Regular Season Record: 93-69
Second in the AL Central, 6 games out of first, 2 out of the wild
card
Home Park: Jacobs Field
New
Tribesmen:
RHP Paul Byrd – Signed as a free agent
RHP Guillermo Mota – Trade from the Red Sox
RHP Jason Johnson – Signed as a free agent
RHP Danny Graves – Signed as a free agent
C Kelly Shoppach – Trade from the Red Sox
1B Eduardo Perez – Signed as a free agent
3B Andy Marte – Trade from the Red Sox
CF Jason Michaels – Trade from the Phillies
OF Todd Hollandsworth – Signed as a free agent
Off to new hunting grounds:
CF Coco Crisp – Traded to the Red Sox
RHP Bob Howry – Left as a free agent
RHP Scott Elarton – Left as a free agent
RHP Kevin Millwood – Left as a free agent
LHP Arthur Rhodes – Traded to the Phillies
RHP David Riske – Trade to Boston
C Josh Bard – Traded to the Red Sox
The
Skinny: Last year, on June 10th, the Indians were
still under .500. Mid-September, the Tribe was everyone’s
favorite to win the World Series. In October, they were watching
the White Sox on TV. Despite their late season breakdown, the
Indians were the early favorites to win the AL entering the off-season.
Then they did, well, hardly anything (of note) to get better.
Ok, that’s not exactly true. They signed right-handers Paul
Byrd and Jason Jennings, to replace 2005 ERA-leader Kevin
Millwood and the solid Scott Elarton,
who left via free agency and took 373.2 innings and a combined
3.71 ERA with them. Byrd and Jennings will have a hard time repeating
that, but they should be able to win more than 20 games together,
something that Millwood and Elarton did not do.
Then, Cleveland made two trades with the Red Sox and the Phillies
that raised some eyebrows. Left fielder Coco Crisp
and RHP David Riske went to Boston for 3B prospect
Andy Marte, C Kelly Shoppach
and RHP Guillermo Mota. Then the Tribe got a
left fielder back from the Phillies in Jason Michaels
for RHP Arthur Rhodes. The reason that Cleveland
made these trades was, of course, Marte and, to a lesser degree,
Shoppach. Long term, there isn’t much doubt that these were
good deals for Cleveland, but what about 2006? Much will depend
on whether 3B prospect Andy Marte is really as good as advertised
and whether he’s MLB ready. Aaron Boone was
truly awful in the first half last year, but even his second half
.730 OPS isn’t the kind of production you want to get from
the hot corner. Michaels and Crisp are probably
a wash, but Mota may be cooked, and Rhodes,
Riske and Howry, who left via free agency, all had fine
years in 2005. Closer Bob Wickman re-signed,
but he’s not getting any younger. Rafael Betancourt
and Scott Sauerbeck are still there, but overall, the
Indians’ bullpen has lost some depth and quality.
An addition that is widely overlooked is Eduardo Perez,
who should be platooning at 1B with Ben Broussard..
Broussard is decent against right-handers, but can’t hit
southpaws to save his life. On the other hand, Perez killed lefties
last year with an .897 OPS. Oh, and has someone ever heard of
Ryan Mulhern? No, me neither, but he has an 1.100
OPS in 24 spring training at-bats. Last year, he had a .960 OPS
at Double A. He’s already 25, but if he doesn’t make
it on the 25-man-roster, I don’t know why they invite players
to spring training at all.
Strengths:
- Balance: The Indians were 4th in the league in runs scored per
game (4.88) and 3rd in runs allowed (3.98). They have it all,
hitting, pitching, defense. Even with a somewhat weaker bullpen,
they should be able to stay in the top 5 in both categories.
- Strong up the Middle: The Indians get above average production
at catcher, center field, second base and shortstop. Most teams
wish they had players of this caliber at the corners.
- DH: Did you know that Travis Hafner had an
OPS higher than David Ortiz last year (1.003 to 1.001)? Enough
said!
Weaknesses:
- Weak at the corners: They need to platoon at first, have Aaron
Boone at third, play Michaels at left
and Casey Blake at right. Solid, but a little
more would be nice.
- Speed: The Indians don’t run much. Or well. They stole
62 bases in 2005, which is one less than Chone Figgins did on
his own. And they only had a success rate of 64.5%, which is just
awful.
Potential Lineup
C: Victor Martinez
1B: Ben Broussard / Eduardo Perez
2B: Ronnie Belliard
SS: Jhonny Peralta
3B: Aaron Boone / Andy Marte
LF: Jason Michaels
CF: Grady Sizemore
RF: Casey Blake
DH: Travis Hafner
Rotation:
LHP C.C. Sabathia
RHP Jake Westbrook
LHP Cliff Lee
RHP Paul Byrd
RHP Jason Johnson
Closer:
RHP Bob Wickman
Keys to Success: Cleveland absolutely has to
avoid the early season slump it endured last year, so they don’t
have to fight an uphill battle all season. The revamped bullpen
will play another key role in 2006. If the relievers don’t
give away too many wins, the Indians should be fine. If Marte
is ready to produce, it would certainly help, but even without
him, the Indians have enough to contend.
Prediction: The White Sox added Jim
Thome and Javier Vazquez to the team
that won the World Series last, so they are the team to beat in
the AL Central and I don’t see the Indians challenging them
seriously unless everything clicks and Marte
plays like a ROY. But the Tribe should be able to contend for
and, in the end, win the wild card. Next October, they won’t
be just watching TV.
