{"id":11702,"date":"2018-02-22T11:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-02-22T16:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=11702"},"modified":"2018-02-21T23:48:19","modified_gmt":"2018-02-22T04:48:19","slug":"fixing-the-indians-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2018\/02\/22\/fixing-the-indians-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"2018 Cleveland Indians Won’t Be Hurt By Turnover"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cleveland Indians<\/a> lived up to expectations until it mattered most. <\/span>The Indians had many many moments to remember in 2017. \u00a0<\/span>At the top of that list of memorable moments was winning 22 consecutive games, but the Indians wanted more. <\/span>After losing in five games to the New York Yankees<\/a> it\u2019s World Series or bust for the Indians in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

2018 Cleveland Indians Roster<\/h2>\n

Much of the core that won 102 games is returning, but fans have to wonder what could have been in 2017 with the most talented Indians teams in recent years. <\/span>But some think the Indians have a glaring problem. <\/span>Many players are not returning to the team like Bryan Shaw<\/a>, Carlos Santana<\/a>, Jay Bruce<\/a>, and Austin Jackson<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bryan Shaw<\/a><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s start with Shaw. <\/span>Shaw threw 76.2 innings over 79 appearances, which is tied for the most in the MLB with Royals pitcher Peter Moylan<\/a> for 2017. \u00a0<\/span>Shaw chewed up innings when the Indians needed him to most. <\/span>His ERA of 3.52 over that many innings will absolutely be missed.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a very simple solution for Shaw\u2019s absence<\/a>, and his name is Tyler Olson<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span>In 30 appearances Olson gave up zero runs. <\/span>Sure 30 appearances and 79 appearances are way different but it\u2019s pretty hard to argue that Olson can\u2019t fill up a decent amount of the vacant innings this season after Shaw\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n

Another person to fill those innings could be Danny Salazar<\/a>. <\/span>Salazar started 19 games in 2017 for Cleveland going 5-6 with a 4.28 ERA, maybe a change is exactly what Salazar needs. <\/span>He can provide valuable innings out of the bullpen for the Indians and he can get a chance to thrive in a new role.<\/span><\/p>\n

But then there\u2019s a new problem, who\u2019s the fifth man in the rotation? <\/span>Mike Clevinger<\/a> went 12-6 in 21 starts for the Indians, and now looks to be the time to move him into the rotation full time. <\/span>His 3.11 ERA is more than one run per nine innings better than Salazar\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jay Bruce<\/a><\/h3>\n

Last season there were two Jay Bruce\u2019s, New York Jay Bruce and Cleveland Jay Bruce. <\/span>While in New York, Bruce hit 29 home runs over 103 games (one home run every 3.55 games). <\/span>While in Cleveland, Bruce hit seven home runs over 43 games (one home run every 6.14 games). <\/span>In New York, Bruce got slightly more than one hit a game, but in Cleveland, Bruce had .86 hits per game.<\/span><\/p>\n

The solution to losing Bruce<\/a> hinges on if Michael Brantley<\/a> can stay healthy. \u00a0<\/span>Brantley has proven that when healthy, he is a star. \u00a0He finished third in MVP voting in 2014 but he has struggled to stay healthy having only played in 101 games in the past two seasons. <\/span>However, they will struggle to replace Bruce\u2019s power as Brantley is not as much of a power hitter as Bruce.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slamtana and Jackson<\/h3>\n

The Indians are set to replace<\/a> Carlos Santana<\/a> with Yonder Alonso<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span>In 2017, Alonso<\/a> had a better batting average, a higher on base percentage, and more home runs than Santana. Alonso is far cheaper than Santana.<\/span><\/p>\n

A platoon of players will replace<\/a> Austin Jackson<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span>Some of those players could be Lonnie Chisenhall<\/a>, Rajai Davis<\/a>, and Melvin Upton. <\/span>The Indians may have lost players, but they didn\u2019t lose much that they can’t replace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>