View The MLB Cappers Leaderboard For 2009 \u00a0– Picks Packages for 2010 On Sale Now! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/p>\n Hard to believe the Cleveland Indians won the American League Central as recently as 2007. Over the last two years, they\u2019ve morphed into a shadow of that team. Many of the same players that made the 2007 group so promising are actually still with the organization, but injuries or lack of development have totally halted the Tribe. That and the departures of two guys named C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Ever heard of \u2019em? <\/p>\n It\u2019s a downright eerie feeling looking up and down the Indians\u2019 order. So many of the same guys that got us excited a few years ago have become question marks. Both Asdrubal Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta projected as potential All-Star infielders; instead, every time one of them takes a step forward, he follows with two steps backward. Peralta hit .276 with 23 homers in 2008 but regressed to .254 with 11 homers last year. <\/p>\n Travis Hafner once stood beside David Ortiz as one of baseball\u2019s two most feared designated hitters. Now, after numerous elbow injuries, his power seems to be fading away. <\/p>\n Grady Sizemore was nowhere near his All-Star self last season, battling elbow problems until surgery derailed him, but he\u2019s much more likely than the other former Cleveland stalwarts to rebound. Sizemore is still just 27 and is an elite talent. He also still could get better help in the lineup this year than last. Shin Choo-Choo quietly hit .300 with 20 homers, 21 steals and a .394 on-base percentage. If he can keep up that production with a healthy Sizemore into the lineup, he could drive in 100 this year. <\/p>\n Russell Branyan returns to Cleveland, where he started his career. While his 31-homer outburst last year wasn\u2019t a total fluke \u2013 we all knew he had that type of power \u2013 his 431 at-bats with the Mariners were. Given his brutal plate discipline, he\u2019ll be hard-pressed to remain a regular. The real key to Cleveland\u2019s improvement this year is Matt LaPorta. The key prize in the C.C. Sabathia trade to Milwaukee in 2008, he\u2019s their top power prospect and the Tribe still believe he can be their cleanup hitter for years to come. <\/p>\n Cleveland\u2019s pitching staff could be a train wreck this year. It\u2019s \u201canchored\u201d by Jake Westbrook, a long-time vet who has barely pitched the last two seasons thanks to Tommy John surgery. There\u2019s no guarantee that he\u2019ll ever be an effective innings eater again considering he\u2019s already 32 years old. That leaves Sinkerballer Fausto Carmona, who has been positively awful since winning 19 games as a rookie; youngster David Huff, who didn\u2019t miss bats in his rookie season but did go 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in September; Aaron Laffey, who can\u2019t overpower anyone; and Justin Masterson. Only Masterson, who posted a good strikeout rate over 10 starts with the Indians last year, has the upside of a No. 2 starter. <\/p>\n In Kerry Wood, Chris Perez and Rafael Perez, the Indians should have a good bullpen on paper, but Rafael Perez fell off the face of the Earth last year and Wood struggled mightily in the first half. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see Wood dealt at the trade deadline. <\/p>\n The American League Central isn\u2019t one of baseball\u2019s best divisions; it may actually be among the worst. But the Twins, Tigers and White Sox still have more talent than Cleveland, especially on the pitching side. I therefore can\u2019t see the Tribe being too competitive this season, even if Sizemore stays healthy. <\/p>\n Did I mention that the Indians hired Manny Acta \u2013 yes, the Manny Acta who managed Washington \u2013 to run the show this year? Gulp.<\/p>\nMLB Team Preview \u2013 Cleveland Indians<\/h3>\n
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