The Good News/The Bad News…

Things Are Looking Up For The Joes!

Good News…
Joe Girardi was offered the job of managing the New York Yankees.
A-Rod announced prior to game 4 of the World Series that he would be opting out of his Yankees contract.
With these changes, it appears that the Yankees are at least one season away from returning to the playoffs.
Is there a wild card in all of this?
Yes, Barry Bonds! As he leaves San Francisco, filing for free agency yesterday, he will catch on with an American League team as a DH. Who can afford him?...The Yankees!


More Good News…
It was reported that the Dodgers are very interested in Joe Torre to manage the team.
Good for Joe! Good for the Indians as he will be managing in the National League!

Where Ya Goin' With That Bat?

Igor And Franken-Wedge?

Bad News?...
Kinda…The Detroit Tigers picked up Edgar (I beat the Indians in the 1997 World Series) Renteria.
This 5-time All-Star, 2-time Golden Glover, and 3-time Silver Slugger will be a huge addition to the Tigers in their already potent batting order and in the field as their short stop. If the Indians stand pat with their roster, this will ensure that the Tigers will more than contend for the division.
Wild Card?...
Indians manager Eric Wedge was quoted as saying that most of the 2007 Indians team will be back for 2008…Hmmm…In that case, can we count on a playoff choke again or can we find, discover, or uncover a player or two that will make this team finish off an opponent? Think back…up 3 games to 1 over powerhouse Boston, playing game 5 at home with our two top pitchers poised to win the ALCS…in game 5…in game 6…OK, our aces couldn’t get it done, how about game 7…CHOKE! CHOKE!! CHOKE!!!
The Red Sox graciously paid homage to the Indians as their biggest hurdle in the playoff, claiming that coming from behind 3 games to 1 was the turning point in their playoffs. Listening to Tim McCarver, anyone who beat the Red Sox, including the Indians being up 3 games to 1, was a “fluke” as he called it.
Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro (pronounced with a long i, like Eye-gor in “Young Frankenstein”) has got his hands full overcoming “Flukes” and “Chokes” this off season.
Igor, keep the “Good News” coming!

Boston Wins It All!

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox who's masterful sweep of the Colorado Rockies gives them their second World Series Championship in four years!

There is no denying that this is a great team. They should be able to compete at the same level for a few years to come.

That's not to say that they will dominate, not if the rest of the American League can help it.

Enjoy it today because tomorrow, the planning all starts again. Small and medium payroll teams will be looking to their farm systems, the free agent market, and begin trade talks.

Maybe, just maybe a team with less than half of your payroll who has you down 3 games to 1 can find that special player or two to deliver the knockout.

Spring Training is only 115 days away!

Opening day is only 152 days away!

I live for this!

Can't Bear To Watch?

Eric Wedge, manager of the Cleveland Indians apparently has no desire to follow the 2007 World Series. In an interview Thursday in the cold, dark, abandoned bowels of Jacobs Field, the Tribe skipper had this to say:
"I just don't have any desire to watch," he said. "My focus is always going to be on us. I'm starting to look forward to our meetings next week about 2008. I don't think watching [the Series] helps with that."
In a similar announcement, Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally stated that he was no longer going to look at the designs of Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, etc. “What for?” he added, “We are #2 of the big 3, that’s good enough!”
Also, Best Buy Co. CEO Brad Anderson explained that he and his board were no longer going to pay attention to Circuit City, H.H. Gregg, or any other competitors strategies, stating that Best Buy is better off staying focused on what they can control.

"Whaddaya mean ya gotta win 4 in a best of 7?"

On This Date In Baseball History...

On This Date In Baseball History, October 26 …

1995 - Orel Hershiser allows just two runs over eight innings and Jose Mesa survives a two-run home run by Ryan Klesko of the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 win in Game Five of the World Series.

1997 - Edgar Renteria ended one of the most thrilling Game 7s ever, singling with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Florida Marlins their first World Series championship with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. The 5-year-old Marlins became the youngest expansion team to win a championship.

On This Date In Baseball History...

On This Date In Baseball History, October 25th...
1986 - The New York Mets rallied for three runs with two outs in the 10th inning against the Boston Red Sox to win 6-5 and push the World Series to a decisive seventh game. The tie-breaking run scored on Boston first baseman Bill Buckner's error on Mookie Wilson's slow grounder.

Go Rockies!

Why We Couldn't Win One Of The Last Two In Fenway...

The sign below was posted at the entrance to the playing field of Fenway Park from the visitor's clubhouse...

We all know how good the Indians are at following signs!

Important Safety Bulletin

The American Medical Association has announced a new national symbol for choking. Please inform all of the people in your safety department.

Old Symbol

New Symbol

It's good to keep our sense of humor through all of this!

Top Ten Reasons Why The Rockies Must Beat The Red Sox!

As we approach the start of the World Series, here are the top 10 reasons why the Rockies will (really should/need to) beat the Red Sox...

#10 – Sweet Caroline!
What is up with that song? First of all, it’s a Neil Diamond song. Remember Bill Murray’s line as “Bob” in the movie What About Bob?
“There are two kinds of people in this world; those that love Neil Diamond and those that hate Neil Diamond. My ex-wife loved Neil Diamond.”
Did ya ever listen to the lyrics to his songs?
“She got the way to move me, Cherry”…What the #@%! Does that mean?!
“Pack up the babies Grab the old ladies”…Why?!
“Cracklin’ Rosie you store bought woman”…Geez!
In the 60’s, this guy must have overdosed on baby aspirin!

#9 – The Idiots!
Webster’s Dictionary defines Idiots as so;
Id-i-ots – An utterly foolish or senseless person.
Yeah, any team that prides themselves to such an endearing term is quite a group to look up to.

#8 – The New Evil Empire!
Move over, Yankees, you have been replaced by the guys from Fenway Pahk!
From The Grand Moff Francona to Darth Varitek, these guys make my skin crawl! The Indians failed to drive a stake through their heart!

#7 – Fenway Pahk!
The place is falling apart! It survived a date with the wrecking ball and remains one of the smallest fields in the majors. The Green Monster with its manually operated scoreboard, the bullpens added so that "Teddy Ballgame" could hit more home runs, and the smallest foul territory in all of baseball is not quaint; it’s anti-quaint-ed!

#6 – The Accent!
Get in yoh cah and drive past the Gahden to pahk and get some chowda…Get over yourselves!

#5 – You-Kill-Us!
Led by first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, these guys didn’t exactly step out of GQ. Get a razor, some soap, and stop looking like IDIOTS!

#4 – The Red Sox Nation!
Where exactly is it located and where are the boundaries? Not since the Braves and the Cowboys staked their claim to “America’s Team” has any other team had the gall to think anyone outside of Beantown gives a FART about them! We can only hope that they will secede from the Union!

#3 – Payroll!
These guys had the American League Championship bought and paid for with their $143.5M payroll. Let’s see the $54.4M Rockies kick their tails!

#2 – Manny Being Manny!
I hate that term! However, there is no denying Manny as himself; often unenthusiastic, employing a lack of concentration, mental lapses, posing at home plate, etc. Just think what this talented player could have accomplished if he would have ever given a damn and applied himself!

