As we head towards Spring Training (I mean the regular season), it's time to check out where all 14 teams in the American League are headed as we enter the 2010 season. In this tenth installment we will analyze the Cleveland Indians.
- Cleveland Indians (2009 W/L: 65-97, 773 RS, 865 RA)
Key Additions: 1B/DH Russell Branyan, OF Austin Kearns, SP Mitch Talbot, Manager Manny Acta
Key Losses: C Kelly Shoppach, RP Jose Veras, RP Luis Vizcaino
Overview: It’s been an ugly last two seasons for the Tribe. After entering 2008 as World Series sleepers thanks to a pushing the Boston Red Sox to a Game 7 in the 2007 ALCS, the Indians failed to live up to expectations the past two seasons. The result? Former aces C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee and slugger Victor Martinez are long gone. Now the Indians will enter a prolonged rebuilding process and if last season is any indication, it could be an ugly one for new manager Manny Acta.
Infield: The only returning faces from last season will be shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and third baseman Jhonny Peralta. The 24 year old Cabrera is a star in the making; he hit .308/.361/.438 with 42 doubles and 68 RBI. He can also steal the occasion base, swiping 17 bags last season. Peralta is far from the prototypical corner infielder, with below average power and on-base ability. He saw his home runs more than drop in half last season (23 in 2008, 11 in 2009) and his OBP declined for the second straight year to a paltry .316. First base will kept warm by Matt LaPorta until Russell Branyan is ready to return from a bulging disc in his spine. LaPorta showed some power potential last season, hitting seven home runs and driving in 21 runs in just 181 at-bats. Despite hitting 31 home runs in under 500 at-bats in the pitcher friendly confines of Safeco Field last season, Branyan had to settle for a one year deal worth $2 million with the team that drafted him in 1994. Luis Valbuena mans second base; the 24 year old he hit just .250 with a .298 OBP last season. Finally, rookie Lou Marson who was part of the Cliff Lee deal, starts behind the plate.
Outfield: The shining lights for the Indians’ lineup lie in the outfield grass where rightfielder Shin-Soo Choo and centerfielder Grady Sizemore roam. In his first full season, Choo was impressive, hitting .300/.394/.489 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI. Sizemore battled injuries last year and put the worst numbers of his career while playing in just 106 games. When he was on the field, he was clearly limited. If he can stay healthy, expect Sizemore to return to form. Leftfield will be occupied by youngster Michael Brantley. The 22 year old was impressive in a small sample size of 112 at-bats last season.
Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner hasn’t been the same since 2006 when he hit 42 home runs and drove in 117 runs. The man known as “Pronk” has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons and it’s tough to say that 2010 will be any different.
Starting Pitching: Jake Westbrook returns to the Indians rotation after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 32 year old last pitched in May of 2008. The fact that Westbrook is the default “ace” of the rotation highlights the woes of pitching staff. Fausto Carmona heads north as the team’s second starter. Carmona looked like an ace in the making in 2007 but has never been the same since. Former Red Sox prospect Justin Masterson draws the next straw. Masterson came over in the Victor Martinez trade and was unimpressive in 11 games with the Tribe. Masterson went just 1-7 with an ERA of 4.55 while walking 35 batters in just 57.1 innings. David Huff falls into the fourth slot in the rotation. Huff went 11-8 in his rookie season with a 5.61 ERA and allowing a horrid 201 batters on base in just 128.1 innings pitched. The fact that he managed an 11-8 record with numbers like that highlights how outdated the idea of judging a pitcher by their win/loss record is. Finally, 26 year old Mitch Talbot rounds out the rotation. Talbot, who was once a highly touted member of the Tampa Bay Ray’s farm system, will look to finally make his name in the majors after injuries slowed his progress.
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