What Else Can Go Wrong? The 2010 Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians enjoyed, let’s just say, a less than stellar first half of the season.  When your everyday lineup consists of Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Redmond, this can happen.

They say you can tell how the season will go based on the first game.  The Indians lost.  Failed to even score one run, and had the freak play of the year turned against them, courtesy of Mark Buehrle.  That’s a hell of a start, wouldn’t you say?

Fast forward to July.

The Indians came roaring out of the All Star Break, taking 6 out of 7 games from AL contenders Detroit, Minnesota and Tampa Bay.  The starting pitching was dominant, the bullpen stingy and future stars Carlos Santana and Matt Laporta looking like trade bait steals.

Then the baseball gods started paying attention, realized what was going on, and abruptly put an end to it. 

The Tribe mirrored their strong second half start, losing 6 of their next 7.  But hey, .500 still looks good for a young team towards the end of the season.  Perhaps there was hope after all!

Then August came.  In what I am officially dubbing “The Slide” Carlos Santana was blocking the plate on a throw home when Boston’s Ryan Kalish made no apparent effort to avoid Santana’s left leg when sliding.  (I’m not saying it was dirty, but I’ve seen cleaner.)  Tribe fans heaved a sigh of relief after hearing that there was no major damage, and Carlos was only put on the 15 day DL.

Then the announcement came.  Santana, the prized rookie switch hitting catcher would be done for the season and would HOPEFULLY be ready by the start of spring training.  Well at least Matt Laporta looked like he was finally coming around.

Then the 0-21 happened.  Ol’ Matty decided to go six consecutive games without a hit, watching his average plummet 20 points to .239.  This is who we traded franchise star and Cy Young winner CC Sabathia for?  Not that Laporta has much protection in the lineup, (ok, none) but shouldn’t we expect a little more out of him?  At least the upcoming schedule looked favorable.  It was on to last place Baltimore, followed by last place Seattle and then a battle for last place with Kansas City.  Things were looking up for the Wahoo Warriors.

If the wheels had already come off, consider the wagon now pushed off a cliff into a lake full of gasoline in the middle of a lighting storm.

The Tribe dropped 6 of 8 against their counterpart cellar dwellers, prompting many Cleveland fans to ask, “So when is that first Browns game?”

Manager Manny Acta relieved all fears of poor play by responding with, "We're not going to look at them like they are the worst team in the majors, because we're not exactly the New York Yankees ourselves."

Thanks Manny.  You’re right, we shouldn’t look at them as the worst team in the majors.  You actually held that distinction with the Washington Nationals last year before they relieved you of your duties and pathetically stupid comments.  We in Cleveland were lucky enough to snatch you up instead of Buck Showalter, who spanked you with his MLB worst record Orioles.

Before I start to vent, I understand this is another classic “rebuilding” year.  Also season ending injuries (Santana, Grady Sizemore) and additional DL stints (Travis Hafner, Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin Soo Choo) absolutely kill a team who’s thin on depth to begin with. 

With the liberation of Buckeye and Browns football yet a few weeks away, here are a couple things you can take away from this season with an eye on next year.

Best Case:

Kerry Wood, Jake Westbrook and Jhonny Peralta’s contracts are officially off the books.  Hafners horrendous deal is winding down and the need to trade talent grows smaller with the already miniscule payroll.  Sizemore and Santana make full recoveries and have All Star caliber seasons.  A young pitching staff led by Jeanmar Gomez, Fausto Carmona and Josh Tomlin reminds baseball enthusiasts of a young Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine.  The Tribe is in the hunt for a Central crown until the final few weeks of the season and end up with 86 wins and a lot of confidence going into next season.

Worst Case:

Manny Acta remains the manager.  Sizemore, Hafner can’t shake injury bugs and continue to be dead weight payroll.  Carlos Santana decides he wants to honor his name and become salsa and jazz musician.  Jeanmar Gomez becomes next Jeremy Sowers.  Attendance continues to rank dead last in all of baseball.  Royals fans feel sorry for Cleveland.

Realistically:

Sizemore begins the year on a tear……and is promptly traded by June.  Santana has very strong sophomore season and Indians find out which young starting pitchers are going to have solid major league careers.  Another rebuilding year yes, but not as bad as 2010.  Indians finish at 77-85 and show glimpses of becoming a decent team. But until then we ask;

“So when is that first Browns game?”