[情報] Athlon Baseball 2009 Indians Preview
Athlon Baseball 2009 Cleveland Indians Preview
The Indians, who do not respond well to preseason accolades, are back in the
shadows for 2009. This makes them dangerous and capable of winning the AL
Central. They filled a big hole with the signing of closer Kerry Wood, while a
healthy Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner will make a good offense better. The
biggest question will be the starting rotation, where the Indians have produced
two straight Cy Young winners in C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Sabathia is gone,
but Lee is back, followed by a long line of suspect and untested starters.
Rotation
Lee and Fausto Carmona are the top starters. Lee, who won 22 games last year,
has gone from No. 5 in 2008 to lead dog this year. The Indians don’t expect
him to repeat last year’s performance, but they need him to come close.
Carmona won 19 games in 2007 and eight last year after missing two months with
a hip injury. All
Bullpen
A healthy Wood should turn a liability into a strength. Last year the Indians
had the fewest saves in the AL. With Wood, who signed a two-year $20.5 million
deal, as the closer, Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt become
the prime setup men. Lewis, 13-for-13 in save situations from August to the end
of last season, can step in if Wood needs a break. Sidearmer Joe Smith,
acquired from the Mets in a three-team, 12-player trade, and Masa Kobayashi can
pitch the sixth and seventh. Kobayashi, useless in the second half last year,
needs more endurance. The last spot in the pen should go to eternal prospect
Adam Miller, if he stays healthy. Miller, moving from the rotation to the pen,
looked great in winter ball.
Middle infield
A hazy picture came into focus with the acquisition of versatile Mark DeRosa
and the decision to play him at third base. DeRosa’s arrival in late December
from the Cubs allows Jhonny Peralta to stay at shortstop and Asdrubal Cabrera
to remain at second. Before the trade, Peralta appeared headed for third and
Cabrera to short. Peralta has range issues, but the Indians like his bat and
his dependability when it comes to making the routine play. Utility infielder
Jamey Carroll, Josh Barfield and Luis Valbuena, acquired in the same deal that
brought Smith to town, offer depth. While Carroll is guaranteed a spot on the
club, Barfield and Valbuena will compete for what might be the last position
player spot.
Corners
DeRosa has played more second than third in his career, but the Indians believe
— in part because he can leave through free agency after 2009 — it will be
less disruptive to play him at third and allow Peralta and Cabrera to stay in
their normal positions. Ryan Garko, who drove in 90 runs last season as the
starting first baseman, could make way for Martinez if it’s decided Kelly
Shoppach will be the starting catcher. Martinez missed much of last season with
surgery on his right elbow. The switch-hitting Martinez might be the top run
producer on the club. Andy Marte finished last season at third following Casey
Blake being traded to the Dodgers. He’s not expected to make the club this
year.
Outfield
Other than Grady Sizemore, the Indians have no established star in the
outfield, but it’s their deepest position. Sizemore won his second Gold Glove,
went 30-30 (30 homers, 30 steals) and appeared in his third straight All-Star
game in center field. Shin-Soo Choo finished last season so strongly in right
field that the Indians traded Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle. David Dellucci,
unproductive in the first two years of his three-year deal, and emerging Ben
Francisco are in left field. Prospects Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley and
Trevor Crowe are scheduled to start the year at Class AAA Columbus and could
see action in the big leagues this year. LaPorta and Brantley came from
Milwaukee in the Sabathia trade.
Catching
With Martinez limited to 73 games by elbow surgery and hamstring problems,
Shoppach took over the job last year, hitting .261 with 21 homers and 55 RBIs.
The downside is that he didn’t throw particularly well and struck out a
team-high 133 times in 352 at-bats. Shoppach calls a good game and works well
with the pitching staff. Martinez is probably still the best catcher on the
team, but he’s 30 and showing signs of wear. Prospects Carlos Santana, Wyatt
Toregas and Chris Gimenez may allow the Indians to trade Shoppach or Martinez.
DH/Bench
Hafner must bounce back from right shoulder surgery and nearly two years of
poor production if the Indians are to be serious contenders. The veteran DH,
signed through 2012, played only 57 games last year because of the sore
shoulder. Carroll is a versatile infielder with speed and pinch-hitting skills.
His best position is second base, where he has good range. Barfield, who opened
the 2007 season as the starting second baseman, missed most of last year
because of finger surgery. He needs to regain management’s confidence and is a
trade candidate. Dellucci brings occasional power off the bench.
Management
Owner Larry Dolan took a hit at the box office last season when projected
attendance of 2.5 million fell to 2.2 million because of the Indians’ poor
first half. This year the Indians are expected to open the season with a 25-man
payroll that’s smaller than last year’s $79 million. The recession that
gripped the country last year has been in full swing for the last several years
in Cleveland, so the Indians know how to adapt. This will be the seventh season
for the team of GM Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge. They have produced two
winning seasons (2005 and 2007) and one trip to the postseason. Each time they
have failed to deliver on the expectations generated by those seasons. In some
markets that may be enough to bring change, but there seems to be little if any
pressure on either coming into this season. Wedge is signed through 2010 and
Shapiro through 2012. Last season, to Wedge’s credit, the Indians salvaged
what could have been a terrible year by going 44–28 down the stretch to finish
81–81. Shapiro, by trading Sabathia and Blake, helped restock the farm system.
He believes they’re better positioned in terms of talent and prospects than
any team in the AL Central. He needs to prove it.
