Cleveland Indians' hopes spring eternal

Cleveland Indians' hopes spring eternal

Cleveland Indians' hopes spring eternal
Posted by Terry Pluto March 26, 2008

Kissimmee, Fla. -- I'm a sucker for spring training.

I can watch Tribe second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera short hop tricky ground balls, coolly turn double plays and think, "This kid will win a Gold Glove one day."

I can smile as Grady Sizemore runs out every ball, even routine pop-ups, in these games because that's how Grady Sizemore plays.

I can see Cliff Lee throw five scoreless innings using three different pitches as he did Saturday and think, "Maybe he will win 15 games."

I can watch Jake Westbrook throw six scoreless innings like he did Monday and be convinced he'll win 15 games.

I can be mesmerized as Fausto Carmona shut down the Tiger regulars Sunday, and put at least 15 wins next to his name. And C.C. Sabathia will win 15, too. And before I know it, everybody is winning 15 games and the Indians could go 120-42.

I can see Travis Hafner struggle against left-handers -- as has been the case this spring -- and think, "Hey, it's just spring training. At least he's hitting righties, which he didn't even do last spring."

I can listen and nod as a scout tells me, "Trevor Crowe is an athlete trying to learn how to play baseball, and when he does, look out." I can almost ignore the fact that Crowe is 24, he's had 672 at bats with Class AA Akron, where his batting average is only .253 with six homers and 95 strikeouts.

I can watch Josh Barfield draw some walks, hit a few balls to right field, and tell myself that he does look more patient at the plate -- dismissing his .238 spring batting average. I can say I still believe Barfield will be a good player for the Tribe, and really believe it even as he's sent to Class AAA Buffalo.

I can walk around the small ballparks jammed with fans in Wahoo red, white and blue wearing T-shirts and shorts even when the temperature is in the middle 50s and the wind is whipping around. But the fans think, "This is Florida, it's March and it's supposed to be warm. At least we don't have five feet of snow like they do back home."

I can see that most of the fans are senior citizens and families with kids, not the corporate crowd. I see them in small ballparks close to the players and having bought tickets often cheaper than the regular season -- and that's why baseball's spring training games are so much better than the NBA or NFL preseason rip-offs.

I can study Kelly Shoppach catch and throw and really believe it when GM Mark Shapiro insists, "He's one of the 15 best catchers in baseball, teams call about him all the time." Like Cabrera, Shoppach's defense is not a spring mirage. Nor is Franklin Gutierrez in right field.

I can swear Victor Martinez gets two hits every spring game. That's close, as he's batting .345.
I can watch Paul Byrd with those high socks, that full over the head windup -- and then close my eyes and think about the pitchers of my youth. It's the 1960s, when a sinker was a sinker, not a "splitter." It's when pitchers had different windups. It's when no one counted pitches, when no one ever heard the words "set-up" or "closers." It's when relievers were relievers, and starters were supposed to try to survive nine innings.

I can think about how I'd listen to those spring games from Tucson, Ariz., with my father. Herb Score would tell us how one veteran lost some weight, another came up with a new pitch. And maybe, just maybe, the Indians will be improved this year. Down deep, both of us doubted it, but we tried to believe, anyway.

I can say that opening day is coming, and baseball doesn't make everything right with the world. But it can make it better.