SB Nation Cleveland - Features

Kyrie Irving Wins NBA Rookie Of Year, Ready To 'Build Something Special'

2012-05-15T16:08:49Z

The NBA officially awarded Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award on Tuesday morning at the Cavs complex in Independence. The honor was a forgone conclusion -- the only thing left to ponder was when word would come down in May that a trophy presentation had been set, and whether or not it would be unanimous. He was the best player in a relatively weak rookie class, and the best player and instant floor leader on a team that was dramatically improved and chasing the playoffs until injuries hit in mid-March.

It's amazing how much things have changed in a year. Last May, the Cavaliers had just wrapped up a brutal 10-month period that included the departure of MVP and franchise cornerstone, LeBron James, and an 82-game march of embarrassment that hit a new low each week. And there did not seem to be much hope on the horizon. Realistic Cavs fans expected to languish in the lottery for a few years, hoping to hit on a top draft pick that could turn the franchise back into a playoff contender.

But there was a certain sense of foreboding about the immediate future, and the 2011 Draft. The Cavs had the second-best lottery odds but it was a historically weak class, by all scouting measures. Steering a franchise at rock bottom, Chris Grant was poised to add a prospect who would likely be an above average role player -- a nice piece from a bad draft, someone not capable of creating optimism or legitimately serving as a force to turn things around.

One year later, after a little luck with the Clippers' pick, the Cavs are in great position to build themselves back into a contender. Irving provoked the optimism and, after a ROY campaign, appears to be a legitimate cornerstone of the franchise and the next great point guard in a league full of them. With the third-best lottery odds in the upcoming 2012 Draft, the Cavs will certainly add another major piece in a little over a month. But Irving is the face of the franchise on and off the court, the point guard who will run this team and low-key personality who will run this city.

Irving took command from the first week, a go-to option in just the third game of the season after almost no preseason. He talked about that game against the Pacers as the top moment of the season, setting the tone for the successful year:

The third game of the season when we were at Indiana and going into the huddle, all of a sudden, coach just called a high screen-and-roll for me. And I was surprised…I just knew that when he told me it was a high screen-and-roll, I was like, I'm going to do my best to get to the basket. And his confidence in me from that point on, although I missed and we lost in overtime, it was just him having that confidence in me was a stepping stone for me.

In a 24-hour span, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert opened his new casino in downtown Cleveland and presented the ambassador of his franchise the Rookie of the Year trophy (and also heard about some injury trouble in South Beach that likely added schadenfreudian delight). He's probably pretty happy. It's a quick improvement from, "Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there." Nothing lasts forever and Irving may well leave one day, but the Cavs are lucky to have such a bright piece to build "around" or "with," whatever preposition Gilbert is using these days.

After a season of rookie thrills, highlighted by dramatic final-minute heroics in road wins against Boston, Denver, and Oklahoma City, there's quickly hope again for a franchise with its second ROY in the past decade. While Irving deflected a question citing the "former No. 1 pick who was here and then left" and on being the "new hope for the city," he thanked Cleveland in the first statement he made, saying the award was "not only for me, this is for the city of Cleveland." He also thanked the organization for their help creating the environment to succeed in his first year in the league, saying that this is the start of something special:

Most importantly, I'd like to thank the management, Dan Gilbert and Chris [Grant]. You guys had the vision to pick me. I remember when I was here for my first workout, it was the most nerve-wracking experience. And seeing you on the sideline and seeing how much you guys have done to [Cleveland Clinic Courts] and having a first-class facility, it just made me want to be a part of it that much more. I know what we're building here is something special, and we're in it for the long haul. So we're going to build something special here.

Irving indicated that he never felt the pressure to live up to any expectations, and that the organization and coaching staff around him was a big part of that:

I get to just be myself. And that's why it's so special here, because I came in here as a 19 year old kid and got to just be myself.

