Somebody forgot to tell the Cleveland Guardians that they're in a re-building year.
Maywood
Posts: 3,096 ✭✭✭✭✭
Many sports writers and commentators wrote the Indians off after their June 26th---July 6th losing streak of 10 games which ended with a three-game HOME weekend sweep by the Division leading Detroit Tigers. They were "re-building" they said. Heck, I thought it was over for the season and lost interest. One thing about sports, though, is that each day can bring redemption, each new game can offer an opportunity for yesterdays "goat" to be today's "hero." Such has been the case with this Cleveland team.
After that Detroit sweep they found themselves in 4th place, 15-1/2 games out and the basement looming.
Nobody knows what the future holds, but on my birthday, July 7th, the Indians awoke to all that is good in MLB and embarked on the current run that has them right in the thick of things. From a losing streak emerged the hottest team in Baseball. Since the end of the 10-game losing streak they have a record of 22-7 and have reduced the Detroit lead to 5-1/2 games. Perhaps more important, they now trail the Yankees by only 1 full game in the Wildcard Race.
I'm a realist. I have no misgivings about this team having a shot at the World Series, they simply don't have the starting pitching to compete against the best clubs in a series where the games are separated by 2-3 days. But it's nice to see them fighting, it's nice to just think about David having a shot at Goliath. At their current pace all Cleveland has to do is pick up one game each week on Detroit. Come mid-September they'll play the presumed Division leaders in two 3-game series' that look a lot more important now than they did a month ago.
Maywood
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Comments
They have a great manager in Vogt there in Cleveland.
Someone forgot to tell the Red Sox the same thing
Go Tribe, Go Sox
Hope the Yankees keep plummeting
Anything is possible, if they make the playoffs they got a real shot
Haven't been to an MLB game in a number of years, last time I went Cleveland was still the Indians!!! Meeting up with a couple of my boys for dinner and the game tomorrow vs. the Braves.
This is a treat, they're buying the tickets!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
If you watch tomorrow’s Indians vs. Braves game I’ll be the guy holding the “K” sign.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Enjoy!
I haven't been to a Sox game since 2013
I never really plan on going to games, it's always spur-of-the-moment. In the past it seems every time I'd go it was against the KC Royals so this inter-league game should be fun to watch.
Here's a funny story.......................
I was at a game against the Oakland A's a number of years ago when Nick Swisher was on that team. Being an Ohio State alumnus he had about 10-20 fans in the stands behind him in Left Field. They messed with him every time between innings. Swisher comes up for the 2nd time and after a "ball" flips his bat and trots down to first with a walk. The stadium got sort of quiet, Swisher is standing on 1st and both managers are at the plate talking to the Umpire. After about 5 minutes of back and forth they wave Swisher back to the plate ------------------ it was only ball 3!!!
When he took the field at the end of the inning his "support group" was merciless and, to his credit, he was very contrite. It was one of the funniest things I ever witnessed at a game.
His next at bat he absolutely crushed one into the Right Field seats and the guys behind him bowed and bowed and bowed to him. Swisher tipped his cap with a great big smile. He wound up in Cleveland for a few years later in his career, a classy guy with a lot of enthusiastic energy.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Well, winning streaks come to and end and eventually even out during the year of a .500 team - and in reality that is all the Cleveland team is this year. They only have 2 legitimate bats and their pitching stinks!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I don't know how they did it last night but they went from season over to still having a chance in the 9th inning. And won the game.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Won again tonight !!!!!!!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Crazy - Guardians just swept the tigers and are only 3 1/2 games back!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
@Steven59 said: Crazy - Guardians just swept the tigers and are only 3 1/2 games back!
I've been away all day and was hoping to post about this, finally have a chance.
I noticed in August that the two teams were playing 6 games in mid-September and figured those games would settle the Division but I didn't figure it would be "settled" like this. All the Indians need to do is finish out the season above .500 and take 2 of 3 next week in Cleveland from the Tigers and they can probably win the Division. Who in their right mind even thought such a thing at the end of June.
Momentum is certainly with Cleveland and Detroit has to be sweating bullets and talking to themselves. The Yankees and Red Sox are making a run for the WildCard an outside shot but I think the Indians can catch the Mariners if they don't catch the Tigers. The season ends at Home with a weekend series against the Twins, 3 games against the Tigers and 3 against the Rangers.
Geez, I wonder if the Jake will sell out!!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Is Seattle ever going to lose a game???
They're 9 - 1 in their last 10
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Indians are 12-1and Seattle 9-1, looks like those 2 teams are the hottest in MLB right now. Seattle and Houston are flip-flopping the West/3rd WC and play each other this weekend.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Guardians on Channel 3 tonight!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
And Josh Naylor hitting like crazy in Seattle - sure would have been great if he was still in Cleveland - "But", "If", ...............
