Cleveland Sports Forum

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Indians manager Terry Francona described his conversations with Melvin Upton Jr. as one of the highlights of his offseason. The veteran outfielder is coming off a disappointing season marred by injury, but he is healthy now and is hoping to earn a place on the Opening Day roster.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he came in and really showed well," Francona said on Sunday, which was report day for the team's position players. "I just think he's in a good place, and I think he wants to go out and kind of prove that he can help a team win."

Upton is in camp on a Minor League contract, which is the same type of deal that Rajai Davis received on Saturday. They will compete for a spot among the Indians' outfield, which could benefit from a right-handed complement or two. As things stand, the three main outfielders -- Michael Brantley, Bradley Zimmer and Lonnie Chisenhall -- hit from the left side.

Upton, 33, appeared in only 12 games with Triple-A Sacramento last year due to right hand and shoulder issues. During his last full season in 2016, Upton hit .238 with 20 homers, 61 RBIs, 64 runs, 27 steals and a .693 OPS in 149 games between tours with the Blue Jays and the Padres. That showing included a .275 average and .874 OPS in 136 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.

With the Indians, Upton would fit in primarily as an option for all three positions against left-handers. That is the same kind of role that Austin Jackson (also a non-roster invitee during Spring Training last year) filled during the '17 campaign. Brandon Guyer is also a corner-outfield option against lefties, but he is questionable for Opening Day due to an ongoing comeback from left wrist surgery. [Looks like he wrote this before Davis signing.]

"'If I go out and play and do what I know I can do, the rest will take care of itself," Upton said. "I can't worry about things I can't control. All I can control is what I do. So, Minor League deal or Major League deal, fourth outfielder, whatever, it doesn't matter. I'm here to play baseball."

Kipnis prepping for second

Francona had his individual meetings with position players on Sunday morning, giving him a chance to go over spring goals and to discuss the upcoming season. Francona said he had a great meeting with Jason Kipnis, who is preparing to open the year at second base, as opposed to the outfield.

"At first he said, 'Just tell me and I'll go,'" Francona said. "And I'm like, 'I'd rather not do that.' Because of who he is and what he's accomplished ,and what he can accomplish, I think it's better if we do it together. Asking somebody to do something they don't think they can do isn't going to help us.

"So, I think we had a really good meeting. But, again, he's a second baseman. And if something ever changed, certainly you guys are going to know about it. It's not a secret. But, the idea is for him to play second."

Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, and the changing of the guard in the Indians' clubhouse


By Zack Meisel Feb 23, 2018
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — A trio of reporters marched toward Jason Kipnis as he tied his shoes at his locker. By a player’s eighth season in the majors, he develops a sixth sense.

“I’ve got the trainers waiting on me,” Kipnis shouted, before any reporter could inch close enough to ask for a minute of his time.

“You could say that every day,” one reporter replied.

“I plan on it,” Kipnis said, smiling.

“We’re getting old,” Lonnie Chisenhall yelled as he walked past the exchange.

As Kipnis headed toward the trainer’s room, Michael Brantley asked the second baseman if he was scheduled to play in Friday’s Cactus League opener.

“No,” Kipnis told his teammate. “They have to ease me in at my age.”

Earlier this week, Brantley and Kipnis stood to the right of the cage behind home plate, a bat in their right hands and their left hands on their hips, as they watched Francisco Lindor spray fly balls to the outfield fence.

It’s not their team anymore. They’re the old guard now. But the Indians need them as much as ever. ‌‌‌



First, Brantley claimed the fine print on his 2018 contract barred him from conducting interviews with the media. That tall tale didn’t discourage the three reporters.

As they approached the left fielder’s locker, Brantley converted the dialogue into a humor-laced filibuster.

Do you want me to do my own interview and you just have the mic for me? Brant, how are you feeling?

I'm feeling good. I'm getting better each and every day. I'm glad to be out there with my teammates. I'm running and every day I'm getting stronger and I'm really happy where I'm at.

