2012 Opening Series vs Blue Jays -|- April 5th, 7th, and 8th.

[Nom]

So who is throwing out the first pitch this year? Last year a group of people were trying to get the Wild Thing to do it.

I believe it will be someone from the Marines. Marine Week is holding a lot of big events at the home opener, so that would be my guess.

 

[SOA]

What is the starting line up looking like?

cmon Corey

we know thedepth chart of the Tribe
CF -Brantley
SS - Cabrera
RF - Choo
C - Santana
DH - Hafner
1b - Cotchman
LF - Duncan
2B - Kipnis
3B - Hannahan

Jays
SS- Yuniel Escobar
2B - Kelly Johnson
3B - Brett Lawrie
RF - Jose Bautista
1B - Adam Lind
DH - Edward Encarnacion
C - J Arencibia
LF - Eric Thames
CF - Colby Rasmus

 

[Pyro]

Indians line-up has been announced and added to the OP.

1.) Brantley
2.) Cabrera
3.) Choo
4.) Santana
5.) Hafner
6.) Duncan
7.) Kotchman
8.) Kipnis
9.) Hannahan

 

[davedugan43]

Indians line-up has been announced and added to the OP.

1.) Brantley
2.) Cabrera
3.) Choo
4.) Santana
5.) Hafner
6.) Duncan
7.) Kotchman
8.) Kipnis
9.) Hannahan

Kipnis 8th?

 

[Pyro]

Kipnis 8th.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I like it. Low pressure situation. Also, with Kotchman in front of him, he will get plenty of run scoring opportunities.

 

[Nom]

I was pretty down on this team lately - but the top 5 in that order are still tough (assuming Brantley progresses and Asdrubal doesn't regress TOO much).

If Ubaldo can be effective this year we should be decent.

 

[MoneyForGyros]

We need to get off to a hot start in April. We can't afford many injuries.

 

[elcheato]

It sucks that the first game is against one of the best lefties in baseball. They're going to strike out a lot tomorrow, would be surprised if they scored more than a run.

 

[Real Deal]

I like it. Low pressure situation. Also, with Kotchman in front of him, he will get plenty of run scoring opportunities.

So he's going to drive in Hafner and Duncan? I like to be positive too, I just don't like him batting 8th. Time will tell, and if he's knocking the ball around, Im completely sure Acta will put him in the 2 hole.

 

[The Oi]

Horrible

 

[polska2211]

you guys really dont think we are going to be as bad as you say, do you? i mean seriously. we have choo back, kipnis the whole year, brantley is a year towards his prime, santana is one of the best catchers in baseball... sure we are thin at 3rd and left, but what team doesn't have holes? at least our third baseman can field well, same for at first. kotchman will at least get on base, which laporta was unable to do last year.

 

[elcheato]

The offense should be able to score runs, that's not the problem. Lowe, Tomlin and Gomez are all mediocre, and Ubaldo was mediocre last year. Ubaldo has to be close to ace form for this team to compete with the Tigers.

 

[polska2211]

The offense should be able to score runs, that's not the problem. Lowe, Tomlin and Gomez are all mediocre, and Ubaldo was mediocre last year. Ubaldo has to be close to ace form for this team to compete with the Tigers.

are the tigers going to be that much better than last year? Fielder is a marginal upgrade over victor, their fielding will suffer with Cabrera at third, Peralta at short, and Fielder at first. Theres no way in hell Peralta performs like he did last year. I'll be very surprised if Verlander is the world beater this year that he was last year.

im just trying to say that everyone is penciling the tribe in to be shitty and the tigers to dominate, when last year, the indians were on pace with the tigers before getting absolutely decimated by injuries. if we can say healthy, we can give the tigers a run for their money in the AL central.

 

["Boobie" Gibson]

We say that every year though, that's part of the problem. "If this team can stay healthy, they'll be real good!" It never happens. Baseball seasons are so long, it will never happen.

Fact is, despite needing a LF terribly, the offense should actually pretty decent this year. It is the pitching staff that really has me worried. Like someone above mentioned, we have to rely on Ubaldo, Lowe, Tomlin, and Gomez? Nevermind that, Justin Masterson has to have another great season too? I hope he can do what he did last year. I have zero confidence in Ubaldo at this point. HOPEFULLY I can come back and eat some fuckin' crow... I'll gladly do so in regards to Jimenez.

As for Lowe, he's been done for a while.

But I guess Tomlin and Gomez are fine 4th and 5th guys...

So I guess what I'm saying is... the Tribe need a #2 and #3.