It's easy to say the right things at these awards press conferences, but Irving was still impressive and took the honor in stride -- a goal achieved but just part of a natural process that will be defined by team success. He was gracious and gregarious thoughout the presentation, continually goofing around with head coach Byron Scott. He seems to have a great rapport with Scott, and referenced the many similarities between the Cavs coach and his father, Drederick. While 2012 was a shortened season, Scott's club won only two more games than they did in 2010-11 and the Cavs are back at the top of the lottery. Yet everything is different 12 months later, thanks to the 2012 Rookie of the Year.

It's Time To Pay Attention To The Cleveland Indians

2012-05-08T19:54:54Z

While the Indians continue to pile up early season wins, the only question now is, why don't more Cleveland fans care?

At this time, you're either following the Cleveland Indians, or you're not. The team is currently in first place in the AL Central, much like this time a year ago, and is winning in a similar fashion.

What I've been unable to understand is just why the city is so hesitant to get on board with this squad. To a point, I get it. The Dolan Corollary gives some fans pause.

"They don't care about me," this bunch says (with gusto). "Until they spend money, I'm not going to go to the ballpark."

While I in no way, shape or form will discourage a mentality, wouldn't it behoove that group to stop for a second and examine who exactly this is hurting?

The Tribe has made money the last few years; the Dolans have continued to turn a profit. So it's certainly not hurting them. Is it possible that really all fans are doing is hurting themselves?

Well, it is Cleveland.

There is no excuse not to take notice of the Indians. This is the second-straight season that the club has played well into at least the second month of the season. Cleveland is winning in dramatic fashion, and the players are affable, a real-life Major League bunch of farmhands, home grown talent and savvy veterans.

Weather in Northeast Ohio is better this year than it has been in recent memory, rain delays aside. Tickets are easy to get and are cheap. I implore baseball fans to find a more economical deal than the $15 seat with $10 of concessions built-in that Progressive Field offers during weekday afternoon games.

I don't have the luxury of being in the city anymore, but I'm jealous of those who do. Major League Baseball is a privilege for those fans with easy accessibility; While I understand the tentative nature of getting behind another Cleveland team with the lingering fear that soul-crushing losses are just a step away, the fact that baseball is so readily available from a marketing and promotions crew that bends over backwards to come up with appealing draws is dizzying.

Sure, it bothers me that the team goes for the bargains and sells away the best players when things get bad. That said, it's reality. This isn't a unique problem to Cleveland, rather, the sense of entitlement after said players are lost is.

The "woe is me nature" of the city and the self-fulfilling prophecy that Murphy's Law will, in fact, reign over the Cuyahoga throughout eternity may make for a compelling drama to guys like Samuel Beckett or Paul Thomas Anderson, but it doesn't exactly serve a constructive purpose on any platform, save for perhaps talk radio.

A World Series might not be in the cards this year (especially not if a right-handed bat isn't around the corner to save the day), but it doesn't make you a bad person if you choose to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

If you're going to buy what the Browns are selling for yet another year, why not choose to support the team that has already made that big jump in the past two seasons?

2012 NFL Draft Leaves The Cleveland Browns With Plenty Of Flexibility

2012-04-26T19:09:11Z

Whether Cleveland goes with Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne or entertains the possibility of trading down, it's how the Browns use their flexibility that will determine the team's success in the 2012 NFL Draft.

No one is going to fault the Browns if they go with Trent Richardson or Morris Claiborne with the fourth pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Both players are incredibly gifted and fit the role of instant impact guys.

While Claiborne would offer another shutdown corner beside Joe Haden in a much-improved Browns defense, Richardson would give Cleveland the kind of running back talent the team hasn't had in decades.

If that's the route the Browns take come 8:30 p.m. ET or so this evening, most fans will be happy and turn their attention to No. 22, the pick acquired in the trade with Atlanta last year that netted the Falcons Julio Jones with Cleveland's pick.

But there's another option, albeit one Cleveland fans might be tired of: trading down. If the Vikings are indeed shopping the third overall pick and move it to a team interested in Richardson, or if Cleveland ends up being blown away by an offer, it'd be hard not to consider it.

