ViewPoint
March 31, 2005
Written by MadAlan

Chicago Cubs

Outfielder Moises Alou is gone and with him goes 100+ RBIs and 35 home runs each year without a Cub ‘planned’ replacement. Alou led the Cubs in homers (39), RBI (106), and runs (106) in 2004, but the team opted not to re-sign him and he joined the Giants. Starting pitcher Matt Clement has gone too, taking with him all the promise and money spent to make him a very good pitcher for the Red Sox. Clement was another major subtraction. The Cubs also waved good-bye to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, infielder Ramon Martinez, outfielders Ben Grieve and Tom Goodwin, catchers Paul Bako and Mike DiFelice, and reliever Kent Merker. And then they sent Sammy Sosa to the Orioles.

The Cubs have had a winning record for two consecutive seasons for the first time since 1971-72. The Cubs managed to win 89 games last season, but the total could have been much higher if injuries and ineffectiveness had not bogged down Mark Prior, Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood. But, you know, every team is supposed to be able to deal with each injury, slump and other problems from within and they did and did until they did not. The reason the team did so well was because of the manager Dusty Baker, who out-managed other managers to win games, similar to Tampa Bay’s manager, Lou Pineilla. The Cubs now stand, in effect, unaccompanied when it comes to deserving of self-pity and begging for sympathy regards a World Series win.

One major building block was when shortstop Nomar Garciaparra signed a one-year $8 million contract to stay in town. When he played in Boston there were no problems from him, injuries yes, homers, RBIs and a great batting average were a constant too. Now he is a Cub, and you can bet the players all will love him. He plays hard. He is a thinking player. He will go to the opposite field to move runners along, create double plays from nothing and smile while playing.

The guy paid to play second, Todd Walker, also signed a one-year deal. He has a limited range in the field, one of the most limited ranges at the position in the NL. Walker does get paid for his bat though and he can hit and drive runners in plus he has a well-earned clutch-hitting reputation. Infielder Neifi Perez, outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, and pitcher Glendon Rusch decided it was in their best interests to hang with the Cubs. That was a fine move for them and their families, but outside of Perez the others are honestly low-grade. From outside the Cub-World, they signed catcher Henry Blanco, journeyman reliever Chad Fox signed a minor league deal, and soon after they traded a “player to be named later” to the Diamondbacks for pitcher Stephen Randolph. Blanco is a solid power hitter off the bench or catching when the numero uno, Barrett, wants rest. The Cubbies look good at catcher. Combined they will produce numbers close to 45 home runs, 105 RBIs and possibly a .280 batting-average.

The Cubs need an everyday left fielder now that Moises Alou has left. Felix Pie, Brian Dopirak and Ryan Harvey all want to be the replacement. Pie and Harvey are proven outfielders where Dopirak comes up as an outfielder second and a solid glove at first to back-up Lee. Pie is a leadoff type hitter who is allergic to walks but did steal 32 bases last year in minor league ball and the Cubs NEED a leadoff hitter. David Kelton will become the new right fielder and it is his to lose. Decent in the field with an above-average arm he should be playing often. Even though he does have decent power he has not been much in the clutch.

Big time centerfielder Corey Patterson spent some time with Brett Butler, a former major league outfielder. Patterson has plus range and is a fluid outfielder. Butler was an extraordinary bunter and professional leadoff hitter and base stealer. The Cubs hope some of Butler's traditional leadoff skills rubbed off on Patterson, who struck out 168 times in 2004. How Corey performs in the role this spring will determine where he hits in the order and could alter his value. It will also influence Walker, who would likely take over the leadoff duties if Patterson fails. Patterson doesn’t seem like he is instinctive at all. He has been seen by thousands of purists by now, running an oddball route to a fly ball or two.

Watch for youngster Jason Dubois, a major power source, might have something to say about an outfield spot. Dubois, 25, hit .320 with 31 homers and 97 RBI in 110 games at Triple-A Iowa last season. And this spring he has hit 5 homers, so far. Take bets he becomes a regular by the All-Star break or sooner.

Outstanding “role” players Aramis Ramirez, Neifi Perez and Derrek Lee contribute in the clubhouse, on the field and off the field, offensively and defensively. Ramirez at third base reduced his errors so much he was contending for the fielding award. Lee might be the best fielder at first in all of baseball now, and it is he who helped the most in reducing the Ramirez throws from errors to outs. Don’t minimize this defensive part of the game for us Fantasy people; Lee never leaves any game unless injured. The Cub line-up is very right-handed.

