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Forget the Astro's, Forget the Red Sox, Indians are team to beat in the AL
Look what they have been doing this past week with a dinged up Encarnancion, (dinged up, sat out last couple of games) who's one of the league's premiere power hitter with 31 homers and has been for years when he was in Toronto.
Indians are missing the games best non closing reliever, and closer or not closer one an elite reliever in Andrew Miller.
Who's due to come off the DL soon.
They're missing Jason Kipnis who's in that group of second basemen that are very good but not in the same class as Jose Aluve who is in a class by himself. You can argue Schoop is better than Kipnis, and you can argue Cano, but that's about it, Kinsler is on the downside of his brilliant career, and I really like Dozier, he's a terrific player, but he's got flaws that Kipnis does not. Give Whit Merrifield two more years he'll be in the conversation regarding the game's premier second basemen.
They're missing Michael Brantley and a key fourth outfielder, role player, situational match up pinch hitter Lonnie Chisenhall.
And they're missing two rotation starters in Josh Tomlin and Danny Salazar.
The Indians without Tomlin and Salazar have a rotation of Kluber on top, neck and neck for Cy Young Award consideration with Chris Sale, Carlos Carrasco, and Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger is the fourth rotation for now.
The top three of Kluber (who has won a Cy Young) Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer all have won 13 games plus each, Bauer has won 14, the top three all have 10 k's per 9 innings pitched ration, throw in Clevinger's 10.30 k's per nine innings pitched that makes all four, and when Salazar gets back with his 12.52 K's per nine inning ratio, that's a staff of five that's going to leave opposing offenses grabbing a lot of pine from swings and misses.
Carrasco has a rock steady WH/IP of 1.13, Kluber's WH/IP is 0.89, which Is Pedro or Maddux in their prime amazing, the other three are at league average or a little better, with the exception of Bauer who's ERA is 4.46 all the other ERA's range from good to outstanding, and yes, they have the top ranked pitching staff in the American League.
Bryan Shaw has been doing an outstanding job filling in for Andrew Miller setting up closer Cody Allen.
When Miller gets back the bullpen sort of reminds you of the 2015 WS Champs KC Royals bullpen with Shaw in the 7th, Miller in the 8th inning, and Shaw closing, and mix match guys Goody and Otero are doing their jobs very well.
With a healthy Kipnis and Encarncion, there are no gaping holes on offense.
Encarncion didn't look that great in game 2 of the double header earlier, his first game back after missing 4 games.
Lindor in his third year now, hit .313 and .301 in his first two years, and now is hitting for stupid power for a SS.
He's got 34 doubles and 24 homers already with 5 weeks left.
J-Ram has been on fire, 11 hits in his last 7 games, .303 average with 20 homers and is a switch hitter who you can't get out with either hand, bats .298 from the left side and .301 from the right side. Ramierez went 4 for 4 in the first game of a double dip at the big ball orchard in the South Bronx.
Indians got more home run power in Jay Bruce from the Mets for pretty much a box of rocks.
Carlos Santana is an on base machine, Austin Jackson is hitting over .300, he thinks he's 24 years old again when he was doing damage with the Tigers back in the day. The regular catcher Gomes can actually catch and has pop in his bat also.
Tito Francona has been there, done that, loves to put the wheels in motion, always has runners on the move, forces the action with his squad, I remember a team two years ago that won a championship with a three headed monster in the bullpen and forced the action with runners on the go all the time. (just saying)
Indians have won seven straight, after beating the Red Sox 13-6 over a week ago, swept the Royals three straight all via the shutout (how sick is that?)
Then they go up to the Stadium sweep the Yanks, won the first game of the series 6-2, then a rain out, and then today sweep both ends of a twin bill 2-1 and 9-4, the second game today they won with their #7 starter, Ryan Merrit.
Houston can't pitch with the Indians and let's be realistic, the Red Sox offense is not very scary at all, it's a good thing they have Sale and Kimbrel in the bullpen, which isn't really that much better than the Kluber and their top two in Cleveland's bullpen, and face it, Red Sox can't hit with the Indians.
It's Cleveland's pennant to lose this year, anything short of a return trip to the Series is a disappointment.
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Originally Posted by Fidel_CashFlow
lakerboy gave JIBBBY 6 SBR Point(s) for this post.
Indians have a chance, Cubs no way..
... Ride em cowboys until they lose I say!!
