Welcome to another season of Indians Baseball...

Spring is right around the corner, and that means it’s time once again to gear up for another season of Indians baseball. For the past 10 years digging out that old Omar Vizquel jersey and 1995 American League Champions foam finger has been a subject of more pain than pleasure for the Tribe faithful. After seeing a parade of talented players quickly move their way up through the Cleveland farm system, attain superstardom with the Tribe and just as quickly move on to other organizations, the mood in the “best location in the nation” is a bit glum heading into the 2010 campaign. If the aughts started out like the 1950’s and ended like the 1970’s here in Tribe Town, then the 10’s are shaping up to start like the deep dark 80’s with a very young team of unproven players, an uneven pitching rotation, and financial woes that threaten the team’s hope of contending for the foreseeable future. So as we prepare to don our stocking caps and gloves and head on out to Progressive Field on April 12, let’s take a look at who will be competing for a spot on that lineup in Goodyear during Spring Training. We’ll start this week with the Indians 2010 starting rotation.

And today’s starting pitcher is...... well, we don’t know! There are two things certain going into camp; we have two starting pitchers, and we have a LOT of question marks. Jake Westbrook is likely to enter camp as the number one starter, and unless something drastic happens, he will leave camp as the number one starter as well. Jake last pitched on May 28, 2008 as the number three starter in a rotation with CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Paul Byrd and Fausto Carmona. In the 20 months since then, the rotation that surrounded him has been traded with the lone exception of the potential number two starter, Fausto

Carmona. Westbrook’s return from undergoing Tommy John surgery has been slow and riddled with setbacks. After a good stint in winter ball this off season, the organization is hopeful that he is now healthy enough to handle the load of carrying a pitching staff that is in dire need of a leader.

Carmona’s troubles have been well documented over the last 20 months as well. After finishing 2007 as a runner up for the CY Young award, he has experienced a downward spiral that is nothing short of astonishing. After an abysmal start to the 2009 season, Carmona was demoted to rookie ball in June, and while he had a promising stint at the end of the season his inconsistency over the last two years make him yet another question mark heading into camp.

The other three spots in the rotation will be filled by any combination of the following:

Justin Masterson, whom the Indians acquired in the Victor Martinez deal and seems to be a lock for the third spot in the rotation. He made 10 starts for the Tribe following the deal, and posted a 1-7 record. Perhaps working with the team through spring training will be enough to right the ship, but if Masterson doesn’t pan out there are a host of other arms waiting in the wings to take his place.

Jeremy Sowers, whom the Indians have been touting as a starting pitcher since his promising showing when called up in the second half of 2006. The problem is that Sowers has never been consistent, and is now out of options. So if he’s going to make the team it will be out of spring training, otherwise look for the Tribe to try to move him, or designate him for assignment. They have waited four years for him to develop, and the door may be closing on his opportunity.

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Aaron Laffey had a ping-pong like 2009. He was in and out of the starting rotation early, and did a fine job in the bullpen before injuring himself in May. After returning from the DL, he had an excellent August (3-0) and a horrific September (0-6.) Consistency will be key to him earning the number four or five spot in the rotation.

Mitch Talbot was acquired in the trade that sent Kelly Shoppach to Tampa in December. Talbot spent much of the 2009 season injured with a right-elbow sprain so health is a major concern. The majority of the time that he did play last season was in Tampa’s minor league system. If he can stay healthy through spring training, he may have the stuff to make the number four spot. If not, he could become a factor in the bullpen as well as a long reliever.

David Huff showed a lot of promise in 2009 leading the team to 11 wins in his rookie season. He also had his share of difficulties as well giving up big innings in the second half of the season. As with Laffey, if Huff wants to win a spot in the rotation, he will need to work on his consistency and control to earn a spot in the rotation.

It may be that any combination of these five filling the final three spots in the rotation will not be the solution the Tribe is looking for. That being said, keep an eye to the minors for Carlos Carrasco (acquired in the Cliff Lee deal) and Hector Rondon (a hard throwing fast-baller) who will likely be ready after the All-Star Break to come up and make their mark as well. You cannot rule out the Indians trying to move someone either for a veteran if they somehow stay in contention after the All-Star Break. It will be an interesting camp, and could be a very entertaining one as well as these guys try to prove themselves and earn a spot on the Tribe’s opening day roster. Everyone has something to play for this year!!

Next time we’ll examine the Indians bullpen which looks a bit more promising than the starting rotation!

By Robert Gonzalez
Cleveland Indians Correspondent

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