Jackie Robinson week and day have come and gone, and still sixty years after he broke the race barrier in Major League Baseball we remember him. But there is a problem, we tend to forget those who came after him. This year is also the 60th anniversary of Larry Doby joining the Cleveland Indians and becoming the first African-American in the American League.

This isn’t to take anything away from Robinson, but most people haven’t even heard of the name Larry Doby and I think it’s about time he is recognized. Doby faced some of the same obstacles that Jackie did and the Cleveland Indians are trying to recognize him by having all of their players wear his number, 14, on July 5 in Detroit. I feel that this is an honor that Doby deserves and this is probably something that will go through. I can’t imagine MLB pulling an NFL and not allowing a tribute like that, I don’t think Bud Selig is that bad of a person.

Hopefully this tribute to Doby will receive at least some national attention. I don’t expect the fanfare and the pomp that surrounded Jackie Robinson day, but I think at least a mentioning of it would be good. And maybe all of those people who felt that wearing Robinson’s number yesterday would have diminished the meaning of wearing his number will appeal to wear #14 with the Indians on that day.

Before the Boys of Summer fully come out to play, many Major League Baseball teams have to open their season in some cold weather. Not every city is San Diego or Miami, weather actually does affect some teams. But if MLB pulled their head out of their asses, a lot of these problems in the early season would be easily alleviated.

Take the Cleveland Indians for example. When it’s not summer, Cleveland gets really cold. But MLB doesn’t seem to care. That’s why they scheduled a home series against the Seattle Mariners, who happen to play in a dome. Here’s an idea: have Cleveland get their trip to Seattle out of the way early in the season. That way, there won’t be any games lost due to weather. The blizzard affecting Cleveland wouldn’t affect the Indians, who would be able to get in their games.

Snow postponed the Thursday and Friday games in this series. A day-night doubleheader was axed yesterday and today, snow forced the postponement of yet another doubleheader. That’s four games that need to be made up later in the year, when teams are tired down the stretch. If this series was being played in Seattle, they would actually be getting in games.

These two teams will try to play another doubleheader tomorrow but these attempts look like they’re being made in vain. This series is doomed, largely in part to piss-poor scheduling by Major League Baseball. From now on, let’s schedule the opening week of the season in domed cities and warm cities. In the end, it will even out and we’ll avoid nonsense like this.

I’m going to petition for Ohio to become the new center for all things in sports that are just stupid, be it actions by players or organizations. The Cleveland Indians are doing their part to help my cause. They recently announced the hiring of a sportscaster who just got done serving a five month sentence in jail.

It isn’t like the guy just got out of jail for manslaughter, but it was for tax evasion. Tax evasion on gambling income that he didn’t report. Of course this wouldn’t be a story unless the said broadcaster is hosting a gambling show. The show, “All Bets Are Off with Bruce Drennan” is slated to be on air once a week, and I don’t think the irony is lost upon anyone. Hopefully his sign off saying involves something like make sure your bookie sends you a W2 or something along those lines.

Perhaps more importantly, the article also states that there is a 24 hour TV network that is being started up by the club. When did the Indians get the money to have their own TV channel? And why the hell isn’t that money just funneled back into the organization? Just start the Yankees/Red Sox of the midwest.

I really am not sure what I’m more disturbed by. The TV station, or the fact that a tax evading former prisoner is going to host a gambling show on that. Maybe it’s a combination of both of those and the fact that I think people will actually watch the show. Thank you Ohio, for once again allowing me to make fun of the sports within your state.

For the entire month of March, the Sportable Staff will look at one Major League Baseball team a day. We?ll look at their lineups and pitching and in the end, assess their playoff chances. Previews will be done by division, starting with the American League East. Each new division will also feature a new podcast devoted entirely to that division.

Tribe looking to rebound. After what can only be characterized as a disappointing year last year, the Cleveland Indians hope to bounce back this year and make a run for the AL Central title. Last year the Tribe were picked by many to win the division and even make a deep run into the playoffs, instead they finished sub .500 . The Indians are bringing back most of their talent, and have even added some more, and can actually be expected to live up to the hype this year.

Bats.
The Indians return their big bat from last year in designated hitter Travis Hafner. Hafner will be assisted by Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez, both of whom have put up consistent the past few years, and can be expected to continue that. Casey Blake proved last year that he can put up numbers similar to Sizemore and Hafner, and because of this, the Indians have three guys who are legit .290 hitters and 20 home run threats. Question marks remain at the rest of the positions for the Indians however. The corner outfield positions will need to produce, and with Trot Nixon and David Delluci out there it will be interesting to see if they can last an entire season. If they can, I think that they’ll get their due and put up decent numbers in the middle of the order. The young infielders are the real questions for the Indians. Jhonny Peralta needs to re-find his rookie year talent, and in the process learn how to spell his name right. Andy Marte at third has not put up good numbers in his limited major league at-bats, and the Indians are hoping that Josh Barfield, who they traded their “can’t miss” third base prospect Kevin Kouzmanoff for, will not undergo a sophomore slump ala Peralta. Assuming all the players produce at an average level for them, this could prove to be a very strong lineup.

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Hosts: Sonny, Ryan, Kevin, and Rich: This episode focused solely on the American League Central. A division with four teams that have a realistic shot at the playoffs made for an interesting debate. But we all agreed on one thing: The Kansas City Royals will finish 5th. Also, if A.J. Pierzynski listens to this, Sonny can kick your ass. Contact us and we’ll make the arrangements for a cage match.

You can snag Episode 14 here.

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After the Indians closed out the 2005 season just a couple games short of the playoffs, I felt their momentum and young, talented roster would be ready for a playoff run in 2006. They responded by going 78-84. Cleveland rocks. The run I predicted from them instead came from both the Twins and the Tigers, while my preseason favorites Chicago and Cleveland fell by the wayside. But now, everyone seems to think this one will be different for Cleveland.

I have to think Minnesota declines with the retirement of Brad Radke and of course, the injury that will keep Francisco Liriano out of action all season. I also think Detroit declines, despite not losing any pieces to the puzzle and adding Gary Sheffield. Maybe I’m not used to consistent Tigers’ winning. But they’re not going to sneak up on teams this year.

When looking at the roster, it doesn’t do enough for me to warrant putting them ahead of the other AL Central teams. Aside from Grady Sizemore, their outfield is garbage. Trot Nixon and David Dellucci? Why not pick up Raul Mondesi as well? The Indians’ infield has lots of talent. Acquiring Josh Barfield improves their defense greatly and trading Kevin Kouzmanoff in the process opens up a spot for the talented Andy Marte at 3B. Casey Blake, Jhonny Peralta, Travis Hafner, and Victor Martinez have come up through the system and have all put some nice years together.

But pitching is going to win this division. It was the reason for the White Sox run in 2005 and it was the reason Minnesota and Detroit had a lot of success last year. I can’t see Clevelands rotation making the same impact despite a pretty solid top three in C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and Jake Westbrook. Sabathia is currently battling Grady Sizemore for “most in-shape Indian.”
In a year where both the Brewers and Indians are considered dark horses in the playoff chase, I’m holding off until I get a better glimpse of their arms. Cleveland has improved their bullpen but after last year’s trainwreck, that was a given. I’d love to see games at Jacobs Field in October because I like the talent Cleveland has. I just don’t know if they have enough. Maybe they need one more arm to shore up that staff.