Great read:

 

https://tribevibe.mlblogs.com/are-the-cleveland-indians-peaking-too-early-adabe521992e?sf63303588=1

Tribe is 35-5 in last 40. Tigers had same W-L record in their first 40 back in 1984 when they won World Series under Sparky Anderson.

The Donhole swiped Sipe, and tried to do worse....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/10/donald_trumps_bid_for_the_clev.html

Tribe is 35-5 in last 40. Tigers had same W-L record in their first 40 back in 1984 when they won World Series under Sparky Anderson.

 

29-2 would correspond to a 151 season, 35-5 to a 141.  The record is 116.

^

^^Instead of what could have been, or speculation, how about a few facts that are true/accurate.

 

Indians 53 wins on the road this year are the most ever for them in regular season.

 

14 wins on the road in a row broke the old record of 13.

 

In their own divisional games against Chi, Det, KC, and Min, the tribes record per team for 2017 is KC 12-7, Det 13-6, Chi 11-5, and Min 10-6, with 6 games left (3 with Min, 3 with Chi).

 

Very impressive.

 

Ahhhhh. 2.90, my new favorite number

Ahhhhh. 2.90, my new favorite number

 

100 isn't my favorite number, but would be a fairly nice one ...

So, if the Indians go to the World Series and the National League representative is anyone other than the Dodgers, Cleveland may be able to have home field advantage for the duration of the playoffs?

Indians defeat Min 5-2, win 100th game of the year, first 100 win season since 1995. Go Tribe.

It was a day game today? ARGGGGGGG

Indians defeat Min 5-2, win 100th game of the year, first 100 win season since 1995. Go Tribe.

 

Also, it is only the third 100 win season in their history (1954, 1994, 2017).

Indians defeat Min 5-2, win 100th game of the year, first 100 win season since 1995. Go Tribe.

 

Also, it is only the third 100 win season in their history (1954, 1994, 2017).

 

I think you meant 1995, not 1994 which was a strike shortened season.

Indians defeat Min 5-2, win 100th game of the year, first 100 win season since 1995. Go Tribe.

 

Also, it is only the third 100 win season in their history (1954, 1994, 2017).

 

I think you meant 1995, not 1994 which was a strike shortened season.

 

1995 was also a strike shortened season and they still won 100!  100-44!  Imagine if they had a full season!

Sorry, I meant 1995 (typo).

 

1995 was also a strike shortened season and they still won 100!  100-44!  Imagine if they had a full season!

 

Yep, they would have won 118 games.

Indians defeat Min 5-2, win 100th game of the year, first 100 win season since 1995. Go Tribe.

 

Also, it is only the third 100 win season in their history (1954, 1994, 2017).

 

And their first in a 162 game season.

unfortunately, its pretty much assured the dodgers get the home advantage in the ws, unless the tribe sweeps the last 3 games vs the white sox and the dodgers lose out. however, there is still a fight for home field to be won vs the astros. if needed, the indians hold the tie breaker on that.

The number of wins isn't so important unless you factor in the number of games. The Indians have two of the five highest winning percentages in AL history -- including No. 1: In 1954 they were 111-43 for a .721 percentage. In 1995, they were 100-44 and .694. The Yankees won 114 in 1998 for a .704 percentage (lower than their .709 when they won 110 games in 1927). And Seattle's 116 wins in 2001 with a .614 percentage, while impressive, still falls below the Tribe's win rate in 1954 -- and far below the 1906 Cubs' incredible 116-36 record and .763 winning percentage.

I read this is only the 3rd time in the Indians' 117-year history we've won 100 games.  Hard to believe.  Most pundits feel that with this team's balance, amazing depth and, of course, our steady/calm manager who clearly handles pitchers better than anyone ... in years!, we're the team to beat.

I read this is only the 3rd time in the Indians' 117-year history we've won 100 games.  Hard to believe.  Most pundits feel that with this team's balance, amazing depth and, of course, our steady/calm manager who clearly handles pitchers better than anyone ... in years!, we're the team to beat.