Their starting pitching can be so domineering; they could get past any issues only if Prior, Woods, Zambrano and Maddux come up big. It wouldn’t even be a surprise because all involved with the “Game” knows those four pitchers by name. With his 16 wins last season, Maddux became the first pitcher in history to notch 15 or more wins in 17 different seasons. This brings us to Angel Guzman who is to arrive this season, too. Frankly, there is nothing left for him to prove to minor league batters anymore. They hate him and his 97 MPH fastball. His strikeout to walk ratio was a stingy13.3k/BB. Cub pitchers struck out 1,346 batters last year, the second highest single season total ever.

Wood is only 27 years old, but it is now an old 27 because of all the pitches he has thrown on bum arms for three years. Included in his arsenal are a blazing high-90s fastball, a hard curve and a nasty slider. Wood can control the running game with the poise of a ten-year veteran, with a strong pickoff move and the mental toughness to focus on the batter and runner equally. Past elbow surgery makes his endurance a concern. He's too often into the triple digits in pitches by the sixth inning. Believe it or not, but he needs some proper coaching. This year he could win 25 games or 10.

Prior, not only does his fastball reach the mid-90s, but also it darts all over the place and he can throw it right where he wants it. He adds a “super-dooper” curve, a smooth changeup, plus he has remarkable poise and presence on the mound. Once he improves his endurance and his approach against right-handed hitters, he'll be unstoppable. Prior will give you 20 wins and 250 strikeouts.

Zambrano can throw big heat from two different angles and has hit 99 on the radar gun often. His slider can be a great ‘out’ pitch and he has remarkable endurance. He is prone to wildness - 88 walks. Throwing from different angles gets him into trouble when his mechanics aren't right. Blah! Point him to the mound and expect 22 wins. He can and will pitch through smaller injuries.

Maddux will move up to number two in the rotation since the Kerry Wood/Mark Prior medical insurance is still paying the Cubs money. Maddux's mastery of the plate is unparalleled. While not relying on his fastball anymore, he mixes speeds with the best of them. He possesses outstanding knowledge of hitters and the art of pitching. Maddux's only real weakness is control of runners on the base paths. He occasionally has trouble against left-handed hitters, but "trouble" for him isn't the same word as for most pitchers. Expect 17 wins again at age 38. I hope the kids all pay him respect and attention because he is one of the best pitchers ever, and being so on his smarts and heavy on the work ethic.

The bullpen is virtually the same low-grade staff it was last season minus the bullpen “star” Farnsworth off to the Tigers. The Cubs didn't go after a proven closer this off-season either, meaning they'll be working with the wary arms they already have in-house. Ryan Dempster is projected to be the closer-man working the ninth. After missing one year following Tommy John Surgery, Dempster returned to action in August and saved a pair of games for the Cubs in September. He'll need to hold off former Cub closers LaTroy Hawkins (25 saves in 2004) and Joe Borowski (33 saves in 2003). Borowski broke his hand March 22 and is now out a month and out of the running for closer. The set-up man will be Mike Remlinger.

Rusch posted a solid 3.47 ERA in 33 appearances (16 starts) last season, and he's slated as the fifth starter behind Prior, Wood, Greg Maddux, and Carlos Zambrano. However, we feel that Rusch overachieved in 2004, and youngsters like Sergio Mitre, Angel Guzman, or Bobby Brownlie could pitch well enough this spring and have the Cubs rethinking that fifth spot.

Manager Baker is a big plus and will lead this group foreword as professionals.

Forecast: Fight for 1st in the Division.

Chicago White Sox

With yet another big-bopping – 242 home runs - lineup, the White Sox disappointed again this past season, failing to upend the three-time defending division champion Twins in the Central Division. The Twins keep winning the division and the Sox continue to add players and never catch them. Lets be straight here, the Twins are not that good. General manager Kenny Williams, tired of falling short in the standings, blew up his blueprint of the past several seasons, one which featured a home run heavy offense well-suited for the AL. Instead, Williams has attempted to reconstruct this squad in a speedier, more defensive image preferred by manager Ozzie Guillen - similar to the one that Minnesota has utilized to thoroughly embarrass Chicago in three straight seasons. Williams' new approach to challenging for the postseason in 2005 was evident in his biggest off-season move, swapping power-hitting outfielder Carlos Lee for prototypical leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik and relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino.

