Indians hungry for more success

They’re hoping to turn 2007’s disappointment into 2008’s triumph.

GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Thursday night, the Indians arrived at Jacobs Field just one win away from earning a trip to the World Series for the first time since 1997.

Monday afternoon, the Indians cleaned out their lockers and left Jacobs Field to go home for the winter.

A few hours of hindsight couldn’t help the team or its fans make complete sense of the misfortune of their own creation that had overtaken them over a four-day span. Yes, Cleveland’s 3 games to 1 lead over Boston in the American League Championship Series had evaporated that quickly.

The Red Sox outscored the Tribe, 30-5, over the final three games of the series to earn a date with Colorado to determine Major League Baseball’s champion.

The Indians, meanwhile, returned to Cleveland thinking about what might have been. And, on a happier note, what could be.

“I think we’re going to look back at what a great year and a great team we had,” pitcher Jake Westbrook said. “This is something we’ll definitely learn from.”

The Indians did learn they can compete at baseball’s highest level and on its brightest stage. Cleveland had reached the ALCS by pulling away from Detroit in the Central Division race, then knocking off the New York Yankees in the Division Series.

Finally, baseball fans across America began to recognize the legitimate stars on the Indians’ roster.

“That team over there, they’re great,” Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said.

And until the positive momentum came to a screeching halt in Game 5, the Indians were great.

“We won three in a row, and they won three in a row,” manager Eric Wedge said.

The Indians can look at their projected roster for next season and feel good about the talent. But the questions about the disappearance of several key players in the ALCS will dog them until next October.

Travis Hafner had four hits in the entire series and set an ALCS record with 12 strikeouts. Grady Sizemore had three hits in the last five games. Jhonny Peralta, who looked like a series MVP candidate early, had one hit in the last three games. C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona had a 12.67 combined ERA in their four starts. The bullpen wasn’t nearly as untouchable as during the regular season.

“I’m disappointed that we weren’t able to finish it off, but I couldn’t be more proud of our players,” Wedge said.

The 2008 Indians probably won’t look a lot different than the 2007 Indians. Among the primary position players, only veteran outfielders Kenny Lofton and Trot Nixon are unlikely to return. The Indians must determine whether they will pick up club options on pitchers Paul Byrd, Aaron Fultz and Joe Borowski.

Cy Young Award candidate Sabathia and third baseman Casey Blake are signed through next season. Most of the other familiar faces on the roster are under Cleveland’s control through at least 2009.

“We got a taste,” Westbrook said. “We’ll come back hungry next year.”