23-year old lefty swinging Lonnie Chisenhall is likely to get most of the P.T. at 3B in 2012.  He played in 66 games for the Tribe last year and he was 54 of 212 (.255 avg, .699 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 7 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  He didn’t show much patience at the plate as he walked 8 times while whiffing 49 times for the Indians last year.  Chisenhall also played in 66 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 68 of 255 (.267 avg, .784 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 7 homers and 45 RBIs.  He made 10 errors in 58 games at 3B last year for the Tribe while showing out of this world range.  If Chisenhall cuts down on the errors and shows more discipline at the plate, he could have a good year for the Indians in 2012.

32-year old lefty swinging Jack Hannahan played in 110 games for the Indians last year and he was 80 of 320 (.250 avg, .719 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 8 homers, 40 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  He has now played in 400 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 272 of 1,176 (.231 avg, .675 OPS) with 129 runs scored, 24 homers, 130 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  Hannahan played in 104 games at 3B for the Indians last year and he only had 5 errors while showing out of this world range.  Hannahan is strange as he hits lefties better than righties, so he could platoon with Lonnie Chisenhall in 2012.

Jason Donald, Jose Lopez and Andy LaRoche can all handle playing 3B.  Donald played in 4 error-free games at 3B for the Indians last year but he showed pretty poor range.  Lopez had 5 errors in 39 games at 3B last year while showing awful range.  Andy LaRoche played in 27 games at 3B for the A’s last year and he had 4 errors while showing awful range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2012:  B

26-year old switch-hitting SS Asdrubal Cabrera turned in a monster year for the Indians in 2012.  He played in 151 games for the Indians last year and he was 165 of 604 (.273 avg, .792 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 25 homers, 92 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.  He has now played in 538 games in his first five years for the Indians and he was 567 for 2,019 (.281 avg, .756 OPS) with 285 runs scored, 43 homers, 258 RBIs and 44 stolen bases.  Cabrera made 15 errors in 151 games at SS last year for the Indians but despite making some highlight plays, his range was pretty awful.  The Indians hope that Cabrera’s power and speed wasn’t a mirage in 2011, but a harbinger of things to come.

33-year old switch-hitting Cristian Guzman missed last season as he was rehabbing a rotator cuff injury.  He last played in the majors in 2010 with the Rangers and Nationals.  Guzman has played in 1,406 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 1,459 of 5,382 (.271 avg, .690 OPS) with 727 runs scored, 62 homers, 467 RBIs and 125 stolen bases.  If he’s healthy, he might just make the Indians’ opening day roster as a backup.

27-year old Jason Donald played in 16 games at SS for the Indians last year and he had 3 errors while showing pretty awful range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012:  A-

The Indians have high hopes for 24-year old lefty swinging 2B Jason Kipnis.  Kipnis played in 36 games for the Indians last year and he was 37 for 136 (.272 avg, .841 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 7 homers, 19 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  He also played in 92 games in AAA-ball last year in which he was 96 for 343 (.280 avg, .846 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 12 homers, 55 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  Kipnis had 6 errors in 36 games at 2B for the Tribe last year and he showed awful range.  The Indians hope he improves on D while he rakes at the plate in 2012.

27-year old righty swinging Jason Donald could work his way into a platoon with Kipnis at 2B with a good spring.  Donald played in 39 games for the Indians last year and he was 42 for 132 (.318 avg, .765 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  He has now played in 127 games in his first two years with the Indians and he is 117 of 428 (.273 avg, .713 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 5 homers, 32 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Donald played in 19 games at 2B for the Indians last year and he only had 1 error but showed off awful range.

28-year old righty swinging Jose Lopez is in camp with the Indians trying to get his career back on the right path.  Lopez played in 82 games for the Rockies & Marlins last year and he was 50 for 231 (.216 avg, .617 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 8 homers, 21 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  He has now played in 955 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 947 for 3,605 (.263 avg, .692 OPS) with 403 runs scored, 88 homers, 452 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.  Lopez didn’t make any errors in 20 games at 2B last year, but he showed pretty pathetic range.  Lopez could earn a spot on the Tribe this spring because he can handle playing 1B, 2B or 3B defensively.

28-year old righty swinging Andy LaRoche played in 40 games for the A’s last year and he was 23 of 93 (.247 avg, .654 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers and 5 RBIs.  He has now played in 403 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 267 for 1,180 (.226 avg, .642 OPS) with 133 runs scored, 22 homers, 113 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  LaRoche didn’t make any errors in 8 games at 2B for the A’s last year but he showed pretty awful range.  LaRoche’s father, David, pitched with the Indians from 1975-77.  The senor LaRoche pitched in 135 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Indians and he was 8-9 with 42 saves, a 2.51 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

25-year old switch-hitting Cord Phelps comes into this season as the Indians’ #15 prospect according to Baseball America.  Phelps played in 35 games for the Indians last year and he was 11 for 71 (.155 avg, .494 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Phelps also played in 97 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 111 of 378 (.294 avg, .868 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 14 homers, 63 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  Phelps had 5 errors in only 20 games at 2B and he showed awful range.  Maybe Phelps was just nervous in his first taste of the majors with the Tribe.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012:  B

The Indians are likely going to go with 29-year old lefty swinging Casey Kotchman as their everyday 1B in 2012.  He played in 146 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last year and he was 153 for 500 (.306 avg, .800 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 10 homers, 48 RBIs and 2 stolen base.  Kotchman has now played in 791 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 693 for 2,588 (.268 avg, .733 OPS) with 276 runs scored, 59 homers, 332 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.  Kotchman only had 2 errors in 146 games at 1B last year as he probably should have won the Gold Glove last year.  He has outstanding range and he will make all of the other infielders better defenders in 2012.

