ESPN Commentators Make Bold Predictions for Two Cleveland Indians

With Spring Training getting kick started just days ago, ESPN aired a spring training special this evening to give the lowdown on all the happenings in the offseason. Among the notable things Cleveland Indians related was an interview with incoming Tribe third baseman Mark DeRosa and his transition to the team. According to DeRosa, all is well and he is happy with his new team and also commented on the teams work ethic coming into the 2009 campaign.

At the end of the session, each commentor was asked to make big predictions for the upcoming year. Tim Kurkjian said that Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore is poised for a big year and said that he believes that he would hit 45 home runs and 45 stolen bases. While I think those lofty goals as being way too high, and still scratch my head why someone with such power hits leadoff for Eric Wedge, if it happens a lot of "Grady's Ladies" will be happy come October.

Kurkjian wasn't the only ESPN talking head to talk up one of our own. Former New York Yankees and Texas Rangers skipper Buck Showalter pegged new Tribe closer Kerry Wood as the league leader in saves. You know that Mark Shapiro is praying that Wood fulfills that promise as many people around the league think that the Indians spent too much money bringing in the free agent from the Chicago Cubs.

A Former player that wore the Chief Wahoo was also part of the discussion. Karl Ravech also made a prediction that he believes that the Manny Ramirez saga will not end anytime soon and that he will not be on a Major League roster when the season begins. I beg to differ, Manny and his agent Scott Boras are playing this high stakes of poker right and a team will flinch in the game of chicken and give the best right handed hitter in recent memory a contract that they will be happy with in the next couple weeks.