It`s Almost Here

With opening day just two days away, I thought it would be a good time to look over this year’s club and give my prediction on how I think things will go. The core of last year’s team that was one win away from making it to the World Series is all back. Excited, you bet I am.

Starting pitchers: The only question was who was going to win the final spot. Cliff Lee, Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey all went into camp in contention. It was announced earlier in the week that Lee had won the job and Sowers and Laffey will start the year in Buffalo. Listening to Tribe GM Mark Shapiro talk earlier this week, both he and Eric Wedge were real happy with how Lee threw the ball this spring, and said he continued to get better. Between the 2005 – 2006 season Cliff Lee went 32 – 16. Let’s hope he returns to form and we don’t see the guy that went 5 – 8 last year and got demoted to triple – a. Oh yeah, lets not forget that C.C. Sabathia won the Cy Young award last year.
Grade: A

The bullpen has a couple new faces this year as the Tribe heads north. Set up man Rafael Betancourt and closer Joe Borowski are still in the back end of the pen. This year they are joined by Masahide Kobayashi. He should give the Tribe some help in the back end. He`s a guy that’s had 20 plus saves in 7 years in Japan. Jensen Lewis and Rafael Perez both break camp for the first time with the big league club. Both pitched very well last year after being called up from Buffalo and should continue to help this year. Aaron Fultz was just terrible this spring and was designated for assignment. He’s replace by Craig Breslow, a guy the Tribe claimed of waivers this spring from Boston. Jorge Julio was a pleasant surprise this spring and beat out Scott Elarton for one of the final spots in the pen.
Grade: B+
Reason: Let’s see what Kobayashi can do in the bigs. Plus as I mentioned, it’s the first time for Lewis and Perez to break camp with the big league club.

This year’s line up looks a lot like last years, the only difference is second base, right field and the utility spot. Asdrubal Cabrera will start the year at second base. At this time last year I think we all new it was a matter of time before we would see this kid, I just don’t think we all thought he would make the impact he did. Just don’t count out Josh Barfield just yet.
Trot Nixon was the starting right fielder last year, and let’s face it, he couldn’t even move. Franklin Gutierrez got called up and made an impact. He had some big hits down the stretch and has the best arm of all the outfielders. I think Franklin has a huge year in 2008.
I still don’t like the left field situation. Personally I think Ben Francisco would be just as good in left as the platoon of David Dellucci and Jason Michaels. That being said Andy Marte is out of options and Mark Shapiro isn’t ready to admit he made a mistake. Francisco will be back before the year is over and he will make an impact in one way or another. Jamey Carroll will be this year’s utility man.
Victor Martinez is a lock to hit .300, Travis Hafner should return to form, even thought last year wasn’t that bad, and Grady Sizemore just needs to cut down on the strikeouts from the leadoff spot.
Grade: B+
Reason: I still don’t like the situation in left field. Casey Blake leaves to many men on base and the Tribe needs to be more consistent. You can’t win 14 – 10 then come back and waste a great performance from a starter and lose 1-0.

I think the Indians can repeat and win the Central Division. Obviously the big key is health. If guys can stay off the DL and produce, the Tribe should be fine. If there are a couple of guys that go down, there are guys in Buffalo that can step in. That’s one reason I pick the Indians over the Tigers is because of the depth in triple – a.

It should be fun, I can’t wait.