2007: The Cleveland Indians' World Series that Wasn't

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Cleveland Indians' best chance at a World Series ring in recent times was when they were leading 3-1 in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox in 2007. Given the Red Sox's 4-0 slaughter of the redoubtable, but overmatched, Colorado Rockies, does anyone doubt that the Indians would have won in at most seven, if they had advanced?

The Indians had a formidable lineup that year: Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, Casey Blake, Grady Sizemore, and Jhonny Peralta all hit .270 or better, with Travis Hafner not far behind at .266. All of these, except Blake, also hit 20 or more home runs (18 for Blake).

They also had two pitchers named C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee, who will start the World Series Game One in 2009 (neither as an Indian). Sabathia and Fausto Carmona were both Cy Young award candidates in 2007 (Sabathia won).

But Sabathia and Carmona didn't pitch anything like Cy Young candidates in the 2007 ALCS. And Lee, the 2008 Cy Young winner, wasn't a factor in the playoffs, not having his breakout year until 2008.

The two heroes of the Indians' 2007 postseason were Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd.  Although they were only third and fourth starters, they had the advantage of being better than their opposite numbers on the Red Sox team and won games, with the third victory coming in relief of Carmona's badly pitched second game.

In 2009, by contrast, the Indians hit a respectable .264 (vs. .268 in 2008), but only Shin-Soo Choo hit 20 or more home runs. They trailed their opponents in total bases (2,321 to 2,484), versus a lead of 90 in 2007.

But what killed them in 2009 was pitching. Their ERA of 5.06 was more than a run worse than in 2007. Sabathia had been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers (before signing as a free agent with the New York Yankees), and Carmona had reverted to his erratic, pre-2007 self.

Westbrook was out for the year with Tommy John surgery, Byrd's career was sputtering to an end (elsewhere) because of his age and personal problems. So the Indians traded Cliff Lee and their new signee, Carl Pavano, mid-season, leaving their rotation a shell of its former self.

The Indians' troubles have also taken a toll on their lineup. Victor Martinez was traded to the Red Sox and Ryan Garko to the San Francisco Giants.

Grady Sizemore is just another player, not a wonderkid. Jhonny Peralta is back below 2006 levels of productivity. Asdrubal Cabrera and Travis Hafner are marking time. Only Choo was clearly a better player in 2009 than in 2007.

With the Pittsburgh Pirates having "pirated" Neal Huntingdon, the Bucs seem to be in a more aggressive rebuilding mode, particularly in terms of pitching. Specifically, they've lined up their trade and draft choices for 2012-2014, three years of overlap, before individual players start going into free agency.

Cleveland needs to do somewhat the same to be a contender again. In almost any given year (except 2009), the Indians are a threat at the plate. They need to restore this threat in 2010, then go out and find the starters they'll need. Pitching typically makes the difference between a good Indians team and a mediocre one.

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