Due to the sheer volume of players used by the Indians in September, the Player Power Rankings are being split for the final enumeration of the year. Since there were 38 players on the final roster, it will be split into two groups with the bottom 19 coming out today and the top 19 coming out tomorrow. All players on the active roster will be ranked, including those with season ending injuries as long as they are not on the disabled list.
As with the rest of the season, players are ranked by their entire season’s contributions to the team (so most of the players on this list will be the late joining September call-ups) with a remark on how they played in the last month compared to their expectations (Above, Even or Below). Unlike the other power rankings, we’re going to start at the bottom this time and work our way up.
38. Austin Adams – Below (Unranked in August)
What is worth less than nothing, which is approximately what the next two players on this list provided this season? A reliever who can’t get anyone out (.333 average against, 1.85 WHIP). As many people want Aguilar cut from the 40 man roster, at least he provides a little (very little) depth in an otherwise weak position. The Indians have great relievers at every level and could easily go as deep as they’d ever need to. That Adams and his 9.82 ERA is still on the team after years of consistently failing is a testament to something, but I’m not sure what.
37. Jesus Aguilar – Even (UR)
What’s more useless than a third string catcher that can’t hit? How about a right handed back up first baseman when your primary 1B is also right handed, your DH switch hits and both are having incredible seasons. Because he’s out of options in 2017 and already on the 40 man roster, there was no reason not to call up Aguilar, but Terry Francona also found no reason to use him as he saw just six at bats in nine games this year. Aguilar didn’t get a hit and for comparison, Josh Tomlin and Corey Kluber combined to go 3 for 9 this year with two runs scored and two doubles.
36. Adam Moore – Even (UR)
One of the best parts of the September call-up season is that you can use a roster spot for an emergency catcher, allowing you some leeway should one of your primary two catchers get injured in game or if you need to pinch hit for the catcher twice (an often occurrence down the stretch for the Tribe). If Yan Gomes hadn’t gotten hit in the hand by a pitch in an Easter League play-off game, Moore would likely have been cut a few weeks before the season ended, but instead, he made it all the way, but still only got five at bats and didn’t reach base.
35. Adam Plutko – Even (UR)
Plutko was an unexpected addition to the bullpen late in September when Carlos Carrasco‘s injury forced them into returning both Mike Clevinger and Tomlin to the rotation. Plutko was brought in to help during the final two bullpen games and pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three runs with three K’s and 7 base runners allowed. He most likely would have started on Monday had the Tigers forced the Indians to play game 162.
34. Erik Gonzalez – Above (UR)
Essentially only used as a defensive replacement and only in blow outs, Gonzalez had just six at bats in September and hit .500. If the Indians were using this as a try out to see if they want to keep the middle infielder around for next year (when he is out of minor league options), they did a poor job of it.
33. Coco Crisp – Below (UR)
The lowest player in the rankings who will be on the play-off roster, Crisp only had a month to establish himself and he simply didn’t. He had a couple big games, leading to 8 RBI and 8 runs scored, but overall batted just .224/.333/.408 and is a defensive liability. The Indians needed another outfielder with Abraham Almonte ineligible for the play-offs, but there is no question who among the two is the better hitter and defender.
32. Joseph Colon – Even (UR)
The Indians ended up needing a giant bullpen in September as injury after injury destroyed the starting rotation and forced Terry Francona into multiple games that were pitched entirely by relievers. Unlike with Gonzalez, this allowed Colon to actually audition for a role next year and he deserves a further look despite a 7.20 ERA in 11 appearances over ten innings. He has control issues (7 walks to 10 K’s), but has enough positive going for him he should be considered an option for 2017.
31. Michael Martinez – Below (-6 Change Since August)
The Indians signed one of the worst active players in baseball not once, but twice this year and somehow found him time to play in 59 games. While there was not available playing time for Gonzalez, somehow the Indians found 95 at bats for Martinez, who was nice enough to strike out 21 times to three walks and hit a whole five extra base hits. Out of every decision made by the Indians in 2016, those made to acquire, reacquire and play Martinez were the most confounding.
30. Kyle Crockett – Above (UR)
Crockett extended his great play from the second half of the season into September in an extremely limited number of innings (1.2). He didn’t allow a run and gave up just one hit while striking out all four batters faced in the last month of the season, but more importantly had a 2.19 ERA and .203 AVG against from July 19th on this season, covering 18 appearances and 12.1 innings. This success likely stems from only being asked to face left handers (all three of his runs allowed during this stretch came in consecutive appearances when he was asked to throw 3 IP between the two games), but that’s what he is supposed to be good at. He should have been used more in September and arguably should have been included on the play-off roster.
