Before I begin with the main part of my post today, let’s recap last night. CC picks up his 19th win. There were a few injury scares in there when Mark Grudzielanek hit CC in the 3rd and 5th innings. Luckily, CC appears not to be hurt and ready for post season baseball. He picked up his 100th win last year, being the youngest since Greg Maddox to do it in 1993.  That really is something.

Anyway, while browsing, I found this article about Kenny. In the 10 years he’s been in the playoffs, he’s never won it all. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/oh-my-god-he-killed-kenny/  <— This article highlights it. But here’s the scary highlights.

1995 Indians: Only team to lose a World Series clincher on a one-hitter.
1996 Indians: Lost two games in the ALDS with leads in the eighth and ninth innings.
1997 Braves: Lost to wild-card Marlins in six NLCS games, including the
Eric Gregg game, in which Livan Hernandez capitalized on the umpire’s
huge strike zone.
1998 Indians: Blew a 2-1 ALCS lead, losing three straight to the Yankees.
1999 Indians: Blew a 2-0 ALDS lead, losing three straight to Boston.
2001 Indians: Blew a 2-1 ALDS lead to Seattle, losing two straight.
2002 Giants: Blew a 3-2 World Series lead to Anaheim, including a 5-0 lead in the seventh inning of Game 6, losing two straight.
2003 Cubs: Blew a 3-1 NLCS lead to Florida, including a 3-0 lead in the
eighth inning of the infamous Game 6 Bartman Game, losing three
straight.
2004 Yankees: Blew a 3-0 ALCS lead to Boston, the first team in history
to lose four straight games needing only one win to advance.
2006 Dodgers: Swept by Mets in NLDS.

I’m hoping this doesn’t continue into our post season… Hope the curse is finally up, Kenny.

And the Tribe has done it. They are the AL CENTRAL CHAMPIONS! Way to go Tribe. This is their first trip to the post season since 2001. They’ve won 7 out 13 Central division titles since MLB switched its playoff format to include a divisional series in 1994… well, the first year was 1995 due to the strike of ’94. That’s unheard of in a small market town such as Cleveland. It’s expected with the Yankees, but any other team, though, its unheard of to make the playoffs this often. With clubs constantly rebuilding, the Tribe has rebuilt quick. Ever since Bartolo Colon was dealt in 2002, the Tribe has been rebuilding. When the Tribe came within one win of the playoffs in 2005, it was felt as though the Tribe might finally be done rebuilding. But with the disaster of 2006, there was sorrow in the air. But now, the Tribe enters the post season with a legitimate chance of winning it all. With a pitching staff which is nearly unstoppable, the Tribe has a key component of winning in post season baseball that they never had in the 90’s. They have the staff which can shut down any team.

Speaking of a pitching staff, how about Jake Westbrook today. He had a career high, 9 strikeouts in 7 innings of work. He pitched the game of his life and rose to occasion of taking the division title. With his work today, I’d like to see him as the third man in the post-season rotation. After Byrd’s disaster yesterday, I’d feel more comfortable with Westbrook starting a game 3. Way to go Jake. He’s finally getting his stuff back at a time we really need him to be the Westbrook we know and love.

And Grady finally stepped it up today. He went 4-4, with 3 singles, a triple and an intentional walk. If he keeps it up, he’ll be a key for a Tribe run. I mentioned before he needs to get out of his slump, and with today, and his HR last night, I think he’s finally coming out of his slump at the right time.

And the Indians finally won a decisive victory without the long ball today. They had 10 hits and delivered in clutch situations decisively. And if they keep it up hitting like this, they are going to be a huge threat. Period. On that point, 1-9, everyone in the lineup is hot. You can’t pitch around anyone in this lineup, because they can all hurt you.

Go Tribe!! We need to keep it up now in order to get the best record in the AL. Being able to have CC and Carmona pitch 4 out of 5 games in the divisional series will again be devastating to any opponent. October baseball is finally back in Cleveland. Go Tribe!!!!!!!!