The Shape of Things to Come

Last season in Northern Ohio was tough, really tough.  At the beginning of April I remember I zealously predicted our Cleveland Indians to lose in the 7th game of the ALCS this year and then win it all in 2010.  But then the season began..... The Indians slipped to 0-3, then 1-7, and even further to 14-26.  I swore them off and despite brief glimmers of hope (the four game sweep of the Rays at the end of May and the 3 straight series wins culminating in Cliff Lee's gem on ESPN against the Cards) the Indians' season effectively ended with Prince Fielder's grand slam off of Rafael Perez on June 15th.  The Tribe played like garbage for a month and a half and chose to enter full rebuild mode when they traded DeRosa, Betancourt, Garko, Lee, Martinez and Pavano.  August brought hope for a brighter tomorrow with encouraging play, but September was atrocious and Michael Brantley's debut represented about the sole bright spot.

Sigh, the 2009 season will forever infamously stand with 1987 as one of the tribe's most disappointing seasons.  However, not all is lost.  The Indians still have an impressive, young offensive core built around Sizemore, Choo, Cabrera and LaPorta.  The Tribe's pitching is less shiny, but there's talent there too and incredible depth in the farm system.  Let's take a quick look at the state of affairs in the Indians organization as a whole. 

"The Young Core"                   

CF Grady Sizemore

SS Asdrubal Cabrera

RF Shin-Soo Choo

OF/1B Matt LaPorta

2B Luis Valbuena

SP Aaron Laffey

SP Justin Masterson

SP David Huff

SP Fausto Carmona (maybe)

RP Chris Perez

RP Tony Sipp

"Veterans"

SP Jake Westbrook

RP Kerry Wood

DH Travis Hafner

3B Jhonny Peralta

Note: I didn't add players to this list like Jeremy Sowers and Andy Marte who are at best decent role players.

As for the farm system, here are my top 20 (approx. expected arrival):

1. Carlos Santana-C (2010)

2. Lonnie Chisenhall-3B (2011)

3. Hector Rondon-RHP (2010)

4. Nick Hagadone-LHP (2011)

5. Michael Brantley-OF (2010)

6. Carlos Carrasco-RHP (2010)

7. Nick Weglarz-OF (2011-2012)

8. Jason Knapp-RHP (2012-2013)

9. TJ House-LHP (2012-2013)

10. Alexander Perez-LHP (2012-2013)

11. Alex White-RHP (2011)

12. Lou Marson-C (2010)

13. Jeanmar Gomez-RHP (2011)

14. Jason Kipnis-OF (2011)

15. Jess Todd-RHP (2010)

16. Bryan Price-RHP (2012)

17. Connor Graham-RHP (2010)

18. Eric Berger-LHP (2011)

19. Zach Putnam-RHP (2010)

20. Abner Abreu-3B/OF (2012-2013)

21. Chen-Chang Lee-RHP (2011-2012)

22. Beau Mills-1B (2011)

23. Jason Donald-2B/SS (2010)

24. Scott Barnes-LHP (2011)

25. Clayton Cook-RHP (2012-2013)

Other notables: LHP Kelvin de la Cruz, RHP Rob Bryson, RHP Yohan Pino, SS Carlos Rivero, 3B Matt McBride, OF Tim Fedroff, RHP Josh Judy, 2B Cord Phelps... etc (incredible depth here).

Here are a couple links from Project Prospect, one of my favorite prospect sites, with some goodies about the tribe's farm system in the rankings and chats (http://www.projectprospect.com/article/2009/09/01/top-25-position-prospects)

(http://www.projectprospect.com/article/2009/10/01/top-25-pitching-prospects)

The Indians are already fairly strong hitting-wise topside with the big question being "Who's pitching?"  Well, there seem to be definitive waves of arms on the way and hopefully Shapiro knows what he's doing.  Playoffs in 2011 and a World Series contender in 2012?  Maybe if these arms turn out....

Now I'm left to hope either John Farrell or Bobby Valentine becomes the next manager of this ballclub to lead us to greener pastures.

Your pal,

Alex Trebek

PS: Follow me on twitter: "trebek90"