P.M. Cleveland Indians links: Carlos Carrasco, acquired in Cliff Lee trade, gets his chance

One of four prospects acquired from Philadelphia in 2009, Carrasco pitched well in a brief Indians stint last season. Manager Manny Acta hopes he can be a rotation mainstay.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer Carlos Carrasco pitched well for the Indians during the final weeks of the 2010 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians traded 2008 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco on July 29, 2009 to the Philadelphia Phillies for four players who were then all in the minor leagues: infielder Jason Donald, catcher Lou Marson and pitchers Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco.

Donald had a respectable big league rookie season in 2010, while Marson played well defensively but struggled with his hitting.

Knapp is making steady progress after encountering arm problems nearly two years ago.

Jordan Bastian writes for MLB.com that Indians manager Manny Acta is tentatively planning to give the right-handed Carrasco, 23, a real chance to establish himself as a major leaguer:

• Acta believes right-hander Carlos Carrasco has earned the right to head north with the team.
• "I think Carrasco has done enough in Triple-A already," Acta said. "And he pitched well enough for us last year in September that he's got a leg up on that [fourth] spot in the rotation. We're not saying that a guy like him, or a few more that we're not going to mention here, could probably pitch themselves out.
• "It's pretty safe to say that he's going to be one of those five guys."
• Carrasco, who will turn 24 in March, went 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 25 starts at Triple-A last season before going 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA over seven outings with Cleveland. He currently falls behind Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson and Mitch Talbot in the Indians' projected rotation.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes the reporting of Paul Hoynes and photography of Chuck Crow. Both are at the Indians' spring training in Goodyear, Arizona.

Current coverage includes Hoynes' story on infielder Asdrubal Cabrera; his story on starting pitcher Fausto Carmona; his Indians Insider, leading off with center fielder Grady Sizemore, and another Indians Insider; a pair of Indians prospect watch features by Hoynes: one on pitcher Alex White, another on pitcher Vinnie Pestano; his "Hey, Hoynesie!;" Bill Lubinger's report on a contest to win a baseball signed by major league stars; and "Terry Pluto's Talkin.' "

Full counts

Indians notes, leading off with a report on pitcher Adam Miller, still trying to overcome career-threatening finger injuries. By Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

Signing veteran infielder Orlando Cabrera will probably take playing time from younger players, writes Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Indians are counting on Fausto Carmona, by Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

The Indians organization's players depth chart, on Indians Prospect Insider.

Indians notebook by Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/02/pm_cleveland_indians_links_55.html

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