And, the #1 reason why the Rockies will beat the Red Sox is…
Man, these guys beat my Indians and broke my heart. There is no denying that they earned the right to be in the World Series but come on, who wouldn’t love to see the Rockies, at almost one third the Boston payroll, knock off the Red Sox?
Go Rockies!

How Are You Handling This?

If the umpire was any closer to this blown call, he could have made the tag himself...actually, I guess he did!

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.
Believe me, I am by no means yielding to any such notion that this failure was driven by a curse such as The Fumble, The Drive, The Shot, The Catch, The Mesa, Red Right 88, and now, The Collapse.

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.

This team lost to the Boston Red Sox in spite of themselves. The facts are as follows:
They were out-played
They were out-coached
They were out-managed
They choked
Being down in the series 3 games to 1, Boston became the wounded, cornered wild animal. They knew exactly what they had to do, they had done it before, and they did it again. Boston deserves much credit coming from down 2 games to winning the series. These guys just kept coming at our pitchers with great patience and power.

They out-played the Indians.

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.
The Indian pitchers failed to make the necessary and unemotional adjustments when the pitches they were used to getting called strikes all season long were called balls. The balls and strikes were very inconsistent. Television replays showed identical pitches leading to a 1 ball and 1 strike count many times.
However, Boston pitchers made the adjustments.

The Indians were out-coached.

The Indians set a record for most strike outs in a 7 game series. They fell back into familiar habits (post all-Star break) of not protecting the plate with two strikes. I prefer the image of Travis Hafner taking a mighty cut at strike three rather than arguing with the home plate umpire on why he watched that one go by. Why have six umpires if every time a questionable home run is hit, we are subjected to an umpire huddle to determine if the call should be reversed or not. I have to agree with Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro that instant replay is needed for just such occasions. If the game is going to be delayed anyway, why not use technology and receive the correct call?

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.
Note to Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge; game 7 is game 7…there is no tomorrow!
Terry Francona was prepared to use his entire staff if necessary to win game 7. He didn’t need to because Eric Wedge played the “line-up that got us here” to the hilt. Did Jason Michaels miss the plane to Boston? Is he still sitting in the Greyhound bus station on Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland? Trot Nixon looked ready to pinch hit, we had a need for some lefty punch in this line-up.

We were out-managed.
Having the Red Sox down, 3 games to 1 and letting them win the series shows a lack of ability to put a team away, a lack of killer instinct.

They choked.
Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.

Well, it’s over, it’s done, it’s time to move on.
Generally, when someone beats me, I like to wish them well by saying, “Go all the way!”
Not the case in this series. The Colorado Rockies represent all that is good in baseball…now.
Here’s hoping the Rockies finish the year winning 25 out of their last 26 games!
As for the Cleveland Indians?
Thanks for a thrilling year.
You are welcome for my extreme dedication which you will continue to have for life.
I never gave up on you, never…even when you were down 3-2 in game 7, I truly believed you could and would win!
The snows of Cleveland will dull the hurt of losing.
One day, soon I fear, knee deep in snow I will long for a Casey Blake or Ryan Garko walk-off home run, a 5 run rally in the 9th inning against the Tigers, a Joe Borowski save that could cause more heart attacks than shoveling snow, and yes, a World Series championship.
Someday….Someday…Someday…

I'll be there, cheering you on once again.

She Sings

Time For Heros

Holding Out For A Hero
By Bonnie Tyler

Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?

Where's the great white Hercules to fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what i need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light

He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

Somewhere after midnight In my wildest fantasies

Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat

It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light

He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

In the mountains neath the heavens above

Out where the lightning strikes the sea

I can swear that there's someone somewhere watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain

and the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light

He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

What happened?

Are images of “The Drive,” “The Shot,” ”The Fumble,” etc. rushing back?
Are you visualizing David Justice hitting a home run for the Braves in the 6th game of the ’95 World Series?
Can you still feel the hurt from Mesa and Nagy letting game 7 of the ’97 World Series go bad?
How about going back to the start of the ’54 World Series for the original “catch” in the Polo Grounds?
Why can’t Cleveland win a championship?
Not since the 1964 Browns has any major Cleveland sports team won a championship, but why?
It would not be sour grapes to mention that the umpiring in this ALCS has been inconsistent at best. How many umpires does it take to call a home run fair or foul?
Why is it that what appears to be two identical pitches make for a 1 and 1 pitch count?
I don’t think anyone would disagree that the umpiring could have been better but the Boston pitching has certainly done a much better job than the Cleveland pitching at making pitch adjustments.
OK, that had to be said.
So why can’t Cleveland win a championship?
Well, they still can. There is a 7th game.
We have come too far and been through too much to give up.
We can still win this!
Jake Westbrook will be pitching for the Tribe and he has truly been the best starter vs. the Red Sox in this ALCS.
Dice K is scheduled to pitch for Boston but word is Josh Beckett will be standing by for relief.
It doesn’t matter. To win this, we must hit no matter who pitches.
Oh, and in case we do not win…
Please don’t have a party in downtown Cleveland like the one for the Cavaliers when they got swept by the Spurs in the NBA finals.
If you keep having parties for losing teams, you will never win a championship.
So it is very difficult to be positive for the 7th game.

The Cleveland fans should not give up.

The Cleveland Indians better not give up, that's not their style.
That will be the measure for whether this team is a champion or not.

The Cleveland (W)edge!

You know, it is one thing to be so nervous that you are upsetting yourself or scared before this big game tonight. It’s another thing to be nervously confident and anticipating a great victory by your own team.
Cleveland fans have got to stop worrying so much!
All you hear on the talk shows, mainly coming from the hosts is how we blew our big chance on Thursday night.
Eric Wedge is right! Thursday is behind us. Today is a new game! (Wow! I didn’t think I would ever take comfort in a Wedge-ism!)
So, who’s upset and scared?
I’ll tell you who is and who should be…Curt Schilling, that’s who!
He was quoted as saying that he is afraid to let his team down with a bad performance and that fear has motivated him to success in the past. He also said that if he does his job, they win…if he doesn’t, they lose. Sounds almost like a Manny-ism, doesn’t it?
So, who’s confident and anticipating this game?
I’ll tell you who and who should be…Fausto Carmona, that’s who!
Fausto said he is nervous but only because he wants to do so well for the team and the fans. He said that all he has to do is pitch well and win the game…plain and simple.
Fausto listens to Victor Martinez. Fausto must pitch his game and make the Boston hitters swing at his pitches…just like Beckett did, just like Jake Westbrook did.
One of the best hitters in the American League paid a high compliment to Fausto. Torii Hunter of the Twins said that he felt like he had a hangover facing Fausto, that his pitches were just filthy.
Keys to a Tribe victory tonight:

• Fausto, pitch your game!
• Fausto, listen to Victor!
• Indians hitters, be selectively aggressive but protect the plate with two strikes!
• Grady, cut loose, play your game, get to Schilling early!
• Asdrubel, gain back that maturity and confidence at the plate that helped the Indians get where they are! You are a spark to this great offense!
• Pronk, be the hitter that you are, no position shifting can defense balls hit against or over the wall!
• Victor, you are the leader, the mainstay of this strong, young team. Lead by example as you have done all year. Battle for every pitch, at the plate or behind it. Appeal anything that looks like the batter took the bat off of his shoulder. Go for any advantage! You are the heart and soul of this team, rally them once again!
• Ryan, unleash the beast…you know it’s time for you to break loose!
• Jhonny, continue your great offensive and defensive approach to the playoffs!
• Kenny, Continue your great playoff contributions. Keep the emotions in check until after the victory…or don’t…either way, this town loves ya! I sure would like to see two things tonight…your second home run as a 2007 Cleveland Indian and one of your famous “chop” swings that you beat out for a timely hit!
• Franklin, you are a fabulous hitter…see the ball big, curve or not and spray it all over the park like you do!
• Casey, you are one of the biggest reasons we are in the ALCS. Your approach, unselfishness, gutsy performances, and never quit attitude have taught this team so much about who they are and what they became as a team. We need you “on fire” tonight!

