Tribe needs strong pen, quick start

Takeaways from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred using his power to implement a 60game season, and how it affects the Indians:

• The axiom a team can’t win a pennant in April but it can lose one — in this case, substitute August for April — is especially true this season when every game will be important with 102 contests chopped out of the regular season.

The Indians started slowly in April in the first four years of Terry Francona’s career as Tribe manager, but that changed beginning in 2017. They were 1410 in April in 2017, 14-11 a year later and 15-10 in April last year, when the missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015 despite winning 93 games. That represented the most victories by a team that did not make the playoffs in 15 years.

The Indians were 10-11 in April when they went to the World Series in 2016 and still finished 94-67 because they were buoyed by a 22-6 June.

Baseball has not announced how it will compose 30 60-game schedules. Each team could play each of the four other teams within its division 10 times and play the five teams in its corresponding division in the opposite league four times. Such a schedule would reduce travel as baseball tries to squeeze in 60 games over 65 days.

A 162-game schedule is a marathon that seems it will never end. Playing intradivision teams 19 times is too many. The Indians fattened up on the Tigers last year, beating them 17 straight times after starting the season series 1-1, which inflated their record.

Every series and every game the Indians play against the Twins and White Sox this year is going to carry extra weight. Baseball needs that as it tries to keep and attract fans. The season will begin July 24 if there are no hitches — just four days before NFL training camps open and a week before the NBA season resumes with 22 teams playing at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla.

• The season being delayed almost four months because of the novel coronavirus and because the owners and players’ union could not reach a peaceful agreement gave Indians starting pitchers Mike Clevinger (knee) and Carlos Carrasco (elbow) time to heal completely. The pair, along with Carlos Carrasco, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale and Adam Plutko, gives the Indians one of the deepest starting rotations in baseball. Expanded rosters will allow teams to carry more than the typical five starters.

That’s all well and good, but a strong bullpen will be the key for all teams, especially in the first few weeks of the season while starters build up their endurance following a threeweek spring training to begin July 1.

Brad Hand recorded 34 saves last season, but fell victim to a tired arm late in the season when the Indians were chasing the Twins and needed him most. Hand should not have that problem in a 60game season.

Bullpens can be quirky, but the Indians have reliable relievers to bridge the innings between the starters and the ninth inning when Hand takes over.

Adam Cimber led the Indians with 14 holds last season. He allowed 11 of 45 inherited runners to score. That was seventh best in the American League. Cimber is another who could benefit from a shortened season. He has a 3.06 ERA in 37 outings in the first half of 2019. His ERA in 31 appearances in the second half was 6.29.

Right-handed reliever Nick Wittgren had four saves and 12 holds last year. He is steadier than Cimber and could be Francona’s setup man for Hand.

Left-handed reliever Oliver Perez specializes in getting left-handed hitters out. They hit just .207 off him last year. Righthanders hit .286. Perez is going to be challenged by the new rule that says a reliever must face a minimum of three batters unless he finishes an inning.

• That fast start the Indians need would be enhanced if third baseman Jose Ramirez starts 2020 like he finished 2019.

Ramirez hit .181 in April, .245 in May and .216 in June. He caught fire in July and hit .320, .321 and .333 while driving in 53 runs over the last three months of the season. He drive in 30 runs April through June.

• Last but definitely not least, Francona is the right manager to guide the Indians through an unprecedented season. His “We’re just trying to win tonight’s game” mantra will keep the Indians focused on the small picture, which should lead to big-picture success.