Cleveland Sports Forum

The Indians announced on Wednesday that second baseman Jason Kipnis underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday to repair a damaged extensor tendon in his left ring finger. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season.

The extensor tendon runs on the back of the hand (non-palm side). The procedure, which was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham, involved just a few stiches along the tendon and sewing it back together along with placing a pin on the joint for the next several weeks.

Indians head athletic trainer James Quinlan said Kipnis sustained the injury last month during offseason workouts in Chicago. Kipnis was lifting and re-racking a weight when his hand got wedged between a weight and the weight rack. As Kipnis recently started to lose some motion and strength in the finger, he visited the medical staff last weekend, where they recommended surgery.

"We are optimistic he will be able to do a lot during spring training. He should be fielding and throwing by the time he reports," Quinlan said. "Gripping a bat and hitting are more extensive but we are optimistic he should be on some form of hitting progression by the time Spring Training begins."

The Indians full squad reports to Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 22. A more general timetable on when Kipnis will be able to resume hitting should be clearer during Tribefest in late January.

AL CENTRAL LOOKAHEAD

- With a flurry of moves, White Sox positioned to contend
- Twins upgrade outfield and rotation but challenges remain
After batting .284 and making the All-Star team in 2013, Kipnis struggled last season, batting .240 with six home runs and 41 RBI. He was on the disabled list for most of May with a right oblique strain and then strained his right hamstring in a Sept. 18 game at Houston, which limited him to only three games at designated hitter the rest of the season.
General manager Chris Antonetti said during the Winter Meetings last week that they were encouraged by Kipnis' offseason program, which was addressing more speed and agility drills.
"I'm sure he is a little frustrated. He has been working hard and trying to get at it." Quinlan said. "This should not interrupt a whole lot (of his offseason work). Some things will be limited but he can do a lot of his cardio and core stuff."

jasonkipnis22
3 hours ago
Surgery went great! All wrapped up and on our way back home to Chicago! Gives me a good chance to get after my lower body workouts now! #smallhiccup

Hey, Hoynsie:

Melky Cabrera, Jeff Samardzija, Ervin Santana, Yoenis Cespedes, Alfredo Simon, Zach Duke, Adam LaRoche, Kendrys Morales, David Robertson and Alex Rios are all newcomers to the AL Central this winter. This is in addition to Victor Martinez, Luke Hochevar and Torii Hunter sticking around.

The vast majority of these additions happened after the Tribe added the feared Brandon Moss. My question is this: Are the Indians doing anything to get better? The only thing they have really improved this year is their stable of below average, left-handed, platoon first basemen and right fielders – James Cocita, Cleveland.

Hey, James:

Just a hunch, but it doesn't sound as if the Indians signing Scott Downs and Gavin Floyd did a whole lot for you.

<

Hey, Hoynsie:

Has anyone in the media found out the cost of the renovations at Progressive Field and why did the out-of-state financial partner want to be involved? – J.R. Burley, Madison.

Hey, J.R.:

Got a close look at the renovations last week and Progressive Field is going to look different next season. As for the cost of the renovations, the Indians still aren't saying.

Delaware North Cos., in charge of concessions at Progressive Field, is paying for part of the improvements. The Indians and Delaware North agreed to this arrangement as part of their latest deal.

An Indians spokesman said Delaware North's investment doesn't mean it's in line to become a part owner of the team. They are helping pay for the renovations because if they attract more people next season, it means Delaware North will sell more concessions.

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Mind over matter: Bauer goes high-tech in offseason regimen

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | 9:00 AM ET + 5 COMMENT

CLEVELAND -

Trevor Bauer craves information. He enjoys diving head first into data, reading scientific articles and searching for technological advancements that might help him further his own research into enhancing his pitching mechanics, velocity and production.

This offseason, Bauer embarked on his annual information-gathering tour armed with nearly a full sample of Major League innings to analyze. The young right-hander spent nearly the entire 2014 season in Cleveland's rotation, experiencing enough ups and downs to provide him with a platform from which to build. Bauer did not want to waste any time in getting started.

"I feel like I had a productive season," Bauer said shortly before the offseason began. "It was not up to my standards, which I think is something that helps me want to get to work. I feel like I do have a lot of stuff that I need to work on and get better at, so I'll be ready to go."

During his season-end meeting with Indians manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway, Bauer detailed his plans for the winter. He had a list of pitching experts that he planned on visiting around the country, while devising a plan of attack for the winter. Cleveland stressed the importance of leaning on Callaway throughout the process.

In November, while Bauer was spending time at the Driveline Baseball facility in Washington, Callaway made a trip to check in with the 23-year-old. Callaway spent time monitoring Bauer's progress with his velocity training and was impressed with the ideas the pitcher had for improving upon his wide array of pitches.

Bauer had already been studying slow-motion video of Indians starter Corey Kluber's technique for throwing his two-seam sinker and slider, as well as Tribe starter Danny Salazar's method for throwing his split-changeup. During their visit, Callaway said Bauer also had a looped video of Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman throwing a specific type of two-seamer.

Bauer was studying the way Stroman would utilize the pitch against a right-handed batter. The pitch being shown in the video was sent to the left-handed batter's box, but it would tail back over the outside corner of the plate for a strike. That is something Callaway said Bauer wants to work on improving for next year.

"He was working on the axis of spin," Callaway explained. "So they had that one pitch looping on a big-screen TV in there over and over and over again, just for a visual-type aid. I think Trevor values the break, the late movement and the speed."

Callaway laughed when asked if Bauer was working on adding any new pitches.

"I don't think he can add any more pitches," Callaway said. "He's already invented some."

More than most pitchers, Bauer relies on in-depth video analysis.

Bauer detailed one of the setups that he uses in the offseason. He will have a camera in each batter's box mounted at eye level, so he can see the hitter's perspective. Bauer also has a camera mounted from the center-field view in order to track the flight of the ball. He then films his pitches at 240 or 480 frames per second, and he can overlay the pitches on video to see variances in the movement.

