Would It Be Cleveland?

Would it be Cleveland if more than one team was successful? Would it be Cleveland if the fans weren't tormented by the performance of at least one professional team? The Cavs were in the NBA Finals last year... Would it be Cleveland if they won the East again? The Cleveland Indians won the tough AL Central last year and were one game away from winning the AL... Would it be Cleveland if they made another run at a World Series in consecutive years? The Cleveland Browns were the biggest surprise in the NFL last year and went 10-6... Would it be Cleveland if they made the playoffs?

The answer to all these burning is a resounding... NO!!!

With the Cavs ending their season as we all expected, there is not much we can say about their season. The season had collectively no surprises. I thought they would hang around in the regular season and make the playoffs in the middle of the pack in the East. After winning their first series, they would lose to either Detroit or Boston in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. It's what I said all season on CST. The one thing that did surprise me (quite positively) was the ability of Danny Ferry to still make this team better while he was handcuffed with terrible contracts and no draft support (much of which was his own fault). The Cavs are OK, and are in good shape. I am not worried about them; as long as LeBron is still wearing Whine and Gold. That is my final thoughts on another NBA season for the Cavs and since I was not able to voice my opinions after the playoff loss to the best team in the East on the show, here it is.

Cavs: Finish (45-37) making their 16th playoff appearance and losing in the Semi's to Boston

Now lets move to the present. Now that the house keeping is done, it is time for the gloves to come off. The Cleveland Indians... Please keep your boos and hisses to a minimum. Folks, I have told you, this is Cleveland, Ohio the most and least successful sports city in America and perhaps the world. As of this moment (June 10th, 64 games into the season) the Indians are 29-35 and third in the AL Central. Middle of the road. According to the Pythagorean formula for win-loss record they should be 33-31 (based on runs scored and runs allowed, if you don't know about it google it; you should know about it). At this point in the season Ben Francisco is the only player batting over .300 (100 AB min). Travis Hafner has not found his old self and the teams leading HR producer in 2007, Victor Martinez, has ZERO Homeruns on the season. The Cy Young Award winner from 2007 currently has a 4.81 ERA with a 3-8 record. The best set up man in the AL for 2007, Rafael Bentancourt, has a 7.00 ERA in a stint as closer with 4 saves and 3 losses in 27 IP. The AL leader in saves for 2007, Joe Borowski (45), has an ERA of 8.00 and 5 saves in 9 IP.

I want to take a break and depress you the reader even more. But in this continued depression I want to educate you; because in the end, that is my job. I want to give you the Cleveland Indians status as of game 64 last year as compared to this year.
2007: (35-29), 325 RS, 274 RA (5.08 RS per, 4.28 RA per)
2008: (29-35), 283 RS, 272 RA (4.42 RS per, 4.25 RS per)

Did you catch the biggest stat of all those numbers? No it's not the reverse W-L record, but I do think that's oddly coincidental. The biggest stat is the Runs Scored. Now you may be yelling at the screen "Mike, we all know this offense it bad and is struggling. This is no surprise." First calm down, it's OK. I would not lead you astray like that. The point I am trying to make is that this team is not performing on offense and that is really the only difference in this team from 2007 to 2008. In fact the Indians have allowed FEWER runs this season then last which means our collective team pitching is BETTER then last year. Let that sink in a little and I will continue.

With all this considered, it shouldn't come as a surprise that this team is only 8.5 games out of first place? To be frank, yes... it is a surprise. This offense may be terrible right now, but there is no excuse. After the few terrible starts by C.C. Sabathia our starting pitching has been great. Our bullpen has been shaky, but that is only magnified by how stellar they were last year. Our bullpen hasn't been THAT bad, granted the starters and helping out the numbers a lot and helping the bullpen. This team should be really only be 4.5 games out right now, even with the putrid offensive output. But unfortunately that is not how the actual season has played out. We are 8.5 games out. We are starting a big series with the Minnesota Twins and this will tell us what are chances are in the central. This will tell us if we are ready to try and win the central or if the shopping of C.C. Sabathia should begin. As I wrap up my thoughts on the Indians I leave you with one little Tribe tidbit to sink you pessimistic teeth into...

The Indians have not one back-to-back games since May 14th and 15th. As Matthew Berry of ESPN says "I'm Just Sayin'..."

---BEST OF THE REST---

• Congrats to Ken Griffey Jr. You should go down in history as the best player of your era. You played the game the right way and have now become the 6th player in the 600th Homerun Club. You played the most exciting baseball of almost any player in the game and if you didn't have bad luck you would be able to save the Homerun record. You are the best player of my generation right now and the only one who has a chance to challenge you right now is you former teammate A-ROD.
• D-Nabb, a plead from all Fantasy Football players... Can you stay healthy for once, PLEASE!!!
• Here is a glimmer of hope Tribe fans: At least we are not the Tigers!!! Dontrell Willis was designated for assignment to Class A, Lakeland, after getting bombed by the Indians on Tuesday... If there is one thing about baseball that is making me smile, it is the Tigers. How much did those World Series Tickets cost you Everett?

Until next time fans... Go Tribe, Go Cavs, Go Browns, No Monsters

Peace,

Mike Castellano