April 6, 1969:
AL PREVIEW: INDIANS by Russell Schneider (Cleveland Plain-Dealer)
Cleveland - Alvin Dark doesn't want to be misunderstood. "I am not predicting a pennant," he said many times during the last several weeks when people asked about his Cleveland Indians. "But we CAN win it," he added.
More people would agree with the Cleveland manager if, somehow, the Indians could find a way to score more runs than they did last year, when only two clubs crossed the plate fewer times.
But the Tribe finished third without a bona fide slugger, so, with just a little help, Cleveland could indeed win its first pennant since 1954 and its third in history.
That's why Dark and Gabe Paul made a pitch for the Senators' Frank Howard during the off-season, but apparently they didn't want to pay the price.
Superior pitching - probably the best in the American League - is the Indians' strong suit.
Figured for most of the starting assignments are Luis Tiant, a 21-game winner in 1968 whose 1.60 earned-run average led the league; Sam McDowell, Sonny Siebert and Stan Williams. Those four posted a cumulative record of 61-44 last season and Dark is looking for improvement from McDowell and Siebert.
Siebert suffered elbow miseries, winning only one game after the All-Star break, but he is sound again.
The Indians' bullpen also is a strong point and, with the addition of Jack Hamilton, should be even better than last season.
Williams also is a member of the relief corps, for he thrives on as much work as possible, and other firemen include Mike Paul (a southpaw who will see some starting duty, too) and Mexican righthanders Vicente Romo and Horacio Pina.
Behind the plate the Indians also think they have a surplus of talent and they were willing to deal one of their catchers in a trade for a slugger. The receivers include Joe Azcue and Duke Sims, who will probably share the job, and rookie Ray Fosse.
Tony Horton, who led the Indians with 14 homers in 1968, will play first base and Dark is counting upon him to hit much more than last year's .249. Horton lathered the baseball in spring training.
Dave Nelson, a rookie last summer, has moved in at second base and seems sure to be there for a long time. Nelson has great speed and he and center fielder Jose Cardenal could steal more bases than any other two teammates in the American League.
Elsewhere, Dark is expected to do considerable juggling of the Tribe lineup.
Max Alvis, a regular at third base since 1963, will have to fight off the challenge of Zoilo Versalles, who is also a factor at shortstop, where Larry Brown has reigned a couple of years.
Also unsettled are the left and right field positions. Jimmie Hall, it seems, will play both, alternating in right with Richie Scheinblum and in left with Chuck Hinton and Lee Maye. Also available for spot duty is veteran Russ Snyder, who batted .281 last year after his acquisition from the White Sox.
How effective Dark's juggling turns out to be will determine, to a large extent, how effective the Indians are in scoring more runs in 1960. And how well they score runs will determine how high they finish in the American League's strong Eastern Division.
"We're in a tough division, no question about it," Dark said. "But I like challenges anyhow."
There is little doubt the Indians CAN win the pennant - although that is NOT the prediction.
LUIS TIANT