Terry Pluto scribbles on the Tribe's improved infield defense.
Glendale, Ariz. -- Scribbles in my notebook as the Tribe beat the Dodgers, 6-1, on Sunday . . .
1. The Indians' projected starting infield -- Matt LaPorta (1B), Orlando Cabrera (2B), Asdrubal Cabrera (SS) and Jack Hannahan (3B) -- has made only one error all spring. It was by Orlando Cabrera early in camp. Last season, the Indians had the worst infield defense in the American League, according to their own internal statistics. They ranked 12th out of 14 teams in fielding average.
2. The real trouble spot was the left side. The shortstops had 25 errors. Asdrubal Cabrera had 12 in 95 games, Jason Donald added nine in 47 games and Luis Valbuena chipped in with four in five games. With Orlando Cabrera and possibly Adam Everett (if he makes the team) as backup shortstops, that spot should be solid -- both veterans are above-average shortstops.
3. Third base was even worse, with 27 errors: Jhonny Peralta (five in 91 games), Jayson Nix (11 in 40 games), Andy Marte (nine in 45 games) and Valbuena (two in nine games). Hannahan has only 19 errors in 251 career games at third. The question is whether Hannahan (lifetime .224 batting average) can hit enough to keep the position. Donald (broken finger) has not been playing and is expected to be out at least for a few more weeks.
4. While manager Manny Acta hasn't talked a lot about the need for his team to get off to a fast start, he has managed that way since March 21. The regulars have been playing most games, all in the same positions and regular spots in the batting order. He has been stressing to the players that you can't just "hit the switch and turn it on for April 1 [Opening Day]." The Indians have won seven of nine games, raising their spring record to 14-13-2. They were 19-9-3 last spring.
5. That's why it has been so disturbing to watch LaPorta for a week. I haven't seen him get a hit. Against the Dodgers Sunday, he struck out three times, flied out and popped up with the bases loaded. He is hitting .148. He looks as if he's having trouble connecting on a good fastball.
6. Acta said there are no restrictions on how much Travis Hafner can play this season. After the All-Star break last season, he never played more than three days in a row. Not sure what it means when Valbuena and Travis Buck lead the Indians with four homers and Hafner has just one. Hafner said his often-cranky shoulder has not caused him any problems.
7. While Josh Tomlin had his worst outing of the spring on Saturday -- five runs in five innings -- Acta liked how the right-hander "stopped the bleeding" by wiggling out of the fifth inning by allowing only three runs. It was an inning where the first five men reached base. He walked only two in 13 innings this spring.
8. Former Indian Aaron Laffey has had what he calls "the best spring of my life." He has allowed two runs in 10 innings for a 1.80 ERA and has made Seattle's Opening Day roster. The Indians received minor-league infielder Ty Lawson for Laffey.
9. Carmona (one unearned run in five innings Sunday) never walked more than two batters in any of his seven starts this spring. In 2008-09, Carmona had major control problems. He was better last season, but in his past four starts -- five earned runs in 21 innings -- he has looked more like the pitcher who won 19 games in 2007.
10. Austin Kearns (.300) has quietly had a good camp. But Lou Marson (.143) has struggled. He also was 0-of-7 in minor-league games last week. And all six runners who tried to steal on him were successful. The Indians are trying to decide if they should keep Marson, or go with Luke Carlin as a backup -- allowing Marson to go to Class AAA to see if he can hit by being in the lineup every day.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2011/03/post_37.html
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