Yardbarker: Michael Brantley

Minor Improvements: Offense

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:00:20 -0500

by Paul Battaglia - AP Michael Brantley should not spend much time riding the bench in 2010 View full size photo uploaded October 23, 2009 What is impressive about two of the Indians most improved seasons by minor league offensive players is that they were already top prospects. Amazingly, Carlos Santana might have had the most improved season of any Indians minor leaguer, despite coming off a sensational 2008 seaso...

Indians insider: Cleveland rookie Michael Brantley making it look way too easy

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:53:10 -0500

Cleveland Indians rookie Michael Brantley is making it look way to easy to play in the major leagues

Michael Brantley Gives Us a Sign of Hope

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:37 -0500

Rather than discussing the fact that the Indians are currently in the midst of their longest losing streak since 1931 (making history!), I figured I would have a more forward looking thought on the 22-year old kid who continues to be the only spark amongst the entire big league club. Now with 89 at-bats, Michael Brantley [...]

Tribe wants Michael Brantley to be learning to steal while on the run: Indians Chatter

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:38:51 -0500

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerRookie outfielder Michael Brantley has successfully stolen three bases out of five attempts since being promoted to the Indians.MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Clubhouse confidential: Rookie Michael Brantley, who stole 46 bases at Class AAA Columbus, has three steals...

About Michael Brantley’s Start…

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:00:22 -0500

Like most, I paid zero attention to the Indians games this weekend - I actually completely forgot about them until reading TD’s recap earlier this morning. And this is coming from a guy who wrote the preview about the very same set of games only 72 hours earlier. Given the time of year, I find myself [...]

About Michael Brantley’s Start…

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:00:22 -0500

Michael Brantley Looking Good Thus Far

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:30:16 -0500

With Grady Sizemore being shut down for the remainder of the season, the Tribe front office did something that many of us had been hoping for for quite some time by putting Michael Brantley in the lead-off spot. With Sizemore capable of 30/30 numbers when healthy, having a true lead-off man to head up the future [...]

Closing Time: A double-dip for Michael Brantley

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:05:43 -0500

The Indians and Rangers were rained out Monday, which means we'll get two chances to watch Michael Brantley(notes) do his thing at the top of the Cleveland order Tuesday. Brantley is off to a 9-for-23 start since joining the big club, and his one lone walk is balanced out by a mere two strikeouts. He hasn't run a lot yet in the bigs (one steal, one caught stealing) but the bags could start to fall at any time; he's been given the green light to run by manager Eric Wedge and he was...

Morning Update: Brantley to leadoff and Wedge...done?

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:00 -0500

So this is mainly going to be about Michael Brantley and Eric Wedge, with a little bit of Fausto from yesterday's game thrown in.

Might as well start with Carmona though and yesterday's game that finished off a sweep, something the Tigers really needed for their lead.

Carmona was good until the seventh inning. He gave up the Granderson home run to lead off the freakin' game and then proceeded to do this lock-down business. He walked five, not good, and gave up four hits, and up until the seven, none of that matter because he pretty much shut Detroit down.

He got one out in the seventh, put a few runners on and then Clete Thomas hit the big triple that scored them both. Tony Sipp did a good job coming in and getting out of it with no further damage, an otherwise great start by Carmona was downgraded to a decent one after that seventh inning.

There was some damn fight in the Indians though. That Ni guy came in for the rookie Perry after he gave up the one run to Asdrubal. Choo puts together a fantastic at-bat and just drives one to deep right center and gets two runs in to tie the game.

Unfortunately, Rafael Perez showed bad Raffy in the 10th inning and it was all over.

Let's talk about Michael Brantley though, who was downright awesome in this series. His debut on Tuesday was a 2-4 day with a run scored. He got a hit in each game, walked in yesterday's game and stole his first base. But it was quite obvious this kid has speed and he uses it as a dangerous weapon.

It doesn't matter how you get on, just that you get on.

I'm a fan already.

There's already talk now though that Brantley is going to take over the leadoff spot when the Indians shutdown Grady Sizemore here in a little bit (because let's be honest, after yesterday and that weak ass throw, Grady being out there is just useless).

Eric Wedge even said there is a chance of this.. Oh man..

I don't know but I like the guy so far. I was a fan of the acquisition because we simple don't have a player like this. Everyone loved Kenny Lofton and he was such a dynamic player to have. Brantley has speed, he knows he has to use it, he has no problem using it and to go along with that, he's got a fantastic eye. I was impressed how that plate discipline and vision we heard so much about translated to the majors as well as it has this early.

Either way... This guy may have a shot to be on the team next year right out of the gate after all. We're going to be in store for an interesting offseason with all these decisions that still need made.

Will Eric Wedge be in that process? Who knows, he certainly doesn't, but he hopes to have an idea by the end of the season.

"I hope to have some resolution before the season is over ... hopefully," said Wedge. "If I was told today that I was going to be back, if I was told today that I wouldn't be back, I wouldn't do anything differently the rest of the way. That's not who I am.

"I want to put us in the best position to be the best team we can be next year regardless of whether I'm here or not."

Wedge went on to say he has thick skin. Bruce Drennan especially yesterday wondered if the continued play of Grady Sizemore was Wedge's doing in an effort to keep his job by winning as many games possible.

