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Indians camp report
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Cleveland Indians:
1. There is plenty of reason to believe that even in the toughest division in baseball -- the AL Central -- the Indians can win. Start with this: They ranked second in the majors in runs scored last season (868), trailing only the Yankees (930). And their starting pitching's 4.31 ERA ranked third in the AL. That's why general manager Mark Shapiro rounded up bullpen veterans Joe Borowski, Roberto Hernandez, Aaron Fultz and, alas, now-retired Keith Foulke.
2. That bullpen was a huge problem. Indians closers saved a major league low 24 games last season. That total undoubtedly would have been higher had the club chosen to keep Bob Wickman rather than deal him to Atlanta midseason, but after Wickman left, what the Indians learned was that some of their young kids weren't ready yet for the heat. Fausto Carmona, one of Cleveland's top prospects, blew three save opportunities in five days immediately following the Wickman deal and lost five consecutive decisions. Carmona has been moved back to the rotation and he and another top prospect, Adam Miller, are expected to begin the season in the minors -- though both could pitch in the majors this summer depending on how things go with the rotation.
3. The bullpen and shortstop Jhonny Peralta right now are the biggest obstacles between wild success and disappointment for a dangerously talented team. Peralta was disappointing all the way around last year, and his trouble at the plate carried over to his defense. "He's a pivotal guy for this team," Shapiro says. "Because of the position he plays, the year he had last year and our lack of alternatives." The Indians' lone roster question this spring involves a utility middle infielder to back up Peralta, second baseman Josh Barfield and third baseman Andy Marte. Candidates: Joe Inglett, Hector Luna and Luis Rivas. Ability to play shortstop is a prerequisite.
4. Ace C.C. Sabathia's health always is a key. "I think he's in the best shape I can remember him coming to spring training in," Shapiro says. And everybody is looking forward to watching Jeremy Sowers follow up his 7-4, 3.57 ERA season. "Normally you're worried about a guy's sophomore year, but he's such a talent," Shapiro says. "His adjustments aren't game-to-game or even inning-to-inning, but at-bat to at-bat."
5. The Indians are trying to sign Sabathia, slugger Travis Hafner and pitcher Jake Westbrook to multiyear deals this spring. Westbrook is the most pressing because he can be a free agent next winter. Sabathia and Hafner are signed through 2008. If no deals are done by the end of the spring, Shapiro says that the Indians will close talks and then resume them after the season.
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