The Tribe: Pretenders or Contenders.

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HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

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9,206 posts
May 31, 2011 10:38 PM
Over 50 games in, and the team that many said would be one of the worst in baseball, continues to hold a solid lead in the AL Central. The team continues to limit its losing streaks, and extend the winning streaks. The team sits at 32-20...even as it's battled injuries.

Are these guys for real????
May 31, 2011 10:38pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
May 31, 2011 10:40 PM
I think they are for real.

But it's not like their division is stellar.
May 31, 2011 10:40pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
May 31, 2011 10:44 PM
They will be playing meanignful games in September. Im not sure they are for real though (AL wise). Their division is bad, and they built up such a big lead, I dont see CHI or DET being more than 5 up (if at all) in September. But I dont think anyone can compete with Boston.
May 31, 2011 10:44pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
May 31, 2011 10:47 PM
Well, I said they'd contend in the AL Central since last season, so yes, I think they're for real...

As for the playoffs, I just hope we're there. The rest will fall into place.

Baseball is a funny sport, and the best team isn't always the team that even advances to the World Series, let alone win it all...

I would like to see the Tribe make 1 big move before the deadline.
May 31, 2011 10:47pm
TBone14's avatar

TBone14

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May 31, 2011 10:50 PM


We're contenders now.

Couldn't find a pic from the American Express commercial in the movie.
May 31, 2011 10:50pm
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

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9,206 posts
May 31, 2011 10:55 PM
I don't understand this pessimism about them not being able to compete with Boston.. Hell, we swept the S.O.B's. Yeah, I know...long way to go, but right now we got the best record in the AL. They should be worried about US.
May 31, 2011 10:55pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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May 31, 2011 10:56 PM
May 31, 2011 10:56pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

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13,650 posts
May 31, 2011 11:03 PM
I didn't think the team would be that bad (expected 75ish wins with a shot at .500), but they've obviously been way better than I anticipated.

My answer to the question would depend on what it is asking. Contenders in the division? Of course. The division is terrible. Contenders to win a WS? Nah. Making the playoffs would be sweet though.
May 31, 2011 11:03pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
May 31, 2011 11:03 PM
Speaking on Boston, they're on a slide again as well.. The Sox of the White variety beat them 10-7 as they dropped their 3rd in a row.
May 31, 2011 11:03pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

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26,625 posts
Jun 1, 2011 12:27 AM
I think they will be in the race for the division. They are getting some tough series out of the way, and they only have one more west coast road trip. They are still very good at home as well. There is still a lot of baseball to be played with the division, so we will see. As stated earlier, get in the playoffs and anything can happen. The MLB playoffs are the biggest crap shoot imo. The Cardinals won the world series with only 83 wins in the regular season.
Jun 1, 2011 12:27am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

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Jun 1, 2011 3:46 AM
HitsRus;787088 wrote:and the team that may said would be the worst in baseball

Lolwut? Who are the retards who said they'd be the worst in baseball? Considering they were a good bit better than my Pirates last year and are a year or so ahead of them as far as their young talent goes (2009: Cleveland wins a AA title, Pittsburgh wins a A+ title; 2010: Cleveland wins a AAA title, Pittsburgh wins a AA title; 2011: Cleveland's shredding at AAA...Pittsburgh is shooting themselves in the foot by having retreads like Brian Burres and Sean Gallagher who are like a combined 4-13 getting key innings as starters because they can be "short-term fixes", as opposed to playing more actual prospects at that level), I'd like to see actual links to REPUTABLE (ie: not NCF or Gibby) sources saying Cleveland would be the WORST team in baseball, because that seems laughable.

They're outplaying most peoples' expectations, no doubt about that. But this isn't a supposed 60-win team being dominating. This is a young team that might be playing above expectations due to excellent pitching, oft-injured vets contributing more than expected, the O-Cab #winning influence and other factors; but a young team with obviously talented guys.
Jun 1, 2011 3:46am
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

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9,206 posts
Jun 1, 2011 7:48 AM
^^^^it's tough to argue against the Pirates, but several sources had the Tribe at or near the bottom. A quick Google of The Sporting News Predictions showed the Indians at second from the bottom( second to the Pirates.LOL)
http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2011-02/mlb-power-poll-2011/story/mlb-power-poll-giants-dethroned-before-spring-arrives.

SI had them fifth worst. Even the most optimistic had them 4th in the division at best. I really don't care to argue, or try to "prove" I was 100% accurate in saying THE worst...so I'll just edit it to "one of the worst" which would be indisputable.
Jun 1, 2011 7:48am
B

BR1986FB

Senior Member

24,104 posts
Jun 1, 2011 8:07 AM
Still on the fence with this one. I think they will be in the division race for most of the season but if they make the playoffs, they won't make much noise.
Jun 1, 2011 8:07am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jun 1, 2011 8:13 AM
Pretenders. Lets burn that city to the ground!
Jun 1, 2011 8:13am
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royal_k

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4,423 posts
Jun 1, 2011 8:21 AM
I'm saying contenders for the division and beyond. They have withstood injuries and a very difficult schedule in recent weeks. And they are still without Hafner, who was really having a great start. As it is for every team, pitching is the key. If they get pitching, they have the ability to beat anyone.
Jun 1, 2011 8:21am
OneBuckeye's avatar

OneBuckeye

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Jun 1, 2011 8:26 AM
BR1986FB;787356 wrote:Still on the fence with this one. I think they will be in the division race for most of the season but if they make the playoffs, they won't make much noise.

