The Indians look like they are going to have a very solid starting rotation in 2012.  Here is a look at how I see things working out for the rotation in 2012:

#1:  Ubaldo Jimenez:  28-year old righty Ubaldo Jimenez came to the Indians in a deal with the Rockies at the trade deadline last year.  He pitched in 11 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.  Jimenez pitched in 32 games (all starts) overall for the Rockies & Indians last year and he was 10-13 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.  Jimenez has now pitched in 149 games (148 starts) in his first six years with the Rockies and he is 60-49 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.  The Indians hope that Jimenez gets back to pitching to his career norms instead of how he pitched in 2011, and I think he will.

#2:  Derek Lowe:  38-year old righty Derek Lowe came to the Tribe in a deal with the Braves shortly after last year’s World Series’ ended.  He pitched in 34 games (all starts) for the Braves last year and he was 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 634 games (356 starts) in his first 15 years in the majors and he is 166-146 with 85 saves, a 3.94 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.  The Indians are banking on a comeback season from Lowe.

#3:  Justin Masterson:  26-year old righty Justin Masterson had a breakout season in 2011 for the Indians.  He pitched in 34 games (33 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.  Masterson has now pitched in 79 games (72 starts) in his first three years with the Indians and he is 19-30 with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 146 games (87 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 28-38 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.  Masterson still has the upside to be better than he was last year.

#4:  Josh Tomlin:  27-year old righty Josh Tomlin really was a pleasant surprise for the Tribe last season as he is a control freak.  He pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.  Tomlin has now pitched in 38 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Indians and he is 18-11 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.  The Indians hope that Tomlin keeps working his magic in 2012.

#5:  Kevin Slowey:  27-year old righty Kevin Slowey just recently was added to the Tribe in a deal with the Rockies.  He pitched in 14 games (8 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-8 with a 6.67 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.  Slowey was pitching hurt most of last season and he missed some time, but he supposedly 100% healthy again.  Slowey has pitched in 100 games (90 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 39-29 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.  Slowey is the clear cut favorite for the #5 spot in the Indians’ rotation heading into spring training.

Jeanmar Gomez:  23-year old righty Jeanmar Gomez pitched pretty decent for the Tribe last year.  He worked in 11 games (10 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 5-3 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  Gomez has now pitched in 22 games (21 starts) in his first two years with the Tribe and he is 9-8 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.  Gomez will challenge Slowey for the #5 spot this spring, but I think he will fall short and start the year in AAA.  He will likely be the first starter called up when the Indians need one in 2012.

David Huff:  27-year old lefty David Huff pitched decent for the Tribe last year to.  He pitched in 11 games (10 starts) for the Tribe last year and he was 2-6 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.  Huff has now pitched in 49 games (48 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 15-25 with a 5.50 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.  Huff will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball and get a call from the Tribe if he is pitching well and the need arises.

Zach McAllister:  24-year old righty Zach McAllister had a rough introduction to the majors last summer.  He pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Indians and he was 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP.  McAllister also pitched in 25 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 12-3 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  He will more than likely start the 2012 season in AAA.

Roberto Hernandez Heredia:  31-year old righty Roberto Hernandez Heredia (the artist formally known as Fausto Caromona) might miss a large chunk or the whole 2012 season due to identity theft in his native country.  He pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.  Heredia has now pitched in 181 games (150 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 53-66 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.  He has been placed on the restricted list by the Indians, so he won’t get paid a dime until he’s cleared to pitch again.

Carlos Carrasco:  24-year old righty Carlos Carrasco had Tommy John Surgery late last summer, so he’s likely to miss most,  if not all, of the 2012 season.  Carrasco pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 8-9 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 33 games (all starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 10-15 with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012:  B

43-year old Manny Acta is back as the Indians’ manager in 2011, so don’t expect the players to be coached up too much. The Indians were 69-93 (42.6%) in Acta’s first year in charge in the dugout. He now has a 158-252 (38.5%) in his first four years as a manager in the majors. In Acta’s defense, the Indians’ roster isn’t exactly brimming with talent.

