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mrschroeder08 partyvancaptain pee_callus25 Tags 2010 Preview 5 Million Dollar Black Hole AAAA Aaron Heilman Aaron Miles Alfonso Soriano Andres Blanco Angel Guzman Aramis Ramirez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves B.J. 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This might be the hardest preview for me to attempt, as I have very little grasp on the players on the following team. Cleveland Indians 2009 Record: 65-97 (t-4th, AL Central) Key Additions: Mitch Talbot (RP), Anderson Hernandez (INF) Key Losses: Kelly Shoppach (C), Jamey Carroll (INF), Tomo Ohka (SP/RP) Summary: Uh... didn't this team nearly make the World Series just three years ago? The days of Sabathia and Martinez are long gone. Really, you have to feel for the fans of the Indians the last 15 years. In the mid-to-late-90's, they had a murderer's row of Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray and Sandy Alomar. Heck, even in 2007 they had a good young core of Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. However, after struggling to come up with "key additions" for this club, and looking at what they have right now- it looks like it is more rebuilding at the ballpark formerly known as the Jake. Thankfully, Cleveland has a pretty good track record there. And with that, the top sports story in Cleveland will probably have nothing to do with the Indians, what with LeBron's free agency looming. This young core won't have much pressure or expectations, even on a franchise that is now second to our Cubbies in World Series futility. In actuality, that could be the best situation as there are some young guys here looking to establish themselves. One of those is Matt LaPorta, known best for being the centerpiece in the Sabathia deal. He is projected to be a slugging outfielder/first baseman, and the Indians are hoping he can realize some of that potential after mustering a .750 OPS in limited time in 2009. The middle infield is another place where Cleveland is plugging in some young parts and hoping for growth. Cubs fans may remember Luis Valbuena, as he put up a good series in Wrigley last June, but he will form a young, promising middle infield with fellow 24-year-old Asdrubal Cabrera. Valbuena showed some pop (10 HRs), but not much patience (83-26 K-BB). He will need to develop that patience to get to the next level. Cabrera is a little more polished, hitting for a .799 OPS. For the rotation, it is time for Fausto Carmona to show whether he is for real or not. After 2007, he was posied to form a very dominant pitching rotation with CC Sabathia. After two very poor season, including a 6.32 ERA last year, it is now questionable if he will even be a decent starter. The staff is very thin with Jake Westbrook being the only proven commodity. If Cleveland hopes to make any noise, they need Carmona and Justin Masterson to step up in a big way. Cubs Connection: This time last year, Cubs fans were envious of Cleveland fans, what with them having both Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood. DeRosa did not last long in Cleveland, but after what now appears to be a regrettable contract, Wood remains the closer (though news today is that he will miss two months, sound at all familiar?). While Cubs fans were cursing the name of Kevin Gregg and trying to make deals with satan himself to bring Woody home, Kerry was not exactly performing up to snuff. His walks went up, while his strike out rate went down. He blew as many saves as 2008 (6) while saving 14 fewer. I love Kerry Wood, and will always have a spot in my heart for memories of the 2003 NLDS and the 20 strike out game. But please, for all that is good and holy: let's move on. Wood is gone, and even though there were some rumblings of him coming back when Guzman went down, this recent injury news pretty much squashes it. BIBGLBOOPSARG(tm) CF Grady Sizemore SS Asdrubal Cabrera RF Shin-Soo Choo DH Travis Hafner 1B Russell Branyan LF Matt LaPorta 3B Jhonny Peralta C Lou Marson 2B Luis Valbuena P Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers/David Huff Closer: Kerry Wood Predicted Finish: Fifth place in the AL Central. The Indians are in the beginning stages of rebuilding, and with no starters near the level of a number one or number two, runs are going to be scored against Cleveland in scary amounts. The lineup has some good pieces and some decent potential, but there are too many questions to really see any hope for 2010. Posted in: 2010 Preview, Cleveland Indians The Cubs winning streak ended today as Rich Harden was not his sharp self. I get the feeling he does not like pitching at Wrigley field. Maybe we can do a platoon like Milwaukee attempted last year, with Harden pitching on the road and Ryan Dempster pitching at home. We can call it the Canadian Concoction, and it will be the most dominant platoon in baseball. Nice to see Derrek Lee hit a home run though. The title has to do with the event in Tampa Bay though. Joe Maddon had a major brain fart and listed two third basemen on his lineup card, while meaning to put Evan Longoria in the DH spot. Because of that error, Tampa lost the DH and had to bat their starting pitcher THIRD. THIRD!!! Now while I would call it the right way to play, for arguements sake we will just say Tampa had to play National League style baseball, a major handicap as Cleveland got to use their DH. Well, good work Cleveland, as they gave up an RBI double to the starting pitcher, Andy Sonnanstine, and they lost the game despite the major advantage. That would have this blog livid, if we were a Cleveland Indians blog. Anyways, just thought I would post that due to the sheer humor of the situation. Posted in: Rich Harden, Canadian Concoction, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, Designated Hitter | ||