Cleveland Sports Forum

BA likes to project future lineups and here's their 2020 version:

C Gomes
1b Bradley
2b Kipnis
ss Lindor
3b Ramirez
lf Naquin
cf Allen
rf Zimmer
dh Mejia

Bradley projects lots of power, but I miss Santana' on base percentage; if Mejia's defensive can improve for him to displace Gomes behind the plate, then Bradley/Santana as the DH/1B combo makes for a nice middle of the lineup pairing.
Looks very good defensively except for 1st base; lots of athleticism and lots of baserunning ability; without Santana or a bigger bat at 3rd, probably below average in power. Maybe a year or two later Nolan Jones could conceivably be at 3rd and JRam heads to the OF, or Will Benson makes it out there with the kind of speed and power combo that Zimmer also offers, and with similar big strikeout numbers.

Starters 1-5: Kluber, Salazar, Bauer, Carrasco a pretty darn good No. 4, McKenzie
Closer: Allen

Place Frankie Mejia at catcher and Yandy at DH and I'd buy it.

Mejia has a stellar arm and is looking to project as a better hitter so just don't see Gomes holding him off much longer. I am hoping Gomes bounces back just as much as anybody. Think how good this team could be this year if Gomes and Brantley can get back to form. But unfortunately Gomes is still looking pitifully lost at the plate in, albeit extremely early at bats, this spring. I have about lost all confidence that he will.

Still not sure why most analysts are still not on the Yandy bandwagon. But heard TV announcers talking over the weekend about how much Tito likes him so I guess that's what counts.

Don't be surprised or upset if he doesn't break camp with the team [although if neither Brantley nor Austin Jackson is in playing form, Yandy figures to stick]. I read a list of all the players who made their major debuts last season and only a small number actually broke camp with the major league club; Naquin was the first Indians player to do so in several years.

BA writeup on Yandy grades him at 45 which means a "second division regular/ platoon" position player, with example of such being Chris Carter [and for pitchers it means a No. 5 starter of "lower-leverage reliever" example Dan Otero]

"He has a good feel for the barrel and a disciplined approach helping him make contact at a high rate. Diaz's approach comes at the detriment of power numbers and he's still learning how to drive the ball --his 9 homers in 2016 were a career high. He has raw pop but his approach is not geared to creating the loft necessary tohit homers. ... He developed into an above-avg defender at 3rd base but the Indians began moving around in 2016 to give him more versatility.... giving him a chance to at least be a super utility player, a role he could fill in Cleveland as soon as 2017"

Since the value of long-ball hitters seems to be declining in baseball, witness the fortunes of slugging 1st basemen this winter, Diaz may be the right man at the right time. Although 15 homers from a corner player is still probably the norm, and Frankie managed to top that.

Yandy will be a 20 home run hitter in majors in future.

No surprise that Tito likes him, because he reminds me very much of the players Boston used to love when Francona was there. Patient, works the count, very good management of strike zone.

As he gets experience and matures both mentally and physically he will learn to start attacking balls in the zone when he's ahead in counts. He's got good size, he will have power.

No mistaking it: Tribe's Yandy is dandy
Prospect has impressed Francona early in camp

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | February 27th, 2017

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Yandy Diaz is not expected to be in the Indians' Opening Day plans, but the team does plan on taking a close look at the intriguing prospect this spring.

For Monday's Cactus League game against Texas, the versatile Diaz made his preseason debut in left field. He went 0-for-1 with two walks in the Indians' 3-2 win over the Rangers.

Cleveland also plans on working Diaz in at third base and in right field this spring.

"Defensively, he is still a work in progress," Indians manager Terry Francona said on Monday morning.

"We even told him that last year, when we were trying to think about September and possible guys that could help, because he was transitioning to the outfield, because he wasn't ready yet defensively, he couldn't have been in that conversation.

"It was just so he understood, because offensively he was probably at the top of the list."

Diaz, who is Cleveland's 10th-ranked prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, made the All-Star Futures Game last summer and appeared in 121 games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. In the Minors, he hit a combined .318 with 35 extra-base hits, 58 RBIs, 66 runs, 71 walks and 86 strikeouts.

