Cleveland Indians: 2005 Title Contenders or Pretenders?

I lived in Cleveland for two summers not too longball and they can also play long ball which makes
ago. My second year there was when they hadthem great in any ballpark on the road. They can
their fire sale. Jim Thome was one of the last torun the bases and move people over in pitching
go. Their argument to him was that it would takefriendly ballparks. They can also hit home runs in
a long time before they start to contend again sohitting friendly ballparks.
that it was best to part ways.Their pitching staff is headed by lefty C.C.
Well, the Indians are contending in a hurry and areSabathia and is supported by one of the best
atop the Wild Card by 1.5 games. There is nobullpens in baseball. There is no doubt these
question in my mind that these Indians are titleIndians are playing the best baseball. The Indians
contenders. With the questionable starting pitchingare on a 70% run spanning more than 40 games
of the Boston Red Sox, inconsistent hitting of theand are hitting both lefties and righties extremely
Angels and White Sox, the Indians prove to bewell.
the only team with a great balance of hitting andThe one glitch to the Indians season is that they
pitching.are a combined 8-18 against AL playoff teams
What's better news is that these Indians are lethalRed Sox, Angels, White Sox. If they are going to
on the road. Their road record of 45-29 is theadvance to the World Series, these are the
third best in baseball. The Indians can play smallteams they are going to have to beat.