Coming Home to Clinch?

 

The Cleveland Indians are coming home for their final home stand of the year tonight, starting with a three game set with the always pesky Kansas City Royals.  The Tribe leads the AL Central by 5-1/2 games with 16 games remaining on the schedule.  If the ballclub merely splits those games, they will end the season with 93 wins, and the Tigers will have to go 14-1 the rest of the way to win the division and knock the Indians are out of the playoffs.

 

The anxiety many fans are feeling are due to several factors.  One would be the constant fear of failure most Cleveland fans have based on the past.  The second would be the 2005 season.  The Indians looked to have at least a wild card spot tied up with a week to go in the season, and lost 6 of their last 7 to miss the playoffs by one game.  Third, these three games against Kansas City.  The Royals always play Cleveland tough, and they are throwing two of their better pitchers in Bryan Bannister and Zack Greinke.  And last but not least, is the three game set against Detroit.  Fans are worried about a three game Tiger sweep which would cut the lead to as little as 1 or 2 games, depending on what happens this weekend.

 

Although I will relax more after the Indians officially clinch, I think I can talk people off the ledge.  I cannot change the past and I am affected by it as well.  The consistent failure of Cleveland teams is the reason I still feel like this five and a half game lead could slip away.  However, comparisons to 2005 are weak.  This team has a bigger lead than that squad ever had.  Also, those players remember what happened two years ago and have learned from the experience. 

 

Yes, the Royals have been tough on the Tribe the past few years, but the Indians are sending their three 15 game winners at KC at Jacobs Field this weekend.  Plus, the games are at home, where the Wahoos won 6 of 7 on their last home stand and are 44-27 overall at the Jake.  If the Indians keep winning series, they will be just fine.  Lastly, the Tigers take on the Twins this weekend and if they win that series they will undoubtably be loaded for bear coming into Cleveland.  However, if the Tribe wins this set against the Royals, their lead will be at least 4-1/2 games, meaning a Tiger sweep will still leave the Tribe up a game and a half. 

 

The Tigers have issues of their own.  They have the struggling Nate Robertson going tonight and rookie Yorman Bazardo pitching against Johan Santana tomorrow night.  Another rookie, Jair Jurrjens, although he has been impressive, goes on Sunday.  Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander will pitch the series opener against the Tribe, followed by Kenny Rogers and Robertson.  Also, Gary Sheffield has not been hitting since coming off the DL with a shoulder problem.

 

My best guess is the Tribe will wrap up the division title next weekend against the A’s.  However, baseball is a funny game and anything can happen.  The biggest thing to remember is if the Indians keep winning series, which is their mantra, they will be fine.  Also, remember the Tribe right now is winning the season series against Detroit, and has the best record vs. teams against the AL Central by far.  There will be a huge sigh of relief coming from this area when the good guys finally wrap it up.

 

KM