Kudos To The Tribe

Jake Westbrook
I have no problem admitting when I am wrong. Such is the case when it was recently announced that #2 starter Jake Westbrook signed a three-year/$33 million extension with the Indians. I never thought this would happen. The Indians have lost numerous top-flight free agents over the past 10 years. Making Westbrook the highest paid player annually in Tribe history sends a positive message to the fans. Westbrook is not a #1 starter, but he is reliable, consistent, relatively young and very durable. The length of the contract is about right. The terms - $11 million a year - gives the Indians a small hometown discount. And the deal shows other Tribe players the team will step up to the plate if you meet them halfway.

Now the tough part. How does the team reach a deal with similar core players - C.C. and Haffner - before they complete their free agent seasons in 2008? The odds are the Tribe will not be able to sign both. Haffner and C.C. are worth more in the open market than Westbrook and the team simply doesn't have a large enough revenue stream to sign both and still leave enough budget space to sign the biggest fish of all, Grady Sizemore, down the road. For now however, ownership, Mark Shapiro and Jake Westbrook deserve kudos for getting this deal done. It gives the team a solid two-year window (2007 & 2008) to contend with all key parts present and accounted for. I for one am glad I got this one wrong.

Early Impressions
I actually have watched some of the Tribe games in April. And I like what I see. The starting pitching and the offense should both be among the top 1/3 in the American League. That's not a bulletin. The defense and bullpen are still question marks however. The only outstanding defensive player is Grady Sizemore in center and he lacks a strong throwing arm. The Tribe has slightly above average to below average players elsewhere when you compare them to the rest of MLB. And the bullpen still has to prove it can bounce back from a horrid 2006 season.

Fundamentals will also be key to winning more one run games. That's where the manager (Eric Wedge) will be evaluated in terms of whether he gets an extension or not. He has to make sure the team does the little things well - move runners over, hit cutoff men, take the extra base when appropriate, not get picked off bases, etc...

Regardless, the core players should keep this team in contention if they stay relatively healthy. The key will be if ownership steps up to the plate come July if another piece of the puzzle or two need to be added for the stretch run. After the Westbrook signing, indications are, this time around, lack of money won't stand in the way of improving the roster for a late run. We'll wait and see.