The Indians Are Exciting Again, Just a Bit Too Late

It only took about 140 games, or so, but the Cleveland Indians have finally started playing entertaining baseball again.

Being an estranged fan (Illinois sucks for Tribe fans, FYI), it is hard for me to watch a game. Thanks to MLB.com I can listen via Internet radio for only $15 a season, but with the type of ball that the team had been playing I was not particularly interested.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team for giving me a reason to tune back in, and for making my investment worthwhile.

I remain a loyal fan. Don't get me wrong. Anyone else who is a fan would understand that unless Cliff Lee was pitching, this team was not worth getting excited about this season.

In all honesty, it's no one's fault. No one could foresee the injuries that this team has endured or the effect that they would have on the season. For that reason I am glad that Shapiro has reiterated that Eric Wedge's job is safe for at least one more year.

These last few games have been a treat. With young players getting their chance to shine, and potentially try out for 2009, the past week or so has included a lot of good baseball from a young club.

The return of stars such as Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner and Josh Barfield has also been a boon to the team, and certainly for us as fans.

The absolute best part has been that the team has refused to roll over to allow anyone to beat them.

Wedge put it best when he defined the word "spoiler": "That's a word that has teeth for people who aren't in it. We're out here playing to win the ballgame. We're trying to win for ourselves, not to spoil it for somebody else."

Dead on.

At 75-77 the Indians certainly have a good shot at salvaging at least a winning season. Coming from the basement to end the season on an even keel or better would certainly qualify this team as a success, and reaffirm Eric Wedge as one of the best managers in the game.

This latest sweep of the Twins has shown that this team has the fortitude and ability to play playoff contending teams, and beat them.

With two late-inning victories in the series the Tribe also displayed their ability to play in the clutch and take victory from the grasps of defeat; a good parallel to the entire season.

This last week, besides providing some enjoyable baseball, has also made my decision to buy tickets to the last game of the year, in Chicago, seem like a good one as well.

With Chicago and Minnesota still pretty close (1.5 games separating them as of my writing), it seems as though this could play out until that last game.

There is nothing that I would enjoy more this season (with playoffs out of the equation) than to see the Indians ruin the White Sox bid for the post-season.

I will make no excuses and tell you straight away that I despise the White Sox.

So, don't play the spoiler Tribe. Win it for yourself, and for me. I'll be in section 520, forcing my girlfriend to be an Indians fan for the day, and screaming my bloody head off.