The Cleveland Indians ended a long drought this week: They played baseball in October. It’s a shame the relief was so fleeting.
Making the postseason for the first time since 2007, the Indians fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 in the AL Wild Card game Oct. 2.
Not to slight the guys up north, the Detroit Tigers won the Central and are in the midst of their battle against the Los Angeles Angels. But if Tigers fans will allow me to eulogize for a bit here … after all, this is your third year in a row playing in the postseason. You’re expected to be here. They weren’t.
In fact, consider that it was a series sweep by the Tigers in early August that felt like the beginning of the end for the Tribe.
Cleveland had been hanging around the top of the Central by that point, only a game out of the lead, but big brother Detroit handed them a four-game whoopin’, capped off with a 10-3 noogie, like the big brother rubbing little bro’s face in the mud.
But then a funny thing happened: The Indians refused to go down without a fight. They won a couple of series, swept the Halos, and then simply exploded in September — 20 wins, including their last 10 consecutively. Was it an easy month? You betcha: The White Sox, the Royals, the Twins, and even a series against the disaster they call the Houston Astros. Still, you’ve gotta win those games, and win they did. They won in blowouts, they won in pitchers’ duels and they won in absolutely ridiculous, Jason Giambi pinch-hit walkoff homer situations. Team of Destiny.
In fact, Ohio was home to two playoff teams, as the Cincinnati Reds were in the National League Wild Card Game!
Destiny came to a screeching halt on Wednesday, though, when the Indians found themselves face to face with a decent team. Tampa Bay could get hits, they could get runs and they had pitching: Even though the Tribe managed to get eight hits, they were all at the bottom of the order, and it was all for naught.
Even though Lonnie Friggin’ Chisenhall was able to go 3 of 4, nobody could bring him home. Nine players were left stranded
when it was all said and done. Michael Bourn was 0-for-4. Ditto Nick “Brohio” Swisher. (Speaking of Brohio, the Reds also fell in their game. The Buckeye state fell apart in two days flat.)
And yes, while Cleveland licks its wounds once again, there are positives to be found. This was a team that lost 90 games last year. An Indians squad that saw hot starts get squandered away by the All-Star Break time and time again. This year, they went the distance. They made a push. Terry Francona has changed the mindset of the organization.
Now fans in Northwest Ohio will cheer on the Tigers, as they should.
Perrysburg’s favorite son Jim Leyland will always provide some sort of drama in October; it’s in his DNA. But let’s not forget that for two glorious days, Ohio was represented twice in postseason baseball.
Besides, there’s always next year.
Matt “Shaggy” Culbreath is sports director for 1370 WSPD.
