[NewarkCatholicFan]

I say they will post 77 wins.

[nilesdragon]

88-74

[tcl_expert]

Sizemore is hurt again. He won't be ready by opening day . Hurt his back.

[libbey1963]

Glad to see you are back tcl_expert.

[Erie Warrior]

Happy JJ is free again. I am very discouraged on Indians management and ownership as are many others. Paul Dolan says they offered long term deals but nothing has leaked out who, and then you can surmise they low-balled anyone they did offer. It is a heavy left-handed hitting lineup but that doesn't worry as much as a lack of hitters. Sizemore is already starting the season on the DL. Just a matter of time before Hafner goes down. I hope Brantley has matured to be a quality lead off with Sizemore out. Expecting Choo to have a big year and Santana barring any injury, should be a force in the middle of the lineup. Hopefully ACab can have another big year and Kipnis keeps improving. Other than that there are big question marks, including starting pitching except for Masterson. Jimenez has a lot to prove that trading 2 top notch prospects was worth the price. Still not sold on Tomlin but he gets people out. Slowey had an attitude problen in Minnesota and Lowe is at the tail end of his career. Chris Perez ranks up there with Joe Borowski in making 9th innings exciting. I think they go 74-88 unless we get major surprises. They won't start 30-15 this year. From that point on last year they went 50-67. Here is players salaries for this year and status of players who will be free agents, club and player options, and arbitration .

http://www.indiansprospectinsider.com/payroll

[iguana_man]

I anticipate Choo to have a big comeback year, and Sizemore to maybe play 100 games (high estimate, but whatev). However the usual combination of two or three players who will sorely disappoint and the rash of injuries will take a toll.

Matt LaPorta will be placed in hitless protection on the bench, the minors, or on 9th Street.

A 83-79 finish and contention somewhere along the lines of last season.

[libbey1963]

81-81

[acejam]

85-77 bullpen is a toss up

[dar12]

I go with 75-87...hope it's better.

[shstiger73]

86-76 and second place in AL Central. Keys to season are Jimenez, Masterson, Choo, Santana, & Brantley. Anything from Hafner, Sizemore, and Lowe is gravy. The bullpen should be solid again. I expect a breakout year from Kipnis and disapointment from Chisenhall. ACab will be All-Star at short.

[NewarkCatholicFan]

Chisenhall stinks in the field at third and he was worse at short.

Hopefully he grows in the field.
I think he could be solid with the stick.

[Lancer '65]

I think that if the Tribe can stay away from key injuries, and the pitching holds up fairly well, I see them finishing about 6-8 games over .500. If the pitching goes South and one or two key players go down permanently or for extended periods, the fade will start in mid-late July and the Indians will end up around 15-20 games under 500.

[tcl_expert]

Thanks Libbey.

[NewarkCatholicFan]

Chris Perez is out for 4-6 six weeks.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...s-perezinjured

[nilesdragon]

^I saw that. I'm not freaking out yet, as long as there are no others anytime soon. Perez thinks he'll be back for opening day. Pestano would be capable of closing a few.

[mlisi39]

Originally Posted by tcl_expert

Sizemore is hurt again. He won't be ready by opening day . Hurt his back.

no idea why they brought him back.... and now Perez is out for 4-6 weeks.

I'll say 80-82.

[skyvue]

Very hard for me to get excited about this season with essentially the same team returning. At this point, the only thing that would really excite me is for the Dolan's to sell the team.

I am not buying anymore tickets until they are willing to at least spend enough to have a payroll that is close to the MLB average. Last year I believe we had the 4th lowest in the league.

Best guess: 74-88

[LHSports]

75 wins

[shstiger73]

Heard a rumor that Peyton Hillis's first assignment as a CIA agent was to go undercover in the Dominican Republic and find the real Fausto Carmona.

[NewarkCatholicFan]

• RHP Ubaldo Jimenez was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his first two spring training starts. In those two starts Jimenez gave up three earned runs on seven hits, with three walks and one strikeout. Jimenez says he’s not worried about those numbers. “I feel way better than I did early last year (in spring training),” said Jimenez, who sustained an injury to his pitching thumb in his second spring start last year. “Getting through the second game healthy this year is a good sign.”

This team will be lucky to hit 77 wins.


http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...s-2012-mlb-cle