There has been a lot of turnover in the Indians lineup in the recent years. This season will mark the fifth year since the whirlwind of a season that left Indians fans reeling after coming within one game of the World Series.

Looking at the roster the Indians put on the field in 2007, not many of the players are still in Cleveland. Some of the names are recognizable, and even memorable. But for most of the players, if they were with the Tribe beyond 2007, they probably weren’t there much longer.

It many respects, it’s easy to think of the 2007 Cleveland Indians and the 2012 Cleveland Indians as two entirely different teams, with completely unique identities. We have yet to see if the 2012 version has the ability to make a splash and have a magical season like the one of 2007.

Remember David Dellucci? Maybe, but do you know what he’s done since leaving the Tribe in 2009? He’s not the only member of that team who seems to have disappeared from the sport of baseball entirely and the faded from the memories of Indians fans. I doubt many future grandfathers will tell stories of the “great” Ryan Garko, but they will tell stories of that fateful October. It was one to remember, but it seems that many of the players weren’t.  So where are they now? (more…)

5. December 6, 2002 – Jim Thome signs six-year deal with Phillies

A disappointment more to the fans than anything else, I’m including it in this list because he was at one time the most popular athlete in Cleveland. The Indians actually recovered quite nicely from losing Thome. By the next year Travis Hafner was filling in Thome’s role as the power mashing first baseman. Really, this was just a blip on the radar for the Indians this decade but I’m including it because I know many Indians fans haven’t gotten over it.

Thome threw away the Tribe like an old pair of socks

4. Adam Miller

First, he was the ace of the future. Then, he was going to be a lights-out closer. Whatever the role, he was going to be good at it, just as soon as he got healthy. It never happened, and that is why the Adam Miller saga is one of the most disappointing of the decade. So much potential, and due to injuries, he never threw a pitch in the big leagues. There’s still a chance he may pitch in the big leagues, but it isn’t likely. Sorry Adam. Best of luck in the rest of your endeavors.

3. 2007  Postseason – CC’s Struggles

Our Cy Young winning ace couldn’t be one when it mattered most. Either due to overwork (which is extremely likely as Sabathia pitched a ML-high 241 IP in 2007) or just being too jacked up on his own emotions, CC fell apart like a house of cards in the 2007 postseason. Maybe he felt the pressure to do everything perfectly. Maybe it was being in the postseason for the first time in six years. Whatever it was, CC’s struggles are a huge reason the Indians did not make the World Series in 2007.

Sabathia is probably watching the ball, and the Indians playoff hopes, leave the park

2. September 2005

Actually, it wasn’t even the entire month. The Indians completely folded over the last week and a half of a season, getting embarrassed by a bad Rays team and unable to finish off a White Sox team that had effectively choked. Gone were the postseason dreams, gone was quite possibly the chance for the hottest team in the league to make the playoffs, and gone were Kevin Millwood and a lock down bullpen. The bullpen would return in 2007, but the lack of a veteran starter with Millwood’s presence definitely hurt the 07 team (sorry Paul Byrd, you don’t count!)

1. 2007 American League Championship Series 3-1

Oh man, I don’t even know if I want to go here. So disappointing. I was at that game 5 when CC fell apart and it was like the whole ballpark knew what was going to happen. The atmosphere had changed. And then Ryan Garko had to open his mouth about the champagne tasting just as sweet on the road, giving the Red Sox some serious bulletin board fodder. For the uninitiated, the Indians had a 3-1 game lead on the Red Sox and proceeded to choke harder than anyone but the 2004 Yankees. The Tribe was outscored 30-5 in the last 3 games. Ouch.

Thanks for taking this painful trip down memory lane with me. Feel free to leave a comment if you agree or disagree with anything I’m saying. Or send me an e-mail. Either way, I’d love to hear from you.

Aaron Laffey had another great start for Cleveland on Sunday.  Laffey, who didn’t make the team out of Spring training, looks better than the rest of the Cleveland starters lately.  Laffey pitched into the seventh and was bailed out of a jam by Tony Sipp who struck out two to end the inning.  Sipp also was recently called up from Columbus.

Laffey has a 2.41 ERA in three starts since being called up.  He went 6 1/3 innings and scattered five hits and two earned runs.  Kerry Wood pitched the ninth for his fourth save in four chances.

Jhonny Peralta broke his 0-22 skid with a single in the eighth.  Asdrubal Cabrera’s walk in the first was the teams first base on balls since Wednesday.

Ryan Garko had a two run single in the third to give The Tribe a 4-0 lead.

Cleveland opens a three-game set with Boston, fresh off of a sweep of The New York Yankees.  First game is tonight at 7:05.    Tim Wakefield, off to a good start, faces off aginst Cliff Lee.