Cleveland Indians: 10 bold predictions for the 2017 season

The Cleveland Indians are going into the 2017 season looking to defend their AL title. Here, we explore 10 bold predictions for 2017.

As the regular season is about to begin, the Cleveland Indians are ready to defend their American League title. They made minimal, but impactful moves this offseason, and everything seems to be set up for another deep postseason run.

Aside from Jason Kipnis‘s injury, the Indians will continue to grow as they have one of the youngest rosters in the majors. Let us explore the 10 bold predictions for 2017.

Prediction #1: Jason Kipnis will be out until the All-Star Break.

I do not trust the Cleveland Indians training staff after the Michael Brantley fiasco last year. He went from two weeks to six weeks within a few days, so I’m boldly predicting that Kipnis will miss the entire first half. He may come back for a few games in May, but they will shut him down to make sure that his shoulder heals.

Prediction #2: Michael Brantley will play 150 games.

Brantley has not played 150 games since 2014, when he had a string of three years with around 150 games played. In 2017, Brantley will come back and play in 150 games, solidifying the Tribe’s outfield rotation.

Prediction #3: Tyler Naquin will not regress in 2017.

Every major news outlet is predicting that Tyler Naquin will regress in 2017 after a meteoric rise in 2016. I am betting that he does not. Sure, his BABIP is unsustainable and he plays terrible defense in CF. But, instead of being worse, I am predicting that Brantley’s return and the Indians’ general greatness will accelerate Naquin’s development.

Prediction #4: At least four players will start in right field throughout the season.

Lonnie Chisenhall is not the everyday starting right fielder for the Cleveland Indians. He might head back to third, who knows. He just does not have the look and feel of a right fielder for a World Series-caliber team.

Chisenhall, Bradley Zimmer, Brandon Guyer and Abraham Almonte will all start in right field at some point throughout 2017. There is also a possibility that Austin Jackson and Michael Martinez could get starts out there as well. It might be the biggest position to watch for the Tribe this year.

Prediction #5: Carlos Carrasco will become the No. 1 starter before the All-Star break.

Carlos Carrasco has all the tools of a No. 1 starter for the top team. He can strike out 15 guys in a game. He throws hard and has a tight curveball. Surprisingly, strange injuries have held him back more than ability. He goes through ups and downs, but I don’t think Kluber will a robot forever. He eventually regresses. Carrasco fills the No. 1 starter role early.

Prediction #6: Bryan Shaw loses his role as the setup man’s setup man.

Bryan Shaw is an interesting case. His stuff is not amazing, but he’s consistent. He has been the workhorse of the Tribe for a few years now, but with the higher pressure and expectations, along with Andrew Miller being around for a full season, Shaw will lose his spot to someone with different stuff.

Shaw is a bit redundant with Miller around, and someone like Zach McAllister or Perci Garner will take Shaw’s place as a hard-throwing 7th-inning setup guy.

Prediction #7: The Indians will not make a single trade-deadline trade.

The Tribe has traditionally made minimal moves at the trade deadline. Grabbing Andrew Miller last year was a pleasant surprise, but do not expect it to happen again. They have enough depth and enough talent that any upgrade might ruin their team atmosphere.

Plus, what area really needs to be improved? Even if Brantley or Kipnis are out for a while, they have plenty of guys waiting in the wings to take over. The Indians have no reason to make a move this trade deadline.

Prediction #8: Giovanny Urshela will push Jose Ramirez to the brink of being the everyday third baseman.

Even though he’s been around for a while, Jose Ramirez is still very young at 24 years old. He plays a good third base, and he broke out as a hitter last year, but Giovanny Urshela is the gold-glove third baseman waiting in the background.

Urshela will push Ramirez to either strive at third or find a new position. If Ramirez falters, he could get moved to the outfield or pop over to second base while Kipnis is out. It would be interesting if Ramirez loses his fielding job and how that would impact his hitting.

Prediction #9: Bradley Zimmer will not get called up until September, but he will make a huge impact in the playoffs.

Bradley Zimmer needs to stop striking out. Plain and simple. He cannot sustain such a high strikeout rate in the minor leagues, as it will get worse in the majors. He will figure it out, and he will get a September call-up.

As soon as he gets called up, he will start mashing homers and play amazing defense, pushing someone like Naquin or Chisenhall to the bench for the World Series push.

Prediction #10: The Cleveland Indians will win the 2017 World Series in a rematch with the Chicago Cubs.

Of course they will win the World Series! The Cleveland Indians have the best rotation in baseball, and it is not even that close (sorry Chicago and New York). The Indians have youth. They play great defense and run well.

They replaced their best power hitter with a better power hitter. Brantley’s an All-Star outfielder coming back for free. They are getting back a top-notch catcher. They also will have a full season out of an All-Star reliever. It’s last year, but better.

Everyone grows, and the Indians will sweep through the AL playoffs and beat the Cubs, at home, in six games to win the World Series. Surprising no one, Francisco Lindor wins the World Series MVP and is a top-5 vote getter for the regular season MVP award.

Conclusion

The Cleveland Indians will make another deep playoff run. They have a few small questions to answer during the regular season, and they should use the regular season as a nice experiment for what the playoffs look like.

Next: 5 reasons the Indians will win the World Series

The Indians ride their left-side All-Stars (Ramirez, Brantley, and Lindor) and their top three pitchers (Kluber, Carrasco, and Salazar) to a 99-win season, AL Central title, and playoff push. These predictions will come true and Cleveland will go wild!