of those paying the attention.

DM: What is the most important lesson you learned from Francona?

JF: Tito has such a unique ability to connect with all types of people, from clubhouse personnel to players to those in the front office. What I appreciated above all else was how he handled players directly, never in the public eye, informing them of something face to face rather than having them find out through the media.

DM: How have you dealt with the legendary Boston media?

JF: I’ve been genuine. I’ve made them aware that, if something came up about a given player, please respect the fact that maybe I hadn’t talked to that player before the question was asked. I want to be accessible, but there are built-in limitations to the access, and I think they understand that.

DM: The Rays defeated the Indians, then gave the Red Sox a decent test in the division series. Then came what turned out to be an epic ALCS against Detroit.

JF: Thank God David Ortiz hits a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 2, or we’re going to Detroit down, 2-0, and things are looking bleak. Ortiz’s swing changed the complexion of October for us.

DM: Thank goodness you didn’t pinch-hit for him.

JF: You’re a funny guy.

DM: The ALCS had a World Series feel. How did you get your players and staff to recalibrate for the Cardinals in the actual World Series?

JF: One of the primary strengths of this team is its ability to not take yesterday’s results into today. We had a very competitive group that had a burning desire to go as far as we could. We knew the season wasn’t over. And I’ve got to believe that the intensity of the Detroit series helped us against the Cardinals. I don’t know if the World Series was a classic, but classic moments were inside of it.

DM: You made a bold move by sitting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia in favor of David Ross for the final three games. It paid big dividends. Explain the thought process.

JF: Decisions will be made that are not popular. You know that going in. I felt like David was swinging the bat better than Jarrod at the time and I felt like, as a team, we were responding with David and Jonny Gomes in the lineup – even if it might go against the numbers. I thought those two guys gave us an intangible and make us a better team, for three games, against St. Louis, in the World Series. Not over the course of the season, but at that moment.

DM: I take it Salty was upset.

JF: He took it the way I expected he would. He was disappointed. He had been our No. 1 catcher and had his best year offensively. If he hadn’t been disappointed, he wouldn’t be the player I thought he was.

DM: When you reflect on the night you clinched the World Series, what is the first visual that comes to mind?

JF: Forty minutes after the final out, Fenway Park was basically full. The fans didn’t want to go home. I was privileged to be a small part of something that special.

DM: In the manager’s office that night, did you ever kick back when nobody was around and say, ‘I can’t believe I just won the World Series’?

JF: I’m not sure there ever was a time when nobody was around. I don’t think I left the ballpark until 3:30 a.m. It was surreal. So many things flashed through my mind – from the first day of camp to the final out of the World Series. I thought about how so many people had given so much of themselves to achieve the ultimate goal.

DM: Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is the heart and soul of the Red Sox. What is it like to manage him?

JF: An honor. He’s one of the most driven people I’ve ever been around, regardless of profession. He would be successful at anything he does because of how much he prepares and how much he cares. You see the passion and energy with which he plays, and it’s incredible. You can’t teach it, you can’t fake it. And only one thing matters to him: winning. Everybody feeds off that.

DM: Recognizing that you are watching from afar, do you think Jason Kipnis can be Francona’s Pedroia in Cleveland?

JF: I don’t know Jason Kipnis that well, but I know enough of him to recognize he’s a very good player who has a similar style: all-out. On every team, you’re looking for that one guy to lead by example, give of himself and put the team goals ahead of individual goals.

DM: How many meals have you needed to buy in Boston since the Series?

JF: I don’t go out much, to be honest. When I do, I’ll gladly pay. My daily life hasn’t changed since the Series.

DM: On Aug. 26, 1987, you stopped Paul Molitor’s hitting streak at 39 games --.

JF: (Chuckle) I did? Really?

DM: You’re a funny guy.

JF: If it weren’t for you, nobody would know.

DM: So people don’t stop you on the street and say, ‘You’re the guy who …’

JF: Uh, no.

DM: Do you still remember that night?

JF: Like it was last night.

DM: Details, details.

JF: Well, as you know, I wasn’t supposed to start. Five days earlier, Rich Yett and I started a doubleheader against the Tigers. Rich rolled his ankle, and by the time we got to Milwaukee, he couldn’t go. During the day, we didn’t know if we would play because the weather was bad.