It is all in an effort to improve his command, while increasing deception to confuse the hitter.

"I'll know where each pitch ended up," Bauer explained, "and I'll color code each pitch [on video], if it's a fastball or it's a slider or whatever, and I'll know exactly what it looks like. What pitches look the same for a lefty? What pitches look the same for a righty? Are they the same? ... Like, maybe a slider and a fastball to a lefty look the exact same because of the angle he's looking at, but to a righty you can see a difference.

"So, then I can tailor-fit what pitches I throw and where to make them all appear the same, make my delivery appear the same, things like that."

When he is in the heart of his offseason throwing program, Bauer said he works on a six-day schedule. Two days will be focused primarily on velocity drills. The other four days will be a mix of mechanics and pitch command workouts. If he is training at the Texas Baseball Ranch, he said he has a real time video setup that allows him to analyze his delivery and pitches throughout the workout.
Callaway said Bauer has been great about keeping the Indians' staff up to date on what he is working on during the winter. The pitching coach also noted that Cleveland has given the pitcher access to much of the analytical pitch data that he likes to study. Callaway said Bauer probably leans on those resources more than any other pitcher with the Tribe.

"We've given him some websites and stuff that really gets into that kind of stuff," Callaway said. "I think he likes to have the resources to do it himself, instead of just trusting what we might say. He'd rather go and research it himself. He does a lot of that and did a lot of that during the season, like trying to make his own scouting report off the same stuff that we would use. I think he likes putting that work in to make himself a little more confident in what he's doing."

Bauer has appreciated the Indians being open to his approach with such things. In particular, the pitcher said Derek Falvey, Cleveland's director of baseball operations, and Eric Binder, an assistant to the player development staff, have been great resources for him.

"I think they've not only been open to what I'm doing, there's been a sharing of information," Bauer said. "Me getting information to them. Them giving information to me. It makes the conversation progress more rapidly when there's sharing from both sides."

Last season, Bauer went 5-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 26 starts, in which he piled up 143 strikeouts against 60 walks. It was not an outstanding season, but it was not a poor campaign, either. While Bauer helped strengthen the middle of the Tribe's rotation, he never experienced a strong uptick in performance over an extended period of time.

Bauer noted that he lost 13 pounds in the middle of the year, causing his velocity to drop throughout July. As a result, the right-hander wanted to work on establishing a better conditioning plan for 2015, along with training regimens to improve both his pitch speed and command. Bauer said the general idea is to work on all three areas in order to improve on the base he established last year.

"Everything is interrelated," Bauer said. "It's a whole process and there's a lot of stuff that goes into it."

Bauer does not worry too much about an information overload, either.

"I'm blessed in a way that I can process information," he said. "That's just how my brain works. If I wasn't processing information about baseball, it would be about building a quad copter or audio engineering or whatever else has interest to 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.

What to expect in 2015, according to Fangraphs

As it stands right now, Cleveland looks to be a playoff team in 2015

Jose Ramirez & Carlos Santana (Photo: AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

By Jim Piascik
December 31, 2014
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Over at Fangraphs, most of the best publicly available projection systems are readily available for you to view, free of charge. Plus, in addition to the raw projections for each player, Fangraphs maintains a projected depth chart, which parses out the available playing time in a full season to the players most likely to receive it in the coming year.

There will always be players who exceed their projections in any given year (see the 2014 version of Michael Brantley) and there will always be players who fall well short of their projections (see the 2014 version of Jason Kipnis). But that does not mean the projections are useless.

Each projection system tells you the most likely thing to happen that year. Though a big part of the beauty of baseball is the unexpected -- if the projection systems were perfect, then we wouldn’t bother playing the games -- grounding your expectations in reality is wise.

So, as we celebrate the end of 2014 and look forward to the new year, just what does Fangraphs project for Cleveland in 2015?

Here is the link to Cleveland’s projection page. The current numbers only include Steamer projections, with the ZiPS projections still in the process of being released.

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.as ... L&teamid=5

Starting Rotation

11.5 WAR, fourth in the majors

Only ranking behind the power rotations of the Dodgers, the Nationals, and the Mariners, Cleveland is projected to easily have one of the best rotations in all of baseball. It helps having the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner at the top of the rotation, but Cleveland’s starting pitching is more than just Corey Kluber.

Currently, Kluber is projected for a significant step back, only expected to put up 4.0 WAR. But Steamer sees Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar as above-average pitchers in 2015, as well as projecting Gavin Floyd (due to his injury history) and T.J. House (due to likely spending some time in the minors) for around half of a season of average pitching.

Plus, Steamer is not high on Trevor Bauer, seeing him as a roughly replacement-level player due to his struggles in the not-so-distant 2013. But if you believe 2013 was a year of adjustments for Bauer -- essentially making the data flawed and useless -- then the right-hander’s projection is quite low, giving Cleveland’s rotation plenty of upside.

The projections do not have any Cleveland pitcher projected for crazy stats, yet the team still ranks in the top-five with room to grow. As of right now, the rotation looks to be in good shape.

Bullpen

1.7 WAR, 19th in the majors

The bullpen projections are very close together, with the seventh-place Athletics (2.4 WAR) and the 24th-place Brewers (1.4 WAR) all within 1.0 WAR of each other. Given the inherent volatility of projections, a difference of 1.0 WAR might as well be the same.

So with that in mind, Cleveland’s bullpen may project in the bottom half, but it is not guaranteed to finish the year there. Steamer basically thinks Cleveland’s entire bullpen outside of Cody Allen will be replacement level, something that does not seem likely to happen given the recent history of Bryan Shaw, Scott Atchison, Marc Rzepczynski, Kyle Crockett, and Nick Hagadone.

It is best to be conservative when projecting relievers, especially given their wild performance variations from year to year, but this one looks low on Cleveland’s front.

