Countdown to Opening Day: #23 Cleveland Indians

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Asdrubal Cabrera

CF Grady Sizemore

RF Shin Soo Choo

C Carlos Santana

DH Travis Hafner

1B Matt LaPorta

3B Jayson Nix

2B Orlando Cabrera

LF Michael Brantley

PROJECTED ROTATION
Fausto Carmona

Justin Masterson

Mitch Talbot

Carlos Carrasco

Josh Tomlin

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Chris Perez
Set-up - Rafael Perez

Top Prospect - Lonnie Chisenhall (3B)

Breakout

Matt LaPorta - LaPorta has had a less than thrilling to start to his big league career, but there is no doubt the power is legit. A full season knowing he is not fighting for a big league roster may just be what the doctor ordered. Feeling like he belongs, hitting behind Choo, Santana and Hafner, and now healthier lineup will only help his approach 25 dingers. Not to mention the stir that stirs the drink, Grady Sizemore, who needs to be healthy if the Indians want to avoid the Central cellar.

Bust

Carlos Carrasco - I almost just said all former Philadelphia Phillies' prospects, but instead I just went with one. Jason Donald, Lou Marson and Jason Knapp have become irrelevant backup players or in Knapp's case, still pre heating in the minors, but Carrasco is expected to be the piece this year that shows Cleveland fans the got something of value back for Cliff Lee. Carrasco will have every chance to start 35 games for the Tribe this season, but I am not sure he has the stuff to stick.

Biggest Spring Training Question

What did we get for Sabathia and Lee again? - The topics of my bust and breakout both need to swing the consensus one way or another this season and obviously Cleveland hopes I am wrong about Carrasco and right about LaPorta. The Indians need to see something promising out of those two, plus Michael Brantley if they do not want their fans to get hostile mid summer where they are in the race for worst record in baseball and C.C. and Cliff are pitching for playoff teams.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 69-93

Can Sizemore save the Tribe?

PROJECTED FINISH: 5th in the American League Central

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Houston Astros