Is Opening Day a target? I don't have targets. I just really want to take it one day at a time. Everything is progressing well. I'm very happy with where I am. It's an artificial deadline. I just want to make sure that when I come back, I'm 100 percent and ready to go, so I can be there for a long season.

You want me to keep going?

What activities are you doing?

I'm hitting. I'm running. I'm throwing. Yes, I get to take BP again today. I'm very excited. I came a long ways. It's a good group of guys helping me in the locker room. The medical staff and doctors, they always take care of me. To get me back here again, I just really appreciate the effort that everybody put in for helping me.

Anything else?

Yeah, we have a great group of guys in this locker room that are going to try really hard.

Should I keep going?

For the third consecutive spring, Brantley’s health is one of the most prominent storylines. His right ankle is the roster’s center of gravity; how the Indians ultimately configure their Opening Day setup revolves in so many ways around Brantley’s health.

It’s become so routine that Brantley knows all of the questions and when to deliver each canned answer. But he has been hitting, running and throwing. He just needs to master the agility phase of the rehab — turning on a dime, starting and stopping, etc. — before he can participate in games.

“He can do it all, which is good,” Terry Francona said.

That gives the Indians hope he can return to the lineup on or near Opening Day, and it gives the front office hope their $12 million investment will pay dividends.

Brantley did make the All-Star team last season, as he posted an .801 OPS with 11 stolen bases in 90 games, the most of any Indians outfielder. He has appeared in only 31 percent of the club’s games the last two years, though, and that’s before his latest operation.

His $12 million salary represents a significant chunk — nearly 10 percent — of the Indians’ payroll. It has factored into the Indians’ inactive winter. Brantley wanted to remain in Cleveland. The Indians trusted his rehab from surgery wouldn’t carve into his regular-season availability too much. They trusted he’d sprint out from underneath the dark cloud that has hovered above him the last few years.

“There was nowhere else I wanted to be,” Brantley said.



Four years ago, Brantley, Kipnis and Yan Gomes sat on a stage in the media interview room in the bowels of Progressive Field, hours before the Indians’ home opener. The three had just signed long-term pacts with the franchise, a signal this was a pivotal part of the club’s core moving forward.

Now, those three are on the outside looking in. Brantley is fighting injury demons. Kipnis has lost his stranglehold on the second-base position. Roberto Perez might supplant Gomes as the starting catcher.

When it comes to Tribe position players, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez have shifted into the spotlight. Everything revolves around the duo. They’re the flashy trinkets, the ticket sellers, the ones who leave observers wondering about their potential. Brantley, Kipnis and Gomes will all turn 31 this season. Their potential now equates to how well they can evade the disabled list.

Kipnis, a two-time All-Star, has been humbled this winter. He had to wait until January to learn his position; it’s still second base, but that could change if Brantley isn’t healed by March 28. Kipnis is as self-deprecating as anyone, and he reads every tweet, every Instagram comment and every piece of snail mail directed his way. He’s well aware of his career being at a crossroads, his name popping up in trade rumors and his grip on a starting spot having loosened over the last year.

The Indians need him, though.

They need the guy who can slap a double to the gap with his eyes closed, who can thrive at or near the top of the batting order.

They need Kipnis. They need Brantley.

“Every time I have a question,” Lindor said, “I go up to Brantley. Every time I’m thinking about something about hitting, I go to Brantley. Every time I’m thinking about something about the game, I go to Brantley. Brantley has helped me a lot. He’s one of the reasons I’m Francisco Lindor. He has helped me a lot. I thank the Lord for putting him in my path.”

Lindor watched Brantley take his first live batting practice session Monday morning.

“My first thought,” Lindor said, “was, ‘Damn, that’s his first BP?’ Damn. How come I can’t do that? I’ve been hitting all offseason.’ ”

Maybe Brantley still has it. Maybe he just needs that elusive bill of health to return to form. He showed glimpses last year, and that All-Star nod taught him something.

“That I’m a pretty good baseball player still,” Brantley said.

