Terry Pluto is talking to himself after Manny Acta talks Tribe.
While Manny Acta found reason for encouragement for the 2011 Indians, Terry Pluto says Acta's justified optimism can't ignore some glaring holes in the Tribe's roster.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talkin' to myself after Manny Acta talks Tribe...
Question: What was the biggest surprise about Manny Acta's year-end press conference?
Answer: That the Indians manager said what has been obvious to most fans.
Q: Namely?
A: That most of the young position players have not produced, that some regressed. Most of the time, managers tip-toe around that. Acta correctly praised the progress of the young pitchers, and gave a genuine reason for optimism.
Q: Did he mention Luis Valbuena?
A: I asked him who have been the biggest surprises this season and why ... and the first thing he mentioned was how Valbuena "has not been overmatched ... but has nothing to show for it." I'd argue that Valbuena has been terrible, hitting .193 (.540 OPS) heading into Wednesday. A left-handed batter, he's hitting .163 vs. right-handers. The same guy who hit 10 homers last season has two this year.
Q: Why pick on Valbuena?
A: Because he was a big part of the deal (along with Joe Smith) that sent Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle. Because he was handed second base in the spring, and has shown so little spark. Because the Indians still need a second baseman, and he's not it.
Q: What did Acta like?
A: The pitching. And he never expected the pitchers to show this much promise. He gushed about Carlos Carrasco. He said no one expected Fausto Carmona to come back so strong, and that Justin Masterson improved over the course of the season. Jeanmar Gomez and Josh Tomlin are intriguing. He likes Mitch Talbot as a fifth starter. The bullpen became solid with Chris Perez as a dominant closer.
Q: Isn't Acta just spewing the party line?
A: The Indians have a 3.90 ERA since the All-Star break, fifth in the American League. The bullpen is at 3.71 for the season, No. 7 overall. You can see the work of pitching coach Tim Belcher in Cleveland and Charlie Nagy at Class AAA and bullpen coach Scott Radinsky. Early in the season, Raffy Perez, Joe Smith and Tony Sipp were a mess, and they pulled themselves together.
Q: So he's right to be "excited" about the pitching?
A: Absolutely.
Q: So why did the position players falter?
A: It's a critical question. Other than Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner and Michael Brantley, no one has had a strong second half at the bat. Brantley is the only young player.
Q: Isn't Andy Marte hitting .261 after the All-Star break?
A: No more Andy Marte. Not with nine errors in 41 games at third, 26 being starts. And no more talk about Jayson Nix at third (11 errors in 37 games). Acta called third base "a carousel." I called it a disaster.
Q: Who should play there next year?
A: Acta didn't say. He doesn't know. Maybe they sign a veteran to buy time until Lonnie Chisenhall is ready. They are moving second baseman Cord Phelps (.308, 8 HR, 54 RBI, .825 OPS between Akron and Columbus) from second to third. He's a 23-year-old switch hitter. He also was given the award by the farm department for the most "hard-hit balls" this season -- 42 percent.
Q: So who plays second?
A: Acta didn't bring this up, but I'd give Jason Kipnis a legitimate shot to make the team out of spring training. Kipnis started the season at Class A Kinston, then moved up to Class AA Akron. He finished the year at Class AAA Columbus in the playoffs. He hit .300 everywhere. His OPS at Akron was .873. He hit for the cycle in a Class AAA playoff game. He's 23, a converted outfielder who played a decent second base. If he looks ready, they should go with him.
Matt LaPorta showed occasional power in 2010, but was unable to maintain a consistent batting average. But the young first baseman was given a "mulligan" by Manny Acta, who expects better things in 2011.Q: Will the Indians do that?
A: I doubt it. They'll probably open with Jason Donald at second and a mystery guest at third.
Q: Is Acta worried about Matt LaPorta?
A: He didn't act like it. He said he's given LaPorta "a mulligan," meaning a do-over. He said LaPorta spent part of the year recovering from hip and toe surgery, and this is not a true test.
Q: But LaPorta was worse in the second half (.255 before the break, .196 after), shouldn't he be better if injuries are an issue?
A: I asked Acta that question, and he countered with LaPorta having trouble with stamina because he couldn't physically prepare for the season due to his recovery from two surgeries.
Q: Do you buy that?
A: I hope he's right, because they need this guy. He is one of their few right-handed power hitters.
Q: You praised the pitching coaches, how about the hitting coaches?
A: They need to look at that. Lou Marson, Trevor Crowe, LaPorta are key young players who didn't show progress over the season. All have been up and down from the minors.
Q: What does Acta think about the team hitting next season?
A: He thinks it will. He talks about Grady Sizemore, Carlos Santana and Hafner being healthy, joining Choo and Cabrera as veterans in the lineup. I worry about Sizemore making a full comeback from microfracture knee surgery. He has been hurt for two years. They have to use Hafner only about four times a week, as they have since the All-Star break.
Q: But weren't you the guy who wrote, "Don't worry, the Indians will hit" when you were in spring training?
A: Well, I'm not writing it now. I'm not writing them off, but this team has several holes in the lineup -- and the infield defense remains a mess. Let's hope the Indians realize that, and don't assume everything will go right in 2011.