I am too, timely hitting and good agressive pitching have been why they have won games this year. I think it just depends on how long they maintain it and if their pitching/hitting is hot or cold if they make the playoffs. They don't have the pitchers that can work from behind and aren't going to out HR too many clubs.
Jun 1, 2011 8:26am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jun 1, 2011 8:31 AM
Honestly, it is so awesome that this is actually a topic. I thought we would be garbage. I agree with a few others, I think we will be in it for the division, but just won't have the pitching matchups to do any damage in the playoffs...kinda like Minny every year and Cincy last year.
Jun 1, 2011 8:31am
Tiger2003's avatar

Tiger2003

Kill or be Killed

15,421 posts
Jun 1, 2011 9:58 AM
Pretenders. I still think the Tigers will win the division. I think the Tribe are a year away but who know. Not sure if the young pitchers can keep it going and if the bats will keep producing like they have.
Jun 1, 2011 9:58am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jun 1, 2011 10:02 AM
I see them doing what the Reds did last year. Winning the division by a handful of games and then getting spanked in the first round. Hopefully the Indians respond a little better the next season than the Reds have so far.
Jun 1, 2011 10:02am
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

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Jun 1, 2011 10:04 AM
The jury is still out, if by the allstar break they lead the division I'll raise my excitement level.
Jun 1, 2011 10:04am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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29,506 posts
Jun 1, 2011 10:18 AM
Heretic;787316 wrote:Lolwut? Who are the retards who said they'd be the worst in baseball? Considering they were a good bit better than my Pirates last year and are a year or so ahead of them as far as their young talent goes (2009: Cleveland wins a AA title, Pittsburgh wins a A+ title; 2010: Cleveland wins a AAA title, Pittsburgh wins a AA title; 2011: Cleveland's shredding at AAA...Pittsburgh is shooting themselves in the foot by having retreads like Brian Burres and Sean Gallagher who are like a combined 4-13 getting key innings as starters because they can be "short-term fixes", as opposed to playing more actual prospects at that level), I'd like to see actual links to REPUTABLE (ie: not NCF or Gibby) sources saying Cleveland would be the WORST team in baseball, because that seems laughable.

They're outplaying most peoples' expectations, no doubt about that. But this isn't a supposed 60-win team being dominating. This is a young team that might be playing above expectations due to excellent pitching, oft-injured vets contributing more than expected, the O-Cab #winning influence and other factors; but a young team with obviously talented guys.

I saw a couple power rankings pre-season that had them as #30. This is just one example. It has the Indians at 9 (30) in week #2. They were pre-season 30, and obviously week 1, 30 based on the parenthesis. I know Timmy Kurkjian also had them at #30. He said he visited 29 clubs in the spring and NOT the Tribe because he thought they were going to be the worst team in baseball.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings/_/week/2
Jun 1, 2011 10:18am
BRF's avatar

BRF

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8,748 posts
Jun 1, 2011 10:40 AM
I'm gonna go with Contenders based on a .600 win percentage after the first 50 games.
Jun 1, 2011 10:40am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Jun 1, 2011 1:23 PM
Laley23;787479 wrote:I saw a couple power rankings pre-season that had them as #30. This is just one example. It has the Indians at 9 (30) in week #2. They were pre-season 30, and obviously week 1, 30 based on the parenthesis. I know Timmy Kurkjian also had them at #30. He said he visited 29 clubs in the spring and NOT the Tribe because he thought they were going to be the worst team in baseball.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings/_/week/2

Really? I guess to me, that's a bit of a surprise. I didn't expect them to be one of the two best teams in baseball right now, but I had them pegged for at least mediocrity (you know, 75-87, give or take a few). As opposed to the Pirates, where I looked at 75 as optimistic "things went better than expected" or the Astros, who were possibly the only team I would have guessed would be worse than Pittsburgh.
Jun 1, 2011 1:23pm
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Jun 1, 2011 2:38 PM
Tiger2003;787455 wrote:Pretenders. I still think the Tigers will win the division. I think the Tribe are a year away but who know. Not sure if the young pitchers can keep it going and if the bats will keep producing like they have.

The Tigers are 1 of 2 teams who have never won the Central. :)
Jun 1, 2011 2:38pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jun 1, 2011 2:58 PM
hoops23;787776 wrote:The Tigers are 1 of 2 teams who have never won the Central. :)

Speaking of that, where is jakegiant/bballmind?
Jun 1, 2011 2:58pm