Post by Dale on Jan 24, 2024 12:36:04 GMT -5
2009 is a year that Cleveland Indian fans will long remember. For the first time in fifteen seasons the Tribe finished the season above the .500 mark in wins and losses. For only the third time in the club’s 56 year history, Cleveland won over 100 games, 102 to be exact. It’s a total that has never been surpassed in Indian history.
The team’s General Manager has long fought both the Indian’s lack of fan support and player’s dislike of playing for losing teams. Throughout the years, first round draft picks have honed their tools in Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium only to test their value in the free market. Free Agents frequently refuse to talk with Indian negotiators, either stating a desire to play for a winning team (not Cleveland) or rudely telling management that they just don’t like the Cleveland organization.
This season the Indians came off the reservation to challenge the weaponized Detroit club and the surprising pitching rich White Sox for the American League’s Central Division title. Here are the primary reasons for Cleveland’s surprising season:
Reason #5 – Trades
During the offseason, Cleveland spent the future by trading its 1st Round Picks and 2nd Round Picks in both the 2009 and 2010 Amateur Drafts for bats and arms. Coming to Cleveland before the season began were:
C/1B Victor Martinez. He produced 33 HR - 111 RBI - .878 OPS
1B/OF Trot Nixon. 19 HR – 75 RBI - .715 OPS
SP Chris Carpenter provided 272 IP, going 14-11 with a 3.11 ERA
SP Kelvim Escobar twirled 251 IP, laying down a 20-7 record with a 2.84 ERA
During mid-season, slugging Pat Burrell joined the team to finish the year with 32 HR – 113 RBI - .859 OPS
Reason # 4– Player Development
First Round Draft Picks from the previous several years blossomed into legitimate major leaguers.
3B/CF Ryan Zimmerman became a brilliant hitter and improved his brilliant HR power
2B Carlos Gonzalez displayed brilliant batting skills
Starting Pitchers Jon Lester (17-7) and Edwin Jackson (17-4) both showed off their brilliant ability to miss bats with the strikeout pitch and to produce easy outs on batted balls
Reason #3 – Veteran Production
MR Ricky Stone (4-0, 2.10) and MR Antonio Osuna (6-1, 2.84) propped up the bullpen while veteran SS Hank Blalock (15 HR, 64 RBI, .288 BA) and OF/DH Adam Dunn (31 HR, 95 RBI) contributed experience and run production from their respective positions.
Reason #2 – The Closer Role
After two woeful starts at the beginning of the season, Cha Seung Baek was moved into the closer spot. He performed better than expected. His brilliant ability to avoid hits, his brilliance in avoiding bases on balls, and his brilliant strikeout pitch make him a solid game ender. Take away his two starting appearances in which he was rocked for 11 earned runs in less than 7 innings, and his season numbers of 5 wins and 30 saves with a 3.66 ERA and more than 9 strikeouts per 9 innings and less than 1.5 walks per 9 become more impressive. Look for big things from Baek next season.
Reason #1 – The Opposition
Minnesota is tanking.
Kansas City is tanking.
Martinez, Nixon, and Carpenter came from KC. If the Royals weren’t rebuilding, those players wouldn’t have been available to the Indians.
With Minny and KC intentionally sinking to the bottom of the Central tank, the water displacement floated Cleveland up in the standings and up in the win column. The Tribe may have one more shot at the top of the pile in 2010, but it’s only a matter of time until Minnesota and Kansas City quit holding their breath and swim back to the surface to join Chicago and the Tigers in the AL Central hunt for the flag.
In the meantime, Cleveland rocks!