 

Tito does everything well, but especially handles pitchers.

 

Pretty much every team follows their best pitcher with their second best.  Tito follows Kluber with the 5 starter, since the bullpen is likely to be fresh.

Any stats geeks have a shot at this one?  How often/when was the last time there were three 100-win teams in a single season?

Any stats geeks have a shot at this one?  How often/when was the last time there were three 100-win teams in a single season?

 

1942, 1977, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2017

I read this is only the 3rd time in the Indians' 117-year history we've won 100 games.  Hard to believe.  Most pundits feel that with this team's balance, amazing depth and, of course, our steady/calm manager who clearly handles pitchers better than anyone ... in years!, we're the team to beat.

 

Tito does everything well, but especially handles pitchers.

 

Pretty much every team follows their best pitcher with their second best.  Tito follows Kluber with the 5 starter, since the bullpen is likely to be fresh.

 

I agree, and I especially think Tito is going to have a short leash for some pitchers who oft get shaky, like Salazar and Shaw.

it should be a lot of fun seeing who plays today. and brantley comes back yesterday and immediately gets a pinch hit. he's the best hitter on the team, but he has been out so long and has to be careful -- what do you do with that guy? nice to see him come back though.

^i don't know where you are getting 102. I'm showing 90. 69/124=55.6%.  Multiply 55.6% *162 and you have 90

 

How ironic...and now they finish with 102 wins. The Indians defy the expectations.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/andrew-miller-indians-this-is-believeland/

Tito and Antonetti (for snagging Bruce at the trade deadline), look like geniuses after last night.

Wow, who'd a thunk Cory Kluber would get destroyed for 6 runs in 3 innings?  I could tell in the dugout interview, Tito is regretting not having an earlier hook on Kluber before the roof caved in despite Kluber's pedigree.  On top of that, we've likely lost Encarnacion, one of our key power hitters, for the playoffs.  Bad day.  Need to bounce back in NYC on Sunday.  This team is more than capable.

Lol, and then the rest of the game happened

That lindor GS I will remember for the rest of my life. Up there with the Alomar off Rivera and Thome 95 WS and ALCS home runs. Incredible

Won the game in incredible fashion, but (not to be a downer) looks like we lost Encarnacion for the rest of the postseason. :-(

Francona said Edwin is day-to-day.

They can survive without EE. I hope he comes back soon though

Wow, who'd a thunk Cory Kluber would get destroyed for 6 runs in 3 innings?  I could tell in the dugout interview, Tito is regretting not having an earlier hook on Kluber before the roof caved in despite Kluber's pedigree.  On top of that, we've likely lost Encarnacion, one of our key power hitters, for the playoffs.  Bad day.  Need to bounce back in NYC on Sunday.  This team is more than capable.

 

Someone went to bed early!  :-D :-D

 

Thankfully Encarncion could recover from this, and if not, the team is plenty deep with guys willing to step up!

Wow, who'd a thunk Cory Kluber would get destroyed for 6 runs in 3 innings?  I could tell in the dugout interview, Tito is regretting not having an earlier hook on Kluber before the roof caved in despite Kluber's pedigree.  On top of that, we've likely lost Encarnacion, one of our key power hitters, for the playoffs.  Bad day.  Need to bounce back in NYC on Sunday.  This team is more than capable.

 

Someone went to bed early!  :-D :-D

 

Thankfully Encarncion could recover from this, and if not, the team is plenty deep with guys willing to step up!

 

Actually, while it's true I gave up on the Tribe, I had switched over to Cavs-Pacers preseason (btw this new-look Rose/Wade led team looked pretty impressive, even without No. 23).  When I switched back after the 1st quarter and saw it was 8-7 Yankees, I nearly fell out of my chair; totally missed Lindor's Slam (although later I watched it on YouTube synced up with Tom Hamilton's crazy call).

