Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians finish last season in third place with an 80-82 record. Not bad for a team which has been rebuilding for only 3 short seasons. If the record is to improve and the Indians are to be serious contenders, the young talent which was seen for much of last season will have to do better this season and for the entire year (instead of fading in August with another 8 game losing streak).

The team will have 2 everyday players 30 years or older, a young team with loads of talent; this could be one of the more dangerous teams in the division as they try to get back to winning the division year after year like it was the 90's again.The Indians' pitching staff is completely intact from last season and they may even get Jason Bere back regularly for the first time in two seasons.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, they ended just infront of the White Sox for fifth worst in the league in pitching last season. Jason Davis (2-7, 5.51), Scott Elarton (3-11, 5.90), Cliff Lee (14-8, 5.43), C.C. Sabathia (11-10, 4.12), and Jake Westbrook (14-9, 3.38) are all back. Westbrook had the third lowest era in the league and Sabathia is one of the best young pitchers around, but everyone else will need to bring the eras down a bit for the Indians to be taken seriously. Bere may indeed be back with the club by the end of Spring Training, but needs to show he still has Major League Stuff. Their oldest starting pitcher is 28 and staff ace C.C. Sabathia is only 23. Talent is one thing, experience is another. After last season's losing streak to take them out of contention, this team has to have learned a few lessons.

One of the hottest Spring Training competitions will be in Chain of Lakes Park in Florida, and will take place between Alex Cora and Jhonny Peralta to see who will replace Omar Vizquel at shortstop. Peralta is younger and is expected to take the starting job for the season. The infield will also have all-star Ronnie Belliard and former Red Sox killer Aaron bleeping Boone is healthy and ready to be a solid third baseman again. Coco Crisp is one of the best young outfielders in the game, his speed and athleticism allow him to catch up to any ball hit towards him and will lead to runs for the Indians on the offensive end. The team will flank Crisp with Jody Gerut and the ageless power hitting Juan Gonzalez. Designated hitter Travis Hafner looks to improve a 2004 season in which he was number two in the league in OPS, and hit .311 with 28 home runs and 109 rbi. The offense was ranked fifth in the league last year. They should be right around the top five again this year and if the team era comes down half a point to a point, this team won't get worn down by the summer heat again and will be warming up fans well into September.