Any Indians fan that doesn't know who Jeremy Guthrie is won't be able to say that for long. I know it looks bleak for the major league version of the Tribe right now, but every organization in baseball would kill to have the young pitchers that Mark Shapiro is grooming for Cleveland. Of the group that includes C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Jason Davis, Jake Westbrook, Danys Baez, Jason Phillips, Ricardo Rodriguez, Billy Traber, and Guthrie, all but Lee, Phillips and Guthrie are currently taking their lumps and learning at the big league level.
And another group of young pitchers is right behind this one in the low to mid-minors, and includes names like Cabrera, Cruceta, Denham, Martin, Foley, Caraccioli, Tallet, and Denney. All four of the Indians minor league teams are in first place in their respective leagues at the moment.
The team appears to be well set at catcher, centerfield, and the middle infield positions, in terms of young players and prospects, so the emphasis must be on the "corner" positions, both infield and outfield, (3B, 1B, LF, RF) when we consider drafting, trades and player development in the next couple of years. The team has four of the first 48 picks in next month's amateur draft, (picking up the 18th and 31st picks as compensation for losing Jim Thome) so the "pipeline" will be replenished once again. Now I just wish I had more faith in owner Larry Dolan to spend the money to keep the players that pan out when the time comes to pay market value to major leaguers.
Posted by dan at May 9, 2003 11:41 AM