Cleveland Indians 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Cleveland Indians 2009 MLB Record: 65-97
Cleveland Indians 2009 MLB Home Record: 35-46
Cleveland Indians 2009 MLB Away Record: 30-51

Cleveland Indians 2010 Betting

Cleveland Indians Odds to Win the American League: 35/1
Cleveland Indians Odds to Win the World Series: 75/1

Cleveland Indians 2010 Preview & Prediction

The Indians aren’t going to be good in 2010. They lost 97 games last season and could match that total this year. In 2007, the Indians missed a trip to the World Series by one victory. A two-year free fall, in which they became the first team to trade successive Cy Young winners, has once again put them in a rebuilding mode, this time under new manager Manny Acta. After trading Cy Young winners C.C. Sabathia in 2008 and Cliff Lee in 2009, the Indians’ main concern – surprise, surprise – is starting pitching. They’re counting on Jake Westbrook, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2008 because of Tommy John surgery, and basket case Fausto Carmona to lead a staff that is young and untested. The offense, provided Grady Sizemore is healthy, has a chance to be decent, but there are a lot of holes in the middle of the lineup.

Dark days loom for the Indians. Attendance dropped to just over 1.7 million last season, and it is expected to keep falling. The unpredictable AL Central provides some hope for a quick rebound, but not a lot for the pitching-poor Indians. Fan backlash against ownership and the front office is at an all-time high. It didn’t help that a number of recently traded Indians performed well in the ’09 postseason. Having Lee and Sabamia face each other in Game 1 of the World Series will rank alongside the trade of Rocky Colavito in the history of Cleveland angst.

Cleveland Indians Manager: Manny Acta (3 Seasons) Record: 158 – 252

Cleveland Indians 2010 Projected Batting Order: CF Grady Sizemore (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shln-Soo Choo (L), 3B Jhonny Peralta (R), DH Travis Hafner (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 2B Luis Valbuena (L), C Lou Marson (R), LF Michael Brantley (L)

Cleveland Indians 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Jake Westbrook, RH Fausto Carmona, LH David Huff, LH Aaron Laffey, RH Justin Masterson

Cleveland Indians 2010 Projected Closer: RH Kerry Wood

2010 Cleveland Indians Rotation:

General manager Mark Shapiro says the best he can hope for this year is to find five No. 3 starters among candidates Westbrook, Carmona, David Huff, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, Justin Masterson, Carlos Carrasco and Hector Rondon. They would like to repeat last year’s signing of free agent veteran (a Carl Pavano-type), but if that doesn’t work, Mitch Talbot may have to do. They acquired Talbot from Tampa Bay in December for Kelly Shoppach. He has pitched only three games in the big leagues but has extensive time at Class AAA. Westbrook, with five big league starts in the last two seasons, is coming off a healthy winter ball assignment. If he gets through spring training in the same fashion, he’ll be the Opening Day starter. After winning 19 games in 2007, Carmona has lost 19 games over the last two seasons. The Indians have no idea what Carmona will give them and they can’t be happy with the four-year, $15 million deal they gave him in 2008. Huff won 11 games as a rookie but was hit hard along the way. Left handers Laffey and Sowers are approaching make or break time in their careers, while Masterson is probably best suited for the pen. Carrasco and Rondon are still probably too young to help and should start the year at Class AAA Columbus.

2009-2010 Cleveland Indians Bullpen:

If the Indians can get the ball to closer Kerry Wood, this could be a good bullpen. They couldn’t do it last year because setup men Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis struggled and sidearmer Joe Smith was hurt. Still, the lefty-righty, late-inning combination of Tony Sipp and Chris Perez offers hope. Should the Indians trade Wood, Chris Perez would probably get the first shot at closing. Veterans Jason Grilli and Saul Rivera will be in camp on minor league deals, while Rule 5 pick Hector Ambriz will move from the rotation to the pen. Smith, who made only 37 appearances last season because of a variety of injuries, could be a key factor. If Sowers and Talbot, both out of options, don’t make the rotation, they’ll get a look as long relievers.

2010 Cleveland Indians Middle Infield:

The Indians will be much more athletic in the middle of the diamond with shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and second baseman Luis Valbuena. Cabrera opened last season at second before moving to short when the Indians finally put Jhonny Peralta at third. Cabrera, coming off his best season offensively, showed range and arm strength at shortstop. Valbuena, who can also play short, showed occasional power last season. Jason Donald, one of the four players acquired from Philadelphia for Lee last season, could platoon with Valbuena at second.

2010 Cleveland Indians Corners:

One of Acta’s main jobs will be getting Peralta to accept his move to third. The Indians didn’t handle it well last season, creating tension between Peralta and former manager Eric Wedge. Peralta should do well at third, but that wasn’t the case last year as his doubles and homers dropped from 42 and 23 to 35 and 11, respectively. Some scouts feel Peralta, 27, is already on the decline. Matt LaPorta is the favorite to start at first base if he has recovered from surgery on his left hip and left toe. LaPorta, acquired from Milwaukee as part of the Sabathia trade, should settle into the middle of the lineup. Andy Marte can play first and third. The Indians would still like to add a right handed hitter to play first in case LaPorta needs more time to recover or is moved to left field.

2010 Cleveland Indians Outfield:

If Sizemore returns to full health after surgery on his left elbow and left groin, the outfield should be the strongest part of the team. With Sizemore in center and Shin-Soo Choo in right, the Indians have two good power sources with speed. Choo, an emerging five-tool player, had a 20-20 season and hit an even. 300, while Sizemore reached 30-30 in 2008. In left field, Michael Brantley, Trevor Crowe, Jordan Brown and LaPorta give Acta plenty of options. Brantley replaced the injured Sizemore in September. He showed speed, good defense and patience at the plate. Brantley, who stole 46 bases in Columbus last season, could take over the leadoff spot in the lineup sometime this season, which would allow Acta to move Sizemore down in the order to take advantage of his power. Sizemore, however, is expected to open the year batting leadoff.

2010 Cleveland Indians Catching:

Prospect Carlos Santana is in the pipeline, but rookie Lou Marson is expected to open the season as the starting catcher following the trades of Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach. Marson, Donald, Carrasco and Jason Knapp were acquired in the Lee deal. The options behind the untested Marson are limited to the equally untested Wyatt Toregas and Chris Gimenez. The Indians were talking about adding a veteran catcher, but if they did so, he would be a backup. They don’t want anyone to block Santana’s path to Cleveland. Santana, recovering from a broken hamate bone in his hand, is expected to open the season at Class MA.

2010 Cleveland Indians Bench:

The Indians have been waiting on designated hitter Travis Hafner for two years to recover from a sore right shoulder, but all they’ve done is waste a lot of money and watch one of the most feared run producers in the American League turn into an opposite-field singles hitter. They still owe Hafner over $40 million in what appears to be one of the worst contracts in team history. The switch-hitting Crowe can play all three outfield positions and offers speed if he can make enough contact to reach base. Austin Kearns, who signed a minor league deal in January, could supply some right-handed power. Gimenez can play several positions but has a long way to go offensively. Toregas has a good arm if he wins the backup catcher’s job.

Cleveland Indians 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Cleveland Indians will finish 4th in the AL Central Division .

Cleveland Indians 5-Year Win Trend

2009: T-4th AL Central 65
2008: 3rd AL Central 81
2007: 1st AL Central 96
2006: 4th AL Central 78
2005: 2nd AL Central 93

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