Failed promises, lost season: Terry Pluto on the frustrated fans of the 2009 Cleveland Indians
by Terry Pluto/Plain Dealer Columnist Tuesday July 14, 2009, 7:12 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe you are an Indians fan like me. Maybe you were really looking forward to this season, while having one eye on the rearview mirror from 2007.
That's when the Indians won 96 games, when they dumped New York in the first round of the playoffs and fell short by one game of going to the World Series. This team in 2009, it had to be more like that 2007 group than the Indians of 2008, right?
Those 2008 Indians had a 41-53 record at the All-Star break and finished a discouraging 81-81.
Yes, 2009 would be a new year, a year when the bullpen couldn't be as bad as 2008 -- when the relievers' 5.13 ERA was second worst in the American League. Hey, they signed a $10 million a year closer in Kerry Wood. They traded for some other relievers.
At least the bullpen should be fixed, right?
Wrong. Wrong! Wrong!
This season, everything went wrong. The bullpen is awful, the starting pitchers even more pathetic and the Tribe has the league's worst record (35-54) at the break. Having the highest ERA in the major leagues at 5.40 will do that. That 5.40 ERA is the highest in team history! The only other year the ERA was above 5.00 was 5.28 in 1987.
A rainy opening day -- and a loss -- should have told Indians fans Molly Marunowski (left) and Jessica Dell'Aquilla all that awaited the team in 2009."This is the most discouraging season I've ever experienced," e-mailed Berea's Terry Callaghan, adding that he was born in 1950. "I am so disgusted that I deliberately ignore them. When I go out to bars and restaurants where the Tribe is on TV, no one is paying attention. No cheers when they score, no groans when they lose."
Actually, Callaghan still does care, as he wrote several paragraphs about trades that should be made and people who should be fired.
What makes this a season of tears for Tribe fans is the team was supposed to win. On its Web site, eight of 20 ESPN baseball writers predicted the Indians to win the Central Division. So did I, insisting they'd win at least 91 games.
"There appears to be a big crack in the crystal ball or it's just full of smog," e-mailed Ron Zurowski. "I have 12 sets of tickets for the rest of the season that I intend to give away."
As for myself, I confess that I will go to more games this season. I still think Jacobs -- I mean, Progressive Field -- is a terrific place to watch a game. But I never thought the games would be ... well ... so awful!
Maybe you can understand why an unsigned email arrived with this heading: Tribe Ruins My Retirement! You can guess the content of the 60-year-old fan still pining away for former Tribe manager Charlie Manuel -- who moved to Philadelphia and won the 2008 World Series.
There was a game where Trevor Crowe ran from second base to third on a ground ball to short -- and was thrown out by 20 feet. There was a game with a runner on third base, one out. A grounder was hit to Jhonny Peralta at third. He calmly ignored the runner headed to the plate and tossed out the runner at first base, seemingly unaware of the number of outs, just like Crowe.
Whatever happened to that 2007 team?
Only two pitchers remain on the active roster from that playoff staff -- Rafael Betancourt and Aaron Laffey. In case you forgot (I did), Cliff Lee spent part of 2007 in the minors and was not on the playoff roster.
Cy Young winner CC Sabathia is with the Yankees. Paul Byrd is retired. Jake Westbrook has been out since last season with elbow surgery and 19-game winner Fausto Carmona is such mess, he's in the minors. So are Raffy Perez and Jensen Lewis, once reliable relievers.
This season, the Indians have been through 26 pitchers, closing in on the American League record of 32. A pitching staff that for the previous four seasons was in the top two of fewest walks in the league, now has walked the most.
"My wife won't watch the eighth inning, but I do," e-mailed Jerry Crawford from Las Vegas. He is a retired drama professor who signs his emails "The Real Chief Wahoo" and weeps over the Tribe each night with the MLB package on pay TV.
Ah, yes, the eighth inning, where the Indians have been outscored, 69-34.
Then Crawford adds to the torment by watching Seattle play, especially former Indians Franklin Gutierrez and Russell Branyan.
"They have been marvelous," wrote Crawford. "That figures."
"A season like this reminds me of a David Letterman Top Ten from a few years ago," e-mailed Herb Bell. "The subject was signs that your team is bad. The No. 1 answer was, 'Your team rhymes with Smidians.'"
Most nights, the Indians hit a bit -- but don't pitch.