Catcher

4.3 WAR, fourth in the majors

The projections think only the Buster Posey-led Giants, the Russell Martin-led Blue Jays, and the Salvador Perez-led Royals will finish ahead of Yan Gomes and the Cleveland catchers. That does not seem like an outrageous idea, but if you think Gomes will once again lead the American League in WAR (as he did in 2014), then this projection will be low.

Either way, Gomes is one of the best catchers in baseball and his backup, Roberto Perez, projects to be a very solid backup. This is definitely a position of strength for Cleveland in 2015.

First Base

3.1 WAR, 10th in the majors

First base in Cleveland may not be on par with the starting rotation or the catcher position, but it still projects to be an above-average one with upside. The projections only have Carlos Santana as a slightly above-average player, and if you believe being freed from the defensive burdens of catching or learning third base on the fly will let his bat take a big step forward, then Santana will rate out much better in 2015.

Brandon Moss is also projected to be a solidly above-average player, with Nick Swisher expected to be okay in a little playing time. All in all, first base is not flashy for Cleveland, but it does look pretty good.

Second Base

2.8 WAR, eighth in the majors

In roughly a full season’s worth of playing time, Steamer expects Jason Kipnis to be worth a slightly above-average 2.4 WAR. After posting 3.0 WAR and 4.4 WAR in 2012 and 2013, that projection would seem light if you take out an injury-riddled 2014.

But 2014 happened, of course, and while Kipnis still put up a not-awful 1.0 WAR in 129 games (25th among all major league second baseman), expecting the All-Star version of the second baseman to return would be aggressive. But as it is, Steamer is projecting Kipnis to anchor a top-10 unit at second base. While not an outstanding projection, following last year, the organization would take it.

Shortstop

2.1 WAR, 21st in the majors

As it stands right now, the Fangraphs depth charts have Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor roughly splitting the season at shortstop, a result that seems likely given what we know about the organization’s plan for the top prospect.

But if these projections are what is going to happen, Lindor will not receive that much playing time in 2015. Steamer has Lindor being worth about 1.0 WAR in a full season, while Ramirez is projected for above-average performance.

Giving Lindor’s playing time to Ramirez jumps Cleveland’s shortstops to a borderline top-10 ranking, and unless the organization sees Lindor as ready to be much better than these projections say to expect, I would expect Ramirez to keep the job and Lindor to continue biding his time in the minors.

Third Base

2.1 WAR, 22nd in the majors

Cleveland’s left side of the infield is weak in these projections, though Lonnie Chisenhall is still seen as a roughly average player. We outlined above how the projection at the shortstop position seems low in reality, but this one seems just about right.

It would be hard for a team to be above-average at every position, and for Cleveland, third base is the weak spot. Chisenhall is still only 26 years old and took a decent step forward in 2014, yielding hope for a little more development in the future. But as it is, though Chisenhall projects to be an okay player, the combination of him and Mike Aviles does not rate out well compared to the rest of the league.

Left Field

2.9 WAR, 10th in the majors

Michael Brantley just finished third in the American League MVP voting, but Steamer is only counting on him to be an above-average contributor in 2015. But in a way, that is almost good news.

If Brantley’s breakout is real, then Cleveland’s left field should be one of the best in baseball. If the breakout is not real, however, and Brantley is an above-average player who got lucky in 2014, then Cleveland is still projected to be pretty good. The floor is high for Cleveland’s left field and there is real value in that kind of certainty.

Center Field

2.2 WAR, 19th in the majors

Though Michael Bourn has not lived up to his contract yet, he does project as a decent center fielder for the 2015 season. The Bourn-anchored center field projects roughly as average, easily within striking distance of the top half of the league despite being ranked 19th, thanks in large part to a 1.8 WAR projection for Bourn.

That projection expects Bourn to be the 2013 version of himself, which would require the 32-year-old to be fully healthy again. It is possible 2014 was just the lingering effects of Bourn’s 2013 injuries and the center fielder will be fine in 2015. But this is a projection with a lot of risk, as Bourn has not proven to be a safe bet during his time in Cleveland.

Right Field

2.2 WAR, 15th in the majors

The combination of Brandon Moss and David Murphy in right field is not a sexy one, but it does rate out as perfectly average according to the Steamer projections. Though the addition of Moss may end up being Cleveland’s big move for the offseason -- and is not one that captures many headlines -- the 31-year-old projects to be a good player and firms up this position in relation to the rest of the league.

There is some injury risk here, but the history of players with Moss’ injury and the projections expect him to be fine. If that turns out to be true, then it looks like right field will be another solid position for Cleveland in 2015.

Designated Hitter

1.7 WAR, fifth in the majors

Despite giving Nick Swisher the most playing time at designated hitter, the projections still expect Cleveland to be above-average at the position. Most of that comes from Brandon Moss and Carlos Santana’s contributions -- 1.2 WAR in 280 plate appearances -- but the projections expect Swisher to adequately tread water while serving as the designated hitter.

Swisher was one of the worst players in baseball last year, but expecting him to repeat that feat is probably excessive. The projections see Swisher as a slightly-above replacement-level player in 2015, and assuming he is fully recovered from the 2014 injuries that required surgery on both knees, calling Swisher slightly better than a readily available Triple-A player seems reasonable.

Overall

85-77 record, eighth in the majors, fourth in the American League, second in the AL Central

Cleveland is a well-rounded team that does not project to have many holes, which is a good way to build a winner. The end result is a team that, as it stands right now in the projections, would finish one game behind the Tigers in the division and would play in the AL Wild Card game.

There is plenty of volatility in each individual player’s projection -- and even more when adding each player’s projection up to create a team projection -- but clearly Cleveland has built a deep, solid team that is great at times.

Cleveland may not be having an explosive offseason like the one going on in San Diego, but the front office has still built a team that is quite good and should be in playoff contention. Which, when it comes down to it, is all that you can really hope for.

