MLB Preview: How the Cleveland Indians Will Improve in 2011
Last year, the Cleveland Indians finished second-to-last in the AL Central with a 69-93 record. Considering how center fielder Grady Sizemore missed most of the season with a knee injury, along with the inconsistent pitching, that's still a pretty strong performance.
This year, the Indians are just as young a team, if not younger than last year. With only a few tested veterans on the team, the Indians certainly have some experienced men, yet not one with enough presence to step up as a leader. That being said, can second-year manager Manny Acta find a way to get his players and their fans back in the game?
The answer is yes. Let's look at the entire lineup and see how the team will improve from last year.
Catcher: Carlos Santana
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In 2010, Carlos Santana was called up midseason by the Indians after the Lou Marson experiment failed. Up until that point, the young catcher from the Dominican Republic had batted .316 with 13 homers and 51 RBI in 57 games at Triple-A Columbus. The success followed him to the majors.
Santana batted .260 with six home runs and 22 RBI in 46 games, and would have had many more had he not gone on the disabled list with a season-ending knee injury. Now, he is back full force and ready to play.
Santana is more dangerous than most catchers in the fact that he's a switch hitter and plays excellent defense. As long as his knee isn't an issue, look for him to bounce back full force in 2011 and be the most valuable bat in the Indians' lineup.
First Base: Matt LaPorta
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Matt LaPorta came to Cleveland in 2008 as part of the trade that sent CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. He was the latter team's top prospect. Last year, however, his first full season was not one to remember.
LaPorta spent most of 2010 on the disabled list with hip and foot injuries, as well as a concussion. He played in 110 games, but was clearly slowed down with pain. His .221 batting average, 12 home runs and 41 RBI were not what team management hoped for from a man who hit .279 with 22 long-balls and 74 RBI in the minors in 2008.
As long as he stays healthy, LaPorta should see at least some improvement in 2010. He might be a bit impatient at the plate, but look for him to have a bounce back year.
Second Base: Orlando Cabrera
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The Indians landed a diamond in the rough this free agency year when they signed veteran infielder Orlando Cabrera to a one-year deal. In an infield needing a top veteran, the team hit the jackpot in making this move.
Cabrera's offense might not be what it used to be, but he still plays great defense and has some speed. Look for him to mentor the young Luis Valbuena and possibly the next man in this preview...
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Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera
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Asdrubal Cabrera is not by any means a top shortstop in the MLB. He doesn't hit well for power and isn't much of an RBI threat. Yet, he is still a force to be reckoned with
In 97 games last year (he missed two months with a broken arm), Cabrera batted .276 with three home runs and 29 RBI. Plus, he was a defensive force on the left side of the infield for Cleveland.
Cabrera is still young, only 25 years old, so there is still time for him to develop. He won't smack home runs left and right, but will be a pest in the lineup. 2011 should be a great year for him if he stays healthy.
Third Base: Jayson Nix
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Jayson Nix is someone I like to think of as Dave Kingman, but not as much of a power threat. The Indians' third baseman has some power, but does not hit well for average.
A career .215 hitter, Nix batted .224 last year with 14 home runs and 34 RBI. The team has a couple of prospects they can use at third base in the future, but Nix has that spot held down for now.
He only played in 102 games last year, but look for the overall numbers to improve if he holds down the starting job. Nix is the type of player who needs to play everyday in order to be effective, and he will be if given the chance.
Left Field: Michael Brantley
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This young outfielder was another piece of the CC Sabathia trade in 2008, and the Indians viewed him as a top prospect who would be their leadoff man of the future. Brantley got his shot last year, and saw mixed success.
He only played in 72 games in a 2010 that saw him demoted to the minors twice, but he still managed to hit .246 with three home runs and 22 RBI as well as steal 14 bases. 2011 is his fresh start year, and he will impress.
Brantley will never be a long ball threat, but if he plays regularly he can hit well for average and be a pest on the basepaths. Combine that with great defense and he will emerge as an All-Star candidate comparable to Michael Bourn.
