Bradley Zimmer boom, scrambled bullpen, playoff hopes: doodles about the Cleveland Indians

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Opening day is Friday for the Cleveland Indians and who would have guessed that when summer camp opened we would be scribbling on Bradley Zimmer?

1. I was in Goodyear, Arizona when spring training closed in early March due to COVID-19. In the Tribe’s last game, Bradley Zimmer had two hits, including a double to the opposite field. I was talking to a Tribe officer about Zimmer, and he said it was the first game where he really looked good at the plate. Now, we can see that he was beginning to find his moment when it ended.

2. In Arizona, Zimmer hit .250 with a home run. He struck out 10 times at 28 at bat. Manager Terry Francona was talking about the outfielder who is often injured and who needs more at bat. The plan was to open it up in the AAA Columbus Class so that he could play every day and stay healthy.

3. When summer camp opened, little was said about Zimmer. Sometimes she had been lost in Arizona with all the strikeouts. The 2014 first-round team had played just 86 games (mostly in the minors) during the previous two seasons. Zimmer was the center fielder on the first day in 2018, but started having shoulder problems that led to the surgery.

4. Zimmer seems strong, like the perspective that the Indians loved a few years ago. He is 11 out of 20 (.550) in a summer camp with four HRs. The garden is open after Oscar Mercado. The Indians expected Franmil Reyes to play a little RF, but it looks like he will be primarily a DH. On Monday, the Tribe started with Mercado in CF, Zimmer in LF and Tyler Naquin in RF. That could be the initial open field, at least against right-handed pitchers.

5. What about lefties? Jordan Luplow could play in right field. Naquin is having a strong camp and has always wanted to play every day. More than once after interviewing him, he would say something like “Tell Tito that I can play against lefties.” But I guess Domingo Santana will be in left-handed vs. left-handed.

6. I have a weakness for Naquin. He has struggled in hip, knee and wrist surgeries. In 2016, he played at the center, not in his natural position. He is a career .283 hitter (.788 OPS). Naquin once urged me to look up his stats vs. left-handed. For his career, he’s a .270 hitter (.772 OPS) at 115 at bat.

7. I hope Domingo Santana plays in the garden against lefties. The Indians signed him as a free agent and hope he can supply the power of the right-wing coup. He had 12 errors in 100 outfield games last season, which is scary. That is the most of any American League of. He hit 21 home runs in 453 at bat last season.

8. It was great to see James Karinchak hit aside on Monday. He had a rocky first intrasquad game with four walks. Since then, it has been good. It is one of the keys to the bullpen. If Karinchak is strong and Brad Hand finds his All-Star form, the Tribe may have eighth and ninth innings nailed.

9. But they are still looking for help for the bullpen. Adam Cimber has struggled at times. The same with Nick Wittgren, although the Indians have great confidence in him. Phil Maton, acquired from the Padres last year, has an opportunity to be of great help. They still like left-handed veteran Oliver Pérez.

10. Francisco Lindor crushed the ball in Arizona spring training (.417, 4 HR) and has been hitting at summer camp. It is so good and I am delighted that Francona has put it at number 3 in the order because it can lead a lot of races. César Hernández seems capable of doing a solid job at Lindor’s former starting place.

11. I looked up Yu Chang’s statistics in Arizona. He was hitting .250 with a home run at 31 at bat. Not much was said about him when the camp closed. It has altered his swing, it is shorter and more powerful. The infielder could be doing something. He has four homers in in-school games.

12. I hope Mike Freeman is the utility box player, but I wonder if the Indians will find a place for Chang in the initial list of 30 players. He can play all positions within the frame.

13. In case you were wondering, OF Delino DeShields is a center option versus lefties. Mercado would move to the right. But DeShields is still on the injured list while recovering from the coronavirus. It is supposed to be close to returning. DeShields hit .279 (.791 OPS) against lefties, .236 (.609 OPS) against righties last season.

14. Until last season, Carlos Santana was a slow starter. And last season, José Ramírez had a terrible start. Okay, guys, it’s the end of July. The weather is warm and your bats must be hot. Both have looked good at summer camp.

15. The best news: It appears that every starting pitcher is healthy and ready to pitch at least five innings. That is the key to a quick start.

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