The Indians hosted the Wild Card Play in Game for the right to play Boston in the ALDS, but were ultimately ousted by the Tampa Bay Rays. Now minus several pieces from last years team, they turn to their franchise depth in hopes of another playoff birth in 2014.

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 & Jeff Kleiner (Org. Depth Chart Expert) Follow @prosportsroster

Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports

The Indians had a triumphant and surprising year in 2013.  They blasted their way out of the gate led by Mark Reynolds and Jason Kipnis and Justin Masterson.

Halfway through the year, renaissance pitching from Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir helped jump into the foray among all the best AL clubs.

This club took advantage of a cupcake schedule – in order to reel off a 10 game winning streak to tend the campaign.

For those people who failed to see what a tough May.15 – June.15 schedule they had, in which they played almost all of the Division leaders across the board in the MLB, being all over .500 teams.

Because of that stretch, they deserved the late season ease of sked.

Jason Kipnis Highlight Reel 2013

Francona took over a team that ended up 68-94 after being competitive for the first couple of months of the 2012 season. The team also added some key FA talent., but Francona cultivated the attitude of this young team all the way to a playoff birth and a AL Manager Of The Year Award.

It will be paramount for this team to experience some deep internal improvement from their organizational players this forthcoming season.

Pitchers like Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber must take the next leap, aided by another solid season from Kipnis, a move to Catcher for Yan Gomes, and a utility role for Carlos Santana.

Terry Francona will have to weave his magic once again for this next year.

The Indians are an underrated franchise for how well they are run, and the misconception that they have done their fans wrong.

As some who has met Mark Shapiro personally, this team is a classy club that doesn’t get the recognition they deserve.

Hopefully the team can start quickly and help bolster the attendance for a late season run.

PRO SPORTS ROSTERS LINK  for the Indians 3 Year Salary Outlook and Organization Depth Charts and Rosters Year Round Updates save and click  here

Management

Cleveland Indians Players

Danny Salazar, who is about to turn 24 on Jan.11, 2013, was called up for the stretch run and posted some impressive numbers to help aid the squad. He was just 2 – 3 in his 10 Game Starts, however he only yielded a 3.12 ERA and 1.135 WHIP in 52.0 IP. With the likes of JImenez and Kazmir not coming back for 2014, it will put the youngster up the ladder of the peking order in Cleveland with Corey Kluber. Let’s see if he can handle the pressure in the upcoming season.

For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries Posts that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.

Note From Chuck Booth:

You guys are all in for a treat.  Jeff Kleiner has developed a site (prosportsrosters.com) that covers all organizational affiliates in the Minors for all of the Major League Baseball Clubs. 

We are going to combine efforts to bring you the best look at salaries, current 25 Man Player Rosters and Depth Charts for all 30 teams. 

Jeff is going to provide the documents in form of spreadsheets and I am going to accompany the posts with deep analysis of what the numbers tell us from my perspective. 

If you can’t wait for all of my assessments for each club, go and visit Jeff’s website over at http://www.prosportsrosters.com.

In Speaking with Jeff, he is one of the more passionate fans I have come across towards the game of baseball.  He spends enough time in updating his MLB Facts for it to be a Full-Time Job. 

Jeff updates this page below on a daily basis.  After you click on it….Bookmark it.  There is a 3 year salary forecast and stats not listed here on this page.  Jeff updates these pages daily and these changes include any Roster moves!

Authors for this post:

Jeff Kleiner:  “I have been a sports fan since the first Baseball game I went to at Comisky Park in Chicago in 1959, when baseball for me turned from black and white to color.

I have attended or watched thousands of games, always paying attention to statistics, rosters and salaries of all professional sports.

Luckily I had the advantage of watching WGN TV and seeing hundreds of games in the 60’s. Collecting Baseball Cards and then later dealing them gave me an extra sense of the sport, both good and bad.”

For all of your Salaries, Roster and Depth Charts for all 4 Major Sports (entire organization – Minors and Majors) click here or Follow Me on twitter  Follow @prosportsroster

prosportsrosters.com is the best source for following entire organizations in all 4 Major Sports.

Chuck Booth – Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames:   To learn more about my  “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .

You can also follow my Guinness Book of World Record Successful Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 Days – click here. 

I am happy to be part of such an awesome Magazine-Style Baseball Website and am looking forward to talking to all of the fans of the MLB. 

You can reach me on Twitter here Follow @mlbreports

Chuck Booth was visited by the Indians President Mark Shapiro during his trip to Progressive Field in 2012 during his World Record Streak.

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For a Full 3 year Salary Outlook plus last years Stats for every player in the Dodgers Organization year round click here.

Management