TRIPLE THREAT CLE: Edwin Encarnacion

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Sunday, May 14, 2017

On Deck Circle 5/14/17: Stay Optimistic, Tribe Fans!

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

Corey Kluber is on the DL.

Danny Salazar has not been pitching well.

Trevor Bauer has been atrocious, and that’s putting it lightly.

Edwin Encarnacion has been struggling with providing the power that all Indians fans hoped for.

Jason Kipnis is still trying to get back in the groove after starting the season on the DL.

The defense is just down right bad.

So, with all of these problems, why should Indians fans stay optimistic? There’s only 1 reliable starter, poor defense being played, and offense that ranks in the lower 3rd of the league in majority of categories. That normally would spell out a team that has too many deficiencies to overcome and reason to not buy in to their squad.

Many reasons, the first one being that despite all of their current issues, they are still 18-17 and only 2 games out of first in the AL Central. And I know it’s way too early to start dissecting the playoff picture, but they are still right in the thick of things as a wild card team. This is essentially saying that if only half of the issues mentioned turn around then the Indians will have no problem with taking control of the division and regaining their place atop the entire American League.

If Kluber comes back from the DL and starts pitching well along with Salazar finding his groove then that will be more than enough, add in that Mike Clevinger very well may take Bauer’s starting spot in the rotation and now the starting pitching is exponentially better. Or if the Indians start getting that big pop from Encarnacion’s bat and Kipnis raises his batting average, the offense improves and these 3-2 or 2-1 losses turn into 5-3 or 3-2 wins. A lot can change still, the season is still relatively young and it’s too soon to throw in the towel on this team just because things aren’t going as planned right now.

This leads right into my second reason, this is a proven team with proven players. It would be a bit different as far as optimism goes had this team not gone to the World Series last season, if they were just a .500 team last year then likely there wouldn’t be a sense to stay positive about this team. But this team is good, with a lot of returning players from last season and got even better in the offseason.

There’s reason to keep faith in Kluber and Salazar pitching well because we know they can, just like there’s reason to believe that Encarnacion’s bat will be there. This isn’t a team that’s just hoping that they can get production from some unlikely places, gone are the days of pinning their hopes on Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Giambi to provide the pitching and hitting even though they are well out of their prime. Getting production out of Mike Napoli was great, but he eventually bottomed out so they replaced him with a guy that has hit at least 34 home runs in 5 straight seasons. This is a real good team, probably the best 25 man roster in the AL, they are weathering the storm right now and keeping themselves in a position where there’s little no ground to make up once they start clicking, which they will.

Aside from all the negatives, the one main constant positive is how great this bullpen is. That has been the Indians’ saving grace so far, the fact that if they have a lead through 5-6 innings then the bullpen is a steel trap and protects that lead no matter how small it may be. Andrew Miller and Nick Goody still have not given up an earned run this season, Cody Allen has saved 9 games and has not blown a save, and Bryan Shaw, who has been a target of frustration for fans, along with Boone Logan have held their own in relief opportunities. This is all happening with some poor starting pitching, once the starters turn it around then this is going to be an incredibly scary pitching staff as a whole. The bullpen alone should keep Indians fans optimistic, they will win every game that gets turned over to them while in the lead. They’ve been the reason why the record is what it is right now and will continue to be a solid part of the team going forward.

And finally, the biggest reason may just be the division that they play in. There are no teams in the division that are as good and talented as the Indians, Cleveland looks like they are sandbagging right now and no team in the AL Central has been able to capitalize on it. The only other quality team that could give the Indians a run for their money are the Detroit Tigers, and they have just as many, if not more, glaring issues than the Indians do right now. There’s no team like the Houston Astros or Washington Nationals in this division, no team that just looks stunning on paper that the Indians will struggle with. If the Indians are able to compete in the division currently with all of that they are lacking from key players, just imagine what they will do when those problems get resolved and those key players start performing accordingly. It’s a good spot to be in for the Indians, they’ve been given a nice buffer to work out all the kinks since no team is starting to run away with the division. This is still Cleveland’s division to win, they are the favorites to be crowned AL Central champs so there’s no reason why any fan shouldn’t be optimistic about this team making the playoffs still.

So there you have it, tribe fans. I know watching these games can be painful at times and I know that there were high expectations going into this season and the team has not played up to those expectations, but there’s plenty to remain positive about this team as the season goes on. This team will win the division and make the playoffs and will be a favorite to win the American League pennant, just keep the optimism flowing as the season continues.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Tribe Talk: Optimism In Goodyear #Indians

By Alex Hale, @ThatCLESportGuy

The cold of Winter is starting to go away and Pitchers and Catchers have arrived in Goodyear, Arizona for the beginning of Spring Training. After an unbelievable run by the Tribe in 2016, the Indians set their eyes for continued success in 2017. What Indians fans will quickly notice is the vast improvements the Indians have made to the team for the 2017. This is because of a very successful offseason that Mike Chernoff and Chris Antonetti put together for the Tribe to prepare for this upcoming season. While they only had a handful of moves, they made sure each one of them counted and Cleveland fans should get to know who are some of the new faces that could be making a big impact for the Indians in 2017. Before we jump into this, Indians fans should be thanking Paul and Larry Dolan for finally keeping their word of, “When we win, we will spend”. The moves that were made this offseason aren’t possible without their faith in this team to finally ending the Indians franchise’s long World Series championship drought. So with that said here are your newest members of your Cleveland Indians.