27-year old righty swinging Matt LaPorta is running out of time in Cleveland.  He played in 107 games for the Tribe last year and he was 87 for 352 (.247 avg, .711 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 11 homers, 53 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  LaPorta has now played in 269 games in his first three years for the Indians and he is 216 of 909 (.238 avg, .701 OPS) with 104 runs scored, 30 homers, 115 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  LaPorta played in 97 games at 1B last year and he had 7 errors.  LaPorta has a minor league option left, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

Shelley Duncan, Jack Hannahan and Carlos Santana are going to have other primary positions in 2012….but they all played some 1B for the Tribe last year.  Duncan played in 7 games at 1B for the Indians last year and he made 1 error.  Duncan will likely DH and play LF more than he will at 1B in 2012.  Jack Hannahan played in 8 error free games at 1B for the Tribe.  His best position is 3B, but he is a solid player at 1B too.  Carlos Santana played in 66 games at 1B for the Tribe last year and he had 4 errors.  Santana will likely split time at DH with Travis Hafner when he’s not catching.

25-year old righty swinging Russ Canzler is also going to try to win a job with the Tribe this spring.  He can play both 1B and 3B.  Canzler played in 3 games for the Rays in his first taste of the majors and he was 1 for 3 (.333 avg, .733 OPS) with 1 RBI.  He also played in 131 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 149 for 474 (.314 avg, .930 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 18 homers, 83 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  He has a nice upside.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012:  B-

25-year old switch-hitting Carlos Santana is likely going to split his time between catcher and DH in 2012.  Santana played in 155 games for the Tribe last year and he was 132 of 552 (.239 avg, .808 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 27 homers, 79 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  He has now played in 201 games in his first two years with the Indians and he is 171 of 702 (.244 avg, .821 OPS) with 107 runs scored, 33 homers, 101 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Santana played in 95 games behind the plate last season and he had 7 errors and 4 passed balls.  Santana also threw out 15 of 74 (20.3%) base stealers and Indians’ pitchers had a 4.19 ERA with him behind the plate.  Look for Santana to hit a lot better in 2012.

25-year old Lou Marson will start behind the plate against lefties with Santana taking over for Travis Hafner at DH.  Marson played in 79 games for the Indians last year and he was 56 of 243 (.230 avg, .596 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 1 homer, 19 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.  He has now played in 180 games in his first three years with the Tribe and he is 118 of 549 (.215 avg, .590 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  He has now played in 188 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 124 of 570 (.218 avg, .600 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 5 homers, 47 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  Marson played in 78 games behind the plate for the Indians last year and he had 5 errors and 5 passed balls.  Marson threw out 24 of 78 (30.8%) base stealers last year and Indians’ pitchers had a 4.30 ERA with him behind the plate.  Marson will get a lot of P.T. due to his defense, but he’s just not much of a hitter.

29-year old righty swinging Matt Pagnozzi is likely going to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball as the Indians like to have veteran catchers to work with their up and coming younger pitchers.  Pagnozzi played in 12 games for the Rockies & Pirates last year and he was 8 for 29 (.276 avg, .598 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.  He has now played in 33 games in his first 3 years in the majors and he is 22 for 71 (.310 avg, .744 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer and 13 RBIs.  It might be hard to believe that Pagnozzi is a .310 hitter in the majors so far when you consider that he is a career .220 hitter in 625 games in the minors.  Pagnozzi played in 9 games behind the plate for the Rockies & Pirates last year and he didn’t have any errors but 1 passed ball.  He only threw out 2 of 16 (12.5%) base stealers and pitchers had a 7.91 ERA with him behind the plate.

31-year old righty swinging Luke Carlin will likely start the 2012 season for the Indians in AA or AAA-ball.  Carlin played in 63 games in AAA-ball for the Indians last year and he was 40 for 188 (.213 avg, .700 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers and 27 RBIs.  He last played in the majors back in 2010 for the Indians.  He played in 6 games for the Tribe in 2010 and he was 5 for 14 (.357 avg, 1.223 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homer and 3 RBIs.  Carlin has now played in 52 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 22 for 126 (.175 avg, .553 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs.

33-year old righty swinging Michel Hernandez will also start the 2012 season in the minors for the Tribe in 2012.  Hernandez played in 56 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Orioles & Indians last year in which he was 48 for 176 (.273 avg, .765 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 2 homers and 27 RBIs.  Hernandez last played in the majors back in 2009 for the Rays.  Hernandez played in 45 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 101 for 425 (.237 avg, .591 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 12 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012:  B