Playoff Run!

As one that has been critical of the Indians for most of the season, it appears I will have to eat my words and give the Tribe the credit they deserve. If they can get through the final two weeks off the season without a collapse, they will indeed make the playoffs.
I have ripped this club all season, mainly due to the lack of production at the corner outfield positions as well as the pitching. Plus, when they tried to address it at the trade deadline, they acquired 40 year old Kenny Lofton. I was not happy with that either.
Since that time they have turned things around and for the last 2 months have been playing good baseball.
Since the all-star break, the Tribe has gone 33-24. They are 8-3 heading into toady's game with Chicago, and finished August at 17-11.

A couple of reasons for the turn around.

1. Pitching: Who would have thought Fausto Carmona would have had a year like this. 16-8 with an era at 3.20. I feel he is the team MVP. How dare we leave C.C. out of the picture. 17 wins, his best season since 2001, the last year the Tribe made the playoffs.

2. Bullpen: Though they have had some ups and downs, you still have to be happy. Joe Borowski has saved 40 games in 46 chances. Consider Keith Foulke retired the day before spring training. Betancourt has been great in the 8th. Rafael Perez has been great in the 6th and 7th. Since being called up, Jensen Lewis has been good in the middle innings.

3. Asdrubal Cabrera: Since taking over at 2B for Josh Barfield, Cabrera is hitting .314 with 3 HR and 16 RBI.

The only thing that worries me are the one run games. Since the all-star break the Tribe is 9-10 in one run games. Not as bad as two years ago when they were just terrible, but when in the playoffs, you have to win one run games.

Jake Westbrook is finally pitching like Jake Westbrook, which now gives the Tribe three solid starters heading into post season play. Travis Hafner's average has picked up over the last couple months and they are not losing series after series. It looks as if this team is playing the quality baseball they can, and are doing it when it matters the most...in the final month of the season as they march towards their first playoff berth since 2001.