Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 21, 2008 20:10:03 GMT -5
Last season: 96-66, 1st in A.L. Central
Lost in ALCS to Boston 4-3
Manager: Eric Wedge, 6th season, 415-395 (.512) career record
New faces: Jamey Carroll (COL), Brendan Donnelly (BOS), Andy Gonzalez (CWS), Jorge Julio (COL), RHP Masahide Kobayashi (JAPAN), OF Jason Tyner (MIN)
Left town: IF Chris Gomez (PIT), OF Kenny Lofton (free agent), OF Trot Nixon (free agent), IF Luis Rivas (PIT), RHP Jason Stanford (WSH)
Overview: Few teams can boast having as much fine, young talent as the Indians. Their first place team of a year ago remains intact for another run which ended with them taking the eventual World Series champion Red Sox to the maximum seven games in the ALCS. This team is fundamentally sound but will need some extra offence, especially from the corner outfield positions, if they are able to hold off the muscled-up Tigers. Pitching is not a problem, led by the one-two punch of Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia and 19-game winner Fausto Carmona. The key to this team is that they don't beat themselves and force the issue as well as any team in baseball. And it all starts at the top. G.M. Mark Shapiro and field manager Eric Wedge are two of the top young minds in the game.
Stat to ponder: Despite having one of the top young lineups in baseball, the Tribe hit a puzzling .231 in the second half last season. The only thing this team might need to improve on is their stamina. Top prospect: RHP Adam Miller: It was expected that the 23-year-old would join the Indians rotation last season but injuries held him to just 65.1 innings at triple-A last season. His arrival could keep them in the rear view mirror of the Tigers.
Hitting
'07 AVG: .268 (14th), RUNS/GAME: 5.01 (8th), HR: 178 (9th)
The lead-off man sets the tone, and nowhere is that on display better than with Grady Sizemore. He has blossomed into one of the most complete players in the game and is on the verge of a 30-30 season. After him, there is room for improvement. Mid-order slugger Travis Hafner drove in 100 runs for the fourth-straight season but his HR production dropped from 42 to 24 and his average fell from .308 to .266. Switch-hitting catcher Victor Martinez has become of the best all-round talents in the game, and is athletic enough that he can also play first base to save the wear and tear on his legs from squatting behind the plate. They have to hope that Ryan Garko, who blossomed as a semi-regular last season, can turn into the clutch hitter that the middle of the order needs.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.05 (5th), OPP AVG: .268 (16th)
Pitching and defence win titles and the Indians do both well. Sabathia and Carmona both won 19 times and keep the team from going into any long losing streaks. Paul Byrd is still a functional starter and if Jake Westbrook can sort out his health issues, this rotation is very solid. In the bullpen, closer Joe Borowski and the lefty-righty set-up tandem of Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt don't let many games slip away and have been augmented with the arrival of Masahide Kobayashi from Japan, who brings 227 career saves with him to North America. The Indians have the deepest bullpen in the Majors and they'll need it with a season-long battle with the Tigers on the horizon.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Second and a legitimate shot at the Wild Card. Their taste of the post-season last season will be invaluable moving forward.
Lost in ALCS to Boston 4-3
Manager: Eric Wedge, 6th season, 415-395 (.512) career record
New faces: Jamey Carroll (COL), Brendan Donnelly (BOS), Andy Gonzalez (CWS), Jorge Julio (COL), RHP Masahide Kobayashi (JAPAN), OF Jason Tyner (MIN)
Left town: IF Chris Gomez (PIT), OF Kenny Lofton (free agent), OF Trot Nixon (free agent), IF Luis Rivas (PIT), RHP Jason Stanford (WSH)
Overview: Few teams can boast having as much fine, young talent as the Indians. Their first place team of a year ago remains intact for another run which ended with them taking the eventual World Series champion Red Sox to the maximum seven games in the ALCS. This team is fundamentally sound but will need some extra offence, especially from the corner outfield positions, if they are able to hold off the muscled-up Tigers. Pitching is not a problem, led by the one-two punch of Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia and 19-game winner Fausto Carmona. The key to this team is that they don't beat themselves and force the issue as well as any team in baseball. And it all starts at the top. G.M. Mark Shapiro and field manager Eric Wedge are two of the top young minds in the game.
Stat to ponder: Despite having one of the top young lineups in baseball, the Tribe hit a puzzling .231 in the second half last season. The only thing this team might need to improve on is their stamina. Top prospect: RHP Adam Miller: It was expected that the 23-year-old would join the Indians rotation last season but injuries held him to just 65.1 innings at triple-A last season. His arrival could keep them in the rear view mirror of the Tigers.
Hitting
'07 AVG: .268 (14th), RUNS/GAME: 5.01 (8th), HR: 178 (9th)
The lead-off man sets the tone, and nowhere is that on display better than with Grady Sizemore. He has blossomed into one of the most complete players in the game and is on the verge of a 30-30 season. After him, there is room for improvement. Mid-order slugger Travis Hafner drove in 100 runs for the fourth-straight season but his HR production dropped from 42 to 24 and his average fell from .308 to .266. Switch-hitting catcher Victor Martinez has become of the best all-round talents in the game, and is athletic enough that he can also play first base to save the wear and tear on his legs from squatting behind the plate. They have to hope that Ryan Garko, who blossomed as a semi-regular last season, can turn into the clutch hitter that the middle of the order needs.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.05 (5th), OPP AVG: .268 (16th)
Pitching and defence win titles and the Indians do both well. Sabathia and Carmona both won 19 times and keep the team from going into any long losing streaks. Paul Byrd is still a functional starter and if Jake Westbrook can sort out his health issues, this rotation is very solid. In the bullpen, closer Joe Borowski and the lefty-righty set-up tandem of Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt don't let many games slip away and have been augmented with the arrival of Masahide Kobayashi from Japan, who brings 227 career saves with him to North America. The Indians have the deepest bullpen in the Majors and they'll need it with a season-long battle with the Tigers on the horizon.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Second and a legitimate shot at the Wild Card. Their taste of the post-season last season will be invaluable moving forward.
