Honest expectations for 2009

by Tony K on Aug 29, 2008 10:40 AM EDT Comment 4 comments

What do you guys really see happening? Sure, I'd love to say "we have all the bugs" worked out of the team now, and '09 is going to be our 120 win season," but that isn't realistic. Unless Dombrowski can address our bullpen issue, we're going to drop another 20+ games because of that group of players just like this year. Zumaya WILL get hurt, Rodney is... Rodney, Farnsworth's gone, Seay has been good and theres guys like Glover and Fossum who could go either way. The offense was inconsistant, and with Inge now an everyday player and giant question mark at the shortstop position, I don't know if that will be a whole lot better either. The only starters set in stone are Verlander, Gallaraga and Bonderman. Verlander has 14 losses (he did get screwed a bunch of times early in the season with run support though), Gallaraga's been great, but you don't know if this is a fluke season and Bondo never has been automatic. Add two more starters to the list, who could be anyone (Miner? Willis? Rogers? Bonine? Garcia? Lambert?), and this all looks like a 85-95 win season again. What's your take?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bless You Boys writing staff. However, it does reflect the views of this particular fan, which is as important as anything else written here at BYB.

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Who knows what Leyland is thinking

And Dombrowski? Was he smoking crack when he made the Rodriquez, Farnsworth trade? Hopefully Rogers, Willis and Bonine will be gone by the start of the ‘09 season. (I say Fire Hernandez, and hire Rogers) And if we’re lucky maybe some GM out there is dumb enough to make us a sweet deal for Rodney and Zumaya. Have to say Miner deserves props since he’s been a starter, I always dreaded seeing him entering a game but he has pleasantly surprised me. and as far as the short stop position, my 13 yo son can field better than Renteria. I would still like to see Guillen at DH and Inge at 3rd. which means we’ll need a decent catcher. (who hits .300+). sorry if all this made no sense, just random thoughts…

"I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger...Then it hit me!"

by Doc Maverick on Aug 29, 2008 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ll take a winning record in 2009, I don’t ask for much

by ahtrap on Sep 3, 2008 9:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Too many ifs. They’ll be good IF they sign a big-time closer. They’ll be good IF DD finally decides to stop ignoring the bullpen. They’ll be good IF Gary Sheffield can find the fountain of youth. They’ll be good IF Brandon Inge can have another 2006. They’ll be good IF Jeremy Bonderman and Dontrelle Willis can win 15 games a piece. They’ll be good IF Verlander rebounds. They’ll be good IF they get production out of their shortstop. They’ll be good IF they stop being one-dimensional offensively.

Wheras there are “ifs” aplenty, there are no certainties other than Cabrera. Expecting anything more than 81 wins is wishful thinking.

The Indians will sign a starter and a closer and will win the division again.

by BigDaddyJC on Sep 14, 2008 12:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree whole heartedly. We have to show aggresiveness in the offseason though and rebuild the bullpen from the ground up with solid, proven players, and let’s spend some of that money freed up by the Pudge trade.

Eat 'em up!

by Tony K on Sep 18, 2008 6:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs