Tag Archives: Oscar Mercado

Indians to call up Oscar Mercado

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cleveland Indians are calling up outfielder Oscar Mercado to provide production for a relatively pedestrian group of outfielders.

It’s time. Oscar Mercado is being called up to the Major League roster. The Cleveland Indians needed an outfielder with an injury to Tyler Naquin that may find him landing on the injured list.

Even without the injury to Naquin it seemed like Mercado’s time was coming. Cleveland is desperate for help offensively, especially in the outfield. The production from this group has been one of the worst in all of baseball. Outside of a hot streak from Jordan Luplow, the group has left a lot to be desired as of late.

Oscar Mercado has been performing extremely well this season in AAA. Mercado is slashing .294/.396/.496 with an OPS of .891. All of these numbers are better than what the Indians have got at the Major League level. Granted this is against lesser competition, but it is still worth noting.

Mercado has hit 10 doubles and four home runs down in Columbus. Only Leonys Martin has more home runs than Mercado, this is a problem. Martin is not a power hitter and Cleveland has been relatively unimpressive in regards to outfield production.

Mercado should see plenty of time in the outfield. The Carlos Gonzalez experiment may not last much longer and there is not a lot of competition for playing time. Jake Bauers can also play first base and has seen some time as a DH, freeing up a spot in the outfield for others. Leonys Martin has been hot and cold all season and can be prone to the occasional slump.

Even if Mercado only performs at an average level, it will be better than what the Indians have currently got so far this season. Cleveland needs to be bailed out offensively and Mercado has the chance to do just that.

Indians should go with Mercado, not Kemp

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cincinnati Reds released outfielder Matt Kemp. Cleveland seems like an ideal landing spot but the Indians should look internally for outfield help.

As soon as the news broke that the Cincinnati Reds released Matt Kemp the reactions were very predicable. “The Cleveland Indians should sign Matt Kemp”. This was the rallying call of many. While on paper this makes sense, a right handed outfielder to face left handed pitching. The problem is that Kemp is aging and currently injured. Cincinnati bailed on Kemp when it became unclear just when he will return from a rib injury. When on the field this year Kemp was not all that inspiring, a lowly slash line of .200/.210/.283/493 in 20 games.

The production from Matt Kemp against left handers in regards to slash line in 2019 is a bit misleading. Kemp has a slash .286/.333/.571/.905. While this seems impressive, context matters. This is over 14 at-bats. Matt Kemp has four hits against left handed pitching this season. When looking at sample size it is easy to see why his slash line in this situation can be disregarded.

On the surface Matt Kemp appears to have had a great season last year but the truth is it was an up and down campaign. There were times where Kemp was on fire, but there were also times where he was as cold as cold can be.

There is also the question of where he will play. The reality is that he would probably end up as the right handed Carlos Gonzalez on the roster. Seeing time in the corner outfield spots and the designated hitter position. The Indians do not really need another part time platoon player at this point. They need someone who can play on a daily basis and relegate players such as Tyler Naquin and Jordan Luplow to part time status. Cleveland has a player like this, Oscar Mercado.

Oscar Mercado is excelling in AAA

Yes it is AAA and that literally means nothing, but Oscar Mercado has a slash line of .289/.400/.464/.864 in 25 games with the Columbus Clippers. Mercado has nine doubles, two home runs and one triple with 13 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases, he can do it all. Oscar Mercado is doing everything that the Indians want and more while waiting for his turn in Cleveland.

The production that Mercado can potentially give the Indians in the Majors is vastly different than that of Matt Kemp. Kemp at his best will simply just hit at a modest rate, nothing more. Mercado has the ability to hit against left and right handed pitching and can steal bases. A trait that Cleveland desperately needs to help in the run production department.

Sure, Matt Kemp is a recognizable name that follows in the footsteps of Carlos Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez, two players that the Indians have signed in hopes they can still produce. Gonzalez did and Ramirez did not, which is why he is no longer on the team. The time for seeing if players still have it was early in the season and not after the first of May.

Cleveland needs everyday production from their outfield. Kemp appears to be just another platoon outfielder that Cleveland already has plenty of. The last thing Cleveland needs is to sign another aging player and ignore the potential of a player in the minors. Let the kid play and help the team out at the Major League level.

Indians outfield performance in Arizona

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cleveland Indians outfield was filled with question marks entering Spring Training and the majority of the early results so far are certainly encouraging. Although there are some not so encouraging performances in Arizona. Granted it is Spring Training and the sample sizes are small, there is some bright spots to focus on.

Leonys Martin

This is the ultimate feel good story. Leonys Martin saw last season end prematurely due to a life-threatening illness. There is no doubt that Martin wants to get back on the field and prove to everyone he is still capable of being a productive outfielder. In seven games Martin is slashing .474/.500/.789 with an OPS of 1.289. Martin has also displayed a bit of power, homering twice this spring. Martin has all but locked down a starting spot in the Indians outfield.

