That stings: The Browns and their national television woes
August 28, 2015Did We Already Forget About J.R. Smith?
August 28, 2015You could say the Indians have moved up into a tie for third place in the American League Central Division. Or you could very well say they’re in a tie with the Chicago White Sox as the fifth worst team in the AL. As the late Jonathan Winters used to say, “Clean mind, clean body … take your pick.”
It’s difficult enough for your Major League Baseball team to compete with the NFL for the attentions of fans when it is in contention for the postseason, but when the playoffs have been virtually (if not mathematically) ruled out, there are simply fewer fans interested in watching just for the enjoyment of America’s Used-To-Be National Pastime.
Some of us will watch, however. The New Cleveland Indians are actually, little by little, getting more interesting. They’re now playing .500 ball in the month of August as they work to get their season record up to .500 as well. They’re now at 60-66. If they can do that and close out the 2015 campaign with a promising conclusion … well, hope springs eternal.
In this final week of August, the Indians finish up a short five-game homestand with three games against the L.A. Angels. With Kansas City, Toronto and Houston holding down first place in their respective divisions, the top two contenders for the two AL wild card positions are the Yankees and the Rangers.
The L.A. Angels, three games over .500 with a record of 65-62, dropped out of one of those wild card spots recently and are now a game and a half game away from the Rangers.
Oh, no. No you don’t. There are six teams between the Indians and a wild card berth, so let’s not get carried away here.
This weekend series between the Tribe and Angels will be their second and final of the year. The Angels won two of three in early August out in California, but the Indians have re-discovered some of that old home-field advantage magic. They’ve won six of their most recent eight home games and have gone 11-7 over their last 18 games overall.
Pitching matchups against the Angels:
(Danny Salazar was scratched from Friday night’s game and Bauer will move up a day to pitch on Friday.)
Trevor Bauer (9-10, 4.48 ERA, 148.2 IP) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (5-2, 3.39, 66.1 IP)
To be announced vs. RHP Garrett Richards (12-10, 3.80, 154 IP)
Corey Kluber (8-13, 3.43, 194.1 IP) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (6-9, 4.59, 119.2 IP)
New-look Indians? Switch-hitting Francisco Lindor is batting .310 as he settles down in the No. 2 spot in the batting order between lefties Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley. And guess what — Jason Kipnis leads the AL with a .325 batting average and Michael Brantley is tied with Nelson Cruz for second with a .320 average.
Lonnie Chisenhall came back from Columbus AAA a different person. Although he still goes by the same name and still wears No. 8, his average is now up to .258 thanks to his hitting .388 since returning to the mother ship. Also, since transforming himself into a right fielder, he’s gone from defensive liability to defensive asset. What a strange thing is this game of baseball!
If the Indians could somehow come up with a right-handed bopper (a switch-hitter would do) to fill the cleanup spot, this lineup would look very different from its pre-All-Star order. Will the real Carlos Santana step forward? (Or has he already?)
At this point, in late August, the Indians’ team batting average of .255 is sixth best in the AL. Post-All-Star, the Tribe is hitting .271 as a team, fourth best in the AL. Their hitting with runners in scoring position has also improved, their defense has improved, and — what do you know? — their record has improved.
This weekend, the Indians play some meaningful games with a genuine contender. Next week, for a more difficult test, they face the bashing Blue-Jays in Toronto.
And the weather? Well, it will be better for the game of baseball than for football.
6 Comments
This series with the Angels isn’t really even remotely close to being very relevant. Certainly not for the Indians and of late even less for the Angels who are doing more to play themselves out of the playoff hunt then anything else.
Thery were .500 in July as well. That 6 game slide at home is what killed them in July. When I talk myself into thinking that CLE may have a chance, I look at games they would need to win in order to have a chance. That number is probably around 87 altough 85 (8 games over .500 could do it since TEX is holding second spot with 4 games over). Tribe will have to probably go 27-11 the rest of the way out or at worst, 25-13. There are 11 more series left. We would need to win each series and split the 2 x 4 game series to have a shot.
You screwed up the preview, allow me:
Once brothers
Now bitter foes
Murphdawg vs Raburn
Catch the fever
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNgNasHUwAAjTEa.jpg
Agreed re Cleve, but relevant for LA, I would think. They’re very much in it, whereas games with Milwaukee, the White Sox, Tigers … meh. Only relevant to the Indians because they know where their season is going and are working things out for 2016.
Yes, way funnier! And on Aug 28 it’s all about funny.
Yep…baseball is America’s pastime.
It passes the time until FOOTBALL!