Edwin Encarnacion (3 years, $60 million, team option for 4th year)- I’ve already made my comments before on this, so instead of writing it again I’ll refer you to my Encarnacion article I wrote shortly after the signing.

Austin Jackson to Minor League contract- While the Indians couldn’t bring back World Series legend Rajai Davis, getting Austin Jackson to a minor league deal isn’t a bad consolation. The big thing with Jackson is the depth he would provide, especially if Michael Brantley returns and stays healthy. Jackson offers a solid glove in the outfield and ability to play the entire OF. Jackson’s bat is a bit of a concern, but if I’m an Indians fan I look at Austin Jackson’s success with the Tigers, where he had a lot of success in a loaded lineup where almost everyone was a threat at the plate (.277 average with Detroit, compared to .250 average in SEA/CHC/CWS). When Jackson has a specific role in the lineup and is not forced to do too much as a hitter, he can contribute. His one weakness is he strikes out a lot. For only a Minor League contract, that to me is a steal for what Jackson could provide as a potential platoon Outfielder.

Wily Mo Pena to Minor League contract- This could be a very underrated move potentially. Pena is 35 years old and hasn’t played in the Major Leagues since 2011 with the Mariners. Once a prized prospect for the Reds who had some success from 2004-2007, Pena hasn’t figured out the consistency needed to thrive in the majors. One thing you will get from Pena is power, where in that 2004-2007 stretch hit 69 HRs and 198 RBIs. What intrigues me is his success in Japan where he 71 HRs in 4 years. The Indians really are looking for lightning in a bottle and who knows, maybe Wily Mo can finally showcase what so many thought of him years ago.

Boone Logan (1 year, $6 million, team option for 2nd year)- So back in July instead of trading for Andrew Miller, I suggested added a different lefty in the Rockies Boone Logan. Fast Forward 8 months later and the Indians now have not just Andrew Miller, but have now added Boone Logan to go with Miller. When I first learned of the signing, I had to look again to make sure I read that right. We all know how dominant Andrew Miller was, but the Indians desperately needed another lefty to take the burden off of Miller against lefties. Logan is one of the more effective lefty specialist relievers in baseball, lefties have hit .233 against him in his career with .308 OBP, .361 SLG, and .670 OPS. Logan won’t have the same expanded role like he had in Colorado, which will make him more fresh and probably more effective in the long run. With Logan added to the bullpen, the Indians starting rotation probably only has to go 6 innings before handing it over to what looks to be a dominant bullpen.

Offseason Grade- B+

It would be simple to give the Indians an A+ simply because of the Boone Logan/Edwin Encarnacion signings alone. But here’s my gripe…I really wanted them to add another starter (Doug Fister is still available), plus I would’ve loved to get insurance for Michael Brantley. While Rajai Davis was probably out of the Indians price range after the Encarnacion signing, I’m still a bit bummed out the Indians didn’t pursue a Jerrod Dyson from the Royals, who would’ve provided the speed they lost in Rajai. I do expect the Indians to look for improvements throughout the season as they’re clearly in “win now” mode. So in terms of trying to fill all the holes on this team, they really didn’t do that, but without question the Indians have vastly improved the team on offense and in the bullpen. The rest will rely on the continued development of the young starters and the health of Michael Brantley.

Spring Training is about to begin and it’s clear that the Indians have come to Goodyear, Arizona prepared and ready to finish the mission they started last year. Even position players have come to Arizona early to get ready for the season. You could tell even at Tribe Fest that while the players are excited for the year to get started, they know there’s unfinished business. I myself watched “Wahoo: What A Finish” the other day and a quote Rick Manning said really stuck out to me. In 2016, the Indians had the the mindset that like the 1994 Indians, they thought they could win. I believe the 2017 Indians will shadow the 1995 Indians where they don’t think they can win, they KNOW they can win. The Indians core players have fully assumed control and know that their goals are within their reach. They know it will be a long 8 month journey that starts now, but with their attitude and the improvements the Front Office has made, we could be in line for another 8 month journey that might end in redemption for the Tribe.