The Browns have plenty of needs. They are weak at quarterback, linebacker, wide receiver and running back, and they could definitely use help at offensive line and in the secondary. They already have a lot of picks in this draft, but a trade down could lend way to another move, leaving Cleveland with what conceivably could be three picks in the first round or a possible five picks in the first 40.

This is hard not to entertain considering the talent available on many draft boards in the 10-40 range. Guys like Michael Floyd, LaMichael James, Doug Martin, David Wilson, Kendall Wright, Brandon Weeden and Jonathan Martin have the ability to help a team right now and could potentially offer more than the duo of Claiborne and a guy like Cordy Glenn at No. 22 would in the long run.

Take for instance the Dolphins' much-rumored interest in Ryan Tannehill. If Miami gets the feeling the Browns just might take the quarterback from Texas A&M or is worried he might not make it to them at pick eight, the Fins might panic. If they are offering a package including a future first-rounder or at the very least their first and second round picks this year, that gives Cleveland more bullets in the gun in hopes of landing a high percentage of instant impact players for the 2012 season.

Moving down to eight to allow Miami to select Tannehill also means that there's a solid chance that one of Claiborne, Richardson, Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon will still be there when the Browns select a few spots lower, and Cleveland could use any of those guys depending on how the draft results play out.

It's not ideal, but since the Browns have glaring gaps at a lot of positions, it's not as if one guy in the secondary or a star runner will make this team relevant in the first place.

This way, Cleveland can take more risks with their picks - for instance, landing Weeden a bit earlier, selecting a running back a bit later like Wilson, James, Martin or Lamar Miller - or taking a flyer on a wide receiver like Alshon Jeffery, Ty Hilton or Chris Givens. This also gives them more leeway to help out the linebacking corps and offensive line, problems that weren't specifically addressed in free agency.

While it's frustrating to see Cleveland miss out on a talent like Robert Griffin III, the fact remains that the team has a plethora of picks in a deep draft, and those selections offer a variety of opportunities and explorative options.

This isn't a bad thing as long as the front office has strong player evaluations and the willingness to answer the phone and be creative.

Indians Future Relies Heavily On Kipnis, Chisenhall

2012-03-22T00:48:22Z

Infielders could add some thump to lackluster lineup

In 2011, it was the Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana show when the Indians pulled the lumber out of the old bat rack. Hopefully this season, they will have some insurance around them to help carry the season's workload.

A lot of the Indian's success will depend on how well second basemen Jason Kipnis and third basemen Lonnie Chisenhall progress. Kipnis, a 2009 draft choice out of Arizona State, made an immediate impact to the Tribe's lineup once he joined them in July. It only took him a week to hit his first big league homerun. In the following month, he put five big flies over the fence. The question is but can he adjust to big league pitching as they adjust to him?

Chisenhall, a well groomed 2008 first round pick, may have a higher ceiling than Kipnis. He recorded six multi-hit games in September, which raised his batting average fifteen points. Scouts raved about his hitting at the minor league level, and that success is slowing coming along in the major leagues, but will his meager defense at the hot corner negate his productive at bats?

When the Eric Wedge era players are gone (Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, etc) Kipnis and Chisenhall will inherit the offensive accountability. In fact, they have their fair share of expectations already.

The future is coming on. Chisenhall is 23, and Kipnis will turn 25 in April.

Manager Manny Acta put Kipnis all over the Indians lineup, mostly in the two hole in between Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera. Kipnis will be penciled in as the starter at second base, but once Shin Soo Choo comes back healthy, Kipnis may be bumped down in the lineup to make room. Chisenhall, on the other hand, should win the third base job for Opening Day over travelsman Jack Hannahan.

Kipnis has a great eye at the plate, and generally does not chase anything out of the zone. His selectiveness makes opposing pitchers work harder to get outs. Patient hitters, like Kipnis, use the entire field, which keeps the defense guessing.