They let Magglio Ordonez go away and received nothing in return. He had spent his entire 8 years in the majors with the White Sox compiling a lifetime batting average of .307. They also let Jose Valentin go after spending 5 years producing large infield power to the tune of not less than 25 home runs in each of those 5 years. There were years where his error totals were darn close to his home run totals. Ouch. Then they traded Mr. Lee. His problem? He did the same things that Ordonez did. He hit tons of homeruns; drove in runners daily, played a solid outfield and didn’t cause any problems. Lee was without question Chicago's most consistent offensive weapon over the past two seasons, but the Sox had no interest in fielding another station-to-station offense without the ability to manufacture runs with speed and situational hitting. Use the skills of the manager, eh? Makes too much sense.

This time they did get something in return. Welcome Scott Podsednik to Chicago. He is living proof on how important the stolen base is becoming, how high in your draft did this .244 hitting outfielder who also slammed 12 home runs go? I watched him seem like a 7th outfielder in Seattle two years in a row, then he was happily left to find himself a new group of playmates – he signed for pennies with Milwaukee, who had $10.50 budgeted for an outfielder and his price was right. When all the outfielders on the Brewer roster were injured he got a chance to play. He produced his career year. Last season he stole 70 bases, hit leadoff, yet only scored 85 runs. Take those 12 home runs from the 85 runs scored you get 73 runs scored off of 70 stolen bases and that sucks. Grab him.

GM. Williams stayed busy during the off-season upgrading the team's defense, pitching, and in developing a situational team offense. Others new in town include veteran starter Orlando Hernandez joins a deep and experienced rotation. Right fielder Jermaine Dye attempts to bounce back from some injury-plagued seasons in Oakland signed for a two-year stint in Chi-town. Behind the plate, former rival and noted pest A.J. Pierzynski replaces faded veteran Sandy Alomar Jr. The team-touring Dustin Hermanson will strengthen the bullpen.

Mark Buehrle has averaged 16 wins over the last four seasons and gets the nod on Opening Day. Williams also quietly added righty Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras in the middle of last season. Both of them pitched well in White Sox land after their acquisitions. Garcia has good years and above average years and ok years ... yet they all retain about 14 wins or so. He is already a well-known number one with a great career – count on him.

Jose Contreras was another addition. Do not ignore this man; in fact lets take a look together. Contreras has had 40 starts in America, winning 20 games in those 40 starts. Eleven is the total losses he has produced. In reading whether a pitcher is “for real” the best gauge, in my mind, is less hits given-up than innings pitched and he is 241 innings pitched and 218 hits against. In his career batters have only hit .239 off of him.

The Sox grabbed “El Duque” Hernandez from the Yankees where he went 8-2 with a 3.30 ERA. Right-handed batters slugged him at a .194 batting average, plus in his 84 innings he struck out 84 batters. The addition of “El Duque” to the starting rotation gives the White Sox one of the most underrated and complete staffs in the American League.

Jon Garland has disappointed, but it's easy to forget that he's still only 25 years old, he has 36 wins in his last three seasons with one dozen wins in each one, and he has 200-inning potential at the fifth spot in the rotation. That means to me that he has not disappointed, count all the pitchers that are no longer pitching anywhere let alone in the minors in those same three seasons where he won 36 games.

The improved defense and a stable bullpen set up around closer Shingo Takatsu (19 saves in 20 chances, 2.31 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) should offset a presumably less productive offense and both ex-Yankee; ex-Cuban pitchers are very athletic fielders too.

Despite all of the upheaval, the Sox lineup is relatively established. Dye will occupy Ordonez spot behind Podsednik and shortstop Juan Uribe, who has an everyday opportunity, and is coming off a breakout campaign by whacking 23 home runs and 74 RBI. They will be followed by first baseman Paul Konerko, who rebounded in a huge way last season with career highs in home runs (41) and RBI (117). It was Konerko who was offered to Arizona for the great Randy Johnson, he is that highly thought of.

Everett and Rowand will try their hand in the run-producing spots. Rowand was an after-thought with the team until last year, in fact they considered him a dud and not a stud or a dude either. Now we all shall see he is just another 5-category player who’s best asset is his glove and effort. He is the best player they own – at present. He set career highs in each of the five major fantasy categories: 24 homers, 69 RBI, 94 runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .310 average. Rowand will move down in the lineup this year to have better opportunity to improve upon his mediocre RBI total. He can capitalize on runners in scoring position without having to swat the ball out of the park. His outfield arm is one of the strongest around.

