2018 MLB SHOWDOW SET - CLEVELAND INDIANS

Hello everyone I'mmmmmm backkkkk. I know you must have thought I disappeared or retired. But I was just busy with work and family and creating the 2018 cards for everyone along with Peter and Matt. Over the next few months we hope to release all the 2018 card sets team by team with a little podcast as well. Hopefully all goes well, fingers crossed. We are hoping to release these week  by week to everyone so stay tuned for more teams and feel free to comment below. Haters are welcome.

Here is the link to the Podcast below. A little something to listen to as you look at the cards. (feel free to leave feedback)

PODCAST ITUNES
podcast-2018-cleveland-indians

Since I got a head start I get to start things off. I am working on the AL teams so I jumped on the chance to make my Cleveland Indians first. They had a decent looking year finishing with 91 wins and a 3 guys over 30 Hrs. But those stats can be deceiving. They were in an incredibly weak division and did very poor against over .500 ball clubs. The AL is a very drastic league, featuring multiple 100 win and 100 loss teams. The Indians are lucky right now to be in a weak division and can coast to the playoffs, but as we dive deeper into their cards, you will see they have a very drastic high and low line up, a very amazing starting rotation, and a very crappy bullpen. Typical Indians showdown cards have been red, we decided this year to go with the Navy. Let us know what you think.

Lets start things out with the starting lineup.

Some amazing talent in the lineup. Very top heavy and very sub par at the bottom. I can see a lot of people drafting Lindor and Ramirez, but maybe Brantley and maybe Edwin. And I know I know I'm gonna get some hate for Yan Gomes defensive rating. But we ran the numbers 2 different ways. And both come up with +5 catcher rating. Be my guest to look them up also. This was a down year for him. We use a lot of DRS and DEF data to determine fielding position by position so they all check out. And speed is determined not only by actual player speed, but by how well they run the bases, tag up and advance on hits. That being said, there is always a chance for errors and feel free to hate in the comments below.

Now onto the bench.

We have a very speedy, below-average player in Davis that can be a bench pinch runner and a very terrible back up catcher that will never be drafted.

Now to the all star quality of the team. The starting rotation. It's big, it's bad, it's amazing and pricey, haha.

This is the power house of the Indians -- their starting rotation was the strongest in the league 1-4. With 2 Aces, they were a big part of the Indians success this season and the thought of how they would make it deep into the playoffs. All these players are very draft-able and are studs in the game. But sadly, the Indians didn't go very far into the playoffs and the next category is the big reason why.

Their bullpen was awful! When I say awful, I mean it. I almost cried making these cards they were so bad. I am not sure if anyone can be played. Maybe Brad Hand. But the "main" Indians relievers are terrible.

If you love giving up home runs, this bullpen is for you!

Hopefully you are liking what you see and stay tuned for more to come. And as always follow me on Twitter BobBumbarger