Boston is a tough team who probably is a little tougher because they are on the ropes, like a cornered wild animal. They have their strengths but the have their weakness too. Exploit them;
Manny being Manny, frustrating Pedroia at the plate, keeping Schilling fearful of this Tribe offense, inside pitches to move these guys off the plate, pitching under the hands of Big Papi and Youkilis, keeping Big Papi and Manny out of the same inning whenever possible, beat the brains in of the bottom third of Boston’s order because they are only batting .174 in the ALCS, be filthy!

Even though there is a possibility of a game 7 tomorrow night, the mindset for tonight for the Indians has to be “Must Win!”
There is no doubt that they can rise to the occasion.
You have to feel confident that, with everything they have been through, with everything they have accomplished, they win tonight.
Thanks to the Cleveland Indians for a fabulous season.
Thanks for what is still ahead to be accomplished.
Prediction;
Cleveland 5
Boston 3
Joe Borowski scares the beans out of us but gets the save!
Believe It!

The One That Got Away...

Well, you can't win them all...or catch them all...or hit them all...or even hit some of them, sometimes.

This all too familiar sight took place again last night on a debated Manny Ramirez long single that Manny took for a home run as he broke into his familiar stroll.As a matter of fact, this is about the only thing that Manny "dug out" last night!
Slip sliding away seemed to be the theme last night as Boston spread out 7 runs on 12 hits. They did however leave 17 on base!
About the only real excitement came when Kenny Lofton dropped his bat on home plate when he apparently looked at what he deemed as ball four. On the next pitch, Kenny flied out and starting pitcher Josh Beckett and Kenny jawed at each other before clearing the benches and being separated.

My money would have been on Kenny, looking like Evander Holyfield trying to regain the crown.
But let's give credit to the Boston Red Sox. They refused to quit and will keep coming back at the Tribe until we take a 4th win. Josh Beckett pitched a great game against us, yielding only 1 run on 5 hits with 11 strike outs and 1 walk.


It wasn't the Tribe's time last night but this Cleveland team will not be denied!
Let's go to Boston and win it all on the pitching of Fausto Carmona and an explosive offense!
Cleveland will take Boston in Game 6...
Believe It!

CLEAR!

Thursday, October 18, 2007, 7:45 PM...
Ring, ring, ring!
"Urgent Care, how may I assist you?"
"I can't feel my heart!"
"Are you in pain?"
"No, actually I feel great, but I can't feel my heart!"
"OK, calm down. Are you able to get up and move around?"
"Oh yes, I just can't feel anything where my heart should be!"
"Alright, describe your symptoms to me and please be specific."
"Well, It's like, nothing...lightness...hollow! What's wrong with me?"
"Is that your television I hear in the background?"
"Actually the TV is on but the sound is turned down...what you hear is the radio."
"Ahh, I think I know what it is now. Are you a Cleveland Indians fan?"
"Yes sir, the biggest and best in the land!"
"Nothing to worry about. Everyone in Cleveland is having a little anxiety attack right before the big game."
"Really?"
Yes, heh heh, Really!"
"Well doc, what should I do?"
"Try to relax, by 11:45 tonight, you will be gushing with feeling and emotion in your entire body."
"So, I got nothing to worry about?"
"No, your heart is fine."
"Thanks doc, but I meant about the Indians."

"The Indians are going to the World Series and they will clinch it tonight."

Click.

Glory Days!

I had a friend was a big baseball player

back in high school

He could throw that speedball by you

Make you look like a fool boy

Saw him the other night at this roadside bar

I was walking in, he was walking out

We went back inside sat down had a few drinks

but all he kept talking about was Glory days well they'll pass you by

Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye

Glory days, glory days

Are you ready?
Are you excited?

Of course you are because...

SOMEDAY IS HERE!
Tonight, at Jacobs Field, our own C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians are going to take us back to Glory Days!
Bask in the moment!
Live the dream!!
The best team in the land will clinch the ALCS tonight…
Believe It!

Sniff...Sniff...Is That Blood I Smell?

It is Wednesday night and all is well in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians have put themselves in an enviable position ahead of the Boston Red Sox, three games to one in the ALCS. Our ace, C.C. Sabathia is ready to go against their ace, Josh Beckett in game #5 in Cleveland tomorrow night.

In the not so distant past, this town would be looking for the cloud over Jacobs Field.

Take solace in the fact that, with a maximum of three games remaining in this playoff series, the Indians only have to win one game to advance to the 2007 World Series.

That means they only have to play .333 over the next 3 games.

Odds heavily favor the Indians chances to advance.

Wait a minute!

This team didn't get where they are with that type of thinking or game plan. On the contrary, they have played every game as if there was no tomorrow...Hitting with 2 outs, walk off hits (and walks), come from behind victories...it all adds up to a team that never quits.

With that said, whadda ya say we clinch our 2007 World Series berth right here in Cleveland tomorrow night?! Save the plane fare and have a big ole par-tay!

Not that I think they need any help but here are just a few Cliches to help finish the job:

• Go for the jugular
• Use your killer instinct
• Cut and run
• Deliver the knockout punch
• Smell blood in the water
• Seal the victory
• Answer the call
• Control your own destiny
• They are in the driver's seat
• Playing for all of the marbles

Whew! That is quite an assembly of over-used terms that may help to get this thing done tomorrow night...in Cleveland!

How are the Red Sox feeling? Let's ask Manny Ramirez!

In an interview this afternoon, Manny was asked to comment on if the Bosox were in a panic mode. Here is what Manny had to say:

"Why panic?" Ramirez said. "If we don't do it, we'll come back next year and try again. If it doesn't happen, who cares? There's always next year. It's not the end of the world."

Well, if that's not blood in the water...!

Thanks, Manny!

It's Tribe Time Now!

Come on Tribe, gotta make it happen...tomorrow night!

The Cleveland Indians will win game #5 of the 2007 ALCS...

Believe It!

All Eyes Are On The ALCS!

How big was Casey Blake's home run to lead off the bottom of the 5th inning? Casey ignited a 7-run charge and added the final RBI of the inning with a single in his second at bat of the same inning! This was a little different from Saturday night when he led off the 7-run 11th inning with a strike out and ended the same inning with a strike out. This team has a different hero step up every night!

Paul Byrd pitched 5 scoreless innings until he tired in the top of the 6th inning. This was classic Byrd as he allowed 2 runs on 6 hits with 4 strike outs and no walks...Outstanding!

Jhonny Peralta continues his torrid post season attack with a 3-run home run in the 7-run 5th inning! Jhonny is batting .406 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs in this post season!

