Cleveland Indians: 2016 Season Predictions

Evan Hablitzel

May 16, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Cleveland Indians baseball hat and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Indians defeated the Rangers 10-8. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Will the Cleveland Indians fail to live up to preseason expectations yet again? The FoS team weighs in.

It is that time of the year again. Spring training is in full swing and the Cleveland Indians are looking to improve on their 2015 third place finish in the AL Central (81-80).

In 2015, Michael Brantley and Corey Kluber graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as the magazine’s pick to win the World Series. Well, the prediction did not come to fruition. A 7-14 start in April ultimately doomed the Cleveland Indians. Manager Terry Francona will look to right the ship in his fourth season with the club.

The Tribe’s starting rotation is arguably the best in baseball, but plenty of questions remain as opening day approaches. The FoS team gave their predictions for the 2016 Cleveland Indians.

Too Many “Ifs” To Predict Success

Ric McElroy

With the free agent moves the Cleveland Indians made and no real trades in the offseason, I’m afraid they are right back in the situation they were in last year. Most fans were looking for them to make at least one significant trade to add the power bat or at least the RBI bat that has been needed for years here. It didn’t happen, therefore, they basically are back to having the pitching do what it could not last year and that is holding their opponents to fewer than three runs a game to get a victory.

Granted they picked up Mike Napoli, Juan Uribe, Will Venable , and a few others that are either coming back from injury or at the tail end of their careers. In other words cheap pick-ups, quantity instead of quality. We have to hope they have bounce back years or return to their former strengths and help the offensive and defensive ends of this team.

They have not solved their third base problem, as they only put a patch on it with the signing of Uribe. He is turning into a Franco clone as he just keeps showing up on a big league roster to fill a hole for a short time.

The biggest problem is in the outfield and the hole left by, 1) the surgery and recovery time for Michael Brantley, and 2) the PED suspension of Abraham Almonte. That gap in left hurt but as I understand it, Brantley is making good progress and barring a setback, may come back early. However, coupled with the Almonte suspension, really left a hole! Hopefully, Rajai Davis can help the situation.

The starting pitching is possibly some of the best in the American League. This may be the biggest reason some baseball predictors are putting the Tribe in position to finish high in the division. Some have gone so far as to say they could win the American League Central division. With Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, and the rest it looks formidable.

The bullpen on the other hand, has some questions. Other than Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw there are a lot of question marks. Both the starting pitching is the and the bullpen staff is predominantly right-handed. They need to find at least one lefty that is reliable to get that left-handed hitter out when needed.

There are still many ifs for my liking on this team. If they can score runs, if they do not dig a hole early as they have the last few years, if everyone plays to their potential, and if they stay healthy are some things that need answered. They cannot afford to lose any more players to injury or suspension.

There ae just too many ifs and I hope I am wrong as I have rooted for this franchise for years. But I’m going to have to say a final record of 75-87.

Next: Offense Key To Success

Offense Key To Success

Kristopher Grimes

In 2015, the Cleveland Indians were a “dark horse” favorite to contend for the World Series. Sports Illustrated had them on one of their regional covers, and ESPN had analysts breaking down how their pitching staff led by reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, who could dominate the American League.

Manager Terry Francona was only a few seasons removed from a surprising 2013 team that made the Wild Card Playoff, which won 92 games. With that team still somewhat in-tact and a stronger pitching staff, there was reason to believe that the Cleveland Indians could live up to those expectations.

However, the Tribe got off to a slow start, and before they knew it the 2015 season had gone from one of promise to one of bewilderment. The team finished 81-80, a game over .500.

So what should Cleveland Indians fans expect in 2016? Is the team going to finally turn it around, and get back to the team that won 92 games in 2013? Will they finally show the talent that led so many to believe they were World Series contenders last season?

Well, if the Cleveland Indians are going to compete in 2016, let’s just say that everything has to go right. They did not address the right-handed power hitter this offense lacked, and much of the same team returns. If they’re going to win, they need the offense to produce in the clutch, the starting pitching staff to limit big innings, and the bullpen to hold leads late in games.

Those didn’t happen last season. If those three things do happen though, the Tribe might have a chance to win more than 50% of their games.

That said, it won’t be easy. This Cleveland Indians offense doesn’t possess a lot of run producing power. That means guys like Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana will be looked upon as driving forces in the offense. This lineup needs them to produce not only home runs, but hit for a good average with runners in scoring position.

Fransisco Lindor can up in the second half of the season, and provided the offense with an unexpected boost, but who knows what to expect from him in a full 2016 season. Bottom line, the Cleveland Indians need to manufacture runs with timely hitting and base running. Big home runs will be rare.

The real key though for this team is the pitching staff. Kluber, who was last season’s ace got off to a horrible start. He finished the season 9-16 and despite good efforts, lacked run support (2/game) and often had to pitch perfect games to get wins.

That fall by their ace seemed to have a trickle down effect through the pitching staff all the way down to closer Cody Allen who struggled to shut the door on leads the team did have. The rest of the starters were inconsistent at best, and what was once a solid to great bullpen was once again looking for pieces as the season went on.

So if the Cleveland Indians are going to win big in 2016, they’re going to have to play well above this teams talent. While the pitching staff with Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, and Co. are the team’s best chance to win, the real key will be the offense. Can they produce enough runs? Will they get the big hits in the clutch situations? That’s what will determine the success of this season.

When it’s all said and done in 2016, Lindor will continue to develop and become to the core of this team’s success at the plate and in the field. Kipnis will have a rebound year, as will Yan Gomes (injured most of last year), and Santana might actually have a good year (he’s Due).

