Philly Sports Post - Home of the PSP Podcast

We've reached the AL Central and we start with those Cleveland Indians.

The Cleveland Indians

Last Season’s Result: 81-81. 3rd place in the AL Central

Major Offseason Changes

• Added IF Mark DeRosa (Trade from Cubs)
• Added RP Joe Smith (Trade from New York Mets)
• Added RP Kerry Wood (Signed from Chicago Cubs)
• Added SP Carl Pavano (Signed from New York Yankees)
• Lost RP Juan Rincon (Signed with Detroit)

Letter Grades

• Offseason Moves: B The Indians did a nice job this offseason. They obviously needed help in their bullpen, so added Smith and Wood to help strengthen the unit. They also stole Mark DeRosa, one of the most underrated players in all of baseball, from the Cubs who were trying to shed salary as they sold the team.

• Rotation Grade: C Cliff Lee obviously had a magnificent season in 2008. Fausto Camona had an excellent 2007, if they can both pitch at their top levels then this rotation is actually pretty good. Carmona was hurt and inconsistent in 2008, and he'll need to make a comeback for the Indians to compete.

• Bullpen Grade: C- Kerry Wood has been added to be the team's closer, but that's only a start. This unit was very poor in 2008, and they need more than a two guys new guys to become a decent unit.

• Lineup Grade: B+ Mark DeRosa adds offense, versatility, and leadership to an already talented group. It will be key that Victor Martinez returns to form after an injury-plagued 2008. Expect V-Mart to rotate between 1st Base, Catcher, and DH.


Player most closely linked to team’s 2009 hopes: Fausto Carmona, Obviuosly for the team to succeed they need to have more than one effective starter. Carmona had a fantastic 2007 where he went 19-8 with 3.06 ERA, and the tribe needs that kind of production again.



Biggest Breakout Star Potential: Matt LaPorta. The centerpiece of the deal that landed CC Sabathia in Milwaukee is due to hit Cleveland sometime this summer. When he arrives, Laporta will play there everyday for the next decade as he is an almost sure-fire prospect.

Best Case Scenario: Carmona version 2007 and Lee version 2008 combine to give the Indians a nice rotation, and they coast into the postseason.

Worst Case Scenario: Carmona version 2008 and Lee version 2007 combine to make the rotation a disater, and they Indians are a last place team in a very competitive AL Central.

Prediction for 2009: 93-69 1st place in the AL Central.

Local Thoughts

By: Jay Levin of Let's Go Tribe

Please assign a letter grade to the Indians’ offseason moves? A. The Indians didn't fill every need, but they were much more active than most teams, and the moves they did make were quite shrewd. Kerry Wood gets more K's than K-Rod and came cheaper, and they bolstered depth in key areas by taking reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and Luis Valbuena from the Mariners, both at the cost of just one player that they plainly did not need. Carl Pavano is a cheap roll of the dice in a rotation that will need a few good rolls to come up with some winners Mark DeRosa is a very good all-around player, and he may well make the biggest contribution of the five. The Indians added all these players for reasonable dollars and without giving up any of their 15 best players or 10 best prospects, so I think you have give them an A.

Most Essential: It's hard to name just one. The rotation has so much uncertainty, with four of the five spots to be filled among NINE guys (Carmona, Pavano, Reyes, Laffey, Sowers, Lewis, Saarloos, Jackson, Huff), every one of whom come with injury and/or performance issues. Any one of those guys who puts together even just a solid season will be making a big impact on the team's fortunes. If I had to pick one, it would probably be the top guy on that list, Fausto Carmona, who could single-handedly swing six games.

Breakout Player: Asdrubal Cabrera. He's very young and advanced hitter who's always been promoted too aggressively through the minors, yet has always bounced back and thrived. A year ago, he was too young and inexperienced to deal with being a major league hitter. This year, he could explode.

2009 Prediction: 91-71, First Place.