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The Cleveland Indians have been able to accomplish an amazing amount in the last decade. They made the playoffs six times in a seven year span (also winning the division with the same consistency), they appeared in the World Series twice, and they had a strangle hold on the AL Central.
The Indians call Jacobs Field home. Located in the heart of Cleveland, Jacobs Field was opened in 1994. It can hold almost 44,000 people, and even has a terraced bullpen area in right field. It’s a baseball-only facility, and is only 375 to the alleys in left and right center, but has an oversized wall in left field to compensate for the lack of distance. Jacobs field also hosted the all-star game in 1997.
This year, it will be up to Matt Lawton to set the table for the rest of the lineup. Youngsters Travis Hafner and Casey Blake are the odds on favorite to lead the team in home runs and runs batted in although their numbers shouldn’t threaten to lead the league in either category. Fan favorite Coco Crisp should solidify his starting role in left field and amaze the fans with some of the diving plays he makes throughout the year.
On the mound, the loss of closer Danys Baez to Tampa Bay opens up a spot for young gunner David Riske. C. C. Sabathia will anchor the staff again, and should approach his usual 200 innings pitched for the season. Cliff Lee and Jason Davis will likely step into starters roles after pitching the past few years in the minor leagues. Jake Westbrook will shift between starting and long relief, and Rafael Betancourt will be asked to pitch the 8th innings more often then not in order to get Riske the ball in save situations.
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