Cleveland Sports Forum

Thanks, UD. Nice article.

86 years old and can still remember scores of games.

I hope I can remember my name when I'm 86.

Ditto! Colavito was one of my favorites. Am I remembering correctly that he was brought in once to relief pitch for the tribe?

Detroit sent the 1959 American League batting champion Harvey Kuenn, then 29, to the Indians for the reigning home run champion Rocky Colavito, then 26. Both teams, and the fans in both cities, were shocked by the trade. In the end, the Tigers fared better in the deal. Kuenn lasted one year in Cleveland before being dealt to the Giants.

Of course everyone was shocked; the trade was stupid; Kuenn was a very good hitter but 3 years older and Rocky was loved by the fans as well as having an enormously high ceiling and was an excellent right fielder. Frank Lane just liked to trade everyone and was much more interested in being the center of attention than taking steps to move his 2nd place 1959 team into long-time pennant contention. He added to the demise of the Indians by next trading Willie Kirkland, Colavito-wannabe, who make a career of swinging at pitches outside in the dirt.
While he was at it, Lane and followers dismantled the next generation of homegrown starting pitching too dealing Jim Grant and Jim Perry for lesser quality Lee Stange and Jack Kralick.

Zack Meisel @ZackMeisel
Terry Francona said Mike Clevinger, Tyler Naquin and Oscar Mercado are all doing well. Carlos Carrasco has been throwing bullpen sessions in Cleveland and sending in video afterward. Emmanuel Clase has been throwing in the Dominican.

Nice - I am particularly pleased with the extra time a situation like Carrasco's might benefit from.

Terry Francona on plans for a potential season, Zoom calls and Netflix

By Zack Meisel Apr 16, 2020 10
Terry Francona wakes up in the morning at his Tucson home and goes for a walk with a couple of golfing buddies. He occasionally swims, which serves as his daily exercise regimen during the season. He has “watched every Netflix program there is,” aside from Tiger King.

Once spring training ceased in mid-March, Francona flew to Cleveland for about three weeks.

“I literally stayed in my apartment and stared at the wall,” he said. He returned to Arizona about 10 days ago.

Francona will turn 61 next week, and he has been involved in professional baseball every year since the Expos drafted him in 1980. This is as abnormal an April as he has ever experienced. He has texted with other managers, but he admits no one has a roadmap to help steer through this.

Instead of having three weeks of regular-season results to their credit, the Indians and the other 29 teams are sitting around, waiting to learn if or when the league might restart. For now, that outlook is hazier than a college kid’s dorm room.

The Indians hold Zoom video conference calls on a daily basis. Some days, Francona chats with Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff. Other days, he talks to Brad Mills and other members of his coaching staff.

Sandy Alomar checks in with the team’s catchers. Mike Sarbaugh reaches out to the infielders. Kyle Hudson keeps tabs on the outfielders. Carl Willis and Ruben Niebla correspond with the pitching staff. There have been conferences involving everyone, “so we can see their faces and talk to them,” Francona said.

“We’re all in [an] uncharted area and it’s kind of unsettling. So, the more we can settle it and have guys feel normal, while following the guidelines, I think the better it is.”

Carlos Carrasco has thrown regular bullpen sessions in Cleveland and has distributed video to his coaches afterward. He had a scheduled day off on Thursday, so he didn’t have to brave the chilly temperatures and snow flurries. Carrasco was dealing with elbow inflammation last month.

Emmanuel Clase has been throwing in his native Dominican Republic. The Indians have considered sending someone from their Dominican academy to check in with him and oversee one of those sessions. Clase suffered an upper back strain early in spring camp.

Francona said Mike Clevinger, Tyler Naquin and Oscar Mercado — all hobbled during spring training — are doing well.

How long would players need to ramp up before a shortened season?

“One, it depends how long we’re out,” Francona said. “Then, the second thing, I think it depends on how much they’re willing to add to the roster, because the position players can get ready quickly. The pitchers are the guys that need to get stretched out. But if you want to start a season and just adjust the roster, knowing that your pitchers aren’t stretched out, they can do things like that. There are ways to get around that.”

