First, there is no advantage to having the best record in the league when it comes to the playoffs. The 2004 Red Sox were a wild card team, and so were the Tigers last year. In 2005, the White Sox had the league’s best record, but slumped badly down the stretch until the last week of the year when they ended the season by knocking Cleveland out of the playoffs. It would be nice to have the last game of any series at Jacobs Field, but it’s not like the NBA where it has been eons since a visiting team won a game seven. It’s more important that the ballclub is rested and ready to go next week. If they get the best record in the league, that’s okay, but it’s not a huge deal.
Since it looks like we will play New York, I’m not sure I want the extra day of rest anyway. In reality, the Yankees have two very good starters in Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte. After that, they would have to go with a hot and cold Mike Mussina, an injured Roger Clemens, or youngsters like Philip Hughes or Ian Kennedy. The Tribe can counter with 15 game winner Paul Byrd, and Jake Westbrook. That would seem to be an advantage for the Indians. If Cleveland picked the series with the extra day off, they could pitch C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona twice on normal rest, but Joe Torre could do the same with Wang and Pettitte.
Another comment I would like to make on the playoffs is to remind everyone that they truly are a crapshoot. Just because the Indians have two Cy Young candidates in their rotation doesn’t guarantee them anything. I’m sure the Houston Astros thought the same thing in 1998 when they traded for Randy Johnson to go with Shane Reynolds and Mike Hampton. The Braves wiped them out in the first round. The Twins were thought to have a huge advantage the last few years because they have the best pitcher in baseball in Johan Santana. That hasn’t worked out well either.
The main thing to remember is the Tribe is in the mix. All four teams in the American League are capable of not only going to the World Series, but also winning it. That said, remember last season when the St. Louis Cardinals won 83 games in the regular season and then got hot at the right time and became World Champions. The key for the Indians is their hitting. Will they hit enough if they get good pitching to win? The Tribe has had good success against some very good pitchers this year, as indicated by their 8-1 record against Santana and Detroit ace Justin Verlander, but they have also lost several 1-0 and 2-1 games when they weren’t hitting.
A key for the offense will be the guys at the bottom of the order. When you are in the playoffs, the opposition will not pitch to Victor Martinez when he is in a position to hurt them. No team does. That’s why the Mark Lemkes and Brian Doyles of the baseball world become post-season heroes. That means guys like Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake, and Asdrubal Cabrera will have to provide big hits if the Indians are going to succeed in the playoffs. I, for one, can’t wait for next week when it will all get started.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 