A.L. Central Preview: Indians Continue To Ride Injury Train

For a team, it’s never good to start off the year with injuries. The Cleveland Indians appear to be kicking off 2012 as a continuation of the long ride they took last season on the disabled list merry-go-round.

Training camp just opened, and two of the Tribe’s high-profile players are already on the shelf: center fielder Grady Sizemore, who strained his lower back while rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee; and closer Chris Perez, who picked up an oblique strain and will be out for four to six weeks. Throw in the ongoing drama involving The Pitcher Formerly Known As Fausto Carmona, and the Wahoos appear to be stalling.

The Action: Partly because of Carmona’s troubles, general manager Chris Antonetti acquired starter Kevin Slowey from the Colorado Rockies. Another piece Antonetti brought in was Casey Kotchman, who hits for average (.306 in 2011) and will provide a steady glove at first base (10 errors in eight big-league seasons).

It’s A Lock: Despite the bad news about Sizemore and Perez, manager Manny Acta has a few steady players he can depend on. For one thing, the keystone positions at second base (Jason Kipnis) and shortstop (Asdrubal Cabrera) are in good hands. Kipnis is expected to continue maturing as a power hitter (.507 slugging percentage in 212 at-bats in 2011).

Catcher/1B Carlos Santana is a superstar in the making, and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo should bounce back from a 2011 filled with injuries. Russ Canzler is a good young prospect for one of the corner infield or outfield positions at Progressive Field. Despite the drama, the rotation still has Slowey, former Colorado star Ubaldo Jimenez, side-armer Justin Masterson, up-and-coming Josh Tomlin and longtime Atlanta Brave Derek Lowe.

Hedge Your Bets: Third base is unsettled, with a battle between light-hitting veteran Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall, who hit seven homers in 66 games last season but has a questionable glove. Michael Brantley remains an injury risk, and DH Travis Hafner isn’t getting any younger. Kotchman’s signing signals the club may be losing patience with Matt LaPorta, who has an option remaining and will likely be sent down to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to work out the holes in his swing.

In the wake of Perez’s injury, it’s unclear who will assume the closer’s role. Five candidates — Dan Wheeler, Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Tony Sipp and Vinnie Pestano — all seem to have an equal chance of taking the ball until Perez is fit again.

The Payoff: Despite all the question marks, the MLB futures betting has the Indians rated with the best chance of catching the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central division, but more than 70:1 to win the World Series. Maybe what they need to remind them of the good times is a visit from former Indians slugger Abert Belle.