**OFFICIAL 2007 Cleveland Indians Thread**

[KJS]

Go Tribe!

Starting rotation seems good. 3rd in AL ERA last year, should be able to come close to that. CC is rocking a size 56 jersey, 2nd only to Wells in MLB. Hope the big guy stays healthy this year. Gonna be tough for them to pay him for many more seasons.

Bullpen got older but perhaps more solid in the late innings which we know was a big reason for so many losses last year. Borowski is iffy healthwise but OK if not hurt. Roberto Hernandez could go either way. A bit of leadership in the bullpen will be a good addition even if these guys are not awesome performers on the mound.

Outfield seems to have improved with Trot Nixon and DeLucci getting a run out. Grady is Grady. Would have been nice to get a real lead-off man so he could be in the 3 hole though. Michaels needs to improve over last year. Maybe some pressure from Nixon for a spot will help motivate him.

Infield D was a huge reason for last years losses and does not seem to have gotten much better. Will be a young crew all the way around. Marte needs to prove he can play at this level daily. Barfield is still an unknown quantity for me. Peralta had Lasik in the off-season but who knows if that will help or not. We'll see if Garko makes the team out of Spring Training. Biggest roster battle seems to be for infield utility with Luna, Inglett and a few others going for that spot. I like Inglett last year but his range at short is lacking.

Victor will hit for sure but his arm is ridiculously bad. I can't see a play-off caliber team giving up steals so easily. No sign that he improved in this area in the off-season.

Pronk will kick butt as usual. The guy is a total stud.

Top scorers in the AL last year. If we can improve back end of the pen and infield D I see a few more wins. Probably still hovering around the .500 mark, IMO, since the division will probably be super tough again this year. But anything can happen.

Go Tribe!

[johnnybeef]

I have absolutely no clue what to expect from this team. I would love to see a playoff push, but highly doubt it even though they are definitely capable.

[THEOSU]

holla

[tendog]

rotation
Sabathia
Lee
Westbrook
Byrd
Sowers

Bullpen
Borowski
Robeto Hernandez
Fernando Cabrera - great last two months of 05 bad in 06 but talented
Betancourt

Lineup
Sizemore
Dellucci
Martinez
Hafner
Trot Nixon
Casey Blake
Peralta
Andy Marte
Josh Barfield

I think trading Westbrook or Byrd would be good for he team.

But yeah the starting rotation looks great if Sowers can perform like he did late last year.

I think Shapiro said he felt this team would be lock to win the Central if it were as weak as in the late 1990s early 2000s. Definitely a chance to win the division. Much much better than last year's record indicates.

[New001]

Sizemore and Hafner are sexy beasts.

[g-bebe]

[ QUOTE ]
Sizemore and Hafner are sexy beasts.

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[kyleb]

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Sizemore and Hafner are sexy beasts.

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Dude, get back to me on AIM

[mosdef]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't see a play-off caliber team giving up steals so easily. No sign that he improved in this area in the off-season.

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The eight MLB playoff teams last year were ranked 3rd, 8th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 24th, and 29th in SB% against. In other words, they're not really related. I wouldn't sweat SB.

[KJS]

PD says Lee will miss his first spring training start with a strained ab muscle.

Byrd has added a split finger, which he was taught by John Smoltz in the off-season. Apparently used it with some success in yesterday's 13-2 win over the Astros.

KJS

[kyleb]

Prospectus has the Hope and Faith column about the Indians on their site. It's a good read.

I'll add my thoughts later, but I like the Tribe to win 90 games this year.