Cleveland Sports Forum

Hi Joe!

Let’s take a look at seven names that have already garnered enough attention to keep a close eye on until camp breaks in 3 1/2 weeks.

Anthony Gose

Gose started to really turn heads at last year’s Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled play. The outfielder-turned-reliever hit 100 mph on the radar gun in 2020 and sat around 97-98 mph in his first Cactus League appearance this year. The Indians -- or any team, for that matter -- would love to carry a hard-throwing lefty in their bullpen, however the 30-year-old will need to show improvement with his command to prove he can pitch at the big league level.

“It's easy to dream,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “The kid, he's got such a big arm. He's added the slider that we really think is going to help him. There were times last year when he had trouble landing his breaking ball. This, he seems to be able to throw for strikes that kind of comes out of the same window of his fastball. So again, there's some hope there that that will also help with some of the consistency.”


Trevor Stephan

The Tribe selected Stephan in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason from the Yankees’ organization. The 25-year-old right-hander made his first appearance for Cleveland on Tuesday, and tossed a 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout, as his heater touched 98 mph. He’s been a starter throughout his Minor League career, but it’s unlikely he’d crack into Cleveland’s rotation. However, if he continues to show that he can command his arsenal, his velocity could make him an option out of the bullpen.

“He threw the ball well and he threw some good sliders,” Francona said. “You can see why some of our scouts that saw this kid liked him. I mean there’s velocity and a breaking ball. It’s going to be a matter of command because guys that age and a lack of experience, they need repetition.”


Gabriel Arias

It’s difficult to get off to a better start in Spring Training than Arias has this year. In his first two games, the 21-year-old went 5-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. The Indians' No. 6 prospect flashed his arm strength by throwing out a runner at the plate on a relay throw and has played sound defense at short. He may need some more time before he makes his big league debut, but Arias certainly has given fans a reason to be excited for the future.


Bobby Bradley

Bradley’s Minor League numbers have been attention-grabbing over the past few years. His strikeout totals may be high, but the Indians' No. 14 prospect launched 33 homers in 2019 for Triple-A Columbus with 74 RBIs, 46 walks and 23 doubles in 107 games. The Opening Day first-base job will come down to Bradley or Jake Bauers, and Bradley will need to show consistency at the plate over the next few weeks to break camp with the team. It will be a difficult task for the 24-year-old, as Bauers is out of Minor League options.


Logan Allen

Allen, the Indians' No. 23 prospect, is competing for the final spot in the Tribe’s rotation. Cal Quantrill and Adam Plutko are his main competition. Allen spent the entire offseason at the Tribe’s Spring Training facility, reworking his mechanics and getting himself into better shape to be a strong contender to be the Indians’ fifth starter. While Quantrill may have been the favorite entering camp, Allen has already proved that it will be a close battle over the next few weeks.

“I’m going to be a little surprised if [Allen] doesn’t make some noise this spring,” Francona said. “I think he’s positioned himself where he’s situated himself for success.”


Andrés Giménez

Giménez has gotten off to a scorching start this spring, going 4-for-4 with a triple and a homer in his first two games. The 22-year-old also showed off his arm by throwing out a runner at the plate on a relay throw from the outfield and has played solid defense thus far. He and Amed Rosario are battling to be the Tribe’s starting shortstop, and while Rosario has more Major League experience, Giménez will try to use the rest of camp to prove that he’s ready to win the everyday job.


Daniel Johnson

Johnson’s name has popped up for the last three springs. Could this finally be the year to break camp with the Tribe? The Indians have a handful of outfielders competing for a spot on the 26-man roster, but Johnson, the Indians' No. 18 prospect, is ready to prove that his speed, athleticism, arm strength and bat are enough to earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster.

“He’s an interesting kid,” Francona said. “There was about a two-day span right at the beginning [of Summer Camp last year] where if you didn't know who our roster was and you look out you would say, 'That's the best player on the field,’ which is exciting. He's only had, I believe, a half a year at Triple-A, or not even. He's still learning about himself, the game. But the tools stand out.”

