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OK, who had better Oscar predictions than film, television, and theater major John Axford? Certainly not me. But I guess me making Oscar predictions would be about as reasonable as Sophia Coppola making baseball predictions, so I'll stick to what I do best. Here are some links about the Indians and some other baseball stuff.
Indians news
Youth Movement
Francisco Lindor and Clint Frazier are no strangers to prospect lists, so it's no surprise to see them on SBN's compiled list of prospects that have appeared on all three of the major top 100 prospects lists. Lindor comes in at #7 on the combined list, while Frazier ranks #38. It won't be long until these guys are hopefully living up to the hype. Lindor, in particular, is already impressing Tito.
But it's not just the prospects we've got to look forward to. Jordan Bastian writes of the Indians three young arms who, despite their low profile, will be relied upon heavily in 2014. Corey Kluber, Zach McAllister, and Danny Salazar are going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting if the team is to be successful, and they appear up to the challenge. Meanwhile, Trevor Bauer still has a bit of work to do.
The Role Players
One of the most fascinating, if relatively inconsequential, parts of every spring training is the parade of NRIs, has-beens, and never-will-bes desperately fighting for a major league roster spot. IBI provides a quick breakdown of each of these potential role player. Among the rag-tag bunch in Nyjer Morgan, aka Tony Plush. He proven to be an early favorite of Terry Francona's, who appreciates Morgan's enthusiasm and hustle. But Morgan has yet to bring out Tony Plush, at least not until he's more established. And he's out to prove that Plush isn't about disrespecting the game:
"People who think that don’t understand me and probably never will... Tony Plush is a guy who loves life. A guy who just wants to keep guys loose and have fun. - Nyjer Morgan
Tidbits
Elsewhere in Tribeland:
- Yan Gomes is already a Hall of Famer,
- Terry Francona rides Marge Scott's elephant,
- Asdrubal Cabrera is poised for a breakout in 2014, and
- BI hands out the Indians Oscars.
Around the league
- LGFT Guillermo Mota retires,
- Ichiro wants to play "many more" seasons after 2014,
- Robinson Cano gives Jack Z some GM-ing advice,
- The Yankees may actually be winners in the Pindeda-Montero trade, and
- Sports on Earth has differing opinions (for | against) on Harold Reynolds being selected as part of the World Series broadcast team.