Next week, baseball is conducting their annual winter meetings in Indianapolis. It’s the highlight of the hot stove season, and gets every baseball fan anxious for the start of the following season.
Back in the day, the interleague trading deadline came at the end of the meetings, meaning there normally were a flurry of trades as the meetings came to a close. Now, the activity is more groundwork being done on possible free agent signings.
It doesn’t appear the Cleveland Indians will be active at the meetings, so maybe they could save money by not sending a contingent. That seems to be what all moves made by the club seem to be geared to.
What is odd to fans is the seemingly defeatist attitude by the organization toward 2010, even though they are in the AL Central, a division where a team can easily move from the bottom to the top with a few key moves.
Instead the ownership and front office seem resigned to a “rebuilding” campaign.
If they would make an effort to get some reliable starting pitching (sorry, Jake Westbrook, you don’t fit in that category), they might just be able to contend next year.
No, I’m not kidding.
Why? First of all, the Indians had a decent offense last season, ranking 8th in the AL in runs scored. That was without a healthy Grady Sizemore for most of the season. You have to believe that a healthy Sizemore would have greatly helped the Tribe attack in 2009.
The reason for the team’s 65-97 record last season was the pitching, which ranked second to last in the league in ERA. Both the starting (except for Cliff Lee) and the relief pitching were not up to par. By improving the pitching staff, the Indians have a chance to contend next season.
Instead, the ballclub seems intent on the wish and hope method of building a team. They are hoping guys like David Huff and Justin Masterson continue to make strides, hope Fausto Carmona gets back to 2007 form, or close to it, and hope Westbrook recovers from Tommy John surgery.
That’s a lot of finger crossing.
Maybe GM Mark Shapiro will surprise us and come up with a reliable, proven starter for the rotation. They aren’t going to be a player for the best starter on the market in John Lackey, but there are guys out there how can provide steady work and eat up innings. Guys who are average major league pitchers.
Right now, I think the Cleveland Indians are satisfied to sit out the 2010 pennant race. That’s why their fans should be unhappy.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 