The Indians should have the second consecutive pitcher (C.C. Sabathia) to win the Cy Young Award for them in 2008. Cliff Lee has been amazing this season as he has started 31 games in which he is 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He has done so by being very aggressive in the strike zone walking only 34 batters while whiffing 170 in 223.1 innings this season. This really came out of nowhere as Lee pitched in 20 games (16 starts) last season for the Indians and he was 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He even was sent to the minors last season! Prior to this season, Lee had pitched in 129 games (125 starts) in his major league career and he was 54-36 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. It will be very interesting to see what Lee does for an encore in the 2009 season.

Ryan Garko, Franklin Gutierrez, Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin Soo-Choo all had poor first halves but they are all have been on fire with the bat since the All-Star Break. Too bad they didn’t hit like that in the first half or the Indians might have made the playoffs this season. Ryan Garko must have seen how well Kelly Shoppach played while Victor Martinez was out so he knew if he wanted to keep his starting job in 2009 that he had to pick it up with the bat and he certainly has done that. Since the All-Star break, Garko has played in 53 games and he is 58 for 188 (.309 avg, .828 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 5 homers and 39 RBIs. Franklin Gutierrez was the starting RF when this season opened but he almost lost the job due to a terrible first half. He has rebounded in the 2nd half of the season playing in 53 games in which he is 50 for 176 (.284 avg, .822 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 5 homers, 20 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. 2B Asdrubal Cabrera was so bad in the first half of the season that he was jettisoned to AAA for a while. But, he has been hot since being called back up. In the 2nd half of the season Cabrera has played in 57 games in which he is 58 for 183 (.317 avg, .861 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 5 homers and 30 RBIs. Shin Soo-Choo has been the best player on the Cleveland Indians since the All-Star break. He has played in 56 games the 2nd half of the season and he is 69 for 201 (.343 avg, 1.037 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 10 homers and 44 RBIs. All four of these guys saved their futures with the Cleveland Indians with strong 2nd half performances but they need it to carry over into 2009.

The Indians have shut down righty starting pitcher Anthony Reyes for the season as he has a sore right elbow. This was smart for the Indians as Reyes looks like a keeper since coming over in a trade with the Cardinals. Reyes started 6 games for the Indians this season and he was 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Look for Reyes to be in the Indians’ starting rotation in 2009 and beyond.