Cleveland Indians OF facing numbers crunch likely to result in a shakeup

With the Cleveland Indians facing a looming numbers crunch in the outfield, someone’s going to get benched or demoted.

With the addition of Jay Bruce, the Indians made themselves a better team and a deeper lineup.

Additionally, Bruce’s presence created a lineup crunch that Terry Francona is going to have to tackle very soon.

What exactly is Tito going to do when everyone gets back to full strength?

This is the biggest question, as there is no doubt that Michael Brantley resumes his role as the everyday left fielder once he comes back from another ankle injury. But Chisenhall has started his rehab assignment in Akron and will be a week or so away from rejoining the big-league club.

Does Chisenhall go to right field with Jay Bruce moving to perhaps to DH? Does he play center field in a psuedo-platoon with Bradley Zimmer?

The most likely scenario is sliding from right field to center. Bradley Zimmer’s hot start and defense won’t be enough to overcome a staggering amount of strikeouts. While his defense is valuable, Chisenhall played the position decent enough to take over and keep Bruce’s bat in the order.

There’s also the option of playing Zimmer some in left field or Chisenhall in left, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen.

What happens to Austin Jackson?

In the short term, Jackson will play in left until Brantley returns, which shouldn’t be until September. His play has been steady all season and though he doesn’t have to flip over walls in Fenway to be effective, his defense and range is a plus. He also helps balance out a very lefty heavy batting order.

Even when Brantley comes back, Jackson could take over for Zimmer as the every day center fielder to limit Zimmer’s strikeouts and give a versatile outfield glove for Francona on the bench. Jackson could also go back to his previous role as a fourth outfielder that can play all three spots if needed.

Is there a future for Guyer and Almonte?

In short, not in 2017. The addition of Bruce leaves little need for either player. Guyer works hard, but can’t hit. Almonte has his moments, but replicates a lot of what Jackson does without any of the consistency.

As the season winds down and the at bats go to players needed for October, it’s hard to see where Guyer and Almonte fit into that plan. By the October 1st finale, it’ll be an outfield group of Brantley, Zimmer, Chisenhall, Jackson, and Bruce.

What other options are out there?

All that’s left are very unpopular and very difficult options to take.

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Carlos Santana is driving in runs, but that’s about it. Could he possibly move to the bench so that Bruce, Brantley, or Chisenhall can DH? As both Chisnehall and Brantley get back to 100 percent, they may need a few games at DH to shake off all of the rust.

This would make Edwin Encarnacion the full-time first baseman, which is a net defense gain of zero. Granted, Chisenhall can also play some first base as needed, but that would be a last resort type of move.

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As hinted to above, a very unpopular decision could be to send Zimmer back to Columbus and move Chisenhall the center full time. This worked out well enough early in the year, but it is less than ideal. But the Tribe didn’t trade for Jay Bruce to have him platoon in right field. He will be in the lineup every single game. This might be one of the few ways to make sure this happens. Zimmer’s strikeouts are a concern and though his defense is amazing, he just looks like the odd man out right now.

So, what’s going to happen?

I think Zimmer gets sent to Class AAA in the short term, but then is part of the September roster expansion to make sure Brantley can ease his way back into game shape.

Chisenhall then has to play center while Austin Jackson stays in left full time until Brantley is ready.

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That makes Jay Bruce the regular right fielder, with the occasional DH appearance to get Santana or Encarnacion an off day here or there. Bumping Zimmer down to Columbus won’t be popular with fans, but it’s the unfortunate result of the numbers game as it stands today.

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