MLB Power Rankings: Ranking the Cleveland Indians Roster for the Stretch Run

As the Cleveland Indians prepare for the stretch run of the season, they find themselves remarkably well off. They are the only team in the AL Central with a positive run differential and have somehow kept the Detroit Tigers within reach. The final month-and-a-half of the season promises to be competitive and tight.

I've done this three other times this year (before the season, after 40 games and at the All-Star break), but the time has come again to rank the 25 players on the Indians active roster. As always, this means that players on the DL (Carlos Carrasco, Grady Sizemore, etc.) aren't ranked. Here are the notable players not ranked:

Grady Sizemore (previously ranked: NR/NR/ninth)

Carlos Carrasco (19th/23rd/13th)

Austin Kearns (14th/21st/16th)

Orlando Cabrera (6th/12th/19th)

Shelley Duncan (13th/22nd/21st)

Travis Buck (22nd/17th/22nd)

Luis Valbuena (NR/NR/23rd)

Mitch Talbot (24th/NR/24th)

Alright, let's get on with it. Here is the Cleveland Indians roster ranked from 25th to first for the stretch run:

No. 25 Fausto Carmona

2011 Stats: 5-12, 5.12 ERA (75 ERA+), 4.72 FIP, 1.358 WHIP, 5.0 SO/9, 2.8 BB/9, 1.81 SO:BB, -1.4 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 15th/13th/NR

There's not much to say about Fausto Carmona's disappointing season. His pitching has done more harm that good this year and the team is generally better off when he doesn't pitch. While I have been encouraged by his recent outings, if the playoffs started today, I would leave him out of the four-man rotation in a heartbeat.

Not a banner year from Carmona.

No. 24 Frank Herrmann

2011 Stats: 3-0, 4.42 ERA (88 ERA+), 4.72 FIP, 1.474 WHIP, 5.6 SO/9, 2.8 BB/9, 2.00 SO:BB, -0.1 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 21st/NR/20th

I love Frank Herrmann and his Ivy League roots, but he's been a very replaceable member of the Bullpen Mafia this year. He hasn't pitched all that poorly, but he hasn't stood out either. There's nothing wrong with that; it just means that Herrmann hasn't been all that valuable to the team. 

No. 23 Chad Durbin

2011 Stats: 2-1, 5.87 ERA (66 ERA+), 3.86 FIP, 1.522 WHIP, 7.2 SO/9, 2.9BB/9, 2.47 SO:BB, -0.6 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): seventh/25th/25th

Chad Durbin has finally risen out of the basement of these rankings! It's a miracle!

Seriously, though, Durbin is posting a decent season despite his poor ERA. His FIP isn't all that bad and his SO:BB suggest that he should be much better off than he is. While I wouldn't be heartbroken if the Tribe cut him if they needed the roster space, he should be a good regression candidate and pitch well for us down the stretch.

No. 22 Jason Donald

2011 Stats: .278/.316/.444 slash line, .760 OPS (112 OPS+), 0 HR, O RBI, O SB, 6:1 SO:BB, 0.3 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/NR

It's kind of hard to rank Jason Donald since he's only had 19 plate appearances this year, but the early returns are good. He's striking out too much right now, but he brings good defense and a decent bat to the table.

With Orlando Cabrera gone, Donald is more than suitable as the backup middle infielder for the 2011 Cleveland Indians.  

No. 21 Ezequiel Carrera

2011 Stats: .236/.284/.281 slash line, .565 OPS (61 OPS+), 0 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB, 17:6 SO:BB, 0.1 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/NR

I loved Ezequiel Carrera when he was first called up and called for him to be the replacement for Shin-Soo Choo in RF when he broke his thumb, but it's time to cool off on Carrera. His defense is pretty good, but his bat is pretty bad and ruins most of his value.

He should serve the Tribe well as a fourth outfielder, but I think that'll end up being his ceiling.

