The Indians are shopping Casey Blake, the most bearded member of the Time's Arrow All-Stars. For my own sense of self-worth, I hope be brings actual value as opposed to a phantom PTBNL, but I realize that this is just wishcasting. The article says that his ability to play third, first, and both corners in the outfield could be valuable on a contender, but given that those skills have never been truly valuable on the Indians, I'm not sure that's as much analysis as it is politeness. Still, he does have a .354 OBP this year and is posting one of his better overall seasons.
As for what the Indians will do for a third baseman, it seems that they have no choice other than to plug in Andy Marte and give him his last best chance at sticking in the majors. As Neyer noted in his SABR post yesterday (Insider only), Mark Shapiro regrets not having given Brandon Phillips enough time to develop when he was with the Indians. I would assume that he's not willing to make the same mistake with Marte. Given how out of it the Tribe is right, now what's the harm in the Indians giving him the final 72 games of the season to sink or swim?
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This post should read:
"Casey Blake is hitting .384/.484/.699 with runners in scoring position. Casey Blake is hitting .384/.484/.699 with runners in scoring position. Casey Blake is hitting .384/.484/.699 with runners in scoring position. Casey Blake is hitting .384/.484/.699 with runners in scoring position. Casey Blake is hitting .384/.484/.699 with runners in scoring position."
We have 29 GMs to brainwash and not that much time to do it, Craig. This just isn't good enough.
Totally. I don't root for the Indians, but I generally like to seem them do well and I like Shapiro and Blake, so I hope that a deal gets done that actually brings something back while placing Blake in a role in which he can thrive (late-career Conine lite?).
By the way, in case anyone reading this doesn't know, Casey Blake is hitting .384/.484/.699 with runners in scoring position.
If I were Cashman, I'd offer you Melky and hope like hell you'd go for it. Of course, Blake would have to shave...
The Indians have no need for Melky. They already have a star centerfielder and a bunch of corner guys who can't hit.
Blake is no star, but an average to above average bat with the flexibility to play the corners is certainly valuable...especially to a team like the Indians, who regularly find themselves dumpster diving or relying on young players. When one of those riskier players bombs (like Marte did last year), being able to slide Blake in is pretty nice.
well, you know what they say.
time flies like an arrow. fruit flies like a banana.
and if you stew apples like cranberries, they taste more like prunes than rhubarb does.
I'm just trying to get rid of Melky!
/end threadjack
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