After not even his first full season with the Tribe, Chisenhall showed what he can do, but did not start out as quickly as Kipnis did. But over time, assuming he develops his hitting talents, he will be a very good big league hitter for years to come. He has been more of an all or nothing kind of hitter, but when he gets ahold of one, watch out.

But what both of these young hitters have in common is that they have raw ability, the tangibles, which are getting harder and harder to come by. They both are surrounded by a lineup that, while battling injuries last year, should be very well rounded this season. With Choo, Cabrera, and Brantley being ready to begin the season in good form, Kipnis and Chisenhall expect to be a part of an Indians lineup that could pack a punch and score some runs this coming summer.

Poll

Which Indians infielder is your favorite?

Jason Kipnis

13 votes

Lonnie Chisenhall

2 votes

Asdrubal Cabrera

9 votes

other

1 votes

25 votes | Poll has closed

Cavs Need A Big Man, But Who Will Be There In NBA Free Agency?

2012-03-20T14:07:21Z

With the Cavs already thin in the post and starting rookie Tristan Thompson, it's time to take a look at some potential frontcourt help in free agency.

Even when Anderson Varejao was healthy and playing at a high level, it was pretty clear that the Cavs needed help in the post. And with the Brazilian sidelined due to a broken wrist, Cleveland has tried just about everything with the personnel it has. Semih Erden, Samardo Samuels, Ryan Hollins and Luke Harangody have all earned minutes, but none have been able to do anything of substance.

Things have gotten so bad down low that Byron Scott has named unpolished 6'9 rookie Tristan Thompson, a power forward, the starting center for the foreseeable future. Thompson is gifted with a ton of upside and has shown flashes at times of becoming a more complete player, including Monday's dominant game against the New Jersey Nets, but he is at his best (and poses more of a matchup problem) at the PF position.

While it is likely Varejao will reclaim the starting center position when he returns, he is still a potential trade candidate, has never been a natural "5," and turns 30 in September.

Erden, Samuels, Hollins and Harangody are all unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and although it is all but assumed that Cleveland will be drafting a big with at least one of its picks in the top 40 (Cleveland currently owns its first round pick, the Lakers' first, the Hornets' second-round pick and its own second rounder), there's a good chance the Cavs will need to sign a frontcourt player as well with a chunk of their substantial cap room this summer.

Here are some likely free agent candidates:

The Do Wants

Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets (Restricted) - Arguably the best center out there this summer, Lopez was the centerpiece of the Dwight Howard-to-the-Nets trade talks for months, and a deal never got done. Since he's restricted, the Nets could sign an offer sheet, and it'd be hard not to - they can't just let him go for nothing. I'd have to be pretty delusional to think that Lopez would come to Cleveland, though.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers (Restricted) - I really expect Indiana to get a contract done with Hibbert, who has become one of the better big men in the league. He's going to get paid; the Cavs have plenty of cap room, but the bidding is going to get too high.

Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers (Unrestricted) - The post player from Washington is having a career year and is a player that would fit in well with the Cavs' scheme offensively. He rebounds the ball (11.7 per 40), can shoot (56.8 percent) and is young (turns 24 at the end of April). He won't draw a giant price tag and could be controlled for a few years.

Omer Asik, Chicago Bulls (Restricted) - The Cavs had interest in Asik at the trade deadline a year ago, and the Bulls wouldn't budge. Now he's going to be a restricted free agent and is a guy the Cavs could make an offer to. In a lot of ways, this one makes the most sense.

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks (Unrestricted) - The Turkish big man is going to get his money, and he's definitely earned it; he's played his way into a contract. The question is, does he deserve it? He has an absolutely mind-blowing 20+ PER, but what separates him from a guy like Hawes? I have a feeling someone is going to get desperate and break the bank on Ilyasova.