But when 2008 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee takes the mound, they forget to hit. His record is a deceiving 4-9 with a solid 3.47 ERA. He has lost five games despite allowing two or fewer earned runs over at least seven innings -- hey, that leads the league.
Poor Lee, the Indians have scored a grand total of 14 runs in his nine losses ... yet they've scored 22 runs in one game at New York, 15 against Oakland and 12 (in a loss) to Milwaukee. None of that happened with him on the mound.
"When I travel, I always take books about the Indians with me," e-mailed Barb Schopp from Mansfield. "This time, I'm taking a murder mystery."
Better than Barb wanting to kill some of the players and coaches. She makes trips to spring training most years to check out the Tribe.
"We're missing something this summer," wrote Schopp. "It's not just a good baseball team, it's all the fun that goes with a good team. That's what makes me blue."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Mea culpa! Lamentations of a columnist's faulty forecast for the Tribe: Terry Pluto
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talk about clueless ... not only does that apply to the Cleveland Indians, but to me as I look back and weep about some of the things I wrote this spring:
1. Start with the starters. Start with me knowing the Indians would not have a good starting rotation. Start with me simply ignoring that, and writing that they'd win 91 games and the Central Division, anyway. And start with writing that Carl Pavano could be another Jason Johnson, a real bust in the rotation -- and he has been the team's second-best starter behind Cliff Lee and leads the team with eight victories.
2. Not only did I insist the Indians would contend for a title, I wrote Detroit "had no chance" to win the Central Division. Well, at the All-Star break, the Tigers are in first place, the Indians in last. And I picked Arizona to win the NL West. The Diamondbacks stink, too. I also may have told someone that John McCain would win at least 40 states.
3. MVP for this season? Grady Sizemore, no doubt. Only Sizemore is batting .235 with 13 HR and 47 RBI and needs elbow surgery. And I predicted Brandon Webb would win the NL Cy Young Award. He got hurt, too.
4. I wrote the bullpen could be one of the strongest parts of the team, and not just because they signed closer Kerry Wood for $10 million annually. I was sure Jensen Lewis and Raffy Perez would be strong as set-up men. Well, maybe they are ... at Class AAA Columbus. They allowed 12 homers in 65 combined innings with the Tribe, their combined ERA a shocking 8.04.
5. That strong Tribe bullpen? Its 5.13 ERA is the worst in AL. But it's better than the starters, whose 5.56 ERA is also the pits of the league. And I sort of hinted the pitching would at least be OK. With a track record like that, anybody want some of my stock tips? I was real high on Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac about a year ago!
6. I was sure Ben Francisco would be an upgrade over Dave Dellucci and Jason Michaels in left field, that Francisco would hit around .280 with 20 HR. Well, he's at .242 with 6 HR, 25 RBI. Francisco batted only .236 after the 2008 All-Star break, so there were reasons for concern that I ignored.
7. I wrote something about Anthony Reyes giving the starting rotation the same grit as Kevin Millwood did back in 2005 when he had the best ERA in the American League. Well, Reyes had a bad elbow before he joined the Tribe, and it just got worse as he had major surgery -- after racking up a 6.57 ERA.
8. Twice in spring training, I wrote about how Fausto Carmona was looking good and throwing strikes -- He was, really! -- then came the regular season. I don't even want to talk about this stuff any more.
9. I really liked John Meloan, a pitcher the Indians acquired in the Casey Blake deal from the Dodgers last summer. I thought he could help in the bullpen. I mentioned this in print more than few times. Probably about the same time I could have told you that you really want to buy stock in AIG. Anyway, Meloan had a 5.69 ERA at Class AAA Columbus, and the Indians have traded him to Tampa Bay.
10. I'm going to stop here. I'm not going to mention how I pushed for Trevor Crowe (he batted .165) to be the fourth outfielder, or how I thought Jake Westbrook (he's still recovering) would be back from arm surgery and in the starting rotation by the middle of June. I'll just say that from now on, you can just call me Nostradamus.
1. Start with the starters. Start with me knowing the Indians would not have a good starting rotation. Start with me simply ignoring that, and writing that they'd win 91 games and the Central Division, anyway. And start with writing that Carl Pavano could be another Jason Johnson, a real bust in the rotation -- and he has been the team's second-best starter behind Cliff Lee and leads the team with eight victories.
