A great season is in store with just about every team being considered playoff contenders in MLB. The Indians took a giant step last year, contending till the end but came up short. Minor injuries hurt our chances more than anything, as there were three going into the the stretch, just days before roster expansion. With an almost depleted AAA squad for the same reason, plus AAA was a playoff bound team, made it difficult to replenish the ML squad. This years ML squad however has few changes but enough to improve the team from last year. The entire coaching staff returned to see the team make history this year.
The Defense
C - Dean Hill returns for another season as the starting back stop. It is hoped he will put up even better number this season. His backup this season has yet to be determined as Spring Training will determine which one of the three gets the precious spot on the roster.
1B - Don Webster gets the call this season as Tony Brown failed to impress last season even though he could play more than one position.
2B - Jae Dong is slotted to play the position but didn't impress management well enough to dole out a long term contract.
3B - Karim Quevedo couldn't handle the SS position last year and was quickly moved.
SS - Hideki Huang took over the position last year and actually put in a somewhat GG performance.
RF - Giovanni Jackson started last year instead of CF and became a Silver Slugger at the position and a key cog in the offense.
LF - Albert Tapies has become a legend in left among the fans even though he had somewhat of an off year.
CF - Howard Washington had a career year defensively wandering around CF and was only beat out by one player to capture the coveted GG award.
The Bench
Kimera Adams will be the go to guy on the bench for all the major position relief and will probably split time with several players to stay sharp.
Harry Brock will provide relief at 1B and COF and some 2B.
Wayne Stewart will provide some depth at COF and 1B as well.
The Starters
1. Brant Brede will take the mound to start opening day.
2. Jose Crespo had his best ML season last year and hopes to be even better this year.
3. Tito Gao baffled everyone last year when he was called up at mid season.
4. Pedro Roque didn't have a great season after being called up but coaches think he is better than Tito and needs to have a good campaign this season.
5. Tomas Camacho is like a box of chocolates, one never knows what they are going to get.
The Pen
Quilvio Olivares became a go to reliever and emergency starter last season.
Grant Simon: Management originally wanted to pick Grant up in an off-season trade and bring him back to Cleveland, but his arbitration cost was too steep but just right as a FA acquisition.
Richard Park: Newly acquired in FA cheaply, management liked what they saw and the arm looks to be healthy to take a chance.
Lucas Thomson provided a confusing change of pace that was relatively sucessfull last season.
8th inning wonder boys
Boomer Thomson had a great year either setting up the closer or being the closer.
Kory Governale was 27 of 31 in the save department last year and won 3 of his blown saves and the fourth went to extra innings. The big knock, he couldn't close day after day.
Closer
Daniel Blackwell is slotted for the closer role at this time as he may have run out of steam late last season.
On the bubble as at least one will go to make room for a catcher.
Steven Haynes
Kenneth Buckley
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