We are here at the All-Star break and the Cleveland Indians are sitting in first place in the American League Central Division. Just like we thought, right? All kidding aside, it sure feels good that the Tribe is 52-36 after 88 games and has a nice 6.5 games lead over Detroit, with Kansas City and Chicago 7 games back. What’s even more amazing is the Indians have jumped out to this lead without arguably their best hitter, Michael Brantley, who has only played in barely enough games to make a difference.
The Tribe was a mere 10-11 in April, not great, but certainly OK as part of a 162-game season. A decent May brought the Tribe up to 26-24 as the team won 16 and lost 13. However, it was a historic month of June that included 13 wins as part of a franchise record 14-game winning streak that brought the Tribe up to 48-30 record and opened a gap atop the standings.
The All-Star break has seemed to come at a good time for the Indians as the Tribe has gone just 4-6 in July after dropping three out of the last four games to the New York Yankees. Last year, with 74 games left to play the Tribe was 42-46 and 11 games behind Kansas City. No one is thinking wild card this year right now, as it’s all about winning the division and avoiding a one-game playoff. If this was to be the case, then the Indians starting rotation could potentially shine and make make it an October to remember. With that said, I’m going to give a midseason review by general position, so here we go.
Outfielders (Grade B)
What was thought to be a question mark heading into the season without a healthy Brantley has actually turned into a source of strength. Rajai Davis continues to drink from the Fountain of Youth at age 35 and has brought excitement to the base paths along with showing an ability to still play almost every day. His 24 steals lead the American League and he’s been alternating back and forth with the lead-off position in the lineup with Carlos Santana. Davis is slashing .265/.327/.433 not too bad for a guy, who heading into the season we weren’t sure how effective he really would be, although we hoped that he would be this good.
Tyler Naquin has surpassed just about everyone’s expectations so far this season, but perhaps we shouldn’t have taken his abilities so lightly especially after he came out on fire in Spring Training and forced his way onto the 25-man roster. Naquin has blasted nine home runs in just 159 at bats and also has used his speed to hit five triples, as well, to lead the team. These are impressive numbers for a guy who never showed much power in the minors. Naquin is slashing .314/.374/.591 for a ridiculous .965 OPS that easily is tops on the team. If he keeps hitting even close to this pace, Naquin could be a lock for the American League Rookie of the Year.
Lonnie Chisenhall has seemed to establish himself (finally) as a Major League player worthy of consistent playing time. He’s a plus defender in right field, perhaps worthy of Gold Glove consideration, and providing some punch from the lower part of the lineup. He’s slashing .299/.345/.474 in 211 at-bats. Chisenhall has also hit six home runs and has had his share of clutch hits lately.
Marlon Byrd was a solid contributor during his 115 at-bats with the Indians before he was suspended for using performance enhancing drugs. He was slashing .270/.326/.452 in 34 games before his season was over.
Abraham Almonte is back after his 80-game suspension and has just 15 at-bats since his return. Not really enough to contribute to a grade here, but if he can play a decent role as a fourth or even fifth outfielder, who can play multiple positions and be a switch hitter, it can only help the Tribe.
Brantley has only appeared in 11 games so far and has 39 at-bats that haven’t been very productive. He’s slashing just .231/.279/.282. In all fairness, he likely wasn’t at 100 percent when he played. It will be interesting to see when he returns and whether he can resume the level of success to which we’ve been accustomed. If so, that’s only going to help the Indians playoff run.
Jose Ramirez has spent a good amount of time in the outfield as he’s appeared in 41 games in left field. But he’s also appeared in 50 games at third base, eight at second base and five times at shortstop – keeping in mind he might play more than one position per game. Because he’s seen more time in the infield I will include him in the infielders grade later on.
Collin Cowgill and Michael Martinez got a few dozen at-bats while serving as outfielders and they didn’t do much offensively.
This part of the team has actually been pretty solid for the Indians and, quite frankly, giving them this high of a grade, is something I wouldn’t have expected in April.
