The over/under for Cleveland Indians wins in 2012 is 78.5.  The Indians were 80-82 last year.  The Indians added Casey Kotchman to play 1B in 2012 and they will have Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Kipnis from the start of the season.  The Indians also added Kevin Slowey and Derek Lowe in deals over the winter to bolster the starting rotation.  I like the Indians to finish slightly over .500 in 2012, so I would bet on the over.

The Indians are hoping that 43-year old manager Manny Acta can get them back to the playoffs in 2012.  Acta led the Indians to a surprising 80-82 (49.4%) record in 2011.  Acta is now 149-175 (46%) in his first two years as the Indians’ manager.  He is now 307-427 (41.8%) in his first five years as a major league manager.  The Indians hope that Acta can coach the Indians up and get them into the playoffs in 2012, and they look like an improved team heading into this year.

The Indians have acquired 27-year old righty reliever Jairo Asencio from the Braves for cash considerations.  Asencio pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.97 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP.  He also pitched in 47 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with 26 saves, a 1.81 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.  Asencio pitched in 9 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Braves and he was 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP.

The Indians have claimed 26-year old righty starter/reliever Rick VandenHurk off waivers from the Blue Jays.  He pitched in 4 games (2 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 0-0 with a 8.00 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP.  VandenHurk has now pitched in 46 games (35 starts) in his first five years in the show and he is 8-10 with a 5.97 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.  Maybe the Indians can coach up VandenHurk as he has outstanding stuff, but he has never really learned how to pitch.

UPDATE:  (3/29/2012) – The Indians have designated Rick VandenHurk for assignment.

UPDATE II:  (4/4/2012) – Rick VandenHurk has rejected an outright assignment to AAA, and he has become a free agent.

29-year old lefty swinging RF Shin-Soo Choo had injury problems and off-field problems (DUI) that wrecked his 2011 season.  Choo played in 85 games for the Indians last year and he was 81 of 313 (.259 avg, .733 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  He has now played in 530 games in his first six years with the Indians and he is 567 of 1,926 (.294 avg, .865 OPS) with 301 runs scored, 67 homers, 305 RBIs and 64 stolen bases.  Choo has now played in 544 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 569 of 1,955 (.291 avg, .856 OPS) with 302 runs scored, 67 homers, 306 RBIs and 64 stolen bases.  Choo played in 85 games in RF for the Tribe last year and he had 4 errors and 9 assists.  He also showed off excellent range in RF last year for the Tribe.  I look for Choo to have a big year for the Indians in 2012.

32-year old righty swinging Ryan Spilborghs is trying to win a job with the Indians this spring.  He played in 98 games for the Rockies last year and he was 42 of 200 (.210 avg, .588 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers, 22 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  Spilborghs has now played in 619 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 424 of 1,561 (.272 avg, .768 OPS) with 222 runs scored, 42 homers, 218 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.  Spilborghs played in 29 error-free games in RF last year for the Rockies and he had 2 assists while showing awful range there.  Spilborghs played hurt last season (foot injury), so he could bounce back strong in 2012.

Aaron Cunningham, Fred Lewis and Felix Pie could also play some RF for the Indians at some point this year.  Cunningham played in 18 error-free games in RF last year and he had 1 assist while showing out of this world range.  Felix Pie played in 3 error-free games in RF for the Orioles last year.  Lewis played in 4 games in LF for the Reds last year and he had 1 assist while showing outstanding range there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2012:  B+