With apologies to Browns’ GM Phil Savage, who doesn’t like Cleveland’s woe is me mentality (actually I don’t like it either), it is rare that people on the North Coast can celebrate victories by two of its teams in the same day. The Indians completed a sweep over Kansas City and the Browns gave Romeo Crennel his first win over Green Bay. A great day indeed, but it’s time to look ahead to a crucial series for the Tribe against the White Sox, while the Brownies get Indianapolis next Sunday.
First, the Indians took care of business by sweeping the Royals, and increased their lead in the Wild Card race to 1-1/2 games over the Yankees. Cleveland plays three in Chicago and then goes to KC for a four game set with the Royals. The starting pitching continues to be the big story for the Tribe as Scott Elarton, Cliff Lee, and C.C. Sabathia allowed just 5 earned runs in 22-1/3 innings of work.
Eric Wedge’s game by game approach is just perfect for this team. Baseball is a game in which the starting pitcher has a huge amount of influence. That is, after all, how Las Vegas sets the odds on the sport. It isn’t really a momentum sport. A team could have a horrible loss one day, and the next day the starting pitcher throws a two hit shutout, and negative momentum is averted.
If the Indians continue to get the starting pitching they have received over the last month, they will continue to win ballgames. The White Sox series starts with AL ERA Leader Kevin Millwood going for Cleveland, and winning the series would help the Tribe keep it’s lead in the Wild Card chase. By the way, the Indians now are tied for the second best record in the American League with the Red Sox.
Meanwhile, the Browns picked up win #1 of the season at Lambeau Field. Trent Dilfer threw three touchdown passes and the defense picked off Brett Favre twice in the 26-24 victory. One of Dilfer’s TD tosses was an 80 yarder to Braylon Edwards, who caught a 10 yard slant and took it the distance. That would mean it was the biggest contribution by a Browns’ #1 draft choice since the team came back in 1999, other than Courtney Brown’s three sack game against the Bears.
Let’s face it though, the Packers are not a good football team. They lost to the Lions in week one, and Detroit was hammered by Chicago yesterday. Next week, Romeo’s boys get a reality check against Peyton Manning and the Colts.
Enjoy the win, Browns fans. To top it off, the genius Brian Billick’s Ravens are now 0-2. I guess he isn’t smarter than everyone else. Also a note to Phil Savage’s critics: Billick was the one who wanted Kyle Boller, not Savage.
Hope everyone has plenty of antacids on hand for the Tribe-Sox series this week.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 