Tag Archives: Nick Swisher

2015 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians

Cleveland have back-to-back winning records under manager Terry Francona. We expected him to improve the team, but didn’t expect it at this rate.

The AL Central produced two playoff teams in 2014. The Tigers won the division, but it was the Royals that made the most noise. They lost to the Giants in the World Series. The Indians were only three games out of the final Wild Card spot.

The Indians were quiet this offseason. Their only marquee acquisition was trading for Brandon Moss. They come into 2015 with nearly the same squad that went 85-77.

Can Cleveland starting rotation overachieve or will they be in trouble?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Cleveland Indians.

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2014 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians

Did anyone see the Cleveland Indians making the playoffs last season? If you did, you were either on drugs or had too many Great Lakes Christmas Ales. We all knew the Detroit Tigers would win the division and Minnesota would be in the basement. The Indians, Royals and White Sox were all interchangeable. No team was expected to beat out any AL West or AL East team for a Wild-Card spot.

New manager Terry Francona had a chip on his shoulder for the way things ended in Boston. He turned things around in a hurry, but did things happen too fast?

Front offices get playoff drunk and make poor decisions. Once a team makes the playoffs after a drought, they assume they’ll be playing in October every year. If they fail to make the playoffs this season, would Francona be on the hot seat?

Can a starting rotation with Justin Masterson as their #1 starter, be taken seriously? Will John Axford last the entire season as their closer?

Here is the 2014 MLB season preview for the Cleveland Indians.

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2013 MLB Team Preview: Cleveland Indians

All the familiar faces are gone in Cleveland. You won’t find Grady Sizemore stealing the hearts of women in the stands, Travis Hafner selling Pronk Bars while on the disabled list or ~~Fausto Carmona~~, I mean Roberto Hernandez trying to find a new identity.

Terry Francona is the new major for the Cleveland Indians. He brings baggage from how his Red Sox tenure ended…and Daisuke Matsuzaka. He doesn’t have as much pressure on him to succeed, which will be something new for him.

Will high priced free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn produce in their first season with the Tribe?

Will Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera lead the Indians to an improbable playoff berth?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Cleveland Indians. Continue reading →