Indians win one against the Jays.

Football has started.  We’re done with the Tribe right?  The Indians win 5-2.  Call me whatever you want, but I am enjoying watching the Indians.  A lot.  You are too.  Admit it.  Have you stopped?  My suggestion?  Stick with it.  It’s fun.  It’s exciting.  I can’t wait for next year. 

The Indians haven’t been in a place where you are looking forward to next year for a while.  Usually, we are rooting for the current session.   Sure, you could say, YES we have.  2006 was bad.  It was.  This bullpen is worse, or not.  Yet………I’ve been there when the Indians were always in last place.   Thankfully, that was a while back.

Personally, I’m in a new place…… I’m excited.  Ok, ok I admit, it’s just like the old days this year.  Where else could you go but up.   But seriously, the Indians are on the move.

We expected greatness this year.   We did.   It didn’t happen.  Not even close.  But the Indians are fun to watch.  Not all year, but now…. With the new group.  Admit it… Its like NASCAR….. You watch, waiting for the wreck.

Anthony Reyes put up his first MLB start with the Indians as a win….. Times to come man, times to come.

I don’t judge the “V” on Reyes….. I think it’s on the team, but yet I’m optimistic about Reyes.  

While Reyes was hot in his first start : six and a third innings pitched, seven hits, and only run earned run, the real crux of the matter is the Indians seem to be adjusting into what I’d like to see as a team : and I LOVE it.

Rafael Perez, a staple in the Indians lefty organization, or organization as a whole for that matter, did his business again, going an inning and a third and giving up one run, unusual for him.   He’s usually lights out.  When he stinks, he’s great.  How can you beat that.  He is, and will be. Lights out seven and eight.

Jensen Lewis, a one inning wonder this evening, was moved to the closer, a PERFECT role for him.  Guess what?  One inning, 0 hits, 0 runs.  One B on B, but one K and TADA….. the Indians win.  Lewis has ALWAYS demonstrated closer potential.  Not lights out stuff like the big closers in the game, but he has the stuff that closers are made of.  He’s a fighter.  He is.  He did it once in the role.  Put him there again.  He’ll show you he’s the man.  He won’t be the best.  He won’t be dominant, but HE WILL WIN.  That is what he’s made of. 

Keep the faith Eric Wedge.  Let Lewis close.  He has the gumption.  Hand him the ball.  Let him win.

You did it.  You’re there.  Let Lewis blow it.  As Nike would say…. JUST DO IT.

Am I excited about the bullpen?  YES!! I am.  Screw football.  Well not really, but it has its place, and not in August.  Ok in August too.  BUT….

This year, I’m excited about the Tribe.

Exciting as it seems, I’m somewhat bummed that Lee won’t meet Halladay.  Two days ago, he would have.  The Indians called up Reyes, and he didn’t.  Bummer.  The Cy Young award was mano-a-mano.  Now?  I guess we’ll see by the starts, but it won’t be against each other.

It does give Lee a shot at 20 more than it did meeting up with Halladay, but Lee wipes Halladay off the map, and the Cy Young is his.  If it’s me?  I take that any day of the week.  Best against best.  I lose, I lose.  Let’s go.  But I do understand the mentality of not meeting up.   At least I guess.

Lee will win 20, and he’ll win the Cy Young.  He’ll be the only pitcher to 20, just watch and he’ll win.  By avoiding Halladay, he’ll be 16-2.  He would be anyway.  Should have kept the matchup. 

So much for my thoughts, lets head back to the game.

The Indians jumped on top 3-0 in the top of the fourth.  Kelly Shoppach opened up the inning after one out with a double.  After a Jhonny Peralta flyout, Ben Francisco doubled, scoring Shoppach.  Shin-Soo Choo doubled, scoring Shoppach.  Franklin Gutierrez joined in, scoring Choo for the third run of the inning. 

The Jays scored one back.  After an infield single and a regular single, Matt Stairs hit a single as well, and it was 3-1 Tribe. 

The Indians would score another pair in the eighth.  After a pair of walks to Carrol and Shoppach, Peralta struck out, giving the Indians two outs. 

Francisco would single home a run and move Shoppach to second, prompting a pitching change.   

Carleson came in, giving up a single and a run to Choo and Shoppach respectively, putting the Indians up 5-1.

The Jays would get a run back, on a double and a Mench pinch-hit single, but it wasn’t enough to chase down the Tribe.  

The Indians win, 5-2, and make chasing down the Royals a hope….. ar least for today…. Next year, thougb, looks extremely hopeful.