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????

I think they are for real.

But it's not like their division is stellar.

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.

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.

We're contenders now.

Couldn't find a pic from the American Express commercial in the movie.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

^^^^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.

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.

Pretenders. Lets burn that city to the ground!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The jury is still out, if by the allstar break they lead the division I'll raise my excitement level.

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

I'm gonna go with Contenders based on a .600 win percentage after the first 50 games.

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.

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.

hoops23;787776 wrote:The Tigers are 1 of 2 teams who have never won the Central.

Speaking of that, where is jakegiant/bballmind?