The Cleveland Indians have an identity problem, and not only do they confuse their fans, they seem to be perplexed themselves.
They claim to be in rebuilding mode, yet they continue to add marginal veterans to compete for big league roster spots. They also seem to be kidding themselves when it comes to the availability of some players.
First, they signed veteran SS Orlando Cabrera to compete for a regular position at 2B. Besides being forced to play out of position, Cabrera is impeding the progress of youngsters like Cord Phelps, who spent most of the year at Class AAA Columbus, and Jason Kipnis, arguably the organization’s best position player prospect.
Cabrera has been somewhat of a good luck charm lately, showing up in the playoffs on a regular basis, but he’s 36 years old. Is that the type of guy a rebuilding team should be signing?
With all of the options this team has at second base among Phelps, Kipnis, Jason Donald, and even Luis Valbuena, why bring in a veteran whose better days are behind him?
Now, it has been reported that the team signed Chad Durbin, a 33-year-old reliever who has a lifetime ERA in the American League of 5.69. He actually spent parts of 2003-04 with the Tribe, compiling a record of 5-7 with a 6.75 ERA in 60 innings.
Instead of signing a mediocre veteran, why not look closely at rookies like Josh Judy, 25, who went 3-0 with a 2.94 ERA at Columbus and Akron, with 57 strikeouts and 14 walks in 49 innings last season?
Or Vinnie Pestano, 26, who had a 1.55 ERA at Columbus last year with 59 K’s and 14 walks in 46-1/3 frames last year.
Or Bryce Stowell, 24, who gets it up there around 100 MPH, and struck out 102 hitters in 67 innings combined last year at Kinston, Akron, and Columbus.
The point here is we aren’t talking about a closer here, the Tribe has Chris Perez to do that. We aren’t even talking about the set up men to get to Perez. We are likely talking about the last man in the bullpen. So, why not give that spot to a young kid and see if he can succeed in some low pressure situations and maybe he’ll be a contributor.
That’s what a rebuilding team should be doing. Didn’t the front office learn anything from the Jamey Wright experiment last year?
Getting Austin Kearns back is another puzzler, and now even more so because it looks like the Tribe will shift Grady Sizemore to LF when he is healthy, which now may not be until the middle of May.
If the move is made, when or where will Kearns get at bats? Certainly not in left. He’s a solid defensive outfielder, but you really don’t want him in CF in place of Michael Brantley. And in right, Shin-Soo Choo is the best player on the team.
This is not to denigrate Kearns, who’s a solid professional, but is superfluous on a team such as the 2011 Cleveland Indians. He’s just taking at bats away from players who will be here when the Indians are ready to be contenders once again. And if Kearns is a guy getting 400 at bats on your big league team, you are more than likely not a contender.
Guys on your bench need to have a dominating skill, like a right-handed hitter who bashes southpaws. Shelley Duncan fits that profile more than Austin Kearns. And as a backup CF, Trevor Crowe and Ezequiel Carrera would seem to be better fits.
When you have depth in your farm system you need to use it. If they are truly in rebuilding mode, then they need to start giving young guys chances. Most of the youth mentioned aren’t 20 or 21 years old. They are 23, 24, or 25. They need to get a chance now. Right now, the Cleveland Indians are going with the low risk, low reward plan.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 