Much like the Pirates,the Wahoos made some small additions,but nothing that should change their fortunes much.
Of the two teams,I would give Pittsburgh the edge in the everyday lineup and Cleveland an advantage on the mound.
Carlos Santana will attempt to bounce back from a season ending injury and establish himself as the Cleveland catcher.
Santana's bat has few questions,but the big question involve his defense and if he can develop enough there to catch long term.Light hitting Lou Marson will be the backup backstop.
Travis Hafner will be the DH as he continues his climb back from injuries that left him a shell of what he once was.
Hafner will never be among the top hitters in the game as he once was,but he still is decent enough,although considerably overpaid for his production.
Matt LaPorta will finally get his shot at the full time first base position.
LaPorta has disappointed with the stick since being the jewel of the CC Sabathia swap with the Brewers.
LaPorta has hit with less than expected power and an low average as well.
If LaPorta fails to make progress this year,the Tribe will likely look for a new first baseman for 2012.
Veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera was signed as a stop gap at second base.
Cabrera could be a trade deadline move in the making,especially if Jason Kipnis starts strongly in Columbus.
Asdrubal Cabrera keeps his job at short as he tries to be the long term answer there.
Cabrera is flashy with the glove and has hit better than advertised as well.
The third base issue is a huge one as Cleveland attempts to slide by for a season until Lonnie Chisenhall is ready for 2012.
Journeyman Jack Hannahan will start the season there,but who knows who will finish the season.
Hannahan is light hitting to be generous and will need to be better than his career has shown to have any chance to stay the year.
Jason Donald seems to be a better fit as a utilityman,but will likely replace Hannahan after he returns from a broken finger.
Adam Everett was signed as the utility infielder over the winter.
The outfielder looks pretty mundane for the opener,but will hopefully move up if Grady Sizemore returns to his pre-injury form.
Sizemore will be starting the season on the DL,but could be back before April ends.
Michael Brantley will start in Sizemore's place and could find time in left when Sizemore returns.
Austin Kearns re-signed after a 2010 season that saw him split time between Cleveland and the New York Yankees and will start in left.
Kearns is what he is and at his top game is a little above average.
Travis Buck was picked up from Oakland after three injury riddled seasons and will attempt to revive a once promising career.Buck had a strong half season as a rookie in 2007,but has rarely been healthy since.
Shin-Soo Choo might be the games most underrated player in right field.
Choo isn't a superstar by any means,but he is a solid player and I like the way he plays the game.
Shelley Duncan will be the fifth outfielder and pinch hitter.
The Cleveland rotation of five righthanders has promise and could be a surprise if all works out.
Fausto Carmona bounced back from a two poor seasons with an ERA under four and is the ace of the staff.
Carmona could also be deadline trade bait with a strong half season.
Carlos Carrasco finally gets his chance to pitch in the bigs in the rotation after another excellent season at AAA.
Carrasco was decent in his handful of late season starts and is as ready as he will ever be.
The stuff is there,but the key is command.
Lanky Justin Masterson struggled last season,but I am not ready to give up on him yet.
Josh Tomlin looks less than great until the evening ends and you look at the numbers.I may have a Tomlin bias,but he is just what a team looks for at the back of the rotation-throws strikes and keeps you in the game.
Mitch Talbot had his moments in 2010,winning ten games and might be ready to make another jump in the upcoming season.
The bullpen is led by Chris Perez,who is developing into a quality closer.
Chad Durbin was signed as a free agent to be the righthanded setup man and Rafael Perez should be in the lefty setup spot.
Tony Sipp fills the lefty middle reliever spot and Frank Herrmann will join spring surprise Vinny Pestano and well traveled veteran Justin Germano as the righthanders in the long/middle relief jobs.
The Indians seem to be relying on their pitching to make advances this season and with even more young power arms arriving in the next year or so,Cleveland could make a few strides this season.
Not enough to contend,but enough to give glimmers of promise.
Prediction: 72-90
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