The Cleveland Indians’ bullpen will likely be up and down again in 2011. One thing is for certain though, and that is that Chris Perez will do a fine job of protecting leads in the 9th inning. Perez pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 2-2 with 23 saves, a 1.71 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He only gave up 40 hits in 63 innings last season and he whiffed 61 batters which shows that his stuff is right where it needs to be. Perez only has one weakness and that is his control as he walked 28 batters last year and that’s way too many. Perez has now pitched in 95 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Indians and he is 2-3 with 24 saves, a 2.62 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

33-year old righty Chad Durbin was signed by the Indians to likely serve as the set-up man and that could be an adventure. Durbin pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 4-1 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 308 games (75 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 36-44 with 4 saves, a 5.05 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Durbin has been much better as a reliever in his career, but depending him late in games is a risky proposition.

28-year old Rafael Perez will likely be used late in games for the Tribe in 2011. Perez pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 6-1 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. He has now pitched in 259 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 15-10 with 3 saves, a 3.80 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The Indians hope Perez pitches as least as good as he did in 2010.

27-year old righty sidearmer Joe Smith will likely be a situation righty for the Tribe in 2011. Smith pitched in 53 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 90 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Indians and he is 2-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Smith has only given up 60 hits in his first 74 innings with the Indians but he has walked 37 batters and they will never trust him too late in games until he tightens up his control.

27-year old lefty Tony Sipp showed a lot of promise in 2010 for the Indians. Sipp pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 4.14 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched in 116 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Tribe and he is 4-2 with 1 save, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Sipp could be domintating if he just threw more strikes. He has walked 64 batters in his first 103 innings with the Indians, but he has also only given up 75 hits while whiffing 117 batters.

28-year old righty Justin Germano will be the long man in the pen for the Indians this year. He pitched in 23 games (1 start) for the Indians last year and he was 0-3 with a 3.31 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Germano has now pitched in 70 games (36 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 8-19 with a 4.98 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Indians hope that Germano can give the Indians’ starting pitchers support early in games when they don’t have their best stuff.

26-year old righty Frank Herrmann has a great fastball but he’s not a strikeout pitcher. Herrmann pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.03 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He only whiffed 24 batters in 44 2/3 innings last season but on a good note he only walked 9 batters. He will likely be a middle reliever for the Tribe again in 2011.

26-year old righty Jensen Lewis will likely be up and down with the Tribe again in 2011. He has been sent to AAA-ball to start the 2011 season. Lewis pitched in 37 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 4-2 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Lewis has now pitched in 161 games (0 starts) in his first 4 years with the Indians and he is 7-11 with 14 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

26-year old righty Vinnie Pestano could be a nice sleeper for the Indians in 2011. Pestano pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. He also pitched in 57 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-3 with 17 saves, a 1.81 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Pestano whiffed 77 batters and he only allowed 47 hits last year in 59 2/3 innings in the minors which shows how nasty he can be. He also has good control as he only walked 16 batters in the minors last year.

24-year old righty Jess Todd comes into this season as the Indians’ #27 prospect according to Baseball America. Todd pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 0-0 with a 7.50 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 4-2 with 4 saves, a 3.31 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Todd has pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Tribe and he is 0-1 with a 7.43 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP.

27-year old righty Doug Mathis could challenge Justin Germano for the long man role in the pen. Mathis pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He has now pitched in 45 games (6 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 3-3 with 1 save, a 4.84 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.

28-year old righty Joe Martinez might also pitch in long relief for the Indians at some point in 2011. Martinez pitched in 9 games (1 start) for the Giants & Pirates last year and he was 0-1 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. He has now pitched in 18 games (6 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-3 with a 6.16 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE INDIANS BULLPEN IN 2011: C-

The Indians need the young guys to step up in the starting rotation in 2011. 27-year old righty Fausto Carmona started 33 games for the Indians last season and he was 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 149 games (118 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 46-51 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Carmona has only had an ERA of under 5.42 twice in his first five years in the majors. The Indians are hoping that Carmona pitches well like last season but you never really know what you’re going to get out of him.

