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Looking Back at What Was: Catcher

Ed Carroll — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:22:20 +0000

Source: Yardbarker.com

Note: This is the second in a series of posts looking back at the realities of the Indians 2010 season. We’ll look at what was hoped for, what actually happened, and what the expectations are going forward at the position in 2011.

Perhaps no position better defined the Indians 2010 season than the catcher position. The Indians had traded everyday catcher Victor Martinez last season, along with backup Kelly Shoppach in the offseason. They entered the season with rookie Lou Marson as the opening day starter and veteran Mike Redmond was signed to a one-year deal to be the backup and Fausto Carmona’s personal catcher. Acquired in the Cliff Lee deal, Marson was expected to keep the dish warm for the prized jewel in the Indians farm system: Carlos Santana.

What actually happened almost went according to plan. Although he was solid defensively, Marson struggled with the bat (and Redmond was almost non-existent offensively until his release in June), and the Indians had a huge hole at catcher. On June 11, the Indians decided they couldn’t wait any longer and made the call to Columbus. Carlos Santana was making his debut that night.

I say perhaps no position better defined the 2010 Indians than catcher because of Santana. Indians fans suffered through a miserable half season by Marson and were delighted by the promise shown by Santana (who I must mention was acquired for Casey F-in Blake).

And he knew how to display that promise. In 46 games, mostly thrust into the role of #3 hitter, Santana had a .401 OBP (.868 OPS) with 6 home runs in only 150 at bats, despite enduring a rough stretch in July. Santana was a reason to get excited about this Indians team. In spite of all the losing, here was a shining reason to watch this team. One would get excited just watching him play.

And then, faster than you could say “Ryan Kalish”, it was over.

Santana suffered a gruesome left leg injury when Kalish bowled him over in a collision at home plate. Santana was done for the year, and the Indians were stuck with a tandem of Marson and Chris Gimenez. Doesn’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of opponents. Gimenez did little in a limited backup role.

For the year, in 87 games, Marson had a .274 OBP (.560 OPS) with 3 home runs (including an improbable grand slam in September). While Santana is expected to make a full recovery in time for next season, Indians fans can’t be blamed for being pessimistic. Thus, the Indians future rests squarely on the recovery of Santana’s left leg. If it’s healed and Santana can continue his development, then the Indians are sitting pretty at the catcher position. Marson can’t really be as terrible as he was last year and would make a decent backup.

But if the Indians’ worst fears are true, then the Indians rebuilding project would be taking a major hit with the loss of Santana. Santana is expected to be a fearsome middle of the order hitter, and for the Indians to lose that would be devastating.

But as of right now, news is that Santana is recovering nicely from his injury. And from an Indians season that was low on hope, I’ll grab on to whatever I can.

Best, Worst of April

Ed Carroll — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:26:47 +0000

With the first month of the season having past, I thought it’d be a good idea to look back at the best, worst, and downright ugly of the month of April for the Tribe.

April MVP: That would be Shin-Soo Choo, with a .429 OBP in April, 4 home runs, and a OPS of .929. And while I’d stop short at saying he’s been playing great defense in right field, he has displayed the cannon that he has for an arm. If it had to be decided right now, Choo would easily represent the Indians in the All-Star game.

Apologies to: Austin Kearns has been quite the surprise, in 51 at bats in April he’s got an OBP of .429 and an OPS of 1.056. The only reason he isn’t MVP is because he’s the fourth outfielder and simply hasn’t played as much. Also, while Mike Redmond hasn’t exactly been hitting well (.281 OBP in April) he has been a steady force behind the plate. And despite Friday’s ugly start by Fausto Carmona, Redmond has really helped Carmona find his confidence (and his sinker). And that alone deserves to be recognized.

April LVP: While I’m not saying he’s been the only culprit (where have you gone Grady Sizemore?), Jhonny Peralta has just been brutal so far this season. For the year, with runners on, Peralta has an OBP of .311, which drops down to .269 with runners in scoring position. For the month of April, his OBP was .349 and an OPS of .707. Oh yeah, he’s playing his usual balls-to-the-wall stellar defense. That was sarcasm. I really wouldn’t be adverse to dumping him and letting Andy Marte take a shot until Lonnie Chisenhall is ready.