29. Perci Garner – Even (UR)
More than any other September call-up (he was actually called up a few days early), Garner has elevated himself from, “who’s that guy” to being a real option in 2017. The right handed reliever had a 4.82 ERA in 9.1 innings and impressively struck out at least one batter in each appearance including two per game in three consecutive at the beginning of September. He has multiple quality offerings and that could be something that sets him apart from the competition in the future.
28. Shawn Armstrong – Above (UR)
Armstrong pitched just 7 innings in September, and ended the season with a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings, striking out seven. Considering initial expectations, this is an extremely small total of innings, but thanks to surprising players stepping up (particularly Dan Otero and Jeff Manship), the Indians haven’t had to go very deep into their system for regular innings in middle relief.
27. Ryan Merritt – Above (UR)
Merritt had a few great appearances in 2016, but pitched just 0.2 innings in the final month before making a spot start during the final week. Despite this irregular work, he was excellent in limited appearances for the entire season, allowing just two runs over 11 innings. The lefty could be a starting option in 2017 depending on how deep the Indians need to go or could be a potential long man out of the bullpen. Either way, he should be on the Indians 25 man out of the gate in 2017.
26. Chris Gimenez – Below (-3)
It was certainly a good thing that Perez started hitting a little better in September, because Gimenez returned to his old reliable self batting .118/.167/.176 over the final month. His most recent game that could have been considered even remotely decent was August 30th, when he walked three times and hit safely once. For the entire final month he wouldn’t reach twice in the same game again. One bonus from him is that during blowouts he was very versatile, playing first, third and pitcher in addition to catcher.
25. Yan Gomes – Above (UR)
No one thought Gomes would be back before the ALCS after he broke his hand in his final AA rehab game, but he managed to come back in time to get into three games to end the season. In his first at bat back from the DL, he hit a two run home run against Kansas City that wound up deciding the final game of the season that gave the Indians home field advantage in the ALDS. All around, he had an awful season, but did at least hit nine home runs and knock in 34, more than Perez and Gimenez combined.
24. Roberto Perez – Below (0)
From September 6th through the 16th, Perez was great, hitting .308/.321/.462 with 5 RBI. For the rest of the season, he batted an almost impossible .157 ending the year at .233. Going into the season, catcher looked like a strength, but after consecutive seasons of lackluster hitting (and multiple injuries) for Gomes and the most recent performance of Perez, it appears the number one area set for improvement in 2016. If only they had acquired a catcher at the deadline who could have been guaranteed the starting job behind the plate next season…
23. Cody Anderson – Above (UR)
Yes, Tomlin and Clevinger stepped up huge in the final month after two starting pitchers went down with injury, but they had previously had some success in that role earlier in the season. That Anderson was able to come back after early season struggles and not only pitch out of the bullpen, but dominate in both roles was a huge benefit. In September, he allowed 5 runs in 10.1 innings, striking out 13. His season numbers won’t look great, but after allowing 36 runs in his first 43.1 innings, he gave up six across 16.1 before giving up three in his last appearance against Detroit and definitely improved his future outlook.
22. Jeff Manship – Below (-4)
Finally, we’re through all those late season additions and can get into players who were with the team the whole season and were actually productive members of the team. Or not just yet. Manship had a solid 3.12 ERA in 2016, repeating his strange success from the 2015 season, but it wasn’t always pretty. He didn’t allow a home run in his Indians career until this May, but then began to do so fairly regularly, giving up long balls in six more games in 2017 including consecutive appearances in the final month. Most of his innings have come in what some would refer to as “garbage time” and his value in close situations is questionable at best.
21. Zach McAllister – Above (+1)
Another reliever who stepped up in a big way late in the year was McAllister, with a 0.87 ERA in 10.1 September innings including one spot start. For the season, he was similar to Manship, but struck out 18 more in just 9 more innings and walked only one more. They could be flipped either way in the power rankings, but if Francona is looking for a right handed pitcher to face one batter in the play-offs and needs a strike out, he should feel considerably more comfortable going to McAllister at this point.
20. Brandon Guyer – Above (+1)
While he was signed as a platoon bat to face left handed pitching, Guyer excelled in all parts of the game (including defense and being hit with pitches) and actually hit better vs right handers (.348/.444/.348) than Lonnie Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin and Abraham Almonte. He was an incredibly undervalued pick up at the trade deadline and could be huge, not just this season, but next as well if some of the question marks currently penciled in at outfield can’t perform up to expectations.
Come back tomorrow for the much more interesting and talented top 19 in the Cleveland Indians Player Power Rankings.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