The Indians hope that remains the case. They need him.

Cleveland Indians: Jason Kipnis, Mike Napoli, Rajai Davis -- Terry Pluto (video)

Updated 11:07 AM; Posted 7:17 AM

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealerterrypluto2003@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is not to dwell on Jason Kipnis hitting four home runs early in spring training. He is 7-for-11 heading into the weekend.

It is to say the Cleveland Indians second baseman could be ready for a bounceback season. If you want to know how Kipnis will play, simply answer this question:

"Is he healthy?"

A healthy Kipnis made two All-Star teams (2013 and 2015) and played close to that level in 2016. When Terry Francona talked to the media in Goodyear, Arizona, the Tribe manager was excited about how well Kipnis was moving in the field and how he turned a tough double play.

To Francona, those are signs of Kipnis being physically primed for a good season.

The Indians did have serious trade talks with the New York Mets about Kipnis. Part of the reason is the second baseman has $28 million left on his contract over the next two seasons. This is the price the Tribe paid for signing Kipnis to a six-year deal before the 2014 season. It was wise way to keep him under team control.

In 2015-16, a healthy Kipnis batted .289 (.815 OPS), averaging 16 HR, 67 RBI and 13 stolen bases. The Indians would love him to turn in a season like that in 2018.

Kipnis will be 31 on April 3, so he should have some good seasons left.

Last year, Kipnis had a shoulder inflammation in spring training. It carried over into the regular season. Then he went on the disabled list twice with hamstring injuries. He played only 90 games, hitting .232 (.705 OPS) with 12 HR and 35 RBI. He struggled in the field because of the hamstring injuries.

The fast start of Kipnis is spring training is the best news out of Goodyear so far.

"When he's healthy, he can be an All-Star player," said Francona. "We need that."

ABOUT MIKE NAPOLI

The Indians made it clear Mike Napoli is not in Goodyear to make the team. They are doing him a favor, allowing Napoli to be in a major-league camp and be in position to sign with another team.

It's hard to know if the 36-year-old Napoli can still produce. Other teams have major doubts, which is why he wasn't offered a contract anywhere.

Last season, Napoli batted .193 (.713 OPS) with 29 HR and 66 RBI for Texas. He played part of the season with a torn ligament in his right hand, and he had surgery in the offseason to repair it. So perhaps Napoli could still be productive in a part-time role.

There was a Party at Napoli's for most of 2016 when he hit .239 (.800 OPS) with 34 HR and 101 RBI for the Tribe. He faded in September and in the postseason. The Indians love his presence and appreciate what he did for them in 2016.

It's a great move for the Tribe because Napoli is on a minor-league contract. Suppose they have a training camp injury to Edwin Encarnacion or new first baseman Yonder Alonso. It would be nice to have Napoli around -- even if it's only for the first month of the season.

ABOUT THE TRIBE

1. Francona on Rajai Davis: "He brings a speed element. He really has held his speed over the years because he works so diligently. He's a right-handed bat. He can play center and left field. He's comfortable in Cleveland. He projects as a great fit. He does a lot of things we're looking for."

2. At the very least, Melvin Upton or Davis will make the 25-man roster. Both are non-roster players. Both hit from the right side. Both can play center and another outfield position. Francona said one of the reasons the Tribe can attract some decent veterans to Goodyear on minor-league contracts is the Indians usually have one or two non-roster players make the team.

3. The Indians are grooming third basemen. The plan is for Yandy Diaz to open at that position in Class AAA Columbus. That can change if someone is injured. The Indians have played Yu-Cheng Chang at third at times this spring. Chang played shortstop at Class AA Akron in 2017, batting .220 (.774 OPS) with 24 HR and 66 RBI.

4. Chang is only 22. He has real power and several teams have asked for him in trades the last two years. He is still a shortstop, but third could be in his future. It's clear the Tribe is looking for young third basemen in the next few years.