Everett, what a wonderful career and he was an exciting 5-category player to watch – about 10 years ago. It is my opinion that 75% of Everett is better than 75% of the outfielders around. Can he be a regular player any more? His recent history says “No way!” The Sox? They say “Way!”

Podsednik led the big leagues with 70 stolen bases last season, but his batting average plummeted from .314 in his monster rookie season to .244 in his sophomore campaign. The Sox were outwardly dissatisfied with Willie Harris' .262 average in the leadoff spot a year ago, so the new guy will have to get on base in order to justify the big-ticket price he warranted in the trade. The point is he will play his contract this season, play every day and they pray he will get some more hits than last year. It would be a better defense by moving Podsednik to left and keep Rowand in center. The effort to convert to a running team from one that was not a running team should reduce the initial season’s steals for Pods from his career high of 70.

Former American League MVP Frank Thomas is still recovering from ankle surgery, the second time in the last four years that an injury has forced him to play less than half the season. He will not be ready for opening day. If Williams is agreeable to give up on Ordonez and Lee, you can bet he's worn out all promise of ridding his clubhouse of this guy, he who has epitomized the White Sox problems over the last several years.

Veteran slugger Carl Everett has already been penciled in as the Opening Day designated hitter, and Frank Thomas may not be available until June. What Guillen does with Thomas at that point, and how the petulant superstar handles his return, is anyone's guess. He's a switch hitter with great power though most of the power comes from the left side. In the clutch, he's the man, even with two out. He uncoils a quick bat to stroke the ball to all fields and hits consistently. Though he's become a fraction more patient at the plate now. He's had injury-prone legs throughout his career. Thomas can produce All-Star worthy numbers, but only when he wants to.

Speaking of injuries and comebacks and all that stuff, how about that Jermaine Dye guy? Give him 450 at-bats, this has proven to be no longer an easy thing, and he will pay you back with 35 homers and about 100 RBIs. Enter Ross Gload and “Big-Swing” Joe Borchard who will both see plenty of game and gather enough at-bats to make this team a better one then thought of at present. No options left.

Boasting of decent power and a steady bat, Gload can turn it up a notch with runners in scoring position. He's able to play first base and the outfield. Occasionally his plate discipline will disappear. He is a very valuable bat off the bench. He has great size and the ability to crush the ball from both sides of the plate. Finally, he has strong enough legs to play center every day, and a terrific arm, owing to his days as a Stanford quarterback. He could boost his average if he cut down his prodigious strikeout totals, though it might sacrifice some power. He's had big trouble living up to expectations. Time's running out on his all-star potential.

The more than capable Pierzynski, a .294 career hitter, continues his perennial personality-disappointment. The catching will be split more than is being considered now. Pierzynski is the expected regular but finally Ben Davis will crack the 20-homer barrier plus drive in more than 70 RBIs. He will be a part of the Sox over-achievers over-achieving this year.

The Valentin successor at short will be Juan Uribe who showed surprising power with 23 homers and 74 RBIs. He might have led the entire team in clutch hits. He's smooth as silk with the glove and boasts a powerful arm. For a small infielder, he has good power and a knack for driving in runs. He rarely walks and has had some trouble hitting when pitchers aren't preoccupied with base runners.

Solid glove Joe Crede, 21 homers, .239 BA, at the hot corner, hits for power especially to the opposite field. He has shown an aptitude for bringing in base runners and has plenty of opposite-field power to the alleys. He needs to show more patience at the plate. Though his defense is competent, he needs to work on his footwork around the hot corner. Tends to be weakest in the first half. His potential to be a strong hitter is fading.

Harris is the initial starter at second base, rounds out the batting order. Leadoff tools across the board, able to take a walk, hits and zips around the bases. He has great energy and determination. His diminutive size is certainly a factor and sometimes he thinks he has more power than he does, resulting in many strikeouts and infield fly balls. Harris also struggles something fierce against left-handed pitching. Speedy utility man. Since Harris is not known for hot-starts we shall expect to see the position taken away from him permanently by Japanese import Tadahito Iguchi. Iguchi will contribute a lesser batting average with less stolen base as well. He will hit about 20 home runs and drive in many clutch runs instead.

