CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Since we’re talking about the hitters’ report card for the 2021 MLB season, let’s avoid the confusion and just call the Cleveland Guardians the Cleveland Indians for this exercise.
What the numbers show is probably what you already know. The Indians didn’t do a whole lot to light the scoreboard this year. They hit .238 for the season, their lowest batting average since they hit .234 in the 156-game season of 1972. That season was shortened by a labor dispute.
It should be noted that the average MLB batting average for 2021 was .244. It was the lowest since 1968, the year of the pitcher, when the average was .237. The mound was lowered 10 inches after that season to try an revitalize the game’s hitters.
What can be done to revitalize the Indians for 2022? Well, they’ve already changed the name and fired the top hitting coach, but let’s concentrate on the task at hand.
Somehow the Indians hit .238 (612-for-2,572) at home and .238 (657-for-2,760) on the road. They hit .229 in the first half and .248 after the All-Star break. Their best month was August when they hit .261. Their worst was March/April when they hit .206.
They were bad against righties, hitting .235 (839-for-3,576) with 130 homers and 464 RBI. They were (somewhat) better against lefties, hitting .244 (430-for-1,762) with 73 homers and 272 RBI.
Sometimes they were just downright bad. They were no-hit a record four times. Three games received MLB’s stamp of approval because they went nine innings. One was left out in the cold because it lasted just seven innings as part of a COVID-19-related seven-inning doubleheader.
On top of the four no-hitters, they were shut out 13 times and held to three or fewer runs in 74 (46%) of their 162 games. They were 12-62 in those games.
Here’s how the Indians pitchers graded out for 2021
Here’s how the Indians managers, coaches and front office graded out for 2021
Still the Indians did win 80 games, finishing second in the AL Central. A couple of things helped them do that. No. 1, they ranked seventh in the league with 203 homers as Jose Ramirez led the way with 36. No. 2, they hit .258 (322-for-1,246) with runners in scoring position, which ranks eighth in the AL. Houston was first at .272 (377-for-1,306).
Harold Ramirez hit .387, Amed Rosario .323, Yu Chang .321, Jose Ramirez .303, Bobby Bradley .286, Franmil Reyes .270 and Oscar Mercado .260 with runners in scoring position. If the Indians can increase their on-base percentage next year -- their .303 OBP from 2021 was tied for 14th -- the offense could improve.
Of course, they would have to stop setting records for getting no-hit. With that in mind, let’s get to the grades.
INFIELDERS
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Numbers: .266 (147-for-552), 32 doubles, five triples, 36 homers, 103 RBI, 111 runs, 27 steals, .893 OPS.
Comment: Another MVP-caliber season for the the switch-hitting third baseman. The front office says things have stabilized financially and they’re done trading star players to cut payroll. They hold a $12 million club option on Ramirez for 2022 and are expected to exercise it. Ramirez leads the big leagues with 337 extra-base hits since 2017.
Grade: A+
Extra credit: Hit .344 against curves and .287 against four-seam fastballs, according to baseballsavant.com.
Amed Rosario, SS.
Numbers: .282 (155-for-550), 25 doubles, six triples, 11 homers, 47 RBI, 77 runs, 13 steals, .730 OPS.
Comment: Rosario put together an impressive season at shortstop after opening the year in center field following the trade that brought him from the New York Mets for Francisco Lindor. He was moved to shortstop and the No.2 spot in the lineup around the same time in May and never looked back. Slashed .309/.339/.457 after the All-Star break with 117 total bases in 60 games.
Grade: A.
Extra credit: Rosario hit .348 against cut fastballs and .318 against changeups.
Franmil Reyes, DH-OF
Numbers: .254 (106-for-418), 18 doubles, two triples, 30 homers, 85 RBI, 57 runs and a .856 OPS.
Comment: Reyes struck out 149 times, the second-highest total in his career, but he’s not an all-or-nothing hitter. He missed over a month with a left oblique injury. Still set a career-high in RBI, while making 11 starts in right field. Cleveland fans have not seen the best of him yet.
Grade: B.
Extra credit: Hit .286 against four-seam fastballs and .246 against sliders.
Bobby Bradley, 1B
Numbers: .208 (51-for-245), 10 doubles, 16 homers, 41 RBI, 36 runs, .739 OPS.
Comment: Bradley, who joined the Indians on June 5, showed power and the ability to hit to the opposite field, but has a contact problem. He struck out 40% of the time (99 strikeouts in 245 at-bats). He looked good at first base and has 30-homer potential if management can live with his strikeouts. Had a chance to hit 30 if the front office had started the season with him instead of Jake Bauers.
Grade: C+
Extra credit: Bradley hit .188 against sliders and .314 against sinkers.
Yu Chang, infielder
Numbers: .228 (54-for-237), 14 doubles, three triples, nine homers, 39 RBI, 19 runs.
Comment: Chang hit .280 (30-for-107) over his last 34 games after being recalled from Triple-A. He walked just 11 times and that needs to improve. Can play all over the infield -- 41 starts at first, 13 at third, six at short and three at second.
Grade C.
Extra credit: He hit .188 against changeups and .306 against sinkers.
Andres Gimenez, infielder
Numbers: .218 (41-for-188), 10 doubles, five homers, 16 RBI, 23 runs, 11 steals, .633 OPS.
Comment: Gimenez was the opening day shortstop, but was optioned in May and replaced by Rosario. Worked on his swing and after being recalled hit .271 (19-for-70) with four doubles, three homers and nine RBI from Sept. 1 through the end of the year. Gimenez, 23, made 36 starts at short and 23 at second.
