Tribe retooling outfield from within

CLEVELAND -- One hundred games into the 2008 season, the Indians are in extended Spring Training mode.

With their hopes of repeating as American League Central Division champs fading, the Tribe has no shortage of areas to address for 2009 and beyond. And that's where the final 62 games will come in handy.

Some areas -- the bullpen and starting rotation spring to mind -- will most assuredly require help from outside sources in the free agency and/or trading departments. The same might go for the murky corner infield spots, as first baseman Ryan Garko and third baseman Andy Marte still have plenty to prove, and Casey Blake is nearing free agency.

But one unsolved area that could potentially be addressed in-house is the corner outfield, where youngsters Ben Francisco, Shin-Soo Choo and Franklin Gutierrez are all taking part in an open audition, of sorts.

"We've got a long ways to go," manager Eric Wedge said. "We're going to get a good, long look at them."

Of the three outfielders in question, Francisco has given the most reason to believe he can be an everyday player at this level. With Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez out of the equation due to injuries, Francisco has been entrusted with the No. 3 spot in Wedge's lineup.

Francisco has had his share of rookie moments, both in the field and on the basepaths. But at the plate he's generally held his own. He's batting .284 with eight homers, 21 doubles and 36 RBIs in 69 games.

The Indians hope his exposure to a high-profile place in the order will be a learning tool.

"I think it's going to help down the line," hitting coach Derek Shelton said. "Anytime you're put in a position where you're hitting in the middle of the order in RBI situations, it's going to be beneficial. It's something I think he can work off of."

It's also a situation that has the potential to negatively affect a young player's mind-set, but that doesn't appear to be the case with Francisco.

"I don't think he's changed his approach at all," Shelton said. "His at-bats have been consistent. We've seen some growing pains, much like any rookie. But being in that position in the order, he has not changed at all. It's been a positive thing."

The 26-year-old Francisco, who opened each of the last three seasons at Triple-A Buffalo, seems less concerned with his spot in the order and more concerned with the mere opportunity to play in the Majors.

"All I ever wanted was a chance to play at this level," he said. "I just want to continue to have success, put up good at-bats, play good defense and help the team out as much as I can."

Choo is somewhat limited, in regard to the amount of help he can provide. After having Tommy John ligament replacement surgery performed on his left elbow late in 2007, he is not yet at full strength.

"I try to throw harder with it every game," Choo said of the elbow. "But it's still not normal."

While he is not yet ready for everyday duty, Choo is ready to play both corner outfield spots. He's still most comfortable in right field, but he's made strides in his defensive work in left in recent years.

Choo's biggest impact could come at the plate, where he's got some pop. But he still has struggled mightily against left-handers (4-for-25 this season), and that could lead to him being labeled more of a platoon player.

There's also the looming matter of his military obligation in his native South Korea, which is a long-term concern. Choo, who recently turned 26, must serve between 24 and 28 months in the Korean military before he turns 30, unless he receives an exemption. He could get an exemption if he helps Korea win the gold medal in baseball at the 2010 Asian Games, or if he achieves U.S. citizenship.

Military matters aside, Choo, batting .252 with four homers, 11 doubles, a triple and 23 RBIs in 41 games, has impressed the Indians in some areas of his offensive game.

"He's driving the ball to all fields a little more," Shelton said. "He's becoming more of a complete hitter. We knew he had pull-side power, and now he's driving the ball to left-center. His at-bats are longer. He's having more quality at-bats. He's swinging at pitches he should swing at, and not chasing pitches he shouldn't."

The same cannot be said of Gutierrez, who appears to have reverted as a hitter this season. After sparking the Indians down the stretch in '07 and seizing the everyday right-field job, Gutierrez has fallen back to a backup role with his ongoing offensive funk (.217 average and .262 on-base percentage in 80 games), mainly attributable to his struggles with the breaking ball.

But Gutierrez, whose defensive work is beyond reproach, hasn't had much playing time in recent months to get himself back on track, and that's expected to change as the second half rolls on. Wedge said it is imperative that the Indians get playing time for the likes of Gutierrez and Marte, because they are out of Minor League options and the club must decide if those players are, indeed, worth factoring into the future.

"As we go forward and [Gutierrez] gets more consistent at-bats," Shelton said, "we'll see the things we've been working on showing up with more consistency."

What we're not seeing with consistency is David Dellucci in the outfield. The veteran has been relegated to Hafner's designated-hitter duties in recent weeks, and remains a relative non-factor at the plate, where he's batting .225 with eight homers and 33 RBIs in 81 games.

Dellucci, though, is still under contract to make another $4 million next season, so the Indians will have to figure out what to do with him.

"I understand the direction that this team is looking in," Dellucci said, "and there's a bunch of awfully talented young players here."

Not just on the 25-man roster, but also at Double-A Akron. The Indians hope Trevor Crowe can stay healthy enough to advance. And, of course, Matt LaPorta, the key acquisition in the CC Sabathia trade, could be ready for the Majors next year, either in the outfield or at first base.

For now, though, the Indians are focused on the young outfielders they have on-hand, and their hope is that they can demonstrate their ability to lend a helping hand in 2009 and beyond.