The Decent Options

Marreese Speights, Memphis Grizzlies (Restricted) - He turns 25 in August and this would be a sneaky play that would fit in line with GM Chris Grant's philosophy so far. Speights can hit the midrange and plays well on the pick and roll. I feel like Memphis would match a low offer, but maybe the Cavs feel like he's a guy worth a multi-year deal.

Kosta Koufos, Denver Nuggets (Unrestricted) - He shoots a high percentage and is still developing. He would likely come cheap, and he does rebound pretty well.

Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns (Restricted) - The other Lopez brother busted his chance at a starter's role with Phoenix but is still young and skilled. He would be extremely affordable (his qualifying offer is around $4 million) and is one of those low risk/moderate reward signings.

Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings (Restricted) - Maybe he's an eight and seven guy forever, or maybe he can be more (he turns 26 this summer), but I have a feeling with the buyout of J.J. Hickson that the Kings at least match an offer for him.

JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets (Restricted) - He's good for at least one LOL moment a game, but his athleticism is off the charts. Unfortunately, the odds of him putting it all together and that he would deserve the contract he's going to get this summer are slim. The Wizards couldn't ship him off fast enough for Nene, and it's not even an assumption that Denver wants to re-sign him yet.

The Wild Cards

Anthony Randolph, Minnesota Timberwolves (Restricted) - He's extremely young and has a ton of upside, but he's thin, has serious "are you kidding me?" moments and might end up looking a bit too much like Ryan Hollins for anyone in Cleveland to want him.

Chris Kaman, New Orleans Hornets (Unrestricted) - He turns 30 soon and likely wants one more big contract and to play for a winner. He almost averages almost a double-double, and there are definitely far worse options out there, but I just don't see it.

Daniel Orton, Orlando Magic (Unrestricted) - The Magic's first-round pick in 2010 never got off the bench in Orlando. He has had injury problems, but he wants to play. The question is whether or not he can get on the floor to earn minutes.

Greg Oden, FA (formerly Portland Trail Blazers) - Former No. 1 pick is someone Cleveland fans have been enamored with for years (and I still don't understand why). He's an injury risk, and is not someone the Cavs will likely feel is worth it, but he does want to play again.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (Unrestricted) -- Okay, yeah, this isn't happening, but it's still fun to think about.

Hasheem Thabeet, Portland Trail Blazers (Team Option) - No.

Dynamic Guards Lead Ohio Teams To A Perfect 8-0 Record In The NCAA Tournament

2012-03-19T16:58:34Z

Ohio is the center of the basketball universe this week. For the first time in the history of the NCAA Tournament, four teams from one state have advanced to the Sweet 16. The Buckeye state went a perfect eight for eight during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. On Friday, even the Governor tweeted about the state's success but that was just the beginning of a wonderful weekend for Ohio basketball fans. There were upsets converted and upsets avoided, as high-majors and mid-majors moved on to the regionals and the second weekend of the dance.

And yes, the great state of Ohio is the center of the basketball universe.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 19, 2012

Point Guards Push Them Through

One trope NCAA Tournament analysts always use is that good guard play can take you anywhere in the dance. The four Ohio teams were lead by their guards in the first weekend, and that's undoubtedly the reason they're all moving on to the Sweet 16.

I linked to a great profile of D.J. Cooper before the tournament that highlighted the diminutive guard's "Napoleon complex" when it came to his on-court attitude and drive to lead John Groce's club. Cooper has emerged as the previously unknown star that is now the media poster boy for the bracket busting team. We see this almost every year during March Madness.

Cooper put the Bobcats in the dance with his 23-point performance against Akron in the MAC title game, and he's carried that over with 21-point and 19-point games against two BCS conference opponents. Cooper played a role in OU's upset over Georgetown two years ago, but it was largely Armon Bassett getting the headlines that weekend. Now, it's all about Cooper, with even some national outlets now shining a light on potential recruiting violations committed by other coaches who tried to get him to transfer out to a bigger school.

