Email a copy of 'Carlos Santana Expects To Play Third For Indians' to a friend
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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'Carlos Santana Expects To Play Third For Indians' to a friend
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Joe Goodin
I realize that Santana is a bad catcher, but wouldn’t Yan Gomes be the one to move as he was basically a utility player in Toronto?
ice_hawk10
Gomes only debuted with the Jays very briefly so it’s hard to make a call on how they used him really. However, he was never viewed as a serious catching prospect. Other than having raw power he wasn’t a great offensive prospect and everyone expected him to be moved off catcher, where his bat wouldn’t play. Obviously had a great year, but I’d be very wary of predicting a repeat. It was only .300+ PA’s with a .342 BABIP and mediocre walk and strikeout numbers, plus UZR may overrate his defensive game.
Derick Hoskin
Gomes is to good behind the plate for them too be him. They need both of them on field at the same time.
edwing
Gotta hand it to Gomes. Considering the guys got a bigger leg kick than I do when I’m wackin taters in my softball league, I never thought his bat would play in the majors. Bully for that dude I guess
kungfucampby
With so many catchers switching to other positions I respect Yadier Molina more and more.
J32
-Gulp-
JaysFan1996
sigh
Lucas Kschischang
Could be dangerous relying on Gomes to keep it up; he’s due for a big regression.
KeithK
If Gomes can continue the defense he supplied last year, I’m okay with an offensive regression.
Max Forstag
How so? Based on your subjective opinion? Gotta try a little harder than that…
Lucas Kschischang
Based on his ridiculously high LD rate and his BABIP.
Max Forstag
Hmm. I don’t know what those advanced sabermetric stats mean, but if you claim to, I”ll believe you. I suppose they mean ‘line drive rate’ and ‘batting average per balls in play’?
All I know is that I watched damn near every Tribe game last season, and Gomes looks like a very solid major leaguer. He’s got a nice compact swing, good opposite field power and patience. He’s an absolute rock behind the plate calling games, managing pitchers and controlling the bases. Runners won’t be inclined to run on him the more he plays. I think he’s good for 16-18 HR and 50-70 RBI if if he catches 130-140 games.
J32
That “ridiculously high LD rate” ranked 254th among the 276 batters who had a min. 300 PAs in 2013. Now the BABIP was rather high, I definitely agree on that, but at the same time, his minor league BABIPs tend to be rather high too, which might indicate him to have a higher general BABIP too. We’ll have to see.
KeithK
To me, it’s not a big deal whose idea this was. All the stories up until now had Santana offering to play 3rd for the Indians because he did not want to become a full-time DH. This story is the only I’ve seen where it says it was the Indians’ idea.
The story also says “presumably” this opens the door for Gomes to be catcher of the future. Not presumably. He’s already heading into the season as the starting catcher. At this point, his performance will dictate whether or not he is still the starting catcher.
Greg Penko
Am I the only one that caught the Cleveland. Steamer thing? That HAD to be on purpose…
Zoe 3
where
Zoe 3
He is a bad catcher defensively this is gonna go badly
kipnis4040
I assume mega sarcasim? Lol other wise, can i have your autograph mr. Wonder?
DCTribeFan
Except that CLE DID sign a RH hitting 3B..David Adams, who played for the Yankees last season. And on a major league contract.
gson
The move from C to 3B gives the Indians what they wanted from Mark Reynolds before the calendar turned to May and he began to suck. Having the ability to play C, 3B and DH gives Tito the best possible solution to the “how do the Indians maximize their performance against LHP’s” again. In years prior to 2013, the Indians were terrible against LHP’s. Last year.. not the same.
In the long ML season, this move makes at least a three man rotation at 3B/C/DH. Add in Big G against certain RHP’s, coughscherzverlandercough, on occasion., and everybody’s chance to succeed in enhanced.
..Regardless of who’s idea it is or was, this is just a smart move..
Sufferfortribe
Geez. Santana wasn’t that good of a catcher, scared me when playing 1B, and now says he’s gonna play 3B?
Hey, Carlos. Get a clue. Take a hint from David Ortiz and stick to DH. Your bat is your game, not your glove. If you want to spell Yan at C, we could probably live with that. It won’t be easy, but we’ll try.
raymondrobertkoenig
Santana might be a good pick up in fantasy baseball. Dual eligibility.
brian310
McCann will be solid too. More time in lineup on small park
GrilledCheese39
There has to be a corresponding move for a DH, because why wouldn’t you just leave Santana at DH? Well I guess they could just be making room for Giambi to be the full time DH. They could make sense for Kendrys Morales.
J32
I don’t think so. There’s no protected draft pick and I think Francona wants DH to be a flexible position that can be used to keep a regular in the line up while giving him some rest.
XxMadDogxX
Maybe he should stick to playing the guitar…
FamousGrouse
Enrique Rojas is a national treasure. The guy gets some of the best scoops in baseball.