As with every season, I update the original top ten position lists I made years ago to reflect the most recent year. This includes simple changes to the stats involved, active players moving up on the list, new players being added to lists and any other changes I need to make because I’ve changed my mind about something. Click the links by position to view the updated top ten lists.
Catcher
Yan Gomes remains at #15 among Indians catchers. He was unable to add significantly to his career numbers this year.
First Base
An extremely well traveled player as he made his debut on the catcher top 10, moved to the first base top 10 in 2015 and could move to the DH list in the future if he signs an extension, Carlos Santana moved from sixth best first baseman to fourth this year. He surpassed Luke Easter, who is now #6 and Ed Morgan, who is now #5. Santana sits behind George Burns, Hal Trosky and Jim Thome. Because a line needs to be drawn somewhere, I count all of a player’s stats under the position they played the most at and at the moment, Santana has played 406 games at first, 330 at catcher and 215 at DH.
Second Base
After advancing two places in 2015, from ninth to seventh all time, Jason Kipnis has again improved by two spots moving into fifth. While the modern era (since the mid-1980’s in this case) is generally known for power, in particularly getting power from previously light positions like short stop, centerfield and second base, Kipnis surpassed the Hall of Famer Joe Gordon due to his speed, defense and average while the World Champion from 1948 had considerably more power. Kipnis also passed Bobby Avila, but this one was a toss up as both had similar numbers. In the end, it was the fact that Kipnis has produced his in about 450 less games that made the difference. Odell Hale is next in line and is also a similar player, but marks a significant step up. It might take him a few more years to move up anymore, but if he continues his current level of play through the rest of his years under contract (through 2019), he has a real chance at getting to number two. No one is ever unseating Lajoie.
Short Stop
It’s a close call as they were very similar offensively, but after just 1.5 seasons, Francisco Lindor is going to move above Lyn Lary thanks to his defensive accomplishments. In addition, he will surpass George Strickland thanks to the fact that he has significantly more power and has been much better on the bases in addition to in the field (as far as we can tell, but according to Total Zone, Strickland was just slightly above average for his time). This places the second year player at #14 all-time and Lary out of the top 15 altogether. It’s conceivable that with another great year, Lindor could be knocking on Bill Knickerbocker at #12 or even Larry Brown at #11, but it’s going to take quite awhile to crack into this elite top 10.
Third Base
If Lindor already being in a top 15 bugs you, this one is really going to hurt. Jose Ramirez went and got himself qualified as a third baseman this year by playing 117 games there and there is little question that the former utility man is a significantly better player than the previous #15, Russell Branyan, ever was. It may be hard to believe, but Ramirez has already played more games in his career than Branyan and his OPS of .735 is pretty close to the slugger’s .783 all things considered. In addition, Ramirez has been of great value on the bases and on defense, something Branyan never was. Ramirez will remain at #15 behind Matt Williams.
In another oddity, Lonnie Chisenhall is still a third baseman (341 games at 3B compared to 169 in RF) and could be considered such for the rest of his time with the Indians (under team control through 2018). He was #14 behind Williams, but surpassed the short term player as well as Willie Kamm and now sits at #12 behind Max Alvis.
Outfield
Michael Brantley‘s stats were updated, but as he missed nearly all of the 2016 season, he remains at #7 among Indians left fielders. There are no other active players on the outfield or DH lists.
Closer
Cody Allen came into this season behind Dave LaRoche as the team’s fifth best closer ever, but now that he has continued to put up spotless innings, it is very hard to difficult to argue that any ninth inning pitcher in team history was better. Because of this, Allen now ranks #1 in Indians history. Before any complaints, Allen has pitched more innings than anyone else who could be considered a full time closer with the exceptions of Jose Mesa, Doug Jones, Ray Narleski and Jim Kern and he blows everyone, but Laroche away with his 2.62 ERA. His K/9 of 11.5 is not only the best in Indians history among any pitcher with at least 300 innings, but is so by more than a strike out per nine. Only Bob Wickman and Mike Jackson converted saves at a better clip than Allen and when you include his time as a set-up man Allen has converted 89% of potential save opportunities.
Relief Pitchers
There are no active players on the left handed reliever list, but one has to assume Andrew Miller will figure out how to get on before his current contract runs out.
From the right side, Bryan Shaw moves up one spot from #12 to #11 and there was a bit of a shuffle among the rest in the final five as Ed Klieman and Cal McLish were dropped behind Steve Karsay and Don McMahon, because a significant part of their numbers came from starting. The same is true for current #10 RHRP, Steve Gromek and #5 Gary Bell, but for now I’ll leave them there as they gave much more to the team than those listed behind them.
Aces
I give this note every year, but it is still applicable. With the exception of a handful of players (your Boudreaus, Lajoies and Speakers), the top players in Indians history have been starting pitchers. Addie Joss, Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Stan Coveleski and Early Wynn are all in the Hall of Fame with the team and if it weren’t for some unfortunate circumstances, Sam McDowell and Herb Score likely would have been as well. Ten former Indians pitchers have surpassed 2,000 innings with the team and that’s not an easy mark to break.
All that being said, Corey Kluber finally made it into the top 15 aces in Indians history this year (I’ve split pitchers into two lists, one for if the player was generally the top pitcher on the staff and another for everyone else). Kluber knocked the weakest link out of the top 15, Greg Swindell, by surpassing him in total strike outs, ERA, K/9, WHIP, winning percent, HR/9 and average against. For similar reasons, he has also moved ahead of Tom Candiotti, Len Barker and Cliff Lee, but we have to draw the line behind Charles Nagy, who pitched in almost 2,000 innings and struck out 1,235.
While Kluber’s rate stats are better, he simply hasn’t matched the body of work to this point, particularly considering Nagy’s role as ace of a team that won five straight Central titles. Kluber could go a long way in doing that by this point next year, however, so we will have another look at it then. For now, he is ranked 12th with four more years on his contract to work on moving up.
Managers
Terry Francona was added to the top ten managers last year at #14 and all he did this year was win the Central Division with his fourth straight winning season. He surpasses Ossie Vitt (1938-1940), Dave Garcia (1979-1982), Eric Wedge and Roger Peckinpaugh to get into the top ten, the Lee Fohl, Walter Johnson, Birdie Tebbetts and Bill Armour to move into #6 all-time, right behind Napoleon Lajoie.
The Indians have had 12 managers head the ship for at least parts of three seasons, but only 14 have made it to a fourth. By staying alive this long, he is already in rare air and if he makes it to next season (and there’s no reason to believe he won’t), he’ll be one of nine with at least five seasons. Of all those with at least four seasons under their belts, Francona ranks third in winning percent behind Mike Hargrove and Al Lopez (who both remain ahead of him in the rankings) and Francona has already lead his team to the post-season twice. Lopez only made it once (of course, it was considerably harder in the 1950’s) and he had three Hall of Famers in his starting rotation. Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar may be special, but they certainly aren’t Hall of Famers. At least not yet.
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