Victor Martinez and Johnny Peralta celebrate Peralta's 3-run home run in the 5th inning!

Congratulations to Kenny Lofton as his stolen base in the 5th inning makes him the all-time leader in post season steals with 34!

Manny being Manny!

The magic is back but it is different than before...better...more magical!

This team never quits, never gives up, and refuses to be awed by any opponent. The enthusiasm and team work being displayed are paying huge dividends to this exciting group, as well as their fans and a city that are all bracing for a chance to win it all!

Call it magic, call it whatever you want but more importantly...

Believe It!

No Dice!!!!

The Cleveland Indians got to Daisuke Matsuzaka of Boston early and put him out of the game in the 5th inning.

I guess you could say "We rolled the Dice!"

Cleveland outfielder Kenny Lofton hit his first home run ( a 2-run shot) as a 2007 Cleveland Indian and it put the Indians ahead for good tonight in game 3 of the ALCS.

"Ken-ny, Ken-ny, Ken-ny" came out for the curtain call and the fans stood for "The Mayor Of Cleveland!"

Jake Westbrook was able to keep the Red Sox off of the scoreboard through 6 innings with some outstanding defense that turned 3 double plays. The Indians are doing their part to be the Kardiac Kids of baseball. However, the bullpen came through again as Jensen Lewis, Raphael Betancourt, and Joe Borowski combined for two and a third innings of scoreless baseball.

Are you lovin' the 4-5-3 double play?!

The shift for Big Papi putting Peralta on the right side has produced 2 of these unusual double plays!

The fans truly were the 10th man, cheering wildly from start to finish, waving their "It's Tribe Time Now" towels, and letting home plate umpire Brian Gorman know just what they thought of his strike zone, or lack thereof.

Now the "experts" are starting to take notice of the Cleveland Indians.

We are beginning to get the media respect that we deserve.

Although this game was highly stressful, I am ready for more...tomorrow night!

I want it all, I want it this year!

The Cleveland Indians are going to the 2007 World Series...Believe It!

Wahoo In The Playoff? Time To Protest!

The following story appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Sunday, October 14, 2007.

http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/1192361573104520.xml&coll=2

Cleveland's American Indian leaders renew Chief Wahoo protest. Sunday, October 14, 2007
Robert L. Smith
Plain Dealer Reporter
Leaders in Cleveland's American Indian community are excited that the city's baseball team has returned to the playoffs, but they are loath to see someone else making a comeback:
Chief Wahoo, the Indians' grinning, red-faced mascot.
The once-fading emblem is suddenly everywhere, they say, clearing a path for other Wild West stereotypes.
“War bonnets. Face paint. Feathers galore. It's really being thrown in our faces right now," said Chris Begay, a Cleveland-area Navajo and chairman of a local indigenous-rights group called the Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance.
The group plans to sponsor demonstrations before the Monday and Tuesday night games at Jacobs Field.
Protesters will again press team officials to change the team name and mascot but also will beseech fans not to return to the days of war whoops and tomahawk chops.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Many of us can sympathize with the reasoning behind the protest of the team mascot but you have to question the timing of the protest. Is it because the team is in the playoffs? Wasn’t Chief Wahoo bothersome to this group prior to making the playoffs or is it the national exposure of this team being in the playoffs that brings out the protesters?
We need to first examine a little history.
It was once believed that the team name “Indians” was in honor of an American Indian that played for the team in the late 1800’s. Louis Francis “Chief” Sockalexis was believed to be the first American Indian to play in major league baseball. (That fact is a topic of some debate.) He played for the Cleveland Spiders from 1897 to 1899. Some newspaper accounts point to the naming of the team in his honor. Further research fails to verify that fact 100% as the local newspapers asked fans to name the team in 1915. It is believed that the sports writers selected “Indians” from the entries from their fans and readers. It is entirely possible that those entries were to honor Sockalexis but this cannot be proven.
The original caricatures depict a profile of an Indian chief in full headdress. They first appeared as the logos in the early 1930’s.
From 1946 to 1950, the version that is considered the most repulsive to the American Indians was created and used.
In 1950, the current version was created and has been in place since then.
Most Clevelanders love their Chief Wahoo and do not mean it to be anything derogatory. But are they being insensitive?
What if the logo was to change again to something more complimentary?
Would the team name “Indians” still be suitable if the logo was "acceptable?"
What if we changed the name of the team to the Cleveland Americans?
Would Americans be offended if the caricature resembled Jed Clampett?
Instead of war whoops we could cheer “Wee Doggies!”
Or, the mascot could be a pampered business person in a suit with an I-pod and portable computer who is talking very loudly into an I-phone through a Bluetooth.
Have you watched Jeopardy recently? Lately they have been featuring young students as contestants on the show. These children are pre-high school aged. It is scary what they do not know of the history of this country. Sitting and watching the show, you cannot help but wonder what traditions and cultures will be forgotten because either they aren’t being taught or they aren’t being retained for whatever reason. From American Geography to American History, simple questions are either answered incorrectly or there is no answer attempted!
So, if the impetus of the protests are driven by an offensive caricature to the American Indian and not by the timing of the national publicity of the playoffs, then we need to make a change.
I suggest a change to the Cleveland Americans, seriously. The mascot or logo could be a blending of hundreds of faces from this country; service men and women, business people, contractors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, waiters and waitresses, etc. In one hand could be a symbol of hard work, the other hand could be reaching out to aid someone or some other country. And yes, make it a caricature because this country has a great sense of humor and is not too proud to laugh at itself.
When you go to the game, be tolerant of the Chief Wahoo protesters, possibly sympathetic.

Oh, and Go Cleveland Team!

For A Good Time…

For a good time, call 216-420-HITS!

Yes, there are a handful of tickets left for all 3 games this week as the Tribe hosts the Red Sox at the "Jake" on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Also, another way to purchase tickets directly from season ticket holders is called “Tribe Ticket Marketplace.”

There is nothing like the crowd at Jacobs Field, especially during the playoffs! You can be sure that the crowd on hand for Monday night's game will be rockin'! Be apart of it as the Indians continue their quest for the 2007 World Series...Believe It!

This just in...George Steinbrenner has just turned over control of the New York Yankees to his sons, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. The decision was based on the elder Steinbrenner's declining health. See the link below...
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgoWVMPjhNYtXRnamL1obi0RvLYF?slug=txyankeessteinbrenner&prov=st&type=lgns

How you feelin' today?

Game 2 of the ALCS was fantastic! From start to finish, it kept you on the edge of your seat from 8:21 PM until well after 1:00 AM this morning! Indians fans had to be stressed until the top of the 11th inning. I had nothing to drink other than water and apple cider and today I feel like I drank a bottle of Jack Daniels!

When Mastny put away the top three Boston hitters in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Tribe began to score 7 runs in the top of the 11th, I was certainly relieved. I thought, "No game Sunday night, I can relax!" Well, I don't know about you, but I am ready for another Indians-Red Sox game right now!
Monday night can't come soon enough!
Go Tribe! The fans will be behind you, louder than ever!
Jake Westbrook will have the game of his career and the Indians will go up, 2 games to 1...
Believe It!

Unbelievable?...Not To Indians Fans!

