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| 2007 Team Previews: The Cleveland Indians |
| Written by Jonathan Leshanski | ||||||
| Friday, 02 March 2007 | ||||||
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2006 Record: 78-84 New Warriors in the Tribe Exiles The Skinny: After a disappointing 2006 campaign the Indians needed to take a good look at themselves and the teams in their division. Despite the record the Tribe didn’t play bad baseball last season but fell in the standings because everyone else in the division managed to get better. Unfortunately adding pitching -- an almost impossible task -- was the main thing they needed to work on. Strengths: Offense. The Tribe is no slouch when it comes to the ability to score runs and the addition of power hitting outfielder David Dellucci and Josh Barfield should only enhance the numbers but up by Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore. Youngsters Ryan Garko and Andre Marte should also continue to develop into solid offensive players. Weaknesses: Starting pitching. I have little doubt that the Tribe can patch together a moderately successful bullpen but the starting pitching is a huge question after C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook. You can pencil Cliff Lee in at the number three spot despite his struggles last season, and the Indians seem committed to the eminently hittable Paul Byrd as the number 4 guy. As far as the bullpen goes the question of who closes for this team is still an issue. Bob Wickman wasn’t the answer so the Indians looked elsewhere and acquired the questionable Keith Foulke from Boston as an upgrade. Foulke wasn’t happy and decided to retire rather than pitch leaving the Tribe back where they were at the end of the offseason – without a real closer. CF Grady Sizemore Potential Rotation C.C. Sabathia Keys to success: The Indians need to strike gold in the pitching department and get good seasons from Cliff Lee and Paul Byrd for them to have any chance of success. Prediction: A third place finish with a slightly better than .500 record. Changes and injury elsewhere in the division might give them a chance to make a charge at the division title but it’s a long shot. The Twins, White Sox and Tigers just have more pitching and the Royals look to have improved as well.
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3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."You can contact Jonathan Leshanski via the writer's Profile or the AHP Staff via the contact form. 
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