Cleveland Jocks!

by: West Coast O

The 2007 Cleveland Indians

Quick. Name the most maligned sports city in the last 60 years. I’m sure most of you jumped to Chicago, Boston, or maybe even New Orleans. The correct answer is Cleveland. The “mistake by the lake” has three major sporting teams but has not managed a championship by any of those teams since 1949. Cub fans love to lament their 100+ year drought in baseball, but the Bulls were okay, and the Bears had possibly the most dominant football team ever in 1986. Boston fans whined incessantly about the plight of the Red Sox until a few years ago, but come on...The Patriots, The Celtics; do you really have an argument? Cleveland is home to the Drive, the Fumble, Craig Ehlo’s posterization against MJ, and losing to an expansion team in the World Series. It is so bad that the people of Cleveland now expect to lose. But something is happening in Cleveland.

My wife was born and raised in Cleveland. All of her family still (sym)pathetically cheers for Cleveland sports. She like her family, now expects things to go wrong. When the Cavs matched up with Detroit in the playoffs, all I heard was, “we can’t beat the Pistons,” and “Chauncey Billups will always find a way to beat us with some ridiculous shot.” I would say, “But Erin, you have the best player in the league on your team, and the guy with the craziest hair, you took them to seven games last year and now you are better.” Fast forward to LeBron going off for 60 and the Cavs winning the Eastern Conference Championship. Of course, Erin’s rebuttal is, “Yeah, but we got swept in the finals!”

This is how it is for Cleveland fans: always second best. The Cleveland Cavs were runners up in last year’s NBA finals. The Indians were runners up for the World Series in 95 and 97. Hell, the Browns franchise was the originators of Marty Shottenheimer’s reputation for not being able to coach in the postseason. So, when faced with a generation of fans who are used to having their hearts ripped out, what am I supposed to tell the glass-half-empty Cleveland fans.? How About this? Watch out for these 2007 Cleveland Indians…

You might have missed it buried in Sunday’s headlines of the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and New York Yankees (and let’s face it, it is Cleveland), but the Indians clinched the Central Division in the American League. This has been the best division in Baseball over the past three years and they clinched it with almost 10 games left in the season.

Here is a group of guys that can change the hearts and minds of the Cleveland pessimists. Most of these guys, including Manager Eric Wedge, are not old enough to even remember The Fumble. All of the players are from places from other than Cleveland so their sports attitudes are not poisoned by the expectation to fail. The Indians roster is a bunch of free-swinging, spirited young guys, who all just seem to love to play baseball. Unlike some other Cleveland franchises of the past, they have not been hyped, put on a pedestal, or garnered much attention from the national media. These 2007 Cleveland Indians have just methodically gone about winning baseball games using great pitching, good defense, explosive offense, and fun-loving yet humble players.

So jump on the Tribe bandwagon. To help, I have listed the players in order of lineup to help you catch up:

Grady Sizemore CF – The guy graced the cover of Sports Illustrated this year for being among the league’s most well rounded talents. He has his own “Grady’s Ladies” fan club (my wife is a member) mostly for of his boyish good looks. Can’t deny his speed and hustle, just watch about 50% of ESPN’s top plays for evidence.

Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B – Rookie. He was a late season call-up, but you can point to his entry into the starting lineup at 2^nd Base as the turning point in the season and the start of the run that overtook the Tigers and left them in the Tribe dust.

Travis Hafner, DH – Nicknamed Pronk, Hafner is a workhorse. He works pitchers late into counts and is always a threat for a big hit. His numbers are down this season from his previous two MVP candidate seasons, but look for him to have clutch hits in the playoffs.

Victor Martinez, C – Quite possibly the best catcher in baseball. In the off-season he improved from last in the league at throwing out stolen base attempts, to second this season. He is also the offensive MVP for the team. He bats over .300 with over 100 RBIs and 25 HR. He has also become the vocal leader of the team.

Ryan Garko, 1B – Sort of out of the mold of another beloved Indians first baseman, Jim Thome. Big guy with plenty of power, but also hits for average. He is another .300 plus hitter. He might be the most clutch bat of the lineup as well with several walk off hits this year.

Jhonny Peralta, SS – Just when you want to get frustrated with Peralta for his penchant to strike out or make a fielding error, this kid will come back and have a multi-HR game or make an incredible double-play to make you fall in love with him all over again.

Casey Blake, 3B – A model of humility and hard work. The guy did not make it to the majors until he was in his 30s. He will never blow you away with stats, but is versatile: can play 1B, 3B, or outfield. Has had double digit hitting streaks two different times this season. He even personally apologized to the Detroit Tigers after hitting an extra innings walk-off home run because he pumped his fist afterward.

Franklin Gutierrez, RF – Right field has been platooned for much of the year on the Indians, but Gutierrez has emerged as the favored starter here. Another rookie, he makes nothing but plays. His average has hovered around .300 this year and his power numbers are great. If he can develop some more plate patience, he will be an all-star in no time.

Kenny Lofton, LF – Whatever team Kenny Lofton plays for, that team makes it to the postseason. This wily veteran just knows how to win. He still has the speed, the bat, and the moxie. The Indians picked him up at the trading deadline and he has brought nothing but great play since.

C.C. Sabathia, P – If he doesn’t win the Cy Young this year it will be a shame. He is 300 plus pounds of pure pitching. His fastball will always be there, but he has been mixing his pitches well this season and his location has been phenomenal. If his run support in the middle of the season had even been average he would have over 20 wins already.

Fausto Carmona, P – Another guy that will tug at your heartstrings. The Indians and Eric Wedge tried to make him a closer last year because of his electric stuff. He was 0-5 in save opportunities with a 10.00 plus ERA. The guy battled back in the off-season and gets called up in the first month. He has gone on to win 16 games to date with a low 3.30 area ERA. A big reason why the Tribe won their division.

Paul Byrd, P – Maybe the best old-school windup in baseball. This guy does not have much velocity or movement. He just knows how to play baseball, pitch to locations, field his position, and walk no-one. Probably why he has quietly won 15 games this season.

Rafael Betancourt, RP – Best set-up guy in baseball this season. Go ahead and try to argue this one. You can’t. Betancourt has a one point nothing ERA and is just lights out. His stuff is better than 80% of closers.

Joe Borowski, RP – This guy is an adventure. He leads the league in saves, but his ERA is in the 5.00 neighborhood. He must love drama, because Joe usually allows at least a few base runners and the go ahead run on base before shutting it down, but he gets the job done.

*The supporting cast is equally as impressive, but I will honor requests for the bios on each of them, including Manager Eric Wedge, to anyone who requests it.

So, as you can see, this mosaic of young talent is a load of fun to watch. Manager Eric Wedge has them playing baseball the right way, and the team is on a roll because of it. If your team did not make the playoffs this year, or you are not typically a baseball fan, please join me in rooting on the most maligned sports city in the country and cheer the 2007 Cleveland Indians on to a World Series victory.

It was only 20 years ago that the movie Major League was made mocking the ineptitude of the Indians. In that movie an unlikely bunch of ballplayers banded together to win an improbable World Series. Let’s make this year the year Cleveland fans can start looking at the glass half full. After all, they need it; I mean Drew Carey and the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame are cool and all…but as a sports town filled with die-hard fans, they have got nothing to show for it and they have stopped believing. Believe Cleveland. 2007 is the year of the Tribe!

Pics:
Elway: www.allposters.com
Lebron: www.nike.com
Sizemore: www.sportsillustrated.com