Thanks for checking out my column. My name is Evan Skilliter and I'm a sophomore at Bluffton University where I double major in Sports Management with a focus in Communication and Recreation Management. I am a lifelong Bluffton resident and a graduate of Bluffton High School. As an avid sports fan and aspiring sports journalist, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to bring my insight to the Icon.
My main interest is baseball, particularly the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays. I also enjoy college basketball and football and the Kentucky Wildcats (yes, even the lackluster Wildcat football team), and European soccer and Fulham Football Club and Sporting Clube De Portugal.
I am a Bluffton Pirate and Bluffton Beaver enthusiast as well.
As I begin writing columns for The Icon, feel free to agree, disagree, start discussion, add input, or request a topic by commenting on the article, emailing me at [email protected], friending me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/skilliter, or following me on twitter @skilliter.
Despite Popular Belief, There is Still Hope for the Tribe
By Evan Skilliter
As an Indians fan and with baseball on the horizon, I see it fit to start discussion on the upcoming 2012 season. The goal for my first column ever is to bring early hope to all Indians fans and a new perspective to doubters that may be downgrading the Indians chances to compete in the American League Central, particularly with the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers, undoubtedly, look like a top four team in the American League. With veterans like Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, and Justin Verlander mixed with young talent like Alex Avila, Austin Jackson, Doug Fister, and Max Sherzer, the Tigers could not only win the pennant in 2012, but also in '13, '14, '15, and beyond.
However, with all the recent Tiger hype looming large, the Indians have faded into the shadows in the AL Central discussion. To all Tribe fans, there IS hope.
I'll start by quickly touching on the Prince Fielder discussion. Thankfully for the Indians and the rest of the AL Central, the Fielder signing will not be as devastating as it could have been after a knee injury will keep Victor Martinez out of the lineup for all of 2012.
Together, Fielder and Martinez would have tallied 50 homeruns, 218 RBI and 216 runs scored in 2011, but with Martinez out, Fielder turns into more of a replacement than an addition.
Comparing the lineup position-by-position, the Indians only get the advantage at 3-of-9 positions.
Here is where:
(Players placed in each position according to depth chart on each teams'website, Indians.com and tigers.com.)
Second Base
Jason Kipnis gets the edge over Ryan Raburn. Kipnis averaged .272 with a .333 on base percentage (OBP) last season, notching 19 RBI and scoring 24 times in 36 games. In his sixth season with the Tigers, Raburn hit .256 with a .297 OBP. Raburn also drove in 49 runs and scored 53 times in 121 games.
Right Field
Shin-Soo Choo over Brennan Boesch, even though I am sure there are plenty of people that will give me grief. Choo struggled last season, hitting only .259 with 36 RBI and 37 runs scored, well below what he is capable of. His career numbers include a .291 average and a .384 on base percentage. Recent reports from Jordan Bastian from MLB.com indicate that Choo has worked out some kinks and will be in good shape to pay to his potential in 2012. As long as that is the case, he gets the edge over Boesch.
Designated Hitter
As long as Prince Fielder stays at first base and Miguel Cabrera is sitting at third, Travis Hafner gets my vote over any other designated hitter option the Tigers have. Playing in just over half of 2011 due to injury, Hafner hit .280 with a .361 OBP, notching 13 dingers while driving in 57 runs and scoring 41 times. If he stays healthy and nearly doubles those numbers after a full season, Hafner could the top DH category in the Central.
There are also three positions in which I feel the Tigers hardly get an advantage and could be easily overtaken by the Tribe.
Catcher
In 2011, Tigers catcher Alex Avila hit .295 with 82 RBI and 63 runs scored, making him a definite top five player at his position in all of baseball. However, Indians catcher Carlos Santana finished first among MLB catchers in runs (84), second to the Rangers' Mike Napoli in homeruns (27), and fell only three RBI shy of Avila's 82. If Santana can improve his average, he could very well top Avila in 2012.
Shortstop
Former Indian Jhonny Peralta had a career year with the Tigers. He hit .299 with a .345 OBP and a .478 slugging percentage, all higher numbers than his career averages. Asdrubal Cabrera hit .273 with a .332 OBP for the Indians, not far from Peralta's numbers. Cabrera did, however, drive in 92 runs compared to Peralta's 86 while scoring 19 more times. If Peralta can repeat, there is no doubt that he will maintain the edge over Cabrera. However, if Peralta comes back down to earth and plays the way he has for most of his career, Cabrera could take over.
Left Field
It's tough to pick Delmon Young over Michael Brantley, but it would also be tough to pick Brantley over Young. Young hit for an average of .268, just two points higher than Brantley's .266 average. Brantley scored nine more runs than Young, but tallied 18 less RBI. These two are very similar players, so left field could go either way.
As far as pitching is concerned, the Indians had a team ERA of 4.23 in 2011, not much worse than the Tigers team ERA of 4.04. The Tigers had 91 more strikeouts, but the Indians issued 29 less walks. Of course, I cannot say that I think the Indians pitching staff is better or almost as good as the Tigers', but they may not be as far off as some may think.
Defensively the two teams are virtually the same as the Tigers finished with a .983 fielding percentage and the Indians a .982.
Recap:
The Tigers definitely have better players at three positions (first base, third base and center field), while the Indians get the edge in three others (second base, right field and designated hitter). The remaining three positions (catcher, short stop, left field), belong to the Tigers, but could easily change.
The Tigers win the pitching category, but the Tribe has the potential to keep close.
Defensively the teams are virtually the same.
I am excited for this season and having high hopes for my beloved Tribe. If they can keep the race within a few games, maybe they will have a shot at the wildcard and their first play-off appearance since 2007.
I'll have an updated version of this a few times throughout the year, so check back after the season is underway.
