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Cleveland Indians: Four Predictions For The 2017 Season

By Dylan Haines

Apr 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; The grounds crew work on the field prior to a game between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Mets at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; The grounds crew work on the field prior to a game between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Mets at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) reacts after making the final catch to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) reacts after making the final catch to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Indians baseball is back! What predictions did FoS writer Dylan Haines make for the 2017 Tribe season?

Baseball season is officially back. Tonight, the Cleveland Indians will open their 2017 campaign against the Texas Rangers on the road. Hopefully, tonight’s showing is a better result than last season’s disappointing ending in Game 7 of the World Series versus the Chicago Cubs.

The good news is the Indians are going all-in with their young, talented nucleus, and they’re not being shy about bringing additional pieces into the mix. While there was much trepidation with past Indians’ management about paying to attain and retain talented players, this current regime seems different.

The team made the biggest free agent splash in Indians history with the signing of Edwin Encarnación from the Toronto Blue Jays. They also brought in Boone Logan from the Colorado Rockies to add even more quality depth to what is considered to be the best bullpen in all of baseball.

Cleveland has also made some moves with an eye toward the future, signing Jose Ramírez and Roberto Perez to long-term extensions.

After a thrilling and rather unexpected postseason run last season, and despite falling just short in the World Series, the excitement is palpable amongst the Indians faithful this season. The expectations are reaching the mid-90’s hysteria that accompanied the team to two World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997.

The Tribe is loaded at almost every position. Not to mention Michael Brantley is back on the 25-man opening day roster and looks like he’s healthy and ready to go.  Will 2017 finally be the year the Indians bring home that elusive World Series title that’s escaped their grasp for the last 69 years?

While we wait for that question to be answered, let’s make more bold predictions about how this season will unfold as the Indians attempt to make yet another run at their first World Series title since 1948.

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