The starting pitching staff led by Kluber will have a much better year, and they will lead the Cleveland Indians to a lot of wins. Record wise? I see the Cleveland Indians finishing with 88 wins, going 88-74, and finishing second or third in the AL. They will more than likely miss a chance at the playoffs, but they will be in contention all year.

If the offense can produce enough runs when it matters that is.

Next: The Outfield Remains an Issue

The Outfield Remains An Issue

Ryan Rosko

To get the most success out of the Cleveland Indians’ season, quality play and consistent production on offense is needed. That will be very tough given the lack of talent in the outfield while also expecting Juan Uribe to start regularly at third base.

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Uribe is a solid veteran, but he should not be counted on to start on a regular basis. Allow Giovanny Urshela to start more often, and sooner rather than later he will force Uribe to start in spot duty coming off of the bench.

The outfield is going to be the toughest part to watch with this team, so hopefully, someone surprises the Cleveland Indians and their fan base. Ideally, someone such as Tyler Naquin would be that player. Since Cleveland is not willing to sign for legit talent in the outfield, they need to trade a starting pitcher.

The Cleveland Indians are not going to keep all of those pitchers down the road when their contracts expire and there is a huge need in the outfield. I would be very open to upgrading right field too. Lonnie Chisenhall has had enough chances.

The likelihood is that no such trade will occur, so manufacturing runs will be a challenge. The Cleveland Indians will win more games than we may expect, but that will be due to his pitching staff. Unless the team gets off to a hot start, it will be frustrating to watch the Cleveland Indians early on without Michael Brantley. He is the one who makes their offense gel.

They have the potential to reach 80 wins, but in reality, they should be expected to finish with 73 wins. If the Cleveland Indians reach said potential, getting to second place could be possible, with a chance of securing a wild card. However, unless their play shows otherwise, the 73 wins will be good for fourth in the A.L. Central. Hopefully, Cleveland can play at a high level, while making their season a successful one.

Next: Success In April And May Remains Crucial

Success In April And May Remains Crucial

Joe Russo

There is plenty of reasons to like the Tribe’s chances in the AL Central this season. The entire starting rotation returns, which may be the best group in the American League. There are some new additions that lengthen and strengthen the lineup. Terry Francona, however you feel about him, is a real difference maker in the dugout.

But it all comes down to the first two months of the season. In the last few years, this team has taken for granted the games early in the season. When you look back over the last couple of seasons, the Cleveland Indians have struggled mightily out of the gate and missed the playoffs by a game or two as a result.

This year, the Cleveland Indians have to overcome the loss of Michael Brantley until May, even if he can return ahead of schedule. April and May, as strange as it sounds, will be the biggest two months of the year.

By October, the Indians will make the playoffs, but as a Wild Card. Until someone proves they are better than the Royals or the Tigers, those two will contend for the division title. If there’s a team that can be dangerous as a Wild Card team, it’s the Tribe.

Little Margin For Error

Nick Dudukovich

This Cleveland Indians team can contend, but the problem with this year’s club is that there is no margin for error. The starting pitching is why the club is favored by many analytic websites to win the A.L. Central, but how often does a staff make it through the 162-game grind without getting injured?

Then we’re assuming that Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar are good enough to win a lot of 4-3, 3-2 games. That’s not a lot of runs to ask the offense to produce, but considering the front office did little to boost the lineup, it will be a struggle to score 3-to-4 runs per game.

The Cleveland Indians were 11th in runs scored a season ago, scoring 669 runs. The champion Royals were sixth at 724. The major takeaway here is that the Indians don’t need to clobber everybody, but they need to be better than they were in 2015.

Will the addition of Mike Napoli make them 55 runs better? The Cleveland Indians cannot expect to make the playoffs being so deficient on offense. Runs have to come from somewhere, because scoring is what wins games. If the pitching is going to have a chance, they are going to need a lead once in awhile.

Next: Team Will Go As Far As Pitching Takes Them

Team Will Go As Far As Pitching Takes Them

Evan Hablitzel

The Cleveland Indians made the correct decision to not trade any of their starting pitching. Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber, and Danny Salazar make up a three-headed monster in the Tribe’s rotation.

If Trevor Bauer can find any form of consistency as the fourth starter, we could be looking at a historically great rotation. The fifth starter has not been named yet, but it’ll be Josh Tomlin or Cody Anderson. Not bad options for the tail end of your rotation.

The main concern heading into this season is offense. Do the Cleveland Indians have enough to provide run support for their electrifying rotation? The additions of Mike Napoli, Juan Uribe, Will Venable, and Rajai Davis were cute, but did little to solve the team’s offensive woes.

With that being said, it’s not like we needed to give up a Salazar for a Todd Frazier. I’m not thrilled about the team’s lineup, but quality starting pitching one through five is a weapon few teams possess.

The MLB season is 162 games long, and by all accounts, a grind. There will be highs and lows, but the health of the rotation will be vital to overcoming any adversity. If Salazar, Carrasco, and Kluber make it through the season unscathed, I don’t see any reason this team can’t win 85 to 90 games.

There will be highs and lows, but the health of the rotation will be vital to overcoming any adversity. If Salazar, Carrasco, and Kluber make it through the season unscathed, I don’t see any reason this team can’t win 85 to 90 games.

Next: Indians: Who's Hot, Who's Not In Spring Training

At the end of the day, I say the Tribe goes 85-77 and makes the postseason via the wild card. The defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals will be too much to overcome.

Evan Hablitzel

Journalism student at Kent State, dedicated Cleveland sports fan. Paul DePodesta is my hero; Men lie, women lie, but stats don't.