Francona didn’t endorse any particular plan for a season reboot, but he noted that everyone across the league must “be willing to be flexible … you’re not going to have a normal baseball season. It’s just not possible.”

“If you see baseball at some point,” he said, “that means that our country is coming back to a sense of normalcy.”

No matter when the league resumes play, the games will likely unfold in empty venues.

“We’ve played some games where they’re makeup games or they start at an odd time and the ballpark’s kind of empty and it feels weird,” Francona said. “And I’m sure it will be different, but whoever handles it the best, you’re going to give yourselves a better chance to win and that’s just how I feel about everything. This would just be another thing that we’re trying to handle better than the team we’re playing, regardless of what they ask us to do.”

In the two plans leaked to the public — one taking place in Arizona and the other split between Arizona and Florida — the Indians would operate out of their complex in Goodyear. That would mean a slate of summer games taking place in the unforgiving desert heat.

“Like always, the teams that handle adversity usually put themselves in a better chance to win than the other teams,” Francona said. “That’s part of why I like our guys so much because I think they’re willing to handle adversity. This would just be another area of that.”

And what about the potential for a season that persists beyond October, which pushes the postseason into November or December and necessitates a neutral-field site for the World Series?

“If we were playing [in] a World Series,” Francona said, “I would go anywhere.”

What can be expected from Shane Bieber for the Cleveland Indians in 2020?
Updated Apr 18, 10:20 AM; Posted Apr 17, 7:06 AM
By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The are few things that could have made 2019 better for Shane Bieber. A playoff appearance by the Indians would have probably been one, but he certainly did his part.

Bieber went 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 214 1/3 innings. He finished third in the AL with 259 strikeouts and was named MVP of the All-Star Game that just so happened to be played at Progressive Field. Listen carefully and you can still hear the “Let’s Go Bieber” chants.


This spring things were progressing along the same lines. In his first three Cactus League starts, the 6-3, 200-pound Bieber didn’t allow a run and was scheduled to be the Tribe’s opening day starter on March 26 in just his second season. We all know what’s happened since. A global pandemic has put just about all aspects of our lives on hold, including baseball.

As we sit and ponder what the coming weeks will bring, let’s take a look at what could be just around the corner for Bieber if this season should start.

What the Indians can expect from Bieber in 2020:

* He’ll carry the load: When Bieber made his big-league debut in 2018, he made 20 appearances, including 19 starts, and pitched 114 2/3 innings. He pitched a total of 194 1/3 innings that year counting his time at Class AA and Class AAA. Last year his 214 1/3 innings ranked second in the AL.

* He’ll continue to improve vs. left-handed hitters: As a rookie in 2018, lefties hit .316 (74-for-234) against Bieber with eight home runs. Last year they hit .228 (87-382) with 18 homers.


Bieber, according to baseball savant.com, used his curveball and changeup primarily against lefties. He threw 491 of his 660 curves and 206 of his 234 changeups to lefties. The opposition, lefties and righties, hit .208 off the slider and .309 vs. the changeup.

* He’ll do the job vs. righties as well: Opposing right-handed hitters went from hitting .252 (56-for-222) vs. Bieber in 2018 to .231 (99-for-428) in 2019.

COMMAND IS KEY FOR SHANE BIEBER’S SUCCESS: NOGA

* He’ll give up the long ball: Bieber allowed 31 homers last year, sixth most in the AL in 2019. Lefties hit 18 and righties 13.

* He’ll lean on his fastball: Bieber threw his fastball 45.7% of the time (1,474 pitches in 2019). His average velocity was 93.1 mph and the opposition hit .231 against the pitch.


* He’ll use the slider as well: Bieber’s second favorite pitch is the slider (855 pitches in 2019). His average velocity was 85 mph and the opposition hit .208 last year.