If you want to follow Jim on Twitter, he’s @JimPiascik. If you want to e-mail him, you can do so at jpiasci1@gmail.com. If you want to read his Master's thesis on college athletes and Twitter, you can do so here.

Are Cleveland Indians destined to be studio sport? Hey, Hoynsie!


CLEVELAND, Ohio – Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here.

Hey, Hoynsie: I just read an article stating that the average MLB salary was up 12.78 percent. My guess is to make up for this, ticket prices and concession prices will increase for Indians games. With the economy still sputtering most people don't receive raises and if they do they are minimal. Can the media stop saying fans don't support the Indians based on the team's attendance when the real reason is they can't afford to go to games. Look at television and radio ratings the last few years; they are through the roof. – Harry Drennan, Strongsville.

Hey, Harry: I'm not sure about ticket prices increasing at Progressive Field in 2015, but I do know baseball wasn't meant to be a studio sport.

Besides, a pricey ticket doesn't mean a team can't have both – good attendance and good numbers on TV and radio. The Browns played to 92 percent stadium capacity this season, drawing an average of 67,425 fans to their eight home games. As of week 14 in the NFL season, they were one of the top five teams in TV viewership.

The Cavs, meanwhile, played in front of sellout crowds in their first 18 home games. Fox Sports, which carries the Cavs games locally, reported viewership increased 86 percent over last season through the first three weeks of this season.

Hey, Hoynsie: With the question marks surrounding Lonnie Chisenhall and his ability to keep his position at third base, what is your thought on the power right-handed bat of Audy Ciriaco? I know his 15 homers and 70 RBIs last season were in Triple-A, but it is appealing compared to the results given from Chisenhall in the second half of the season. – Shawn Marshall, Garfield Heights.

Hey, Shawn: I think third base belongs to Chisenhall unless something unexpected happens in spring training. What Ciriaco did at Columbus last year was impressive, but he's 27 and has played in the minors for 10 years without getting a big-league look. There's usually a reason for that.

If Ciriaco makes the club it will be as a utility infielder.

Hey, Hoynsie: Can you ask Paul Dolan and/or give your thoughts as to why the owners in MLB feel it's in their best interest to not have a salary cap like the NFL, NBA and NHL. Why would the owners continue to pay Bud Selig in retirement when he made well over a $100 million as their puppet? Shouldn't the money be going to charity or youth baseball programs? – Walt Sobchak, Cleveland.

Hey, Walt: I imagine there are a majority of owners who feel that a salary cap would benefit them, but history has shown that the owners have never held together long enough in a work stoppage to impose one on the players. The owners in the NFL, NBA and NHL brought their players to heel, but it didn't work in baseball.

If you study the amateur draft, however, with the slotting prices for the first 10 rounds, that represents a cap. The slotting prices were instituted in the last contract, which expires after the 2016 season. Perhaps that is a sign of things to come.

Regarding Selig, I can't believe you've never heard of a golden parachute for a retiring CEO? MLB made $9 billion in revenues last season. Selig had a lot to do with that.

Hey, Hoynsie: That everyone seems to be content with the way the Tribe played last year is disturbing to me. We used to love driving the 2 1/2 hours from our home to watch games at least three or four times a year. But watching an underachieving Class AA team is not appealing anymore. Management really needs to step up and get a team on the field that fans want to give up their time and money to watch. – Mark Lashley, Cambridge.

Hey, Mark: I don't think the Indians or their fans are content with how last year went, but they probably have different standards than you. After all, when was the last time a Class AA pitcher won the Cy Young award?

Hey, Hoynsie: I'm glad that the Indians put an end to the Brohio nonsense, but is it true they drafted Paul Dolan's son last year and he refused to sign and enrolled at the University of Michigan? – Brutus Buckeye, Columbus.

Hey, Brutus: A Hey Hoynsie question always works better if you use your real name. Nonetheless, the Indians did draft Peter Dolan, Paul Dolan's son, with the 33rd pick in the 2014 draft when he was a senior at Gilmour. And yes, he is attending the University of Michigan.

The Dolan ownership of the Indians has never been marked by zaniness. It's been prim and proper. If the owner can't draft his kid in a low round, what's the fun of being the owner?

Hey, Hoynsie: People have been complaining for years about how cheap the Dolans are, that the Indians can't sign good talent, etc. Is there anyone in Cleveland who could afford to purchase this team? I'm assuming Dan Gilbert is out because of the casino and Jimmy Haslam has his legal problems. – Tom MacPheraon, Brunswick.

Hey, Tom: I'm sure there are more than a few multi-millionaires in Cleveland who might be interested in buying the Indians. I do know the Dolans have been looking for limited partners for years, but to my knowledge they haven't taken any on.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why is everyone so intent on signing Corey Kluber to a multiyear deal when he's under the Indians control through 2018? Why is having a right-handed power bat such a big concern with some people? After all Progressive Field is a left-handed park and isn't a home run a home run regardless of what side of the plate it comes from? – Barry Elliott, Jackson Center.

Hey, Barry: Kluber will turn 29 on April 10, but he won't be eligible for arbitration until the end of the 2015 season. The Indians don't have to extend Kluber's contract to get to purchase his prime years because they already have them. Still, I think the two sides will come to an agreement on a multiyear deal sometime between now and April.

Progressive Field does favor left-handed hitters, especially when it comes to home runs. I think the Indians would like a right-handed hitter, not necessarily a power hitter, but a solid right-handed hitter, to balance the lineup because no matter how much they make their home field work to their advantage, they still have to play 81 games on the road.

Hey, Hoynsie: Despite last season's winning record, the Tribe was the lowest MLB team in percentage of available seats for home games sold. What do you think are the reasons for their continuing attendance issues? – Frank Bruno, Westlake.

Hey, Frank: Is that a polite way of saying that no one came to watch the Indians last season?