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
@Steven59 said: And Josh Naylor hitting like crazy in Seattle
And brother Bo has been hot for Cleveland lately. Tonight he had 4 RBI as the Indians scored all 6 runs with 2 outs to beat the Twins 6-2. Coupled with the earlier loss by the Tigers they suddenly find themselves 2 1/2 games out of 1st place!!! The last two weeks of the season and four of the six divisions are up for grabs, one is technically within reach and only the Phillies have locked things up.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I should mention that in typical fashion that I've grown accustomed to in a small market, the rest of the sports news world hardly acknowledges what's going on. If Cleveland can catch the Tigers and win the division it might be the largest deficit overcome since Division Play in 1969 began.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
15 games since July. Pretty impressive. AL Central and AL West are both wild races to watch.
Indians up 3-0 in the 3rd and the Tigers are down 3-2 in the 6th!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Cleveland 6
Minnesota 0
Atlanta 6
Detroit 5
The Indians are now 1 1/2 games out of 1st place!!! The Tigers can't seem to win and The Indians can't seem to lose as they continue on their magical run. Still plenty of time for Detroit to regroup, pull together and hold onto their lead but what's happening is really something and time is running out. It looks like the upcoming series between these teams will be for the Division Crown.
--- Bo Naylor had 2-solo HR's today.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Day/Night doubleheader today, Indians beat the Twins again, 8-0, and move to within one game of the Tigers. That means it's possible the two teams start a 3-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday in a tie for 1st place. Somewhere, those in charge of scheduling for MLB are smiling.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Well, the Indians finally lost today but Detroit still hasn't won!! The teams did it with matching 6-2 scores. This sets up the Division showdown with the Tigers up by one game.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I hope they catch Detroit!
My Sox just couldn't take taking the division seriously enough
@perkdog, the Red Sox can help the Indians out because I think they close the season this weekend against the Tigers.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I like the tribe and hope they pull it off
Top of the 8th and the Indians just went up 5-2 with a 3-run 6th and 2-run 7th!!! Facing one of the best pitchers in MLB tonight, Tarik Skubal, with a 2.23 era the key was to get him to 100and into the Tigers bullpen. Now to hold on for 6 outs and the teams are locked up for the Central Division lead.
Back from the dead and 15 1/2 games back!!!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
And the Indians climb into 1st place.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Even better the Tigers might find themselves out of the post-season if they don't get their act together. I wouldn't have thought it possible 20 days ago.
Crazy game tonight!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
In the 6th inning when the Indians scored 3 runs the only ball that went out of the infield was the throwing error by Skubal.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Just watched the reply of David Fry getting hit by that 99mph fastball by Skubal. Terrifying.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I didn't even realize he was still playing
Detroit's pitcher looked like he felt terrible about it
Quite a run.
Didn't realize the Tigers struck out 19 times last night. Naw, they ain't feeling the pressure............
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
And the Train Just Keeps Rollin' on as the Indians defeat the Tigers 5-1. The Tribe is now 17-5 in September and holds a 1 game lead over Detroit in the Central Division.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
No magic tonight as Detroit finally beats Cleveland 4-2 and moves back into a tie. The Indians are at home for 3 games against the Rangers while the Tigers close out the season on the road in Boston. The outcome of these 3 games will determine the Central Division winner. Also, the Red Sox, Tigers, Indians and Astros are in the hunt for the last 2 WildCard spots.
Just win, baby!!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
It was apparent in the first few innings that the "bad" Guardians showed up at the ballpark tonight.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Here we go.................Game tonight is "Sold Out".
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Well no harm in backing into the playoffs I guess........Guards, Tigers, and Astros all lose tonight.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
It was like the whole team took a night off yesterday. I'll give a shout out to the Boston Red Sox, thanks for the help!!
It never amazes me that through the course of a 162 game schedule spread over 6 months it all comes down to the last two games of the season. If Cleveland can win tonight and the Tigers lose it's all over. With any other scenario the games on Sunday will be INTENSE!!!
Go Tribe!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Tigers beat the Red Sox 2-1 today which really turns things up on Cleveland, makes today a must win game.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
OMG!!! What an ending, the Rangers gifted the Indians a win in the 9th with two walks sandwiched around a single and a hit batter.
The Central Division comes down to the last game of the season. Let's go Red Sox!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
AL East and Central races. Could not have drawn up a better closing day. Probably will see a playoff game Monday for the top spot. Maybe in both divisions.
I think they figured out the tie breakers and eliminated the prospect of a playoff game. I know with the Central that the Indians hold that over the Tigers, if the teams are tied after regulation Cleveland wins the Division. Head to head record.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
MLB eliminated the one game playoff with the implementation of the extra wild card round, as the schedule would not allow it. They now use statistical tiebreakers, with the first betting a head to head tiebreaker, to determine the playoff seeding. The Blue Jays and the Guardians each have the tiebreaker over the Yankees and Tigers for the division titles.
The Blue Jays hold the tie breaker over the Yankees.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin