At the start of training camp there were only three spots open on the Opening Day roster as the Indians chose to basically stand pat, coming off their 96-win and division championship from last year. The Indians believe their pitching should be a strength this year, as it was in 2007. They bring back all of their key pitchers from a year ago as well as their entire lineup. The only question marks offensively will be how second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera and right fielder Franklin Gutierrez handle their first full season in the majors. Both players became regulars at midseason a year ago, and both will undoubtedly have to make adjustments this year to counter the adjustments they see from opposing pitchers.

ROTATION:

1. LHP C.C. Sabathia

2. RHP Fausto Carmona

3. RHP Jake Westbrook

4. RHP Paul Byrd

5. LHP Cliff Lee

This should be one of the top rotations in the league. Sabathia is the reigning Cy Young Award winner and, like Carmona, was a 19-game winner last year. Westbrook had an off year, mostly because of a six-week interruption caused by an abdominal strain, but when healthy Westbrook is good for 14-15 wins and 200 innings. He reached those totals every year from 2004 to '06.

Byrd quietly won 15 games a year ago, and Lee has seemingly reclaimed the spot in the rotation he lost last year even though fellow lefties Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey put up a spirited fight for that lone opening in the rotation.

BULLPEN:

RHP Joe Borowski (closer)

RHP Rafael Betancourt

RHP Masa Kobayashi

LHP Rafael Perez

RHP Jensen Lewis

RHP Jorge Julio

LHP Craig Breslow

By the end of last season the Indians' bullpen might have been the deepest in the majors, anchored by Borowski, who led the American League with 45 saves. Betancourt might have been the best setup man in the majors, posting a 1.47 ERA and 5-1 record in his 68 appearances. The Indians' bullpen depth was further strengthened by the signing of Kobayashi to a two-year, $6.25 million contract. Kobayashi also has closing experience, having saved 20 or more games in seven straight years in Japan.

Perez and Lewis had breakout seasons last year as rookies, forming a dynamite middle-relief duo. Perez was almost unhittable, posting a 1.78 ERA in 44 appearances while holding left-handed hitters to a microscopic .145 average. Breslow was a late-spring replacement for LHP Aaron Fultz. Julio went into the last week of camp battling RHP Tom Mastny and RHP Scott Elarton for the last spot in the 'pen.

LINEUP:

1. CF Grady Sizemore

2. 2B Asdrubal Cabrera

3. DH Travis Hafner

4. C Victor Martinez

5. 1B Ryan Garko

6. SS Jhonny Peralta

7. LF David Dellucci/Jason Michaels

8. RF Franklin Gutierrez

9. 3B Casey Blake

Manager Eric Wedge might tinker with the No. 2 spot, perhaps putting OF Jason Michaels there when he starts against left-handed pitchers. Michaels and the left-handed hitting Dellucci will form a left field platoon. Sizemore is the quintessential leadoff man, with his lethal package of power and speed. Hafner is hoping to bounce back from what was a down year for him even though he still drove in 100 runs.

Martinez is the best hitter on the team and will occasionally see some playing time at first base. Backup C Kelly Shoppach will play on those days, which typically are when RHP Paul Byrd is the starting pitcher. Blake can hit anywhere in the lineup, but Wedge says he likes having Blake's power at the bottom.

RESERVES:

C Kelly Shoppach

INF Jamey Carroll

INF Andy Marte

OF Jason Michaels/David Dellucci

Shoppach, a better defensive catcher than starter Victor Martinez, evolved into RHP Paul Byrd's personal catcher last year, an arrangement that is expected to continue. That means Shoppach figures to start about every fifth day. Carroll was acquired in a trade with Colorado during the offseason and will back up the middle-infield positions.

Marte was expected to be kept as a utility man, mostly because he is out of minor league options. He will back up the corner infield spots. The right-handed hitting Michaels is one-half of the left field platoon with Dellucci and will start against left-handed pitching.

ROOKIE WATCH: RHP Adam Miller, the organization's top prospect, missed much of camp because of a blister on his finger. He will start the season in the rotation at Class AAA Buffalo and could be an option at the big-league level in either the rotation or bullpen. OF Ben Francisco, who led the International League in hitting last year with a .318 average at Buffalo, could be the first position player call-up from Buffalo.

MEDICAL WATCH:

OF David Dellucci (hand) was sidelined late in camp with an unspecified injury that could force him to start the season on the disabled list.

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