No. 20 Matt LaPorta

2011 Stats: .243/.297/.413 slash line, .711 OPS (98 OPS+), 10 HR, 41 RBI, 1 SB, 70:19 SO:BB, 0.2 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 10th/10th/17th

I started out really high on LaPorta this year, projecting him as the breakout star for the Tribe in 2011. Well, it's come full circle now. Seriously, what's up with his OBP? Why can't he draw a walk every now and then? His defense isn't anything special and neither is his offense.

Honestly, I think the Tribe is better off with Carlos Santana at first base and Lou Marson catching for the stretch run. I think it gives us the best chance of making the playoffs. 

No. 19 Lonnie Chisenhall

2011 Stats: .238/.284/.396 slash line, .680 OPS (90 OPS+), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 27:6 SO:BB, 0.2 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/18th

Lonnie Chisenhall is struggling like Matt LaPorta, but at least he has a better excuse. Chisenhall hasn't adapted to the big league game as quickly as we'd like, but he's doing well enough so far. He's striking out too much, but when he makes contact, it's usually solid.

Seeing as 2011 was supposed to be a rebuilding year, I'd let Chisenhall run out the rest of the season and learn to play at this level, but that's mainly because there isn't a great replacement banging down the door. 

No. 18 Jack Hannahan

2011 Stats: .214/.301/.331 slash line, .632 OPS (79 OPS+), 5 HR, 23 RBI, 2 SB, 63:30 SO:BB, 0.7 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): ninth/8th/14th

I love what Jack Hannahan has added to the Indians this year, but despite Lonnie Chisenhall's struggles, I still feel he's best suited to be the backup 1B/3B. His defense is great off the bench and he can contribute from time to time.

Hannahan's just not an everyday player, though.

No. 17 Chris Perez

2011 Stats: 2-5, 3.30 ERA (117 ERA+), 4.36 FIP, 1.237 WHIP, 5.8 SO/9, 4.1 BB/9, 1.40 SO:BB, 0.8 WAR, 25 SV

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): fourth/14th/7th

First off, I think that Chris Perez should remain the Tribe's closer. It takes a special mentality to pitch in the ninth inning and he has that. But being the closer doesn't make Perez the best relief pitcher on the Tribe. He has the worst BB/9 on the team, the fourth worst SO/9 (only ahead of Tomlin, Carmona and Herrmann) and the third worst FIP (only ahead of Herrmann and Carmona).

He's one of the least effective pitchers on the Tribe this year, but he still leads the Bullpen Mafia effectively. 

No. 16 Rafael Perez

2011 Stats: 5-2, 2.27 ERA (171 ERA+), 2.74 FIP, 1.154 WHIP, 5.9 SO/9, 2.3 BB/9, 2.58 SO:BB, 0.7 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 11th/15th/12th

While I wish Rafael Perez would strike more people out (like he did from 2006 to 2008), he still is a very good member of the Bullpen Mafia. That 2.74 FIP suggests that his 2.27 ERA is actually pretty sustainable.

If Rafael Perez is one of your middle relief pitchers, it means that you're in very good shape. 

No. 15 Tony Sipp

2011 Stats: 6-2, 2.68 ERA (144 ERA+), 4.04 FIP 0.954 WHIP, 8.0 SO/9, 3.0 BB/9, 2.65 SO:BB, 1.2 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): eighth/seventh/11th

Entering 2011, Tony Sipp was expected to become the breakout member of the bullpen. He hasn't pitched all that poorly (I mean, look at the WHIP), but there's been a general dissatisfaction with him. I can see where some of it is coming from with the high FIP, but Sipp is a good pitcher.

The Indians are better off with him. 

No. 14 David Huff

2011 Stats: 1-1, 0.51 ERA (769 ERA+), 1.99 FIP, 0.962 WHIP, 7.6 SO/9, 2.0 BB/9, 3.75 SO:BB, 0.7 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/NR

It's too bad that David Huff's start on Sunday was rained out (2 IP, 4 K, 0 BB, 0 H) because it would've added to his tremendous 2011 campaign. It's only been three starts, but there's no reason that Huff should be sent back to AAA at all this year.