DM: That Detroit start was your first in the majors and second appearance.

JF: I debuted Aug. 18, 1987, against Milwaukee in the 12th inning. I gave up hits to Molitor and Robin Yount on the first two pitches I threw in the big leagues, but somehow got out of it and got the victory. Three days later, I threw a complete game and we beat the Tigers. Then came the Molitor start.

DM: You gave up three hits in nine innings, holding Molitor to 0-for-4 with zero balls out of the infield, before Doug Jones relieved in a scoreless game. As Tribe fans know well, Brewers pinch-hitter Rick Manning drove in the winning run off Jones in the 10th as Molitor stood on deck. Manning was booed.

JF: When the fans booed Rick Manning for getting the game-winning hit, I thought, ‘This is unbelievable. Is this really happening?’

DM: Molitor’s streak is the seventh longest in MLB history, fifth longest in the modern era. No major leaguer has matched Molitor since. How cool is that?

JF: It speaks to how hard it is to put together a long hitting streak. So many things need to go right for an extended period. Paul Molitor is a Hall of Famer. To have been able to end a streak of that magnitude, against a player of his caliber, is a source of pride, sure.

DM: Summarize your tenure as Indians farm director.

JF: Awesome. We had so many good people. Mark Shapiro held us accountable; he told us we needed to better the situation for everyone we were responsible for. Looking back, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how many guys from the Cleveland farm systems in those days have had success in the majors. Not just as players – as coaches, trainers, front-office executives. When the Red Sox played the Indians in the 2007 ALCS, it had a strange feel in part because of how many players on the Cleveland roster had spent at least some time in the system. The ’07 Indians were a testament to a lot of great baseball people -- Mark Shapiro, Chris Antonetti, guys like that -- in the organization.

DM: Your close friend, Francona, won AL manager of the year in 2013 after guiding the Indians to a 92-70 record and the wild-card berth. You couldn’t have been surprised by his success in his first year in Cleveland.

JF: Not one bit, because he gets the most out of his players. They are his focus. And he has such a good understanding of how the game is played.

DM: In communicating with him during the season, did you sense that he was re-energized after not having managed or coached in 2012?

JF: No doubt. He’s at home in the dugout. It was very clear that he loves where he is and loves doing what he’s doing.

DM: Did Francona have unwrapped bubble gum in a jar waiting for him in the dugout before each game in Boston?

JF: He chewed a lot of gum, but I’m pretty sure he needed to unwrap each piece. I can’t believe they’re already unwrapped for him in Cleveland.

I really thought that Asdrubal Cabrera would have been traded by now and the Indians could get a starting pitcher for him. Do you think it's likely that he'll remain an Indian this season?
-- Bob B., Palm Harbor, Fla.

I do believe that Cabrera will be the Indians' Opening Day shortstop. The rumor mill has been quiet on that front this offseason, and, to be honest, I think Cleveland would have a hard time getting the same type of return now that it might have netted by trading Cabrera in either of the past two winters.

The 28-year-old Cabrera is entering the final year of his contract and is owed $10 million, which is a fair price given his position, past performance and the current market. That said, it's still a double-digit salary for a player who has faded in the second half of each of the past three seasons. That trend hasn't helped the shortstop's trade value.




That said, Cabrera is a switch-hitter capable of being a catalyst for Cleveland's offense. If he's healthy and producing to his potential, the Indians have a clear-cut All-Star on their hands and the lineup will benefit. A strong first half -- something Cabrera has done plenty of times -- could also up his value for a potential July trade, if the Tribe's season doesn't go as hoped.

It's also worth noting that the Indians' shortstop of the future -- prospect Francisco Lindor -- has zero Triple-A experience and isn't likely to reach the Majors until late this season or next season. Keeping Cabrera in the fold, and also keeping Mike Aviles in a utility role for now, is a good way to bridge the gap until Lindor's arrival.

Any chance you see the Tribe dealing Justin Masterson prior to the start of the season, if they can't come together on an extension?
-- Ryan T., Jacksonville, N.C.

