The Cleveland Indian's Hopes Hinge On Luck

This year's edition of the Tribe is depending on the smile of fortune for success. The team has too many question marks. Two of its three highest-paid players are on the mend. Who can say that each will not return to his pre-injury lack of productivity?

And Carl Pavano is only a journeyman being cast off by the media as a solid No. 3. Why would the Yankees who were desperate for starting pitching last year, let him go, if he had anything left?  Travis Hafner has shown nothing to excite anyone about his return.

He was miserable before and is unlikely to be a force in the middle of the team's line-up. Westbrook could be solid, but this is the second long lay-off of his career.

The pitching staff is mediocre, which only two years ago, was the club's strength. Sure, Cliff Lee had a banner year last year, but seems unlikely to repeat it. Carmona might be better and the odds are against Pavano. He needs a lot of offensive support to win. As for the other two starters, who are they any way.

This team reminds me of the sixties and seventies when each year the local newspapers would try to sell fans a pipe dream, leveraging Spring's optimism. The Indians are hoping that two solid starters will emerge from the likes of Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, Hector Zondon and Zach Jackson. 

Considering the relative mediocrity of the first three in the rotation, very high hopes are being pinned on these prospects to emerge as nothing short of Doc Gooden or Tom Seaver in their rookie years. Would you be willing to wager on odds like these in the most important of your own affairs. I wouldn't.

The bullpen may be better than last year's, if Kerry Wood pans out. Of course, once again, Lady Luck must smile. Wood has a history of injuries. Remember, the Indians finished at .500 last year. We need vast improvement, not tinkering. And how will the team replace Sabbathia? It can't.

The offense is paltry. Sizemore and Martinez, our only proven commodities, are not enough. Even they only hit .268 and .278, respectively. And why is Delucci still on the team? Andy Marte is a bust.

Hopefully DelRosa will solve the problem at third base, at least for now. If his numbers transfer from the National league, he could provide some of the offensive punch the team desperately needs.

It would make sense to place Shoppach at catcher and put Martinez at 1st, but the Indians are reluctant. Sin Shoo might prove to be above average, but can he really play every day and hit on a consistent basis? Peralta has yet to show that he can field consistently.

The Indians, if they are lucky, could win the division. But that's only because there were no major improvement anywhere else. The Indians are counting on too many unknown factors, and without any luck, they will finish near the bottom.