Eye on the Tribe

This year will be the year of the Tribe, just you watch. I'm calling it now.

I know I'm a die-hard Tribe fan and may be a bit biased, but that doesn't make me wrong.

Last year they got so close they could almost feel themselves losing their breath as they inched their way closer to the high-elevation series in Colorado. Now that they've gotten so close without cashing in, they will be back in force, like a locomotive hugging the tracks, charging towards its destination.

All the way through spring training, the majority pick to take the AL Central title was the team from Michigan who recently stacked itself like a clydesdale...the Detroit Tigers. Now, don't get me wrong, these fellas are going to put up a strong fight this year, and will most likely be in a dead heat again with the Tribe until the very end.

Their lineup is a sculpted powerhouse that could very well make other teams look downright ridiculous. With the majority of last year's team still intact, and the additions of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, this team will be a fun one to watch.

However, even though this team has insane talent and could very well go the distance, I believe many Tiger fanatics will be surprised in the end. After losing their first four games, and three to KC, one has to wonder. And nothing against KC (I love seeing underdog teams on the up-rise). I know it's still early in the year and they have time to find their rhythm, but scoring only five runs in a series against the Royals? Come on, man!

The Tribe has returned this season with a tight-knit brotherhood, bringing back the majority of last year's team. Both of these teams have a lineup that could own any pitcher in the game, but in the end, the magic on the mound is what will make the difference. The Tigers have some strong and gifted arms, don't get me wrong, but you simply can't touch the Tribe's pitching.

Between Sabathia and Carmona, they have the best one-two pitching duo in all the league, not to mention the three solid arms following behind them. The Tribe also have the better bullpen depth, which showed itself in the playoffs last season. They're not perfect, but they'll get you in the end.

Along with their stellar pitching they possess the best outfielder in the game today in Grady Sizemore. I haven't witnessed such natural talent, work ethic, and drive from another player in all my twenty-six years. The man can straight play. Watch his eyes sometime, no one wants it more than he does.

After throwing Hafner and Martinez into the equation, the Tribe's top of the order is a well-oiled machine. The rest of the field is scattered with young talent that showed top teams such as the Yanks and BoSox last season that it has what it takes to shake things up a bit. I'm excited to see these young players continue to find themselves this year.

I may be wrong in my prediction, but I don't think I will be. The Tribe is going to open eyes this year, even wider than last. They may not have the lineup that looks like an all-star lineup like that of the Tigers, Yanks, or Red Sox, but they have some sort of crazy rhythm and harmony that no other team has right now. They're like a group of brothers that isn't the strongest on the block, but they're still going to take you in the end because they have a bond that won't easily break. They're a family, it's as simple as that. They show up together, play together, and will win together.

They won't rub it in your face, won't showboat, and probably don't even care what you think. They simply love the game and will do whatever it takes to win.

It's a beautiful sight to watch the Tribe's chemistry on the field. Keep your eyes open this year and you will see what I mean. Sometimes you just can't find words to describe something this beautiful, you just have to sit back and watch it do what it does best. This year, watch the Tribe, whether you're a fan or not. If you weren't a fan of baseball before, you will be after watching these boys play the most beautiful game there ever was.

This year, eye on the Tribe.