Trot Nixon delivers the game-winner in the top of the 11th inning!

OK, OK, OK, I was one night off with my prediction!

The Indians evened the ALCS with the Red Sox by beating Boston in 11 innings, 13-6!

Fausto Carmona struggled early against the potent Boston offense.

For the first 6 innings, the lead went back and forth.

Jhonny Peralta hit a 3-run home run in the 4th inning to put the Indians ahead, 4-3.

Back roared Boston and Fausto and Raphael Perez got lit up.

With the score tied 6-6, the Indians brought in Jensen Lewis, Raphael Betancourt, Tom Mastney, and Joe Borowski who were all superb! They held the Sox scoreless for the last 6 innings of the game while the Indians' offense got on track.

Incredible 11th!
In the top of the 11th inning with the score still tied 6-6, the Indians scored 7 runs to go ahead and secure the win!

• With Eric Gagne pitching, Casey Blake struck out.
• Grady Sizemore singled to right field.
• Asdrubal Cabrera drew a walk, moving Sizemore to second base.
• Due up was Josh Barfield who pinch ran for Travis Hafner in the 9th inning.
• Lefty Trot Nixon pinch hit for Barfield.
• Lefty Javier Lopez was summoned to relieve Gagne.
• Nixon singled to center scoring Sizemore (go-ahead run) and advancing Cabrera to third.

• Cabrera scored on a wild pitch by Lopez as Nixon advanced to second base.
• Jason Michaels pinch ran for Nixon.
• Victor Martinez was intentionally walked.
• Ryan Garko singled to center scoring Michaels and advancing Martinez to second.
• Jon Lester relieved Lopez.
• Jhonny Peralta doubled to left scoring Martinez and advancing Garko to third.
• Lofton flied out to center.
• Franklin Gutierrez homered to left scoring Garko, Peralta, and himself.

• Casey Blake struck out.
• Joe Borowski pitched a scoreless bottom of the 11th inning.

Now the series comes to Cleveland. All of a sudden, with the series tied 1-1, the Indians are in control, hosting the next 3 games!

Best case scenario; the Indians win the series in 3 games at home!

2nd best scenario; the Indians win 2 of 3 and go back to Boston needing 1 game of the remaining 2.

Aiming for the best case scenario is the right way to approach this.

If you do not yet believe the Cleveland Indians will win this series, you probably have been too busy watching the leaves turn colors.

Cleveland is going to the 2007 World Series...Believe it!

Time For "Extra" Help?

Baseball has forever been full of superstitions. Some players will refuse to turn anyway but left when getting off of the team bus, plane, etc., despite the fact that everyone else may be going to the right. Players have lucky or streak producing socks, underwear, beards, etc. Some players believe that their luck will go bad if someone touches them and they don't touch them back. Other players must high five or knuckle-punch anyone who gets a hit or drives in a run in fear that failure to complete this action may cause a slump.

The Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles had a shortstop that was so terrified of ghosts that it hampered his ability to succeed in the major leagues. Chico Salmon became the butt of jokes from team mates and those pranks drove his fears out of control.

The movies bring many superstitions and religious beliefs front and center, many time over embellishing the quirky behavior. In the movie "Major League," Cleveland Indians center fielder Pedro Serrano utilizes Voodoo and a little idol named "Jobu" to make his bats hit curve balls.

Every game, many players can be seen making gestures skywards after an on-field accomplishment.

Years ago, the Boston Red Sox were in a slump during a stretch run for the pennant. They had a 3-game series to play in Cleveland. Someone associated with their organization hired and brought with them a certified witch from the New England area to put a curse on the Indians. Apparently it worked as the Red Sox won all 3 games and got back on track in the pennant race.

Steven King at game 1 of the ALCS...perhaps looking for eerie movie material?

Outfielder David Dellucci needed some help to get out of a slump early on in this season with the Cleveland Indians. As the story is told, he called a nun, Sister Dulce, that he had helped out in his home town. She told him, "Relax and take God to the plate with you." David hit a triple and a home run that night.

Sister Assumpta from Cleveland is kind of a self appointed spiritual backer of the Indians. She even played herself in the movie, "Major League."

So, the Cleveland Indians find themselves one game down to Boston going into tonight's game 2 of the ALCS. Do they need some help from above...below...sideways...anywhere?

Some people in Cleveland believe that the Indians are already receiving some help from beyond.

This help is based on a tragedy that helped change the game of baseball.

Raymond Johnson Chapman

On August 16th, 1920, the Cleveland Naps (as they were known then) were playing the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman came to the plate against pitcher Carl Mays. Back then, pitchers would "dirty-up" a new ball so that it was not as easy to see and hit. Sometimes they would rub dirt on them, tobacco juice, or licorice juice. Also, baseballs were not replaced nearly as often as they are today so a ball could get pretty discolored during the course of a game. Pitcher Mays threw the ball and it struck Chapman in the head. The sound of the ball hitting Chapman's head was so loud that Mays thought it hit Chapman's bat and he fielded the ball and threw it to first base. Chapman was taken off the field and he died the next day in a New York hospital. As a result, doctoring the ball, including with spit, was outlawed at the start of the next season. It took some 30+ years before batting helmets became mandatory. The Cleveland Naps dedicated the season to their fallen hero. They wore black arm bands in his honor and, led by their manager Tris Speaker, they won the Pennant and the World Series that year.

Ray Chapman was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. A plaque was erected in his honor at the field that Cleveland played at, League Park.


When Cleveland moved into Municipal Stadium in the mid 30's, the plaque was taken with them and displayed at the new stadium. It is not clear why, but the plaque was removed, possibly for renovations and then it was misplaced. In February of this season, the plaque was discovered packed away in a box from the old stadium and moved to Jacobs Field when it opened in 1994. The team was in the process of building Heritage Park at Jacobs Field this year, a hall of fame for the team. Ray Chapman's plaque was refurbished and placed prominently in Heritage Park.

Since then, the Cleveland Indians have experienced many fortunes this season, tying Boston for the best record in baseball. On this year's anniversary of the death of Ray Chapman, August 17th, the Cleveland Indians took over sole possession of first place in the American League Central Division for good.

People visiting Lakeview Cemetery inquire about the old fashioned baseball memorabilia that adorns Chapman's grave. Caretakers hesitate to comment because they do not know how it gets there. One caretaker willing to comment said, "We see no one bring the stuff in or place it there, but there it is!"



Is Ray Chapman aiding his old team?

No one can say for sure but, Jobu, Sister Dulce, Ray Chapman, Sister Assumpta, etc., we'll take all the help we can get!

Go Tribe!

Baked Beans Ain't All That Stinks In Boston!

Game one of the ALCS didn't exactly go as we would have liked it to go. Tonight was just not C.C.'s night, nor was it most of the other Indians' night as the Tribe dropped game 1 by a score of 10-3.

Kenny Lofton is having a very good 2007 playoff performance but tonight, he pretty much stood alone.

Yes, Aaron Fultz, you do stink! Why is this guy still on the roster? Although he looks like Richard Dreyfus in "American Graffiti," he sure doesn't resemble a major league relief pitcher.

The sun will come out tomorrow. We will soon forget the sting of game one and hunker down once again to cheer on the Indians over the Red Sox. Fear not, for Fausto shall dominate the Red Sox offense and the Tribe bats will come to life...

