[ThePundit]

Cleveland Indians 2007 Preview

By Chris Ruddick, MLB Editor (Sports Network)
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians went into the 2006 season with big expectations. However, things did not go as planned for manager Eric Wedge's crew, as the Tribe fell out of the race early on in the competitive American League Central and finished 18 games back of the division champion Minnesota Twins.

The offense was there, as the team led the American League in runs scored (870), was third in on base percentage (.349), fourth in batting average (.280) and fifth in slugging percentage (.457). Travis Hafner was a legitimate MVP candidate and probably would have gotten more recognition had the Tribe been better.

Even the rotation was not that bad. Cleveland's starting staff allowed the second fewest number of walks in the majors (429), finished sixth in the AL in ERA (4.41) and completed an league-best 13 games.

It is a good thing the starters went late into games, because the Indians' bullpen was absolutely atrocious. And that is being nice. Cleveland had almost as many blown saves (23) as it did actual saves (an MLB-worst 24). The bullpen finished 29th in save opportunities and was last in baseball in save percentage (51.1%).

So general manager Mark Shapiro, who was recently signed to an extension, focused on bolstering the bullpen this offseason. With the additions of Joe Borowski, Aaron Fultz and Roberto Hernandez, he has done just that.

But will it be enough? I guess we will wait and see.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Cleveland Indians, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 FINISH (78-84) - Fourth Place (AL Central)

KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: 2B Josh Barfield, RP Keith Foulke, RP Joe Borowski, RP Aaron Fultz, OF David Dellucci

KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: IF Kevin Kouzmanoff, SP Andrew Brown, 3B Aaron Boone

PROJECTED LINEUP: Grady Sizemore (CF); David Dellucci (LF); Victor Martinez (C); Travis Hafner (DH); Ryan Garko (1B); Casey Blake (RF); Jhonny Peralta (SS); Josh Barfield (2B); Andy Marte (3B)

PROJECTED ROTATION: C.C. Sabathia (LHP); Jake Westbrook (RHP); Cliff Lee (LHP); Paul Byrd (RHP); Jeremy Sowers (LHP)

PROJECTED CLOSER: Joe Borowski

MANAGER: Eric Wedge

INFIELD

The Indians made a great move this offseason when they acquired second baseman Josh Barfield from the San Diego Padres. Over 150 games last season, Barfield hit .280 with 32 doubles, three triples, 13 homers 58 RBI, 81 strikeouts and 30 walks in his rookie campaign. He also had 21 stolen bases.

The 23-year-old, who posted a .987 fielding percentage, will fill a hole at second base that has existed since the Tribe traded Ronnie Belliard to the Cardinals on July 30.

Barfield's double-play partner will be Jhonny Peralta, who struggled both in the field and at the plate last season. After a big 2005 with the bat, Peralta hit just .257 with 13 homers and 68 RBI. He was the team's No. 3 hitter most of last year, but will drop down in the order - probably seventh - this season.

The Indians are toying with the idea of keeping a fifth outfielder, which would mean that Casey Blake will spend the majority of his time at first base. Blake got off to a blazing start last season, but was slowed after two different stints on the DL.

Although Blake will see the bulk of action at first base, young Ryan Garko will get some time there as well. Garko, who hit cleanup when Hafner was injured, batted .292 with seven homers and 45 RBI in 185 at-bats.

Behind the plate will be Victor Martinez, who is emerging as one of the best catchers in the game. Last year he set career-highs in batting average (.316), hits (181), runs (82), walks (71), on base percentage (.391) and total bases (266). He, too, will see some time at first base.

OUTFIELD

Center fielder Grady Sizemore is on the cusp of becoming a bonafide star. Last year he quietly led the majors with 92 extra base hits, the most by a leadoff hitter since 1957. He also led the AL in runs (134) and doubles (53) and became the first player in league history with 50 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals. Sizemore also became the first Indians player to play in all 162 games since Joe Carter in 1989 and grounded into just two double plays, the fewest in team history by a regular.

