“In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Indians have managed to win a few here and there, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.”
Great Bob Eucker quote from Major League. But in reality, the Indians have lost their last 8 straight games, dropping 12 of their last 13. Cleveland traded away their ace Cliff Lee, handed Boston their only All-Star this year Victor Martinez, and shipped solid pieces Ben Francisco, Carl Pavano and Mark DeRosa to boot. And all this after parting ways with ace C.C. Sabathia and Casey Blake before the 2008 trading deadline. So do Chief Wahoo and his tribesmen have a reason for hope next year?
For one, centerfielder Grady Sizemore (27) should be healthy next year, fully healed after elbow and abdominal surgeries. His value at the top of Cleveland’s lineup is undeniable. From 2005 to 2008, Sizemore amassed 464 Runs – a full season’s worth (107) more than the next highest player (Jhonny Peralta’s 357).
Playing next to Grady, rightfielder Shin-Soo Choo (27) will have progressed another year. Last year, Choo got more than 300 at bats for the first time in his career and delivered, hitting .309 with a .397 OBP and a .946 OPS. This year, Choo got more than 500 at bats for the first time and delivered again, hitting .300 with a .394 OBP and an .870 OPS, throwing in 19 steals for good measure.
Throw in Asdrubal Cabrera (23) at SS and Jhonny Peralta (27) at 3B and you have four experienced, talented players hitting at the top of the lineup.
Some time in 2010, super-prospects LF/1B Matt LaPorta (24) and Catcher Carlos Santana (23) – the returns for the 2008 Sabathia and Blake deals – will be ready to produce at a major league level.
On the pitching front, which usually takes longer to develop, Cleveland is stocked with plenty of talent as well. Left-hander David Huff (25) is finishing up his rookie year. While his yearly stats aren’t that phenomenal (5.98 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP), he’s finishing off September with three straight quality starts and a 2.84 ERA. As recently as 2007, right-hander Fausto Carmona (25) was a 19 game winner with a 3.06 ERA. Aaron Laffey (24) has shown flashes of competence enough to produce a 4.09 ERA. And Jake Westbrook will be returning.
But Cleveland’s also got the likes of Justin Masterson (24) who came over in the 2009 Martinez trade, Carlos Carrasco (23) and Jason Knapp (19) who came over in the Lee deal, Chris Perez (24) the jewel in the DeRosa trade, and home grown talent like Adam Miller (24), Charles Lofgren (23), and Hector Rondon (22).
With a few smart off season moves, General Manager Mark Shapiro might have Cleveland ready for another run like it did in the late 90′s.
That will really give Chief Wahoo and his tribesmen something to get excited about.