* He looks like a road warrior: In his first two seasons with the Tribe, Bieber has gone 16-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 27 games on the road. In the same number of games and starts (27 games, 26 starts) at Progressive Field, he’s gone 10-8 with a 4.32 ERA. Last year Bieber was 9-5 with a 2.88 ERA on the road.

* He doesn’t believe in free rides: Bieber averaged 1.68 walks per nine innings last season. In his career, he’s allowed 1.72 walks per nine innings.

* He likes the AL Central: In his brief career, Bieber is 11-3 with a 3.71 ERA in the AL Central. He’s gone 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA vs. Detroit, 3-0 with a 5.22 ERA vs. Kansas City, 3-0 with a 4.14 ERA against Minnesota and 2-2 with a 3.08 ERA vs. Chicago.

* Spring training recap: Bieber in three Cactus League starts didn’t allow a run and only two hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked one. He posted a .080 batting average against and a 0.39 WHIP.


* In his own words: “I think if you’re closed off to it, then that’s a bad move on your part. Of course I’m open to it. There haven’t been any talks. Obviously, we’d welcome anything like that. Right now, I’m really just focused on going into spring training and doing what we do and really getting ourselves established for the season," Bieber, in early February, when asked if he’d be interested in signing an extension with the Indians.

* Conclusion: When the Indians traded two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in December, there were several elements at work. They were looking to dump his salary and get younger. There was also concern because of Kluber’s workload in his time with the Tribe. The year before he made just eight starts because of injuries.

The emergence of starters such as Bieber, Mike Clevinger, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac was another. If the Indians are looking for an ace to take Kluber’s place, Bieber is a good place to start. Last year he finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting.

Tito's most significant phrase:

“If you see baseball at some point"



Becoming rather unlikely for anything in the big league parks. Perhaps a short all Arizona emply stadium series of what won't be able to avoid feeling like exhibition games.

civ - if we do see baseball in AZ parks without crowds I do feel the players will be highly competitive.

It's who they are. It's their living. So for me I don't see it being like exhibition games at all.

And I bet it's sooner than we might think as well.

I know it's different than golf, but they are looking May 15

Baseball is back, baby!!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/wa ... spartandhp

OK: that's baseball, I guess.

I just have trouble thinking I'll be into Arizona-only baseball. It just wont' seem real
And with no minor league baseball at all probably I'll lose my deepest interest in the game.

The 25 best pitching seasons in Cleveland Indians history


By Zack Meisel 3h ago 10
The Indians have fielded a long list of talented pitchers in their 120 years of existence. They’ve had gluttonous innings-eaters, strikeout kings and Cy Young-winning stoics, hard-throwers, soft-tossers and World Series heroics.

Some scuffed the ball before they tossed it, back when players donned wool uniforms and had nicknames like Cap and Pop. Some applied saliva to the ball to add mystery to its flight path. Some simply launched the ball over the center-field fence when frustration levels peaked.

Bob Feller fired his fastball past a speeding motorcycle. Ray Caldwell recorded the final out of a game after being struck by lightning. Corey Kluber offered the slightest hint at a smile once.

Two weeks ago, we unveiled the top 25 position-player seasons in Indians history. Now, we shift to the pitching side.

This exercise was more challenging, with more candidates and more variables. How much should era (and ERA) factor into the equation? Should walks and strikeouts matter? What about innings totals? If Kluber pitched in the 1920s, for instance, he surely would have logged 300 frames per season.

This is far from a scientific list, so feel free to chime in with your rankings in the comments below. Note: Any bolded statistic indicates the player led the league in that category.