Grade: C.
Extra credit: He hit .211 against curves and .286 against sliders.
Owen Miller, infielder
Numbers: .204 (39-for-191) with eight doubles, four homers, 18 RBI, 17 runs and a .552 OPS.
Comment: Miller posted a .243 on-base percentage, drawing just nine walks. Bounced between Cleveland and Class AAA Columbus -- where he hit .297 (54-for-182) -- four times. He made 18 starts at first, 25 at second, four at third, one at shortstop and three at DH as the Indians tried to find out where he fit and if they should keep him on the 40-man roster.
Grade: C.
Extra credit: He hit .227 against four-seam fastballs and .179 against sliders.
Ernie Clement, infielder
Numbers: .231 (28-for-121), four doubles, three homers, nine RBI, 16 runs and a .624 OPS.
Comment: Clement, like Chang, Miller and Gimenez, was given a chance to see if he could play in the big leagues and keep his spot on the 40-man roster come November in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft. He made 22 starts at second, 13 at third and one at shortstop.
Grade: C.
Extra credit: He hit .214 against curves and .227 against sliders.
CATCHERS
Austin Hedges
Numbers: .178 (51-for-286) seven doubles, 10 homers, 31 RBI, 32 run and a .527 OPS.
Comment: Hedges moved into the starting spot because of Roberto Perez’s injuries. The Indians were 48-37 in his starts. Not much of an offensive threat, but he showed occasional power and the ability to play small ball -- seven sacrifice bunts and three sacrifice flies. He worked well with the pitching staff and has a good arm.
Grade: C+.
Extra credit: Led Indians with 12 defensive runs saved (Fielding Bible).
Roberto Perez
Numbers: .149 (21-for-141) seven homers, 17 RBI, 13 runs, .564 OPS.
Comment: Another injury-shortened season for Perez. It couldn’t have come at a worse time because the Indians hold a $7 million option for 2022. He appeared in just 44 games after appearing in just 32 last year in the 60-game sprint.
Grade: I for incomplete.
Extra credit: He hit .231 off breaking balls and .141 off fastballs.
OUTFIELDERS
Myles Straw, center fielder.
Numbers: .271 (153-for-564) 29 doubles, one triple, four homers, 48 RBI, 86 runs, 30 steals, .696 OPS.
Comment: Straw, acquired by the Indians from Houston on July 30, played a career-high 158 games. Provided reliable play in center field, while hitting .285 (68-for-239) with 16 doubles, two homers and 14 RBI after the trade. He hit .280 (71-for-254) out of the leadoff spot.
Grade: B.
Extra credit: Hit .317 against curves and .196 against changeups.
Harold Ramirez, OF
Numbers: .268 (91-for-399) 21 doubles, one triple, seven homers, 41 RBI, 33 runs, .703 OPS.
Comment: Ramirez did a good job filling in for injured DH Reyes. When Reyes returned, they had to play Ramirez in the outfield and that was a disaster. He can’t come in on a ball and when he hit the right field wall at Yankee Stadium in September, he couldn’t go back on balls. Ramirez hit .288 (34-for-118) vs. lefties and .387 with runners in scoring position.
Grade: C.
Extra credit: -8 in defensive runs saved (Fielding Bible).
Bradley Zimmer, OF
Numbers: .227 (68-for-299) nine doubles, one triple, eight homers, 35 RBI, 44 runs, 15 seals, .669 OPS.
Comment: Zimmer played 99 games, the most since his rookie year in 2017. He showed long-range power, hitting the two longest homers by an Indians player in 2021. He also struck out 41% of the time (122-for-299). Stole 15 bases in 18 attempts and is a good defender no matter where he plays in the outfield. He’ll be eligible for arbitration this winter, but will the Indians offer him a contract?
Grade: C.
Extra credit: Hit .324 against sinkers and .169 against sliders.
Oscar Mercado, OF
Numbers: .224 (48-for-214) 11 doubles, one triple, six homers, 19 RBI, 27 runs, seven steals, .669 OPS.
Comment: Mercado was part of the outfield rotation as the front office tried to determine who can and cannot help them in 2022. Mercado spent most of his time in left after being recalled from Triple-A on June 28. Hit .294 (25-for-85) against lefties and .178 (23-for-129) vs. righties.
Grade: C.
Extra credit: Led Indians outfielders with five defensive runs saved (Fielding Bible).
Daniel Johnson, RF/LF
Numbers: .221 (17-for-77) four homers, five RBI, 27 strikeouts, four walks, .636 OPS.
Comment: Johnson played just 30 games this year. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, hitting .222 (62-for-318) with 14 homers and 39 RBI in 72 games. He looked like he was pressing when he was with the big league club and his play in the outfield was erratic.
Grade: I for incomplete.
Extra credit: He hit .455 off sliders and .154 off changeups.
Josh Naylor, RF/1B/DH.
Numbers: .253 (59-for-233) 13 doubles, seven homers, 21 RBI, 28 runs, .700 OPS.
Comment: Naylor was on his way to establishing himself as the everyday right fielder when he collided with Ernie Clement on June 27 at Target Field and suffered a fractured right leg and ankle. He started 50 games in right field. He’s in Goodyear, Ariz., rehabbing. Naylor hit .287 (43-for-150) vs. right-handers and .193 (16-for-83) against lefties.
Grade: C+.
Extra credit: Hit .333 vs. four-seam fastballs and .467 against sinkers.
Indians merchandise for sale: Here’s where you can order Cleveland Indians gear online before the team becomes the Guardians, including jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and much more.
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