Regarding those guys:

Last Rule 5 pick to make the team was Hector Ambriz. I'd see Stephen with a chance to duplicate Hector's fine career. Lots of spots open in the pen. Give him a month anyway to see if he's major league quality

Allen looked good yesterday. We never have lefty starters and Tito doesn't like guys to work in the pen who otherwise would be depth starters in AAA. Won't be any AAA for a month. He'd make my team in the pen if he can show command and control this spring.

Johnson. He'd make my team too ahead of Gamel and Hamilton and probably Zimmer unless Brad finally shows he can play and stay healthy.

Bradley vs Bauers. Big showdown. I wouldn't be surprised if they winner were Naylor

Gose. I think they'll want to show some AAA consistency before he makes the bullpen.

Giminez. No longer perfect
Arias Give him a year or two.

Hi Civ,
If I'm going to follow the team this year, I'll need a roster sheet. Not many familiar faces around anymore.

Welcome home. Forumities can familiarize you with the team.

You would know Roberto Perez and Jose Ramirez. I can't think of any other position players who've been around for more than 2 seasons. You'll recall Yu Chang and Brad Zimmer from the minors.

Bieber and Civale and Plesac and McKenzie should all be somewhat familiar as minor leaugers, although the first 3 rushed through pretty quickly.
Probably everyone's new to you in the bullpen.

civ ollilavad wrote:
Johnson. He'd make my team too ahead of Gamel and Hamilton and probably Zimmer unless Brad finally shows he can play and stay healthy.

civ - that quote by Tito (about his limited time in AAA) says to me Daniel Johnson is up against it vs. the more veteran Gamel.

PS - did you see Gamel dive over the foul area fence to catch that foul ball yesterday?? During spring training??

Indians leadership faces a reckoning: The questions aren’t going away
By Jason Lloyd Mar 4, 2021 220
Seventeen words. That’s why we’re here today having this conversation. Seventeen words.

“When I read the article, that was the first time I became aware of the alleged behaviors.”

That’s what Chris Antonetti tacked onto the end of his opening statement a month ago when he addressed Mickey Callaway and that’s why we’re here now, a month later and still discussing Callaway’s behavior in Cleveland. Those 17 words.

Five women who work in sports media initially spoke to The Athletic about the way Callaway aggressively pursued them, sending inappropriate photographs and regularly commenting on their appearance in ways that made them uncomfortable. Callaway’s behavior spanned at least five years, multiple cities and three teams, including Cleveland.

I cringed when Antonetti said it was the first he had heard of it and then doubled down when he was asked again about it moments later.

“There had never been any complaints against Mickey in his time with us, either to me or our human resources department or other leaders,” Antonetti said last month.

That simply is not true, given the scorned husband in Arizona who called the Indians so frequently in 2017 to complain about Callaway’s extramarital affair and behavior with the man’s wife that the team’s communications department was forced to bring it to the attention of Antonetti, general manager Mike Chernoff and manager Terry Francona.

Without Antonetti making those two statements a month ago, we’re probably not talking about this anymore. Britt Ghiroli and Katie Strang initially reported on Callaway’s pattern of inappropriate behavior in February and that was supposed to be the end of it. There were no plans to continue digging until the team president insisted he didn’t know anything. Then suddenly more and more people familiar with Callaway’s time in Cleveland began emerging.

In a matter of weeks, Ghiroli and Strang had spoken to 22 people who interacted with Callaway during his years with the Indians, including 12 current and former team employees. One employee called Callaway’s behavior “the worst-kept secret in the organization.”

If so many people were eager to come forward and speak with us, why couldn’t the Indians find them? How hard did they try? And what was it about the environment in Cleveland that prevented them from coming forward?

Words matter. At best, Antonetti was being evasive. There is a clear difference between an extramarital affair and sexual harassment in the workplace. Antonetti knew of at least one consensual affair but could argue his statement last month was about the sexual harassment component of all this. It’s a flimsy defense. Ultimately, the Indians knew Callaway was a problem.

Nevertheless, Antonetti’s words last month clearly upset a lot of people and shifted the target from where it should have remained: Callaway.

Antonetti addressed reporters again on Wednesday and was asked directly if he stood by the comments he made in early February. He declined to say much because of baseball’s ongoing investigation into Callaway, which hadn’t yet begun when Antonetti spoke last month.

