Leyland and others praise Indians

[consigliere]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 40324/1129

Indians show Tigers their muscle
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers were reminded Saturday of what they've sensed all along: Beware of the Cleveland Indians.

In their first defeat of the spring, the Tigers lost 11-2 to the Indians at Joker Marchant Stadium. Most of the damage -- nine runs, seven earned, on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings -- coming against Jason Grilli in the third and fourth innings.

Craig Monroe's second-inning home run was the Tigers' offensive highlight.

"That's a team you don't want to under-estimate because they'll bit you," third baseman Brandon Inge said. "The only way to beat a team like that is that you have to seriously want it more than they do."

One of the Indians' offseason additions, David Dellucci, had three hits and three RBIs.

"I'm worried to death about them to be honest with you," manager Jim Leyland said of the Indians. "They're really good. They remind me of my Pittsburgh situation when we were starting to get good, had a good year (1988), made a little cosmetic run, but the following year things just didn't go right for us.

"The year after that, though, we took off and won three straight (NL East titles). I don't want to speak of other clubs, except for the fact that they're really good. They'll be right back in the thick of things, in my opinion."

The Indians were 93-69 in 2005, pushing the White Sox down the stretch before finishing second in the Central Division. Last year, though, Cleveland finished fourth in the Central, six games below .500.

[Dozen]

They are scary, they hit the shit out of the ball. Just got to win the close ones and they could be very good.

[consigliere]

Yeah, offense is not going to be an issue. It WILL come down to the bully, defense, the manager and being able to perform in the clutch and win those close ones.

But, I think Leyland is spot on with the comp.

[Dozen]

I hope so, cant look back now. I've managed to get myself pumped for this season.

[furls]

Scary thing is that a lot of close games come down to the manager. Strangely, I am optimistic about this year in spite of Eric Wedge.

[leadpipe]

Yeah, offense is not going to be an issue. It WILL come down to the bully, defense, the manager and being able to perform in the clutch and win those close ones.

But, I think Leyland is spot on with the comp.

The Bully is huge, and they have some defensive situations at key positions.

I am interested in knowing why they threw in the towel with Martinez last year, yet feel he will be ok this year. This is a really big issue in my opinion. I think the management and all of us recognize he has much more value behind the plate, but i'm not at all confident he will handle the job back there.

[consigliere]

Somebody posted this elsewhere, and I thought this was interesting.

This is Leyland and Wedge their first four years as a manager (Leyland in Pitt):

First year....Leyland 64-98...Wedge 68-94
Second.......Leyland 80-82...Wedge 80-82
Third..........Leyland 85-75...Wedge 93-69
Fourth........Leyland 74-88...Wedge 78-84
Fifth..........Leyland 95-67

Overall....

The Bum......319-329
The Genius...303-343

Very scary how Leyland/Wedge and the Pirates/Indians in fact to compare.