2. Not only did I insist the Indians would contend for a title, I wrote Detroit "had no chance" to win the Central Division. Well, at the All-Star break, the Tigers are in first place, the Indians in last. And I picked Arizona to win the NL West. The Diamondbacks stink, too. I also may have told someone that John McCain would win at least 40 states.
3. MVP for this season? Grady Sizemore, no doubt. Only Sizemore is batting .235 with 13 HR and 47 RBI and needs elbow surgery. And I predicted Brandon Webb would win the NL Cy Young Award. He got hurt, too.
4. I wrote the bullpen could be one of the strongest parts of the team, and not just because they signed closer Kerry Wood for $10 million annually. I was sure Jensen Lewis and Raffy Perez would be strong as set-up men. Well, maybe they are ... at Class AAA Columbus. They allowed 12 homers in 65 combined innings with the Tribe, their combined ERA a shocking 8.04.
5. That strong Tribe bullpen? Its 5.13 ERA is the worst in AL. But it's better than the starters, whose 5.56 ERA is also the pits of the league. And I sort of hinted the pitching would at least be OK. With a track record like that, anybody want some of my stock tips? I was real high on Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac about a year ago!
6. I was sure Ben Francisco would be an upgrade over Dave Dellucci and Jason Michaels in left field, that Francisco would hit around .280 with 20 HR. Well, he's at .242 with 6 HR, 25 RBI. Francisco batted only .236 after the 2008 All-Star break, so there were reasons for concern that I ignored.
7. I wrote something about Anthony Reyes giving the starting rotation the same grit as Kevin Millwood did back in 2005 when he had the best ERA in the American League. Well, Reyes had a bad elbow before he joined the Tribe, and it just got worse as he had major surgery -- after racking up a 6.57 ERA.
8. Twice in spring training, I wrote about how Fausto Carmona was looking good and throwing strikes -- He was, really! -- then came the regular season. I don't even want to talk about this stuff any more.
9. I really liked John Meloan, a pitcher the Indians acquired in the Casey Blake deal from the Dodgers last summer. I thought he could help in the bullpen. I mentioned this in print more than few times. Probably about the same time I could have told you that you really want to buy stock in AIG. Anyway, Meloan had a 5.69 ERA at Class AAA Columbus, and the Indians have traded him to Tampa Bay.
10. I'm going to stop here. I'm not going to mention how I pushed for Trevor Crowe (he batted .165) to be the fourth outfielder, or how I thought Jake Westbrook (he's still recovering) would be back from arm surgery and in the starting rotation by the middle of June. I'll just say that from now on, you can just call me Nostradamus.
All-Star Blog: Albert Belle makes a mid-summer phone call to talk Cleveland Indians, steroids
All-Star Blog: Albert Belle makes a mid-summer phone call to talk Cleveland Indians, steroids
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter Tuesday July 14, 2009, 4:29 PM
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m.
Plain Dealer file
Albert Belle says baseball should reveal the names of all the players on the steroid list and get past the issue. ST. LOUIS -- It just isn't a baseball season unless Albert Belle calls.
Belle, the worst-tempered player and most intimidating hitter I've ever covered, called Monday while I was walking into Busch Stadium to get ready for the home run derby. Belle was frustrated with the Indians' first half and wanted to talk about former teammate Manny Ramirez testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
"If they're not going to take anybody's stats away, then what difference does a positive test make?" said Belle. "And what about those 101 players who tested positive and haven't been named yet? I say release all their names so we can get done beating this dead horse."
Regarding Ramirez, Belle said, "Manny is going to hit no matter what. He's a talented kid."
Belle played for the Indians from 1989 through 1996. He's No.2 on their all-time list with 242 homers. Jim Thome, a former teammate, is No.1 with 334.
In his 12-year big-league career, Belle hit 381 homers. Along the way, he had more temper tantrums than Billy Martin and Lou Piniella combined.
Some of those tantrums were directed at me. Realizing that Belle was calling from Scottsdale, Ariz., and I was in St. Louis, I asked him if he'd ever used steroids. I already knew he'd used a corked bat.
"I never did," said Belle. "I didn't need to. All you have to do is check the trainers' weight charts. Every year I'd come to camp weighing 225 to 230 and end the season at about 215 to 220."
I ventured to say that his temper tantrums could have been interpreted as 'roid rage.
Said Belle, "No, I was just an angry black man."