No, if the two sides can't reach an agreement on a contract extension, the Indians will probably just settle on a one-year deal for the upcoming season. Masterson's camp has exchanged salary proposals with Cleveland ($11.8 million requested, compared to $8.05 million offered by the Tribe), so the one-year contract process is underway. Extension talks will also take place during the negotiations. If necessary, a salary arbitration hearing will be held at some point between Feb. 1-21 in St. Petersburg, Fla., but Cleveland has not gone to a hearing with a player since 1991.

Like Cabrera, though, Masterson is entering the final year of Cleveland's contractual control, if an extension isn't in the cards. A contending Tribe club would likely stick with Masterson until season's end, when the sides could then discuss a deal through free agency. If the season gets ugly fast, Masterson would be a prime trading chip in July.

How reliable of an option will Carlos Santana be at third base?
-- Brandon B., Hilliard, Ohio

This is a better question for Spring Training, when the Indians' decision-makers will get an up-close look at Santana's progress over the course of many weeks. Right now, Santana is too early into the process to know if he's a realistic option for more than just a part-time role at the hot corner.

The Santana experiment has been a hot topic this week, however, thanks to a Spanish-language report indicating that the catcher is training for the full-time job. Could Santana become Cleveland's starting third baseman? Sure, it's possible. Right now, though, that decision hasn't been made. The fact is that the Indians don't have to make that call until maybe midway through the spring.

Should Santana eventually take over at third base, what are the chances of the Tribe trading Lonnie Chisenhall?
-- Jose T., Utuado, Puerto Rico

The Indians have had chances to trade Chisenhall, and the team hasn't pulled the trigger yet. He is still relatively young in years (25) and big league experience (682 plate appearances), so the potential for him to break out remains. I just don't see Cleveland breaking camp with Chisenhall as the everyday third baseman.

What I could see is Chisenhall making the team as an option against right-handed pitchers. Consider that Indians manager Terry Francona limited Chisenhall to one at-bat against lefty pitchers in September, and the third baseman responded by hitting .270 (.920 OPS) for the month. That makes Chisenhall a solid platoon option at third for a team focused on contending, not just developing.

Of course, if Santana is deemed capable of the everyday job at third, Chisenhall might be sent back to the Minors, where he has proven he can put up strong numbers. Under that scenario, yes, the third baseman might be dangled as trade bait, especially for a team that is always looking for affordable pitching.

Do you think Michael Young would be a good fit for the Tribe? I think he would be a great platoon partner with Chisenhall at third base, as well as a second backup all around the infield. He'd also be another great clubhouse guy.
-- Jeffrey C., Columbus, Ohio

I like your line of thinking, but I haven't heard any rumblings of Young being a possibility for Cleveland. There was a report earlier this month indicating that the 37-year-old veteran was considering retirement. I think Cleveland has plenty of backup infielders (Ryan Raburn and Aviles can play multiple spots), clubhouse leadership (Jason Giambi and Nick Swisher, among others) and the possibility of Santana helps the platoon options at third base. I don't see it happening.

In closing ...

With all the talk about the upcoming Tribe Fest, it made me think back to Wahoo Winterfest in the early 1990s. I remember attending one year and they had a large steel beam that fans could autograph. The Indians said the beam would be used in the construction of Jacobs Field. Did that beam ever make it into the ballpark?
-- Michael M., Broadview Heights, Ohio

Your signature is indeed in the structure of Progressive (formerly Jacobs) Field, Michael. Here is what Jim Folk, the Indians' vice president of ballpark operations, shared via email about the beam you signed some two decades ago:

The beam is installed in the East Ninth Street stair tower (over by Gate C/Bob Feller statue). The beam itself faces East Ninth, but is inside the structure (basically behind the masonry) and the signatures cannot be seen. That said, it was installed with all signatures intact.

For those interested in this weekend's Tribe Fest, visit Indians.com/tribefest. I'll be checking it out, so feel free to say hello if you spot me.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

3 weeks til pitchers and catchers

That said, it's still a double-digit salary for a player who has faded in the second half of each of the past three seasons. That trend hasn't helped the shortstop's trade value.

I seem to remember Asdrubal having a pretty darn good September and being a big part of their surge to the wild card.