There are a lot of popular theories, so take your pick: the fans have never warmed to the Dolan ownership, dynamic pricing has brought order to the Indians ticket revenues, but it has been received poorly by the paying public, the Indians have not won enough and suffer in comparison to the teams of the 1990s, poor drafting and player development, Cleveland has lost population and as of 2013 one of every three of its residents lived in poverty and Cleveland really isn't that good of a baseball town.

Progressive Field has received high marks from respected family-focused travel magazine ABC Travel Guides for Kids, which has named Cleveland its No. 1 travel destination for kids in 2015.

The magazine visited Cleveland last August, and said, "Progressive Field might be the most family friendly ballpark in the country."

The Indians offer many family-friendly attractions at the ballpark, including the Kids Clubhouse -- which will be expanded to two levels during the ongoing enhancements at Progressive Field -- along with low concessions prices that include $3 hot dogs every day. (Fans also are permitted to bring a factory-sealed bottle of water and juice boxes into the ballpark in soft-sided coolers.)

Additionally, KeyBank presents Kids Fun Day every Sunday home game, including fun games near the Kids Clubhouse; kids also can run the bases after every Sunday home game, presented by Cleveland Clinic Children's.

Cleveland Indians hire Jason Bere as new bullpen coach

By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group

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on January 06, 2015 at 10:46 AM, updated January 06, 2015 at 11:50 AM

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

The Indians have hired former big-league pitcher Jason Bere to be their new bullpen coach.

Bere, 43, has been working in the Indians baseball operations department since 2005 following his retirement as a player. Bere replaces Kevin Cash, who was hired as Tampa Bay's manager on Dec. 5.

"Jason has been with the organization a long time so everybody knows him," said manager Terry Francona. "I've known him all the way back to his minor league days with the White Sox.

"We certainly had some tremendous internal candidates that we could have chose from. But starting with Jason, and after interviewing him (at length), it just didn't seem we needed to go any farther. We would have been moving people around and that didn't seem to make a lot of sense at this time of the year.

"Jason is filling some big shoes, but he can stand on his own just fine."

Some of the Indians other internal candidates included: Charles Nagy, Ruben Niebla, Dave Wallace, Chris Tremie and Amando Camacaro.

Bere pitched 11 years in the big leagues for the White Sox, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Indians and Cubs. He was an All-Star in 1994 for the White Sox, going 12-2 with a 3.81 ERA in a strike-shortened season.

He pitched for the Tribe in 2000 and 2003. Bere went 71-66 with a 5.14 ERA in 211 games, including 203 starts, in the big leagues.

Bere will be in charge of the busiest bullpen in the AL. Francona used it an AL record 573 times last year.

Francona did not think Bere, a starter for the bulk of his career, would have trouble working with relievers.

"As a coaching staff, you have to have everything covered," said Francona. "But you start first with strong people and you make it work.

"Mickey Callaway (pitching coach) and Cashie were so good together. They complemented each other. I think Jason Bere will be exactly the same way. He has a different background, a little different skill set (than Cash, who was a catcher), but his ability to communicate with players is something that stands out the minute you meet him."

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona won't thin herd in right field, first base

By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group

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on January 06, 2015 at 6:48 PM, updated January 06, 2015 at 6:50 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Don't expect the Indians overcrowded conditions in right field, first base and DH to be elevated anytime soon.

It's been speculated that the Indians will have to make at least one trade to create enough playing time for all involved, but manager Terry Francona on Tuesday didn't sound like a man eager to start trading players. Which means rumors that right fielder David Murphy might soon be traded are probably premature until Francona and GM Chris Antonetti figure out who can do what in spring training.

Nick Swisher, newcomer Brandon Moss and Ryan Raburn are the injured players in question. Swisher had surgery on both his knees in August. Moss had surgery on his right hip in October. Raburn had surgery on his left knee in September and nursed a sore right wrist all season.

Swisher, Moss and Raburn are all possibilities in the revolving door in right field, first and DH.

"There is some uncertainty there with health," said Francona. "You walk that fine line. You have guys who expect playing time, who are used to getting playing time, but at the same time we can't let our season be derailed by the unknown.

"I think Chris did a really god job protecting us and at the same time communicating with the players and saying 'this is where we're at.' I think it's going to make us a better team and protect us from the unknown."

Swisher, like Murphy a subject of trade rumors this winter, is scheduled for his next check up in Cleveland during TribeFest on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.

Moss was acquired at the winter meetings in December. He was scheduled to start running in January following his hip surgery. It's unclear when he'll be ready to swing a bat, but that will be the last step in his recovery.

Raburn is scheduled to come to Cleveland in the near future.

"I've been exchanging messages with him (Raburn) over the last few days and he's really excited," said Francona. "He feels strong and he's ready to go.

"He was a bat, especially against left-handers, that really hurt us when he wasn't hitting or went down last year because he was so potent the year before."

The 40-man roster includes Murphy, Swisher, Raburn, Moss, Carlos Santana, Zach Walters, Jesus Aguilar and Tyler Holt, all of whom can play at least two of the three positions in question.

New guy: The Indians lost one pitcher and gained another Tuesday.

After releasing right-hander Tyler Cloyd so he could pursue a professional contract in South Korea, the Indians signed left-hander Michael Roth to a minor league deal and invited him to big league camp.

Roth pitched seven games in relief last year for the Angles, allowing 12 earned runs on 16 hits in 12 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked nine.

Roth, 24, opened the season at Class AA Arkansas where he was 11-7 with a 2.62 ERA in 22 starts.

The Angels outrighted Roth for a second time in November. He refused the assignment and was declared a free agent.

Cloyd went 10-8 with a 3.89 ERA last year at Columbus. He threw a no-hitter against Louisville on July 30.

Nice find: Francona said the addition of veteran right-hander Gavin Floyd is going to help.

Antonetti signed Floyd to a one-year $4 million deal in December. Floyd has missed much of the last two seasons with Tommy John surgery and a right elbow fracture. If he can stay healthy, Antonetti says he'll open the season in the starting rotation.

"I think he's a really good addition. I think he'll help us not only win games, but help some of the younger guys," said Francona.