Regarding the Indians, Belle said, "I hope they don't blame Eric Wedge for all this. You've got to have players to win."
Belle was told Wedge's job was in danger. When asked if he would want to manage the Indians, "Unless they got me a lot of new players, I don't need a headache like that."
Five times Belle made the All-Star team during his carer. His last All-Star game appearance was with the White Sox. The game was played at Jacobs Field and Belle refused to pose for the team picture in the outfield because of his running feud with Indians fans.
"The first time you play in an All-Star game, it's great," said Belle. "After that, you can do without it."
Belle, 42, was forced to retire because of an injury to his right hip. It probably cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame. Now he may need some work done on his left hip as well.
"A couple of my friends called me and said you haven't ripped anybody on the Indians all season," said Belle. "I told them, 'He must be getting old.'"
We all do, Albert. We all do.
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter Tuesday July 14, 2009, 4:29 PM
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m.
Plain Dealer file
Albert Belle says baseball should reveal the names of all the players on the steroid list and get past the issue. ST. LOUIS -- It just isn't a baseball season unless Albert Belle calls.
Belle, the worst-tempered player and most intimidating hitter I've ever covered, called Monday while I was walking into Busch Stadium to get ready for the home run derby. Belle was frustrated with the Indians' first half and wanted to talk about former teammate Manny Ramirez testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
"If they're not going to take anybody's stats away, then what difference does a positive test make?" said Belle. "And what about those 101 players who tested positive and haven't been named yet? I say release all their names so we can get done beating this dead horse."
Regarding Ramirez, Belle said, "Manny is going to hit no matter what. He's a talented kid."
Belle played for the Indians from 1989 through 1996. He's No.2 on their all-time list with 242 homers. Jim Thome, a former teammate, is No.1 with 334.
In his 12-year big-league career, Belle hit 381 homers. Along the way, he had more temper tantrums than Billy Martin and Lou Piniella combined.
Some of those tantrums were directed at me. Realizing that Belle was calling from Scottsdale, Ariz., and I was in St. Louis, I asked him if he'd ever used steroids. I already knew he'd used a corked bat.
"I never did," said Belle. "I didn't need to. All you have to do is check the trainers' weight charts. Every year I'd come to camp weighing 225 to 230 and end the season at about 215 to 220."
I ventured to say that his temper tantrums could have been interpreted as 'roid rage.
Said Belle, "No, I was just an angry black man."
Regarding the Indians, Belle said, "I hope they don't blame Eric Wedge for all this. You've got to have players to win."
Belle was told Wedge's job was in danger. When asked if he would want to manage the Indians, "Unless they got me a lot of new players, I don't need a headache like that."
Five times Belle made the All-Star team during his carer. His last All-Star game appearance was with the White Sox. The game was played at Jacobs Field and Belle refused to pose for the team picture in the outfield because of his running feud with Indians fans.
"The first time you play in an All-Star game, it's great," said Belle. "After that, you can do without it."
Belle, 42, was forced to retire because of an injury to his right hip. It probably cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame. Now he may need some work done on his left hip as well.
"A couple of my friends called me and said you haven't ripped anybody on the Indians all season," said Belle. "I told them, 'He must be getting old.'"
We all do, Albert. We all do.
Cleveland Indians' 20- and 30-something fans have no reason to fret, compared to older fans
Cleveland Indians' 20- and 30-something fans have no reason to fret, compared to older fans
by Mike Peticca, The Plain Dealer Tuesday July 14, 2009, 2:52 PM
Associated Press
Yes, Jose Mesa couldn't save Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, but the big right-hander had some highlight moments, too. Here, he pitches against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 1995 World Series, when he earned credit for the Tribe's 7-6, 11-inning win.
Any Cleveland Indians fan can find recent disappointment in, for instance, the Tribe's failure to turn its 3-1 American League Championship Series lead over the Boston Red Sox into a 2007 World Series berth.
Or, in the Indians' uninspiring 2008 season followed by the team's current malaise.
But, if you're just 20 years old, you may have some recall of 1995, when Cleveland played in the World Series for the first time in 41 years, and more memories of the Indians' improbable run to the 1997 Fall Classic. So what if Atlanta's Tom Glavine got the corner, and more, on almost every close pitch, and that Jose Mesa insisted on throwing that slider to Florida's Charles Johnson? At least, things got to that point.