5. Gio Urshela is having a good spring (7-for-12), but I don't see how he makes the final roster unless injuries strike. He is out of minor-league options. He is competing with Erik Gonzalez (also out of options) for the utility spot.

6. Gonzalez has a major advantage because he can play every infield position and some outfield spots. Urshela is a third baseman, and he has played some short in spring training. I expect Urshela to either be traded near the end of camp or claimed by another team on waivers.

7. The Indians have been impressed with Tyler Naquin, who has options left. But if Michael Brantley isn't ready to open the season in left field, Naquin could grab the job. The Indians are pleased with Brantley's progress. But they don't want to rush him back from offseason ankle surgery. Brantley is working out, but not playing in games.

8. I don't see him making the team, but Greg Allen is having a strong camp. He was 8-for-16 entering the weekend. The 24-year-old is a superb center fielder. I expect him to open at Class AAA, because he went straight from Class AA Akron to Cleveland last September.

9. Francona has raved about Allen's attitude. At one point, the manager said, "He's such a great kid, you want to adopt him."

10. Francisco Mejia is 5-for-10 and the Indians love how he looks at the plate. He played some third base in the Arizona Fall League, but the plan is to remain a catcher. Francona has raved about the 22-year-old Mejia being "such an advanced hitter." He batted .297 (.835 OPS) with 14 HR and 52 RBI at Class AA Akron last season.

11. Talking to some people in Goodyear, I keep hearing them mention the younger players: Bobby Bradley, Allen, Chang, Mejia and Diaz. The 21-year-old Bradley has lost 25 pounds. He batted .251 (.796 OPS) with 23 HR and 89 RBI for Akron has season. His weight loss will help his defense at first base.

12. I was intrigued when the Tribe signed Matt Belisle to a minor-league deal. He was 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA with the Twins last season, 9-of-13 in save opportunities. He's 37, but over the last three seasons, he's 3-3 with a 2.96 ERA.

13. Aging players such as Davis, Upton, Napoli and Belisle had a hard time finding major-league offers. That has allowed the Tribe to do some bargain shopping.

14. The Tribe is very encouraged with Trevor Bauer's slider. He wanted to add the pitch at some point last season, and began to use it after the All-Star break (10-2, 3.01). He only threw the pitch four percent of the time, according to fangraphs.com. He worked on it more in the winter and early returns are positive.

Bauer works really hard at being a good pitcher. I continue to think they should require Danny Salazar to work with Bauer in the off season

The more I think about the cast of characters vying for outfield jobs, the more I'm glad we have a terrific group of hitters on the infield.
We should be solid defensively in the outfield with Chisenhall, Zimmer, Naquin and Davis. But boy the offense will be drastically subpar. There's good speed and some doubles power. Greg Allen will add more of the same when he's ready. I suppose they'll trade for Jay Bruce again at the deadline this summer.

Regarding outfielders Terry said:


Francona on Rajai Davis: "He brings a speed element. He really has held his speed over the years because he works so diligently. He's a right-handed bat. He can play center and left field. He's comfortable in Cleveland. He projects as a great fit. He does a lot of things we're looking for."

At the very least, Melvin Upton or Davis will make the 25-man roster. Both are non-roster players. Both hit from the right side. Both can play center and another outfield position. Francona said one of the reasons the Tribe can attract some decent veterans to Goodyear on minor-league contracts is the Indians usually have one or two non-roster players make the team.

The Indians have been impressed with Tyler Naquin, who has options left. But if Michael Brantley isn't ready to open the season in left field, Naquin could grab the job. The Indians are pleased with Brantley's progress. But they don't want to rush him back from offseason ankle surgery. Brantley is working out, but not playing in games.

I don't see him making the team, but Greg Allen is having a strong camp. He was 8-for-16 entering the weekend. The 24-year-old is a superb center fielder. I expect him to open at Class AAA, because he went straight from Class AA Akron to Cleveland last September. Francona has raved about Allen's attitude. At one point, the manager said, "He's such a great kid, you want to adopt

They should cut Upton right now. Waste of time if he makes the team. Whiff king !

rusty - wouldn't you think the later arrival of Rajai pretty much seals Upton's fate?

