It's possible that the Indians' rotation in 2012 could include Derek Lowe and Kevin Slowey. Those two pitchers' combined won-lost record last year was 9-25. Nevertheless, Tribe officials are optimistic about the chances of both pitchers making big contributions this season.
Lowe, who was 9-17 with Atlanta last year, will be in the Opening Day rotation barring injury, probably as the No. 4 starter.
Slowey, who was 0-8 for the Twins last year, will compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.
The Indians acquired the 38-year-old Lowe during the off-season in a trade with Atlanta. Indians manager Manny Acta said the Indians didn't acquire Lowe only for his leadership.
"If he was brought here just to be a leader, that's a pretty expensive leader," Acta said.
The Indians believe Lowe can have a bounce-back season in 2012. Among the reasons behind that belief are that Lowe is healthy and he's smart. He knows how to pitch and he's extremely durable. Since 2002, Lowe has averaged 202 innings per season.
"He piles up the innings and he doesn't back down," Acta said. "We feel he can bounce back this year and he feels the same way."
Slowey reached double figures in wins for the Twins in three consecutive seasons starting in 2008. However, he was traded to Colorado after his winless season. The Indians acquired him in a trade with the Rockies later in the off-season.
"He is a lot like (RHP Josh) Tomlin," Acta said. "He needs to be very sharp with his command. Last year, he was off with his mechanics and his location."
Slowey appears to have the inside track for the No. 5 spot in the Indians' rotation, although he will face competition from Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff, and Zach McAllister.
NOTES, QUOTES
Guzman signs with Indians, has a chance for utility spot
--INF Cristian Guzman, 33, was signed to a minor league contract and is in the major league camp as a non-roster player. He will attempt to win a job as a utility middle infielder. Guzman is a two-time All-Star, with the Twins in 2002 and the Nationals in 2008, but he did not play season while recovering from rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder.
--RHP Ubaldo Jimenez says he's healthy this spring, and Indians officials couldn't be happier. "He told me that and it brought a smile to my face," pitching coach Scott Radinsky said. Last year while with Colorado, Jimenez had injury problems early in the season and never really seemed to get into any rhythm, particularly after the Indians traded for him at mid-season. Jimenez went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 starts for the Indians. "This guy can really throw the ball," Radinsky said. "I think we're going to see a different guy this year."
--RHP Derek Lowe is penciled into the Indians' rotation even though he is 38 years old and coming off a season last year with Atlanta in which he went 9-17 and led the National League in losses. Asked what the 6-foot-6 Lowe brings to the team, pitching coach Scott Radinsky joked: "He adds age, and some height." More seriously, Radinsky said: "He's going to be a big plus for us. He's a possible 200 innings guy and he's a tireless worker."
--OF Shin-Soo Choo lost about 150 at-bats last season when he was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken thumb that eventually required surgery. Limited to 313 at bats Choo hit only .259 with eight home runs and 36 RBI. Choo reported to training camp healthy. "If he hadn't broken his thumb, his numbers (last year) would have been there," manager Manny Acta said.
--RHP Josh Tomlin missed the last five weeks of last season because of right elbow inflammation but still managed to go 12-7, tying him for the team lead in victories. Pitching coach Scott Radinsky said Tomlin has thrown well early in camp. "He looks good and said he feels good," Radinsky said.
BY THE NUMBERS: 30-15 -- The Indians' record on May 23 last year, when they were in first place and leading the Central Division by seven games. They went 50-67 the rest of the way.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not a fluke when you spend as much time as we did in first place last year." -- Manager Manny Acta on the Indians' 30-15 start last season.
ROSTER REPORT
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. RHP Justin Masterson
2. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
3. RHP Josh Tomlin
4. RHP Derek Lowe
5. RHP Kevin Slowey
The all-right-handed rotation remains all right-handed, even without RHP Fausto Carmona, who will start the season on the restricted list after his arrest in the Dominican Republic for identity theft. Slowey, acquired in a trade with Colorado the day after Carmona's arrest, is the favorite to take Carmona's spot in the rotation. Slowey is out of minor league options, which could give him a leg up on the other candidates -- RHP Jeanmar Gomez, RHP Zach McAllister, and LHP David Huff.
Masterson had a breakout season last year and will probably get the Opening Day nod over Jimenez, who was a major disappointment last year after being acquired in a blockbuster mid-season trade. Tomlin is a strike-throwing machine who led the majors in 2011 with an average of only 1.1 walks per nine innings. Lowe, acquired at the start of the offseason in a trade with Atlanta, led the NL in losses last year, going 9-17 for the Braves. At 38, he bears watching.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Chris Perez (closer)
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Vinnie Pestano
LHP Rafael Perez
LHP Tony Sipp
LHP Nick Hagadone
RHP Dan Wheeler
All the key guys are back from last year's bullpen, which had a 3.71 ERA to rank fifth in the AL. Chris Perez was fourth in the league with 36 saves and fourth in save percentage (90 percent). Smith's 2.01 ERA ranked fourth among AL relievers, Pestano averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, Rafael Perez tied for second in the AL in appearances (71), and Sipp held right-handed hitters to a .180 batting average.
Hagadone, a rookie, made nine appearances late last season and was nearly unhittable (.118 opponents batting average), if erratic (11 walks in 11 innings). Wheeler, a free agent, signed a minor league contract, but has plenty of major league experience and looks like the leading candidate for the last spot in the bullpen. Other candidates are RHP Frank Herrmann and non-roster invitees RHP Jeremy Accardo, RHP Chen-Chang Lee, RHP Chris Ray, RHP Robinson Tejeda, and RHP Danny Salazar.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. CF Grady Sizemore
2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
3. RF Shin-Soo Choo
4. C Carlos Santana
5. DH Travis Hafner
6. 1B Casey Kotchman
7. 2B Jason Kipnis
8. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
9. LF Michael Brantley
So much depends on Sizemore's health, but if able, he will return to his customary spot at the top of the lineup, although Indians' officials acknowledge the days of him playing 150-plus games are gone. Cabrera is coming off one of the best offensive seasons of any shortstop in franchise history, while Choo hopes to bounce back from a season basically lost to injuries.
Santana has all-star potential. He'll also, like last year, make some starts at first base, mostly against tough left-handers, who would give lefty-hitting Kotchman trouble. Chisenhall had a big spring last year and might need it again in order to win the third base job over veteran Jack Hannahan, a superb defender. Brantley would move over to center field on days Sizemore is not in the lineup.
TOP ROOKIES: LHP Scott Barnes could pitch his way into the competition for the rotation spot vacated by RHP Fausto Carmona. Barnes was 7-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts at Class AAA Columbus last year. INF/OF Russ Canzler, acquired from Tampa Bay for cash, could be insurance at the corner infield and outfield spots. He was the MVP in the International League last season, batting .314 with 18 home runs, 83 RBI and a .401 on base percentage.
