Tribe Talk: Think the 2009 Indians Are Bad? We've Seen Worse

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Welcome to Tribe Talk, where Bleacher Report's Tribe fans weigh in on the ups and downs of the Indians each week throughout the season.

This week we weigh in on the worst Indians' team in recent memory, mull over why Andy Marte is still around, and debate who the bigger mess is: Indians or Browns.

I would like to thank this week's participants Nino Colla, Jeff Poore, and Scott Miles for their contributions.

This discussion is open to all, so please feel free to comment below and pitch in your thoughts on the questions we're addressing this week.

Go Tribe!

1. Three weeks left to go in the season, three months since we gave the season up for lost. Time to start reflecting back on 2009, even if most of us would prefer to forget it.

Is this the absolute worst Indians team in your recent memory? Or at least the most disappointing? At what point did you realize that the season was a lost cause? Do you expect things to get better next year?

Samantha Bunten: This team can't even begin to touch the 2003 squad when it comes to claiming the "Worst Team In Recent Memory" title. Bill Selby, anyone?

I think I've blocked out most of the rest of the 2003 roster, it was so bad. This team, however, was more disappointing.

We've said it a million times over the course of the season: Part of the reason watching this team has been so upsetting is not because they've been so bad, but because we expected them to be good and never saw it coming.

Subconsciously, I threw in the towel after the Milwaukee series in June but refused to officially hang it up until the All-Star break. Even after the break in August, fellow contributor Scott Miles and I entertained hopes of a Major League-like comeback from 11 games back in the central. We know, we know: silly us.

Still, I do think things will get better next year. MUCH better. Whether or not this is an accurate prediction or a foolish hope will remain a mystery until next April, but it would be hard for things to get worse.

Nino Colla: Has it been three months since we've given up? Damn, time flies when you're sorrowful.

They aren't the worst, not by a long shot, but certainly one of the most disappointing teams, right up there with last year's squad. However, I think I'd go with last year's squad as more disappointing. They had starting pitching and not as many injuries. This one had a lot of injuries and starting pitching that was suspect from the start.

I think expectations of a bounce-back, plus the addition of two higher priced veterans in Wood and DeRosa gave this team even more expectations.

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