No rush.

Injuries happen.

Final roster day soon enough.

TFIR wrote:rusty - wouldn't you think the later arrival of Rajai pretty much seals Upton's fate?

I would hope ! Upton will probably accept AAA !

If you think Upton's bad, how about Brian Barnes? 1-16 with 10 K.

Peter Gammons: The Cleveland Indians, best run team in professional sports
March 5, 2018 by Peter Gammons 5 Comments


PHOENIX—The Cleveland Indians have won 454 games the last five years, 22 more than the runner-up Boston Red Sox. In those years, the Indians spent $414M less in payroll than Boston, which at the start speaks volumes about how well the Indians have been run.

Two years ago, they got to the tenth inning of an incredible World Series game 7, in a rain delay. Last October they lost an agonizing 5th game of the ALDS to the Yankees, with Corey Kluber, the best pitcher in the American League hurt. They had a 22 game winning streak that ran until September 15, their +254 run differential was 56 runs better than the next best American League team (Houston), they won 102 games, they led the league in earned run average, their starters were 81-38 and they had four players hit between 29 and 38 homers, including 29 apiece from the left side of their infield, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez.

And they even drew 2.05M (22nd in MLB) to the ballpark formerly known as The Jake, the only time in this five year run they drew more than 1.6M or were higher than 28th in the majors.

That is the reality they live with. One could argue that in terms of talent and human player development, the growth of young front office talent (6 current general managers and three club presidents), they are presently the best run organization in the sport, especially given their financial restraints. That extra inning loss to the Cubs in 2016 is all that stands between Terry Francona have three World Series rings and a guaranteed ride to Cooperstown, although when his time comes, he is likely to make it into the Hall of Fame.

All that said, in the first week of March, the hoopla has been for the Yankees and the twin towers, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, as well as what should be the best bullpen in the game. Or Houston, the world champions loaded with extraordinarily skilled young players and the addition of Gerrit Cole. And the Red Sox, with J.D. Martinez added to another highly skilled team of young position players.

But even though they lost Carlos Santana and his 63 extra-base-hits to free agency as well as Bryan Shaw, who led the league in appearances in this five year run, in reality the American League road to late October may well again run through the shores of Lake Erie. “From the top (owner Paul Dolan) through the front office to the coaching staff, the clubhouse, the minor leagues, this is a unique place,” says Francona. Tito is the hub of the function of the organization run by Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff, but then, coming here in 2013 after leaving the cacophony of Boston in 2011 was absolutely the right place at the right time. “There is so much energy devoted to getting things done right,” says their talented young pitcher Mike Clevinger, “it’s a tremendous place to play and grow.”

For instance, since they don’t know where Michael Brantley’s shoulder rehab will be come April, while Jason Kipnis plans on returning to second base, he is constantly kept abreast of whether or not he will have to play some outfield. In turn, they have been able to find players like Andrew Miller, who is completely unselfish and while one of the elite relievers in either league has no issue pitching whenever and wherever Francona believes is the leverage spot to utilize him.

Since Miller came from the Yankees at the trading deadline in 2016 and led them to Game Seven of the Series, the bullpen and Francona’s usage have been the team’s driving wheel. Shaw is a loss, a freakish workhorse who also gets lefthanded batters out better than righthanders, but Miller and Cody Allen return at the end, Dan Otero is back in the middle with Zach McAllister, they came up with Nick Goody and Tyler Olson last season in the process of leading the majors in save percentage.

Kluber has won two Cy Young Awards, his focus is the pitching equivalent of Joey Votto, his changeup is an evolving work in progress and he is a model; players and scouts who went to an indoor facility in Massachusetts this winter were amazed by how every ball Kluber throws in January is done with the focus and precision of the seventh game of the World Series. Catcher Roberto Perez thinks Carlos Carrasco “can win the Cy Young as well;” Kluber and Carrasco did strike out 491 in 403 innings last season. Trevor Bauer, who this winter added a Kluber slider that has changed his repertoire, seems on the brink of frontline status and Clevinger may be, as well.