"His at-bats are so quality," Francona said. "He swings at strikes. He's starting to hit the ball for a little bit more power. I think when you look at him, he hits a lot of balls to right-center field with authority. I think you can see him growing in to power, just because of his approach."

Other items of note from Monday:

• Francona said the Indians will be "keeping an eye on" righty Cody Anderson this spring, following his arthroscopic right elbow surgery in November. The manager noted that Anderson has been recovering well from his bullpen sessions, but noted that his Cactus League innings workload will be light.

• Carlos Santana has played in each of Cleveland's first three spring games. The first baseman requested extra at-bats early on to help prep for his upcoming World Baseball Classic stint with the Dominican Republic.

• Indians ace Corey Kluber completed a one-inning simulated game on Sunday with no issues. Kluber is on target to make his Cactus League debut on March 6.

• Former Major Leaguer Jason Giambi arrived in Tribe camp on Monday. He will be around the team for the next week as a guest instructor.

• Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall (sick) was a late scratch from Monday's lineup against Texas.

I watched that 1-1 ballgame against the Cubs on Sunday. I was wondering who the diminutive catcher was behind our plate. It was Francisco Mejia. 5'-10 x 175 lbs. Mejia was dwarfed by everyone around him. Even the umpire was larger. Don't tell Seagull. I'm thinking Mejia may have to look for a different job before he get killed.

Thought you loved all the midgets, Joe.

There has been talk about him converting him to second base, maybe he'd look like better in that role.

All depends on who the players are Seagull. I like Mejia, but not behind the plate. I don't know which position he can settle into with this club. I don't know if he can play 5 or 6 positions like Ramirez. Right now, it looks like he's locked into catching.

BA has suggested he could become a 2B or a 3B [the latter because he's got a great arm] but lack of speed will limit his flexibility much more than Ramirez

RENO - The Reno Aces Baseball Club released their promotional schedule today with a wide variety of exciting events set for the 2017 season. Eighteen fireworks shows, six fan giveaways and numerous theme nights are sprinkled throughout the Aces' 71-game home schedule.

Fan Giveaways

2017 Magnet Schedule Giveaway: April 11.
Hat Giveaway presented by Greater Nevada Credit Union: April 29.
Replica Jersey Giveaway presented by Dillard's: May 27.
Lunchbox Giveaway presented by Renown: June 24.
Player T-shirt Giveaway presented by Michael Hohl Automotive Group: July 15.
Trevor Bauer Drone Bobblehead Giveaway: August 19.

Trevor Bauer ✔ @BauerOutage
not mad, but send me one. https://twitter.com/Aces/status/836708823083577344 …
7:34 PM - 28 Feb 2017

Trevor Bauer‏Verified account @BauerOutage Feb 28
Trevor Bauer Retweeted Eric Edelstein
I may have to "fly" in for this.....Trevor Bauer added,
Eric Edelstein @EricBallpark
Yes, the @aces are doing a @BauerOutage drone themed bobblehead this year. How could we not? Mark it down August 19 @greaternvfield

Good news from the Orioles camp.

Anthony Santander is 1-13 with 7 strikeouts. Seems rather unlikely that the Birds will keep him on the major league roster if they consider themselves playoff contenders. I am hopeful that he will be joining Akron and its stellar lineup in April.

Akron's infield, including catcher is probably the best in the minors. Mejia, Bradley, Mathias and Chang are all rated among the top 20 at their positions in all of the minors [Mejia #1, Bradley #8 and the other two in the mid-teens] Tyler Krieger is another good hitting middle IF to complete the starters.

Greg Allen most likely returns to Akron to start the year in center. If Santander is in one corner there's plenty of offense in the outfield too. Probably Dorsyss Paulino and Mike Papi complete the starters. And Eric Haase is good hitting 2nd catcher.

Dylan Baker is alive and maybe well. He pitched an inning for the Indians yesterday. He's been on the DL for varied reasons for most of the past 3 seasons, yet remains on the 40 man roster. 25 old by opening day, he got in 5 terrific innings on opening day of 2015 and hasn't pitched in a game since.