Truthfully, I don't believe Eric Wedge has as much say in whether Sizemore gets shut down or not. He has a say on the day-to-day playing of Sizemore, but if he's there, why would he not play him? The trainers and medical staff and Shapiro have to step in and say hey, that's it, let's go, we're done here with you Grady.. Time to get better.

Anyway, it was understood that Paul Dolan would have an answer about Wedge not too far into the offseason. Will they decide before the end of the season? No they won't, I don't believe so. They said they'd give him the entire year, and they will if they were to decide about next year before this year is over, but the Indians won't make a choice before the year is over, that's now they do it.

At least Wedge knows the heat is on and this to me gives me a little more confidence that there is a serious thought to remove Wedge. I was starting to think people were forgetting.

Game 131: Tigers 8, Indians 5

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:19:06 -0500

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP A cold welcome to The Show. Browse more photos » Tonight saw the debuts of two prospects, each a part of a major trade. Carlos Carrasco, sent over just a month ago from Philadelphia for Cliff Lee, made his first major-league start. And Michael Brantley, a major part of the CC Sabathia deal, started in left field. If everything works out just right, both Carrasco and Brantl...

Roster Expansion: Michael Brantley Gets the Call

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:00:36 -0500

While the Browns are working to reduce their roster before 4 PM today, the Indians are using the majority of this week to add to theirs. Last week, we mentioned the potential call-ups including Carlos Carrasco (more on him later today) and Lou Marson. This morning, we get word from Tony Lastoria that the Indians will also [...]

Morning Update: Brantley, Carrsco Up; Who's next?

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:22:00 -0500

As noted in the minor issues, the Indians plan to call up Michael Brantley to Cleveland and add him to the 40-man roster.

Don't expect many more call-ups in addition to Brantley and Carlos Carrasco though.

Because the Indians have already raided the Columbus clubhouse, there isn't anyone really worth left bringing up.

After Carrasco and Brantley are added today, the Columbus season will end and we'll probably see no more than two to four more players added.

Hector Rondon will not be one of them. He's probably nearing his innings limit anyway and no use starting his major league clock. He could be with the team unofficially, in a way Wyatt Toregas was last year. With the team, but not on the active roster. Observing games from the crowd and doing his homework.

The names that I'd expect to get consideration for a call-up.

Lou Marson
Jordan Brown
Frank Herrmann
Jose Veras
Greg Aquino

Veras and Aquino will be gone next year, if not in Triple-A for depth. But it couldn't hurt to have some insurance down the stretch in case you need someone to throw innings. There is room on the 40-man and they'll be taken right off when the season ends anyway.

Marson is a definite when Columbus' season ends. Brown is an almost definite, you'd believe at least.

Herrmann is an unknown. There's been no mention of him and I don't know what the Indians feel about him, but I'd give him a shot. He's earned it. Who knows though.

Anyway, the spotlight will be on Carlos Carrasco tonight as he makes his major league debut.

"I'm excited to see him, to get him up here and get him started on this part of his journey," Wedge said. "As a young pitcher, I don't want anybody to expect too much, I don't think that's fair to the kid, but I just want him to come up here and get as comfortable as possible, help him relax and have fun."

I cannot wait to see what he's got. We'll see how the stuff is and if he can handle his emotions. Remember that was the issue with him and getting frazzled when things started looking bad and then the wheels would fall off. Different situation though and some reports have him handling that situation a lot better in Columbus. We'll see how he works out.

As for Brantley's addition. It could mean that Sizemore or Hafner are getting shutdown, with Sizemore taking over more DH duties than the outfield because of his elbow, the Indians would need someone to play centerfield on a more regular basis with Trevor Crowe on the DL.

I don't know the status on Hafner yet, but it seemed like Sunday that he'd be back in the lineup on Tuesday. We'll find out soon enough. I don't think it's serious, but I'd consider shutting Grady Sizemore down to get a head-start on his surgery and rehab. Let's see what Brantley's got.

This shouldn't hurt or help Jordan Brown's chances either. Sure if Hafner was shutdown, that'd open up DH for Brown or LaPorta to split with the left-field spot and give him some ABs, but if the Indians do have a DH spot open, Grady might occupy it now with Brantley on the team.

Speaking of LaPorta. This is an interesting article that I haven't been able to read in full because I'm almost out of time. But you should take a look.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Luis Valbuena, are apparently besties now.

Well they've always been friends, but now they're besties. I just like saying besties.

The tandem has people screaming Omar-Robbie Alomar Part II and with good reason.

Both Venezuelan-born middle infielders were acquired from the Seattle organization. Both, according to them, were signed on the same day by Seattle, even though the official days are three days a part. They've played together before, in different levels of the Seattle organization and in offseason winter ball and now they're re-united for what many hope to be a long stint in the center of Progressive Field.

"I was sleeping when I got traded," said Valbuena. "When I woke up and checked my phone I had about 25 messages. Then Cabrera called me and told me about the trade. We were playing winter ball when I was traded."

The similarity with these two is endless. They're both the same age and they're both born in November. It's weird as all get out. But I'll take it.

Finally.. The Indians spent the off-day in Cleveland yesterday. They'll be heading over to Detroit this morning.

PTBNL Redux

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:39:12 -0500

September 28th, 2008.? Exactly 23 days until the final game of the season.? While we have heard rumblings of fans hoping that the Indians can pull off a Colorado-like surge, this is the date by which we have to get that done.? But this date also has another reminder attached to it: The time which M