The Indians' preparations for the 2012 season suffered two key blows before spring training even began. The Indians began training camp knowing that Fausto Carmona, the club's opening day starter last year, and Grady Sizemore, the team's leadoff hitter and center fielder, would not be on the opening day roster.
Carmona, club officials learned, isn't even Carmona. He's Roberto Hernandez, and he's 31 years old, not 28 as the club believed. All that came to light when Hernandez was arrested in the Dominican Republic for identity theft. Carmona hopes to pitch at some point this season, but he will open the season on the restricted list.
Sizemore will open the season on the disabled list. He underwent back surgery right as spring training was beginning. He is not expected to be back in the lineup until late May or early June.
Those two bombshells put a dent in some of the optimism the Indians had as they opened training camp. It meant the Indians had to fill two big holes on their roster.
With two weeks left in training camp it appeared they had filled Hernandez's spot in the rotation. Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez outpitched three other candidates to emerge as the likely winner of the competition for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation.
The job of replacing Sizemore in center and in the leadoff spot went to Michael Brantley, who moved over from left field. However, Brantley strained his right hamstring with two weeks left until opening day, so his status was likewise up in the air.
Two other key decisions for manager Manny Acta and his staff were to settle on a left fielder to replace Brantley. The Indians had no shortage of candidates as upwards of 10 players were in the mix.
With two weeks left in camp no single player had won the left field job, but veteran Shelley Duncan, plus Aaron Cunningham and Ryan Spilborghs, the latter two who have the ability to play center field, seemed to be the leading candidates.
Third base was another area of competition, with the choice being either veteran Jack Hannahan's glove or youngster Lonnie Chisenhall's bat. The Indians went with Hannahan's glove.
Chisenhall was optioned to Class AAA Columbus near the end of camp. Chisenhall's trump card was his bat, but he hit only .205 in the spring, with 16 strikeouts and one walk.
The rotation, which should be a strength of the club, will have a new look. The opening day starter will be Justin Masterson, a 200-inning workhorse and 12-game winner last year.
In the No. 2 slot will be Ubaldo Jimenez, whose performance, coming off a very disappointing 2011 season, could be a huge determining factor in how successful the Indians will be in 2012.
Strike-throwing machine Josh Tomlin, who won 12 games and led the majors in fewest walks per nine innings last year, will be the No. 3 starter, followed by 37-year-old Derek Lowe, who was acquired in an off-season trade with Atlanta.
Assuming the No. 5 spots goes to Gomez, the Indians will have good starting pitching depth, with Zach McAllister, David Huff, and Scott Barnes as insurance at Class AAA Columbus.
The bullpen should likewise be a strength as the Indians have the entire core back from what was one of the top bullpens in the league a year ago. That includes closer Chris Perez, who was fourth in the AL with 36 saves, although he missed the first two-thirds of training camp because of a strained oblique.
The four setup men in front of Perez -- Joe Smith, Rafael Perez, Vinnie Pestano, and Tony Sipp -- each had ERAs of 3.32 or lower last year.
The key for the Indians in 2012 will be whether what was one of the worst offensive teams in the league can be more productive this year. One new starter has been added, first baseman Casey Kotchman.
Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, hampered by injuries last year, is healthy, and will team with catcher Carlos Santana, whose 27 home runs last year set a club record for switch hitters, in the 3-4 spots in the order.
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera started the All-Star game last year, but his numbers in the second half, when he hit only .244, were not good. Second baseman Jason Kipnis, who will be in his first full season in the majors, will be Cabrera's double play partner.
For the Indians to reach the post-season in 2012 the pitching will have to carry them there. The Indians spent the off-season trying to add an impact bat, but failed, so the offense remains a huge question mark going into the season.
