CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is simple. The worst-case scenario for Michael Brantley and the Indians would be a case of deja vu.
The nadir would be a repeat of last year, when Brantley suffered setback after setback, limiting him to only 11 games, requiring a second surgery and prompting questions about whether he'll ever regain his All-Star form. It's one thing to know a player will miss a significant chunk of time and be able to plan accordingly; it's another to expect a return to prominence and never have it materialize.
At this juncture, there's no evidence to suggest that Brantley and the Indians will reach rock bottom.