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!!!