Honorable mention
Earl Moore, 1903: 1.74 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 247 IP, 165 ERA+

Addie Joss, 1904: 1.59 ERA, 2.13 FIP, 192 IP, 4.4% BB, 12.2% K, 162 ERA+

Addie Joss, 1906: 1.72 ERA, 2.24 FIP, 282 IP, 4.4% BB, 10.9% K, 153 ERA+

Addie Joss, 1909: 1.71 ERA, 2.10 FIP, 242 IP, 3.3% BB, 7.2% K, 150 ERA+

Vean Gregg, 1911: 1.80 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 244 IP, 9.2% BB, 13.3% K, 189 ERA+

Willie Mitchell, 1913: 1.91 ERA, 2.64 FIP, 217 IP, 10.2% BB, 16.3% K, 160 ERA+

Jim Bagby, 1917: 1.99 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 320 IP, 5.6% BB, 6.4% K, 142 ERA+

Mel Harder, 1933: 2.95 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 253 IP, 6.3% BB, 7.6% K, .260 AVG, .661 OPS, 152 ERA+

Mike Garcia, 1952: 2.37 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 292 IP, 7.0% BB, 11.6% K, .253 AVG, .626 OPS, 141 ERA+

Bob Lemon, 1952: 2.50 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 309 IP, 8.4% BB, 10.5% K, .208 AVG, .575 OPS, 134 ERA+

Herb Score, 1955: 2.85 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 227 IP, 15.8% BB, 25.1% K, .194 AVG, .628 OPS, 141 ERA+

Sam McDowell, 1970: 2.92 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 305 IP, 10.4% BB, 24.2% K, .213 AVG, .619 OPS, 134 ERA+

Gaylord Perry, 1974: 2.51 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 322 IP, 7.8% BB, 17.1% K, .204 AVG, .583 OPS, 144 ERA+

Charles Nagy, 1992: 2.96 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 252 IP, 5.6% BB, 16.6% K, .260 AVG, .647 OPS, 132 ERA+

Corey Kluber, 2018: 2.89 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 215 IP, 4.0% BB, 26.4% K, .223 AVG, .624 OPS, 150 ERA+

Relievers are people, too
Initially, this was going to be one, all-welcoming list. But it became doubly difficult to evaluate relievers while also sorting out starting-pitching merits for different eras. So, here are a handful of relievers who received consideration for the top 25 before ultimately carving out their own category.

José Mesa, 1995

The numbers: 1.13 ERA, 2.70 FIP, 64 IP, 6.8% BB, 23.2% K, .216 AVG, .541 OPS, 418 ERA+

Following a failed bid at starting, Mesa was nearly flawless in 1995. He converted his first 38 save opportunities and 46 of 48 overall (and the Indians won both games in which he relinquished a late lead). The Indians initially planned to go with a committee until Mike Hargrove and pitching coach Mark Wiley opted to leave Mesa in a tight game to face left-handed slugger Mo Vaughn at Fenway Park in May. Mesa struck out Vaughn to seal the win and never looked back. Wiley praised Mesa for how he seemingly silenced the first hitter of every inning; Mesa held them to seven hits in 60 at-bats, good for a .117/.145/.183 slash line.

Andrew Miller, 2017

The numbers: 1.44 ERA, 1.99 FIP, 62 IP, 8.6% BB, 38.9% K, .144 AVG, .440 OPS, 319 ERA+

Miller was actually better in 2016 — do a 123-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 44.7 percent strikeout rate tickle your fancy? — but he spent only part of that season with the Indians. He maintained his dominance with an All-Star campaign in 2017 and jarring statistics across the board, as Terry Francona deployed him whenever the team needed to put out a fire.

Rafael Betancourt, 2007

The numbers: 1.47 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 79 IP, 3.1% BB, 27.7% K, .183 AVG, .485 OPS, 307 ERA+

Whether it was his pinpoint command or his ability to lull the hitter into a deep sleep with his deliberate routine on the mound, Betancourt thrived as a setup man for the Indians in the mid-aughts. This was his masterpiece, with 80 strikeouts and only nine walks (only six unintentional).

Doug Jones, 1988

The numbers: 2.27 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 83 IP, 4.7% BB, 21.3% K, .218 AVG, .528 OPS, 181 ERA+

This was the first of three consecutive All-Star nods for Jones as a member of the Indians. His 3.7 fWAR ranks first for a reliever in Indians history. He allowed only one home run all season.

