Being pretty well fed up with snow and cold weather, I so look forward to the beginning of baseball season.  One of the true artists in the game is not a player, but rather an announcer.  Tom Hamilton could make roller derby exciting. 

The true mark of summer is catching the Indians on a West Coast road trip.  It is 65 degrees outside, the windows are open, and the television broadcast begins at about 10:30 EST.  I get into full comfort mode with a large drink and some seeds to get me through at least the first five innings.  The last thing I have to do to prepare for the telecast is mute the television volume so I can crank my radio up and let Tom Hamilton guide me through the whole event.  Nothing against the television announcers, I have just grown to love the voice of Tom Hamilton.  The inflection of his voice is spot on, every time. 

Announcers are taught to be objective, when someone hits a homerun against the Tribe, Hamilton gives the details as the opponent rounds the bases in his best monotone voice.  The contrast is obvious when an Indian goes yard as Hamilton’s yell provides the serenity no one else screaming in that decibal range can provide me.  Some his calls from the recent Indians success years of the 1990′s still give me goosebumps to listen to.  Not many MLB clubs honor a radio announcer with his own bobblehead doll as the Indians have with Hamilton. 

My two cents say that there is no better announcer in the sport.  Thank you Tom Hamilton for guiding me through a 162 game epic every year, it just would not be the same without you.

Anthony Reyes had a sore elbow shut down his 2008 season early.  So far this spring, Reyes has yet to allow a run and said that he feels no effect of last years elbow problems.  This is fantastic news for Tribe fans!  Reyes has pitched five innings and only allowed three hits and one walk, also posting five strikeouts.  He threw three scoreless, perfect innings against the White Sox on Monday.

Mark Shapiro has declared that if Anthony Reyes can stay healthy that he will probably make the team as a starter.  Manager Eric Wedge likes what he has seen so far, but is a little more apprehensive.  Wedge says that the four and five spots in the rotation remain open.  The 27-year-old Reyes knows it is pretty much his destination to control.

Reyes credits his offseason work ethic for his success.  He spent time with a personal trainer and donned a wetsuit a couple of times a week to surf.  He says he grew up surfing and enjoys the full-body workout he gets from riding the waves.

Reyes was obtained on July 26, via trade, from St. Louis for minor-league rightie Luis Perdomo.  In six starts Reyes was 2-1, with a 1.83 ERA.  He really wants the Indians to know they made a good trade and has used that for inspiration during the rehab process.

1. I believe that the 2009 Cleveland Indians will win the AL Central by at least 6 games.  I also believe that the lead will be bigger before Eric Wedge takes his foot off of the gas.
2. Travis Hafner and Kerry Wood will be carpooling back-and-forth to the Cleveland Clinic.  Bad hunch here, but Pronk and the new guy are both going to have injury-plagued seasons.  Look for Wood to be on the DL at least three times.  Expect Hafner to miss a couple of months.
3. Matt LaPorta will be the starting 1B or DH by the end of the season.
4. The Indians will lose in the ALCS to the Anaheim Angels.
5. Grady Sizemore will be a candidate for AL MVP with an outstanding year.  Look for sizemore to go 30/30 with over 110 RBI.
6. Mark DeRosa will make the 2010 AL All-Star team based on what he does this season for the Tribe.  Look for DeRosa to be the versatile piece that completes the puzzle.
7. Cliff Lee will not win the 2009 Cy Young Award. Look for Lee to still rack up 16 wins and be among the league leaders in ERA all season.
8. Fausto Carmona will be demoted to the bullpen.  This move might take place for several reasons.  The most obvious being Kerry Wood being physically unable to perform and the Indians needing the quick fix.  He may also be used as a setup man after struggling as a starter.
9. Victor Martinez will have a great year and miss very little playing time.  Look for Martinez to be healthy all year with maybe one short trip to the DL, barring some freaky injury.
10. Asdrubal Cabrera will be replaced by Josh Barfield by the end of the season.  Don’t be shocked if this happens.  Cabrera just doesn’t impress me enough with the bat.  Once Barfield gets a good look at Spring Training, don’t hold it against Eric Wedge to make this move.

Bonus:  Mark Shapiro will bring in someone for the playoff push.  That someone is going to be Roy Halladay.  Another long reach here, but the Blue Jays are going to be unloading salary when they are eliminated by the break this year.  Cleveland will look to add one more big arm for the push!