Spring Training is nearly gone. The sun is actually out and it is above freezing outside. Cleveland released a new viral video featuring Terry Francona as Siri (aka TERRi).
Life is good.
Here are all of the pieces that went up on IBI over the past week: Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 30, 2013
Today concludes my so-called “adjective” series in which I have looked at various levels of Cleveland’s minor league system with different adjectives in mind. It started with the prospects with the most to prove, continued with the most exciting and impressive prospects, and ends today with the most intriguing prospects.
This list may be my favorite because it looks at players who are far from perfect. They are intriguing to look at because there is something there that could breakout in 2013. Whether it is a lack of raw stuff that buries a performer on the depth chart, ridiculous tools that just have not translated well into game action, or plenty of other things, the definition of intriguing in this context has plenty of flexibility.
As before, prospects on the previous lists are not eligible. Yes Trevor Bauer is one of the most intriguing players in all of baseball, but he was already profiled in the “Most to Prove” article. So it goes. Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 30, 2013
IBI’s coverage of Spring Training kicked up another notch this past week as Tony made his way out to Goodyear, Arizona to take in the happenings. He filed plenty of first-hand reports throughout the week, bringing you the detail that you can only get from IBI.
That, combined with the normal level of coverage from the rest of the writers stuck back in cold, snowy Ohio, helped you get the most information possible about the team.
Here are all of the pieces that went up on IBI over the past week: Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 23, 2013
The Cleveland Indians released minor leaguers OF Mark Bradley, OF Mark Brown, UTIL Tyler Cannon, RHP Estevenson Encarnacion, RHP Luis Encarnacion, UTIL Evan Frazar, LHP Daniel Jimenez, OF Hunter Jones, and LHP Kyle Petter today in the first cuts from minor league camp. Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 23, 2013
When we go to any baseball game, we want to be entertained by the action. Sports is entertainment, after all.
What makes a day at the ballpark even more memorable, however, is when you come away from a game impressed by what you saw.
Players can impress with one standout tool, like a power hitter or a power pitcher. They can also impress with their well-rounded five-tool game. No matter how they do it, that is what today’s piece is about: finding players who are the most impressive.
Once again, per the rules of my series, if someone was on my list of the 10 players with the most to prove in 2013 or the most exciting prospects in the system, they are ineligible for this list. Just to keep things fresh. So if someone you think should be here is missing, that might be why.
And as always, I would not be able to go into any depth in this article without using the 2013 IBI Top 100 Prospects book. This may be a shameless plug, but it is one that is well-worth it. The detail just would not be here without it. Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 23, 2013
Opening Day is only 12 days away, meaning that spring training is almost through. With the team leaving Goodyear, Ariz., soon, decisions have to be made on who will make the big league club to start 2013. Indians manager Terry Francona and company began making those choices this past week, starting in the bullpen.
Roster additions
The composition of the Opening Day roster came a little more into focus this past week with the news that Cody Allen and Rich Hill will be in the bullpen. Until this past week, four bullpen spots were up for grabs, with only Chris Perez, Vinnie Pestano and Joe Smith locked into the roster.
Allen is the exciting addition here, as the 24-year-old right-hander started last year with the High-A Carolina Mudcats before rocketing through three levels of the minor leagues to debut last July. A 2011 draft selection, Allen reached the major leagues in his first full professional season and was the second member of the draft class to make it to the big leagues (with the newly-acquired Trevor Bauer being the first). Read More…
From Daily Kent Stater, March 21, 2013
Baseball is getting closer and closer to returning, but the most important event of the week was Cleveland’s Harlem Shake video.
I could watch that all day long.
Here are all of the pieces that went up on IBI over the past week: Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 16, 2013
Last week, I listed the 10 prospects with the most to prove in 2013. While it was not planned at the start, that has begun a miniseries for me that will list prospects with varying characteristics.
Today, we will take a look at the most exciting prospects in the organization. Exciting is a subjective term, but I am defining it as someone who just jumps off the field at you, whether through their hitting, their power, or just their all around attitude.
One rule is that, in order to make things interesting and not repetitive, we will not be doubling up on players. So if a player made the “Most to Prove” list, they will not be on here, even if they deserve to be. Also, I split it up by projected start level and listed one position player and pitcher per full season level. Again, just to keep things interesting.
But enough housekeeping. Let’s get on to the list. Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 16, 2013
Welcome to the first edition of Cleveland Baseball Weekly, a weekly notebook I will be writing on the Cleveland Indians.
Cleveland Baseball Weekly will catch you up on everything that happened with the team over the past week, or in this case, spring training to date, which has been quite eventful.
New Addition
Going into the offseason, times were bleak in Cleveland. Coming off of a 68-94 season, it certainly seemed like the team would be headed for another long rebuilding phase.
But the front office decided to go in the opposite direction. General Manager Chris Antonetti brought in new manager Terry Francona, two top-tier, high-priced free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn and essentially changed the entire mindset and outlook for the club. Read More…
From Daily Kent Stater, March 13, 2013
The IBI Top 60 Prospect Countdown entered the home stretch this past week, starting the top 10 and leaving only the best and brightest to go. Meanwhile, in Arizona, the big league continued going strong with plenty of game action and competition for major league spots.
Here are all of the pieces that went up on IBI over the past week: Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, March 9, 2013
Jim Piascik 