Mike Jackson, 1998

The numbers: 1.55 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 64 IP, 5.4% BB, 23.0% K, .195 AVG, .542 OPS, 309 ERA+

On the heels of a dominant postseason in October 1997, Jackson assumed the closer role from Mesa and racked up 40 saves and a microscopic ERA.

The Indians’ three-headed monster, 1976
Dave LaRoche: 61 G, 96 IP, 2.24 ERA, 2.30 FIP, 9.7 K/9
Jim Kern: 50 G, 117 IP, 2.37 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 8.5 K/9
Stan Thomas: 37 G, 105 IP, 2.30 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 4.6 K/9

Kern and LaRoche rank third and fourth among relievers in club history, respectively, in fWAR for a season.


(Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
25. CC Sabathia, 2007
The numbers: 3.21 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 241 IP, .259 AVG, .684 OPS, 141 ERA+

Sabathia’s signature season with the Indians earned him his lone Cy Young Award. It was also his last full year in Cleveland.

24. Addie Joss, 1907
The numbers: 1.83 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 338 IP, 4.6% BB, 10.8% K, 137 ERA+

One hundred years before Sabathia’s Cy Young campaign, Joss tossed 338 innings and allowed a mere 69 runs in a slightly different environment. His 1904 season would have landed here, but he logged 146 more innings in 1907. The crazy part is his 1.83 ERA was only 37 percent better than the adjusted league average.

23. Johnny Allen, 1937
The numbers: 2.55 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 173 IP, 8.4% BB, 12.2% K, .244 AVG, .644 OPS, 176 ERA+

A year before he earned more attention for his temper and wardrobe than his pitching, Allen outperformed a couple of rotation mates named Feller and Harder. (Granted, Feller was only 18 at the time.)

22. Early Wynn, 1956
The numbers: 2.72 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 277 IP, 8.0% BB, 13.8% K, .228 AVG, .615 OPS, 154 ERA+

Wynn’s 1954 and 1956 seasons were mirror images, both highly productive.

1954: 2.73 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 7.5 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

1956: 2.72 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 7.6 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.9 BB/9, 5.1 K/9

Relative to the rest of the league, Wynn’s ’56 season fares much better, so we give that year the nod here.

21. Gene Bearden, 1948
The numbers: 2.43 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 229 IP, 11.3% BB, 8.6% K, .229 AVG, .631 OPS, 168 ERA+

It’s not often the league’s ERA leader tallies more walks than strikeouts. Bearden was a bit of a one-hit wonder; remove his 1948 season and he owned a 4.59 ERA in his career, with far more hits allowed than innings. But we can’t remove that 1948 showing, when he finished runner-up in the Rookie of the Year race and logged 10 2/3 scoreless innings to help lift the Indians to their most recent World Series triumph.

20. Mel Harder, 1934
The numbers: 2.61 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 255 IP, 7.5% BB, 8.5% K, .253 AVG, .644 OPS, 173 ERA+

Harder led the league in ERA and ERA+ in 1933, but he was a tick better in ’34, the first of his four All-Star seasons (the inaugural midsummer exhibition took place in ’33).

19. Sam McDowell, 1969
The numbers: 2.94 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 285 IP, 8.8% BB, 23.9% K, .213 AVG, .583 OPS, 127 ERA+

McDowell authored a slew of valuable seasons; he’ll pop up on this list a few more times. In 1969, he led the league in strikeouts, FIP and home run rate.

18. Stan Coveleski, 1920
The numbers: 2.49 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 315 IP, 5.1% BB, 10.4% K, .244 AVG, .609 OPS, 154 ERA+

Coveleski totaled 26 complete games to amass a career-high 315 innings to go along with league-leading marks in FIP, WHIP and hit rate.

17. Bob Feller, 1939
The numbers: 2.85 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 296 IP, 11.4% BB, 19.8% K, .210 AVG, .597 OPS, 154 ERA+

This is good. It gets much better. Feller, 20 years old at the time, finished third in the AL MVP balloting, behind a couple of guys named Joe DiMaggio and Jimmie Foxx. Oh, and ahead of some gentleman named Ted Williams.