You were in your mid- to late teens during the compelling - if ultimately frustrating - finishes of 2005 and 2007.
And, if you're 30, you could fully appreciate one of the best eras in Cleveland baseball from 1995 to 2001.
You've got it all over the older Indians fans, those who watched the Tribe finish at least 11 games out of first place in every season from 1960 through 1993, excluding the 1981 season, when a two-month players' strike broke the pennant races into two halves.
During the 34-season stretch, the Indians lost 387 games more than they won, and they finished a combined 768 1/2 games out of first place. They had just six winning seasons, the best at 87-75 in 1965, when they finished fifth in the 10-team American League, 15 games behind the Minnesota Twins.
Cleveland's second-best record during the span was 86-75 in 1968, 16 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers. The Indians finished third, their best standing in the 34 seasons. It was the last season before the American and National Leagues divided into divisions of six, and later seven teams. Yet, Cleveland was able to finish third just the one time, and fourth six times from 1960 through 1993.
Following are a few instances when Indians fans had something to cheer for, only to have their hopes stilled.
Yawn
Indians fans never saw their team play big games deep into the season. Probably the biggest September games the Indians played were in a twi-night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium on Sept. 6, 1974. Despite having just a 67-67 record, the 1974 Indians were just 4 1/2 games out of first place in the mediocre AL East when the night began.
Here, thanks to baseball-reference.com, is what happened in the opener, a 2-0 Tribe loss, and the nightcap of the twinbill, a 1-0 Indians' defeat before 27,341 fans.
The Tribe finished the campaign 77-85, in fourth place, 14 games behind the Orioles.
Look out, Yankees
The New York Yankees of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris were still a powerhouse, but the 1962 Indians swept a four-game series from them in mid-June. A Sunday, June 17 doubleheader capped the series and drew 70,918 to Municipal Stadium to watch the Indians down New York, 6-1, in the opener and 6-3 in the second game.
The Indians spent 19 days in first place from June 16 through July 13, but they lost 34 of 47 games in one stretch and finished sixth, 80-82, 16 games behind the Yankees.
Looked good
The 1965 Indians were fun to watch, in part because of the return of favorite Rocky Colavito. The Indians were 46-28, tied for first place with the Minnesota Twins on July 4.
Tony Tomsic, Plain Dealer file photo
Slugging outfielder Rocky Colavito led the American League in RBI in 1965.Here's the Indians' July 4 game, a 4-2 win over the Orioles with a crowd of 32,756 at the Stadium.
Alas, the Tribe faded to their 87-75, fifth-place finish, 15 games behind the Twins.
Total fold
The 1966 Indians opened with 10 straight wins and were in first place with a 4 1/2 game lead and 27-10 record on May 28. They were still 45-29, although 6 1/2 games shy of the lead, on July 2, but went on a 28-48 skid through Sept. 16. Cleveland finished 81-81, 17 games behind Baltimore, in fifth place.
A highlight was Sonny Siebert's no-hitter, a 2-0 win over the Washington Senators in Cleveland on June 10.
Never close
In 1968, when the Indians went 86-75 to place third, 16 1/2 games behind Detroit, they were within 2 1/2 games of first on June 6, but never got on a real roll. Pitcher Luis Tiant did, though, including his 19-strikeout, 1-0 10-inning win over Minnesota before 21,135 at the Stadium on July 3.
Over-rated
When Sports Illustrated put the Indians' Joe Carter and Cory Snyder on the cover of their 1987 season preview issue, they ignored that the pitching-poor Indians of 1986 were at least 7 1/2 games - and as many as 16 1/2 - out of first after August 7. They rallied to finish 84-78, in fifth place behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The 1987 fiasco ended with the Tribe 61-101.
The 1986 Indians peaked at 51-41, five games out of the division lead, with a 7-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in front of 20,524 Cleveland fans on July 23.
The Indians promptly lost 26 of their next 40 games.
by Mike Peticca, The Plain Dealer Tuesday July 14, 2009, 2:52 PM
Associated Press
Yes, Jose Mesa couldn't save Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, but the big right-hander had some highlight moments, too. Here, he pitches against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 1995 World Series, when he earned credit for the Tribe's 7-6, 11-inning win.
Any Cleveland Indians fan can find recent disappointment in, for instance, the Tribe's failure to turn its 3-1 American League Championship Series lead over the Boston Red Sox into a 2007 World Series berth.
