By Josh Boyd
March 17, 2003

WINTER HAVEN, Fla.--Though they've established the deepest farm system in baseball, the Indians aren't resting on their laurels.

The scouting staff, led by scouting director John Mirabelli, has worked overtime the last three years, with four extra picks in the first three rounds last year, five extra picks in 2001 and two in 2000.

This influx of talent, balanced between high school and college prospects, along with the trades the team has made in the last year have given the organization enviable talent. The Indians' international scouting efforts has been successful, too.

But the process wouldn't be complete, or nearly as successful, without a good working relationship between the scouting staff and the player-development department. Such continuity doesn't exist in every organization, and shouldn't be underestimated. It gives scouts confidence when they send a prospect into the farm system.

"I think it's one of the most important things in all of baseball," a National League scouting director said. "I make the analogy that it's a lot like a marriage; there's nothing better in the world when you see eye to eye with your wife, and one of the worst things in the world is when one spouse dominates and abuses the other."

It's one of the top priorities addressed in the Indians' 300-page player-development manual. "Take time to observe what the scout saw in the player at the time he was signed," the manual says.

"One of the most important things is for scouts to believe in player development," Indians assistant farm director Ross Atkins said. "And at the same time, player development can't be second-guessing the scouts."

The NL scouting director added: "They have to be on the same page. It doesn't mean they have to think alike, but they have to respect the others' ability and what they can and can't do. We don't expect (player development) to be miracle workers. The toughest thing in baseball is to get a player to make adjustments, and some scouts forget that.

"(Player-development people) have to realize that we give them the best available talent out there. In a bad system, PD thinks there are A-Rods and Griffeys running all over the place."

Cleveland's focus on individual players has helped put everyone in the organization on the same page, and helped move prospects to the big leagues. The philosophy was introduced to the organization in 1996 by then-farm director and current general manager Mark Shapiro.

"It brings in more than just reading stats," Atkins said of the organization's policy of meeting with each player one-on-one. "It allows you to assess fortitude and makeup."

The Indians have guidelines for each level of the minors, and players must attain certain goals to achieve a promotion. While Shapiro and others in the front office have an appreciation for statistical analysis, their qualifications for promotions are based on staff evaluations of the player's on-field skills.

Indians staff members have anywhere from 12 to 16 specified tasks per level. There's an emphasis on fundamentals in Rookie ball. Class A coaches stress maintaining proper pitching mechanics and a core hitting philosophy. Double-A pitchers are expected to "understand and apply a sound and consistent delivery and throw a variety of quality pitches." The Triple-A focus is on consistent execution of fundamentals.

"It's not a bible or a mantra," Atkins said. "It's a framework. We still let guys play the game."

But in getting the most out of each player, the Indians haven't shied away from addressing a player's weaknesses in their one-on-one meetings.

"We challenge our staff members to be creative in getting the most out of each player's strengths," Atkins said. "We ask them to exhaust everywhere to get the best out of every player."

That's why the organization's focus on accountability doesn't end with players.

"We ask (managers and coaches) to ask themselves how they can be better by asking the players how they can get better," Atkins said. "Where it really shines through is in the guys who aren't no-brainers. But we also make guys like Victor Martinez and Corey Smith confront what they don't do well."

In addition to the strength of upper-level, impact prospects in the Cleveland system, one of the many reasons the organization finished atop our annual talent rankings is its sheer volume of prospects. The Indians have so much depth, in fact, that we couldn't rank all of their worthy prospects in the top 30. Here's a look at 15 who missed the cut, many of whom might have ranked prominently in other organizations. And many of whom the Indians have high hopes for.

1. Mariano Gomez, lhp
Live arm reaches 92 mph with a put-away slider.
2. Pat Osborn, 3b
Good athlete, healthy again, ready to break out.
3. Jody Gerut, of
Hit four bombs in his first 20 spring ABs.
4. Eider Torres, ss
Slap-and-run style with up-the-middle instincts.
5. Jake Dittler, rhp
Overshadowed as part of deep 2001 draft crop.
6. Juan Lara, lhp
Aggressive Dominican with 91 mph fastball; good breaking ball.
7. Fausto Carmona, rhp
Turning heads along with Lara this spring; reaching 92 easily.
8. Eric Crozier, 1b
Underrated prospect could sneak up on people.
9. Jason Cooper, of
Big-time power potential.
10. Kyle Denney, rhp
Coming back from Tommy John surgery.
11. Michael Hernandez, lhp
Lefty with great feel could move fast.
12. Ben Francisco, of
Pure hitter won batting title in pro debut.
13. Ivan Ochoa, ss
Another speedster in the middle of the diamond.
14. Nick Moran, rhp
Slowed by injuries last year; plenty of potential.
15. Nathan Panther, of
Smooth athlete compared to Steve Finley.

• Royals outfielder Roscoe Crosby decided to end his college football career at Clemson and will report to Royals camp this week. Crosby, who has no professional a-bats since signing for a $1.75 million bonus as a second-round pick in 2001, reported to short-season Spokane after signing but never played because of a right elbow injury. The same injury limited him to DH in spring training last year before he had Tommy John surgery in June, forcing him to miss the baseball and football seasons in 2002.

Crosby's mother Freda told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., that he withdrew from school because the pressure of college football, professional baseball and schoolwork had become too much for him.

"It was just hard to do both (sports) and then focus on school," Freda Crosby said. "And then going to college and jumping on the plane, going to baseball and then jumping off and going to school. And a lot more went on in his life, and he just decided he wanted to go into baseball, 100 percent.

"He'll still have his schooling to go back to, but as far as football, I really can't say about that. I think he'd be pretty much finished if he stayed out another year."

Crosby, one of the top prospects in the 2001 draft on pure ability, slipped because of his NFL potential and elbow problems. He's an exceptional but raw athlete with a blend of power and speed. The two-year layoff and inferior his high school competition leave Crosby with a ways to go if he is to reach his high ceiling.

• Reds righthander Ricardo Aramboles flew to Cincinnati on Sunday to have his shoulder evaluated. Sources said Aramboles, who had Tommy John surgery in 1999 and then missed most of last season with wrist and elbow problems, will have rotator cuff surgery and miss the 2003 season.

Aramboles, 21, was acquired by the Reds last summer from the Yankees for Mark Wohlers. He was on the verge of breaking into the Reds rotation, though he was sent back to minor league camp over the weekend. He was impressive in four outings for the Reds this spring.

• The Rangers traded righthander Derrick Van Dusen to the Indians for the rights to keep Rule 5 pick Marshall McDougall without having to keep him on the 25 man roster all season.