16. Mike García, 1949
The numbers: 2.36 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 175 IP, 8.3% BB, 13.1% K, .240 AVG, .624 OPS, 170 ERA+

In his first season in the majors — aside from one appearance in the team’s regular-season finale the previous year — García led the league in ERA, FIP and ERA+. He shifted between a starting and relief role. He recorded a complete-game shutout in five of his 20 starts.

15. Mike García, 1954
The numbers: 2.64 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 258 IP, 6.8% BB, 12.3% K, .230 AVG, .571 OPS, 140 ERA+

In 258 innings, García limited the opposition to six home runs. Six. He led the league in ERA, shutouts, FIP, WHIP and, of course, home run rate.


(Frank Jansky / Getty Images)
14. Trevor Bauer, 2018
The numbers: 2.21 ERA, 2.44 FIP, 175 IP, 8.0% BB, 30.8% K, .208 AVG, .582 OPS, 196 ERA+

What might Bauer have accomplished had he not missed the final month after a José Abreu comebacker struck his ankle? Bauer campaigned for the Cy Young Award, but he finished sixth, though likely due to a lack of quantity, not quality, as he finished second in the league in ERA and first in FIP. This is his signature season, the culmination of years of overhauling his delivery and refining his repertoire.

13. Corey Kluber, 2014
The numbers: 2.44 ERA, 2.35 FIP, 235 IP, 5.4% BB, 28.3% K, .233 AVG, .624 OPS, 160 ERA+

Kluber entered the year as a somewhat unproven middle-of-the-rotation starter and ended the year as the AL Cy Young Award winner. He nearly doubled his strikeout total from the previous year. To secure the hardware, he recorded a 1.12 ERA over his final five starts, averaging more than eight innings per outing and totaling five walks and 54 strikeouts.

12. Stan Coveleski, 1918
The numbers: 1.82 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 311 IP, 6.1% BB, 6.9% K, .220 AVG, .561 OPS, 164 ERA+

Coveleski tossed 10 or more innings in a game on seven occasions, including a 19-inning complete game at the Polo Grounds in which he limited the Yankees to two runs.

11. Stan Coveleski, 1917
The numbers: 1.81 ERA, 2.46 FIP, 298 IP, 8.0% BB, 11.3% K, 156 ERA+

Nearly all of Coveleski’s seasons are gems, but this one stands out, with a career-high strikeout total and a career-best and league-leading hit rate, as he allowed only 202 hits in 298 innings.

10. Herb Score, 1956
The numbers: 2.53 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 249 IP, 12.5% BB, 25.5% K, .184 AVG, .567 OPS, 166 ERA+

Fresh off a Rookie of the Year and All-Star campaign in 1955, Score improved his numbers across the board in ’56 with more innings, more strikeouts (a league-leading 263), fewer walks, a better hit rate, a better ERA and a league-leading FIP and ERA+.

9. Cliff Lee, 2008
The numbers: 2.54 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 223 IP, 3.8% BB, 19.1% K, .253 AVG, .633 OPS, 167 ERA+

From start to finish, Lee stymied the opposition. By mid-May, he had made seven starts, allowing an earned run in only two of them. His ERA never crept higher than 2.58. He walked multiple batters in only 10 of his 31 starts. And he received 24 of 28 first-place votes to win the Cy Young Award.

8. Sam McDowell, 1968
The numbers: 1.81 ERA, 2.25 FIP, 269 IP, 10.0% BB, 25.8% K, .189 AVG, .541 OPS, 165 ERA+

The 1968 season earned the moniker “Year of the Pitcher,” as evidenced by the fact McDowell recorded a 1.81 ERA and a league-leading 283 strikeouts … and he wasn’t even the top pitcher in the Indians rotation.

