Comments on: Welcome back Ben Francisco

By: Posts about TheIndians From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Cleveland Indians Dugout Online | Cleveland Indians Blog

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:35:15 +0000

[...] group and he still has his prime years ahead of him. As much guff Brantley gets more… Welcome back Ben Francisco – itspronouncedlajaway.com 01/22/2013 The Indians have signed Ben Francisco to a minor league [...]

By: Be Rad

Be Rad — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:08:40 +0000

I guess I was thinking mostly part time DH duty and late inning vsRHP pinch hitting for Thome.

By: Steve Alex

Steve Alex — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:04:23 +0000

I have no problem with rotating regular position players through the DH spot to give them rest. It’s a great idea and gives a manager much more flexibility than an older/injured guy who can’t play the field. The problem is that the Indians do not have nine regular position players on their team who can swing a bat and would be good candidates for such a scheme. It’s like a reverse game of musical chairs. There are too many chairs and not enough butts to sit in them all. Who is your 9th guy right now? Mike Aviles? Zeke? Ben Francisco? Lou Marson?!! Do you really want utility guys and fringe backups playing DH and trying to drive in runs opposite a Big Papi or somebody like that? I’d rather they bring back Hafner or Thome for 80 games and only have to scramble half the time instead of every night.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:52:56 +0000

Personally, I wouldn’t be opposed to giving Pronk a really cheap incentive laden deal but I don’t know if he’d go for it. If not DH by platoon could actually be an interesting concept. If you think about it it would lead to rest for some players while also allowing some flexibility with rosters. For instance in any given week Santana could DH one night with Marson behind the plate, Reynolds could DH the next night with Santana at first and Marson behind the plate, Swish could DH and Carrera could play RF, and then Cabby could DH with Aviles at SS.

By: Chris Burnham

Chris Burnham — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:40:52 +0000

So I guess this DH platoon is a real thing.

By: Ryan McCrystal

Ryan McCrystal — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:00:46 +0000

Young and Francisco each had a -1.2 WAR last year (based on bb-ref). Granted, most of that came from his poor fielding, but over the past two seasons Young’s offensive WAR is -0.5… the Indians should feel pretty confident about being about to put a replacement-level DH on the field without needing to bring Young’s attitude into the clubhouse. In theory, they could call up a triple-a guy (Chris McGuiness for example) and get equal if not better production.

By: DaveR

DaveR — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:45:26 +0000

Well Pronk was the DH for some time and when’s the last time he took the field?

By: Steve Alex

Steve Alex — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:48:50 +0000

Thanks for the insight on D. Young. I’m not sure Michael Young deserves to be in the same category, but ok. As for Thome, I don’t think the team wants another DH who can’t play the field at least once in a while.

By: Be Rad

Be Rad — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:27:38 +0000

Delmon is horrible. He only walked 20 times last year and is an embarrassment just holding a glove in the dugout, let alone in the field. Literally anyone in the system would provide more value. Horrid OBP. I can honestly say Michael Young and him will be the worst starters in the MLB, using WAR (IMO).

I don’t understand why Thome isn’t being talked about to fill our DH spot or any DH spot. Much higher upside than anyone left in FA pool, even at 43 or so.

By: Steve Alex

Steve Alex — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:26:57 +0000

ESPN is reporting that Delmon Young signed with Philadelphia for $750,000, and that several other teams, including the Indians, had no interest. I know there are some off-field issues, but it still surprises me that the Indians wouldn’t want this guy at any price when we have no clear option at DH. This guy is only 27, healthy, and a career .284 hitter. Is he another Milton Bradley? Is he that bad?