Final analysis
The Indians are fortunate to be playing in the AL Central, where quick rebounds
are possible. They’re being outspent by Detroit and Chicago, but talent-wise
they’re in position to win the division as long as their key players stay
healthy and they get their infield and rotation aligned. Last year was
disappointing but beneficial, because young players such as Choo, Francisco,
Cabrera, Shoppach, Perez, Peralta and Lewis were exposed to pressure
situations. That will only help them in 2009.
Statistician
11 >> The club-record number of grand slams that Cleveland pitchers allowed
last year.
104 >> Runs scored by Jhonny Peralta last year to lead all AL shortstops.
13 >> Consecutive saves Jensen Lewis converted in August and September.
4 >> Number of starts rookie lefthander Scott Lewis made and won as a
September call-up.
3 >> Number of home runs Andy Marte hit while trying to win the third base
job last year.
2 >> Number of home runs Victor Martinez hit last year after hitting a
career-high 25 in 2007.
2.54 >> Cliff Lee’s ERA, the lowest by an AL left-handed starter in this
decade.
.880 >> Lee’s winning percentage, which tied for the third highest in MLB
history for a 20-game winner.
0.67 >> Lee’s ERA after his first seven starts.
Difference Maker
Victor Martinez, who played until he broke down last year, needs to
re-establish himself as a force for the offense to realize its potential. In
the last two years, Martinez has suffered early season leg injuries playing in
the cold of Cleveland. Last year he opened the season with bone chips in his
right elbow and strained his left hamstring in the first game of the year. His
elbow gave out in June and surgery followed. A healthy Martinez, whether he’s
catching or playing first base, is critical to the Tribe’s success.
Beyond the Boxscore
Desert retreat After holding spring training in Florida for the last 16 years,
the Indians moved their spring headquarters to a $108 million complex in
Goodyear, Ariz., for 2009. For the Indians it is a return to the desert. They
trained in Tucson, Ariz., from 1947 through 1992. The Reds will join the
Indians in Goodyear in 2010, making it an all-Ohio gathering point for Cactus
League play.
Triple time Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, in the second game of a
doubleheader against Toronto on May 12 at Progressive Field, became the first
Indians infielder to turn an unassisted triple play since Bill Wambsganss in
the 1920 World Series. Cabrera, with runners on first and second, caught Lyle
Overbay’s liner while the Blue Jays were trying to work a double steal. It was
the 14th unassisted triple play in big league history and the third by an
Indian.
Ohio-bound With the Indians moving their Class AAA club from Buffalo to
Columbus this year, they will have four of their top five minor league teams in
Ohio. All four are within a three-hour drive of Progressive Field in Cleveland.
The closest is Class A Lake County in Eastlake followed by Class AA Akron,
Class A Mahoning Valley in Niles and Columbus. The Columbus Clippers will play
at brand new Huntington Park. Columbus hosted the Nationals for the last two
years after a 28-year agreement with the Yankees.
Special company Grady Sizemore joined Joe Carter as the only Indians players to
go 30-30 (33 homers, 38 steals) in one season. Carter did it in 1987. Sizemore
also moved into third place among Indians center fielders with 110 homers. He
trails Hall of Famers Earl Averill with 225 and Larry Doby with 199.
Second-half wonders The Indians led the big leagues with 379 runs after the
All-Star break. Shin-Soo Choo and Ryan Garko helped lead the way. Choo hit .343
(72-for-210) with 20 doubles, 11 homers, 48 RBIs and 50 runs in the second
half. Garko hit .319 with seven homers and 45 RBIs in the second half.
Farm System
2008 Top Draft Pick — The Indians drafted shortstop Lonnie Chisenhall out of
Pitt Community College in Greenville, N.C., with the 29th pick in the first
round. Chisenhall, who signed quickly for $1.1 million, hit .290 (80-for-276)
with 20 doubles, three triples, five homers and 45 RBIs at Class A Mahoning
Valley. Defensively, Chisenhall did better than expected at short, but he is
expected to move to third eventually. He’ll probably advance to Class A
Kinston in 2009. Chisenhall and a teammate were kicked off of the team at the
University of South Carolina for robbery in 2007. He pleaded guilty in February
before the 2008 draft and served sixth months probation.
2007 Top Pick — Beau Mills, 1B, Lewis-Clark State College
Left-handed first baseman/outfielder with power; will probably open the year at
Class AA Akron.
2006 Top Pick — David Huff, LHP, UCLA
Could make the Indians rotation this year after going 11–5 with 143 strikeouts
and 29 walks last year at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Buffalo.
2005 Top Pick — Trevor Crowe, OF, University of Arizona
If switch-hitting outfielder can stay healthy, he could make his big league
debut this year.
2004 Top Pick — Jeremy Sowers, LHP, Vanderbilt
Lefthander has had trouble repeating early success in big leagues when he went 7
–4 in 2006.
2003 Top Pick — Michael Aubrey, 1B, Tulane
Much-injured first baseman made it to the big leagues last year but will have
trouble making it back.
Other Prospects (age on Opening Day)
C Carlos Santana (22)
Switch-hitter hit everything that moved last year. Catching and English skills
need improvement.
OF Matt LaPorta (24)
He needs time at Class AAA but could be the Tribe’s left fielder sometime this
year.
3B Wes Hodges (24)
Coming off solid offensive showing at Class AA Akron and the Arizona Fall
League. Must improve defensively.
OF Michael Brantley (21)
Speedy, leadoff-type center fielder. Came to Cleveland with LaPorta for C.C.
Sabathia.
RHP Adam Miller (24)
Threw strikes, regained velocity in the instructional league and winter ball
after missing most of the season due to finger surgery.
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