Some baseball teams operate with an eye toward player development, and others operate solely based on what the major league club is doing.
There is no question that the Cleveland Indians run their organization with an eye toward the bottom line, but they also seem to always be looking at a worst-case scenario. This leads to making decisions out of fear.
Take for example, the case of one Rafael Perez. The lanky southpaw was one of the game’s best relievers in 2007 and 2008, but last year fell on hard times, posting an ERA of 7.34. In 48 innings pitched, he allowed 66 hits and walked 25 batters. Basically, he allowed almost two men to reach base in every inning he pitched.
This year, his ERA is 8.18, and he has allowed 21 hits and nine walks in 11 frames, allowing almost three hitters per inning to reach base.
This means for the last year and two months, Perez has been knocked around like a batting practice pitcher.
Yet, he remains on a big league roster.
Why? Because the Indians are afraid he may go someplace else and re-capture the magic he had two years ago.
Listen, organizations should unload players because they’ve had a couple of bad weeks, or even a poor month. However, Perez has had eight consecutive bad months. Manager Manny Acta only uses him in games that are totally out of reach, and still the southpaw gets pasted.
Perez is out of options meaning he can’t be sent to the minors without passing through waivers. Obviously, the Tribe is afraid he won’t make it through.
Let some team pick him up. Even if he does return to the pitcher he used to be, it’s not like Cleveland disposed of him without giving him a boatload of second chances. He simply doesn’t deserve to be on a major league roster at this point. The Indians shouldn’t be giving their skipper a short roster.
It’s the same logic they use in regard to Jhonny Peralta. It’s obvious that Peralta is no more than a slightly below regular in the majors, yet the Indians seem afraid to try someone else. Certainly, money is an issue once again, but you are going to have to pay him whether or not he plays regularly.
They also seem scared to bring up prospects that are obviously dominating in the minor leagues. Carlos Santana is ready to play in the majors. In fact, he may be one of the team’s best hitters when he finally gets the call to the big leagues. His superior bat would offset whatever shortcomings he may have in calling a game.
The young catcher, remember he is older that Lou Marson, is currently raking at Columbus at a .336 clip, with 9 HR’s and 36 RBI’s. His on-base percentage is a whopping .463, while his slugging percentage is at .617. These are numbers that Albert Pujols puts up at the major league level.
Santana has now spent six weeks at the AAA level, and on June 1st, he will have passed the point in service time that would allow him to be eligible for arbitration one year earlier than normal. He’s served his time in the minors and needs a new challenge.
The Indians are wasting his talents by having him spend another month or two in Columbus.
Other teams react quicker. Heck, the Tigers just sent Max Scherzer and Scott Sizemore to the minors, because they need an upgrade. They don’t want to give away games.
That would be a welcome attitude in Cleveland.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 