The fans are jumping of the Titanic after last night’s 7-3 loss to Detroit yesterday. Heading home following the game last night, I heard people calling the talk shows saying now the Tribe will get swept in the upcoming four game series against the Yankees, how the team needs to make massive changes, and how left hander C.C. Sabathia should be traded for prospects. This sort of talk amuses me.
It is true the team laid an egg last night, their first clunker in a while. After sweeping a doubleheader on the 4th of July, Cleveland lost a close game on Tuesday, 3-2 before getting just a split in the four game set with Wednesday’s defeat. Fans said the team didn’t capitalize on the momentum gained with the sweep on Monday. Baseball followers will tell you that in this sport, momentum is based on your team’s starting pitcher. Each game is different, and if you are facing good pitching, your streak can end.
The truth is the Indians are playing well, still just a game out of second in the AL Central Division. But listen up fans…THERE STILL ARE 78 GAMES LEFT IN THE SEASON. Being four games ahead or four games behind at this point in the season doesn’t matter. There still is a long, long way to go in the season. This team is a contender for post season play after half of the schedule has been completed.
This is not to say this is a perfect team. The biggest need in my opinion is a right handed hitter who can hit in the middle of the lineup. They need to upgrade the offense at third base, first base, or rightfield, so that is the direction they should look. The pitching staff is fine at this point of the season, and Jason Davis’ peformance in Monday’s second game shows that reinforcements are there if injuries come up.
As for Sabathia, we must remember that he still has not reached his 25th birthday, and has a career record of 60-40. Is he a top of the rotation pitcher at this point? No, but he is definitely headed in that direction. His most glaring need is to pitch his way out of trouble, instead of just rearing back and firing. He will learn that. A couple of weeks ago, no less than Curt Schilling took the big lefty aside to council him. If Schilling thinks C.C. is the read deal, that’s good enough for me.
If the Tribe can split four with New York, it’s a good series for them. It will mean a 48-40 record at the All Star break, and they will be in the thick of the postseason race.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 