Unlike Cooper, Ohio State's Aaron Craft entered the tournament as a well-known commodity on the national stage (although they do have one thing in common - being illegally recruited by Bruce Pearl, allegedly). Craft has been a star since bursting on to the scene as a freshman, praised as an elite lockdown defender for two Buckeye teams that have been consistently ranked in the top five in the country.

With the Buckeyes looking flat and sluggish in the first half on Sunday against Gonzaga, it was Craft who put the team on his back and pushed them through to the Sweet 16. Jared Sullinger was in foul trouble for much of the first half, and Craft brought the Bucks back to even and then controlled the entire game in the second to keep the Bulldogs from pulling off the upset. It was his best game of the season - a double-double performance and a season-high 10 assists. As Greg Anthony stated on CBS, he was the best player on the floor.

Tu Holloway is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, and the point guard from Xavier took care of business this weekend against Notre Dame and Lehigh. Late Sunday night, already the narrative in the media centered on Xavier and Cincinnati bouncing back from the brawl that marred their seasons in early December. Holloway was at the center of the incident both on the court and at the press conference afterwards.

He's had an up-and-down season since then, but his tournament performance so far has carried the Musketeers to the Sweet 16. He had 21 points against Lehigh but his 25 against Notre Dame was the difference in a last second win over the Irish. His amazing floater over the Irish's Jack Cooley to give XU the lead with 25 seconds remaining was one of the best shots of the first three rounds. Video below:

Finally, Cincinnati completed the perfect Ohio weekend early Monday morning with an upset win over Florida State. It was the first time the Bearcats beat a higher seeded team in the NCAA Tournament, and it was the guard duo of Dion Dixon and Sean Kilpatrick that pulled it off. Dixon, the senior from Chicago, is a multi-purpose guard for Mick Cronin, playing at the 2 or taking over point guard duties when Cashmere Wright struggles. Wright was off all night against FSU, and Dixon stepped up, scoring 15 points and being in on almost every single play in the final minute of the Bearcats 6-point win. His steal and dunk with 1:30 remaining gave the Bearcats a lead they would not relinquish and was the single play that lifted UC into the Sweet 16:

We know one Ohio team will be bowing out on Thursday night, as Cincinnati and Ohio State square off in the late game in Boston. This week, we'll have plenty more on the what comes next. For now, we should celebrate the March magic in the Buckeye state. It was a thrilling four days for Ohio basketball fans, and it will be a week full of hype leading up to the Sweet 16. And much of that hype should be focused on the guards that led the Ohio squads, as each team's success hinged on their floor general's performance.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Cleveland for complete coverage of Ohio's teams during the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 week.

Browns Silence In Free Agency Speaks Loud And Clear To Cleveland Fans

2012-03-14T19:55:50Z

The Browns haven't been major players in free agency once again -- and in this case, a lack of action speaks louder than words.

As many expected, the Cleveland Browns have been noticeably absent from the free agent circus since the period began at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. And while it should come as no surprise to the savvy, wary Browns fan, the action -- or lack thereof -- speaks volumes about the team's process.

That doesn't mean I have to like it.

Cleveland has gotten used to doing things a certain way, and even more so in the Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren era. It's about "building through the draft," "creating a culture," or "sticking to the plan."

What it isn't -- is winning football.

Since the Browns returned in 1999, there's been a more than noticeable lack of success. The team has had bad luck, no franchise quarterback, and no consistency in the front office or from a coaching standpoint. All the while, Cleveland fans are dubbed impatient for wanting more.

I don't buy it.

Winning isn't a privilege that can be bestowed on the righteous or worthy; it's created by those in power making the decisions. While it admittedly does take time, there are plenty of measures in place to give smart ownership a chance at a quick turnaround. The NFL is designed as a parity-based league. It is not rare to see a franchise win four games one year, then ten the next or vise versa.

Unless you're the Browns, in which case you're going to win between four and seven games for eternity.

That's the culture. Those are the measures that have been taken. That's our reality.

And while it may be under the guise of smart business or the way that Heckert and Holmgren want to do things to stay quiet in free agency with minor moves like a backup cornerback or a guy like Frostee Rucker, hold onto draft picks and build from within, the results are the same. We don't care about the plan. We want hope.

Watching the team noticeably absent on big names or one-upped by other teams to draft a high-profile, possible franchise-changing quarterback is par for the course. But it gets tiresome. Browns fans have infinitely more excuses than wins, and so that makes a player like Robert Griffin III, Matt Flynn, Vincent Jackson - or even Eric Winston - so important.

It wouldn't make the difference on its own, but it would be a statement to the fans that the front office actually means it this time, that they are committed to making this thing work, and that we're not supposed to just trust them.

Instead, the lack of noise has a way of being deafening in its own way.

Rotation Depth Should Be Indians' Prevalent Strength

2012-03-10T04:01:43Z

Manager Manny Acta has plenty of options for final starter spot

Expected Opening Day Starter Justin Masterson and former All-Star Ubaldo Jimenez, despite his struggles at the end of last year, are exceptional options for a team trying to compete for a division title. Masterson led the Indians in innings pitched, wins, and strikeouts; the trifecta of starting pitching categories. Jimenez started the All-Star game for the National League as a Rockie in 2008.

The rest of the Indian's starting rotation, and the guys following them, are also impressive in their own right, and also plentiful.

The combination of pitchers that will come after the one and two spots in the Indians' rotation are numerous. The exact guys are probably set for right now, however, the pitchers that won't make the Tribe's rotation are still viable candidates to start at some point in the season, whether it be due to an injury, or lack of production.

The 38-year-old right hander acquired from the Atlanta Braves, Derek Lowe, figures to be somewhere in the starting five. His durability on the mound has had him throw the fifth most innings of any active pitcher. Though his sinker does not have as much zip on it, Tribe manager Manny Acta and General Manager Chris Antonetti are excited to see what he still has left in his system.

Josh Tomlin, from Texas Tech, selected in the 19^th round of the 2006 draft by the Indians, also figures to get a spot. His stretch of 30 plus starts of five innings or longer was the second best streak in MLB history, and his command of his primary pitches makes him a strike throwing machine. He walked just 21 hitters in 165 innings, by far the fewest of any pitcher who had logged more than 100 innings. Despite his rough outing against the Angels on Thursday, in which he gave up six hits and four runs, he figures to be a lock to start in the middle to backend of the starters.

Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, might also have a spot somewhere. He is yet to throw a pitch in spring training this year after being released in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The fifth and final starting pitcher could be any of a number of players. Even those who will not make the rotation bring prior big league experience to the table, and would make an adequate number five starter. Carlos Carrasco got the most work of the back end of the rotation, but will likely be sidelined for all of 2012 after Tommy John Surgery on his elbow.

The other competitors figure to be David Huff, Mitch Talbot, Zack McAllister, Scott Barnes, Kevin Slowey, and Jeanmar Gomez. Veteran right hander Jon Garland was also invited to spring training on a minor league deal. He has the most career starts and wins of the bunch, but his 2011 campaign was derailed after a shoulder injury. He won 14 games for theSan Diego Padres in 2010.

Slowey, the ex-Minnesota Twin, is the second most experienced, but had a gruesome 2011 season while going 0-8 with an earned run average over six-and-a-half. But the similarities between him, along with Masterson, Jimenez, and Lowe, made Slowey worth the risk. The Indians are hoping he can return some of his 2010 efficiency, when he posted 13 wins and walked only 29.

Inevitably, there will be a time when the Indians will have to call upon a sixth starter for any number of reasons. That is why it is good to be prepared with depth and insurance for any of the 162 game season's surprises. Depth in the starting rotation, as well as at closer, should make the Indians pitching staff their identity for 2012.

Poll

Who is your favorite Indians pitcher?

Justin Masterson

5 votes

Chris Perez

0 votes

Ubaldo Jimenez

3 votes

someone else

4 votes

12 votes | Poll has closed