By CHRIS ASSENHEIMER
Staff Writer

CLEVELAND — At this time last year, the Indians were preparing to take on the New York Yankees in the Division Series after wrapping up their first Central Division title since 2001.

Monday at Progressive Field, many of those same players were cleaning out their lockers and preparing for a long playoff-less offseason.

Cleveland’s season of high expectations was dashed by a miserable beginning that included performance issues and injuries to key players, ending Sunday with the Indians in third place (seven games out) at an even 81-81.

“It’s kind of the tale of two emotions,” relief pitcher Jensen Lewis said. “Last year, we were preparing for the playoffs, and this year, everyone’s going their separate ways.

“Only one team wins (the division) and everyone else goes home. But I think we’re very optimistic with how we finished.”

A strong second-half performance that allowed the Indians to break even will have to serve as solace this winter. Cleveland was 16 games out of first place at 37-53 on July 9, going 44-28 over the remainder of the regular season to earn some respect, if not a spot in the postseason.

The Indians accomplished much of it without the services of CC Sabathia, Casey Blake and Paul Byrd – all traded by Aug. 12 — and all-star catcher Victor Martinez, top run producer Travis Hafner and starting pitchers Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona, who missed extended time with injuries.

“I think we feel proud of how we finished,” said Jhonny Peralta, who led all American League shortstops with 23 home runs, becoming the 12th player in MLB history at his position to record 40 doubles and 20 homers. “We started slow, but in the end, we did a good job. That’s not too bad after how we started.”

“We got the momentum we were looking for early,” said Lewis of his team’s second-half surge. “But we were too far away from .500 and we had to overcome so much. I think it’s a credit to everyone in here. We had so many young guys in key roles that they had never been in before.

“We really had to band together during a time when everybody had pretty much written us off.”

Positive performances from relatively inexperienced players such as Lewis (in the closer role), outfielders Shin-Soo-Choo and Ben Francisco and catcher Kelly Shoppach have left the Indians optimistic as they look toward next year.

The club is expected to have Martinez, Hafner and Carmona back at full strength, with Westbrook tabbed to return from Tommy John surgery sometime in June.

Additions are also expected to arrive this winter to help the Indians get back to where they were last year.

“The front office is going to do whatever they can to make us a better team,” Lewis said.

Leader of the pack

AL Cy Young candidate Cliff Lee finished the year as the league leader in wins (22) and ERA (2.54). Lee, who is Cleveland’s first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry in 1974, tied Arizona’s Brandon Webb for the most wins in the majors.

His main Cy Young competition includes Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, who set a new MLB saves record with 62, Toronto’s Roy Halladay (20-11, 2.78) and Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90).

Choo-choo train

Choo was named AL player of the month, batting .400 (34-for-85) with five homers, 21 runs and 24 RBI in 24 games over the final month of the regular season. Over that span, he produced a .659 slugging percentage and a .464 on-base percentage.

Choo hit .309 with 14 homers and 66 RBI in 94 games after joining the Indians shortly before the all-star break.

Assenheimer may be reached at cassenheimer@chroniclet.com or 440-329-7137.