Believe It!

Thoughts Right Before The First Pitch...

Epic Struggle!

The Cleveland Indians must win two in Boston!

This will allow them to come home and win 2 of 3, winning the league championship on Thursday...At Home!

Prediction for tonight...

Final score Cleveland 14, Boston 7!

Believe it!

Taking It Easy…

Are the Cleveland Indians being taken too lightly?
As the team begins preparation to meet the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series beginning on Friday, it appears that everyone, including the Red Sox are counting the Indians out.



























Well, everyone except the Indians themselves!


Odds-makers heavily favor the Red Sox.
Sports Talk shows are as well.
Once again, we love the motivation!
Bring it on..We'll be ready, will you?

Priceless!

Check it out...
Rapidly circulating in Cleveland!

The Baseball Management Talent Pool Drastically Improves!

Resume

Name: Joseph Torre

Address: Yankee Stadium,

E. 161st St. and River Ave.

Bronx, NY 10451

Objective: To obtain a management position that will utilize my successful experience coupled with my ability to motivate my employees to reach desired goals and achieve and exceed individual, as well as team milestones. Prefer a free hand with minimal micro-managing from team owner.

Experience (Please list recent first):

Manager, New York Yankees November 2, 1995 to present

Accomplishments:

12 straight years reaching the playoffs

2006 - Best American League record of 97 - 65

Ranks 1st on baseball's all-time list with 76 post season wins as a manager

Won the World Series 4 out of his 12 seasons as the Yankee's manager

Led the Yankees to 6 World Series appearances in those 12 years

Manager, St. Louis Cardinals, 1990 to 1995

Television Analyst, California Angels, 1985 to 1990

Manager, Atlanta Braves, 1982 to 1984

Manager, New York Mets, 1977 to 1981

Player, New York Mets, 1975 to 1977

Player, St. Louis Cardinals, 1969 to 1974

Player, Atlanta Braves, 1966 to 1968

Player Milwaukee Braves, 1960 to 1965

Highlights as a player: Catcher/1st Base, .297 batting average, 252 home runs, 1185 RBIs, All-Star, 1963 to 1967, Gold Glove Award, 1965.

Personal:

Married, 4 children

Received 2005 Joan Payson Community Service Award

Founder of the Joe Torre "Safe At Home" foundation

References: Abundantly available upon request

Good luck, Joe! If Steinbrenner is crazy enough to let you go, I hope you land in the National League and make life a little easier for the Cleveland Indians!

Were Ya Worried?

Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan celebrates with manager Eric Wedge

Come on, were ya worried?

Not me, at least not about the Indians ability to win the series.

Was I worried about it happening in New York?

Big time!

Think back to the second inning...Kelly Shoppach at bat with no outs and Gutierrez and Blake on...home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth signals that Kelly was hit by the pitch. Great, bases loaded and nobody out!
Wait a second, here comes Torre...like the school principal slowly but deliberately walking to breakup a school yard fight. All heads start to turn out of fear and respect. Everyone is frozen. Will Joe get his way again?

All of a sudden, there are 6 umpires with an opinion on a call that needs to be made by the guy closest to the action...kinda like game one when the umpire closest to the fair or foul Johnny Damon home run obviously didn't see it. Flashes of Hargrove battling the killer snowflakes of April with the Indians one strike away from victory surge back from the memory bank! Oh, do you remember the Baltimore run added in the 6 th inning from the 3rd inning?
But wait...the play stands as called! What? We win one? Is that a first for the year? Wow! The ball looks like it coulda hit the bat...Shhhhhhh!

We score two more runs on a double play ball and a single... 4-0 Cleveland!

Fast forward to the bottom of the 3rd inning. The Tribe is ahead 4-1.
Look, up in the sky! It's raining! Perfect! Now the Yankees can stall until the deluge wipes out the game....
Wait, we get to the 5th inning, the tribe is up 6-1, and no one is talking about the rain anymore!
OK, where is the earthquake, tsunami, Godzilla, something completely out of our control to steal the moment!
No? Not gonna happen? You're kidding me, right?

Not even a high profile celebrity can stop the eventual demise of the Yankees...I'm talking about Tino in the second row!

Never-ever did I doubt this team's ability to rise up and beat the Yankees...Never! And we didn't need bugs to do it either.

This is a totally fascinating team that keeps you engaged in the action from first to last pitch...from Grady to Blake, from Byrd to Borowski!

Admit it...in the last 4 games, did you...

• Catch yourself holding your chest and gasping for your breath?
• Time commercials with a second hand to know exactly when the extreme drama would resume?
• Wait longer than you really should have to go to the bathroom in fear they would start back up without you?
• Find yourself nearly ready to heave your guts out at anytime during this playoff series?
  

If you are a Cleveland Indians fan, the answer is yes to all of the above!

I want more!

I want it all!!

I never want it to end!!!

ALCS...At Last Cleveland Stars!

They did it...We did it!

David and Goliath? Not in my mind!

"The Cleveland Indians are a force to be reckoned with," says Frank Thomas, TBS commentator.

Thanks Frank, but we knew that and so did you. As a matter of fact, now Skip Carey and his crew know it. They'll have to stop rooting for the Yankees now and put on their Sox hats and Bostonian accents.

That's OK, we like the incentive you provide. That is some of the worst baseball coverage I have ever witnessed.

Hey, forget it...The Indians won and now move on to the ALCS!

Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians, their fans, and the city of Cleveland!

This is a great team that has never backed down from anyone, even the Yankees who held a 6-0 regular season advantage over the good guys.

And yes, Clevelanders do hate the Yankees, but what about their season?

They made an incredible run from +14 games down to almost winning the division.

Behind Eric Wedge for American League Manager of the Year is Joe Torre. With the injuries to his regulars, he had to take AAA players and pitchers, develop them on the major league roster, and make a run for the division, winning the American League Wild Card.

Fire Joe? That's ridiculous!

Joe Torre, hold your head high, you had a fabulous season!

I still hate the Yankees!

Go Tribe!

On to Boston for more games to give us a cardio-pulmonary jolt!!

Not Our Night!

Well, it wasn't our night to clinch.

Not tonight, not when you are hitting Clemens and he leaves injured.

Not tonight, not when your starting pitching can't hold a 3 run lead.

Not tonight, not when your reliever throws gasoline on the fire.

Not tonight, not when your hitting shuts down after 3 innings.

The good thing is that we did get to Clemens early.

So we go to Monday night.

The Cleveland Indians need to plan.

They need to make a plan that spells out g-o f-o-r t-h-e k-i-l-l.

Who will pitch for the Yankees...Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang again with short rest, it doesn't matter. Your best line-up has got to hit whoever they throw and support Paul Byrd and the bullpen.

G-o F-o-r T-h-e K-i-l-l!

Big Bad Bugs Bugged Roger!

Roger Clemens was interviewed by the media prior to his start tomorrow in game 3, the final (I promise) game of the playoff series between the Yankees and the Indians. It is always a mistake to put a microphone in front of Clemens.

Roger was asked what he would have done if he were the manager during the bug incident Friday night. "I would have probably pulled us off the field," Clemens said.

Really? Do the umpires get any say in a situation like that?

