Wow, Indians made the playoffs for the first time last season with a division crown to boot. Been a long time coming! Looks like they failed to do much in the playoffs, that could be due to the lack of coach experience on someones part, but he gave a great effort with both teams. Funny I go on vacation and he puts two teams in the playoffs that had never been and lost in the first round. Hope I can duplicate it only do better in the playoffs.
The coaching staff looks better than last year as we (well I didn't but you know who I mean) only had to replace the bull pen and 1B coach.
The Line Up:
Jose Blanco and Hugh Maloney provide the backstop action. May not be profound hitters but give the pitchers a much needed boost with their defense and pitch calling. My last official act last season was to trade Black Bart. He may have been an on-base machine but really didn't help the pitching staff at all and they need all the help they can get.
1B/LF - Zachrey Jerzembeck and Felipe Mendoza. Mendoza will have a long tenure with the Indians. They are both starting at one position or the other for the time being.
2B/CF - Eswalin James and Mickey Greer. Both are very capable at either position and James can be moved to other places if needed.
3B/LF/RF - Rod Glaus and Trace Wallace. G'son really liked Glaus at 3B against right handed pitchers as his hitting isn't very gracious against lefties. Wallace is on the DL again to start the season, but will be back shortly. Will probably play LF/RF mostly and 3B against lefties.
SS/CF - Maximo Stone and Sean Smalley. Stone was a key pickup in the rule 5 draft as we needed some defensive help at that position. With the departure of Jesus Rivera, who was asking way too much money in arb and was signed for half of what he was asking for by KC so the notes say. I think my stand-in did a great job here.
RF - Giovanni Jackson. He has been a fixture in RF for quite a few years.
CF - Matt Pierce. What can ya say, great at the plate and the field.
LF - The afore mentioned Trace Wallace.
The Pitching Staff:
Starters:
Tito Gao, Brant Brede, Rico Dali, Pedro Roque and Randy Lamb.
Maybe not the most talented starting 5, but get the job done. Rico Dali was a great cheap FA signing. Maybe I should let my stand-in do baseball and I should take over his B-Ball teams that I pay for....hmmmm
The Pen:
Posiedon Marte, Juan Moraga, Mickey Frazier, Mendy Hughes, Manny Wagner, Hipolito Palacios, Cy Bruske and Karim Pulido.
Hipolito Palacios was made the closer this year, G'son made a great point about that and is 4 for 4 already in the young season.
That is this seasons tribal war party, I don't foresee any changes being made. I think we have a very good chance of repeating this year and the fans are excited.
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