The defending AL Central Champions will face an up-hill battle to defend their crown during the 2008 season, especially with the Detroit Tigers landing Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, so they’ll need a few players to step up if they hope to stay ahead.

Joe Borowski has to be the first on the list of players that needs to have a better 2008 than where they finished in 2007.  Borowski finished the 2007 season with a 4-5 record and a 5.07 ERA, but aside from that he still managed 45 saves in his first full year with the Indians.  They’ll need another season like that from Borowski, with exception to his high ERA, that needs to come way down in 2008.

Travis Hafner had another Hafner like season, finishing with his 4th straight 100+ RBI season, though his HR’s (24) were down from 2006 (42), this was the first time since his first season with the Indians in 2003 that he has finished with a batting average below .300.  Hafner is one of those guys, if you’re the Indians, you love to have in the DH role, because he’s a guy you just don’t want to see with runners in scoring position.  They’ll need another great season from Hafner in 2008.

Is there a guy that needs to have a bigger season than left-hander, and Indians’ ace C.C. Sabathia, especially in a contract year?  Although Sabathia won the AL Cy Young Award, finishing at 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA, he was less than effective against the eventual World Series Champion Boston Red Sox in the ALCS.  Sabathia has every reason in the world to want another big year for not only the team, but himself in 2008.  He’s at the end of his contract with the Indians after this season and will receive a huge payday in free agency.

The one guy the Indians would love to see have a great 2008 season is Fausto Carmona, arguably their MVP down the stretch and through their first round playoff series victory over the New York Yankees.  Carmona, you might remember, was the unfortunate victim of being the team’s closer and being in highlight reels for blowing save after save after save.  Then, they inserted the young right-hander into the starting rotation, and he never looked back.  He finished the 2007 season with better numbers than Sabathia, a 19-8 record and a 3.06 ERA.  When or if Sabathia departs in free agency after the 2008 season, look for the Indians to slide Carmona into the #1 spot.  In the meantime, he provides the Indians with a nice 1,2 punch in their rotation.

The biggest concern for this team is the effectiveness of left-hander Cliff Lee, who had an abysmal 2007 season, a 5-8 record and 6.29 ERA.  The Indians need Lee, who will turn 30 in August, to be someone they can count on in the #4 or #5 spot in the rotation.  Otherwise, you might see his name start popping up in trade rumors in the next few months, especially if he struggles right off the bat.

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