If only Travis Hafner had hit like Travis Hafner this year, the Indians' season might not have ended when it did.

Only a year after being plagued with mediocrity, the Indians were welcomed to 2007 with a slew of snowstorms and left with some hardware to add to their figurative mantels. While they did not mange to get to the World Series, they were within a game, going further than many teams had believed they could. They surpassed last season’s World Series representatives in the Tigers and took down the Evil Empire in the New York Yankees in October. Yes, the only one October.

It was not the smoothest sail in the majors to get where they did, but with the help of some youngsters, some veteran leadership and some huge production from the core components, and you have a team that tied for the winningest record in the bigs.

What Went Right

After suffering from a season of mediocrity in 2006, the 2007 Indians turned things around early and continued to poor it on after the All-Star break. While many had Detroit pegged as the team to rise to the top of the always-competitive AL Central, it was the Tribe that strung together a very solid second half to pull away from the rest of the pack and represent the division in the playoffs.

Ironically, the biggest surprise of the season came to fruition due to injuries to Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee. With a rotational spot opened up, the Indians were forced to turn to a 23-year old project named Fausto Carmona. Carmona got lit up several times in 2006, but went on to finish 2007 second in the league in wins (19) and ERA (3.06). This kid went from likely not having a place with the team to being the second starter in playoff series against the Yankees as well as the Red Sox.

Ace hurler C.C. Sabathia was not far behind in terms of the ERA and was neck-and-neck in the win column. Sabathia led all of the majors with 241 innings pitched, which is a great feat considering his health issues in the past. He used those innings to rack up 209 strikeouts with only 37 walks – among the best in the majors. Four complete games and one shutout later, if Sabathia would have had the run support of a few other pitchers in the league, he would have been a no-brainer selection for Cy Young. Instead, he had to settle for 18 of 29 first-place votes to bring home the award.

It was not just the pitching that did the job for the Tribe, as Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore were among the league leaders in all major categories. Martinez led the team in batting average (.301), home runs (25), and RBI (114). While he brought home the Tribe Triple Crown, Sizemore did his job on the basepaths with 33 stolen bases. He was not far behind V-Mart in home runs with 24 and led the team in total bases (290), runs (118) and hits (174). While both were a part of the All-Star team, it was Sizemore who brought home his first (of likely many) Gold Gloves in 2007.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the calculated call-ups of players like Franklin Gutierrez and Asdrubal Cabrera. Both players had huge impacts towards the end of the season, allowing the Tribe to make the extra push into the postseason. Both players provided youth, yet remained incredibly composed in clutch situations and should do so for years to come.

What Went Wrong

One name that you will not see on the “What Went Right” section of this review is Travis Hafner. After receiving MVP consideration only a year earlier, Hafner struggled for most of 2007, failing to provide any sort of consistency – especially in the playoffs. Hafner hit .266 with only 24 home runs and 115 strikeouts. For a clean-up hitter to be fifth on the team in total bases but fourth in strikeouts is not great news. The fact that he recently signed a contract extension and failed to produce in the playoffs is worse. Yes, 24 shots with 100 RBI is typically something to be proud of, but in Hafner’s case, it was a regression.

As much as things went right for the Tribe, their offseason moves continue to disappoint. You can blame as much as you want on the tight wallet of owner Larry Dolan, but if it continues to be the farmhands that end up being the clutch performers, Shapiro simply needs to not spend in the free agent market.

Here is a list of the 2006 Free Agent additions for the Indians:

1. Trot Nixon (OF)
2. Keith Foulke (RP)
3. David Dellucci (OF)
4. Roberto Hernandez (SP)
5. Joe Borowski (RP)
6. Aaron Fultz (SP)
7. Luis Rivas (IF)

Ouch. After a failed attempt at signing Trevor Hoffman from San Diego, they settled for Foulke and Borowski.  Thankfully, Borowski went on to lead the AL in saves despite giving up over five runs per nine innings of pitching. Aside from Jo Bo, you could say that none of the other names had any impact at all on where the Indians ended up when the season was over.

Couple these moves with the failed evolution of Andy Marte and Josh Barfield as long-term infield options and not all was fruitful for the Tribe in 2007.

The Moves They Made

Of all the moves that the Tribe made in 2007, the one that will stand to have the biggest impact was the late-season addition of veteran outfielder Kenny Lofton. The 40-plus outfielder was on his third tour of duty with the Tribe and earned his standing ovations each time he came to the plate. He provided a veteran leadership to the team and an emotional leadership to the fans who remembered his play back in the late 90s. There is a very little chance that Lofton will be back next season, but his brief stay in 2007 will always be remembered in Cleveland.