“I very much want to answer that,” he said Wednesday. “At this point, I’m not able to.”

I do not believe Antonetti or Mike Chernoff should be fired over the actions of a former pitching coach. Both men are deeply respected around baseball and widely regarded as two who try to get it right every time.

So if two of the good ones had this blind spot, what does that mean for those who don’t even care about such matters?

It’s clear now the Indians fostered an environment where women did not feel comfortable and safe speaking up. As team president, that’s on Antonetti to fix and he seems sincere in working to do so.

Nearly everything Antonetti said last month struck the perfect tone, from his outrage over the details in The Athletic’s initial reporting to his efforts in creating a safe and inclusive work environment while providing safe channels for people to report bad behavior. Antonetti made it clear to reporters in February he understood the severity of the allegations and he was willing to sit and answer every question.

It was those other two statements, however, that ignited more questions and led us here. Now those questions will only lead to more questions as this lingers. It isn’t going away.

Nick Francona, Terry’s son, made the alarming decision to take his grievances with his father public after our second story on Callaway was published.

“My father and I do not have a particularly close relationship, largely as a result of disagreements about his conduct,” Nick Francona wrote, “some of which has been reported over the years, and some of which has not.”

Those last five words are haunting.

All civ's questions answered

Cleveland’s slew of shortstops and the race to replace Francisco Lindor By Zack Meisel 4h ago 20
Replacing a perennial All-Star at a premium position is no simple task, but the line of candidates waiting to audition for the part of “Cleveland’s long-term shortstop” stretches from the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz., to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The player who succeeds Frankie Francisco Lindor at shortstop on Opening Day might not be the same player who mans the position a month later, or a year later or two years later. The Indians have stocked up on young shortstops, in the Lindor trade and other deals, through the draft and via international free agency.

For this season, there are two primary contenders, Amed Rosario and Andrés Giménez, a pair of former Mets exchanged for Lindor in January. There are a few potential utility infielders with shortstop backgrounds. The club is also getting an extended look this spring at a few prospects who could force their way onto the major-league roster at some point in the next year or two.

So far, the shortstop hopefuls have produced at the plate. Giménez is 4-for-7 with a home run. Rosario and Tyler Freeman have each notched a couple of hits. Yu Chang and Mike Freeman clubbed back-to-back homers on Thursday. Gabriel Arias is 6-for-6.

There hasn’t been any mystery about the shortstop position since 2015, and even then, it was only to determine whether José Ramírez or Mike Avilés would keep Lindor’s seat warm.

“It’s actually been kind of refreshing,” Terry Francona said. “Once you turn the page: Here’s our challenge. Here’s what’s right in front of us. I don’t think anybody’s going to run from it or make an excuse for it.”

Andrés Giménez vs. Amed Rosario
When Francona was asked this week which factors might determine who wins the starting shortstop job, the manager first referenced reliable glove work.

“Because it’s such a premium defensive position,” he said, “the ball needs to be caught. All the routine plays need to be made.”

Giménez is considered the superior defender. He’s also three years younger and under team control for at least five more years. The Indians could manipulate his service time and gain a sixth year of control, but with the Triple-A season delayed a month, do they want him twiddling his thumbs during a few weeks of scrimmages in Columbus, where the team intends to hold its alternate site?

Both players need opportunities somehow. Rosario is 25 and his star has faded some, but the Indians need to learn whether he can tap into the potential that once vaulted him toward the top of prospects lists. Even if he doesn’t have a long-term position with Cleveland, he could re-establish his trade value. In 2019, he posted a .287/.323/.432 slash line, with 30 doubles, 15 home runs and 19 stolen bases.

It’s possible Rosario eventually winds up in the outfield, or in a super-sub role that bounces him around the diamond, but he is far from the only mid-20s position player in “prove it” mode, so he’ll have to earn his at-bats somewhere if Giménez mans shortstop.

In the spring opener, Giménez’s first game with his new team, he merited one of three MVP nods handed out by the coaching staff. The honor comes with a $50 prize directly from the pocket of Francona, who joked that if the Indians keep winning, he’ll reduce the number of recipients.

