Indians wager?
Question:A co-worker and I always have a one-dollar "friendly wager" every year concerning the Cleveland Indians. Usually, I will bet that the team will go .500, or that they'll go to the playoffs. (Yes, I know...I usually lose)
I'm looking for an idea of something different to bet on concerning the Indians. Does anyone have any ideas?
Answers:
How many people love the Yankees?
I don't know if this will help but since I'm a big Tribe fan I wrote a nice little preview on them on my site.Cleveland Indians
Last years record:78-84 4th place AL Central
Projected record:90-72 2nd in AL Central
The Indians were a big dissapointment last year only winning 78 games.Coming off a 93 win season in 2005 they were expected to make the playoffs nad possibly take the division from the White Sox.Little did everyone know that the Tigers would catch fire and take the Wild Card and win the AL pennant.The Indians,allthough below .500,were not as bad as there record.They outscored opponents by 88 runs with the 2nd most runs in the league and had the 6th best ERA.The main problem was the bullpen.The bullpen went from being one of the best in 2005 to being one of the worst in 2006.They also were only the 6th team since 1954 to fall more then 10 games below there projected record using the pathageron triangle(they were projected to win 90 games).Using simulation with the Indians roster they won an average of 90.1 games(10 simulations).
Hitting-If the Indians have any strength it's hitting.They have the greatest lineup you've never heard of.They have possibly the best outfielder in baseball,Grady Sizemore,in center and two platoons,Jason Michaels/David Dullucci in left and Trot Nixon/Casey Blake in right.The infield has Ryan Garko,a prospect,and Casey Blake platooning at 1B while 2B is occupied by Josh Barfield.At short there is Jhonny Perelta who should bounce back closer to his 2005 numbers.3B is no longer Aaron Boone one of the best prosepects will take over,Andy Marte. They scored the 2nd most runs in the majors last year and look to score even more.
CF Grady Sizemore-led league in runs and doubles(290 BA,28 HR,76 RBI)
2B Josh Barfield-Comes to Cleveland from San Diego(280 BA,13 HR,58 RBI)
C Victor Martinez-One of the top catchers in the game today(316 BA,16 HR ,93 RBI)
DH Travis Hafner-Maybe the most underrated player in the league,look at his stats,he missed the last month of the season(BA 308,42 HR,117 RBI)
1B Casy Blake/Ryan Garko-Garko and Blake will split time,Garko will play against left handers,Blake against right.(Blake,109 G,282 BA,19 HR 68 RBI)(Garko,50 G,292 BA,7 HR,54 RBI)
RF Trot Nixon/Casey Blake-Blake will play right against left handers and Nixon will start against right handers.(Nixon,114 G,268 BA,8 HR,52 RBI,Blake shown above)
LF David Dullucci/Jason Michaels-Michaels will start against right handers and Dullcci against right handers.(Dullucci,292 BA,13 HR,39 RBI)(Michaels,267 BA,9 HR,55 RBI)
SS Jhonny Perelta-Had a sophmore slup last year.Expect him to have closer to his 2005 stats.(257 BA,13 HR,68 RBI)
3B Andy Marte-One of the top prospects in the league,is supposed to be a future star.(50 G,226 BA,5 HR,23 RBI)
The only lineup that is better is the Yankees.
Batting=A
Starting pitching-The Indians this year will throw one of the best staffs in the league at opponents.The staff had the 6th best ERA in the league in 2006 and they look to improve on that.Every starting pitcher on the roster,excluding Paul Byrd,is under the age of 30.
Ace-CC Sabathia-Had his best season yet although he record does not show it.Did not get help from the bullpen,blew 7 of this leads.Led the league in complete games and was 3rd in ERA.(12-11,3.22 ERA,172 SO)
Jake Westbrook-Lead the Indians in wins last year.Very consistent.Good sinkerballer.(15-10,4.17 ERA,109 SO)
Cliff Lee-Will start the season on the DL.Will be back by mid-April.Dropped from his 2005 stats but is still a good #3 starter.(14-11,4.40 ERA,129 SO)
Jeremy Sowers-#1 draft pick.Is supposed to be one of the league best starters someday.Did very well last year,in his rookie season.(7-4,3.57 ERA,35 SO)
Paul Byrd-Good #5 starter.Not good against left handed batter but has workedo n that over the offseason.(10-9,4.88 ERA,88 SO)
Good starting pitching.Not great but way above average.
Stating Pitching-B+
Bullpen-This was the weakest sport on the team last year.The bullpen was one of the worst in the league.During the offseason Mark Shapiro fixed it up and now it is retooled.Very few of the pitchers from last year are returning.The closer will be veteran Joe Borowski,he and Roberto Hernandez will supply the veteran leadership the bullpen has needed for 5 years.
LRP-Jason Davis-Was tried as a starter but that failed.Has,probably,the best pickoff move in baseball.Can throw many innings and gets his heater up to 100mph.(3-2,3.74 ERA,37 SO)
MRP-Matt Miller-Has bounced between AAA and MLB.He will start the season in this spot.Will probably not be there the whole year unless he does amazing,prospects coming up.Sidearm windup.(1-0,3.45 ERA,12 SO)
MRP-Fernando Cabrera-Struggled last year.Looks to rebound.Amazing against lefties,they hit just .083.(3-3,5.19 ERA,71 SO)
SU-Aaron Fultz-Not good against righties,great against lefties.One of the oldest players on the team at age 33.(3-1,4.54 ERA,62 SO)
SU-Roberto Hernandez-Oldest by far on the team at age 43.Will bring veteran leadership.Is one of the most consistent and best MLB relievers in the modern era.(0-3,3.11 ERA,48 SO)
SU-Rafael Betancourt-One of the few returning relievers.Very consistent.Neither lefty or righty hit very well off him.(3-4,3.80 ERA,48 SO)
CL-Joe Borowski-Another veteran who should provide leadership.One of the better closers in the league.(3-3,3.75 ERA,64 SO,36 SV)
The bullpen is better but it isn't good.It's average.
Bullpen-C+
The one last factor on this team is the fielding.It was awful last year but with new additions such as Marte and Barfield,who are both great fielders should improve it.
Defense-C-
Also the bench
Bench-D+
Overall the Indians will compete for the division and wild card at that.They are in a tough division but they are one of the best teams in the league,Fox ranks them #2 behined the Yankees.They are also very young and talented.They will be a good team for roughly the next 5 years as long as no one messes it up.Look for the Indians this year!
Overall-B+
Why is the pitcher catcher tandem called a battery?
how many homers pronk will hit.Which MLB team has the most boring announcers?
Your dream of a world series. until next year. =)If a ball is hit and the fielder bobbles it, and then overthrows the first baseman, is it 2 errors?
How about betting that its an "I" on the front of the ball cap and not a "J".2 pts for me...GO TRIBE!
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