Perhaps he means he would have forfeited the game. Naw, I don't think so. He was just Roger being Roger.

It was humorous to see the Yankees acting as if the bugs carried a dangerous disease. They weren't Tsetse flies! Most of the Yankees over-reacted to the point of ridiculousness. I thought Derek Jeter was going to cry. A-Rod was a total baby. The guy that was most affected, Joba Chamberlain, was the most professional.

But come on, were the bugs only bugging the Yankees? Of course not! It was just that the Indians as a team and as individuals were much more professional. Both Fausto Carmona and Raphael Perez were bothered as well. It is ridiculous for Clemens to make a statement like that, as if the Indians did not earn the game. But, he is a showboat. The Yankees are not much of a team either, just some very talented individuals that win together...previously.

About Roger...

Roger Clemens probably has one of the best strength and conditioning programs in all of professional sports. It keeps him in great shape for his age of 45. He is a great pitcher.
But, the guy is a major jerk!
In a minor league game, after his own son hit a home run off him, Roger threw a bean ball at him his next time up at the plate!
Do you remember the infamous broken bat incident? Roger was facing Mike Piazza. Mike broke his bat swinging and as the ball went to an infielder, the bat head bounded towards Roger. Roger picked up the bat head and threw it at Piazza as he was running to 1st base! After the game, a sportscaster asked Roger why he threw the bat head at Piazza. His response was that he thought it was the ball. Sorry, Roger, we thought the game was baseball not S.P.U.D.! He missed Mike Piazza so I guess Roger gets "S" on himself.

There is no denying that Roger Clemens is a great pitcher. He is just a self- centered jerk.

The Indians will get to Clemens early and often tomorrow. Then we will be done with him...until he graces the world with another dramatic un-retiring again. Please don't. Just take your place in Cooperstown and go quietly for a change.

Indians Employ "Bug Ball!"

Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge, who has oft times been criticized for not bunting, was not at a loss for the attempted "Small Ball" technique in his team's 2-1 11th inning victory last night at Jacob's Field. There were 4 sacrifice bunts executed last night by the Indians but only 2 helped push runs across the plate. More helpful seemed to be the Canadian Midges that swarmed over the field starting in the 8th inning, probably assisting in, if not causing two wild pitches in the inning by Yankee reliever Joba Chamberlain that allowed the Indians and Grady Sizemore to tie the game at 1-1.

This game will forevermore be know as "Bug Ball!"

Although pestered by the pesky pests, give much credit to Chamberlain for not making excuses. In post game interviews, Joba continued to point out that everyone on both teams was bothered by the bugs.

True, but the bugs seemed to be targeting the visiting Yankees, didn't they?

Fausto Carmona sure didn't let the little critters distract him from his quest. Neither did Rafael Perez as both pitchers combined to keep the Indians in there thick of the swarm, until the offense could employ a "raid" at home plate and "sting" the Yankees.

Mariano Rivera was "black flagged" after the 10th inning.

That gave way to Luis Vizcaino who allowed the pesky Tribe to "horde" the bases in the bottom of the 11th inning and end the "plague" of scoreless innings with a one run victory.

You know, the Cleveland Indians are looking for a corporation to purchase the naming rights to Jacobs Field as Dick Jacobs' (former Tribe owner) tenure has expired.

How about these?

"The Orkin Bowl"

"Deet Domain"

"Terminix Turf"

All in all, this has been a wild and crazy season for the Tribe, why shouldn't that continue into the post season?

Looking forward to Game 3...the final game of the series, we have Roger Clemens facing Jake Westbrook.

Jake will continue the Indian pitching domination of the Yankees offense with his sinker balls inducing ground outs as the Indians offense will get by Clemens and into the Yankee bullpen early.

Final score...Indians 7, Yankees 3!

Believe it again!

Cleveland Is Abuzz!

Fausto Carmona was magnificent tonight! As he pitched 9 innings and giving up only 1 run on 3 hits, he never lost his composure as he kept the Indians in the game and poised for their dramatic 11th inning victory!

As others around him were being "bugged," Fausto continued to stay in control. did you see his concentration as he looked over his mitt, eyes darting while gnats were flying, and overpowering the Yankee hitters?

And what about those bugs?!

At one point, the field and players appeared to be covered with the pesky little fliers. As I drove home from the game, the radio guys were comparing the gnats to something out of the bible! Sure, this was a plague sent to foil the Yankees. You could hear Eric "Moses" Wedge yelling from the dugout, "Let my people score!"

How about Joe Torre coming out of the dugout and talking to the umpires about the bugs! He looked like Hargrove on April 9th complaining about the snowflakes! Joe couldn't possibly have thought the game would be stopped or delayed.

The truth is, the fans brought their jars full of "Rally Gnats" and, upon queue, they let them go in the eighth inning to attack the Yankees. Maybe that was what was bugging A-Rod. At least maybe he can blame the bugs tonight...

Fausto Carmona and Rafael Perez dominated the Yankees line-up! What a performance!!!

Grady made a daring run for home in the 8th inning on a wild pitch by Joba Chamberlain to tie the game at one run apiece.

The Indians had 15 runners in scoring position and were able to score them only twice. With Fausto and Perez keeping us in the game, as those opportunities arose, it was only a matter of time before we knocked in a run...and that's what happened!

In the bottom of the 11th inning, Luis Vizcaíno relieved Mariano Rivera.

Kenny Lofton walked.

Franklin Gutierrez singled to right field.

Casey Blake sacrifice bunted the runners to second and third.

Grady Sizemore was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.

Asdrubal Cabrera popped out to first base.

With two outs and a full count, it happened...Travis Hafner sent a strong line drive to right center field to score Lofton and win the game in the bottom of the 11th inning, 2-1!

Jacobs field erupted into a frenzy!

This was another incredible team effort on the part of the Cleveland Indians!

Add another crazy chapter to this 2007 season...call it "Bug Ball!"

This team truly is a team of destiny and it appears no one or nobody can stand in their way!

What a fabulous night for the Cleveland Indians, their fans, and the city of Cleveland...Rock On and Believe!

How Many Umpires…

Really, how many umpires does it take to call a home run?
Major League Baseball could save a little payroll based on the call, the huddle, and the reversal that took place on Johnny Damon’s 1st inning home run last night. Yes, it was a fair ball but didn’t the right field umpire have a better view than the other 5 umps?

Even the television replay was inconclusive as to fair, foul, or existing! The ball was reminiscent of the Watergate tapes as it seemed to vaporize as it left Johnny’s bat.
Well, just file this as part of this wacky 2007 Indians season with the snows of April, the home games in Milwaukee and Seattle, the run from the 3rd inning added on in the 6th inning, and now the foul homer that was fair.
It doesn’t matter…this team appears to be able to overcome any obstacle!
Watching the game on TBS was challenging as well. Because the previous game was not yet completed on TBS, the Indians-Yankees game started on TNT. I can’t take the TBS/TNT announcers so I turned the radio on. Pretty soon, about the bottom of the first inning, Jerry Orbach of Law and Order seemed to be calling the play by play! Grab the remote…switch channels…Whew! There they are!
Who dresses these guys on TBS to do these games? Who is the clown in the bad pinstripe jackets with the bad hair?
I can’t take these guys, I’ll be at the game tonight, box seats by 1st base, wearing red!
Before last night's game, I predicted a score of Cleveland 11, New York 5(see “Nervous…Good!” from yesterday afternoon below). Final score…Cleveland 12, New York 3…not bad.
Want more?
O.K., tonight’s game will be extra innings…final score…
Cleveland 5, New York 4 in 11 innings!
Believe it!
We will be one game away from the sweep!!!

