flasportsfan88 Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Just a random thought, looking over some old info and the Indians, only Casey Blake, Travis Hafner and CC Sabathia, Jake Westbrook either in the starting lineup or rotation form two years ago. 2003 Starting linup rotation Cf Bradley SS Vizquel LF Lawton RF Kirim Garcia DH Burks 1b Hafner C Josh Bard 2B John McDonald 3b Blake SP Sabathia SP Westbrook SP Anderson SP Jason Davis Sp Ricardo Rodriguez 2005 posible Cf Crisp 2B Belliard DH Hafner RF Gonzalez C Martinez 3B Boone LF Blake 1B Broussard SS Paralta SP Sabathia SP Westbrook Sp Millwood Sp Cliff Lee Sp Elarton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 They're building a monster. Good young team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 All for the better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Guapo Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 yea 2 or 3 more years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flasportsfan88 Posted March 15, 2005 Author Share Posted March 15, 2005 yea 2 or 3 more years 711222[/snapback] why not this year or next... 1-4 in the rotation is nasty, not only did the bullpen get better but it actually can be above average, the lineup is sick and were 5th in the majors in runs and should get better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 The Tribe's pen is still bad. Just a notch above the Royals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everlong204 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Indians will be good this year, i think the AL Central will be a dogfight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarlinFan10 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 There's no more rebuilding in Cleveland. They have a good shot at winning the Central and will probably contend every year for the next decade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Indians will be good this year, i think the AL Central will be a dogfight 711316[/snapback] Agreed, but it will be mainly a dogfight between the Sox and the Twins. The Tigers and the Tribe will have similar records, and the Royals, well, they have Zack Greinke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramp Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 imo Tigers have a shot as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flasportsfan88 Posted March 16, 2005 Author Share Posted March 16, 2005 The Tribe's pen is still bad.? Just a notch above the Royals. 711314[/snapback] There are some ifs on the bullpen, with some guys who havnt played in a while. They can either turn out having a good bullpen, or a horrible one... David Riske, the closer if Wickman can't handle it is one of the better setup man in basball, he showed what he could do in 2003 with a 2.29 ERA and 82 k's in 75 IP.. He would make any pen in the majors... One of the Ifs is Paul Shuey, if he is heathly look what he can do, only two seasons with an ERA above 3.50. Almost every season close to 3.00 or below, if he can do that again, a huge part in any bullpen, but thats a big if... Rhodes in the setup role hes used to has had some spectacular sub 2.40 ERA seaons and one sub 2.00 seasons with Seattle... Sauerbeck a pretty legit Lefty specialist when healthy...Example: 2.32 ERA with 70k in 63 IP in 2002. Betancourt is supposed to be the closer of the future for the Indians showing great stuff and numbers to back it up so far... The closer Wickman who i belive closed out 13-14 save oppertunities last year may be a weak point as the closer but he has insurance if he falters with Riske and Betancourt,so either he does well as a closer or hes moved out of it and placed in the setup role where hed be above average... The last time he had a full season was lights out ERA in lower 2... He missed all of 2003 but looked inpressive last year... Bob Howry, pitched decently in Fenwey park in 2002, (a 4.22 ERA in that park not horrible at all) missed almost all of 2003 but pitched in a 43 inning stint with Cleveland last year and did great... 2.74 ERA, 12 BB, 37 H... Now you tell me that pen is bad?? not only bad but just a step ahead of a Royals pen including Affeldt, McDougle, Cerda, Sullivan, Camp, Feild, Carrasco... obsurd IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickGold Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Cleveland looks like they could return to the form they had in late 90's with Thome, Manny, et al. Dont think 2005 is their year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catchoftheday Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 thats my pick for the central Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyberry Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Cleveland has a great team this year. The only thing that kept them from the playoffs last year was their bullpen. I watch the Indians play every summer and I also go to a few games at the Jake. :thumbup GO GRADY :lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSwift25 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 imo Tigers have a shot as well 711344[/snapback] I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 imo Tigers have a shot as well 711344[/snapback] I agree. 711867[/snapback] I want to agree (as well as hoping and praying), but I can't. There are way too many question marks with the Tigers, especially now that they cut Alex Sanchez. First of all, Magglio's knee is the biggest question mark of them all. Are the Tigers going to get their money's worth with him? Second, both Carlos Guillen and Omar Infante are coming off injuries, and that's the middle infield right there. Brandon Inge is stepping into a role as an everyday 3B, something that he has never done. Percival and Urbina are still question marks, whether or not they'll perform to their abilities, as well as the rest of the bullpen. And now, who is going to play CF? Who is going to leadoff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I think anybody can win the AL Central outside of Kansas City... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malman Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 imo Tigers have a shot as well 711344[/snapback] I agree. 711867[/snapback] I want to agree (as well as hoping and praying), but I can't. There are way too many question marks with the Tigers, especially now that they cut Alex Sanchez. First of all, Magglio's knee is the biggest question mark of them all. Are the Tigers going to get their money's worth with him? Second, both Carlos Guillen and Omar Infante are coming off injuries, and that's the middle infield right there. Brandon Inge is stepping into a role as an everyday 3B, something that he has never done. Percival and Urbina are still question marks, whether or not they'll perform to their abilities, as well as the rest of the bullpen. And now, who is going to play CF? Who is going to leadoff? 711876[/snapback] Why was Sanchez cut? How did Dombrowski justify this move??? :mischief2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickGold Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 imo Tigers have a shot as well 711344[/snapback] I agree. 711867[/snapback] I want to agree (as well as hoping and praying), but I can't. There are way too many question marks with the Tigers, especially now that they cut Alex Sanchez. First of all, Magglio's knee is the biggest question mark of them all. Are the Tigers going to get their money's worth with him? Second, both Carlos Guillen and Omar Infante are coming off injuries, and that's the middle infield right there. Brandon Inge is stepping into a role as an everyday 3B, something that he has never done. Percival and Urbina are still question marks, whether or not they'll perform to their abilities, as well as the rest of the bullpen. And now, who is going to play CF? Who is going to leadoff? 711876[/snapback] Why was Sanchez cut? How did Dombrowski justify this move??? :mischief2 711968[/snapback] Read: http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=39909 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flasportsfan88 Posted March 16, 2005 Author Share Posted March 16, 2005 No doubt in my mind Cleveland can overtake Minnesota, what cept them from the playoffs last year may be the strong point (pen). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarlinGuru Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Holy sh*t. When the f*ck did that happen? The rotation is pretty good but the bullpen still is average or below. I give the Indians two more years and they'll be the team to beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heckeroo Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 i was smart to jump on this teams bandwagon when they were still bad but you could see they were coming up get a bona-fide closer in there and you're set they still have a damn good farm system, with a lot of players blocked in different places trade them for bullpen help you're set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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