Second-half SURGE!
The Tribe begins the second half of the season tonight looking to duplicate the spirited late-season run of last season that left them a game short of the playoffs.
All season Eric Wedge has been telling us the team's best baseball was ahead of them (it certainly couldn't be any worse!) and how there was pleeeenty of time. Its a marathon, not a sprint, Wedge cautioned.
Well, to make the playoffs the Indians would have to be no worse than second place in the AL Central, which would mean passing up either the Tigers or the White Sox.
First lets look at the Tigers, who have played .670 ball through the first 88 games of the year. If Detroit stays consistent, they are on pace to finish up at 108-54. For the Tribe to finish ahead of them and take the division, they would simply need to go 69-7 the rest of the way. PIECE OF CAKE! I mean they could lose two games a month the rest of the season and STILL have one loss left over. I'm sure they will have no trouble playing that kind of baseball. Gosh Eric Wedge is smart.
Just in case, however, something goes awry. Perhaps our prized offseason free agent signing Paul Byrd DOESN'T break Orel Herschiser's record 59 scoreless inning streak or Aaron Boone doesn't finish the season at a .450 clip. We would need to set our sights on more humble goals - the White Sox. Not as hot as Detroit, the Sox are sputtering along at a .648 clip. I know, laughable. While they have been playing right into the shrewd Wedge's hands, the Sox will still finish 105-57 at the current pace.
To overtake Chicago, the Tribe would need to rattle off a cool 66-10 record. Under normal circumstances pretty tough, but as Wedge has assured us, our best baseball is ahead of us, plenty of time.
So to wrap it up, the Indians are right where they want to be. Eric Wedge has pulled the wool over the entire division's eyes and a playoff run is all but certain.
And you Dolan haters thought a championship couldn't be won on food stamps.
All season Eric Wedge has been telling us the team's best baseball was ahead of them (it certainly couldn't be any worse!) and how there was pleeeenty of time. Its a marathon, not a sprint, Wedge cautioned.
Well, to make the playoffs the Indians would have to be no worse than second place in the AL Central, which would mean passing up either the Tigers or the White Sox.
First lets look at the Tigers, who have played .670 ball through the first 88 games of the year. If Detroit stays consistent, they are on pace to finish up at 108-54. For the Tribe to finish ahead of them and take the division, they would simply need to go 69-7 the rest of the way. PIECE OF CAKE! I mean they could lose two games a month the rest of the season and STILL have one loss left over. I'm sure they will have no trouble playing that kind of baseball. Gosh Eric Wedge is smart.
Just in case, however, something goes awry. Perhaps our prized offseason free agent signing Paul Byrd DOESN'T break Orel Herschiser's record 59 scoreless inning streak or Aaron Boone doesn't finish the season at a .450 clip. We would need to set our sights on more humble goals - the White Sox. Not as hot as Detroit, the Sox are sputtering along at a .648 clip. I know, laughable. While they have been playing right into the shrewd Wedge's hands, the Sox will still finish 105-57 at the current pace.
To overtake Chicago, the Tribe would need to rattle off a cool 66-10 record. Under normal circumstances pretty tough, but as Wedge has assured us, our best baseball is ahead of us, plenty of time.
So to wrap it up, the Indians are right where they want to be. Eric Wedge has pulled the wool over the entire division's eyes and a playoff run is all but certain.
And you Dolan haters thought a championship couldn't be won on food stamps.
posted by Jon Sladek at 5:28 PM
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