Basement Dwellers: Tribe Sinks to Last Place In Central

To take a line from the many Cubs fans that I am friends with: Next year is our year.

Let's get used to it Tribe fans, if the Cubs continue their impressive play that may become our new mantra.

After losing decisively to the beleaguered Barry Zito (and decisively at that) I am ready to throw the towel in on 2008. I was a hold-out to this point, in such a close division I felt that the Indians still held some sort-of miraculous chance of making the postseason. I no longer feel that way.

Sitting 7.5 games behind the first place White Sox at the bottom of the AL Central I am pronouncing the time of death for this season: 9:51 pm EST, June 25th, 2008.

Everything that was supposed to happen did not, and everything that could go wrong did. The worst part is that the end of the tunnel is still out of sight. Carmona is still experiencing hip soreness, Hafner's shoulder isn't strong enough to play yet, Martinez is out until after the All-Star Break, Barfield is out as long as Martinez and Cabrera is in Buffalo trying to find his swing.

I could go on, but we have all heard it before, besides, it can all be summed up in six words: the Indians traded for Sal Fasano.

Though contention is certainly not on the mind of the team, the state of the 2009 Tribe certainly must be.

Will C.C. really take that hometown discount or should he be traded now to a contender in the hopes of gaining a power-hitter or talented young player?

In my opinion, Mark Shapiro is cautious to a fault. He has done wonderful things for the team, but he has always held on when the team needs a big deal. I fear that the same thing will happen with Sabathia, and at the end of the season he will leave for more money than the Indians can offer.

How will the outfield look?

Dellucci's contract is up after this year, and I do not expect to see him platooning any longer. Sizemore is a lock in center, but the corner spots are anyone's guess. Francisco has impressed so far, and Gutierrez is predicted by many to mature in to a well rounded ball-player. However, Shin-Soo "Big League" Choo also might be ready for everyday play, and he needs to establish himself as a professional player in order to avoid mandatory service in the South Korean Army.

Who will play in the middle-infield?

Asdrubal Cabrera is considered the shortstop of the future, but Jhonny Peralta is the shortstop of now, and Barfield has not shown enough to warrant an everyday job. Jamey Carroll, on the other hand, is proving his worth filling in as everyday second basemen, and perhaps playing for a job next season.

Now that 2008 is a wash it means that there is plenty of time to speculate about what will happen before next season starts. With that, plenty of time to believe that next year is our year.