Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have added another veteran free agent to the ranks in first basemen Nick Johnson.  The deal was a minor league contract, but Johnson has a late Spring Training invite and an opportunity to make the big league club.

Arthur Daley joined the New York Times in 1926. Sixteen years later, he started his outstanding column, "Sports of the Times," which he wrote until 1973.

Daley respected statistics (yes, statistics existed before sabermetrics), but he also respected what his eyes saw. In 1954, as he had done numerous times, Daley eschewed statistics and played a hunch.

The Cleveland Indians announced that they signed first baseman Nick Johnson to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. If Johnson makes the team, he has a club option for 2012.

Johnson appeared in only 24 games last year for the New York Yankees. Johnson batted .167 (12-72) with a .388 OBP, four doubles, two homers and eight RBI.

Spring Training is well underway, and after assessing what the Indians have to offer in terms of position players here, it's time now to take a look at the team's pitching. 

Ever since Travis Hafner's power was sapped after the 2007 season, his contract has become more and more of a burden for the Cleveland Indians. $13 million for the 2004-2007 Hafner, who averaged 32 HR with a .410 OBP, a 156 OPS+, and a 4.5 WAR, isn't bad. $13 million for the 2008-2010 Hafner, who averaged only 11 HR with a .353 OBP, a 114 OPS+, and a 1.0 WAR, is horrible. The Indians cannot begin to be able to pay Hafner's salary for his current level of production.

A former Las Vegas showgirl inherited the Cleveland Indians from her deceased husband and wanted to move the team to the warm climate of Miami, sound familiar LeBron James?

Can you believe the Tribe is already a week into spring training 2011? It seems like it was just yesterday when we saw manager Manny Acta sliding down the toboggan chutes at Progressive Field's Snow Days.

Although we are still about a month away from Opening Day on April 1st, there are already some headlines coming out of Goodyear, AZ.

Will Grady Sizemore be ready for Opening Day?

Are we still worried about Shin-Soo Choo's military obligations?

What's going on with Austin Kearns?

Fire at Goodyear Ballpark?

What's Manny Acta's favorite movie?

The Cleveland Indians traded left-handed pitcher Aaron Laffey to the Seattle Mariners for 25-year-old minor league second baseman Matt Lawson.

Just one year ago, second base looked like a weakness for the Indians after it was decided that Asdrubal Cabrera would move to shortstop. Since that time, veterans Orlando Cabrera and Adam Everett have been signed to one year deals.

Last year, the Cleveland Indians finished second-to-last in the AL Central with a 69-93 record.  Considering how center fielder Grady Sizemore missed most of the season with a knee injury, along with the inconsistent pitching, that's still a pretty strong performance.

Prior to the Cinderella run the Cleveland Indians put together in 2007, they had not made the ALCS since 1998.

From 1998 through 2007?

The Tribe managed only two other playoff appearances in 1999, and then again in 2001.

Since 2007, however, Cleveland has seen a gradual decreases in wins in addition to simultaneously losing two Cy Young winners (C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee).

Well, Cleveland fans, the beauty of each new season is that everyone begins 0-0 and it's anyone's championship to win.