Cleveland Indians - The Bush Years (2000-2009)

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2000

Decade

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Titles:

Top Indians Players of the Oughts

2001 - Won Division - Lost ALDS to Seattle

2007 - Won Division Lost ALCS to Boston

Pitchers:

CC Sabbathia (27.6) - 76

BallPark:

Ciff Lee (16.23) - 57

Jacobs Field (2000-2009)

Jake Westbrook (11.23) - 37

Bartolo Colon (14.15) - 28

Team Name: Indians

Bob Wickman (5.51) - 26

Roberto Hernandez aka Fausto Carmona (4.32) - 20

Owners

Dave Burba (3.03) - 19

Richard E Jacobs (2000)

Paul Byrd (2.68) - 18

Larry Dolan (2000-2009)

Chuck Finley (5.84) - 16

Danys Baez (4.1) - 13

General Managers:

Joe Borowski (-1.15) - 10

John Hart (2000-2001)

Steve Karsay (4) - 4

Mark Shapiro (2001-2009)

David Riske (5.42) - 3

Rafael Betancourt (7.81) - 2

Managers:

Charlie Manuel (2000 - 2002)

Catchers:

Joel Skinner (2002)

Victor Martinez (19.25) - 52

Eric Wedge (2003-2009)

Einar Diaz (3.35) - 20

Kelly Shoppach (6.29) - 13

No Hitters:

None

First Basemen:

Jim Thome (17.73) - 32

Hall of Famers:

Travis Hafner (20.24) - 30

Robbie Alomar

Ben Broussard (6.05) - 19

Jim Thome

Ryan Garko (5.15) - 17

CC Sabbathia

Manny Ramirez (Pending)

Second Basemen:

Roberto Alomar (12.89) - 23

Rookie of the Year:

Ron Belliard (9.42) - 14

None

Jamey Carroll (4.65) - 2

Brandon Phillips (-0.45) - 2

MVP:

None

ShortStop:

Omar Vizquel (11.75) - 25

Cy Young:

Asdribal Cabrera (8.81) - 12

CC Sabbathia (2007)

Cliff Lee (2008)

Third Base:

Jhonny Peralta (13.72) - 36

Notable Events:

Casey Blake (15.98) - 28

2000 - The decade opens with very bad news for Cleveland fans. Richard E

Outfield:

Jacobs sells the club to Larry Dolan. Jacobs sells for $320 million, he had

Grady Sizemore (27.93) - 62

bought the club in 1986 for $40 million. No matter how you adjust for inflation,

Coco Crisp (8.9) - 25

that's a nice profit of about 20 million a year.

Shin Soo Choo (10.69) - 22

Kenny Lofton (6.05) - 21

2000 - The Indians are still a very strong club at the start of the decade finishing

Matt Lawton (3.78) - 18

second and then first in 2000 and 2001. They would drop off precipitously from

Milton Bradley (4.52) - 16

there as the team starts getting old. The Tribe has a rennaissance in the middle

Ellis Burks (7.49) - 14

of the decade, this time behind a strong pitching staff, before dropping off

Jody Gerut (3.5) - 10

again. A classic roller coaster ride of a decade.

Juan Gonzalez (4.41) - 9

Manny Ramirez (4.79) - 7

2001 - another blow, John Hart leaves Cleveland to be GM in Texas. His

Franklin Gutierrez (5.46) - 6

protégé, Marc Shapiro, takes over as GM. Shapiro had huge shoes to fill

in Hart's and Hank Peters' before him and he wasn't able to.

Notable Events:

Altho' he wasn't terrible.

2005 - The Indians gain thirteen games in the standings to win the wild

2001 - CC Sabbathia, twenty year old lefty, is a rookie. He was a first

card. Pitching rules the day as CC Sabbathia, Cliff lee and Jake

round pick in '98. Sabbathia is one of the best pitchers in the league

Westbrook have big years as does closer Bob Wickman

for over a decade

2006 - Fausto Carmona, 23, is a rookie. He has one big year, 2007,

2001 - Twenty three year old righthander Jake Westbrook is obtained

where he goes 19-8.and helps lead Cleveland to a division title.

from the Yankees for David Justice. He will become a mainstay of

Note that Carmona ends up becoming Roberto Hernandez. In 2012

Cleveland's rotation

when his fake visa was uncovered. It also came to light that Roberto

suddenly became three years older.

2002 - Coinciding with Hart's departure, the Indians collapse. They drop

17 games in the standings. The eight year run of first and second place

2007 - After a down 2006, Cleveland bounces back with 96 wins

finishes ends as defections and age take their toll.

and a division title. Again, it's the pitching that drives the club with

The Tribe goes 74-88

CC Sabbathis, Paul Byrd, and Fausto Carmona having big years.

Joe Borowski has a big year as a closer despite a 5.07 ERA

2002 - Marc Shapiro gets off to an incredibly good start in the retooling

process. He deals righthander Bartolo Colon, a six year ace of the staff

2008 - Cleveland drops 15 games in the standings. Considering total

who had been signed nine years earlier as an IFA, to the Expos for three

runs scored and runs allowed, the Indians overachieved in 2007

exceptional young prospects. This deal immediately brings life to the

and underachieved in 2008. Usually a big reason for this type of

Cleveland franchise while gutting the Expos future. The three are Grady

disparity is the quality of relief pitching. In 2007, Joe Borowski saved 45

Sizemore,19 year old who will emerge as one of the league's top

games, in 2008, Cleveland's closers only saved 13 games. Aside from

centerfielders, 21 year old second baseman Brandon Phillips who the

the relief pitching, C.C. Sabbathia dropped from 19 wins to 6 and was

Indians will let slip thru their fingers to the Reds in 2005 and who will

dealt to Milwaukee at the trade deadline in his free agent walk year.

become one of the better infielders in the game, and lefthander Cliff

The hitting did not decline in 2008.

Lee, 23, who will become one of the top pitchers in the majors.

2009 - Cleveland drops another 16 games in the standings.

2002 - Victor Martinez, 23, hard hitting catcher, an IFA in '96, is a rookie

This time its not a statistical quirk, they're bad. Cliff Lee, who was 22-3

in 2008, drops to 7-9 in 2009 before being dealt to the Phillies at the

2003 - Jhonny Peralta, 21, hard hitting shortstop, an IFA in '99, is a rookie

trade deadline in the year before his free agent walk year.

His decline alone accounts for much of the Indians' drop in the standings.

2003 - First baseman / DH Travis Hafner, 26, is obtained in a trade with

The losses of Lee and Sabbathia, injury to Westbrook, and the loss of

Texas for Einar Diaz.. Hafner is Cleveland's best hitter for much of the

effectiveness of Borowski turned a 96-66 division champ into a 65-97

decade. Travis's acquisition puts the lineup over the top by adding to

basket case in two short years.

young incumbents Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore and Jhonny Peralta