The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Runs could be hard to come by for Indians
The Indians broke spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., on March 30 after more than six weeks in the desert, and as the team headed to Detroit to open the season April 1 in a game with the Tigers, many questions remain unanswered.
Right at the top of that list is “Can the Indians score enough runs consistently to stay in the Central Division race?”
The Indians were 24th of 30 teams in runs scored in 2020, yet made the expanded playoffs as a wildcard team. The biggest move they made in the offseason was signing outfielder Eddie Rosario, but that came after four-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor was traded to the Mets.
Just look at the track record of the starting lineup. There is little after third baseman Jose Ramirez and designated hitter Franmil Reyes to give fans reason to believe the Indians can even match 2019
when they finished in the middle of the pack with 769 runs scored — an average of 4.75 runs a game. They won 93 games that year but still finished eight games behind the Twins.
First baseman Jake Bauers is not a hitting machine. Bobby Bradley should be starting at
first, but he has minorleague options and Bauers doesn’t, so the Indians brain trust sent Bradley to Columbus and kept Bauers because they didn’t want to risk exposing Bauers to waivers.
Bauers played in a total of 213 games for the Indians in 2018 and 2019 (he
was at the alternate site all of 2020) and has a career batting average of .214.
Moving right along the infield, Cesar Hernandez is a steady glove and led the American League with 20 doubles last year. The Indians need him to match the 71 RBI he delivered for the Phillies in 2019.
Andres Gimenez won the starting job at shortstop and drove in nine runs in spring training, but no one can project how he will hit once American League pitchers get a book on him.
The outfield is a hot mess again with the exception of Rosario. The Indians were counting on a bounceback year from center fielder Oscar Mercado. Instead, he and Bradley Zimmer are starting the season at Triple-A Columbus. Ben Gamel is the starter while Amed Rosario learns to catch fly balls consistently.
Josh Naylor is starting the season in right field. The word “potential” is attached to his name, too. He batted 61 times in 22 games with the Indians last season after being acquired from the Padres in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. Naylor hit .230 with no home runs and two RBI. He hit .212 with one home run and five RBI in 12 Cactus League games.
Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber, Clevinger and Carrasco are all pitching for other teams. For the first time in many years, there are question marks about the starting rotation.
The first three are set with Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale, but Triston McKenzie was shaky in Cactus League play, giving up seven home runs in 14 innings. Cal Quantrill did not grab the fourth or fifth spot by the throat. Logan Allen was impressive in spring training and deserves a spot in the rotation.
The back end of the bullpen is secure with Nick Wittgren and James Karinchak. Fireballer Emmanuel Clase must still prove himself in high-leverage situations in games that count, but he certainly has the potential to mow down a side in order with his 100 mph fastball.
Everyone else has to do his part for Wittgren, Clase and Karinchak to pitch in meaningful situations. Getting to the eighth and ninth inning with a lead will be the challenge for Terry Francona this summer.