Giménez seems like the safer long-term bet at shortstop — he was Cleveland’s priority in the Lindor trade — with a variety of scenarios possible for Rosario. Whoever emerges as the Opening Day shortstop might not be the shortstop a month or two later, and in a year or two, these two will have even more competition.


Mike Freeman and Yu Chang are the leading contenders for the utility infielder role. (Ken Blaze / USA Today)
Yu Chang vs. Mike Freeman
Neither of these guys will be the starting shortstop … or starting anywhere, unless the UFO Baker Mayfield claims to have spotted was actually en route to Goodyear to capture half of the Indians’ roster.

Chang and Freeman will not spend most of their time this spring at shortstop, even though it’s their natural position. Instead, they’re the primary contenders for the utility spot, though it’s possible Rosario ultimately claims that role if both he and Giménez make the Opening Day roster.

Chang socked a pair of home runs Thursday against the Brewers in Maryvale, which earned him MVP honors and the cash prize. At some point, the club needs to evaluate what the 25-year-old can offer with at least semi-regular opportunities against major-league pitching. It has been almost five years since he was a well-regarded prospect who was bound for the Brewers if Jonathan Lucroy hadn’t vetoed a trade to Cleveland.

Freeman has spent the past two seasons as the club’s utility infielder, recording a .270 average and .729 OPS. With Cleveland, he has appeared at every spot on the diamond aside from catcher, center field and right field. That includes the mound, where he tossed two innings during a lopsided loss in Baltimore in 2019, with his fastball averaging 64.1 mph. (Don’t expect that to factor into the utility infield battle.)

“It’s, do they complement our roster and the way it’s constructed?” Francona said Friday. “One guy might have a great camp and be extremely deserving, but when the season starts, you look and say, ‘Well, where’s he going to get his at-bats?’”

That would seem to be more of an issue for Chang, who is still young and might be capable of playing regularly. For what it’s worth, Ernie Clement could also vie for the utility role at some point this summer or next year.

Gabriel Arias, Tyler Freeman and Owen Miller
There’s another wave of middle infielders coming, and this is before the flood of lower-level prospects that includes highly touted players such as Brayan Rocchio, Aaron Bracho, Carson Tucker and Angel Martinez.

Arias has yet to make an out, and though spring training statistics mean about as much as Schrute Bucks, his bat will loom large in 2021. If he hits well — more contact, more patience and fewer strikeouts — he could soar up prospects lists. As it stands, he narrowly missed landing on Keith Law’s Top 100 for 2021.

“He’s still really young, but man, there’s a lot to like,” Francona said.

Arias, who said he idolized Fernando Tatis Jr. during his time with San Diego, turned 21 last week. Evaluators have raved about his arm strength. Perhaps that eventually enables him to slide over to third base. Given the team’s glut of shortstops, that could benefit all parties, though Ramírez and Nolan Jones might have something to say about it.

Arias and Miller represent one-third of the club’s return from the Padres for Mike Clevinger. Miller has spent the majority of his two minor-league seasons at shortstop, though he has shifted to second and third. He’s adding some experience at first base to his repertoire this spring. Miller owns a .307/.367/.441 slash line in A-ball and Double A.

Freeman, meanwhile, has spent more time at second and third during spring drills — again, a product of employing so many players with the same natural position. Over the winter, he added muscle, gaining 10 pounds, and completed a velocity program to boost his arm strength.

Freeman could contend for the starting second base job next year. Like Miller, he’s a contact-first hitter who rarely whiffs, with only 87 strikeouts in 992 career plate appearances. He has registered a .319/.379/.441 slash line.

These three are more likely to make significant contributions in 2022 than 2021, but they’ll garner plenty of attention this spring as the Indians sort out their shortstop position in a post-Lindor world.

“It’s Frankie Lindor,” Freeman said. “I mean, he’s awesome. When he left, it’s, ‘Hey, you know, maybe it’s our time to shine.’”

Well you know Brian Shaw who is on camp on a minor league contract. Been pretty bad since he left Cleveland and I doubt he comes north with the team.

Trading places and 3 other things about the Cleveland Indians in spring training
Updated Mar 06, 2021; Posted Mar 06, 2021 Indians right-hander Shane Bieber threw three innings Saturday in a B game against the Reds in Goodyear, Ariz.

