Respect!

Respect: To be regarded highly, held in esteem for a sense of worth or excellence.

The Cleveland Indians have been flirting with the .500 mark for the past 2 months of this season. To surpass that mark, they would need to finish the season at 82 – 80. With 10 games remaining, it could be accomplished. However, with a current record of 75 – 77, and having to face Detroit for 3 games here in Cleveland, Boston for 4 games in Boston, and then finish in Chicago with 3 games, the Indians would need to win 7 of the remaining 10 games.

Just how could they accomplish this?

It starts with a sweep of Detroit… Yes, a sweep of Detroit… Yes!

Fausto Carmona takes the mound tonight. He is 3-0 vs. the Tigers this year. Fausto is due for a big game. Detroit Manager Jim Leyland begins a 3-game suspension tonight stemming from a disputed series with the Texas Rangers. This is a must win game for Fausto. This is a big game for the Cleveland offense to establish themselves for the weekend series which just happens to be the end of the home season. Final score tonight - Cleveland 8, Detroit 4!

Saturday, Jeremy Sowers faces the Tigers. He has been pitching well and then not pitching well, usually in the same game. It is time for Sowers to repeat his most recent outing and put two halves of a game together in beating the Tigers.

Sunday is the 3rd start for rookie sensation Scott Lewis. With 2 starts and 14 scoreless innings, should anything else be expected?

Then on to Boston. We need to take 3 of 4 in Beantown…Yes, 3 of 4!

We need to show the baseball world that going 3-1 in the 2007 ALCS was not a fluke, that this team belonged there. What better way than to help alter the playoff hopes of the Red Sox?

Then we finish the season with a sweep of the White Sox and we show Ozzie what choking is truly all about!

Can we help the Twins win the division on the last day of the season? Listen closely and hear Ozzie…

Cough, cough, choke, wheeze, cough, choke!

That would put the Tribe at 84 – 78 for the season, certainly a sign of respectability and great momentum to build on for the 2009 season.

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find out what it means to me”…to the team!