Utility player Timo Perez will anchor the Sox bench. Joe Borchard (outfield), Brian Anderson (outfield) and Wilson Valdez (infield) are expected to make the bench. Young hurlers Felix Diaz, Jason Grilli, and Neal Cotts will get plenty of looks in the Cactus League play as Guillen rests his veteran staff. Keep an eye on Brandon McCarthy when he comes up, it will be to stay this season, last season he went 17-6 with a 3.14 ERA between three-levels.

Forecast: Anywhere from Division champion to last in the same Division. Pounds and pounds of question marks.

Cleveland Indians

Manager Eric Wedge's club seems poised to contend for the AL Central title thanks to their promising starting rotation, veteran bullpen, and core group of serious hitters that includes Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Coco Crisp, Casey Blake, and others. But that doesn't mean the Indians aren't without their issues. The team created some space in their outfield by dealing a terrible fielding Matt Lawton to the Pirates in exchange for lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes. The Indians also added some infield depth by signing second baseman/shortstop Alex “Lots of Range” Cora and third baseman/second baseman/shortstop Jose Hernandez. He will be released in March. Then they signed outfielder Juan Gonzalez to a minor league contract. He will send Sizemore back to the minors in late March.

Along with waving goodbye to Lawton, the Indians opted not to pick up their option on shortstop Omar Vizquel, ending an 11-year relationship. The Gold Glove winner signed with the Giants. Infielders Lou Merloni and John McDonald, catcher Tim Laker, and reliever Rick White are also gone.

The Indians top priority was to add a proven starter to the top of their rotation, and that mission was accomplished when they signed Kevin Millwood to a one-year, $7 million deal in early January. He carries some question marks about the strength of his elbow, but he also owns a reputation as a winner and an innings-eater. The Cleveland media is already asking a ton of questions about Millwood's elbow, and we won't get any solid answers until spring training. He basically missed the last two months of the 2004 campaign due to ligament and tendon damage in the joint, but he did not need surgery. He hasn't had any issues this off-season, but according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he's also avoided throwing off of a mound and won't do so until pitchers and catchers report. Remember when everyone considered him an “Ace?” Wonder what Atlanta knew when they let him leave, him with all that talent? Wonder what Philadelphia know when they let him leave, him with all that talent and money?

Indian fans have complained, but understood a rebuilding was in order, the team needed to be younger and more athletic. It took two years and they were a beginning winner, meaning they finished the season at .500, and the youngest team in the majors last season. Ok, 80-82 was their record, but I was close. This season, after gambling Vizquel will soon grow old they let him leave. The team is even younger this year. The franchise rid themselves of older talent like the retired Roberto Alomar, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton, and Travis Fryman after 2003, while working through the tedious development of the young players who are stars today such as Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and Ben Broussard

Aaron Boone, the Indians are counting on him holding down the third base job this season, and Blake is moving to right field. Boone tore the ACL in his left knee in January 2004, underwent surgery, rehabbed, and then underwent a second operation in August to remove loose cartilage. A question mark, based upon his style of play, he will be injured again. He plays like a disciple of David Bell. Before he goes down his numbers should be unusual for a third baseman - he steals bases. He is expected to be ready, but obviously we're eager to see him in action.

We'll also be keeping a close eye on Blake as he transitions from the infield to the outfield. Being a little below average at third helped to make this decision. For the pitchers sake. On the other hand his third base arm will bode him well in the outfield. We hope the change does not change his bat, a fine weapon. Blake has been playing the outfield very solidly this spring and doesn't look like he'll have a tough time making the transition from third base. No matter where he plays, get him for your team. At present he is listed as a third baseman, soon it will include outfielder. Either way he will drive in 100 runs this year with 35 homers too.

Indian fans are cautiously, silently excited about the Gonzalez signing. The slugger owns an incentive-laden contract that makes him a low-risk option for the Indians, but obviously management would love to see him show some of his old skills at the plate. A variety of injuries (most recently his back) have limited Juan to only 33, 82, and 70 games in the last three seasons. As of March 27th he has been down with a hamstring injury. Can you imagine how a pitcher would feel, standing on the mound before the game begins, and looking out to his outfield defense to see Gonzo and Blake playing the corners? Another grey hair.

