Potential or let down? That's what some Indians fans are already debating in looking toward the next Indians season.
View full sizeIs it enough for a Cleveland Indians fan to buy tickets to see Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta and the rest of the young Indians mature? Or should fans only support a contender? According to Paul Hoynes, that's a choice that every consumer will have to determine when the 2011 season arrives.Hey, Hoynsie: It seems to me that the Tribe will not contend for the next two or three years. Why should fans turn out to "The Jake" (it'll always be the Jake to me) to see minor-league baseball? We need an owner who will spend some money to get us back. -- Marvin Rappaport, Kingston, Pa.
Hey, Marvin: After the last two seasons, I don't see how the state of the Tribe should catch anyone by surprise. As for why fans should come to the ballpark, that's a personal decision. You can boycott Progressive Field for two or three years until you know what kind of team the Indians are going to be. Or you can come and watch a bunch of kids take their lumps and develop. It depends on your threshold of pain and what kind of fan you are.
Hey, Hoynsie: It was good of Albert Belle to inspire a sense of calm with the fans regarding LeBron James' recent return to Cleveland. The man has a way of diffusing potentially violent situations (especially from a distance). Any chance we will see him sent to the Middle East to get the peace process rolling? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake
Hey, Steve: Belle always was a bridge builder.
One question? Do you think Belle would have given James a big hug before the game if he played for the Cavs? Or would he have turned him into road kill, ala Fernando Vina?
Hey, Hoynsie: I just read that the Red Sox acquired first baseman Adrian Gonzalez for prospects. Are Tribe prospects overrated by the media and the reality is no teams are interested in them? Why doesn't the Tribe front office believe in playing the game with a legitimate first baseman? -- Chuck Noland, Memphis, Tenn.
Hey, Chuck: Prospects aren't the reason the Indians didn't trade for Gonzalez. It's that seven-year, nine-figure extension the Red Sox are going to give him to keep him from escaping through free agency that dulled the Indians' interest.
The Indians traded a Cy Young winner for Matt LaPorta. If he's not a legitimate first baseman, it's on them. But why don't you give them a chance to find out?
Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think there is a lot of momentum behind the concept of adding a second wild-card team? My understanding is that what's being contemplated includes a "play-in" scenario between the two wild-card teams with the winner advancing to the ALDS/NLDS. I know the proponents argue that this will give teams a bigger incentive to win their division and will open up another playoff spot. However, I think the structure has many flaws, including the possibility that the team with the second-best record in the league could have to face the team with the fifth-best record in a one-game playoff, with the winner advancing to the ALDS. What are your thoughts? -- David Bruno, Chagrin Falls
Hey, David: I think it's a done deal for 2012 with an outside chance for 2011. It sounds like the right people in Commissioner Bud Selig's inner circle want it to happen.
As for a one-game playoff to determine what wild card team would reach a division series, it doesn't seem like there's a lot of support for that. I think it would be a three-game series, but I could be wrong.
View full sizeWill Jayson Werth's big free-agent bonanza inevitably mean the departure of Shin-Soo Choo when his free-agent season arrives in 2013?Hey, Hoynsie: What's your reaction to Jayson Werth's seven-year, $126 million contract? I'm worried this could serve as a dangerous precedent for negotiations with another Scott Boras client with the unique power/speed combination (read: Shin-Soo Choo). These deals will continue to price mid-market teams out of the free agent market. -- Thomas Pindroh, Maple Heights
Hey, Thomas: The Indians have Choo under control for three more years. After that he'll probably be another team's problem.
Agree with you on the Werth deal, but I bet Carl Crawford was happy to see those numbers go up on the board.
Hey, Hoynsie: Any chance the Tribe would be interested in Edwin Encarnacion for a year at third base? He may accept a reasonable contract for a year. Plus, he has some pop in his bat and can actually field the position. He could be a nice bridge until Lonnie Chisenhall is ready. -- Steve Patt, Willoughby
Hey, Steve: Indians like his bat (.244, 21 HRs, 51 RBI, 332 at-bats) and hate his glove (18 errors in 95 games at third). I've been told he's not a fit.
Hey, Hoynsie: Please help me understand why the Indians seem to be interested in a starting pitcher. Any one they can afford probably won't be much good anyway, unless they get lucky as they did with Carl Pavano. Do they really think they can contend in 2011? Why not continue to develop their young pitchers? Some of them show promise. -- Dan Kopp, Mansfield
Hey, Dan: Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson are the only starters at the moment that could provide the Tribe with 180 to 200 innings a season. You're right about promise. The Indians have some starters with potential, but to develop that potential they'd like to be able to keep them in the minors for as long as necessary instead of rushing them to the big leagues.
That's why they'd like to add a starter such as Pavano or Kevin Millwood on a one-year deal. He can give the staff another potential 200-inning arm, set an example for the rest of the rotation in work ethic and technique and allow the prospects time to develop without getting turned into a giant bruise in the big leagues.
Hey, Hoynsie: You've written about our depth in relievers and middle infielders. If we were to trade some excess would it yield a "core player" in your opinion? -- Sandy Sherman, Lyndhurst
Hey, Sandy: If you wanted to trade Chris Perez, Tony Sipp or Jason Kipnis, it would. Other than that, I don't think so.
Hey, Hoynsie: Why is it such a stretch to play Carlos Santana at third base? He's obviously a natural hitter, but how was he as a third baseman? -- Ralph Fioritto, Chesterland
Hey, Ralph: Middle of the diamond players -- catchers, shortstops, second baseman and center fielders -- have more value around baseball. They are especially valuable when they can hit and throw like Santana.
I was told that if Santana was a bust at catching, he could always go back to third. But if his left knee cooperates, he's more valuable to the Indians behind the plate.
Remember, he is scheduled to start playing some first base next season.
-- Hoynsie