CLEVELAND INDIANS

The Indians finished 2011 with a 80-82 record, 15 games off the pace. That is just under ‘mediocre’ and they are a decent team. As a team their stats reflect their finish: 16^th in runs scored, 18^th in batting average, their on base percentage was 17^th in the league and their slugging percentage was 16^th.

The Free Agent market saw them re-sign Grady Sizemore for 1 year and $5 Million and Jim Thome sign with Philadelphia. Meanwhile they signed Casey Kotchman: a lifetime .268 BA with 59HR’s and 332 RBI’s and a .336 on base percentage, who had a better than average year for himself in 2011, batting .306 with 10 HR’s and 48 RBI’s and a .378 OBP for Tampa Bay. It was a very quiet winter for the Indians in the player market.

Justin Masterson

If there was a part of the equation that did not live up to mediocrity, it was the pitching. The team finished 23^rd in ERA, 17^th in quality starts, 23^rd in BAA. Justin Masterson was definitely the ace of the staff, but only 12 wins, a 3.21 ERA and 158 K’s, clearly a #2 starter for most winning teams.

Without any movement on the free agent market this winter, you can’t expect the Indians to move up on Detroit. They may have some difficulty holding on to 2^nd place in the Central Division of the American League.