Or, in the Indians' uninspiring 2008 season followed by the team's current malaise.
But, if you're just 20 years old, you may have some recall of 1995, when Cleveland played in the World Series for the first time in 41 years, and more memories of the Indians' improbable run to the 1997 Fall Classic. So what if Atlanta's Tom Glavine got the corner, and more, on almost every close pitch, and that Jose Mesa insisted on throwing that slider to Florida's Charles Johnson? At least, things got to that point.
You were in your mid- to late teens during the compelling - if ultimately frustrating - finishes of 2005 and 2007.
And, if you're 30, you could fully appreciate one of the best eras in Cleveland baseball from 1995 to 2001.
You've got it all over the older Indians fans, those who watched the Tribe finish at least 11 games out of first place in every season from 1960 through 1993, excluding the 1981 season, when a two-month players' strike broke the pennant races into two halves.
During the 34-season stretch, the Indians lost 387 games more than they won, and they finished a combined 768 1/2 games out of first place. They had just six winning seasons, the best at 87-75 in 1965, when they finished fifth in the 10-team American League, 15 games behind the Minnesota Twins.
Cleveland's second-best record during the span was 86-75 in 1968, 16 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers. The Indians finished third, their best standing in the 34 seasons. It was the last season before the American and National Leagues divided into divisions of six, and later seven teams. Yet, Cleveland was able to finish third just the one time, and fourth six times from 1960 through 1993.
Following are a few instances when Indians fans had something to cheer for, only to have their hopes stilled.
Yawn
Indians fans never saw their team play big games deep into the season. Probably the biggest September games the Indians played were in a twi-night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium on Sept. 6, 1974. Despite having just a 67-67 record, the 1974 Indians were just 4 1/2 games out of first place in the mediocre AL East when the night began.
Here, thanks to baseball-reference.com, is what happened in the opener, a 2-0 Tribe loss, and the nightcap of the twinbill, a 1-0 Indians' defeat before 27,341 fans.
The Tribe finished the campaign 77-85, in fourth place, 14 games behind the Orioles.
Look out, Yankees
The New York Yankees of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris were still a powerhouse, but the 1962 Indians swept a four-game series from them in mid-June. A Sunday, June 17 doubleheader capped the series and drew 70,918 to Municipal Stadium to watch the Indians down New York, 6-1, in the opener and 6-3 in the second game.
The Indians spent 19 days in first place from June 16 through July 13, but they lost 34 of 47 games in one stretch and finished sixth, 80-82, 16 games behind the Yankees.
Looked good
The 1965 Indians were fun to watch, in part because of the return of favorite Rocky Colavito. The Indians were 46-28, tied for first place with the Minnesota Twins on July 4.
Tony Tomsic, Plain Dealer file photo
Slugging outfielder Rocky Colavito led the American League in RBI in 1965.Here's the Indians' July 4 game, a 4-2 win over the Orioles with a crowd of 32,756 at the Stadium.
Alas, the Tribe faded to their 87-75, fifth-place finish, 15 games behind the Twins.
Total fold
The 1966 Indians opened with 10 straight wins and were in first place with a 4 1/2 game lead and 27-10 record on May 28. They were still 45-29, although 6 1/2 games shy of the lead, on July 2, but went on a 28-48 skid through Sept. 16. Cleveland finished 81-81, 17 games behind Baltimore, in fifth place.
A highlight was Sonny Siebert's no-hitter, a 2-0 win over the Washington Senators in Cleveland on June 10.
Never close
In 1968, when the Indians went 86-75 to place third, 16 1/2 games behind Detroit, they were within 2 1/2 games of first on June 6, but never got on a real roll. Pitcher Luis Tiant did, though, including his 19-strikeout, 1-0 10-inning win over Minnesota before 21,135 at the Stadium on July 3.
Over-rated
When Sports Illustrated put the Indians' Joe Carter and Cory Snyder on the cover of their 1987 season preview issue, they ignored that the pitching-poor Indians of 1986 were at least 7 1/2 games - and as many as 16 1/2 - out of first after August 7. They rallied to finish 84-78, in fifth place behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The 1987 fiasco ended with the Tribe 61-101.
The 1986 Indians peaked at 51-41, five games out of the division lead, with a 7-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in front of 20,524 Cleveland fans on July 23.
The Indians promptly lost 26 of their next 40 games.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)