How We View
It
Mr. Baseball
Tribe Talk Senior
Editor
April 1,
2005 Finally the spring
training boredom is over and the regular season is about
to commence. A look ahead to the tribe and AL and NL
predictions. The tribe will graded on each position
based on the star tof the year.
CATCHER: Grade:
Solid B
VM and Bard may be the best 1-2 catching duo
in baseball.
DH: Grade: B+
Hafner can be the
best DH in league this year and make the all-star
team.
1B: Grade B-
The defense is no problem.
What remains to be seen is if Ben can avoid early season
numbers slump. If he can, a dependable late inning
hitteramong the best in the league.
2B: Grade
C+
RB shoulld provide better second half stats with
more time off. His range is not among the best but he
provides help to Perlata with his dazzling work on the
pivot.
SS: Grade: C-
No one has it harder this
year than Peralta. He has to replace a legend
defensively and also attempt to show he can hit major
league pitching in his firstyear as a
starter.
3B: Grade: B-
Boone will be watched
closely to see what his knee will do after playing a few
games in a row. A healthy Boone is so valuable to this
team this year.
OF: Grade: C
Blake appears to
have easily moved into OF spot. The arm is sound and his
fielding awareness are not a problem. Coco can run down
to long fly ball but the arm is average. He has a lot of
pressure being the lead-off hitter. Grady is the new kid
on the block and with an impressive start can keep Juan
on the DL or even have him unemployed. Ludwick brings a
power bat off the bench and any drop from Coco or Grady
and he becomes a starter. Juan...well time will tell his
fate with this team....
BENCH: Grade:B
So much
better than the last two years. Hernandez fills a
valuable sopt with playing seven positions. Cora may
even become a starter if Belliard or Perlata faulter
along the way.
CLOSER: Grade C
A lot riding
on Wickman right from the start. Can he go the whole
year? Who gets the call if he gets injured? Many
questions about this spot.....
BULLPEN: Grade
C+
Night and Day difference in the bullpen between
last year and this year. Are any of the pen from last
year with tribe and not with them this year even on a
roster? This huge improvement shoud enable the tribe to
stay close to the top in the early season unlike last
year.
STARTERS: B-
If healthy, the starting
five has much potential. One has to wonder just how long
tribe stays with Lee if he has trouble in the early
innings of a game. Tallet is ready in case Lee is
demoted. Millwood and CC we all know about. Westbrook
could be the ace of the staff when all is said and done.
Elarton had the best spring but lets wait on Cy Younbg
proclomations until the end of May with him. Davis solid
as starter and long relief based on his
spring.
MANAGER: B-
Wedge has quietly had
to get to know this team and how all the parts fit. This
is the season he has to show he can take this team to
another level. A terrible start into June could mean his
firing. Hopefully, Wedge can handle the line-up changes
to take this team to a division crown.
I see
the Twins and the tribe going to a one game division
playoff. Whoever gets home field will win the game. So
right now it is too close to call on who wins division.
No wild card from the Central.
AL EAST: Red Sox,
Yanks, Blue Jays, Orioles, Tampa Bay
AL WEST: Angels,
Rangers, Seattle, A's
AL WILCARD: Yanks
NL
EAST: Phillies, Marlins, Braves, Mets, Nationals
NL
CENTRAL: Cubs, Cards, Astros, Reds, Pirates,
Brewers
NL WEST: Padres, Giants, Dodgers,
Diamondbacks, Rockies
NL WILDCARD: Marlins
WS:
Angels vs. Cubs
WS WINNER: CUBS (About
time!!) | |
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VMART Signs Long Term
Deal
Cleveland,
OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland
Indians have scheduled an afternoon news conference for
Tuesday at which time they are expected to lock up
catcher Victor Martinez to a multiyear contract.
The
Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the news conference
will be held at the Westin Chicago. Cleveland is in the
Windy City as part of a three-game season-opening series
with the White Sox that resumes on Wednesday.
Martinez,
who had one of the Tribe's two hits in Monday's 1-0
loss, has been negotiating a new deal since the end of
last year following his breakout 2004 campaign.
In his first
full season in the majors, the 26-year-old backstop
appeared in 141 games and batted .283 with 23 home runs
and 108 RBI, while appearing in his first All-Star Game.
Martinez,
who set a new club record for runs batted in by a
catcher, led major league catchers in home runs and RBI.
His 23 homers were also one shy of Roberto Alomar's club
record for a switch hitter.
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AL
Central: Predictions
Twins 4 In A
Row?
Wahoo
Tribe
Talk Editor & Chief
March 15,
2005
 1. Twins- 90-72:::
The 2005 Twins have the best pitching they have had
in 3 years. The question mark once again is there
offense. They Lost Corey Koskie and Christian
Guzman. We expect Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau to take
charge of this Twins Offense. Joe Mauer has yet to prove
anything but from what we have heard; he is a special
player. Good team. 4 In A Row.
 Indians- 88-74::: Finally a Team
Indians fans can be happy with. No more trashing Marc
Shapiro. This is by far the best offensive team
Cleveland has seen since the "Glory Years" This team is
almost a carbon copy of the 94' Ballclub. A solid
Offense with a balanced pitching staff. For this team to
win the division the top 3 in the rotation must be .500
or better with at least 10 wins. Cliff Lee and Scott
Elarton must stay solid. Lee started 10-1 but fell off
and Elarton was 3-3 with the Indians despite having some
20 losses coming in from 2003. Bob Wickman must save
games the way he did last year. And Riske, Rhodes, and
Howry must step it up. 2nd place but
most definately can win
this division.
 White Sox-85-77::: They are good. Best
pitching in awhile. Great Pitching Staff and bullpen.
But they did unload the very solid offensive machine:
Carlos Lee. He led this ballclub in most Offensive
Categories. They also let go Jose Valentin; whether you
like it or not he hit a lot of homers; including 3 game
winners against the Indians. Maggs is gone as well.
There offense isn't better than last year. There
pitching keeps them in the race. Finish 3rd.
 Tigers- 78-84::: Great Team From Top
To Bottom. But Not Solid like the top 3 teams possess in
certain categories. They have a nice young rotation. But
not really anyone pops out as a dominate pitcher. In
2005 you need a pitcher to step up to lead the team in
the Cental, and to tell you the truth, we aren't sure
who it will be. There offense isn't a problem. They
aren't as powerful as the Indians but they are right up
there. Not 2005. 2006 This team will be very good. So
will the Indians. The power of the division will begin
shifting to the two eastern teams of the central in
the coming years. Finish 4th but may be good enough to
get to .500 or better. May contend through August before
they fall off.
 Royals- 62-100::: Greinke is really
good. Any team would love to have him and this man will
lead this ballclub. They have a lot of new players
coming in. This team is rebuilding an has at least 3
years before they prove to the MLB They can compete.
Berroa will again prove to be good. Not much more to say
but they will be
last.
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