The Indians are proud to announce the fact they have set some records this year. For one, they have a home winning record something that has never been accomplished by the organization in their previous 10 season history. Secondly, they are only one win away from having their best record in organization history. Not counting their chickens before they hatch, but I would say that it is a given that it will happen. Third, they are in a playoff spot this late in the season, whether they make it to post season is another story. Fourth, they are only 4 wins away from an above .500 season which also has never occurred in their history but may or may not happen believe it or not.
How have the Indians managed these accomplishments this year? That is actually hard to say in all reality. It has taken some hard work to tell the truth. As noted early in the season, the team has always jumped out winning early only to see things go bad after All-Star break. The Indians found a way to avoid the long 23 games in a row stretch that always put them in a slump.
The early season trade of Hub Strange and Courtney Haynes for Bart Ross looked like a boon for the Indians. In reality, Santa Fe was rewarded by the trade more than the Indians at this time. The Indians are happy that Hub and Courtney are doing so well with their new team. Bart is an up and comer, but maybe not next season as his defense is deplorable yet.
The mid season trade of Rodrigo Gonzales, Victor Guerrero and Butch King certainly helped the Rockies get to where they are now. Seeing Victor go was rough. Kimera Adams has helped the Indians get to this point in more ways than one. Wayne Stewart was not really wanted, but his emergency service has played dividends recently.
Why is it my thinking that the Indians will not make the playoffs? WIS has been one step ahead of me the entire season, ever since I moved Tito Gao and Pedro Roque to the majors. I had to wait til the mid season trade was accomplished before taking action. Posiedon Marte was going to be called up after he pitched his final game in AAA to replace the floundering Steven Haynes, but if you look, a season ending and maybe career ending Tommy John surgery took that option away. Matt Brooks was promoted to take his place and waiting for the next seasonal bump to perform the same move. Lo and Behold, the same fate occurred to him right after the bump.
I was hoping two players (pitcher and fielder) would hit the Waiver Wire from the same team that suited me enough to trade Black Bart, but that has yet to happen. Then Howard Washington went down with a somewhat minor injury, no big deal at the time. Hard to lose a GG caliber CF though whether his hitting was great or not, he was the guy that made the Indians click. Things were progressing along nicely, then Karim Quevedo went down with injury and he was having a great year once I put him at 3B. Still not a problem though I question the injury, because he was being rested quite a bit and was at 100%. Then there was yesterday, both Jae Dong and Wes Kelly went down with 10 day injuries. Luckily it is call up time, but the Indians really didn't have anyone ready at those key positions and the fact the AAA team will be in the playoffs makes it much more difficult.
It just seems to me that my team has been surgically destroyed not by happenstance, but on purpose. It is not the injuries themselves mind you as those do and will happen. It is the exact timing of the injuries that has me baffled. Oh before I forget, the organization has only had 4 other injuries as a whole.
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