25-year old righty Justin Masterson will likely be the Indians #2 starter in 2011. Masterson pitched in 34 games (29 starts) for the Indians last season and he was 6-13 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 45 games (39 starts) in his first two years with the Indians and he is 7-20 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. The Red Sox were calling the Indians last July with the idea of making him back into a reliever. Maybe the Indians should consider making Masterson a reliever again because of his big time issues with getting out lefty hitters.

27-year old righty Mitch Talbot pitched pretty well for the Indians last season. He started 28 games for the Tribe last season and he was 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has now pitched in 31 games (29 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 10-13 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Talbot has to be really fine with his stuff because it’s not overpowering as he only has 93 whiffs in 169 innings so far in his major league career.

23-year old righty Carlos Carrasco was one of the key players the Indians got back in the Cliff Lee deal. He started 7 games for the Indians in 2011 and he was 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now started 12 games in parts of two years with the Indians and he is 2-6 with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Carrasco also started 25 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Carrasco has a nice upside and I think he will come into the 2011 season as the Indians’ #4 starter.

26-year old righty Josh Tomlin is a soft tossing righty who will be competing for the #5 job in the rotation for the Indians this spring. Tomlin started 12 games for the Indians last season and he was 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He also pitched in 20 games (17 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 8-4 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Last season is about as good as it will likely get for Tomlin who is a tad short stuff wise.

23-year old righty Jeanmar Gomez will also be trying to win the #5 starting job this spring for the Tribe. Gomez started 11 games for the Indians last season and he was 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He also started 20 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 8-8 with a 5.20 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Gomez pitched much better in the majors than in the minors last season which is a tad odd. I think he has better stuff than Josh Tomlin does but not the same level of pitching know how.

26-year old lefty David Huff had a rough year in 2011 as he missed a lot of time after getting hit in the head with a line drive. Huff started 15 games for the Indians last season and he was 2-11 with a 6.21 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. He has now started 38 games in his first two years with the Indians and he is 13-19 with a 5.84 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Huff has to be more fine with his location and changes of speed, because stuff wise he might be a tad short.

29-year old righty Anthony Reyes is still trying to make it back from Tommy John Surgery. He started 5 games in Rookie+AA-ball last season and he was 0-3 with a 16.20 ERA and a 2.40 WHIP. He didn’t pitch with the Indians last year. Reyes has started 14 games in parts of two years with the Indians and he is 3-2 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. If Reyes could make it all the way back in 2011, he could be an asset at the back end of the starting rotation for the Tribe.

23-year old righty Zach McAllister came over in a deal at the trade deadline with the Yankees last year. McAllister started 27 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 9-12 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He has now pitched in 101 games (89 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 39-34 with 1 save, a 3.51 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. McAllister was once a highly thought of prospect with the Yankees, so he might be able to help the Indians at some point in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE INDIANS STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: D+

28-year old lefty swinging Shin-Soo Choo will start in RF for the Cleveland Indians in 2011 and he will likely be the best offensive player on the team once again. Choo played in 144 games for the Indians last season and he was 165 of 550 (.300 avg, .885 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 22 homers, 90 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Choo has a sweet swing as the ball jumps off his bat. I see him graduating to being a 25/25 man for the Tribe in 2011 with around a .300 batting average. Choo made 4 errors in 142 games in RF for the Indians last season while showing average range. He has a big time arm though as he had 14 assists last season. Choo is the best all around player the Cleveland Indians have to offer in 2011.

Austin Kearns, Shelley Duncan and Travis Buck would get some P.T. behind Choo in RF in 2011. Kearns played in 32 error-free games in RF for the Indians last season while showing average range. He doesn’t really have the arm for the job though as he didn’t have any assists. Duncan played in 8 error-free games in RF for the Indians last season but he showed poor range out there. Duncan did have 1 assist though as he has a strong arm. Travis Buck didn’t make any errors in 3 games for the A’s in RF last year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE INDIANS RF IN 2011: A