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By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Shane Bieber and Kyle Nelson, teammates at UC Santa Barbara, changed places on Saturday.

Bieber, last year’s AL Cy Young winner, pitched a B game against the Reds in his second start of the spring. Nelson, with just one big-league appearance on his resume, pitched the seventh inning in the Indians’ 7-0 loss to White Sox at Goodyear Ballpark.

They both did their jobs well. Bieber struck out five and allowed one run on a homer in three innings on one of the backfields in Cincinnati’s spring training complex. He allowed three hits and didn’t walk a batter.


“I went down there and watched Bieber,” said manager Terry Francona. “He gave up a solo homer on a fastball. Other than that he was terrific.

“Bieber is as big a priority as we have in camp. But part of the reason we can do that, where we can let some of these other guys (pitch) who need to compete, is the way he handles himself. It looked like he was pitching at 7 p.m. at Progressive Field. That makes you proud of the guy.”

Nelson, a lefty in his second appearance of the spring, retired the White Sox in order with two strikeouts. This spring he’s made two appearances, striking out four.

“He’s interesting,” said Francona. “It’s a little different way of attacking. He’s heavily-slider oriented against lefties and righties. He’s shown he can get it under the righties’ barrels and away from the lefties. With a young guy like that, he needs repetition.

“Last year he got called up to pitch once and that was really difficult. He’s certainly on our radar, that’s for sure.”

Nelson made his big league debut on Sept. 10 in an 11-1 loss to the Royals. He got two quick outs to start the inning, but the next four Royals reached base. Adaberto Mondesi hit a three-run homer.

No. 1: Converted lefty


Former big league outfielder Anthony Gose continues to make a good impression. Throwing between 96 and 100 mph, he worked a scoreless seventh inning against the Cubs on Friday.

“It’s been a really interesting and cool story,” said Francona. “By all accounts, a guy that’s been to the major leagues as an outfielder, then is willing to go to the lower levels of the minor leagues and work his way back up. ... He’s obviously a kid we’re rooting for. His stuff is off the charts.”

No. 2: Three’s a charm

Veteran relievers Bryan Shaw and Heath Hembree each made their third appearance on Saturday. JC Johnson and Blake Parker are sitting at two appearances. Oliver Perez, another veteran in camp on a minor-league deal, has made one appearance.


Francona said three appearances is a good jumping off point to start evaluating veteran relievers.

“Now is the time you can start evaluating what they’re doing because they have enough under their belt,” said Francona. “They’ve got their legs and they can compete a little bit.”

Shaw gave up a two-run homer with two out in the fifth. Hembree pitched around a two-out double in the sixth.

“Bryan is still feeling for his slider,” said Francona. “It’s been out of the zone from the get-go and hasn’t really helped him as much as he wants.”

No. 3: And finally

There weren’t any offensive highlights from the loss to the White Sox, but there was some hitting done in the B game. Owen Miller went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Gabriel Arias continued to swing the bat well. He went 1-for-2 with a home run. Ben Gamel went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI. ... One cool thing about the 7-0 loss to the White Sox, the Naylor brothers, Josh and Bo, hit fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Indians’ lineup. Josh was in right field and Bo was at DH. How much you want to bet a picture of that lineup card was sent home to Canada? ... Outfielder Harold Ramirez is taking batting practice and is getting closer to game action. ... The Indians will play Oakland on Sunday. Adam Plutko will face the A’s, who will send Grant Holmes to the mound. Game time is 3:05 p.m. ET. The Indians.com webcast will carry the game.

Take this to the bank civ. Gamel will make this team and make an impression.

I realize his numbers over the past couple seasons don't jump out but I do remember his Milwaukee days and he can play.

Keeping Josh Naylor in right field seems like a bad idea Naylor has a lot of offensive potential, but he’s not going to turn into a great outfielder

By Matt Lyons@mattrly Mar 1, 2021, 9:53am EST

Spring training is officially underway. The games that don’t really matter but sure feel like they do after months of emptiness have returned to give us hope for the future, a look at some new additions, and of course position battles. Those beautiful, beautiful position battles.