Greg Allen

Greg Allen has also had a nice spring with a slash line of .424/.524/.667 with a 1.190 OPS. Allen has eight hits in seven games for the Indians including a solo home run. Coming into Spring Training there were some questions about just what Greg Allen can provide at the plate. Those questions appear to have been answered as Allen is building off a successful end of last season. Of course the regular season is a different animal entirely and Allen could revert back, however Allen appears to have secured a regular outfield spot for the Indians.

Tyler Naquin

This has been a troubling spring for Tyler Naquin. Naquin is struggling at the plate, only slashing .150/.150/.400 and an OPS of .550 in seven games. Things appeared to be heading in the right direction early as Naquin homered in the first game. However Naquin has only managed two more hits in the following six games. Naquin’s role with the Indians is up in the air. As of now it is hard to justify a starting outfield spot, but then again Spring Training stats mean nothing. Naquin could turn things around at the plate once the regular season begins, but that remains to be seen.

Jake Bauers

Another player who has struggled is Jake Bauers, but not as much as Naquin. Bauers slash line is .211/.286/.421 with a .707 OPS. Bauers has four hits so far this spring, one being a double and the other a home run. This is about what Bauers is expected to do at the Major League level. The situation with Bauers is more dependent on the performance of others. Bauers was originally thought to be seeing time at first base and the designated hitter spot. The acquisition of Hanley Ramirez changed that. Ramirez figures to be the DH if he makes the team which shifts Bauers to the outfield. If Ramirez fails to make the team or underperforms, Bauers could see time as a DH with others occupying outfield spots.

Oscar Mercado

Oscar Mercado is the surprise of the spring. Mercado has been absolutely on fire at the plate, slashing .409/.409.773 with a 1.192 OPS. Mercado has two home runs and has driven in five runs in 12 games. The encouraging thing with Mercado is that these numbers are not the direct result of a smaller sample size. Mercado is playing every day and continues to produce at the plate. The Indians will have a tough decision to make in regards to Mercado making the Indians Major League roster.

Daniel Johnson

Daniel Johnson has also been a surprise. Acquired from Washington in the Yan Gomes trade, Johnson has also had a fairly productive spring. With a slash line of .250/.375/.550 with an OPS of .925. Johnson has five hits in 21 games, two singles, one double, triple and home run. Johnson has also driven in four runs for the Indians this spring. Cleveland may consider Johnson for an outfield spot out after the spring, but he may start off in Columbus due to the excess amount of outfielders already on the roster.

Matt Joyce

Matt Joyce has been absolutely abysmal this spring, going hitless in 17 at-bats over seven games. Joyce does have a walk and an RBI this spring, but considering how poorly he has performed in Arizona it is doubtful that he will make the roster. Initially it was thought the Joyce could contend for the designated hitter spot, but the signing of Hanley Ramirez put an end to that.

Trayce Thompson

Some may know Trayce Thompson as the brother of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, however he is trying to make a name for himself as a baseball player. Thompson has been fairly impressive this spring with a slash line of .286/.348/.476 with a .824 OPS. With two doubles and a triple, Thompson has driven in four runs. Thompson has also walked twice. The Indians will have to consider Thompson for a part time role if he continues to be productive at the plate.

Indians outfield still a work in progress

Posted on by
Advertisements

Even before the departure of Michael Brantley the Cleveland Indians outfield situation was far from enviable. Now that Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis have new homes the team still has some work to do.

Indians returning outfielders

The Cleveland Indians will have Leonys Martin, Tyler Naquin and Greg Allen returning next season. There is also the uncertain status of Bradley Zimmer. Zimmer is rehabbing from shoulder surgery which originally had a recovery timeline of 8-12 months. It appears that any sort of production from Zimmer this season could be a bonus.

Martin can provide modest production when in the lineup, nothing that cannot be duplicated from others currently on the roster. Naquin experienced an offensive surge before slumping and ultimately suffering a season-ending injury. Allen is essentially a fourth outfielder who is in a starting role. This group of outfielders does not provide much, if any power and should not be expected to do so in the future.

New additions to the Indians outfield

Some consider newly acquired Jake Bauers to be an outfielder, but the reality is that he is a first baseman. While he may play the outfield this season it is not where his future is. Last season in Tampa Bay Bauers played 76 games at first and 20 games in the outfield. A time share with Carlos Santana at first base may be in the cards for Bauers.

Jordan Luplow was acquired from Pittsburgh and could easily slide into the starting lineup. Luplow struggled during his brief time in the majors, however he has shown ability at the plate in the minors. With more time at the Major League level next season Luplow could improve and provide Cleveland with a steady bat in the outfield.

Oscar Mercado is another new face in Cleveland. Mercado has modest power and has shown the ability to drive in runs. Mercado is a candidate to start in AAA this season and with a call up later this season. However given the Indians lack of depth in the outfield that could change if Mercado has a good showing in Spring Training.

More outfield help could come

It is a long offseason and the Indians have not spent on the free agent market. Some free agent possibilities were discussed in a previous article. Of course there is also the possibility that a trade brings in more help. The Indians and Dodgers are still discussing trades involving Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer. A trade of either pitcher should net Cleveland an outfielder who could start from day one, but that is if a trade were to occur. A scenario that appears less likely as each day passes. The roster is far from final and new faces should make their way to Cleveland before Spring Training.