Cleveland won the American League Central in 2007 with a 96-66 record, but it has been all down hill for the scuffling ballclub since that division title. The Indians have posted 134 wins over the last two seasons, and they narrowly avoided the cellar last year after a 69-93 finish. Baseball oddsmakers are looking for some improvement from the team this season, but not much as the latest 2011 MLB Predictions have the Over/Under on Cleveland's regular season win total set at 72.5.
Last season the Indians were done in by a 
punchless offense and a poor pitching staff. Only two players stood out for the Tribe in either area, those being outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and right hander Fausto Carmona.
Shoo led the team in batting average, hits, home runs, RBI, and stolen bases while Carmona pieced together a 13-14 record and 3.77 ERA in 33 starts.
The club added depth in the off-season by signing players like Adam Everett and Austin Kearns, but no one of impact was inked by the Indians brass. That means that if the offense, which scored just 646 runs last year, is going to take a step forward, Grady Sizemore must stop the precipitous free fall that his career is currently experiencing.
Sizemore, once one of the league's fastest rising stars, has tallied 18 home runs, 77 RBI, and a .229 batting average over the last two seasons (139 games). Cleveland remains hopeful that 28 year old's injury woes have not derailed his great promise.
The Indians rotation looks like it will feature the same hodge-podge of mediocre talent that it did in 2010. Cleveland's pitching staff produced a 4.53 ERA last season, a number which ranked 25th in the majors. While hurlers like Carmona, Justin Masterson, and Mitch Talbot still have time to progress, they are not likely to overwhelm that many major league lineups.
The farm system does have a couple of promising talents in Drew Pomeranz (LHP) and Alex White, but they may be a year away from contributing.
Cleveland Indians 2011 MLB Predictions: Fifth Place in the AL Central
Cleveland Indians 2011 World Series Picks:
To Win 2011 World Series +10000
To Win 2011 AL Pennant +6500
To Win AL Central +2000 (Four of Five)
Regular Season Wins – Over 72.5 (+100)/Under 72.5 (-130)
