Matt LaPorta sent back to AAA

by DJSlam on May 26, 2009 4:04 PM EDT

I know he was struggling a bit on the Indians, but c'mon, it seemed like their plan all along was to see the kid fail. He would get the start one day, and then not play again for 3 days. He was also being flip flopped between 1B and LF. He was given a total of 42 AB to prove himself.

If they don't feel they have the AB to give him now, I can see that, but c'mon, the team is in last place and tanking fast, and it's not like Ben Francisco is doing much better. I think this is just another reason as to why Wedge and Shapiro are both going to be gone soon.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Link

Here is a link to the article in the Cleveland Plains Dealer. Judging by the fan comments below it, it seems the majority agree with me.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2009/05/cleveland_indians_send_down_ou.html

by DJSlam on May 26, 2009 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

No surprise. There was hardly any consistency to his playing time.

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

"Obviously I’m not doing things like going toe-to-toe with a ninja. Find me a ninja, for one."--Brian Wilson

by haverecords on May 26, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

What's This?

The fans of a team disagreeing with the moves of the Front Office?….I kid….

by Dfarth on May 26, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions

Actually

I’m not even an Indians fan, I’m a Braves fan, so you could consider me an unbiased opinion. After they made that move of Rondon to the bullpen, and then 2 weeks later changed their mind, I realized something was wrong in this organization.

by DJSlam on May 26, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by FishHead on May 26, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with the move

As someone on the comments section of the article noted, Trevor Crowe makes more sense right now. More valuable defensively and on the basepaths, and is giving you comparable offense.

Also, I think people greatly overreact when a young player gets sent down. I think it can be a good thing and help them longterm. Bringing a kid like LaPorta up, who if I recall was doing very well in AAA, and letting him get a taste of the majors shows him what the competition level is like. The major league pitchers can expose holes in his swing or in his pitch selection, etc. Then he gets sent back down to work on those issues and is better equipped later when they call him back up. It saves him plate appearances that can make a difference for the team when it’s arbitration time and better suits the player.

I would much rather have LaPorta straightening out the kinks in his swing and approach in the minors than to have him do it in the majors where it may take longer and he can begin to lose his confidence, maybe ruining him for a long time.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on May 26, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

Fair

This is a very fair point of view. I just disagree with the way they handled him on the big club, playing him only sporadically and moving him back and forth between positions.

by DJSlam on May 26, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Re:

It’s not like he festered there for years. He was up with the club for a few weeks. IMO, people overreact too much to moves with prospects. If they get promoted to the bullpen instead of as a starter everyone complains. If they come up but don’t get consistent playing time everyone complains. However, if they come up as a SP or a regular starter in the field and does poorly over an extended period of time – everyone complains.

Sometimes it’s best to just ease guys into the water. Not everyone comes up as an everyday regular and produces from day 1.

by Dfarth on May 26, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Well...

It didn’t seem like he had anything left to prove at AAA. The kid is 24 years old, and was drafted out of college. This is not some raw player who needs more refining.

by DJSlam on May 26, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

75AB in AAA

Another few months down there wont hurt at all…

by Dfarth on May 26, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

True

The indians are the kings of letting players sit in the minors for too long. They draft college guys who can help the bigs sooner and let them spend 3-4 yrs in the minors.

by FishHead on May 26, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems to me

That Shapiro has started to manage for his job. Which is pretty much the worst attribute a GM can pick up. Prepare for more shenanigans to come.

by Fanon on May 27, 2009 12:12 AM EDT reply actions

Now would be the perfect time...

for the Mariners to get back Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo!

by PissedMick on May 27, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions

That seems like jumping the gun to me

I think Wedge is on far thinner ice than Shapiro. Shapiro’s had a vision in mind and implemented it over the past few years and got them to within a game of the World Series, and his stamp is all over this franchise. … I don’t think the Cleveland braintrust would be so erratic as to dump him after a couple of tough seasons.

by Flynn Blake on May 27, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps

Wedge’s logic is beyond me. Why does Choo bat cleanup? He’s proven to be a very good hitter, but he’s kind of wasted in that spot. I also don’t understand why they didn’t just give LaPorta the starting LF job, considering the offense they’ve been getting from the position.

by Fanon on May 27, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions