Man, how things change in 17 months.

Exactly 17 months ago today, the Cleveland Indians embarked on the 2008 MLB season. They were coming off a season where they were one win away from the World Series, and expectations were huge. Most, if not all of the so called 'experts' felt that the Indians were poised to go on a run similar to the one in the mid-'90's. Cleveland Indians dominance. Most of us fans felt the same way as well. Just 17 months later, the Indians are a team without a direction. They don't have many stars left. They don't have many fans that still get down to Progressive Field on a daily basis. They don't have an owner who is willing to even spend $1.50 on a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Edition for the clubhouse. They don't have a plan for 2010. They don't have much. How did it get so bad, so fast? It's tough to say. But one thing has stayed the same...the Dolans still own the Indians, and the Dolans still won't let the Indians ever be competitive on a yearly basis. Unless the Tribe start off the season on a ridiculous hot streak, and are in 1st place at the All-Star break, the Dolans will do everything in their power to get rid of as many higher-priced contracts on the team. Anyways, back to the main point. I want to talk about the differences 17 months have made for the Cleveland Indians. Let's take a look at the starting lineup on Opening Day 2008 for the Tribe.

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jason Michaels, LF
3. Travis Hafner, DH
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Jhonny Peralta, SS
6. Ryan Garko, 1B
7. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
8. Franklin Gutierrez, RF
9. Casey Blake, 3B

CC Sabathia was the starter. The other starters were Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook, Paul Byrd and Cliff Lee. Main guys out of the bullpen were Jensen Lewis, Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, Tom Mastny and Joe Borowski.

Now, I'm not gonna sit here and say that team was stacked. Far from it. But we had incredible pitching, an incredible bullpen, and four guys towards the top of the lineup who could rake.

Fast forward 17 months, and lets take a look at the current Cleveland Indians. I'll bold players that are still on the team that played in Opening Day 2008, and bold their positions if they still play that position. Tonight's lineup read:

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
3. Shin-Soo Choo, DH
4. Jhonny Peralta, 3B
5. Luis Valbuena, 2B
6. Matt LaPorta, RF
7. Andy Marte, 1B
8. Kelly Shoppach, C
9. Michael Brantley, LF

Our starter tonight was Carlos Carrasco, and the other four starters in the rotation consist of Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers and David Huff. Main guys out of the bullpen are Joe Smith, Chris Perez, Tony Sipp, Justin Masterson and Kerry Wood.

Alright. So here's 20 guys on this current Indians roster that are, more or less, everyday starters. Aside from Choo getting the night to DH and give Brantley a start in his outfield place, not much would change day-to-day aside from Hafner getting in the DH spot.

20 players mentioned. 5 of them were on the Indians Opening Day 2008 roster. That means in 17 months, 75% of the Indians that were there on April 1, 2008 are no longer with the team. Seventy-Five Percent. Think about that for a second. Grady Sizemore in center field and Fausto Carmona as a starting pitcher are the only two players on the Indians roster that haven't changed a thing since Opening Day 2008. You can do the math.

When 90% of your team is changed within 17 months, how do you really expect to win ballgames on a consistent basis?

17 months ago I was sitting in front of my TV getting ready to watch the Cleveland Indians start the long journey that I figured could possibly end in a World Series. I was getting ready to watch the beginning of a new Indians dynasty. 17 months later I'm watching a team with no identity, no direction, and not much potential for the near future.

Man, how things change in 17 months.