2009 Record: 65-97
Lineup:
1. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
2. CF Grady Sizemore
3. RF Shin-Soo Choo
4. DH Travis Hafner
5. 3B Jhonny Peralta
6. 1B Russell Branyan
7. LF Matt LaPorta
8. 2B Luis Valbuena
9. C Lou Marson
For a team that is in full rebuilding mode this isn't that bad of a lineup. The Indians really need Sizemore, Hafner, and Peralta to have come back years. Hafner has been crushing the ball this spring, and the Indians think he can get back to being a 30 HR guy. Branyan will start the year on the DL, but he is another guy that could be a solid pickup for this team. The bottom of the lineup is rough, but Carlos Santana should be taking Lou Marson's job quickly and he is one of the better prospects in the game.
Pitching:
1. RHP Fausto Carmona
2. RHP Jake Westbrook
3. RHP Justin Masterson
4. LHP Aaron Laffey
5. LHP David Huff
CLOSER
RHP Kerry Wood
Hold on I am not feeling so well.
Well, this rotation will do that to ya. Carmona has been terrible for awhile now, and I am not sold he is ever coming back. Westbrook is now healthy and he might be their most "steady" pitcher. Everyone in the league except the Indians seems to know that Masterson is a reliever, so I really don't see him improving all that much. Laffey was good at home last year, but then had an ERA over 5 on the road. Huff is a decent prospect, but I don't see him magically turning into an ace. Wood will start the year on the DL (big surprise), so youngster Chris Perez will fill in. I expect Wood to be traded by the deadline.
Overall:
I think this team will be better offensively then people will give them credit for, but with a pitching staff like that it will be hard to win. I think you will see this team try to trade away more veterans like Hafney, Peralta, Wood, Westbrook, and maybe even Sizemore, as they continue the rebuilding process. Anyways, it will be a tough year for the Indians, but I do think they will improve on their record from last year.
2010 Record: 68-94
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