Rule V Discussion, Winter Leagues and Omar

Good Saturday morning from the lovely looking Youngstown, Ohio.

No really, it's very nice looking out.

Once a month or so I'm back in my old stomping grounds to visit and get a hair cut, because I'm too silly to change routine. But anyway that is not the point.

Things have slowed down even more in Tribe land, but there are plenty of things to go over. In fact, we've neglected some talk thanks to all the coaching news out there. Luckily this news doesn't go out of fashion until November 20th.

I'm of course talking about the Rule V deadline, which is six days away now.

And because work has returned to my schedule on the 20th, we need to be prepared before Friday.

As you may remember from last year, the Indians, and every other team alive, wait until the very last minute to make the moves, even if they know what they are doing. Why? Because they can and that's how baseball works. That's how everything works. They won't show their hand until they have to.

A lot of the discussion this year is going to be around Jordan Brown, who was shockingly left off the 40 man roster last year. At which point, everyone was convinced he was going to get taken.

Not the case, what was even more shocking than him getting left off was him not being selected.

And here we are again. Brown is still not a part of the 40 man roster, which means he's still eligible for such a draft, which means there is discussion as to his status.

We'll let's not waste breath... If Jordan Brown isn't added to the Indians 40 man roster, the front office has gone completely insane. The guy is the perfect candidate for such an addition because he's now the perfect candidate for a Rule V pick.

It also appears that Brown will either be on the Indians 40 man, or another team's 40 man, according to Tony Lastoria at the IPI. I'm not really going to raise a huff over him this year, unless of course he isn't added, at which point the Indians will be crucified on the spot. That's going to be the upset of the century though.

Most of the discussion should be surrounding more questionable situations.

Jason Donald figured to be one of the additions after September's roster expansion, but he got hurt. With his eligibility for the Rule V draft looming, it would make sense that he too would be a lock for a roster spot.

And then of course Nick Weglarz, who is just one of those guys that is too valuable to risk.

So that brings us, three players that you can pencil in.

Now there are seven spots open on the 40 man, this is presumably after the Indians A)No longer have Tomo Ohka and Jamey Carroll counting as they become free agents and B)Re-add Jake Westbrook and Anthony Reyes from the 60 day disabled list, since they can't stay there during the offseason.

So that goes down to 31 and back up to 33.

Add in that trio and there is four spots left. I think we are all assuming the Indians make anywhere from zero to two free agent/trade acquisitions that would actually take up a 40 man and that is without the assumption that they'll rid themselves of another player, AKA Kelly Shoppach because of his price tag.

So the Indians could very well just use the last four spots on prospects.

Or maybe five?

As Tony also evaluates the names on the bubble, it appears they could get one more spot if they really wanted it.

Hell I think it's something they should do regardless of their need for the spot.

Anthony Reyes will not pitch next year, so why even bother? Who's going to be that desperate, or for that matter, that in love with Anthony Reyes, that they'd claim him, stash him on the 40 man this offseason AND next offseason and pay him a big league salary to do so just to see what he "might bring" in 2011.

Only stupid teams.

Which is why you just outright him right now and take that small risk of someone being very stupid. Get him down on a minor league deal where the whole thing is out of your roster hair.

And if someone does take him?

Eh, so what? I like Anthony Reyes very much, but it seems pointless to have him floating around the 40 man when he's not even pitching next year and everyone knows it.

So that opens up five spots for possible additions. Let's take a look at the bubble.

Pencil In
Nick Weglarz
Jason Donald
Jordan Brown

Bubble
Chuck Lofgren
Frank Herrmann
Jeanmar Gomez
Johnnie Drennen
Jose Constanza
Josh Rodriguez
Josh Tomlin
Kelvin De La Cruz
Matt McBride
Stephen Head
Wes Hodges
Yohan Pino

You can check out the full list on the good old board.

These are simply bubble names. Guys high up in the system. Quite frankly, I doubt more than half are even considered.

But you need some damn names to consider.

There are four cases that I think are really interesting. But only four cases, maybe five or six, so really, there is little to no intrigue if all four cases are compelling enough.

Wes Hodges is case number one.

Hodges was one of those guys that was perhaps a lock last year, hell he might have already been added had you asked some people.

But injuries derailed his season and Lonnie Chisenhall's quick ascension has derailed his future. Hodges is somewhat of an afterthought now. Do the Indians bother with someone who they know can hit, but is still a WIP in terms of defense? He's sort of in the situation Jordan Brown was last year, and we know how that ended. Maybe the way that turned out can make us say, hey he won't get picked.

Case number two is Matt McBride and he's only interesting for one reason.

He lit it up this past year.

I'd give this small consideration and move on. He's still too raw to be taken if you ask me. A team would just end up sending him back after they realize he needs more seasoning as someone who is really without a true position right now.

Going over to the pitchers side we've got Jeanmar Gomez.

Gomez is in the position Hector Rondon was last year, yet there is one difference. Gomez hasn't been as highly touted as Rondon was at this point. Rondon had some name recognition with the fact that he was in the Future's Game. Gomez had much success this past year, but I'm not sure he's the "can't miss prospect" that you don't toy around with and just add out of principle.