Center Field: Grady Sizemore
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2010 was a season to forget for Grady Sizemore. He only played in 33 games and put up unimpressive numbers (.213, no home runs and 13 RBI) before undergoing season-ending microfracture surgery on his knee.
He still hasn't begun spring training and won't for another week or so, and it will be interesting to track his progress. Chances are he won't return with the 25-30 home run power he showcased before the knee troubles began, and the steals will probably be down too. The best fans can hope for is that he can still hit well for average.
I hope for their sake that Sizemore bounces back. His performance is essential to the team's success.
Right Field: Shin-Soo Choo
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Last season, Choo was the lone bright spot in a lineup ravaged by injury and ineffectiveness. He hit an even .300 with 22 home runs and 90 RBI, plus 20 steals. On top of that, he was a force in the field and if anyone on the team should step up and be a leader, it's him.
Choo can be effective as the second or third hitter in Cleveland's lineup, but he still needs some protection. Leading to this next gentleman...
DH: Travis Hafner
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Four years ago, Travis Hafner was an MVP candidate who batted .308 and hit 42 home runs. Since then, shoulder issues have made him a shell of his former self.
The past three seasons combined, the man known as "Pronk" has only hit 34 home runs. His batting average has been decent, but it's obvious that shoulder is bothering him. Still, he shows intermittent flashes of his former self.
Hafner played in 118 games last year, the most he had appeared in since 2007 when he played in 152. If his health isn't an issue, he can provide Choo some protection in the lineup with perhaps 25 home runs.
Starting Rotation
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The Cleveland Indians' starting rotation is like a puzzle. There are only two surefire pieces and the remaining three are hard to come by.
The ace of the staff is Fausto Carmona (pictured at left), and he is followed by Justin Masterson. As of now, ESPN has the final three spots going to the following: Jeanmar Gomez, Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin.
Tomlin showed promise last year when he was called up and posted a 6-4 record and 4.56 ERA, as well as a 1.25 WHIP. Still, the Indians' rotation is missing something that is also missing on offense: A leader.
Carmona can be a Cy Young candidate if he has the run support and Masterson is inconsistent. Following them, the success of the team's starting pitching is a mystery.
Bullpen
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One of the few bright spots on the Indians might be the bullpen. On a team that scores few runs, the relief pitching has been pretty decent. Tony Sipp and Rafael Perez provide hard throwing, while Joe Smith's odd windup and release will throw off any hitter.
On top of that, the team just brought in veteran Chad Durbin, who will provide mentorship to young arms like Sipp and closer Chris Perez (pictured at left).
Perez really stepped up last season in place of the injured and later traded Kerry Wood. In 63 games, Perez saved 23 games and had an impressive 1.71 ERA and in impeccable 1.08 WHIP. His consistency and continued development of the other young arms in and out of the pen will bring stability to a franchise looking to return to glory.
Manager: Manny Acta
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On paper, Manny Acta is not a top manager. The veteran coach was the manager of an underachieving Washington Nationals squad for two-and-a-half seasons before being fired, yet the Cleveland Indians chose to give him a shot. Ultimately, they made the right decision.
In his first season in Washington, despite finishing fourth in the NL East, Acta led the Nats to a 73-89 record before dropping off horrendously the next season. Still, he is the right man for the job in Cleveland.
Acta works well with young players and on a team like Cleveland's, that is key. The youngsters like Brantley and LaPorta may seem like underachievers, but Acta will bring the best out of them as they hopefully become perennial All-Stars. Fans should be patient with Acta, as he will soon have the Indians contending again.
Final Thoughts
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The question remains: will the Cleveland Indians improve in 2011? It's too early to tell, but my answer is yes. The team has a good core of young players who, with patience, can become great and will ultimately carry the team on a playoff run.
The AL Central is a tough division so the playoff run won't happen this year, but it could be on the horizon soon. The biggest question mark is the starting rotation, but that could also be a diamond in the rough. If the starting five can be effective, then the Indians can only go up from here.
Final prediction: 76 wins, Fourth in the AL Central
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