Sending Andy Marte back to Triple-A was a move that may have raised some eyebrows, but it opened up a spot for Ryan Garko to be the fulltime first baseman. Garko, a catcher in the minors, went from not having a spot on the team to responding with a .289 average over 138 games. With 21 home runs and 234 total bases, you can bet the farm that the team did not miss Marte’s presence on bit. What they do with the young third basement from here is to be determined, but this was definitely Garko’s breakout season.

You will notice a trend with the Indians where the free-agent signings and recent trade acquisitions have not panned out, but those that have came threw the system and earned a roster spot for whatever the reason have been the ones to shine. Call it poor singings or call it excellent scouting. However, as long as you call it successful justified by the ends, you are on the right path.

The Moves They Did Not Make (But Should Have)

While Kenny Lofton provided a lot of nostalgia, the signing would not have been necessary had the Tribe landed a solid corner outfielder. Trot Nixon was supposed to be that guy in right, but was supplanted by Franklin Gutierrez. Jason Michaels came in the Coco Crisp trade. And while Crisp didn’t exactly pan out in Boston, Michaels has been mediocre at best and is nothing more than a platoon player.

The Indians have gone threw a ton of corner outfield options albeit Shane Spencer or even Shin Soo-Choo. What they really needed was a consistent, every day bat that could be counted to drive in runs, yet give Grady Sizemore some help in the outfield grass.

Case in point with the above is that the mid-season moves were not that bad for Cleveland. While it would have been nicer to have a big bat in the outfield, let’s face it. Plenty of teams would like to have a big bat in left field. If the Indians can address this need going forward, great; if they cannot, they should revel in the fact that they did as well as they did without a presence like Manny Ramirez.

Where Now?

A season that brings Indians GM Mark Shapiro the “Executive of the Year” award now leads said Executive into a very telling off-season. The Indians are never a team to spend a ton of money, but they now have the reigning Cy Young award winner on their roster, with only a year left on his contract. If Barry Zito and Gil Meche can clear large deals, you can be sure that there are teams out there willing to give Sabathia some coin.

Unfortunately, it seems that the moves that the Indians have made midseason that ultimately pay off more than those that can be more calculated in the offseason. The team has already picked up the options on closer Joe Borowski ($4 million) and fourth arm Paul Byrd ($8 million). Now whether or not the Byrd exercising pays off or not remains to be seen. $8 million is more money than plenty of other starters received last season, including Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The good news is, with Aaron Fultz and the abovementioned Borowski signed, the Indians can focus their efforts elsewhere as the bullpen is under control.

With the Rule 5 draft held in December, the Tribe will need to decide whom to place on the 40-man roster in order to prevent losing them. Adam Miller, the top prospect in the organization will be a no-brainer. Tony Sipp should be added to the roster, even though he will miss most of 2008 with Tommy John surgery. Others to consider are Brian Barton (OF, Triple-A Buffalo) and Ryan Mulhern (1B, Triple-A Buffalo).

Regarding additions to the team, (excluding extending Sabathia’s deal) the main goal of the Indians front office this winter will be a solid bat in left field. Left field for the Indians in 2007 posted an OPS of .715, good enough for 25th in all of baseball. The last two seasons have brought Jason Michaels and David Dellucci respectively. These two names are obviously not long-term answers next to Grady Sizemore. Ben Francisco, a farm-system bat, led the International league with a .318 batting average. Will he be the answer? If not, look for Cleveland to go out of the team to acquire a big bat. Names that have floated around Cleveland periodicals continue to be Jason Bay from Pittsburgh, Matt Murton from the Cubs, and Josh Hamilton from right down 71 S in Cincinnati.

Regardless of what happens, the formula of building around your core players will continue into next spring. If you’re not one to dive too much into the off-season happenings of the Indians, you’ll be happy to know that they’ll start this coming season even earlier than last year. It looks like the schedule-makers at least have a sense of humor. Get your winter hats and gloves ready because spring training will be here before you know it. Who will be on that roster remains to be seen.

Fantasy Corner

The Keepers

1. Adam Miller - possesses front-of-the-rotation stuff
2. Trevor Crowe - speedster coming soon to help the outfield.
3. Chuck Lofgren - the potential is there; will he ever deliver?

The Sleepers

1. Jensen Lewis - the next closer?
2. Franklin Gutierrez - better than the numbers he put up in short 2007 stint.
3. Asdrubal Cabrera - great potential in a bargain middle infielder.