7. Bob Feller, 1940
The numbers: 2.61 ERA, 2.89 FIP, 320 IP, 9.1% BB, 20.0% K, .210 AVG, .584 OPS, 163 ERA+

Feller couldn’t have started the season on a better note, as he tossed the only Opening Day no-hitter in league history. He ended the season with a league-best ERA, FIP and innings total, as well as a runner-up finish in the MVP voting.

6. Sam McDowell, 1965
The numbers: 2.18 ERA, 2.08 FIP, 273 IP, 11.8% BB, 29.1% K, .185 AVG, .531 OPS, 161 ERA+

This is McDowell’s crown jewel, as he led the league in ERA, FIP, strikeouts, ERA+, hit rate, strikeout rate and home run rate. He set a career high with 325 strikeouts and received the first of his six All-Star nods.

5. Gaylord Perry, 1972
The numbers: 1.92 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 342 IP, 6.1% BB, 17.4% K, .205 AVG, .556 OPS, 168 ERA+

Perry’s first season in Cleveland was a ravishing success, as he posted a career-best ERA, led the league with 29 complete games and captured his first Cy Young Award.

4. Luis Tiant, 1968
The numbers: 1.60 ERA, 2.04 FIP, 258 IP, 7.4% BB, 26.8% K, .168 AVG, .495 OPS, 186 ERA+

Pitching ruled in 1968, but Tiant still stood out from the crowd, leading the league in ERA, FIP, ERA+, shutouts and his team-record rate of 5.3 hits allowed per nine innings. He limited hitters to a .495 OPS, the lowest mark for any Indians pitcher who logged at least 80 innings in a season. Tiant finished fifth in the AL MVP balloting.

3. Addie Joss, 1908
The numbers: 1.16 ERA, 1.68 FIP, 325 IP, 2.4% BB, 10.5% K, 204 ERA+

It’s challenging to evaluate Joss’ career given how early it took place. But a 1.16 ERA is a 1.16 ERA, and that mark not only led the league in 1908, but the 204 ERA+ also tells us that it stood 104 percent better than league average. So, this is about as dominant a season as there has been from a run-prevention standpoint. In 1908, Joss allowed 42 earned runs in 325 innings. In 2002, Charles Nagy surrendered 48 earned runs in 48 innings.

2. Corey Kluber, 2017
The numbers: 2.25 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 203 IP, 4.6% BB, 34.1% K, .193 AVG, .556 OPS, 202 ERA+

The innings total doesn’t compete with some of the hurlers of yore, but everything else does. Kluber didn’t walk anyone. He struck out more than one-third of the hitters bold enough to venture into the batter’s box. He led the league in complete games and shutouts, his way of saying “Take that!” to the pre-Great Depression pitchers who are rolling in their graves because he’s ranked this high. Kluber’s 2017 strikeout rate ranks third in Indians history; his WHIP ranks second, his K:BB rate ranks second, his ERA+ ranks second and his hit rate ranks eighth. Oh, and this season earned Kluber his second Cy Young Award, making him the only Cleveland pitcher to receive the honor more than once.

1. Bob Feller, 1946
The numbers: 2.18 ERA, 2.16 FIP, 371 IP, 10.1% BB, 23.0% K, .208 AVG, .562 OPS, 151 ERA+

In his first full season following his four-year Navy stint, Feller established a franchise record for innings pitched. He posted the best ERA of his career and a ridiculous 10.0 fWAR. He recorded a league-leading 36 complete games, 10 shutouts and 348 strikeouts — 23 more than any other Cleveland pitcher has tallied in a season.

My Dad would be pleased to see his favorite Stan Covelskie on there for 3 standout seasons although disappointed not any ranked in the top 10. He always told me Jim Bagby was just lucky to win 31 games in 1920 and that list agrees, that doesn't make honorable mention.

Tiant in 1968 was absolutely amazing; especially a 1-0 10 inning complete game with 19K on July 4, if I recall that accurately.

Win Loss record isn't even included in the stats presented; overrated but maybe of some significance?

Feller's no hitter to open the '40 season, is the answer to a trivia question.

How is possible that team could have all their batters end the game
with same batting average that they started with.

That's a good one!