If the playoffs started today and the Indians were in them, I would feel pretty confident with a Masterson/Jimenez/Tomlin/Huff four-man rotation. I never would've thought I'd feel that way this year, but I do. David Huff has made a believer out of me. He deserves a real shot for the rest of 2011. 

No. 13 Lou Marson

2011 Stats: .219/.280/.315 slash line, .595 OPS (68 OPS+), 1 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB, 37:13 SO:BB, 0.8 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 12th/16th/15th

I've been given a hard time for consistently ranking Marson this high, but I truly feel that he's not all that bad of a player. He is one of the best defensive catchers in the game and it more than makes up for his offensive shortcomings.

Just using WAR, averaged to 650 plate appearances, Marson would own a 3.2 WAR. For reference, Michael Brantley is on pace for a 3.2 WAR. Matt LaPorta, on the other hand, is on pace for a 0.4 WAR. You can't convince me that the Tribe's playoffs chances aren't better off with Marson catching and Santana at first base. 

No. 12 Joe Smith

2011 Stats: 2-3, 1.71 ERA (226 ERA+), 2.84 FIP, 1.099 WHIP, 6.8 SO/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.40 SO:BB, 1.4 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/18th/eighth

Joe Smith has been very, very good this year, but it's slightly unsustainable. With that in mind, though, would anyone be upset if his ERA was equal to his 2.84 FIP? That would still make him a great member of the Bullpen Mafia.

Smith is still best suited to being used as a middle reliever mostly against right-handed batters, but as long as he's used within his means, he's very valuable. 

No. 11 Vinnie Pestano

2011 Stats: 1-1, 2.86 ERA (135 ERA+), 2.53 FIP, 1.045 WHIP, 12.7 SO/9, 3.3 BB/9, 3.88 SO:BB, 1.1 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 20th/11th/10th

He may not have the best ERA, WHIP or WAR in the Bullpen Mafia, but Vinnie Pestano is the best reliever on the 2011 Indians at this point. His SO/9 and SO:BB are elite and he would be the best choice for a replacement closer if something were to happen to Chris Perez. Pestano has put together a great rookie campaign that hopefully he'll build on during the stretch run and in the future. 

No. 10 Josh Tomlin

2011 Stats: 12-5, 3.97 ERA (97 ERA+), 4.09 FIP, 1.039 WHIP, 4.7 SO/9, 1.2 BB/9, 4.05 SO:BB, 1.6 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 18th/ninth/sixth

You know you've got something special going on when the only pitcher with a lower BB/9 than you is Roy Halladay. Josh Tomlin still isn't a front-of-the-rotation pitcher, but if the Tribe can get a No. 3 starter to slide into the rotation, Tomlin should be able to dominate most other fourth starters.

His low strikeout rate limits him, but Tomlin is a warrior and I'm very glad that he's in our starting rotation. 

No. 9 Shin-Soo Choo

2011 Stats: .242/.331/.348 slash line, .679 OPS (93 OPS+), 5 HR, 28 RBI, 11 SB, 67:32 SO:BB, 1.3 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): first/second/NR

Hopefully Shin-Soo Choo's DL stint will have given him the mental break he desperately needed this year. Between his hitting slump and DUI, Choo hasn't had the smoothest sailing in 2011.

Despite the struggles, though, Choo has been great in the field and should round into hitting form in time. He's too good to be kept down.

No. 8 Jason Kipnis

2011 Stats: .279/.347/.603 slash line, .950 OPS (162 OPS+), 6 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB, 22:6 SO:BB, 1.0 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/NR

If this were a ranking of who's the hottest player on the Tribe, then Jason Kipnis would be ranked first. Since it's a measure of who's contributed the most to the Indians all year, however, he falls to eighth. It's a sign of how poorly the Indians have hit this year that Kipnis is so high up in so many offensive categories and thus ranked this high in these rankings.

He has the ability to become a real star in this league.