He became a big RBI man in September although I believe his other numbers may have stayed rather flat. He was remarkably unimpressive in the one playoff game, with poor at hits and key outs delivered.

Omar Vizquel will be inducted into Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 21

cleveland.com By cleveland.com

on January 21, 2014 at 8:33 AM, updated January 21, 2014 at 9:06 AM




CLEVELAND, Ohio - Omar Vizquel, one of the best shortstops in the history of the Cleveland Indians and Major League Baseball, will be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 21, the team announced Tuesday.

Vizquel is scheduled to appear briefly at Tribe Fest this weekend. Longtime Indians TV broadcaster Jimmy Dudley will be inducted posthumously into the Distinguished Hall of Fame for non-uniformed personnel.

Vizquel is the Hall's 40th member. He will be honored in a ceremony before the Indians game against the Detroit Tigers on June 21, and he will be honored with a permanent place in Heritage Park, behind the center field wall at Progressive Field.

“I never thought that I could belong to a prestigious group of players that have given everything to the city of Cleveland in an Indians uniform,” Vizquel said in a statement issued by the Indians. “My priority always was the game and to enjoy it as much as possible. I’m honored by this and to have had the chance to play for the Indians.”

”Omar was a transcendent player and one of the best of all time at his position,” said Indians Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio. “He was a big part of one of our organization’s most successful periods, and we’re excited for him to join the Indians Hall of Fame.”

Vizquel is the current all-time Major League Baseball leader at shortstop in fielding percentage (.985), double plays turned (1,735) and games played at the position (2,709).

He won 11 Rawlings Gold Glove awards (nine consecutive from 1993-2001, and 2005- 2006), and is the oldest shortstop to win the award (at age 38 and again at 39). He also made three American League All-Star teams (1998, 1999, 2002).

Vizquel helped the club win two American League Championships (1995, 1997) and six American League Central Division championships 1995-1999, 2001. In 1999, he boasted a .333 batting average and 112 runs for an Indians team that scored a league-leading 1,009 runs, marking the most productive offensive line-up in Cleveland Indians baseball history.

In November, Vizquel was named the Detroit Tigers first-base coach. He previously served as a co-infield coach for the 2013 season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Dudley, an Indians TV broadcaster from 1948-1967 on WJW and WERE, is a member of the broadcasters’ wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Dudley, a native of Alexandria, Va., played baseball, football and basketball at the University of Virginia. He did play-by-play for the Cubs, and after serving in World War II, joined the Indians during the team’s World Series season of 1948.

Dudley also broadcast football for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts, along with Ohio State. He died in 1989.

Other Distinguished Hall of Fame members include owners Bill Veeck and Dick Jacobs, GM/Super Scout Cy Slapnicka, GM John Hart, athletic trainer Jim Warfield and longtime broadcaster Jack Graney.

CLEVELAND INDIANS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS (39)

CA SANDY ALOMAR- Inducted 2009

OF EARL AVERILL- Inducted 1951

2B CARLOS BAERGA- Inducted 2013

P JIM BAGBY, SR.-Inducted 2007

SS LOU BOUDREAU- Inducted 1954

3B BILL BRADLEY- Inducted 1957

SS RAY CHAPMAN- Inducted 2006

OF ROCKY COLAVITO- Inducted 2006

P STAN COVELESKI- Inducted 1966

OF LARRY DOBY- Inducted 1966

P BOB FELLER- Inducted 1957

P WES FERRELL- Inducted 2009

OF ELMER FLICK- Inducted 1963

P MIKE GARCIA- Inducted 2007

MGR/2B JOE GORDON- Inducted 2008

P MEL HARDER- Inducted 1951

MGR/1B MIKE HARGROVE- Inducted 2008

CA JIM HEGAN- Inducted 1966

OF JOE JACKSON- Inducted 1951

P ADDIE JOSS- Inducted 2006

3B KEN KELTNER- Inducted 1951

2B NAP LAJOIE- Inducted 1951

P BOB LEMON- Inducted 1960

OF KENNY LOFTON- Inducted 2010

MGR. AL LOPEZ- Inducted 2006

P SAM McDOWELL- Inducted 2006

P CHARLES NAGY- Inducted 2007

CA STEVE O’NEILL- Inducted 1951

P SATCHEL PAIGE- Inducted 1965

RHP GAYLORD PERRY-Inducted 2012

3B AL ROSEN- Inducted 2006

P HERB SCORE- Inducted 2006

SS JOE SEWELL- Inducted 1951

OF LOUIS FRANCIS SOCKALEXIS-Inducted 2006

OF TRIS SPEAKER- Inducted 1951

1B/DH ANDRE THORNTON- Inducted 2007

1B HAL TROSKY- Inducted 1951

P EARLY WYNN- Inducted 1972

P CY YOUNG- Inducted 1951

TFIR wrote:

That said, it's still a double-digit salary for a player who has faded in the second half of each of the past three seasons. That trend hasn't helped the shortstop's trade value.

I seem to remember Asdrubal having a pretty darn good September and being a big part of their surge to the wild card.

The strange September of Asdrubal Cabrera
By Jason Lukehart  @JasonLukehart on Sep 19 2013, 10:00a 15


Cabrera has been maybe the best hitter on the team this month... or maybe the worst.

Which of the following is true?

Asdrubal Cabrera is killing the Indians in September. He's 10 for 54 so far, giving him a batting average of just .185. There are 66 players in the American League with 60+ PA in September, none of them have a worse BA than Cabrera. He isn't walking much either, so his OBP is only .258, which ranks 59th among those 66 players. Perhaps no moment has summed up Cabrera's month like his at bat against the Mets in the 8th inning on Sunday the 8th. He came to the plate with the bases loaded in a tie game, only one out. He grounded into an inning-ending double play, and the Indians went on to lose 2-1. The Tribe seemed poised to win, but in the biggest play of the game, Cabrera came up short.

It seems clear that Asdrubal Cabrera has been one of the worst hitters in the league this month, repeatedly killing the Indians as they fight desperately for a Wild Card spot.

OR

Asdrubal Cabrera is killing opponents in September. He's hit 5 home runs already, giving him a share of the American League lead for the month. Three of those home runs have come with men on base. Two of his home runs have broken a scoreless tie. He's driven in 14 runs already, which is tied for fourth in the league. Perhaps no moment has summed up Cabrera's month his his at bat against the Royals in the 8th inning on on Tuesday the 17th. He came to the plate with a runner on second in a tie game, one out. He hit a double to left field, plating the go ahead run, and the Indians went on to win 5-3. The Tribe seemed poised to lose, but in the biggest play of the game, Cabrera came up huge.

It seems clear that Asdrubal Cabrera has been one of the best hitters in the league this month, repeatedly carrying the Indians as they fight desperately for a Wild Card spot.

So... which is true?

Alright, there's no fooling you. LGT readers are too smart a bunch to fall for this trick. Both those descriptions are true.

Is either one of them more true?

Cabrera was the highest +WPA of any starter on the Indians this month, at 1.31, so that's good. He also has the highest -WPA of any starter on the Indians this month, at -1.11, so that's bad. Put them together and his WPA is 0.19, so that's good, by a little.

Cabrera's BABIP is .132, by far the worst in the league this month. As you probably know, BABIP is largely a matter of luck, and so we probably shouldn't hold the full brunt of that awful batting average and on-base percentage against him. On the other hand, he's swing at more pitches outside the strike zone than usual, which leads to poor contact, which leads to a lower BABIP. He's also hitting fly balls at an astounding rate, 55.8% of the time (3rd-highest in the AL), compared to a career rate of 35.3%. Fly balls are turned into outs at a much higher clip than line drives or ground balls, so they'll also lead to a lower BABIP. Some of that .132 is luck, but some of it is making poor swings and chasing bad pitches.

wRC+ is one of my favorite statistics. It takes a player's hitting, does a better job of balancing on-base percentage and slugging percentage than OPS or OPS+, and adjusts for the league/parks/era he's playing in. A wRC+ of 100 means a player has been perfectly average. 110 means he's been 10% better than average, 90 means he's been 10% worse than average, and so on. If you had to pick one metric to rate a hitter's performance on, I think wRC+ is as good as you can do. Asdrubal Cabrera's wRC+ for the month of September... 100.

Asdrubal Cabrera has been perfectly average this month... but he sure has gone about it in an interesting way.