Over in right will be Trot Nixon, who had spent his entire 982-game career in Boston but was not offered salary arbitration by the team, despite being the Red Sox' starting right fielder and one of the organization's most popular players over the last eight seasons.

Injuries, though, have taken their toll on Nixon, as he has missed significant time over the past four seasons. Last year he played in 114 games and hit .268 with eight home runs and 52 RBI. However, he was bothered most of the second half with a right biceps injury.

David Dellucci was signed this offseason and will start in left field against right-handed pitching as well as bat second. Jason Michaels will play against lefties.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Hafner has become one of the best hitters in the game. He enjoyed a career season last year despite playing in only 129 games, hitting .308 with 42 homers and 117 RBI. His home run total and slugging percentage have gone up in each of the last three seasons.

Hafner, who led the AL with a 1.098 OPS (on base + slugging percentage), also matched Don Mattingly's 1987 record of hitting six grand slams in a single season.

STARTING ROTATION

Cleveland's rotation was pretty solid last year, as its top four starters all reached double-digit wins.

Staff ace C.C. Sabathia's win total was not that high, though, as he finished just 12-11 despite pitching to a career-best 3.22 earned run average. He also set career-highs in strikeouts (172), complete games (6) and shutouts (2), while issuing just 44 walks in 192 2/3 innings of work.

Sabathia is only 26, so another career year this season is certainly not out of the question.

Jake Westbrook, who can become a free agent at season's end, got off to a miserable beginning, but won six of his last eight starts and finished the year 15-10 with a 4.17 ERA.

Cliff Lee compiled a 14-11 mark and a 4.40 ERA in 33 starts in 2006. However, he will start the year on the DL with a strained right abdominal muscle. Lee should re-join the rotation by May, though.

Rookie Jeremy Sowers was one of the best pitchers in baseball after the break last season, as he went 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA.

Veteran Paul Byrd will begin the season in the team's rotation, but prospect Adam Miller is almost close to be being major-league ready. If Byrd falters early on, look for Miller to make the jump.

BULLPEN

Cleveland had a glaring weakness in its bullpen last season and Shapiro addressed that this offseason with the additions of Borowski, Fultz and Hernandez. He also agreed to a deal with closer Keith Foulke, but he retired shortly after the open of camp.

With Foulke out of the mix, the closer's role now falls to Borowski, who had struggled since his 2003 breakout season with the Cubs before finding a home with the Florida Marlins last year. As the Marlins' closer Borowski saved 36 games while pitching to a 3.75 ERA.

Hernandez will be his primary setup man from the right side, while Fultz will be called upon to get left-handers out. Fausto Carmona, Jason Davis, Rafael Betancourt and Fernando Cabrera will round out the pen.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: MLB
The Pundit's prediction: 3rd in AL Central. Even if Sabathia's injury isn't serious, their bullpen is just too weak to make a run at the playoffs.

[azrael492]

I don't know why, but I have them second this year. I think they made vast improvements to the bullpen. They still may need a piece and will supposedly spend money to address any needs during the season. Their starting rotation is strong, and their offense score runs.

The biggest thing that scares me is the platoon positions. They are going to platoon maybe 3 positions from what I hear. LF with Delluci and Michaels, RF with Nixon and Choo, I also heard 1B with Garko and Martinez. They want to get him from behind the plate.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I don't know why, but I have them second this year. I think they made vast improvements to the bullpen. They still may need a piece and will supposedly spend money to address any needs during the season. Their starting rotation is strong, and their offense score runs.

The biggest thing that scares me is the platoon positions. They are going to platoon maybe 3 positions from what I hear. LF with Delluci and Michaels, RF with Nixon and Choo, I also heard 1B with Garko and Martinez. They want to get him from behind the plate.

Same here, and in fact, some people like them to win the Central.

The pitching is good enough and they could have the AL's second best lineup.

[EmpireWF]

I'm surprised so many are expecting the Indians to contend and be right up there for the AL Central title this year. They do have some nice young players but the bottom of their line-up doesn't signal to me strength.

And that rotation seems like they may be asking for a lot to go right with the young guys and then Byrd.