The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Tribe is getting younger in the outfield
Memorial Day is still a day away, and already the Indians are planning for the future.
Memorial Day is still a day away, and already the Indians are planning for the future.
Carlos Gonzalez, signed near the end of spring training and not elevated to the Indians roster until mid-April, was designated for assignment May 23 because the 33-year-old veteran of 12 seasons is not in the Tribe’s long-range plans, including June.
“It was so hard because we loved the way he carried himself,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “But I feel like we’re also at a point where we need to find out about some of these younger guys, and if we don’t find out that could be a mistake.”
The Indians have a bunch of what should be fourth outfielders. The starting outfield May 24 against the Rays was Jake Bauers in left (.217, five home runs, 18 RBI), Leonys Martin in center (.220/6/12) and Jordan Luplow in right (.260/6/11).
Gonzalez, who played in 30 of the 33 games he was on the roster, was taking playing time from some of the younger players, including 25-year-old Luplow. Gonzalez and Luplow both play right field predominantly.
Luplow started the season with the Indians, was sent to Columbus on April 13 and then recalled April 28 when Greg Allen was demoted.
Luplow was hitting .200 with no home runs and no RBI when he was sent down. His home run in the bottom of the fourth inning May 24 tied the game with the Rays, 1-1.
“Just gaining confidence every day and earning the trust of the coaching staff is obviously key,” Luplow said. “And the players, too. Just showing them I can play a little bit and building confidence every day. “
Luplow was acquired from the Pirates for infielder Erik Gonzalez in an offseason trade. He played 27 games with the Pirates in 2017 and 37 last season. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2022. He can become a free agent in 2025.
“He looks a little more confident to me (since being recalled), all the way around the field,” Francona said. “Even some of the throws he’s made in the outfield. He’s been dangerous against lefthanded pitching, which we really need.”
The Indians are battling injuries in the outfield. Tyler Naquin is rehabbing from a calf strain. He is headed for a rehab assignment with Akron on May 26 and 27 and then a determination will be made after that, Francona said.
Bradley Zimmer, who hasn’t been with the Indians since being demoted to Columbus last June 5, is in extended spring training in Arizona recovering from a right shoulder injury and right oblique strain.
Meanwhile, Oscar Mercado, called up from Columbus when Naquin was injured, is trying to make a case for sticking with the Indians when Naquin returns.
Mercado, 24, has played in eight games. He is another one of the younger players Francona was referring to when he talked about designating Gonzalez for assignment. Mercado is hitting .261 with no home runs and three RBI.
Mercado suffered a right hip injury May 23 in a collision with Martin. Mercado was not in the lineup May 24.
“It’s 20 at-bats,” Francona said when asked for an early assessment of Mercado. “I think he’s doing everything we ask. We ask our guys to show up on time, be as good a teammate as you can and for the young guys learn. He’s a terrific kid. We hope his future is extremely bright.”
The Indians acquired Mercado from the Cardinals last year at the trading deadline in exchange for minor league outfielders Conner Capel and Jhon Torres.
“We’re putting together good at-bats,” Mercado said before the injury. “It doesn’t matter how you do it. At the end of the day, if you win games, that’s the most important thing. That’s why we’re all here — to help the team win games.”
Mercado was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2013 draft when he was 18. He said he was surprised when he was traded, but he is happy to be an Indian.
“It was a little shocking, but it’s also the start of something new with a great organization,” Mercado said. “I was pretty excited. I knew it was a big opportunity for me so I want to make the most of it.”
Naquin is eligible to be activated from the injured list at any time. Mercado is likely to be returned to Columbus so he can play every day. If that does happen the Indians have seen enough to know help is just a phone call away.
Special attention
The Browns improved their lineup on defense by signing tackle Sheldon Richardson, trading for end Olivier Vernon and drafting cornerback Greedy Williams, among other moves. They improved offensively by signing running back Kareem Hunt and trading for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Despite all that, don’t be surprised if their biggest improvement in 2019 comes on special teams.
Head coach Freddie Kitchens promised to dedicate extra attention to special teams in practice, and so far that has happened, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said recently. What’s more, Kitchens will allow Priefer to use starters on special teams. That was not the case last season when Hue Jackson (eight games) and Gregg Williams (eight games) were head coaches.
“I don’t like to criticize what they did in the past,” Priefer said. “I know that they were not allowed to use some of the personnel that were necessary. I think that starts with the head coach, and I know Freddie has done a great job at saying, ‘Hey, Prief, whatever you need and it’s going to help you win. If you need starters on offense, starters on defense to help on some of the phases, then use them and use the backups.’
“Obviously, the backups are going to be on everything. To be honest with you, it starts with the head coach. Freddie has done a great job giving us a time in all three phases to be. We are a lot further ahead than I have ever been at some of the places I have been because of the time that the head coach has given us on special teams. That’s huge.”
Using starters on special teams sounds good in theory, but there are obvious risks. Kellen Winslow Jr. suffered a knee injury trying to recover an onside kick against the Cowboys in the second game of his rookie season in 2004. The injury ended the season for the first-round tight end.
The Browns ranked 30th in special teams last year according to annual ratings chronicled by renowned sports writer Rich Gosselin, formerly of the Dallas Morning News.
• Priefer is a perfectionist. He has worked hard this season with placekicker Greg Joseph. Joseph was 17 of 20 on field goal tries last year. He missed four of 29 extra point tries.
“He has worked hard (on his mechanics), and that was basically the beginning of his approach,” Priefer said. “He was really inconsistent how he hit that first jab step, and that’s what I noticed off of game tape last year. It was a little bit when he was coming out of college a year ago. He is much more consistent, much more effective now. “
Joseph will be fighting for his professional life. The Browns used a fifth-round draft choice on kicker Austin Seibert from Oklahoma.
Mock draft
The Cavaliers have the fifth pick in the NBA draft on June 20. NBADraft.net has them selecting 19-year-old guard Coby White from North Carolina. White is a shooting guard and point guard, but according to the website is a scorer first.
“Lighting quick 6’5’’, 185-pound combo guard,” the scouting report says. “Aggressive scoring mentality but also unselfish passer of the ball… Shifty player with an excellent first step that allows him to blow by defenders … Versatile scorer. Can score anywhere on the floor, either getting his own shot off the dribble or catch and shoot situations ... Has a quick and accurate release … Adjusts his body midair on challenging layups … Great job at creating space for his shot … Can score from all three levels … Gets defenders off balance because of his quick stop/start ability … can get his shot off against top perimeter defenders.
“His quickness can be both a blessing and a curse … More effective as a scorer than a playmaker ... Needs to improve as a decision maker and passer … Good athlete but does not have a physical frame that stands out … Can improve overall as a playmaker ... Can get out of control… Must cut down on turnovers with 2.7 per game in his freshman season.”
The Cavaliers have also been projected to take 6-foot-6 Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver.
I didn’t know that
… Until I read my Snapple bottle cap
Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to identical quadruplets. … Water can boil and freeze at the same time. … The first sport to be filmed was a boxing match between James Corbett and Peter Courtney in 1894. …Raindrops can fall as fast as 20 MPH. … Spiked dog collars were invented by Greeks, who used them on sheepdogs to protect them from wolves . ... Australia has 10,685 beaches. You could visit a different beach once a day for 29 years there.
Reach Schudel at JSchudel@News-Herald. com. On Twitter: @jsproinsider