The Cleveland Indians are limping through this stretch of the season, and it is tough to watch. It is reminiscent of last September, when the Tribe went 7-25 from the beginning of the month through the end of the season.
Just think, they still have 35 games left!
In watching the games, I started thinking about whom currently playing for the team will definitely be here next season. And the answer is not that many are for sure. This doesn’t include guys like Grady Sizemore and Carlos Santana, who will likely be part of the 2011 Indians, but are currently not playing.
It also doesn’t account for off-season trades, although the players who would be in the for sure column are unlikely to be dealt by the current front office. It also doesn’t count players the Indians would like to be in next season’s lineup either.
That would leave SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RF Shin-Soo Choo, and DH Travis Hafner, and the latter is only in this category because of his untradable contract. If they are healthy, Sizemore and Santana will be starting on Opening Day 2011 too.
Matt LaPorta has struggled mightily since his salvo immediately after his call up, and should no longer be considered a sure thing at first base. His prolonged slump has caused his average to dip below .240.
Jason Donald has done some good things in his rookie campaign, but he has had problems defensively and hasn’t hit enough to be considered a lock. His OPS of 692 is below average, and with the plethora of candidates for 2B in the organization, such as Cord Phelps, Jason Kipnis, Josh Rodriguez, and holdover Luis Valbuena, he’s not guaranteed to start.
Third base is a mess, and it doesn’t seem like the team is going to take a look at Jared Goedart anytime soon. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Andy Marte and Jayson Nix weren’t in the organization come spring training. The same can be said about Shelley Duncan, who with extended playing time has shown the holes in his swing.
In the outfield, Michael Brantley’s recent performance gives him a leg up on a starting job, but it shouldn’t be etched in stone. If Brantley can hit, then it makes it easy to move Sizemore to LF to help take some pressure off his knee.
Trevor Crowe has the second most at bats on the team this year, which is an indictment of what type of team this is. However, he’s failed to take advantage of his opportunity. He’s a fourth outfielder, at best and certainly not a lock to make the team next year.
On the pitching side, the only for certain is Fausto Carmona. Mitch Talbot’s recent slide should put him in the candidate stage for next year, and Justin Masterson looks to be headed to the bullpen in 2011.
The other current starters, Jeanmar Gomez and Josh Tomlin, will be in the mix to open next year in the rotation, but certainly aren’t locks.
The bullpen is actually the most stable part of the team. Chris Perez will open 2011 as the closer, and Rafael Perez has rebounded from his horrible start to prove quite effective. Joe Smith is serviceable, and Tony Sipp will be back next year as well, although it would help if he could keep the ball in the park regularly.
The point is the organization isn’t taking advantage of their time out of contention. Yes, it’s understandable to show loyalty to guys like Duncan and Marte, but if they aren’t going to be here next season, then let’s look at Jordan Brown and Goedart. Maybe they will show something to impress the brass.
These guys can be called up in a week anyway, but just maybe they should have been in there already. Some of these will be on the roster to open the season in 2011, but that doesn’t mean they are major league players either.
The uncertainty for next year can’t be encouraging if you are a fan of the Cleveland Indians.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 