Bats: Right, Throws: Right
2011 Stats (AAA Columbus/ AA Akron) - .272, 18 HR, 48 RBI, .858 OPS, 1.74 K/BB
If anyone has been reading this blog since last December (impossible) or March (still unlikely) then you know that I am a huge Jared Goedert supporter. Coming off of the disgusting third base play of 2010 (see Jayson Nix) and with Lonnie Chisenhall destined to begin 2011 at AAA, I thought that Goedert, with his 40-man addition and his 27 2010 long balls, had an excellent shot at opening the campaign as the Indians' starting third bagger. Many had maligned his defense (we'll return to this in a bit) and few agreed that he was the best option, especially after the acquisition of Jack Hannahan. While I have grown to love (I do not use the word lightly) Captain Jack, I will readily admit that I was one of his harshest pre-opening day critics. Thus, when Jared went down with an oblique strain 3 days into spring camp, I saw the injury as a big loss, not just just for Goedert, but for the Tribe as well.
Jared took quite some time to return from the disabled list and suffered a pair of setbacks during his rehab at AA Akron. It was, in fact, nearly June before he saw his first PT for the Clippers. Goedert, admittedly, stuggled. He sputtered to a 1-for-15 starts, although it was a homer, en route to a .198 pre-all-star batting average. The second half was a different story, as Jared mashed .333 with 11 dingers and a mad 1.030 OPS. Let us not forget that Goedert is a right-handed power option (with improving discipline) for an organization that is sorely lacking such at the big league level.
All of this is roses and ice cream, but, Jared, 27 in May, has yet make an ML appearance. With Chisenhall, barring a trade, now entrenched at third (with Jack second in line) and the Tribe toying with idea of carrying two DH-only guys, Goedert has to show the ability to play another position. The thought originally arose out of the organization's opinion that he was a sub-par defender at the hot corner. I have said it before and I will say it again: he might not be Brooks Robinson, but he is by no means a liability either. In fact, having seen the man (Goedert not Brooks) play live about 20 times, I would put him on par with Chiz glove-wise and with a far more accurate arm.
Still, this is all irrelevant. Unless Jared can prove himself to be useful at first base (or, less likely, in the outfield), he will be precluded the opportunity to hit for the Indians. 2011 saw 28 errorless AAA games at first and that's good enough for me. Sadly, the braintrust seems deadset against giving the man a shot.
I like Goedert because his ceiling is incredibly high (like Adam Dunn high, bad example coming off of this past season, but you know what I mean). Additionally, he is a hard worker and a good locker room guy. Facts need be faced though, a lot of things will have to go right to get him to the lake and management sure isn't going to do him any favors.
Up Next: #30 - RHP Kelvin De La Cruz
