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St. Louis Cardinals

Cleveland Renaissance

by Hans on September 21, 2009

“In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Indians have managed to win a few here and there, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.”

Great Bob Eucker quote from Major League. But in reality, the Indians have lost their last 8 straight games, dropping 12 of their last 13. Cleveland traded away their ace Cliff Lee, handed Boston their only All-Star this year Victor Martinez, and shipped solid pieces Ben Francisco, Carl Pavano and Mark DeRosa to boot. And all this after parting ways with ace C.C. Sabathia and Casey Blake before the 2008 trading deadline. So do Chief Wahoo and his tribesmen have a reason for hope next year?

statefarmhomerunderby3zqtkhuhr7jlFor one, centerfielder Grady Sizemore (27) should be healthy next year, fully healed after elbow and abdominal surgeries. His value at the top of Cleveland’s lineup is undeniable. From 2005 to 2008, Sizemore amassed 464 Runs - a full season’s worth (107) more than the next highest player (Jhonny Peralta’s 357).

Playing next to Grady, rightfielder Shin-Soo Choo (27) will have progressed another year. Last year, Choo got more than 300 at bats for the first time in his career and delivered, hitting .309 with a .397 OBP and a .946 OPS. This year, Choo got more than 500 at bats for the first time and delivered again, hitting .300 with a .394 OBP and an .870 OPS, throwing in 19 steals for good measure.

Throw in Asdrubal Cabrera (23) at SS and Jhonny Peralta (27) at 3B and you have four experienced, talented players hitting at the top of the lineup.

Some time in 2010, super-prospects LF/1B Matt LaPorta (24) and Catcher Carlos Santana (23) - the returns for the 2008 Sabathia and Blake deals - will be ready to produce at a major league level.

On the pitching front, which usually takes longer to develop, Cleveland is stocked with plenty of talent as well. Left-hander David Huff (25) is finishing up his rookie year. While his yearly stats aren’t that phenomenal (5.98 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP), he’s finishing off September with three straight quality starts and a 2.84 ERA. As recently as 2007, right-hander Fausto Carmona (25) was a 19 game winner with a 3.06 ERA. Aaron Laffey (24) has shown flashes of competence enough to produce a 4.09 ERA. And Jake Westbrook will be returning.

But Cleveland’s also got the likes of Justin Masterson (24) who came over in the 2009 Martinez trade, Carlos Carrasco (23) and Jason Knapp (19) who came over in the Lee deal, Chris Perez (24) the jewel in the DeRosa trade, and home grown talent like Adam Miller (24), Charles Lofgren (23), and Hector Rondon (22).

With a few smart off season moves, General Manager Mark Shapiro might have Cleveland ready for another run like it did in the late 90’s.

That will really give Chief Wahoo and his tribesmen something to get excited about.

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To Start Or Not To Start

by Hans on June 9, 2009

So Chicago’s 2007 first round pick and rumored candidate for a Jake Peavy trade earlier this year, Aaron Poreda, has been called up for his first cup of coffee, set to join the White Sox bullpen later this week.  Coming out of spring training, this flamethrower looked like he might even win the 5th starter spot.  For now, however, manager Ozzie Guillen has made it perfectly clear that his role will be as a reliever.  But there is a growing debate as to what his future really holds.

Poreda stands at 6′ 6″, 240 pounds - that’s the same height and 15 pounds heavier than David Price for those counting at home.  His fastball touches 100 and his slider is said to be pretty good too, leading to a great strikeout rate - 9.72 K/9.  But to date, Poreda hasn’t developed any additional secondary pitches and has struggled with his control in AA Birmingham, posting a 4.94 BB/9.

A power fastball heavy 2 pitch repertroire have led some to suggest that he might be best suited as an understudy of and eventually replacement for closer Bobby Jenks.  That line of thinking certainly seems to have support around the majors.

Jason Motte, a Cardinals reliever, offers a similar arsenal.  He throws high 90’s heat that has touched 100, complemented by a decent slider.  But being a converted catcher, Motte didn’t get the chance to truly develop secondary pitches enough to point to a career as a starter.  After a difficult first month, the rookie posted a 1.64 ERA in May with 11 k’s in 11 innings.

Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles’ 6′4″ 290 pound closer, throws heat that averages 97.4 mph along with a hard slider.  He’s used this combo to be on pace for 35 saves, a 1.24 ERA, and 129 k’s in 79 1/3 innings.

Then there’s Brad Lidge.  He ran 41 straight saves with a 1.95 ERA and 92 k’s in 69 1/3 innings last year.  That mid 90’s fastball and hard, late breaking slider served him and the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies quite well.

When you throw in the fact that Poreda is a southpaw, quite attractive in a reliever and certainly in a closer, the value just seems altogether too obvious.  But what Motte, Broxton, and Lidge have on the White Sox former farmhand is control. 

If Poreda can’t keep the fastball or slider from becoming balls and consequent free passes, hitters can either sit on the other pitch or look for the walk altogether.  And nothing kills the value of a reliever like the habit of putting lots of men on base in close late game situations.

Hopefully, Chicago fans will see the 22 year old lefty develop in the limelight of the Cell.

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