on MAY 14, we were in first place.  we also were in the midst of a wonderful starting pitcher scoreless innings pitched streak.  against a good team, the BLUE JAYS.  this was when i last posted a blog.  ALOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN...

as of the the start of MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd, the INDIANS are one game above 500!  had i prognosticated at the start of the season, i would have been majorly bummed if i had known this statement would be true.  and i was majorly bummed when we hit our low mark of 16 games under 500 on july 8th.  when we were without C.C. and CASEY BLAKE after trades; after major injuries to FAUSTO, JAKE, VICTOR, and PRONK.

since JULY 9th though, we have been 17 games better than 500 with 41-27 record.

will the real INDIANS please stand up!

the offensive surges of struggling RYAN GARKO, ASDRUBAL CABRERA, and FRANKLYN GUTIEREZ have definitely played a huge factor in during this time span.  JHONNY has also hit much better than he did at the start f the season.

and MARTINEZ and PRONK are now off of the DL.  both have made contributions during this stretch.  MARTINEZ actually has finally homered.  one was a game winner.  and PRONK looks better too. 

MARTE has continued to be a 200 hitter.  with a so so glove.  it would be nice to upgrade at this position.  i do not think MARTE is another BRANDON PHILLIPS.  MARTE has been too consistently underwhelming.  maybe i am impatient.  but he has had two years now to impress.  i thik it is time he moves on, and we find a sure thing.

KELLY SHOPPACH though has made the most of his opportunities this year and last.  especially this year.  against DETROIT in CLEVELAND on JULY 30, he tied the record for most extra basehits by a batter in the AL with 5 (3 doubles, 2 HR's) in a 14 - 12 13 inning loss.  he has a strong arm, and seems yo call good games.  he strikes out a crazy bunch.  but when he doesn't he is crazy good.  it is definitely good to know our back up catcher could be our staring catcher as well.

GARKO to me is maddening.  he was so inconsistent and streakingly bad for most of the year.  then he had to be benched for his lack of hustle in St Pete.  ever since, he has been en fuego.  i was sooo ready to dump him forever after that.  he got hot immediately afterward,but then cooled down.  that was a mere aberration.  he is hot again.  he drove in 5 runs and had a 2B, (a gift)3B, and 2 singles today in our landmark day of getting back over the hump.  as far as i am concerened, he only has success at the end of the season.  but he is young.  he almost blew it, but has redeemed himself for one more year.  since there are much bigger holes to fill.

GUTIEREZ is another one who worries me.  he started off hot, and then sucked.  now he is doing good again.  his D is ALWAYS good though.    i think his surge is worthy of trying him out next year.

and NO ONE has seemed more solid (sorry MR BEN FRAN) than SHIN-SOO CHOO.  he currently is at .310 - 27 2B - 13 HR - 59 RBI - .400 OBP.  he has even held his own vs lefties.

the bullpen fell to pieces, as it did in '06.  i think BENTANCOURT, just like JUAN RINCON,

is done.  overuse would be my guess.  unfortunately, JOE BLOW folded mid season and was cut.  RAFFY PEREZ has been good, but not great like last year.  but JENSEN LEWIS has been very good as closer.  not great, except for his save percentage (11 of 12).  MASA was doing good, then he got tired.  they say MLB is a little but tougher than that JAPANESE league.

i like how ASDRUBAL has done.  i (still) think JHONNY should be trade bait though.  his D is too sub par, his O is too inconsistent.  he is another one who strikes out way too much.  

and the staring pitching?  for some reason, i do not see ZACH JACKSON as being real.  and i cannot fathom ANTHONY REYES as duplicating his short live success.  SCOTT LEWIS came up from 2A ball nad impressed in his first 3 starts.  then again, LAFFEY was dominant for awhile before he started getting rocked regularly.  i do look for FAUSTO to rebound.  i think injuries wreaked havoc with him this year.  

and as for CLIFF LEE?  i hope he can, but i doubt any pitcher could duplicate his season!  he has been phenomenal!!  not with the strikeout, which i would prefer.  but he has been the definition of consistency.  he is a lock to keep the AL CY YOUNG in CLEVELAND again for the second year in a row.

at one point, i argued with a friend against them reaching 500.  what was the point.  they were a disappointment.  who cares!  they did not make the playoffs, so F 'em.

after listening to the TIGERS game today, i am happy about our situation.  yes, there are definite question marks and holes to fill.  but we are not that bad off.  and we play the game the right way.  WEDGE has his faults.  don't we all?  overall, he is not too bad.  i think a pitching advisor we be a great job for him to employ.  i am willing to hear your offer ERIC.