No. 7 Ubaldo Jimenez

2011 Stats: 7-9, 4.37 ERA (102 ERA+), 3.50 FIP, 1.360 WHIP, 8.7 SO/9, 3.6 BB/9, 2.38 SO:BB, 1.7 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/NR

Sure, he hasn't been having the best of seasons, but Ubaldo Jimenez is a legitimate ace. He strikes people out, doesn't walk too many and has a very good FIP. He's been unlucky so far this year, but that doesn't make him not an ace.

Jimenez will help the Indians for the rest of 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

No. 6 Michael Brantley

2011 Stats: .270/.323/.390 slash line, .713 OPS (101 OPS+), 7 HR, 44 RBI, 13 SB, 72:34 SO:BB, 2.3 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 17th/fourth/third

Michael Brantley has been a very solid contributor for the Tribe this year. He hits pretty well, plays very good defense and generally just plays well. He's nothing spectacular, but for being a player-to-be-named-later, we could've done much worse. 

No. 5 Travis Hafner

2011 Stats: .293/.375/.465 slash line, .839 OPS (136 OPS+), 10 HR, 46 RBI, 0 SB, 59:30 SO:BB, 1.5 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): fifth/third/fifth

He's still not quite the elite Pronk of old, but the Indians could be doing much worse than having Travis Hafner hitting in the cleanup spot. He's consistently been a top player on the Tribe this year and has hit well when healthy.

The home runs might not really be there, but Hafner is still getting the job done. He may still be overpaid, but it's more tolerable this year. 

No. 4 Kosuke Fukudome

2011 Stats: .271/.359/.364 slash line, .723 OPS (99 OPS+), 3 HR, 18 RBI, 3 SB, 71:47 SO:BB, 2.9 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): NR/NR/NR

How you feel about Kosuke Fukudome is heavily dependent on which defensive metrics you trust. Baseball-Reference.com's metrics show him as an elite defender, but Fangraphs.com rate him as below average. Since I've tended to use Baseball-Reference the most, I rate him highly.

I like his bat (despite the early returns from his Cleveland tenure) and think that he fits really well into our sixth or seventh spot in the lineup. He hits much better than Ezequiel Carrera or the recently DFA'ed Austin Kearns. He's been a very underrated deadline pickup. 

No. 3 Carlos Santana

2011 Stats: .236/.351/.442 slash line, .793 OPS (123 OPS+), 18 HR, 59 RBI, 4 SB, 93:72 SO:BB, 2.8 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): second/fifth/fourth

I still don't care about Carlos Santana's batting average and never will; he gets on base, hits for good power and draws plenty of walks. He may not be progressing as a catcher, but he certainly knows how to hit.

Since he's not that great of a catcher and LaPorta hasn't been all that much defensively either, it makes sense that Lou Marson at catcher and Santana at first base could help the Indians win a few more games. 

No. 2 Justin Masterson

2011 Stats: 9-7, 2.69 ERA (143 ERA+), 2.81 FIP, 1.168 WHIP, 6.8 SO/9, 2.4 BB/9, 2.82 SO:BB, 3.7 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): 16th/sixth/first

If Justin Masterson had more wins and a bigger name, I think that he would be garnering more Cy Young buzz. Not as much as the Verlander/Sabathia/Weaver trifecta, but he really has pitched that well this year.

Ultimately I feel like Ubaldo Jimenez will be the ace of the staff and Masterson will be a great No. 2, but for now, he's been the best pitcher on the Indians. Unfortunately for him, he's not the best player on the Indians to this point this year. 

No. 1 Asdrubal Cabrera

2011 Stats: .292/.351/.492 slash line, .843 OPS (135 OPS+), 20 HR, 71 RBI, 16 SB, 87:33 SO:BB, 4.2 WAR

Previous Ranks (Beginning of season/40-game mark/All-Star break): third/first/second

It's amazing how well Asdrubal Cabrera has been this year. He's only four steals short of a 20-20 season and, with an uptick of speed, could make a run at a 30-30 season. While it's unlikely he'll get to the 30-30 benchmark, it's crazy that we're talking about Asdrubal Cabrera in that way.

He's been a revelation this year and absolutely leading the pack this year. Hopefully Cabrera can lead the Indians right into the playoffs.