Cleveland’s primary battles right now are the same as they have been since the Obama administration. The bullpen could use some sorting out, first base is up in the air, and the outfield is a mess. Maybe less of a mess than it has been recently, but past newcomer Eddie Rosario, it’s still anybody’s game to take over center field and right field for the long-term.

Franmil Reyes has probably been ruled out. I think he’s faster than most would think given his size, but Baseball Savant’s outs above average had him in the 21st percentile back in 2019. He was decent coming in on the ball (ninth overall in baseball, in fact), but chasing down fly balls in any other direction just wasn’t great for the big man. He figures to be a designated hitter and a damn good one at that.

Defensively, Daniel Johnson is probably the best option, based purely on his rocket arm and 70-grade speed. With only five major-league games under his belt, we’ve yet to see him really test his ability in the field. But there’s hardly anything for him left to prove in the minors, having raked at every level, first with the Nationals and then with Cleveland in Double-A and Triple-A in 2019.

Johnson was miserable at the plate in 2020 but debuting in the most difficult environment maybe ever for a prospect, I think it’s fair to look beyond his 13 plate appearance sample size for whatever talent lies beneath.

Over the weekend, Cleveland manager Terry Francona provided some clarity to the situation — namely that Josh Naylor will be working exclusively as a right fielder in spring training. I can’t seem to track down the exact quote, so right now it’s just “source: trust me bro,” but I saw others mention it was said on Jim Rosenhaus’s pre-game show on Sunday, and Tom Hamilton also brought it up during the game broadcast.

What Terry Francona and the coaches have elected to do — Bauers is not going to play in the outfield this spring. They’re strictly going to put him at first base. Really, the battle is between he and Bobby Bradley. Now Josh Naylor, everybody knows can play first, but Naylor is strictly going to play right field this spring.

I’m counting that as two sources. Journalism.

Assuming it is true (and it obviously is: see above journalism), it doesn’t clear up everything, but it does simplify some things. It means that first base is now a clear contest between Jake Bauers, Bobby Bradley, and no one else. It means that those two, and Naylor, have one less thing to worry about in spring training. They already have to deal with the COVID-19 protocols that are still in place and generally growing as baseball players. Might as well not bounce them around between positions. And like Hammy said in his quote above, everyone already knows Naylor can play first. As long as he’s already comfortable there, it does make sense to give Bauers and Bradley the most time to battle at first base. That part I completely understand.


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Realistically, for a team who hopes to keep winning in 2021 Naylor might be the best fit at first, though, and it feels like a potential negative all around to keep him in right field long-term. If that is the plan.

A lot can change in a month, but if Naylor is indeed a permanent fixture in right field — and he plays well enough to stick — that all but closes the door on Daniel Johnson getting playing time right away. He’ll either be optioned back down to Triple-A to start the year or be stuck as the team’s fourth outfielder. Either way, he’s going to have to wait for Oscar Mercado to falter in center field, or Naylor to play his way out of the right field with either poor hitting or fielding.

This conveniently brings me to my next point: Josh Naylor is not a good outfielder. Try whatever metric or eye test you want — he is a lumbering runner and scouting reports as a prospect never imagined him as anything but a first baseman or designated hitter with the Padres if it was ever universally implemented. Now that he landed on an American League team with Franmil Reyes as the entrenched DH, the only logical thing seemed to be to keep him at first base.

Bobby Bradley’s ceiling punches a whole in the stratosphere, but if he can’t reach that, first base will be manned by Bauers, who — unless work at the alternate site drastically improved his bat — will be one of the weaker-hitting first basemen in baseball while one of the worst defenders will be in right.

Naylor at first base with Johnson and Jordan Luplow platooning in right field as needed seems like the ideal layout based on what we know about the players right now. But, again, a lot can change in a month. Hardly anything to get the digital pitchforks out over, but something worth considering.

Just curious Who is Matt Lyons?

civ

https://www.letsgotribe.com/2021/3/1/22 ... a-bad-idea

Gotta say I did enjoy that Lyons article.

The reason is that he actually dared to go out on a limb and say things other writers won't. Right or wrong it definitely was food for thought. And that's a journalist's job ultimately.