Infielders (Grade B+ )
I’ll begin with All-Star Francisco Francisco Lindor, who earned his first berth in the Mid-Season Classic. Lindor has become the heart and soul of this team with his spectacular play at shortstop and his infectious smile and enthusiasm for the game. It’s hard to believe he’s only 22 years old and could keep getting better. He’s definitely worth watching on the field solely for his defense, but it doesn’t stop there. Lindor has become one of the best, if not the best, hitters on the team. He’s played in 87 of 88 games and in his 337 at-bats, he’s slashing .306/.363/.460 and has 10 home runs and 45 RBI to go with 13 steals in 16 attempts. Lindor is having an MVP type season and if he continues along like he has and the Indians keep winning, he’s sure to get some votes for this honor.
Jason Kipnis is having a solid year of his despite not being named to the All-Star team. After serving mostly as the team’s leadoff hitter in 2015, Kipnis has seemed to have found a home batting second. He’s also found some additional power this season as he’s already smacked 14 home runs (his career high is 17) and driven in 49 runs. Kipnis is slashing .276/.335/.478 and if could be on his way to a 25 home run/90 RBI season (or even better if he gets hot) if he doesn’t fade down the stretch.
Mike Napoli and Santana have alternated between designated hitter and first base this season. To start, Santana is arguably on his way to his best season in an Indians uniform. He’s no longer a major liability on defense and is hitting more like what we’ve hoped in the sense that he’s not hitting nearly every pitch he makes contact with into a shift for a ground out. He already has 20 home runs and 49 RBI in 87 games and 328 at-bats. His career high in home runs is 27 and it would seem likely that he’ll break into the 30 HR club this year. He’s also slashing .253/.351/.497 along with 50 walks. He also has just 54 strikeouts and could potentially have fewer than 100 for the first time since 2010 when he appeared in just 46 games with 150 at-bats.
Napoli has been basically everything the Indians could have hope for when the team acquired him to serve as a right-handed power bat. Plus, he’s also helped stabilized the Indians infield defense. But really, who can forget him almost hitting drummer John Adams with a home run ball last week near the scoreboard? He’s been what the lineup has missed for years – someone who puts fear into the opposing pitcher due to his capability to blast one out at any time.
He’s already hit 18 home runs and driven in 61 runs. He’s slashing .243/.327/.466 in 82 games and 313 at-bats. Along with great power, in his case comes a great number of strikeouts. Napoli has already fanned 119 times and come close to 200 for the season. However, it’s quite possible that the sometimes streaky hitter could hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs, so that’s a trade-off most fans would likely accept.
Ramirez has to be among those considered to be the team’s early season MVP. The 23-year-old came into the season as the expected super utility player, like Mike Aviles did in 2015. However, Ramirez has bulled his way into the everyday lineup and has helped to offset the loss of Brantley in the outfield and that’s a lot of where his true value has come this season. He’s also been Mr. Clutch as he’s slashing .377/.436/.478 with runners in scoring position. For the season, Ramirez is slashing .295/.352/.417 and has adapted quite well after really never playing in left field before.
Juan Uribe has basically done what he was signed to do. He’s been a stop-gap player, who agreed to a one-year contract At age 37, this might be his last go-around in the Majors. At times, Uribe has been hot, but most often he’s not. He’s slashing .217/.273./.360 in 64 games and 211 at-bats. Uribe can play a competent third base, but he’s definitely not much of an everyday player anymore and the less he plays the better he and the team will likely be.
I’d give this unit a higher grade if Uribe wasn’t part of it, but he has been and probably will be for at least a little while longer. Maybe the Indians will make a move whether a promotion from the minors or through a trade.
Catchers (Grade D-)
Yan Gomes is still a fan favorite for the time being because he’s a really capable catcher who calls a great game to manage a pitching staff. But for the love of Yan, he’s had an awful season at the plate. Gomes might be the worst everyday hitter in baseball right now. He’s slashing just .166/.201/.315 in 68 games and 241 at-bats. He’s also been moved down to the eighth or ninth spot in the lineup and has been the source of killing rallies with his times at the plate.
