Cleveland Indians

Dolan creates a Korean pipeline to Cleveland. 

The Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan and Kia Motors have agreed in principal to a 250 Million cash and stock swap deal. The Tigers gain a 35 percent share of the Indians for 180 Million in cash and a 70 Million common stock. The Indians gain a 51 percent controlling interest in the Kia Tigers. 

• Year: 1963
• Record: 79-83
• Win %: .488
• Win % Change: -40
• Run Differential: -3
• Pythagorean Record: 81-81
• AL Finish: 5th of 10
• Manager: Bob Scheffing and Chuck Dressen
• Best Transaction: Picked up Denny McLain off of waivers.  McLain’s story is well know in Tigers lore.  He reached a very high peak in the late 1960s and then fell apart on and off of the field.  No matter what kind of trouble he got into later in his career, you can’t beat the price the Tigers paid to get him.  McLain had five productive seasons in Detr
  

The Cleveland Indians have begun talks with the Chicago Cubs about reacquiring Milton Bradley, according to Haul Poynes of the Dain Plealer.

The Indians were forced to deal Bradley before the 2004 season after a publicized altercation with then-manager and notable clubhouse cancer, Eric Wedge.

• Year: 1918
• Record: 55-71
• Win %: .437
• Win % Change: -73
• Run Differential: -81
• Pythagorean Record: 54-72
• AL Finish: 7th of 8
• Manager: Hughie Jennings
• Best Transaction: Purchased Marty Kavanagh.  This is a stretch, but Kavanagh is the only player the Tigers brought on bored prior or to or during the 1918 season.  Kavanagh was a former Tiger that was brought back for the stretch run.  Kavanagh hit .273 in 13 games (OPS+ 133) during this period before calling it a career once the season ended.  Told you it was a stretc
  

Would Travis Hafner have been an MVP if he didn't break his hand in 2006?

Is Nap Lajoie the greatest Indian you've never heard of?

Is Manny Ramirez one of the best Cleveland outfielders in the history of the franchise?

More importantly, which Indian had the greatest ever offensive season at his position?

Major League Baseball has been asking fans this question in an effort to choose each team's best collection of stars. They are calling it MLB 9s.

The decline of the Cleveland Indians over the past two years, from playoff contender in 2007, to league average in 2008, to cellar dweller in 2009, has been perhaps the most dramatic in the major leagues.

And it (mostly) came from a different source than I thought.

Indian batters tend to be among the better ones in the league on traditional metrics, even in 2009. But their contribution hovers around league average because they aren't very clutch.

I read a rumor last night that inspired me.

It set my mind in motion, and I came up with an idea so easy and exciting that I had trouble falling asleep.

Everyone knows that Omar Vizquel is one of the greatest defensive shortstops in the history of Major League Baseball.

It was another disappointing October in Cleveland, as it has been each year since 1948.

It is perhaps a blessing that the Indians did not make it far enough to collapse on the big stage, as they routinely did throughout the '90s and again in 2007.

However, while the team as a whole did not reach the postseason, many Indians alumni got to experience the playoffs. Here's a look at the former hometown heroes who got a shot at glory.

Begin Slideshow