The season is nearly upon us. As we have done in the past, let's put on our fortune telling glasses and predict how the season will play out for our beloved Tribe. 

I think it'll be a relatively easy regular season for the Tribe. I don't think the Central is all that good so the Indians really make hay in division. I'll call for 98-64 with a comfortable margin in the division. Ultimately, the Tribe will fall to one of the AL East powers in the postseason and fail to win the elusive World Series crown.

I will call for a bounce back year from Jason Kipnis. Frankie Lindor has a great year and improves on his .273 average from a year ago but fails to match his 33HR/89 RBI totals from last year. 

J Ram 27 homers. 48 doubles. 90 RBIs.

Bradley Zimmer shows more consistency than last year and some flashes of a budding superstar while hitting 20 home runs, driving in 60 runs and stealing 30 bases. 

Yonder Alonso makes us wish we still had Carlos Santana. While he may hit the same 25-30 home runs, we realize that Carlos taking 100 walks per year was pretty damn valuable. 

It's pretty easy/safe to predict the pitching to be good. I'll go out on a limb and say that after Kluber in game 1 of the playoffs, we will all want Mike 'The Flow' Clevinger to be our #2 over Cookie and Bauer. 

I’ll try and give some player predictions later. But for the Tribe W/Lrecord:

103-59. Best record in baseball (on the strength of a shit division). We trade for Machado at the deadline, but have to give up Aiken or Tristan. 

Made playoff predictions last 2 years and we still have no ring. So fuck making playoff predictions, lol.

Is the over/under still 95.5? I'd go with the under (95) if I had to be my own money. I think the infield and starting pitching will be stellar, worried about the outfield and early part of the bullpen. I think we win the Central but do not get to the World Series. 

I'm hoping to see a more focused team early in the season this year. Coming off the World Series heartbreak in 2016, I think an April 'hangover' was normal but they should be pissed this year. 

posted by iclfan2

Is the over/under still 95.5? I'd go with the under (95) if I had to be my own money. I think the infield and starting pitching will be stellar, worried about the outfield and early part of the bullpen. I think we win the Central but do not get to the World Series. 

As far as the top 6-7 teams that could potentially be in the WS, the Tribe is probably top 3 in defense, starting rotation and bullpen. Offensively, they are probably 7th out of 7.. I'd go with the under but they'll still eclipse 90 games. Agree with them winning the division but not getting to the WS.

As far as predictions:

Clevinger is the breakout guy in the rotation with 15+ wins.

Salazar finally gets traded.

Lindor finishes 2nd in the MVP voting.

Kluber finishes 3rd in the Cy Young voting.

Andrew Miller signs an extension and stays with the Tribe for 2 more years.

Albert Belle escapes jail and is caught crawling naked through the duct work above the visitors dugout stealing Erik Gonzalez' corked bat (37 HR's to date) that was confiscated by the Yankees manager in late August.

posted by BR1986FB

As far as the top 6-7 teams that could potentially be in the WS, the Tribe is probably top 3 in defense, starting rotation and bullpen. Offensively, they are probably 7th out of 7.. I'd go with the under but they'll still eclipse 90 games. Agree with them winning the division but not getting to the WS.

As far as predictions:

Clevinger is the breakout guy in the rotation with 15+ wins.

Salazar finally gets traded.

Lindor finishes 2nd in the MVP voting.

Kluber finishes 3rd in the Cy Young voting.

Andrew Miller signs an extension and stays with the Tribe for 2 more years.

Albert Belle escapes jail and is caught crawling naked through the duct work above the visitors dugout stealing Erik Gonzalez' corked bat (37 HR's to date) that was confiscated by the Yankees manager in late August.

 

Speaking of Belle... http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22917635/former-mlb-star-albert-belle-arrested-dui-indecent-exposure-charges-arizona

It's all about making the playoffs and being as healthy as possible going into the playoffs.  I maintain the playoffs, especially the ALDS are a crap shoot.  Great pitching will always give you a chance, and if the Tribe make the playoffs I give them just as much as a shot of making it to the WS as every other team that will be in the playoffs.  Last year Kluber picked a terrible time to look human, E5 injured himself, and the entire lineup decided to be a pile of shit.  There are a lot of guys in that lineup that have some redeeming to do.  

posted by like_that

Speaking of Belle... http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22917635/former-mlb-star-albert-belle-arrested-dui-indecent-exposure-charges-arizona

vball10set paying it forward

24771 posts
113 reps
Joined: Nov 2009

8 hours ago...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ex-mlb-player-albert-belle-arrested-for-extreme-dui-indecent-exposure/ar-BBKHIU9?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=U141DHP

posted by like_that

Speaking of Belle... http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22917635/former-mlb-star-albert-belle-arrested-dui-indecent-exposure-charges-arizona

That's why I added that. Apparently, Albert isn't shy about flopping out "Lil Joey" in public places.

101 wins. Go Tribe. 

I'm going to go a little more conservative and say 95 wins. 

Go Tribe. 

posted by like_that

It's all about making the playoffs and being as healthy as possible going into the playoffs.  I maintain the playoffs, especially the ALDS are a crap shoot.  Great pitching will always give you a chance, and if the Tribe make the playoffs I give them just as much as a shot of making it to the WS as every other team that will be in the playoffs.  

I was going to say something about the playoffs, but like_that pretty much hit on what I feel. 

93-69

99-63

92-70

Breakout year for Mike Clevinger. Progressive Field will be renamed CLEV- Land.

91 wins

Lose in the ALCS

https://sports.yahoo.com/indians-pitcher-trevor-bauer-marries-charity-trolling-69-days-giving-145202220.html

Going to say 94 Winz, and a WS title to boot. Sweep

posted by like_that

https://sports.yahoo.com/indians-pitcher-trevor-bauer-marries-charity-trolling-69-days-giving-145202220.html

The numbers are a bit juvenile but good for him for giving some money away. He's an odd duck but he's our duck. 

Currently 40 and raining here, not helping the not feeling like Opening Day vibes I have with the Tribe starting at 10 tonight. 

posted by TBone14

The numbers are a bit juvenile but good for him for giving some money away. He's an odd duck but he's our duck. 

Ha I like Bauer's weirdness, and training. Check out the video below on how he scientifically created a new slider. Pretty cool

https://twitter.com/InfieldChatter/status/978812843637202946

posted by iclfan2

Ha I like Bauer's weirdness, and training. Check out the video below on how he scientifically created a new slider. Pretty cool

https://twitter.com/InfieldChatter/status/978812843637202946

May have been on some of those links but I saw where Bauer bought a bunch cameras so he can freeze photos, or something like that, and analyze each move he makes to perfect his pitches. I think this guy is more analytical than Sashi Brown.

Regarding his donations....I think it's super cool that he's doing this and I've already mentioned it to one of my coworkers to reach out to him for one of the donations. Guy I work with has a group that goes around and performs magic for terminally ill kids here in Cleveland. Not to make light of it but when he told me about the magic, the first thing I though of was Gob in Arrested Development.

Tribe wins 94 games, and go on to win World Series 70 years after their last World Series triumph, to the delight of Chief Wahoo.

Posting this here as well, for anyone who wants to relive the greatness of the comeback before opening day:

https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/34817

posted by Laley23

Posting this here as well, for anyone who wants to relive the greatness of the comeback before opening day:

https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/34817

Thank you!!   I still remember cashing in after the 6th inning thinking it was over; then damn near wrecked the car going to work the next morning after turning on the radio, Cleveland WWWE (now WTAM)