Believe It!

Celebrate!...
and believe, because this team is for real!
A town comes out in support of their Tribe!
From start to finish, this was a team effort.


Long time (since 1973) bleachers drummer
John Adams is honored by
throwing out the first pitch!










LeBron was there...not cool, James!

Question: How many umpires does it take to call a home run?!









C.C. Sabathia dominated the Yankees..
not with his best stuff
but he got down and nasty
when he needed to!









Want to win in the Playoffs?
Go get Kenny Lofton
and bring him back to Cleveland where he belongs!
Kenny drove in 4 runs and sparked two rallies!

Our rookies may be awe-struck but they continue to strike awe into the competition!
Asdrubal Cabrera is congratulated on his solo home run!

Victor has been the most constant star in the Indians
line-up. Why should he let his first ever playoff game change that?
Victor celebrates his 2-run home run!


Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko also homered in this game one of the ALDS!

Yes, it was only one game but buckle up!
Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians, their fans, and their city! ...Believe It!

Nervous?...Good!

Got your lucky socks on?
Gonna sit in the same position on the couch even though it hurts after 6 innings?

Didn’t shave this morning for luck?
Driving home the same way because there are 9 stop lights and 9 stop signs?
Eating the same food that you had when the Indians won 8 in a row?
Are ya nervous?
Concerned?
Scared even?
You keep telling yourself this is the year.
It looks like it.
It feels like it.
You know you can’t take another heartbreak.
All good! You’re an Indians fan!
Go ahead and worry, keep your rituals, and smile while your hands shake.
Tomorrow you will go through it all over again with one exception…
The Indians will be game-planning for win #2!
Final score tonight…
Indians 11, Yankees 5!

You Gotta Have Heart!

You've gotta have....Heart!
All you really need is heart!

When the odds are sayin' you'll never win,
that's when the grin should start!

You've gotta have hope!
Musn't sit around and mope.
Nuthin' half as bad as it may appear,
wait'll next year and hope.
When your luck is battin' zero,

get your chin up off the floor.
Mister, you can be a hero.
You can open any door.
There's nothin' to it, but to do it.
You've gotta have heart!
Miles and miles and miles of heart!
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course!
But keep that ol' horse before the cart!
First you've got to have heart!

The Cleveland Indians are many things; underdogs, in a small market, long overdue...
and they lack just a couple of things; speed on the bases, a high team batting average...
but look at what they got:
C.C. Sabathia
Fausto Carmona
Victor Martinez
Grady Sizemore
Rafey Right and Rafey Left
Travis Hafner
Ryan Garko
Asdrubal Cabrera
Casey Blake
Kenny Lofton
Jhonny Peralta
Franklin Gutierrez
Pauly Byrd
Jake Westbrook
Joe Borowski
Aaron Laffey
Jensen Lewis
"Pie Man" Trot Nixon
23 Wins In Their Last At Bat!
49 Saves!
Tons Of Come From Behind Victories!
A Never Quit Attitude!
And One More Thing...
HEART!
If they are anything, they are lovable.
Their noses are cold.
They play the game with mouths hanging open, with energy, and with sandlot enthusiasm.
How can this group be denied their inevitable destiny?
It's not gonna happen...denial of their destiny, that is.
They have been ready for this since their home opener got snowed out.
They honed their skills winning 96 regular season games.
They became most dangerous when they were down.

This team is solid, one through nine with excellent pitching.

We don't need Joe Hardy to sell his soul to beat the Yankees.
The Yankees are beat before they get to town.

Indians fans, be ready...your team is on the verge of greatness!

Tribe over Yankees...in three!!!

Did You Stay Up???

Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies "scores" the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning!

If you were able to stay awake into the wee hours of the morning, you were rewarded with a thrilling back and forth, winner take all playoff between the San Diego Padres at the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies found themselves down 8-6 going into the bottom of the 13th inning. They scored 3 runs to win the Wild Card berth in the National League.

With the score tied 8-8 and Matt Holliday on third base, Todd Helton was intentionally walked. With no outs and Trevor Hoffman on the mound, Jamey Carroll hit a shallow fly ball to right fielder Brian Giles. Giles made a one hop throw to Catcher Michael Barrett who could not hold on to the ball while completely blocking the plate from a head-first sliding Holliday. As Holliday lay injured from the collision and/or bouncing his face on the ground as he slid by, Barrett moved in to tag Holliday with the ball as home plate umpire Tim McClelland made the delayed call of "Safe!"

Did Holliday get his hand on the plate?

It sure didn't look like it but safe he was called and safe he is.

What a great finish to the 2007 season.

The Rockies got hot at the right time and charged hard into the playoffs. They are an exciting team that showed no quit and tons of poise.

Sounds like another team we know very well!

Can you imagine a World Series of the Colorado Rockies vs. the Cleveland Indians?

Dyn-o-mite!

SWEEP!!!

Sweep, Sweep, Sweep!!!

On Thursday, October 4th, 2007, the Cleveland Indians will mount a daring charge into the post season and take step one of their inevitable sweep of the New York Yankees!

Tribe Will Take Yankees In Round One Of The Playoffs!

Indians Fans Gather Outside The "Jake" To Party With The Tribe!

TRIBE IN THREE!!!

What?! Are you nuts?!!

Uhh, yeah, maybe!

The Yankees have beaten the Indians all 6 games played in the 2007 season.

The Yankees batted .290 to the Indians .268.

The Yankees hit 201 home runs to the Indians 178.

The Yankees out slugged the Indians .463 to .428.

TRIBE IN THREE!!!

What?! you are still nuts!!

Uhh, yeah, maybe!

The Indians finished with a team ERA of 4.05 to the Yankees 4.49.

The Indians gave up 658 earned runs to the Yankees 724.

The Indians gave up 410 walks to the Yankees 578.

The Indians struck out 1047 batters to the Yankees 1009.

TRIBE IN THREE!!!

Uhh, yeah, maybe!

The Indians will start their two Cy Young candidates in games 1 and 2, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona vs. Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte.

The Indians will start Jake Westbrook in game 3 vs. "To Be Announced" for the Yankees.

In game 4 (which will not be necessary) the Indians have Paul Byrd ready vs. "To Be Announced" for the Yankees.

TRIBE IN THREE!!!

Geez, OK, OK!

How could you plan it any other way?

3 games to 2?

No, No, No!

Anyone who has ever competed at any level knows you go into a game with zero defects, not giving up anything, not backing down. A pitcher doesn't take the mound thinking he will give up some hits and a few runs. A batter doesn't think he will maybe get a hit or two. A fielder doesn't think he will field most balls hit his way.
No, No, No!
You gotta want it all! Your attitude has to say you want it all!

TRIBE IN THREE!!!
Yeah! Yeah!! Yeah!!!

GO FOR IT!
The Yankees are ripe for the upset!!!!
GET IT DONE!!
Great pitching beats great hitting!
DO IT!!!