Francona said if Floyd needs more time to get ready, the situation is covered.

"We're on the younger side. So you take what you have and try to complement it," said Francona. "Gavin Floyd seemed like a really good fit.

"When he was pitching well last year (with Atlanta), our guys saw him. We don't need to push him. We have pitching in place, but it can also set guys back a slot or two in the rotation so they have a chance to grown and develop instead of asking too much from them. "

Right-handed hitter might not be coming Tribe's way: Cleveland Indians notes

By Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group

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on January 10, 2015 at 6:00 AM, updated January 10, 2015 at 6:11 AM

CLEVELAND, OHIO –

The Indians' search for a right-handed hitter with pop has stalled. If they do add one, it will probably be someone on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Originally, the Indians wanted a right-handed hitter in case Ryan Raburn was slow to rebound from surgery on his left knee. Manager Terry Francona said earlier this week that Raburn is doing well in his recovery.

The Indians are running into payroll issues as well. They have six players eligible for arbitration with players filing Tuesday and exchanging salary figures Friday. Newcomer Brandon Moss could earn upwards of $7.1 million, according to mlbtraderumors.com, which has probably prevented GM Chris Antonetti from bringing in a higher-priced right-handed hitter.

The Indians acquired Moss, a left-handed hitter, from Oakland last month at the winter meetings for minor league second baseman Joey Wendle.

The Tribe also signed free agent right-hander Gavin Floyd to a one-year $4 million deal. The contract at $6 million in incentives.

Lonnie Chisenhall ($2.2 million), Josh Tomlin ($1.7 million), Bryan Shaw ($1.5 million), Carlos Carrasco ($1.4 million) and Marc Rzepczynski ($1.9) are also eligible for arbitration. The dollar figures following each player are what mlbtraderumors.com speculates they could make in arbitration.

Extra options:

Typically a team only gets three minor-league options on a player. Each option represents a year in which a big league team can bounce a player between the minors and big leagues as many times as it wants.

The Indians have acquired a fourth option on Danny Salazar for 2015 because he didn't earn five years of service time in the minors because of his time on the disabled list.

Last year the Tribe also had the benefit of a fourth option on Trevor Bauer, who signed a big-league deal with the Arizona when they drafted him out of UCLA. He is now out of options. Ditto for lefty Nick Hagadone, who yielded a fourth option to the Indians last year as part of his grievance settlement.

Sore foot:

Jesus Aguilar had to cut his winter ball season short in Venezuela after injuring his foot. Aguilar and his wife just had a baby and he'll report to Goodyear, Ariz., later this month to get a jump on spring training.

Aguilar hit .303 (36-for-119) with four homers and 18 RBI for Caracas. He played 29 games at first base and posted a .819 OPS.

Shortstop Jose Ramirez is already in Goodyear preparing for camp. He hit .255 (26-for-102) with 18 runs in 24 games for Toros de Este in the Dominican Republic.

No doubter:

The Indians prepared a list of four or five internal candidates for the vacant bullpen coach's job, but it seems like Jason Bere was the front runner from the get-go. He was named to replace Kevin Cash -- now Tampa Bay's manager -- on Tuesday.

"He's going to fit in seamlessly on the coaching staff and make an impact," said Antonetti. "Jason is finally ready to transition from a special assistant to a full-time role and we're thrilled he's ready to do that.

"We generated an internal list, but when we thought about the attributes we were looking for Jason just made a lot of sense on a lot of levels. We still went through an in depth interview process with him. Once we went through that we didn't feel a need to interview anyone else."

New and Improved Carrasco Key in Cleveland Rotation


Bob Toth | On 11, Jan 2015

The 2014 season was hardly what Cleveland Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco would have expected.

For six years, the Indians have been waiting for positive results from one of the pieces acquired in the 2009 trade with Philadelphia that dealt the reigning Cy Young award winning pitcher, left-hander Cliff Lee, to the Phillies for four players.

A half dozen years later, Carrasco is the last piece remaining in the Cleveland organization.

Gone are utility man Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, who contributed sparingly at the Major League level. Pitching prospect Jason Knapp was unable to climb through the minor league system after injuries derailed a potential career.

Now, Carrasco will be looked to as an integral arm in the Indians rotation after a strong second half reignited some hope that the team still had a useful piece for the future in the 27-year-old.

Carrasco has been anything but steady or reliable, that is, until a trip to the bullpen last season seemed to right the wrongs of the Indians righty.

As has been the case with several pitchers prior, a la Scott Kazmir and Ubaldo Jimenez, the puzzle pieces that were the mind and psyche of Carrasco were put together by a coaching staff led by Mickey Callaway and Kevin Cash. Callaway has been frequently credited for his efforts in turning around pitchers on the Tribe’s pitching staff, while bullpen coach Cash’s efforts were recognized and rewarded by the Tampa Bay Rays, who named the former Indians staff member as the club’s new manager in December.

The turnaround was a long and bumpy process for Carrasco. He made five starts for the Tribe when they acquired him in 2009 and the results left something to be desired. An 0-4 record with an 8.87 ERA was clouded with an even eleven-walk, eleven-strikeout ratio and six homers allowed in just 22 1/3 innings.

He started the 2010 season in the minor leagues and the numbers looked much better there. In 25 starts, he was 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA. He struck out 133 batters in 150 1/3 innings and contained his walk rate with just 46 free passes in those innings. His home run rate dropped to just one per nine innings. In a seven start span from the end of May to the end of June, he won six of seven games, including a three-hit, eight inning outing against the Rochester Red Wings where he struck out nine batters, a season-high for innings and K’s.

He was called up for the final month of the season and finished 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA. As with the previous season, he allowed six home runs, but in double the number of innings. Even more promising was his control, as he struck out 38 batters and walked 14, including a then career-high nine batters in his final start of the season against the Chicago White Sox.