Monday, January 2, 2017

Tribe Talk: Starting Off 2017 With A Bang #Indians

By Alex Hale, @ThatCLESportGuy

In quite possibly one of the more important off-season in Cleveland Indians history, the Indians had the task of finding a way to improve a team that was one swing away from a World Series Championship. The Indians for over a month decided to lay low and not get involved in the Hot Stove of the Winter Meetings, hoping it would pay off. I don’t think any of us were ready for the early Christmas present on December 22nd. The Indians in a masterful show of strategy and playing the market perfectly signed 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion to a 3 year $60 million contract with an option for a 4th year that would make it 4 years, $80 million. To Indians fans this was a dream come true, the Dolan's finally after years of not living up to their word of, “When we win, we will spend” and not only did they spend, but they acquired one of the premier power hitters in all of Baseball. In a matter of only about a week and a half, the Indians season ticket sales are now up to 10,000 season ticket holders. It was a game changing move that shows the fans the Indians run to the World Series isn’t going to be a fluke and the Indians Ownership is serious to win a World Series for the city of Cleveland for the first time since 1948. And while there’s a lot to be excited about, there are still 2 major questions that remain from all of this.

The 2 questions that remain from this signing are:
1. Are the Indians done making moves?
2. What is the real impact of having Edwin Encarnacion to this lineup?

Now to the question of are the Indians done making moves, I’m not quite sure they’re done just yet. The Indians still have a major hole at CF as Rajai Davis is still a Free Agent. The Indians could easily go with a Tyler Naquin and Abraham Almonte in a platoon OF. They could also easily go with Top Prospect OF Bradley Zimmer to start the year in Cleveland (highly unlikely). The Indians currently have Naquin, Almonte, Guyer and Chisenhall as their OF as it stands today (not counting on Brantley yet). Whether or not the Indians will be able to sign someone or even trade for an upgrade remains to be seen.

The Indians at this point I’ve estimated to probably have $5 million left to spend in FA, which takes them out on Rajai Davis most likely. That leaves the trade market. First off, the Indians aren’t getting Andrew McCutchen with Encarnacion. That means you got to look elsewhere for the trade. Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies, Billy Hamilton of the Reds, and Jarrod Dyson of the Royals seem to make the most sense for what Cleveland could be looking for in a CF. Adding a true leadoff hitter to the lineup would make the Indians lineup almost lethal.

With that said, the Indians already got their cleanup guy in Encarnacion, but what is the impact of having him in their lineup. It’s fairly similar to the Mike Napoli presence in the cleanup role, but to a much bigger extent. Encarnacion unlike Napoli, does a great job in cutting down his strikes out and drawing walks, which makes you think what the possibilities are for having Encarnacion and Carlos Santana batting back to back every day. It could potentially cause nightmares to opposing pitching staffs. If the Indians can get Michael Brantley back healthy and continue to develop their young stars in Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, the Indians could have one of the more lethal and yet balanced offenses in Major League Baseball.

I think the Indians best route is to find a trade partner for Trevor Bauer to acquire a CF and the Indians to immediately sign FA SP Tyson Ross to take his spot in the rotation. Ross would give the Indians potentially another dominant starter that can easily go 6 innings and turn it over to the bullpen. While Ross has had his injuries and inconsistency over the past couple of years, I’m fully confident that Mickey Callaway would get Tyson Ross back to his All-Star form from San Diego. If that were the case, the Indians wouldn’t just be the clear odds on favorite in the AL, I would favor them to win the World Series.

Since the deal of Swisher and Bourn to the Braves in August of 2015, Indians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti and GM Mike Chernoff have been methodically plotting to make their move. The Indians talent finally came together as planned in 2016, and the Indians knowing the Swisher and Bourn contracts were fully off the books this offseason, knew they had the money and were prepared to strike like sharks in the water. They played the market perfectly and didn’t waver when they could’ve. Remember they were very much in the Mitch Moreland “sweepstakes”, a guy who fit what they wanted defensively (AL 2016 1B Gold Glove winner) and had a good bat, but the Indians laid low and let Boston take him. They could’ve easily gone after Kendrys Morales, but let Toronto pay up for him. They let all their possible competition for Encarnacion almost panic and make a move for the sake of it and they knew this possibility was real. I mean let’s be real, while it would’ve been a bummer, nobody would’ve blamed the Indians for just bringing back Mike Napoli, but instead they swung for the fences and they hit it out of the ballpark. This game of chess the Indians Front Office played to get Encarnacion to Cleveland proves why the Indians have one of, if not the best Front Office in all of Baseball.

While some reporters in Cleveland shook this off as nothing more than just a dream, remember who told you here at TripleThreatCLE that the Indians had money to spend and that a big signing could be in the cards if the Indians played it right.

2017 will bring some new Indians articles this year, including Series Matchups during the Season. I look forward to 2017 being just as magical of a year if not more than last year. Something just tells me, we’re in for another wild roller coaster ride this year and the Indians aren’t even done making moves yet. By the way we’re around 40 days until Pitchers and Catchers report to Arizona!

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Radio Show 12.28.16: Best Of 2016, Browns, Tyrod Taylor, Cavs/Warriors & 2017 Predictions