BP through espn

[jellis]

I guess espn is trying to take over everything already had ties to BA and now adding BP, but this was 6 holes on 6 contenders

Indians: Left Field/First Base/DH (Ben Francisco + David Dellucci/Ryan Garko/Travis Hafner)
For a likely contender, the Indians don't look very threatening at the positions where the offensive expectations are the highest. As noted last week, the left-field platoon of Francisco (forecast for 260/.328/.424) and Dellucci (.254/.316/.425) is of a piece with the Tribe's seven-year trend of mediocrity from its corner outfielders, while Garko at first base is similarly lacking in punch (.261/.333/.420).

There's slightly more room for optimism here than in some other quarters, however. While shoulder problems eroded Hafner's performance from .308/.419/.611 in 2004-2006 to just .248/.364/.417 in 2007-2008 (including a sub-Mendoza showing last year), off-season surgery to clean out scar tissue offers hope that he can outdo his .248/.352/.422 forecast, even if living up to his $57 million contract through 2012 is a pipe dream. Additionally, top prospect Matt LaPorta, a 2007 first-round pick obtained from the Brewers in the CC Sabathia trade last summer, will start the year in Triple-A and could provide more punch by slotting in at left field or at first base by mid-season.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/ ... id=3888472

[indianinkslinger]

I think it is a reasonable take on the Indians but I believe he overlooks the "victor" in his assessment.

[Hermie13]

Are Francisco and Dellucci really gonna be 'platooning' that much though? One of Francisco's biggest issues in the minors was his inability to hit left-handed pitching. Many scouts thought this would keep him from every being an everyday ML OFer.....

He's improved and actually hit lefties a bit better in his short ML career......but even Wedge has said he likes him against right-handed pitching. Even pinch hit using him against a righty a few times instead of Dellucci last year and in 2007.

I'm sure Dellucci will get some at-bats.....but that article made it sound like he'd be getting the majority against righties.....