Cleveland Indians: A Look At Three Specific Aspects Of The Tribe's Roster

It is very early in the 2017 Cleveland Indians season, and nothing should be set in stone yet. Then again, there are aspects to the team’s play that are frustrating to accept.

So far this season, the Cleveland Indians have done the opposite of what they have been doing in past Aprils: Start off slowly and are forced to make up ground. Cleveland is atop their division and things are looking bright.

As players get into their respective grooves, continued progress should be seen. Still, why the Indians do certain things to win is beyond me. Now, I am not speaking about something regarding obvious situations like situational play-calling or how their catchers call games.

The first thing I cannot stand seeing is how much outfielder Brandon Guyer is being used. I don’t mind seeing him in the lineup on occasion, but what I am really not a fan of is seeing him bat third! In an ideal situation, Guyer would not be playing that much.

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Cleveland has enough outfielders, but Guyer does do well against lefties. Not to mention having a knack for getting hit by the pitch, allowing the Tribe to have another runner on base.

Going forward, hopefully manager Terry Francona adjusts the lineup and moves Guyer down in the lineup. I would prefer to see pretty much anyone in that spot other than either catcher or outfielders Abraham Almonte, Austin Jackson, and Lonnie Chisenhall.

According to baseball-reference.com, Guyer has batted third in six of his 10 games this season! So far in 2017, Guyer has a .160 batting average. Along with that, he has just one home run and two RBI, in addition to a -0.1 WAR. That is not going to cut it.

Often, when Guyer has played it has been to replace Michael Brantley in left field. Even with Brantley out of the lineup, there are other options. I hate to think Cleveland is relying on Guyer in that spot in the order as they progress into the middle of the lineup. If Guyer has to play, hopefully he picks up his game. Otherwise, Guyer is destined to be designated for assignment.

As I move along, another aspect of the Indians that does not make any sense is their usage of utility man Michael Martinez. I get that he is versatile and all, but the veteran is just not any good.

In Cleveland’s last game versus the Chicago White Sox, Martinez made another mistake as he dropped the ball that would have given the Tribe an out. Catching the ball is the first thing you learn when it comes to baseball. There is no excuse for such a costly play and it is humiliating to see him still on a major league roster.

Also per baseball-reference.com, Martinez’s slash line is .200/.333/.400/.733 with zero home runs and zero RBI. Perhaps the best thing Martinez has done for the Indians was his pitching debut in his one inning of work earlier this month.

Surprisingly, Martinez has a better WAR (0.1) than Guyer. If versatility is what concerns Cleveland should they remove Martinez, then the club really has nothing to worry about.

Second baseball Jason Kipnis is back, which allows Jose Ramirez to move to third base. When other players need a day off or just a change in general in the lineup, there are more than enough bodies to move around to play elsewhere.

Lastly, Bryan Shaw, who has done very well so far. Yet, again it is still early. Per baseball-reference.com, in nine appearances, Shaw has racked up 8 1/3 innings, has one save, and is 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA. Is it just me or do you also feel anxious, nervous, and uncertain when Shaw enters games?

Sure, he has done his job, but I cannot forget how inconsistent he can be or at the very least, think about the tight spots he puts Cleveland into. Thus, ultimately forcing Francona to move onto someone else to finish Shaw’s job. How long will his streak of good outings last?

Next: The Bats Have To Get Going

All of these aspects of the Indians’ season so far has a reason behind it. However, as 2017 moves forward, those reasons will change. When that happens, seeing the necessary adjustments of using those players in different roles or at least the frequency in those roles will be great things to watch!

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Cleveland Indians: A Look At Three Specific Aspects Of The Tribe’s Roster

By Ryan Rosko | Apr 24, 2017

It is very early in the 2017 Cleveland Indians season, and nothing should be set in stone yet. Then again, there are aspects to the team’s play that are frustrating to accept.

More from Factory of Sadness