So, it seems to me that even when the Cleveland Indians aren't in the playoffs or even close we still are connected. I knew when Jim Thome stepped to the plate last night that he would change the game and lead the Whitesox into the playoffs. For Clevelanders this is a familiar sight of a former player of the the rock and roll city leading another team to glory. As we sit and stare at the television. Let's not be coy about this. It is a phenomenon that had occurred for years.
Take this baseball year for example. Let's observe how many former Indians are now going to the playoffs with their teams. Obviously Thome who was and may still be one of the Cities most loved players is now the grizzly vet who has used his unsuccessful playoff experiences in Cleveland to perform in the clutch last night for Chicago. Former Indian Manny Ramirez has for a number of years kicked our asses from Boston. Even last year being up 3 games to 1 we couldn't seem to break Manny's clutch over our destiny. Former Indian Coco Crisp is loving his playoff experience the last couple of years. While he had a down year last season he still wears a beautiful world series ring. And let's us not forget former Indian Casey Blake (are you serious?). Who Joe Torre says has brought the LA Dodgers together and helped make them a playoff team(is this the same guys that played for us?). ESPN's Pedro Gomez even reports that since Blake has joined the Dodgers they are 8 games over .500 and that he is solely responsible for stabilizing their lineup. Wow, that is something the Indians could have used while he was here. How could I not mention the new greatest thing since the 99cent rodeo cheeseburger, CC Sabathia. The former Indian Cy Young winner who we traded to the Brewers, like Thor, hammered his way into the hearts of Brewers fans by leading the club to the post season for the first time in what? 26 years? Sabathia's performance with Cleveland was 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA. As he left Cleveland something magical started to happen. He became the pitcher we wish we had in the 07 playoffs. For the Brewers he went 11-2 with 7 complete games and a 1.65 ERA. My prediction, LA Dodgers Versus the Boston Red Sox in the world series. Manny and his new trusted sidekick Casey Blake will evaporate the Sox and all Clevelanders can watch and enjoy their success.
Take this baseball year for example. Let's observe how many former Indians are now going to the playoffs with their teams. Obviously Thome who was and may still be one of the Cities most loved players is now the grizzly vet who has used his unsuccessful playoff experiences in Cleveland to perform in the clutch last night for Chicago. Former Indian Manny Ramirez has for a number of years kicked our asses from Boston. Even last year being up 3 games to 1 we couldn't seem to break Manny's clutch over our destiny. Former Indian Coco Crisp is loving his playoff experience the last couple of years. While he had a down year last season he still wears a beautiful world series ring. And let's us not forget former Indian Casey Blake (are you serious?). Who Joe Torre says has brought the LA Dodgers together and helped make them a playoff team(is this the same guys that played for us?). ESPN's Pedro Gomez even reports that since Blake has joined the Dodgers they are 8 games over .500 and that he is solely responsible for stabilizing their lineup. Wow, that is something the Indians could have used while he was here. How could I not mention the new greatest thing since the 99cent rodeo cheeseburger, CC Sabathia. The former Indian Cy Young winner who we traded to the Brewers, like Thor, hammered his way into the hearts of Brewers fans by leading the club to the post season for the first time in what? 26 years? Sabathia's performance with Cleveland was 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA. As he left Cleveland something magical started to happen. He became the pitcher we wish we had in the 07 playoffs. For the Brewers he went 11-2 with 7 complete games and a 1.65 ERA. My prediction, LA Dodgers Versus the Boston Red Sox in the world series. Manny and his new trusted sidekick Casey Blake will evaporate the Sox and all Clevelanders can watch and enjoy their success.
2 comments:
There is something to be said for being able to follow so many teams in the playoffs. Chicago Sox, Boston, Philly, LA Dodgers, Brewers all have a strong Cleveland connection. Maybe... Someday... Naw, forget it.
Only in Cleveland can the Indians open a home game in Milwakee. I know it was last year, but still I think it is kind of funny. Before that the last time they played in Milwakee Ricky "the Wild Thing" Vaughn got the win by getting Clue Haywood in the top of the 9th by striking him out. They won it with a sacrifice bunt by catcher Jake Taylor who scored the winning run in the person of Willie Mayes Hayes. The games starting pitcher was Eddie Harris and outfielder Pedro Cerrano hit a two-run homerun to tie it up. Oh, and the starting third baseman was veteran Roger Dorn, who went on to own the Tribe the next year. If you don't understand what I am talking about, well, forget you won't because your not from Cleveland...
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