His 2011 season ended prematurely and on a sour note after an 8-9 start in 21 games. His season was slowed by a pair of trips to the disabled list with pain in his right elbow. The second trip would be the worse of the two as it was determined that, after a seven inning start in Boston on August 3rd, Carrasco would need Tommy John surgery to address an injury that he believed he sustained at the age of 14.

“Carlos told us he hurt his elbow when he was 14 and didn’t throw for six to eight weeks,” then head trainer Lonnie Soloff told the media after the announcement that Carrasco would need surgery. “That was evidenced by the chronic, or old, changes on the MRI. Then just through repetitive throwing over the years, the ligament is not doing the job it should be doing – stabilizing the inside of the elbow.”

Carrasco missed the entire 2012 season while recovering from the procedure.

On top of the injury, surgery, and lengthy rehab, Carrasco also had the pending six-game suspension waiting for him for throwing at the Kansas City Royals’ Billy Butler on July 29th. It was served at the start of the 2013 season, but after a seven-run dismantling at the bats of the New York Yankees on April 9th, he was returned to Columbus. He showed promise with the Clippers, making seven appearances of one earned run or less in his first ten outings, striking out as many as ten on April 20th, but he was not pitching late into games with much regularity.

Despite the somewhat mixed results, Carrasco returned to the Major League roster with the rotation’s loss of Zach McAllister to a right middle finger sprain. His results were more underwhelming than anything, as he was charged with a pair of losses in four starts and twice allowed six runs in an outing. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was just barely over one, and opposing hitters were batting .326 while tagging him to a 6.65 ERA.

He was returned to Columbus but remained on the shuttle back and forth to Cleveland in his final season with options, finally returning for good to the Indians in the second week of August. There, after allowing ten hits in four and one-third innings in his second game back, he was transferred into the bullpen where he stayed for the rest of the season. While being used exclusively in relief, his numbers showed some promise – he struck out seven batters and walked a pair on six hits in eight and two-third innings. He posted a 2.08 ERA and the opposition hit just .194.

Carrasco was part of a bigger mix of rotation possibilities at the start of 2014 and his lack of minor league options remaining almost ensured that he would have a role at the Major League level. The belief seemed to be that he had the stuff to pitch at the MLB level, but was lacking either the confidence or the maturity to handle the role. In his limited bullpen chances, his pitches showed an ability to get batters out, so the likelihood that Carrasco would pass unclaimed through waivers seemed slim.

He was given the number five starter spot out of spring training. Veteran Aaron Harang was released in the final week of spring and eventually landed in Atlanta, where he went 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA in 33 starts. Young pitching option and former first round pick Trevor Bauer, one of the other camp options, was sent to Columbus.

Carrasco did not capitalize. In 22 innings, he allowed 18 runs, 17 of which were earned. He allowed a pair of homers and walked nine while striking out 23. The opposition hit .286.

The Indians had to make a decision – try to designate Carrasco for assignment and hope he passed through waivers unclaimed, or move him to the bullpen and hope that he could work through whatever issues were present and become a contributing piece there.

Management did the latter and the choice paid off. In 26 appearances, Carrasco worked 43 innings and limited the opposition to a .217 average and earned a 2.30 ERA. He struck out 39 batters, walked nine, and allowed just three home runs while earning a 3-1 record and his first MLB save.

The persistence and persuasion of Callaway and Cash on manager Terry Francona were contributing factors in putting Carrasco back into the rotation.

This time, Carrasco did not disappoint. Instead, he took on a role quite similar to another pitcher rebuilt by Indians coaches, Jimenez, and what the former Indians right-hander was able to do in the second half of the 2013 season when Cleveland made its push into the postseason American League Wild Card Game.

It started with a new approach. Indians coaches decided to shorten his pre-game bullpen sessions before each start. After working as a reliever for four months, Carrasco had learned how to warm up quickly and the longer sessions were not needed. He showed that immediately from his first start back in the mix.

On August 10th in New York, he allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings in a win against the Yankees. Two-thirds of his pitches were for strikes. In his next start against Baltimore, he went seven innings, struck out five, threw 72% of his pitches for strikes, and kept the birds off of the scoreboard while limiting them to just three hits. In start three back in the rotation, he allowed one run on two hits in six innings while striking out eight on 67% strikes. In four total August starts, he allowed two runs on eleven hits in 24 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts and three walks.

September was just as strong, despite a 2-3 record in six starts. He struck out 54 batters to just eight walks in 44 1/3 innings. Three times he struck out ten or more, including a career-high 12 on September 17th in a complete game win against Houston. He earned a 1.62 ERA and allowed a .204 batting average against and just one home run in the month.

After a disastrous starting pitching debut in April, he wrapped up his season with ten more starts, one complete game, 69 innings tossed, 78 strikeouts, eleven walks, a 1.30 ERA, and a .179 batting average against him. A total of 71% of his pitches in that late stint as a starter were for strikes, compared to the 61% from his earlier season time in the role and the 67% tossed during his time as a reliever.

“He’s got so much to be excited about going into the offseason and then into next year,” said Francona following Carrasco’s final start of the season.

“It meant a lot to me. Those two guys trusted me and now I trust myself, too,” said Carrasco about Callaway and Cash following that start. “[Cash] kept telling me go hard and that’s what I’ve done.”

The key for Carrasco moving forward will be to pound the strike zone and to limit the home run ball damage. He will also have to continue his strong 2014 numbers as a starter when facing batters for the third time in a game. Previously, opposing teams had hit .335 against him later in the game, but last season, he limited them to a .128 average.

The stigma that Carrasco was a head case, a pitcher who was battling himself and the big inning more than he was battling opposing hitters, seems to be lifted. This new look Carrasco, rebuilt and confident heading into 2015, will be needed as a big arm in the starting rotation. He looks to slot in to the middle of the mix, joining Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, Bauer, Danny Salazar, and free agent addition Gavin Floyd, along with returning players with outside chances of claiming a spot, Josh Tomlin, T.J. House, and McAllister.

