» Choo

Today feels like Christmas Eve for me. Knowing tomorrow is the season opener, I’m like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus to come bring me my presents. I have my tv set to MLB Network and even though I’m not a Phillies or a Braves fan, I’ll be watching tonights game. That game is my present I get to open on Christmas Eve.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day for the Tribe. They open their season in Texas, then they come back to Cleveland for a weekend before they are back on the road.  The first week of the season usually does not forecast the Indians season, at least not for the past few years. In 06, the Indians opened up the season on a hot streak and then fell hard the rest of the season. The 07 season, the Tribe started the season average and ended up winning the Division and last year, they started the season by winning the series against the White Sox and then fell after that. So don’t expect to know how the Indians will be the remainder of the season after the first 2 series against the Rangers and the Jays.

On Saturday, the Indians finalized their 25 man roster with the usualy 12 pitchers, 13 position players. With the versatility of some of the players being able to play both the infield and outfield, the Indians chose to go with only 4 regular outfielders – Sizemore, Francisco, Choo and Crowe. The surprising man to make the 25 man roster would had to have been Josh Barfield. With the addition of Barfield to the roster, that leaves the Indians with Carroll, Garko, Cabrera, Peralta, DeRosa and Barfield for the Infield.

The 2009 season is expected to be a good one for the Indians and lets just hope they don’t crack under the pressure like they did in both the 06 and 08 seasons.

I know spring training is a time to try  new things, to find the best player for the right position, to form the best line up, etc. But can somebody explain to me what the Indians are trying to do by putting their infielders in the outfield? Before going into spring training, rumors were circling around Cleveland that Ryan Garko could see time in the outfield to make room for both Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach in the infield. Garko has seen some playing time in the outfield so far this spring training. Is Garko an outfielder? No! He is a 1st baseman and a catcher. What is the rationale behind this?

In today’s loss to the Rangers, the Indians chose to have Josh Barfield play in the outfield. Is there a good explanation for this? No. It’s just Wedge’s way of trying to keep average players around. Does he really think Barfield will ever have a chance in the outfield come April? I sure hope not. Between Sizemore, Francisco, Choo, Dellucci and even Crowe, I think the Indians outfield is pretty well stocked. Do the Indians really need to keep a below average hitter on the team? Besides, that position in the outfield is filled by Dellucci.

So what’s next for the Indians this spring training? Cliff Lee playing catcher? There doesn’t seem to be any rationa decisions down in Goodyear. Instead of looking like a team who is getting ready for a 162 game season, it looks like the local little league team.