The Cleveland Indians are looking to bounce back from an awful 2009 season in which they went 65-97 and finished dead last in the AL Central. The worst season led by Eric Wedge since he took over the team back in 2003 when they were 68-94. The poor 2009 performance led to Wedge being fired during the offseason. He was replaced by Manny Acta.
Acta has not managed a great team, but this year can be different. He spent three years managing the Washington Nationals and his best record was 73-89 in 2007, his first year with the club. His worst came the year after when he went 59-102 and by 2009 he was fired midseason.
The Indians have a young, Cliff Lee-less, pitching rotation this year with long-time Indian Jake Westbrook leading the staff after an injury ridden 2009 season.
Around the diamond, the Indians replaced Ryan Garko, who departed for Seattle, with Russell Branyan. Shin-Soo Choo is serving in the Korean army and may not play this season, and Matt LaPorta is not a definite start at first or in the outfield.
The Indians also have outfielder Michael Brantley who is an up and coming prospect within the organization. He is also challenging for the outfield spot with Matt LaPorta.
Grady Sizemore will bring back his power to the lineup after only playing 106 games and hitting 18 homers with 64 RBI. Travis Hafner also returns and will need to step it up after only playing 94 games last season.
It seems to me that the Indians have a crowded depth chart with multiple people who can play multiple positions. Will it work out in the long-run? It just might, now that Minnesota might lose a big part of their bullpen and the division is usually wide open. Bascially, everyone needs to be healthy for them to capture a division title.
CA: Lou Marson
1B: Matt LaPorta
2B: Luis Valbuena
3B: Jhonny Peralta
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera
LF: Michael Brantley
CF: Grady Sizeore
RF: Shin-Soo Choo
DH: Travis Hafner
SP: Jake Westbrook
SP: Fausto Carmona
SP: Justin Masterson
SP: David Huff
SP: Aaron Laffey
CP: Kerry Wood
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