No one could have ever imagined that a team that lost 94 games last year would win 92 games and clinch a playoff berth this year. Last night might have been gut-wrenching for Indians’ players, coaches, and fans, but the city of Cleveland has a lot to look forward to with this Indians’ ball club.
Cleveland fans may be tired of hearing “just wait till next year” and “there’s always next year”, but for this Indians’ team, the future looks bright, especially next year. With a new manager, coaches, and revamped roster, this year was not supposed to be the Indians’ year. Next year was supposed to be ‘the year for this ball club. In all honesty, the 2013 season was just a bonus for the city of Cleveland.
The fact that the Indians made the playoffs (even if it was only for one game), will make the players and coaches even more hungry to be successful and make the playoffs next season. “This is how you change the culture. You get guys a little taste of what it’s like to play in the playoffs,” Jason Giambi said after last night’s loss. I completely agree with Giambi, now that this ball club has a little taste of what it’s like to be in the playoffs, they will not want to miss the postseason again. This means that they will work harder than ever, improve to be the best they can possibly be, and make moves and pickups to improve this team.
The Indians may lose some key pieces next year – Ubaldo Jimenez, Scott Kazmir, and Chris Perez to free agency and Asdrubal Cabrera could be traded – but next year’s team could quite possibly be better than this year’s ball club.
There are three things the Indians need – a right fielder or third baseman that can be our cleanup hitter, a top of the rotation starting pitcher, and if we lose both Jimenez and Kazmir, another starting pitcher. Hopefully the Indians can bring both Jimenez and Kazmir back in 2014, but at least one of the two would be great. The front office proved last off-season that they are willing to spend a lot of money in order to bring in great talent. Hopefully they will continue that this off-season.
The amount of potential our starting rotation has is incredible. Even if both Jimenez and Kazmir do not return in 2014, the Indians still have Zach McAllister, Corey Kluber, Justin Masterson (unless he becomes our closer), Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin, and Trevor Bauer. That is six pitchers that can be in Cleveland’s rotation and does not include Jimenez, Kazmir, or any starting pitching that the Indians’ sign this off-season. Not only does this show that the front office has a lot to work with, but also that this ball club has a tremendous amount of depth at the starting pitcher position.
With Perez most likely not returning in 2014, the Indians’ bullpen will most likely look much different in 2014. Joe Smith has said that he wants to return to Cleveland in 2014, but it will be interesting to see if the front office re-signs him this off-season. With the loss off Perez (most likely), I hope the bullpen does not also lose Smith to free agency. Perez may have struggled for most of the year, but the bullpen cannot afford to lose both Perez and Smith.
Besides a top of the rotation starting pitcher, Cleveland’s biggest need this off-season is a right-handed power bat that can be a legitimate cleanup hitter and plays either third base or right field. This player can be picked up either through free agency (Nelson Cruz for example) or through a trade. If this legitimate cleanup hitter is picked up through a trade, I see Cabrera, Lonnie Chisenhall, and/or Drew Stubbs being traded. Obviously, if the player the Indians trade for is a third baseman, Chisenhall will most likely be included in the trade; if the player is a right fielder, Stubbs will most likely be included in the trade. I see Cabrera being traded this off-season because of the fact that he is a free agent after the 2014 season. The Indians will most likely not be able to re-sign him, so I see them trading Cabrera this off-season or at the trade deadline during the next season, at the very latest. Also, with his performance this season, Mike Aviles would be just fine stepping in and starting at shortstop until Francisco Lindor (Indians’ top prospect) is ready for the big leagues, if in fact Cabrera is traded.
The Indians’ core group of position players – Yan Gomes, Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Michael Bourn, and Carlos Santana (along with Aviles and maybe even Giambi on the bench) – Cleveland fans have a lot to look forward to with this offense. Add a good cleanup hitter to that core group and the Indians’ can have a very good lineup in 2014.
Looking at the numbers, Swisher, Kipnis, Santana, and Bourn all struggled this year in comparison to their career numbers (for the most part). Imagine how much better Cleveland’s offense could be next year if not only the Indians add a bat or two, but if the core group of position players improve their numbers.
At least for last night, the city of Cleveland felt like a Tribe Town. It was amazing to see a sold out Progressive Field (or a stadium that some people call ‘The Jake’). I hope this carries over into next season.
With a little taste of the 2013 postseason, Cleveland has a lot to look forward to with this Indians’ team. The future is bright in Cleveland! Can’t wait until the 2014 season!
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2013 statistics:
Hitting
Mike Aviles – 91/361 (.252), 9 HRs, 46 RBIs, 54 runs, 41/15 K/BB
Michael Bourn – 138/525 (.263), 6 HRs, 50 RBIs, 75 runs, 132/40 K/BB, 23 SBs
Michael Brantley – 158/556 (.284), 10 HRs, 73 RBIs, 66 runs, 67/40 K/BB, 17 SBs
Asdrubal Cabrera – 123/508 (.242), 14 HRs, 64 RBIs, 66 runs, 114/35 K/BB, 9 SBs
Lonnie Chisenhall – 65/289 (.225), 11 HRs, 36 RBIs, 30 runs, 56/16 K/BB
Jason Giambi – 34/186 (.183), 9 HRs, 31 RBIs, 21 runs, 56/23 K/BB
Yan Gomes – 86/293 (.294), 11 HRs, 38 RBIs, 45 runs, 67/18 K/BB
Jason Kipnis – 160/564 (.284), 17 HRs, 84 RBIs, 86 runs, 143/76 K/BB, 30 SBs
Ryan Raburn – 66/243 (.272), 16 HRs, 55 RBIs, 40 runs, 67/29 K/BB
Carlos Santana – 145/541 (.268), 20 HRs, 74 RBIs, 75 runs, 110/93 K/BB
Drew Stubbs – 100/430 (.233), 10 HRs, 45 RBIs, 59 runs, 141/44 K/BB
Nick Swisher – 135/549 (.246), 22 HRs, 63 RBIs, 74 runs, 138/77 K/BB
Pitching
Bryan Shaw – 7-3, 75 IP, 3.24 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Carlos Carrasco – 1-4, 46.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 1.76 WHIP
Chris Perez – 5-3, 54 IP, 4.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 25/30 saves converted
Cody Allen – 6-1, 70.1 IP, 2.43 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2/4 saves converted
Corey Kluber – 11-5, 147.1 IP, 3.85 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Danny Salazar – 2-3, 52 IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
Joe Smith – 6-2, 63 IP, 2.29 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 3/8 saves converted
Justin Masterson – 14-10, 193 IP, 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Marc Rzepczynski – 0-0, 30.2 IP, 3.23 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
Matt Albers – 3-1, 63 IP, 3.14 ERA, 1.27 WHIP
Nick Hagadone – 0-1, 31.1 IP, 5.46 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
Rich Hill – 1-2, 38.2 IP, 6.28 ERA, 1.73 WHIP
Scott Kazmir – 10-9, 158 IP, 4.04 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
Trevor Bauer – 1-2, 17 IP, 5.29 ERA, 1.82 WHIP
Ubaldo Jimenez – 13-9, 182.2 IP, 3.30 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
Vinnie Pestano – 1-2, 35.1 IP, 4.08 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 6/9 saves converted
Zach McAllister – 9-9, 134.1 IP, 3.75 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
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