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**Kitty** · 03-14-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

The Indians hope that two key additions can build upon their productive 2008 campaigns and fill gaping holes in last year's team -- which, in case you didn't notice, had one of the best second-half records in baseball (40-28 after the All-Star break).

The Indians traded for Mark DeRosa to be their third baseman, but he should make a nice upgrade in their lineup as well. Manager Eric Wedge has indicated DeRosa will likely bat second behind Grady Sizemore. Hitting second will be a great opportunity for him to see some pitches to hit and set the table for the meat of their batting order, especially if Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez return to their dangerous ways.

In any case, DeRosa should be a substantial upgrade from Jamey Carroll, Dave Dellucci and Franklin Gutierrez, a trio that ranked among the league's worst in every hitting category in the No. 2 slot in the lineup.

DeRosa should dramatically improve the top of the lineup and provide more RBI opportunities for the heart of the order if he can maintain the plate discipline and ability to hit fastballs that he exhibited last year. His two-strike chase percentage suggests he'll punch out less often than his predecessors.

If you were to look how newly acquired closer Kerry Wood's opponents fare with two strikes, you'd see that they'd have practically no shot of getting a hit. In fact, batters against Wood hit only .107 after strike two is called. But that's expected for a knockout closer.

That's because he's a strikeout pitcher, and unless he's capable of hypnotizing the umpire, it's impossible to strike a guy out without first notching a two-strike count. So we'd expect most strikeout artists to be especially good at retiring the batter swiftly after two strikes.

What's more important for Wood is whether the first pitch is a strike or a ball. Sure, he's outstanding at striking out batters in general, but it's especially true when he goes up 0-1 on the batter.

As it turns out, last year's major league pitchers, on average, decreased their opponents' batting average on balls in play by .014 when they started off with a strike as opposed to a ball -- but Wood's spread is about seven times as wide as the average pitcher's.

Hitters had a scorching .379 batting average on balls in play after he threw a ball on the first pitch and just a .284 batting average after a first-pitch strike. (For those familiar with BABIP, this average is BABIP but with home runs included.) That 95-point difference illustrates how important it is for Kerry Wood to get ahead of the batter -- his pitches are considerably more hittable when he falls behind.

In sum, it's especially important for Wood to get ahead in the count for two reasons: Hitters who don't strike out crush him after a first-pitch ball, and he strikes out his opponents by much wider margin when he goes up 0-1.

MLB - Spring Training - 30 Teams in 30 Days - Two new faces should drive Tribe - ESPN

ksow45 · 03-15-2009, 09:56 AM

I think the key to the Indians season will be on the shoulders of the two players we signed to contract extensions in 2007. Even if Hafner isn't the 40 homerun guy he was in 2006 we need him to be the patient .300 hitter he was in 04-06. If he can just drive in runs, hit singles, and again we'll only need 25ish out of him.

The other key will be Westbrook getting back by mid season and hopefully adding some stability to our rotation. I thought that last year he was going to have a great year after not giving up a single run during spring training. However the injuries hurt him and getting him mid season is like trading for a #2 starter mid season without giving up an absolute thing.

The Guru · 03-15-2009, 09:23 PM

I predict this order of finish in the AL Central:
Twins-85 Wins
Royals-80 Wins
Indians-78 Wins
White Sox-74 Wins
Tigers-73 Wins

ksow45 · 03-16-2009, 07:04 PM

Those are some pretty bold predictions.

Its probably my homerism but I feel that if the Indians were an 81 win team without Victor, Pronk, and Carmona for most of the year so IMO I think they and the Twins are the only teams in the Central who could win 90 games.

I don't understand what is with the the love fest with the Royals lately. If anything they hurt they're bullpen and added two average offensive players. Granted Alex Gordon and Billy Butler may speed up their development but having seen them quite a bit last year I can't see them finishing above the Indians.

The Twins have the best all around rotation in the Central but they take a hit if Mauer misses anytime. They also have some good young position players who could develop.

**[DRAGON]** · 03-16-2009, 07:12 PM

I want to say that the Indians can end higher than the Royals this season, maybe not the Twins. But who knows they can have a miracle season and just take the division. I miss seeing the Indians in the playoffs.

The Guru · 03-16-2009, 10:09 PM

I am high on the Royals because I think they will be like the Rays. Not as far as the WS but above .500

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