 

This Indians club is beyond amazing; perhaps the team of destiny, who knows... We're clearly going to be hampered without Encarnacion -- Brantley just isn't there right now from his injury; his swings are weak.  But we just seem to manage to find a way, even when our ace collapses, as Kluber did yesterday... I think New York is done -- stick a fork in them; we very well may end it tomorrow night in the Bronx.  I see the up & down Cubs handled red hot Washington last night... Rematch anyone?

... btw, I was very fearful (and still am) of Aaron Judge.  But Indians pitching has reduced him to a bailiff.

5-0 in 3rd inning of game 4 - Yanks up with a lot of mojo and Indians have lost theirs - weird how quickly things can change in baseball.  If the Indians should lose 3 straight to NY it's gonna be extremely painful - let's hope there's some Indians magic left in the tank - time for Corey Kluber to be the man...

Regardless of what happens tonight or on Thursday, let me once again reiterate my disdain for MLB's playoff format. Why bother playing 162 games if a team's excellence over that span can be nullified in just 5 games?

 

For some perspective, the Indians finished with the best record in the American League this season, winning 11 more games than the Yankees. During one of the great eras in Yankees baseball (1949 through 1958), New York had the best record in the American League 9* times, earning them the right to represent the AL in the World Series during those seasons. In 7 of those 9 Yankees pennant-winning seasons, the Indians finished within 11 games of the Yankees.

 

 

 

*The only team breaking up their run during that period was the 1948 and 1954 Cleveland Indians. The Yankees won the AL again in 1957 and 1958.

^ I agree. I think the modification is to make the division series 7 games. The 5 game series are dumb

^I agree that a move to a 7 game divisional series is probably in order, but let's not pretend it would save the tribe in this specific instance.  The Yankees have outplayed the Indians for most of this series so far.  In baseball it's all about who gets hot at the right time.  Last year we went into Boston heavy underdogs, but got hot at the right time and swept them then lit up the Blue Jays on our way to the World Series.  Nothing is guaranteed in baseball.

Playoffs in general are a big trade-off. Obviously the regular season is a larger sample size to tell you who the better team is, but playoffs are exciting and "clutch." But the more teams get into playoffs, the more the regular season turns into exhibition. See:NBA

^I agree that a move to a 7 game divisional series is probably in order, but let's not pretend it would save the tribe in this specific instance.  The Yankees have outplayed the Indians for most of this series so far.  In baseball it's all about who gets hot at the right time.  Last year we went into Boston heavy underdogs, but got hot at the right time and swept them then lit up the Blue Jays on our way to the World Series.  Nothing is guaranteed in baseball.

 

Of course this is true, but a seven game series would help normalize things a bit.  Harder to call it fluky in a 7 game series.

 

That being said. Of all the years I've been an Indians fan,  I think there is not a single pitcher I would want more on the mound than Kluber.  The tribe, as awful as they played can point to a robbed homerun and 5 unearned runs in game 4 as their demise.  I'm feeling good, need JOSE RAMiREZ!!!

Time to end the Kipnis in CF experiment.

Yeah. I'm surprised he didn't go back to second, Ramirez to third and Jackson outfield. Ur Sheila is a wasted bat, and really not worth it if he's making two errors

the real problem even above that of the silly five game series is the one game playoff for the wild card. that is just out and out anti-baseball. however, when you extend these playoff series games we will be watching the world series with santa. they would need to get rid of the wc or shorten the season as well.

 

anyway, its do or die -- go tribe!

A Yankees fan friend of mine said, your Indians had a great season. BS...It's only a great season if you win the championship. It's a choke job if you have home-field advantage and exit in the first round.

The fact of the matter is that the Indians are a $130 million team playing a $250 million team.  I think they did well for the situation they were in.

Peaked too early...

The Indians have every reason to hang their heads. They were better than the Yankees in the regular season. Their hitting, their pitching, their defense were all stellar in the regular season. And they disappeared in the first round. They flat-out choked. I guess the winning streak should have been a warning. No team with a winning streak near 20 games has ever won a championship.

How about their future, they will still a strong playoff contender for year to come, but they choked at the wrong time.

Tough to say what's more agonizing, this season or last?