Cleveland Indians: Should Tyler Naquin Be A Regular Starter?
By Ryan Rosko
The Cleveland Indians have their issues in the outfield, but rookie center fielder Tyler Naquin could help long-term. Should we see the rookie outfielder start every day?
One obvious area that the Cleveland Indians need help is with their outfield. With their best outfielder (and possibly best player) out in Michael Brantley, the outfield situation looks that much worse.
Yes, the Cleveland Indians continued to do business as they have for some time in acquiring talent (which is acquiring talent of quantity rather than quality talent). However, that approach has not allowed the team to have a more successful lineup as they could have otherwise.
Because of how the roster and organization is created, it makes sense to play players who have long-term potential who also could benefit the Cleveland Indians now. One of those players is center fielder Tyler Naquin, but should he start?
Naquin has played some this season, but he is more talented than the players who are starting. So what gives? Should Naquin be a regular starter? Members of the FoS team gave their thoughts.
Naquin Needs To Be Out There
Ric McElroy
After watching Rajai Davis create breezes in Progressive Field that were not needed as it was cold already if the Cleveland Indians are determined to go with the youth movement, then yes, Tyler Naquin should be out there.
Cleveland lacks power and RBI production.
Unfortunately, they have proven with their inability to trade for or sign free agents with that type of production that the fans’ only hope is that the draftees can carry this team. The Cleveland Indians have one of the best pitching staffs in the American League.
Yet, they will continue to waste that by going low ball on free agents and over-valuing their own talent in trade talks! I am still trying to figure out why they signed Mike Napoli and Juan Uribe when they should be playing Giovanny Urshela and the rest of the youngsters if that is their reasoning!
A Bunch Of Journeymen Outfielders And Then There Is Naquin
Nick Dudukovich
No! More Colin Cowbell! I mean, more Collin Cowgill! Oh yeah, I forgot. Sarcasm does not play well online.
Tyler Naquin should be the starting center fielder because, as spring training showed, the Cleveland Indians do not have a better option. Nobody counted on Abraham Almonte to get busted for PEDs but give T-Naq credit. The kid came to camp ready to compete. He gained 10 pounds of muscle, and then went out and beat the cover off the ball.
This is not to say the Tribe’s 2011 first-round pick will not get demoted at some point. That is just a fact of life for many in MLB, with approximately 80 percent of rookies getting sent back down after making their debut.
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Additionally, Naquin does come with fault. In the minors he struggled with plate discipline. Plus, we all know what April’s in Cleveland are like. It is windy, cold, and downright uncomfortable for baseball. I am saying this because I will not be surprised to witness a slow start.
But with that being said, who else would be a better fit? Cowgill, Robbie Grossman, Will Venable, Michael Choice? They all played lousy in the desert. Cowgill got lucky by getting a roster spot largely in part to Lonnie Chisenhall’s forearm injury.
I said entering spring training that I would favor the unknown of Naquin to career fourth-outfielders, such as the Grossman’s of the world. Naquin’s stats in Goodyear, Arizona backed this up, and he deserves to roam center until he proves otherwise.
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How Is Naquin Not Starting Every Day?
Ryan Rosko
Journeymen players are not the way to go. Yet, Byrd and Davis are solid players. It is very head-scratching trying to figure out why Francona is not letting Naquin start every day. One theory could be that Francona does not want to put the pressure on the rookie as he adjusts to big league pitching.
Whatever it is, the game plan for him needs to change. Naquin cannot and should not be the fourth outfielder. If Francona and the Cleveland Indians want to do that, then they might as well send him back to Triple-A so he can improve even more. I hope that does not happen, but the point is why make Naquin even have that role?
If the decision to not have Naquin as a regular starter now is because it would interfere with Davis’ playing time in center, then move Davis to one of the corner positions. It is as simple as that. By the time Brantley gets back, the Cleveland Indians should have Naquin starting regularly, but that decision should be made much sooner… as in right now!
Next: Tribe's Bullpen Falters In Saturday's Loss
It may be tough figuring out playing time for Brantley, Naquin, Byrd, Davis, and Chisenhall. On the other hand, what is best for the team now and going forward? Naquin needs to show that he can play consistently as a starter, but without given the opportunity, how can the Cleveland Indians know if he is the guy in center going forward?