Hey Hoynsie: Paul Hoynes answers your Cleveland Indians questions.
HEY, HOYNSIE!
Your Indians questions answered
Got an Indians question? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heyhoynsie, and Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes will answer them each Sunday. All of Paul's answers are archived online.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: I read your column about the Tribe's confidence in its minor-league pitching depth. If GMs around the league feel the same way, do you look for the Indians to trade some pitching and, maybe current position players, for good position players? -- Maria Santana, Cleveland
A: Hey, Maria: I'm taking it that you don't like the Indians' current position players?
I don't think the Indians are going to trade much pitching unless they're forced to by a serious injury or trade proposal.
Lonnie Chisenhall might have great potential, but don't forget he's only 21 years old. The third baseman started this season in Columbus.Q: Hey Hoynsie: Is it fair to assume that Lonnie Chisenhall isn't in the class of a Buster Posey or Jason Heyward, since they got their major-league opportunity quickly? -- Frank Mursin, Sheffield
A: Hey, Frank: Hard to say. A lot of things influence a player's path to the big leagues. Just because one player gets there faster than another doesn't mean he's necessarily better.
Posey was the Giants' No. 1 pick in 2008, the fifth player chosen overall. At 24, he's three years older than Chisenhall and didn't have to change positions as Chisenhall did. He played two seasons in the minors, appearing in 172 games and getting 631 at-bats before making his big-league debut last season.
Heyward was the Braves' first-round pick in 2007, the 14th player chosen overall. He played three years in the minors as a right fielder/center fielder, appearing in 238 games and getting 876 at-bats, before making his big-league debut last year.
Like Chisenhall, he's 21.
Chisenhall was the Indians' No. 1 pick in 2008, the 29th overall player taken. Going into this season, he's played three years in the minors, appearing in 308 games and getting 1,217 at-bats.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Have the Indians shared with you their forecasted payroll budget for 2012? -- Harrison Morgan, Springfield
A: Hey, Harrison: When it comes to finances, the Indians share little with me or any other reporter. It's the same with every big-league club.
They have $13.5 million on the books for next year. They also have several players -- such as Shin-Soo Choo, Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Tony Sipp and Justin Masterson -- who will be eligible for arbitration.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: After watching the Indians' top two starters get clobbered by the White Sox, I wondered why they did not start Mitch Talbot in one of the first three games. He was 3-0 against the White Sox last year. -- Joe Eversole, Pelham, Ala.
A: Hey, Joe: Talbot had a shaky spring. When he did start, he didn't get through five innings against Boston.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: My wife, Nancy, grew up in Cleveland and remembers going to a game with her cousin that, she recalls, was said to be the longest game in Indians history. All she remembers is that Satchel Paige was the Indians' last pitcher. So it would have been in 1948 or 1949. She thinks it was a 21-inning game, but I can't find it. Can you help?
We live in the San Francisco area now and are Giants fans, but she says Paige was a better closer than Brian Wilson. -- Peter Clapp, San Francisco
A: Hey, Peter: The longest game in Indians history, in terms of innings, was a 22-inning affair against the Twins on Aug. 31, 1993, at the Metrodome. The Tribe lost, 5-4.
I checked baseball-reference.com for the 1948 and 1949 Indians season. The longest home game that the Indians played that year was 13 innings. Paige was the second to last pitcher in that game. The Indians played a couple of 12 inning games in 1949, their longest home games of the season, and Paige did not pitch in those games.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Will the Tribe ever be above .500 during the 2011 season? -- Joe Cepec, Dublin.
A: Hey, Joe: As the attorneys like to shout when their witness is being badgered on the stand, "Asked and answered!"
Q: Hey Hoynsie: If the Indians really do have pitching depth in the farm system, how do they explain that starting pitching slots from No. 2 through No. 4 were not open for competition in spring training? -- Rose Hirsch, University Heights
A: Hey, Rose: The young pitchers in the farm system aren't ready yet.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: I noticed in my fantasy league that Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ are not with Philadelphia. Weren't they two of the Phillies' elite prospects who were supposedly "untouchable" when we traded Cliff Lee? -- Bob "Bud" Light, Strongsville
A: Hey, Bob: You must not be much of a fantasy player if you're just noticing that now.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: If Saturday's and Sunday's crowds at Progressive Field cannot convince the Dolans that no one cares about the Tribe, perhaps they should look into the possibility of contraction.
This team is at least five years away from winning anything. -- Greg Soper, North Canton
A: Hey, Greg: I'm sure the Red Sox are all for the Indians being contracted.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: So now we find out that Trevor Crowe was playing the bulk of 2010 with elbow and shoulder injuries that required surgery to correct. How come no one has taken that into consideration when judging his season? -- Matt H., Portland, Ore.
A: Hey, Matt: I thought Crowe did a good job last year. I don't think anyone in the media went out of their way to criticize him. He's a scrappy, tough player.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Are small-market teams like the Indians less likely to move a premium player like Carlos Santana off catcher to prolong his career? Given the team's reluctance to sign players once they hit free agency, why would they? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake
A: Hey, Steve: You have me confused. The Indians are occasionally playing Santana at first base to save his legs. They did the same thing with Victor Martinez, another switch-hitting catcher.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Which teams do the Indians have the best winning percentage against and the worst winning percentage against? -- Mark Desantis, Parma
A: Hey, Mark: Among current AL teams, the Indians' best winning percentage is .638 (83-67) against Tampa Bay. Their lowest winning percentage is against the Yankees at .441 (846-1,071).
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Did MLB impose the red hat on the Indians this year? If not, why would the Tribe pick a color like that? -- Joanna Lenardo, Wickliffe
A: Hey, Joanna: I heard they went with the red hat because it goes well with Slider's eyes.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Are you surprised that the Dolans didn't address the fans this winter and spring? Do you think an apology for the mess that they have created would be a good public-relations move? -- Tyler Durden, Boston
A: Hey, Tyler: Are you surprised that owner John Henry hasn't made a public apology for the Red Sox's 0-6 start?
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Do you think the Indians would pick up Grady Sizemore's club option for 2012 and try to extend him? -- Corey Flowers, Parma
A: Hey, Corey: It all depends on how Sizemore performs when and if he rejoins the team this year.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: Could you see Manny Acta playing Carlos Santana at first base more and catching Lou Marson if Matt LaPorta continues to struggle? -- Mark Lasher, Bangor, Pa.
A: Hey, Mark: Yes, I could, especially if Marson is hitting. LaPorta ended the six-game homestand hitting .292. Let's see what unfolds.
Q: Hey Hoynsie: I understand why the fans seem to have such dislike for the Dolans. I do fear, however, that when they are finally driven to sell, they won't necessarily look for a buyer to keep the team in Cleveland. What are the chances the franchise could move due to the relationship between ownership and the fan base? -- Tom Goodsite, Kirksville, Mo.
A: Hey, Tom: Slim to non-existent.
The Dolan family is from Cleveland and has deep roots in the community. They realize the importance of the ballclub to the city. You never say never, but I think it would take a dire situation, far more than being criticized by fans, for them to consider selling the team to someone who might move it.
Cleveland is a charter member of the American League. The rest of the owners would have to approve any such move.
-- Hoynsie
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/04/cleveland_indians_pitching_dep.html
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