Cleveland Indians' 2011 Season Just Stringing Fans Along

We all knew that couple in high school who had that constant "on again, off again" relationship. Some days they were dating, some days they hated each other.

For some outsiders it may have been a major headache and an annoyance. For others it was a bit of an entertaining sideshow. You came in to school every day to get your daily updated on how the happy couple was fairing today.

That just about sums up the 2011 season for the Cleveland Indians. In a season that started with as low of expectations as the team has had in years they got off to a hot start and vaulted themselves into first place.

Since that hot start they've cooled off considerably with the AL Central lead being taken by the Detroit Tigers. But as we're now in the second week in August the Tribe still isn't out of the race for the divisional crown.

Prior to the start of Tuesday's game they sit four games back with the best opportunity they could ask for in the form of a three game home set against the Tigers.

I wrote last week that the series with Red Sox would make or break the season. I was right and wrong. It did neither as they split the four game series. But what they did show in Boston and then over the weekend in Texas is that they can compete with the league's best.

They should have won all four games in Boston, losing the two on walk-off's. And the case could be made that the two losses to the Rangers were also very winnable games.

This brings us back to the flirty couple analogy. When things are looking great for the Tribe they all of a sudden let us down. Then they'll pick us back up again with one of those thrilling walk-off victories at Progressive Field (12 this season).

But just as we're getting sucked back into thinking they're for real they get blown out 12-0 by the Royals, only get up again the very next night with a Matt LaPorta walk-off homer.

But as I type this out, with the score still tied 2-2 in the top of the 13th, the Indians have a golden opportunity to seize control of the AL Central again the rest of the month.

It starts with this series against the Tigers at home. A sweep would be huge. Next up is the Twins who are scuffling again. Those are three winnable games.

Next week is the big test with road series in Chicago (who only sits a half game back of Cleveland coming into tonight) and Detroit. Getting as many wins as possible and winning both of those series is essential to making a move in the playoff race.

The rest of the month is a breeze on paper (not that means anything this year to this team) with home series against the Mariners, Royals, and Athletics...all teams with records at least ten games under .500.

Dominating that two week stretch is vital because the schedule really stiffens up in September.

A couple key factors will weigh heavily on whether the Tribe can make a postseason run.

The first is the pitching of Ubaldo Jimenez. He didn't do anything too overly special in his first outing for Cleveland. But if Jimenez is going to be the ace then there's no better time to start showing it than Wednesday night.

He has the talent, now he just needs to prove he was worth the hefty price Chris Antonetti paid for him.

The second major factor is the return of the injured players, namely Shin Soo Choo and to a lesser extent Grady Sizemore. The Indians are in desperate need of some added pop to the lineup. They especially need Choo in the middle of the order to help relieve a little pressure on Carlos Santana, who has been pressing lately.

If the bats can get going and start holding up their end then things could start looking good in Cleveland for the month of September.

And that relationship will be on again, just like they'd never been apart. Maybe they'll actually stay together this time.

You can follow me on Twitter @ClevelandFlack.