Promising outfield gives Tribe lineup hope

With the disappointing season the Cleveland Indians had last year, finding bright spots isn't easy.

The one area that has made Tribe fans start to think positively about the future is the outfield, more specifically Michael Brantley.

Brantley, who is only 22, might let people forgive General Manager Mark Shapiro for the C.C Sabathia trade. Brantley was one of the players who came over in the deal that sent the ace-hurler to Milwaukee in 2008.

Brantley made a name for himself last year with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, the Cleveland Indians' minor league affiliate. Brantley played in 116 games before getting the phone call to join the Indians.

Brantley had a batting average of .267 and 80 runs scored. He also showed his speed on the base path with 46 stolen bases. Late in the season, he made his way to Cleveland and showed he is ready to play.

"Michael brings a lot to the table and he is going to be a part of our future for a long time here," manager Manny Acta said.

In 28 games with the Indians, Brantley had a batting average of .313. He also showed that not only can he hit, but he can also play defense.

In those 28 games Brantley played with the Indians, he said he was able to have success and wants to get back to that point. He also said playing in those games gave him a comfort level that should help him out this year.

"He is a guy who projects to be a leadoff hitter for a long time because he has a high on-base percentage and [because of] his ability to steal bases," Acta said.

Brantley has leadoff potential but for now he will have to take a backseat to fellow outfielder Grady Sizemore. Like Brantley, Sizemore also brings speed on the base path to go along with his power. When healthy, Sizemore is a 30 home run, 30 steals type of player.

The same guy Brantley is challenging for the leadoff spot is also the man who has helped Brantley while with the Indians. Brantley said he picked Sizemore's brain, asking questions about defense and scouting pitchers.

The third member of the projected outfield lineup is right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Last year Choo broke his personal best for home runs, runs batted in, stolen bases and hits.

With the pitching issues the Indians have had, this trio can be a big help.

What makes it so hard to get a hit on this outfield is the range and speed that all three outfielders have.

Relief pitcher Jensen Lewis said it is nice to know you have these guys to back you up. He added it gives the pitchers the ability to challenge hitters knowing if a mistake is made, the outfielders will make a play.

In 92 games last year, Sizemore didn't have one error before his season was ended early due to an injury. Choo committed seven errors in 144 games, but still had a fielding percentage of .976.

The Indians might have a lot of areas that need fixing but one area that looks like a complete group is the outfield. To add to this talented group, Sizemore and Choo are only 27 years old. If this group is able to stay healthy, it can be a productive one for the Indians.