Preparation Key to Shoring up Indians' Defense Improving
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Preparation key to shoring up Indians' defense Improving offense, adding pitching also remain on agenda for Meetings By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | December 10, 2014 + 1 COMMENT SAN DIEGO -- More than anything, it was poor defense that cost the Indians the chance to reach the postseason for the second consecutive year last season. Finding ways to clean up issues in the field has been a priority for the club this winter. If the Indians head into Spring Training with the same infield alignment they used at the end of last season -- a distinct possibility right now -- then the challenge exists within the preparation. That is why general manager Chris Antonetti, manager Terry Francona and other members of the front office and coaching staff have discussed ideas for improving Spring Training workouts. "We have room for improvement," Francona said on Wednesday, during the third day of the Winter Meetings. "Our defense was kind of our Achilles' heel last year. When you give teams extra outs or extra opportunities, it makes it more difficult to win. It doesn't mean you can't win, but it makes it harder." The Indians headed into this offseason with three primary goals: add an impact bat, improve the depth of the pitching staff and tidy up the defense. The Tribe addressed the first issue on Monday with the acquisition of slugger Brandon Moss in a trade with Oakland and the team is in the process of exploring trades and second-tier free agents for its pitching needs. Barring a trade or two, Cleveland projects to open 2015 with Carlos Santana at first base, Jason Kipnis at second, Jose Ramirez at shortstop and Lonnie Chisenhall at third base. That is the same infield at the end of last year, when the club ranked last in the Majors in Ultimate Zone Rating (minus 72.4), Defensive Runs Saved (minus 75) and errors (116). Antonetti is quick to note, however, that the defense improved in the second half of last season after Santana shifted from third base to first and Ramirez took over as the full-time shortstop. Many of Cleveland's issues occurred earlier in the year, when Nick Swisher handled first, Santana was in an experiment at third and Asdrubal Cabrera was at short. "We believe that that group of players is better defensively than we performed as a whole last year," Antonetti said. "I think our defense got markedly better in the second half in the infield." Antonetti is not wrong, either. Francona joins Intentional Talk Francona joins Intentional Talk 11:10 Terry Francona sits down with Intentional Talk to discuss his golf game, the Indians 2015 outlook, managing Millar and more Among American League shortstops with at least 400 defensive innings last year, Ramirez ranked first in UZR/150 (18.9). Cabrera, who was traded to the Nationals before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, had a minus 10.5 UZR/150 in 2014. Swisher posted a minus 18.4 UZR/150 at first base, but did not play a game there after July 19. Santana (minus 39.5 UZR/150 at third) did not play the hot corner after May 22. The two players in need of the most improvement for 2015 are Kipnis and Chisenhall. "Carlos did a good job at first base in his time there," Antonetti said. "Jose Ramirez was great -- everything we could possibly have asked for at shortstop. The places we've talked about are Lonnie and Kip kind of getting back more closely to where they were in 2013, rather than the way they performed in '14." Kipnis has seen his UZR/150 rating decline in each of the past two seasons, dropping to minus 6.3 in 2013 and minus 9.7 in '14 after posting a 2.1 rating in '12. Chisenhall turned in a minus 4.6 UZR/150 for the Indians at third base in 2013 and then declined to a minus 15 rating last season. Both Kipnis and Chisenhall ranked 10th out of 11 qualified AL defenders at their respective position last year. Antonetti noted that the Indians have worked with Kipnis on developing an offseason training plan that is more focused on agility and quickness. As for Chisenhall, the GM said finding a level of consistency is the key. The Indians also plan on changing some things this spring. "We weren't really happy with our team defense last year as a whole," Francona said. "That was something that we fought from Day 1 and kind of interfered with some of our trying to win a lot of games. So, that was something that we really want to try to work on in Spring Training: overall team defense." Two ideas Francona and the Tribe's staff have come up with are seeing plays to completion and taking grounders in defensive-shift situations. An example of the first concept would be working on a run-down only if a play during the workout led to a run-down -- the goal being an increased level of unpredictability. The second idea would help simulate in-game defensive shifts, rather than having a fielder stand in the same spot for a stream of ground balls. The Indians are still working on other ideas as well. "We're going to try as much as we can to have live drills," Francona said. "You have to pick your spots, because you can't have three live drills a day or you're going to kill guys. They'll have sore arms. But, we'll try to also have drills where we run them to completion." Francona believes that approach can help improve upon what is already in place. "I think we have guys that can play better than we did statistically last year," he said. Moss reunion creates boon, challenge for Francona Depth at first, corner outfield spots could lead to other moves for Tribe By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | December 10, 2014 + 10 COMMENTS SAN DIEGO -- Indians manager Terry Francona made a point to deliver a message to Brandon Moss while they were both at the All-Star Game last summer. Francona had managed Moss in Boston when the outfielder was first breaking into the big leagues, long before he developed into one of the game's top sluggers. "I said, 'Man, I'm so proud of you,'" Francona said on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings. "He had turned into this man." Now, Moss will be back in Francona's lineup. Cleveland kicked off these Meetings by acquiring Moss from the A's in exchange for Minor Leaguer Joe Wendle on Monday morning. Francona is thrilled to be reunited with Moss, who will have a home in the heart of the order and has the ability to be an option for both left and right field, as well as first base and designated hitter. Moss also presents a challenge for Francona, though. Cleveland has a pile of players who can cycle through the DH role and provide depth at either first base or the corner outfield spots. Carlos Santana projects as the Tribe's first baseman, but Moss and Nick Swisher can play there, too. Moss, Swisher, David Murphy and Ryan Raburn can all handle right. Bastian on Indians adding Moss Bastian on Indians adding Moss 02:03 MLB.com Indians reporter Jordan Bastian discusses the club's trade for Brandon Moss and how this move could lead to more transactions Francona sees the situation as a good problem. "I hope it is [a challenge]," Francona said, "because then that means we've got guys that are healthy and producing. That would be the best situation, if we have to try to feel like we've got to get guys in there, because that meant guys came, they're healthy and they're hitting. That would be wonderful. I hope that happens." That said, it is also possible that the Indians try to use the surplus to address another offseason goal via trade. Murphy -- under contract for $6 million in 2015 -- appears to stand to lose the most at-bats, considering he plays right, hits left-handed like Moss and is coming off a down year. Cleveland has spent time this winter gauging the interest in Swisher, who is coming off surgery on both knees, a down season offensively, and he is owed $30 million through 2016 with a vesting option for '17. "It's December," Francona said. "We still have a couple months before we go to Spring Training when you have your full team in place." At the moment, the club's concern is getting both Moss and Swisher back to full strength in time for Opening Day. Moss is coming off hip surgery in October and is expected to be ready to start the regular season, barring a setback in his rehab. Swisher's knee surgeries took place in August and the Indians will need to monitor his progress come spring as well. Asked if Swisher is currently being viewed as a DH until he can show he is healthy enough to handle first base, Francona indicated that right field might be more realistic. Francona said Swisher has told the team that he feels playing the outfield might actually be better for his legs. In that scenario, Swisher could potentially play right field, while Santana handled first base and Moss slots in as the DH. All three players could rotate in and out of DH duties -- an approach that the Indians like to use for that role. "We'll have to be very cognizant of the fact that he had knee surgery," Francona said of Swisher.