The Cleveland Indians might just be playing their best baseball of the season. It’s funny how good an effective bullpen makes a team look. Anyway, the infusion of young players, who have some athleticism, has helped the team both offensively and defensively.
Still, there are more moves that can be made with an eye towards the 2011 season, finding out about more of the young players in the organization.
Some moves will have to be made this weekend when Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo are activated from the disabled list, and if Cabrera’s case put back on the 40-man roster.
The first is to release, or designate for assignment Jhonny Peralta. Granted, this is a bold move because Peralta has been a regular since 2005. However, it is doubtful that the Tribe will be able to find a deal for him at the July 31st deadline, and if he’s on the roster, Manny Acta will feel obligated to play him.
Dumping Peralta and possibly Andy Marte would open up the hot corner for Jared Goedert, who at 25 has had a monster season between Columbus and Akron. The organization has to find out whether or not he can be a contributor at the major league level.
Jayson Nix could get time at third if Goedert doesn’t hit. This is because with Cabrera back in the lineup, suddenly there is a logjam at 2B.
Jason Donald has been playing shortstop in Cabrera’s absence could move to second. Nix has been playing there while Donald has been at short. In Columbus, Josh Rodriguez has had a very good year, and so has Cord Phelps, who started the year in Akron and is hitting around .380 in AAA.
Also, Goedert has played the spot before at Akron while Lonnie Chisenhall blocked him at third. By the way, Chisenhall’s presence is another reason to let Peralta go. He will be the Indians’ third baseman sometime in 2011.
The team also has Jason Kipnis playing the keystone spot at Akron, and he’s one of the organization’s top ten prospects.
Suddenly, the Tribe has second basemen by the bundle.
Look, Cleveland is not going to pick up Peralta’s 2011 option at the end of the season anyway, so this would give him an opportunity to catch on somewhere else. The Indians will say they don’t want to pay Peralta if he’s not on the team, but they need to start finding out who can play 3B next season, and they would be paying him if he were on the team.
Another move that should be made is putting Justin Masterson in the bullpen and finding out if Carlos Carrasco can be a major league starter. Of course, this would be the same course of action if the team can deal Jake Westbrook, and it’s no coincidence that Carrasco pitches in Columbus a day before Westbrook pitches with the big club.
Kerry Wood’s blister on his finger means he likely won’t be moved until the end of August in a waiver deal. And his absence accomplishes the same thing as a deal, Chris Perez will get an opportunity to be the closer. Does anyone realize they both have saved eight games this season?
One roster move this weekend will be made by going back to a 12 man pitching staff, which means it is likely that Jensen Lewis will go back to Columbus. Lewis pitched well Saturday night against Detroit, but on Monday he gave up a bomb to Jim Thome and walked a pair. That’s who he is. Jess Todd deserves an extended look.
However, keep an eye on Bryce Stowell, Vinnie Pestano, and the just promoted Zach Putnam with the Clippers. They could be a part of the 2011 Tribe bullpen.
That is, unless the Indians sign some mediocre veterans to take their spot in spring training.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 