If it weren't for the next guy, I think Gomez would not only be the most interesting case, but probably a guy you pencil in.

The next guy is none other than Kelvin De La Cruz. He was considered someone you rostered last year until we found out he didn't need to be rostered.

Now, he isn't too far away from where he was last year thanks to injuries, but he's still regarded as one of the can't miss guys in the system as far as pitching is concerned. He was just like Rondon in the regard that he may be too valuable in the long run to even risk.

But does the injury change things?

Given that there aren't many pressing issues in terms of who you roster, and there are spaces open, and the Indians don't figure to make many additions.

Add him... If things work out this year with health, he'll be in Akron at some point. And if you look at Rondon, he's knocking on the door. Don't risk it with someone like De La.

Those are probably the four most interesting cases to me and I think three of them are guys who probably won't even get added. I see a lot of spots, and few very open and shut cases, which gives the Indians a lot of flexibility.

It also means it's worth holding onto guys like Andy Marte (especially with LaPorta's surgery) and Jose Veras (especially with bullpen questions).

The only two other people I think are remotely interesting: Yohan Pino and Jose Constanza.

Chances of them taken in Rule V? Eh, slim if that I'd say.

Pino for the reason he's a bit of an unknown. What if some team out there sees someone who's pretty much done well with the Triple-A level and says, eh let's see what he's got, we suck anyway.

Constanza's chances are pretty much non-existent, he's not even major league ready, but speed is a dangerous thing and something you really don't need to "hone" for the major league level. If your fast, your fast and if someone is in desperate need of some speed, and they are a team like Washington, you just never know.

That's an idea out of left field though and probably would never happen. But like I said earlier, there are stupid teams out there you know.. Organizations like Kansas City exist for a reason. At least at their current state.

That all being said...

I don't think we are in for a pinch this year. Last year sort of eased a lot of the opinions that everyone and their mom could get taken from the Indians when Jordan Brown didn't get picked and the fact that the Indians are armed with a surplus of spots only helps.

It makes decisions like what to do with Adam Miller obsolete. Just let him go, we've got the space.

We haven't discussed free agency much because it won't happen for awhile, at least not in Cleveland. Kelly Shoppach will be the central story concerning the Indians really. Will they let him go or trade him or whatever? That's probably the only activity this team will have until next calender year.

So we won't get into it, but Omar Vizquel remains an option for everyone who loves to dream.

He also remains an option for everything that makes sense as well. He would fit the team. And whatever small salary he would take (he made just one million last year for Texas), you would certainly make up in "Vizquel 13" shits you'd sell for people who want to re-live the glory days.

Man.. You bring Vizquel back, pry Sandy Alomar Jr away from the Mets coaching staff (which is unlikely now as Omar Minaya is being a bitch)... All we have to do is hire Kenny Lofton as the team's outfield and base running coach.

Speaking of that...

Some coaching house-keeping to go through. Hoynes threw out one name, Gary Thurman in a little snippet in his latest bit of news roundup. He'd probably be the outfielders coach if brought upon as that's what he does now in the organization for the minor leagues. Oh that and base running. Well isn't that interesting.

He had a crappy career for a first overall pick of the Royals (hey look at that!) back in the 1983 draft, but that doesn't make him a bad teacher. He also spent time in the Mariners organization.

This all being thought of, I was joking about Kenny Lofton. I'm certainly the last person that would make moves on the basis of the fans giving a damn, but Alomar, as we've been over, and Omar would both make sense for this team. The fact that they'd also suck up to the fans and help make some cash would just be a bonus in my eyes.

The team seems pretty set on the idea of Jason Donald at least competing for the utility spot and if Vizquel doesn't win that.. Oh we've been over that before and it's the biggest reason such a move is a bad idea. Cutting Vizquel would be the end of Mark Shapiro's career, because the fan base would put an end to it by putting an end to his life.

Finally... I've neglected winter league statistics very much. Bad me, bad bad me.

Here is a PDF of the latest statistical update of all the Indians players taking part in winter league action, courtesy of the Tribe Insider twitter feed.

As you can see, Jordan Brown and Matt McBride are still hitting the stuffing out of the ball and even Andy Marte is looking good through 16 games.

Nick Weglarz is done for the rest of the AFL. He had a rod put into his leg and yes he will have that in there forever and ever ever ever. Should be good to go for next season. Tim Fedroff replaced him in the AFL.

Luis Valbuena is having a good stint in Venezuela. Pitching in these offseason leagues is sort of just overlooked, especially in the AFL because all the hitters are amazing and as we saw from Arizona's spring training last year, pitchers get killed anyway.

But Josh Judy is having a good time in the AFL. He's pitching in 15 innings and has given up just one earned run.

On a final winter league note, Jake Westbrook will make some starts in Puerto Rico. Former Indian and current ESPN analyst Eddie Perez is managing Ponce (awesome name) and says Westbrook is scheduled to go two innings for his team on November 28th and if things are good from there, he'll be with the team through December 17th.