Indians Playoff Hopes (Merged)

[kinch]

I just checked and the Tribe plays the Wsox 6 times in the last 2 weeks of the season including the last 3 games of the season. How insane would the Jake be if the Tribe goes into that series with a chance to overtake the Sox to win the Central?

This would pose an interesting situation. . .

The White Sox voted to forfeit their rained out game against the Red Sox. This means that if the Indians clean up against the White Sox, they could conceivably beat them for the division by 1/2 a game, making the forfeit count. (The Red Sox may be in the opposition situation with the Yankees or a wild card team).

Also, that 1/2 a game could determine home field advantage somewhere.

The White Sox had the choice to forfeit as otherwise they would have had to play on a day that would have given them over 20 games in a row, violating the CBA (or something like that).

Could be some scuttle there. . .

 

[scarletandgrey]

I think the W.Sox are starting to tail off a little bit and if the Tribe 2 of 3 or 3 of 4 each series they have a legitimate shot of winning the central. I'll still take a wild card birth though.

 

[AmeriBuck007]

HUGE two run triple for Coco to put the indians up 5-4. Lets hope Jake can hold on.. As of now the Yanks and A's are losing.

Indians hold on to win 5-4 after a blown balk call on wickman that should've tied the game up.. A's lose but Yankees win so were tied with the Yanks for the WC lead.

 

[AKAK]

Yeah.. the Tribe has a little Mojo going here...

Got out of the Balk tonight... and Freddy Garcia took a no-no into the 8th last night and lost... (Of course that's one of those catch-22's, A game closr to the White Sox, but the Twins are still hanging around in the WC chase... Though I think Shannon Stewart got dinged last night... that hurts them all the more if he's out for a while, Torii Hunter already donw for the season... Johann Santana can't pitch every night)

Anyway... if we can get the Sox lead to say 4 games by Sept 1st... then I start thinking about winning the division... otherwise... we've got to keep pace with the Yankees... (and Oakland, etc... it wuold be nice to pass the Angels as well, and just get the west guys out of the way).

Should be interesting... the Indians are playign well, they just have to focus on rebounding after losses... it seems like all season its just been one streak after another... either good or bad.

 

[Sloopy45]

AKAK: "we've got to keep pace with the Yankees"

This is why the imbalanced schedule sucks .. it makes the Wild Card race a sham. The Yanks & Indians have only played six times this season .. this thing should be decided on the field in head to head match-ups.

 

[exhawg]

I was so happy last night at the top of the 8th inning. The A's lost, the Yankees were losing, and the Tribe was up by 1. In the bottom of the 9th my mood changed when Matsui tied up the Yanks game and Wickman looked like shit. At least the umps didn't see the balk (Even I could see there was something wrong with that pitch and I don't know what the balk rules are most of the time), and the Tribe got the win. One more win this series and I'm going to have to put my v$ where my mouth is.

 

[AKAK]

AKAK: "we've got to keep pace with the Yankees"

This is why the imbalanced schedule sucks .. it makes the Wild Card race a sham. The Yanks & Indians have only played six times this season .. this thing should be decided on the field in head to head match-ups.

No argument from me... unfortunately, the only thing the teams can do about their schedule is play the games.

 

[HuffDaddy10]

Wickman looked like shit. At least the umps didn't see the balk

I couldnt believe the 4 umps missed that. I shouted "you fat fucker" at the TV when I saw him do that. That was so obvious. I wish that tank ass could just get a 3 up, 3 down inning for once. His 2nd pitch of the inning was a HR that was just foul by 6 inches y their number 8 hitter, then Coco has to make a diving catch to get him out. Watching him close out a game is like watching the last 6 games of the 2002 football season.

 

[exhawg]

I couldnt believe the 4 umps missed that. I shouted "you fat fucker" at the TV when I saw him do that. That was so obvious. I wish that tank ass could just get a 3 up, 3 down inning for once. His 2nd pitch of the inning was a HR that was just foul by 6 inches y their number 8 hitter, then Coco has to make a diving catch to get him out. Watching him close out a game is like watching the last 6 games of the 2003 football season.

I wish Wickman could look like Howry did last night. That was an impressive 8th inning.

 

[AKAK]

I wish Wickman could look like Howry did last night. That was an impressive 8th inning.

Both will be FA's after the season... Howry wnats to close again, so he could be the one (if either) that stays...

Also... Wickman may retire, anyway.... so he says, anyway.

 

[HuffDaddy10]

Howry did look damn good last night. That Cabrera guy looks like he has some good stuff in the one or two times I have seen him.

 

[AKAK]

Howry did look damn good last night. That Cabrera guy looks like he has some good stuff in the one or two times I have seen him.

Howry's been damn good all along, and yes... Cabrera has filthy stuff.

 

[Sloopy45]

HuffDaddy10: "I couldnt believe the 4 umps missed that."

You'll rarely see balks called late in the season in pennant races. You can basically call a balk anytime a runner is on base.

 

[HuffDaddy10]

Totally agree on Howry. I think we have the wrong Bob closing out games. Hard to argue with a guy who has 35 or so saves, but damn, he may be effective but never goes in and just shuts someone down. You need a closer to be throwing 94-96 and dominating hitters, not throwing 88mph puss and having hitters tee off, even when they do make outs. I know damn well if we make the playoffs and Wickman is in closing out a game, I will not be able to watch.

Sloopy, you are right, they are leniant later in the season. They only call blatantly obvious balks, but it doesn't get more blatantly obvious than that.

 

[AKAK]

Totally agree on Howry. I think we have the wrong Bob closing out games. Hard to argue with a guy who has 35 or so saves, but damn, he may be effective but never goes in and just shuts someone down. You need a closer to be throwing 94-96 and dominating hitters, not throwing 88mph puss and having hitters tee off, even when they do make outs. I know damn well if we make the playoffs and Wickman is in closing out a game, I will not be able to watch.

Sloopy, you are right, they are leniant later in the season. They only call blatantly obvious balks, but it doesn't get more blatantly obvious than that.

Well.... you may be right, but on the other hand... you dno't wnat to start messing with the order... you know... the 8th is important as the ninth anyway... so what are you going to do? Let Wickman scare you in a different inning?