Got an Indians question? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heyhoynsie, and Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes will choose at least one to answer each Sunday here in the Sports section. All of Paul's answers are archived online.
Got an Indians question? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heyhoynsie, and Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes will post an answer. All of Paul’s answers are archived online.
View full sizeWas Russell Branyan the worst fielding first baseman in Tribe history? Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Isn't it time for the Tribe to start rebuilding and let their highly touted prospects get major-league experience? -- Sereka Williams, Cleveland
A: Hey, Sereka: The time is upon us. The Russell Branyan trade signaled its arrival.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Didn't Larry and Paul Dolan and GM Mark Shapiro assert during the first rebuild that instead of signing free agents the money would be spent on scouting and the farm system?-- Ricky Carter, Sandusky
A: Hey, Ricky: I've written about so many rebuilding projects I can't remember who said what. I do know that ownership has always spent liberally on scouting and the farm system. Their problem has been picking the right players to put in the farm system.
I never heard them say they would stay out of the free-agent market all together. I have heard them say it's a risky way to build a team.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: I was just wondering if you had reached the same conclusion I had that Russell Branyan was the worst fielding first baseman I have ever seen. I'm just not talking about fielding, but for his poor choices when he had possession of the ball. -- Paul Welling, Rossford
A: Hey, Paul: Branyan had as bad a stretch at first base as I've ever seen just before he was traded. It was so bad that I have to believe his back was bothering him.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: I understand, sort of, the Russell Branyan trade, but I don't get why the Indians are talking about trading Austin Kearns, one of the few players who can hit, and Mike Redmond, who appears to be the solution to keeping Fausto Carmona on track. What gives? Is there any hope that the Indians will again be a winning team? -- Jim Wensits, South Bend, Ind.
A: Hey, Jim: Redmond and Kearns are on one-year deals. They've performed well for the Indians, but they are temporary players. I'd be surprised if they're on next year's club.
As for the Indians fielding a winning team again, it will happen, but not in 2011.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: With Jamey Wright, Mark Grudzielanek and Russell Branyan gone, why were they signed? Who will fill their veteran leadership void? -- Hal Vernon, Cleveland
A: Hey, Hal: They were signed to take pressure off younger players such as Matt LaPorta and Luis Valbuena and to absorb some innings in the bullpen. When the season turned bad so quickly, the front office made the decision to go with younger players, which made Wright, Grudzielanek and Branyan expendable.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Virtually everybody knows the way you fill seats at major-league ballparks is with a competitive team, one that can make the postseason and win a championship every few years. I'm sure the Dolans are well aware of that fact, given the outstanding season the Tribe had just three years ago. So I've got to ask, are the Dolans in serious financial trouble? -- Dale Brodt, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
A: Hey, Dale: You saw what happened when the Indians were faced with losing up to $20 million last year. Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, Carl Pavano and others were traded.
That being said, I don't think the Dolans are in serious financial trouble, but they have been going through cost-saving measures since the start of the season. The economy in Cleveland, and throughout the country, hasn't helped.
They're last in the big leagues in attendance and the prospect for improvement next season is not good. They went into the year anticipating drawing about 1.6 million fans. Through 36 home dates, they were on pace to draw 1.3 million.
Does that mean the Dolans are looking to sell the club? From what I've heard the answer is no. I don't think there's a lot of people lining up to buy it. From a business point of view, to sell the club when it's at a low point is not the best strategy. Especially when they purchased the team at, or near, its peak in value.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Any chance that Austin Kearns could bring the same type of return as Casey Blake did a couple of years ago? Was the Tribe's willingness to pay Blake's remaining salary the key to getting Carlos Santana and would they do it again this year? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake
A: Hey, Steve: I doubt it, but you never know what a team in need would give up.
One of the reasons the Indians were able to get Santana was their willingness to pay all of Blake's 2008 salary.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Any idea why Wyatt Toregas is playing at Class A Mahoning Valley? Here is a guy who batted decent at Akron and Columbus and was an all-star at almost every level. How in the world can a guy be sent to low, short-season A ball with that kind of experience? It does not make sense. -- Mark Tennant, Geneva
A: Hey, Mark: Let's just say, Toregas and the Indians haven't been on the same page since he didn't make the big-league club out of spring training and they were unable to find a team that would take him in a trade.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: I wish I was joking when I ask this, but: How long do the Indians have Carlos Santana under contract for? I'm assuming he'll be on the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox or Angels within 3 1/2 years. -- Mark Cesarik, Chicago
A: Hey, Mark: Come on, you know the rules as well as I do. Santana belongs to the Indians for at least the next six years.
Q: Hey, Hoynsie: Kerry Wood went 3-for-3 in save opportunities last week. Do you think he now becomes tradeable? He is still owed a large sum of money. I was just curious to see if you thought his performance would be enough for some teams in the hunt to look past the dollars. -- Mark Lasher, Bangor, Pa.
A: Hey, Mark: I think he has to show more consistency and there's still time to do that. The Indians, actually, have until Aug. 31 to trade Wood.
If he continues to pitch well, perhaps a contender would take a chance on him. If not as a closer, then as another power arm late in the game. What remains of Wood's $10.5 million contract would be a key factor in the negotiations as well.
-- Hoynsie