If nothing else, Sunday’s crowd of over 32,000 people who showed up to watch Washington’s Steven Strasburg pitch showed that Cleveland baseball fans will pay to watch something worth their time. The Dolan family should take note.
Another reason for some resurgent interest in the Tribe is the call up of catcher Carlos Santana. Finally! The switch-hitting back stop belted his first career home run on Saturday, and showed he earned Manny Acta’s confidence by being inserted in the third spot in the batting order, usually reserved for the team’s best hitters.
By the way, the manner in which Santana caught the games, including those by veteran hurler Jake Westbrook, and the tough to handle stuff of Fausto Carmona, showed that the front office’s concerns about his defense were baloney, and the real reason Santana wasn’t here had everything to do with his accumulating service time.
This should be just the first of several moves made with prospects over the next few months. Matt La Porta is raking down at Columbus with 5 home runs in 23 at bats, and will be brought back up to play every day after Russell Branyan is dealt to a contending ballclub looking for pop from the left side.
However, the other big prospect acquired for C.C. Sabathia isn’t faring as well. Michael Brantley still has just a .351 slugging percentage at Columbus and has only seven stolen bases. Until he can either learn to drive the ball, and that means doubles and triples, or starts stealing bases at a better pace, he can’t be a regular player in the majors.
Brantley is just 23 years old, so it’s not time to give up on him just yet, but he needs to step his game up to be an everyday player in the big leagues.
Austin Kearns will probably remain in the lineup all season because Brantley isn’t ready.
Another prospect that should be on the fast track is Lonnie Chisenhall, currently at Akron. Since coming back a shoulder problem in May, Chisenhall has been red hot, bringing his season totals to 5 HR and 23 RBI’s to go with a .292 batting average and an 811 OPS.
If Chisenhall stays hot through the middle of July, he should be the next one going to Columbus to get some AAA action. And if he’s successful in Columbus, he should get a September call up to the big club.
The Indians will probably site Chisenhall’s age, he won’t turn 22 until October 4th, as a reason not to give him a shot, but once again, it will be more about service time (read: $$$).
However, Jhonny Peralta likely not be back next season because he is a free agent, so the Tribe needs a third baseman for 2011. If Chisenhall can handle the job, who cares how old he is. Let him become a cornerstone of this franchise along with Santana, La Porta, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Shin-Soo Choo. And the sooner, the better.
If you haven’t noticed, the Indians are moving their second base prospects through the organization as well. They recently moved Cord Phelps up to Columbus, and Jason Kipnis up to Akron.
Phelps, 23, is a switch hitter that was batting .296 in AA, with 2 HR, 23 RBI, and a 743 OPS.
Kipnis, also 23, and regarded as the better prospect, swings from the left side, and was batting .300 in Kinston, with 6 HR, 31 RBI’s and an 865 OPS. Kipnis was an outfielder at Arizona State and was converted to the infield last season.
Luis Valbuena’s continuing struggles probably contributed to the moves of both players.
The time is right for a youth movement in Cleveland. The fans would actually look forward to having some hope, and seeing young players get a shot.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 