What’s fascinating about the foursome is that they are all consumed by greatness. Bauer is coming to grips with all the elements of that consumption. Clevinger, whose stuff is unquestioned, has been inconsistent throwing strikes in his 174 2/3 major league innings, walking 84, striking out 187. His numbers ahead in the count are dominant. His numbers when he throws ball one are, well, not so dominant. So this winter he worked on his balance to help that consistency, working on balance beams, “learning,” he says, “how to walk properly” and doing a series of big toe exercises. For those of us that have been to 45 previous spring trainings, there are plenty of things we can learn in year 46. And there’s Danny Salazar, he of the great stuff but physical issues that probably will keep him out of the rotation in early April. And Josh Tomlin, vastly unappreciated.

And, in the midsummer wings, there is Shane Bieber. Drafted in the fourth round in 2016 out of UC Santa Barbara, he went through the Midwest, Carolina and Eastern League last season and, while thinking about throwing strikes, in 197 professional innings has 183 strikeouts and 12 walks. 183 strikeouts and 12 walks.

They signed Yonder Alonso in place of Santana, Kipnis is healthy, the Lindor-Ramirez left side is at star level, and the fact that Perez came into camp in the best condition of his career gives them a tandem with Yan Gomes that handles the pitching. Bradley Zimmer is an elite speed center fielder whose hitting is developing, Brantley is still a health uncertainty, albeit one of the best hitters in the league. One of their best prospects, Bobby Bradley, has hit 79 homers in three professional seasons and reported in such chiseled shape he was nearly unrecognizable.

They have the farm system depth that has allowed them to make deals for Miller and Jay Bruce the last two years, although with the possible free agent losses at the end of this season, they may be reluctant to make a major move.

Yet, they know all too well it’s been since 1948 since Cleveland has won a World Series. Yes, they won 108 games in a 154 game schedule in 1954 and were swept by the Giants. The 1997 seven game series against the Marlins was a heartbreak. So was 1995 to the Braves. And 2016 to the Cubs, so there may be the thought that the time has come today around July 31.

Other than the Twins, the Indians do have the luxury of a division that allows them to rest pitchers and likely win 100-something games. That could allow Francona to do whatever he can to get into October with his pitching intact, which hasn’t been the case in 2016 and 2017.

The Astros are fully aware of the Indians. So are the Yankees and Red Sox. There’s a reason they’ve won 22 more games than any other American League team the last five years, and while their 2018 payroll may be almost $100M less than that of the Red Sox, it may not matter. They are that good, that well managed, that well run, proof of the Marine officer training lesson that the first tenet of leadership is authenticity.

Those were nice things to say about our team. I think this summarizes the opinion that the baseball world has about the Indians:
"One could argue that in terms of talent and human player development, the growth of young front office talent (6 current general managers and three club presidents), they are presently the best run organization in the sport, especially given their financial restraints

I was shocked last night when I reviewed our likely opening day lineup and realized 7 could be fully homegrown:

1st round pick Lindor at ss
1st round pick Zimmer in cf
1st round pick Chisenhall in rf
1st round pick Naquin may be in lf
2nd round pick Kipnis at 2nd
international signee Ramirez at 3rd
33rd!! round pick Perez may be the catcher

the great rotation is at least home-developed if not totally home grown
Kluber acquired after 9 games in AA
Carrasco acquired after 6 games in AAA
Bauer acquired after 4 games in the majors and dealt by a team that didn't how to work with someone "different"
Clevinger acquired after 13 games in High A
Tomlin our 19th round draft choice
Salazar our international signee
closer Cody Allen 23rd round pick

Gammons article is a great summary of a team on the verge of greatness.

Spot on.

Now if they could only solve the "series choke" problem and close teams out when they are way ahead.

I blame it all on the Curse of Jose Mesa.