Terrys Talkin about Cleveland Indians working with Michael Bourn, signing Michael Roth -- Terry Pluto By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Guess who led the American League in triples last season? I had no clue until reading up on Michael Bourn, who hit 10. But he also had only 10 stolen bases -- in 16 attempts. Thats right, Bourn had as many triples as stolen bases. He also was on the disabled list twice with hamstring injuries, missing 56 games. Bourn turned 32 on Dec. 27. He is a player who has relied on his legs ... a guy who averaged 47 stolen bases a year between 2008-12. He signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Tribe prior to the 2013 season. He had 42 steals in 2012 for the Braves. The only indication of a decline was that he was caught 13 times, the most in the National League. Bourn had hamstring surgery after the 2013 season. It was not supposed to be a major operation. But he opened 2014 on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, missing the first two weeks. Then a damaging hamstring injury came in the middle of the season. Bourn was sidelined from July 6-Aug. 14. Michael is determined get back to being an impact player on the bases and in the field, said General Manager Chris Antonetti. I really believe he is a man on a mission about this. He is putting forth the effort to make it happen. Tribe trainers have visited Bourn in Houston and they have him on a program to keep the hamstring muscles strong. Bourn also is working out with a track coach at the University of Houston, where he played baseball for three years. Were very encouraged with where Michael is right now (with his legs), said Antonetti. A KEY PLAYER The Tribe signed Bourn to be a good center fielder, their leadoff hitter and a threat on the bases. The 10 triples in 2014 showed that he still had speed -- at least once he got going. But his meager total of 10 stolen bases (caught six times) indicated that he didnt trust his hamstrings enough. Manager Terry Francona loves Bourns unselfish and upbeat attitude. The Indians want to keep him in center field and at the top of the lineup. Bourn is being paid $13.5 million in 2015, $14 million in 2016. So they are heavily invested in him. But there are other factors: 1. Yes, they can play Michael Brantley in center. But the Indians correctly believe Brantley gives them excellent defense in left field. 2. Not clear who will play right. Brandon Moss, David Murphy and Nick Swisher are the candidates. Murphys 2014 defense in right was much worse than how he performed in left with Texas in 2013. Moss and Swisher will not bring much range. Ryan Raburn is a candidate, if he can bounce back from a miserable 2014 at the plate (.200, 4 HR, .547 OPS). Raburn is a decent right fielder. 3. Bourn no longer is a Gold Glover, which he won in 2009 and 2010. His fielding metrics also have dropped. But he still can be above average. With a healthy Bourn joining Brantley, the Indians believe they can upgrade their outfield defense. 4. The Indians need a leadoff hitter. Their best players in on-base percentage in 2014 were Brantley (.385), Carlos Santana (.365), Lonnie Chisenhall (.343), Murphy (.319) and Bourn (.314). Brantley, Santana and Chisenhall are viewed as middle-of-the-order hitters who drive in runs. Michael is determined get back to being an impact player on the bases and in the field. I really believe he is a man on a mission about this. 5. When it comes to leadoff batters, only Seattle (.287) had a lower on-base percentage than the Tribe (.308) last season. Bourns career mark is .335, and they need him to come close to that once again. 6. In his two years here, Bourn is batting .260 (.675 OPS) with a .315 on-base percentage. He has 9 HR and 78 RBI in 1,062 plate appearances. His impact is reaching base, stealing bases and playing center. Thats why they are working so hard with Bourn to help him come back. Staying healthy at 32 is a challenge for a player who relies on his speed with a history of hamstring injuries. BIG BUCKS IN SOUTH KOREA Several former Tribe players and farmhands will be playing in South Korea in 2015, and are well-paid. Heres a list: 1. Jack Hannahan, who signed for $1 million. He batted .216 and .188 for the Reds the last two seasons. 2. Andy Marte was once the Tribes hope at third base. He batted .329 with 18 HR and 80 RBI at Class AAA Reno last season. He signed for $600,000. 3. Nyjer Morgan made the Tribe roster to open the 2014 season. He batted .341 in 41 at bats. He was sent to the minors and injured his knee. He signed for $700,000. 4. Mitch Talbot was a combined 12-19 with a 5.01 ERA for the Tribe in 2010-11. He had arm problems after that. He pitched for Long Island in an Independent League in 2014. He signed for $600,000. Talbot had pitched in South Korea early in his career. 5. Tyler Cloyd was 10-8 with a 3.89 ERA for Class AAA Columbus in 2014. The 27-year-old signed for $600,000. s03tribeu.jpg The Indians have Danny Salazar on a throwing program and he will report to Goodyear this week. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer ABOUT THE TRIBE 1. The Indians signed former South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth to a minor-league contract. I recall watching Roth throw a two-hitter against Kent State in the 2012 College World Series. Hes a lefty with a middle 80s mph fastball and a variety of off-speed pitches. He was 8-0 with a 1.34 ERA in 11 NCAA tournament games. 2. Roth was drafted in the 31st round by the Tribe in 2011. He returned to South Carolina. In 2012, he was picked in the ninth round by the Angels and signed. He had a 17-12 record with a 3.35 ERA for the Angels, mostly in Class AA. 3. With Roth, the question is if he can make up for his lack of velocity with control. He was in the majors with the Angels in parts of the last two seasons. His ERA was 7.79 in 32 innings as a reliever. The Indians have invited him to big-league camp and will probably have him open the season as a starter for Class AAA Columbus. 4. Brandon Moss had a checkup and is progressing well from his post-season hip surgery. The Indians believe he will be healthy enough to play some preseason games in March. The exhibition season runs from March 3-April 4, with the season opening in Houston on April 6. 5. Recovering from two knee operations, Nick Swisher expects to start a running program in the next 10 days. That will give the Tribe a better idea of his recovery. 6. Pitching coach Mickey Callaway and assistant GM Ross Atkins have both visited Danny Salazar in the Dominican Republic. He is on a throwing program, and will report to the teams training base in Goodyear some time this week. A year ago, Salazar rarely threw in the off-season because he had some arm soreness. 7. The Wahoo Club will host former Tribe pitcher Dennis Martinez on Jan. 24. Its a breakfast meeting from 8-10 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Cleveland (1100 Carnegie Ave.). Call Bob Rosen (440-724-8350) for information, or go to wahooclub.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:21:17 +0000
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