If the Carrasco that ended the season so strong in the starting rotation is the same one to return for the coming campaign, the Indians may have finally received payment on the investment they have made in him over the years.

Curious Case of Carlos Santana

To say that Carlos Santana had a rollercoaster season would be putting it lightly.

Coming into the 2014 season, Santana was without a position as Yan Gomes was designated as the team’s everyday catcher at the end of 2013, and Nick Swisher had been the incumbent first basemen. Unless Santana was willing to be the everyday designated hitter, manager Terry Francona was going to have to get creative with his lineups. Luckily, Santana had taken it upon himself to learn how to play third base during his time in winter ball. On paper, this looked like the answer to the Indians lineup issues and it found a way to keep Santana in the field every day. This seemed like the answers to all of our problems right?

During his short stint at third base, Santana accumulated six errors in 26 games. He was then removed from the position and replaced by Lonnie Chisenhall, who had been swinging a hot bat and started to receive everyday playing time. Along with Santana’s poor performance defensively at third, it also carried over to how he was performing at the plate. In April, Santana hit a grisly .151/.313/.593. He’s never been a high average kind of hitter so far in the majors, but hitting below the Mendoza line is very unlike him. Not to mention that he had more strikeouts then he did walks during this month. This was only the beginning of the crazy season that Indians fan had to look forward to.

After he lost his job at third base, Santana began to continue to bounce around spending some time at first base, designated hitter, and as Gomes’ backup catcher. May wasn’t much better for Santana as he hit .169/.343/.668. He continued to draw his walks, but he also accumulated more strikeouts. This was incredibly unlike Santana as he’s always been a guy who draws a lot of walks. Francona continued to put him in the cleanup spot, hoping that Santana would finally work out of this rut that he was in. It wasn’t until Santana took over the everyday first base role that he finally started to find his swing.

The months of June and July were much better for Santana. It was like he was a brand new player. Between June and July, Santana hit .310/.417/1.019 with 14 home runs, 35 RBI, and 30 walks. It was like Santana was making up for all of his lost time during the first two months of the season. He was hitting for power, getting on base, and providing a spark that the Indians needed from the middle of the order. With players like Swisher and Jason Kipnis not performing to what the team expected, this was nice to see out of one of their core impact players.

Once August rolled around though, it seemed as Santana had regressed back to his early season form. During the month, he only batted .208/.347/.670. He was still getting on base, but not nearly performing to the level he had been for the last two months. He batted just slightly better in September with a .242/.365/.807 line. The power was still there, and he was still getting on base, but that’s not what you expect out of your cleanup hitter.

The biggest problem that came with Santana in 2014 was consistency. He was very good at consistently drawing walks to get on base, but when you needed him in the clutch at the cleanup spot, he couldn’t always provide. Although, he did tie his career record with 27 home runs during the season, and set a career high in RBI and walks with 85 and 113 respectively. Along with those two career highs he also set one more record in a category that you would never want to take pride in setting.

Strikeouts

He struck out 124 in 2014, which was far and away the most strikeouts he’s ever had during his time in the MLB. Now, this could be part of the fact that he never felt comfortable in the field until he settled in at first, or he could have been pressing too hard to come in the clutch. Whatever it may be, this is something that Santana is going to need to figure out before the 2015 season.

Things seem to be looking up for Santana for a bounce back year in 2015, if you can really call it a bounce back. His average should definitely improve based on his BABIP alone, as in 2014 it sat at .249 which was almost 50 points lower than in 2013. As of right now, he’s locked in at first base, with Swisher most likely to spend most of his time at designated hitter. When Santana isn’t at first, he’ll either be swapping time there with Swisher or Brandon Moss, but both of them could also see some time out in right field. Regardless of where Santana will be playing on the field, he’s almost guaranteed to be the cleanup hitter for the foreseeable future. With the acquisition of Moss this winter, Santana will actually have a legitimate power threat to protect him in the lineup. The past couple of seasons, we’ve seen Gomes, Kipnis, and Swisher all bat behind Santana, which isn’t the best protection for a guy who usually just ends up walking his way on base. The power that Moss brings will make pitchers be more careful of how they want to face Santana. What if Santana wasn’t the cleanup hitter though?

Ask anyone about the Indians current lineup, and they’ll tell you that we have too many left handed batters in our lineup, which isn’t a bad thing. The only issue that it can bring is when Francona is designing his daily lineup. He would like to spread out the lefties as much as possible if he can. With Michael Bourn and Michael Brantley locked into their leadoff and 3 hole spots respectively, you want to try to put a non-left handed hitter at the 2 spot. The obvious choice is throwing in Jose Ramirez there to mix it up, but what if we put Santana there instead? He gets on base a ton, has the ability to drive in Bourn, and leaves the clean up spot open to either Gomes or Moss. This could potentially work out well Francona as then he could put Ramirez in the 9 spot to have back-to-back speed between Bourn and Ramirez. This could also be fruitful for Santana as it could take some pressure off of him since he won’t be hitting in as high leverage of a batting order spot like clean up.

As ridiculous of a season as Santana had, he’s still going to be a core, impact player for the next few season. Between the next two seasons he’ll be making $14.25 million with an option in 2017 for $12 million. That’s an incredibly reasonable deal for a player of his caliber. He’s become the cornerstone player at first base, and he’ll look to improve on his offense this season. If Santana were to improve anywhere, it would be his consistency at the plate, besides drawing walks. He’s an important member to this club, and this team is going to rely on him to continue to be a prowess at the plate in 2015.

Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images

Never been a fan of correlating defensive position with offensive production. If your position on defense effects what happens when you bat, you're not mentally tough enough to play the game at the major league level. Just an excuse.

I liked this phrase:

With Michael Bourn and Michael Brantley locked into their leadoff and 3 hole spots respectively, you want to try to put a non-left handed hitter at the 2 spot

Who other than a right-handed hitter may be included in that definition?

A switch hitter.