Last night the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tugers to clinch the American League Central Division and a spot in the playoffs. Russell went to the game up in Comerica Field in Detroit and snapped these pictures after the last Tiger was retired and the Tribe’s celebration began.
We’ll have to see how the Indians fare in the playoffs — their most reliable starter, Corey Kluber, left last night’s game with an injury, making him the third key starter to fall prey to jury in recent weeks — but for now we can enjoy a win by a team that has been fun to watch. The team’s success is attributable to young players who have really blossomed, vets who have come in and played well, good team chemistry, fine starting pitching, and a bullpen that just keeps putting zeros on the scoreboard. Behind it all is manager Terry Francona, who has done a masterful job.
Go Tribe! Bring on the playoffs!
We know what happens when Sports Illustrated picks you. To be blunt, and somewhat vulgar, it means you’re irretrievably cursed and you’re going to suck. And that has exactly what has happened with the Tribe this year. They’ve blown chunks, and in particular they’ve been humiliated and beaten like a rug by their big purported rival the Detroit Tigers. Some rivalry! The Tigers beat the snot out of the Indians, and the Indians go home with covered with shame and embarrassment. Hell, the Indians have even been thumped by the Chicago White Sox. What could be more embarrassing than that?
Unfortunately, this year the Tigers have beaten the snot out of the Tribe. They’ve won 9 of 12, and in many of those games the outcome wasn’t close.
The Tribe played well at the beginning of the year, then hit the skids big time. They lost a bunch of games and plummeted in the standings, and I thought the season was probably over. But somehow, some way, they pulled it together and scraped out some stunning, last-minute wins. Today Justin Masterson pitched a beautiful game, shutting out the White Sox 4-0. With the win the Indians completed a four-game sweep of the Sox, in Chicago, and 
The expectations were low for the Tribe this year, and the season is still young, but this team seems to be a lot better than anticipated. Amazingly, right now the Tribe is one of the best slugging teams in the majors. Their starting pitching and bullpen have been solid, and they have some guys who know how to play in the field, too. They just swept a four-game series with Oakland, and they’ve got an interesting collection of players — as well as an experienced manager, Terry Francona, who appears to be touching all the right buttons so far.
The Tribe started the season like a house on fire. At one point early in the year, if I recall correctly, they were 15 games over .500 and well ahead in their division. Since then, however, injuries have hit the team hard, and the Tribe has struggled mightily. They now sit one game below .500, looking up as Detroit has clinched its playoff berth.
Anderson managed The Big Red Machine during its glory days in the 1970s, and he was fabulously successful. The team won four pennants and back-to-back World Series crowns in 1975 and 1976. During those years the Reds had one of the greatest lineups in baseball history, and Anderson handled them — well, like a well-oiled machine. Although the Reds had incredibly talented players like Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Tony Perez, the team seemed free of the personality conflicts and antics that characterized other talented teams of the era, like the Yankees and the Oakland Athletics. I think Sparky Anderson had a lot to do with that. Anderson then left the Reds and went on to manage the Detroit Tigers, whom he led to another World Series title in 1984.
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