April Cy Young: Surprise, surprise again, as this goes out to Mitch Talbot. And he’s not just getting it by default. 2.05 ERA in 26.1 IP, 1 complete game, and oh yeah, opponents are hitting just .227 off of the Immortal Mitch T. For anyone interested, Kelly Shoppach, the guy the Indians traded to get Talbot, is on the DL and expected to miss another month with surgery on his right knee. Sounds like a steal so far to me.

Apologies to: Both Jensen Lewis (1.93 ERA in limited work) and Aaron Laffey (3.21 ERA in 14 IP) have been stellar stalwarts out of the bullpen. Unfortunately they simply haven’t gotten enough work (although it seems like Laffey Taffy is out there every other day).

April Cy Yuck: While reliever Joe Smith was terrible while he was with the big league club, I’m going to give this to Justin Masterson. Masterson has a 5.40 ERA in 26.2 IP, and opponents are hitting .397 off of him. He’s also got a WHIP of 1.80. On the bright side, he does have 31 strikeouts going for him, which is nice.

And this last bit doesn’t really have to do with anything previously mentioned, but I find it hilarious so I will share. I was at the game on Sunday, and during one of the later innings the Indians ran a bit on the scoreboard asking the players who is the most famous person they have met. Of the ones I remember, Michael Brantley said he met NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino and Luis Valbuena said he met Shakira. But the one who takes the cake was Andy Marte. The scoreboard ran his answer last and he said the most famous person he had met was none other than Jhonny Peralta. I really hope he’s kidding but seeing as it’s Andy Marte he may not be. Either way, it was hilarious.

Tribe opens up a three game series versus Toronto tonight. The Immortal Mitch T takes on Brett Cecil at 7:05.

Home Opening Clunker Not Fausto’s Fault

Ed Carroll — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:52:15 +0000

I know I preached patience on Sunday, but Monday’s home opening loss to the Rangers was a little much to take.

On an otherwise perfect April day (perfect as you can get in Cleveland at least), the Indians offense was unable to bail out the bullpen’s wildness and the Tribe lost 4-2 in 10 innings on Monday.

I’m not upset that they lost. While I can’t say I expected them to lose, I don’t really expect this team to win.

I’m upset that the Indians pissed away a solid start by Fausto Carmona. It wasn’t always pretty (5 hits and 4 walks), but he got the job done and he pitched eight innings, striking out four. He only gave up 2 runs, and anytime you get that out of your starting pitcher you have to think you have a good shot at winning. Not with these hapless Indians. Not with Grady Sizemore scratched for his second straight game. Not with Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley going 0-10 at the top of the order. Not with Shin-Soo Choo wasting outs and opportunities by forgetting there was only one out and getting doubled up after taking off on a routine Travis Hafner flyout.

(By the way … Michael Brantley fans, where are you? He’s been on base 5 times this season and is not doing anything to convince the Tribe to keep him on the big league club when Russell Branyan comes back. If you go on his mlb.com stats page, his two highlights are a ground out and a strikeout. I’m glad the Tribe wasted a year of control for this.)

Then there’s that bullpen. Sunday, I was curious to see how Kenny Powers … I mean Chris Perez, would respond to a nightmarish blown save in Detroit. I got my answer yesterday: Apparently, not well. Perez failed to record an out in the ninth and in was brought Tony Sipp, who retired Ryan Garko (who I seriously thought was going to spoil the opener with a random grand slam just because, well, these ARE the Indians, and it would totally make sense for them to give up a game winning grand slam to someone like Ryan Garko). Sipp gave way to Jamey Wright, who (amazingly) got Michael Young to ground into a double play, only to give up a two-run home run to Nelson Cruz the next inning.

All and all, a pretty shoddy showing for Tribe players who don’t wear #55.

So what can we take away from this? Well it does appear the adjustments Carmona made are working, as he’s had two effective starts. Am I saying he’s back? Absolutely not. He’s pitched 14 innings. But this is a very encouraging sign coming out of Fausto. I was upset with Manny Acta giving Carmona a personal catcher in Mike Redmond, but I do think it’s working. I just wish the catcher wasn’t, y’know, Mike Redmond. But the “Redmond Effect” on Carmona has been significant in both Spring Training and Carmona’s first two starts. I just wish it didn’t make the catching position an automatic out right now, as starting catcher Lou Marson hasn’t been able to hit a lick this year either.

But I’m going to choose to look at the positive of this game: Fausto Carmona looks like a pitcher again. And that, along with the return of baseball to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, is worth celebrating.