Hafner is coming off of a huge season (.311, 28 homers, 109 RBI, 96 runs), but he underwent surgery in October to have bone chips and loose bodies removed from his right elbow. He's reportedly good to go for spring training, and his swing seems just as horrible to pitchers as before. We will not see his power slip this year at all. Can Hafner do more than last year? It has been a given during his spring homer-a-thon. He is awesome.

With Vizquel gone, the Indians have an open spot at shortstop, and fans should watch Alex Cora, Johnny Peralta and Brandon Phillips battle. The 22-year-old Peralta and the 23-year-old Phillips have both proven themselves in the minor levels but struggle in the majors keep them in the minors. The Indian’s will trade for a shortstop in the first month or so, someone like Wilson Betemit in Atlanta. Peralta is to get the first shot at the job, but it's really a wide-open competition. The Indians signed Hernandez and Cora in case of an emergency so expect to see Cora play. Why play Cora over the others? Cora understands the many uses of a baseball bat. If this was my team I would play the best glove available, support the pitcher who gets ground balls, the extra bat is not needed in this solid hitting lineup.

Belliard returns to cover second and he does it well. Belliard was known as a clutch-hitter long before his first at-bat in the biggies. His defense style is most unusual because he plays a deep second, on the grass most often. It affords him the range he really lacks to get the ground balls in short right and still throw the runner out. He is the guy who moves runners up, hits to the opposite fields, run-out everything and earns his salary. In Fantasy value he is a good bet for 12 homers or so and 70-80 RBIs – pretty good for a middle-infielder.

If Gonzalez does succeed and earn a starting job, the Indians will have a complicated decision to make. The repercussion can last years on the youthful and believing soul named Grady Sizemore. Sending him down could “break his heart” and trust with the Tribe. Sizemore has been a long-term investment and has bloomed enough to start everyday in the Major Leagues for many teams.

Broussard was once considered by both the Indians and Baseball America as the better hitter and the better all-around player, than Hafner just last year. In his short stint away from injury a Broussard bat can connect for extreme power displays and a steady .290 batting average. As it currently stands, the lineup includes Blake in right, Hafner at DH, Grady Sizemore in center, and Coco Crisp in left, and Ben Broussard at first. Gonzalez would likely play either left field or designated hitter. In the first scenario, Crisp would shift to center and kick Sizemore down to Triple-A. In the second, Hafner would move to first and push Broussard to the bench. Both Hafner and Broussard are slow.

The above-average Ryan Ludwick is slated to be a backup at both corner outfield spots, but a strong spring could cause manager Eric Wedge to reconsider his role. Luckily, we have at least half of the season before we have to worry about how Jody Gerut's return will mess up the outfield mix.

The big-guy starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia had a rough 2004 season, both on and off the field. He had to deal with the deaths of his father in December and his uncle and cousin over the summer, and he struggled after the All-Star break, posting a 5.12 ERA over his last 13 starts. Sabathia is nursing a strained right oblique muscle, played catch without incident Wednesday. He'll start making throws from 105 feet Friday. He may be ready after the season has begun, if so Jason Davis will move in to his spot. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sabathia is ready both physically and emotionally to have an awesome 2005 season. Sabathia is excited about the year and is in the best shape of his pro career. We're eager to see the 24-year-old take the mound; he's got the skills to be a very good fantasy pitcher.

Jake Westbrook is a perfect number two and wins plenty of quality starts. A solid pick. Jason Davis and Scott Elarton fill the other rotation spots and plenty can be said about how both are decent and give quality starts as well. If the bullpen does its job all the starters could achieve double-digits in wins. Cliff Lee is the 5th starter, he won 14 games last year, his second full season and first in the rotation.

The bull pen is loaded with young and strong arms all. None should be drafted, or even considered to be drafted at present. Each pitcher in the pen is above-average in some things but not the best in walks or Ratio because of it.

Bob Wickman returned to action last July and re-established himself as the closer. He'll hold that role again this season, but we have some concerns about his stuff. Wickman turns 36 in February, and he's much more the pitcher and not the heat-seeking-missile thrower usually slated at closer. Bob wasn't great last season, posting a 4.25 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. This is a gigantic weak spot for the Indian’s; there is nothing substantial behind Wickman. If they owned someone better he would be the closer, simple to say. The available closer list has better gambles/closers than Wickman on it, too.

Forecast The Indians can be the serious SLEEPER team in the AL or even all of baseball. This team can be a contender because they are strong once more.