Chris Gimenez was acquired after Roberto Perez was injured early in the season. Gimenez also doesn’t hit much and is slashing only slightly better than Gomes at .185/.230/.272. His true value has been his pairing with battery mate Trevor Bauer who really started to come into his own with Gimenez behind the plate.
Perez is on the disabled list and had only eight at-bats with no hits before he was hurt. It will be interesting to see what the Indians doe in terms of moves when he’s eligible to return. One has to think the Tribe won’t keep three weak-hitting catchers on the 25-man roster.
The only reason I didn’t give this unit an F is because they do what good catchers are supposed to do – they call a good game and are good defensive players. But their offense is, well, offensive.
Starting pitchers (Grade A-)
The rotation of Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, and (now) Josh Tomlin is best part of the team in 2016.
Kluber (9-8 3.61 ERA) is pitching well again this season for the most part and has been rewarded with his first All-Star selection. He’s struck out 122 batters in 122 innings and opponents are hitting just .216 against him. Kluber also has a team-best 1.02 WHIP.
Carrasco (5-3, 2.47 ERA) could have been the third Indians pitcher named to the All-Star game if he had been healthy. As it was, in his 12 starts, he’s pitched 73 innings and struck out 72 while opponents are hitting just .223 against him. At times, he’s the best pitcher on the staff.
Salazar (10-3, 2.75 ERA) also is having a breakout season and has been rewarded with a selection to the All-Star game. He’s also in the early running for the American League Cy Young award. At times, his changeup is unhittable as it dips down in the strike zone. He’s struck out 118 hitters in 104 innings and opponents are hitting just .204 against him.
Bauer (7-3, 3.30 ERA) has finally established himself as a Major League starter and may have finally figured out what it takes to do so. He’s appeared in 20 games (13 starts) after beginning the season in the bullpen. He’s cut down on his walks and has given up 35 in 101 innings and seems to be able to throw a strike more often than not. He’s struck out 91 and opponents are hitting just .229 against him.
Tomlin (9-2, 3.51 ERA) has been everything you could ask this season. He began as the team’s fifth starter coming out of Spring Training, but at times he could be considered a third or fourth starter. As typical, Tomlin has issued only 11 walks in 100 innings and while striking out 68.
Cody Anderson made eight starts in the early part of the season after he made the rotation after Spring Training. However, he wasn’t very good with a 1-4 record and 7.48 ERA. It became apparent that he needed to head back to Columbus.
Mike Clevinger also made three starts and pitched in four games total. Clevinger is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA, but he might factor in during the second half as a member of the bullpen. I’m not going to really count the one start Zach McAllister made when he pitched one inning during an emergency start after a 19-inning game.
This unit would have received an A+ grade if not for the contributions (or lack of) from Anderson and Clevinger, who made 11 starts of the team’s 88 starts.
Bullpen (Grade C)
I’ll start with closer Cody Allen, who’s been great for the most part. Allen (2-3, 2.79 ERA) has 18 saves in 20 opportunities and is doing everything asked by Manager Terry Francona. Allen continues to be the best pitcher of this unit.
Bryan Shaw (1-3, 4.04 ERA) also is having an up and down season and continues to be the primary setup man in the eighth inning. At times, he’s been ineffective and inconsistent.
Dan Otero (2-1, 1.27) has emerged as a decent option in the middle innings, Jeff Manship is still plugging away in middle relief with a 2-1 record and 2.05 ERA in 26.1 innings, and Tommy Hunter (2-2, 3.74 ERA) is recovered from early season injury.
McAllister (2-2, 5.40 ERA) is madly inconsistent and has lost the trust of many fans when called on to pitch in meaningful situations.
Guys like Joba Chamberlain, Austin Adams, Ryan Merritt, Kyle Crockett, Shawn Armstrong, Shawn Morimando, Jose Colon, Tom Gorzelanny, T.J. House and even Gimenez have made appearances in relief as the Indians keep searching for reliable help.
Overall, the bullpen has been the weakness for this team. The unit hasn’t been terrible, but it hasn’t been great either. Perhaps a move might occur to help shore up the pen at the trade deadline.
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