Love Hurts
You have to start with the Indians today, because really, with the Browns not playing and the political world not particularly interesting at the moment, there is nothing else.
A week ago, after the Indians gave away a game to Kansas City, I got that sinking feeling. Somehow I doubt I was the only one.
Few wrote about it; I even tried to put a positive spin on it on Monday. But the truth is that deep down, we had to know the Indians were in trouble.
Eric Wedge preached "one through nine" all year long. The funny thing is that the Indians were a one through nine team. When they succeeded, the whole team (save Casey Blake and Aaron Boone) played well.
When they failed, they failed together. Cleveland hit .116 on the homestand (going into the final game) with runners in scoring position.
Sunday was a textbook example of a pressing team. Grady Sizemore gets on base to start the first, and Coco Crisp, the team's best bunter, hacks at a few pitches and pops up. The inning eventually fizzles.
The Indians did nothing well offensively on the homestand. Personally, I take little solace in Wedge's use of the terms "good swings." Ted Cox had a good swing, according to Ted Williams. He also was a 4-A player.
To an extent, I understand Wedge's desire to stick with the guys that got him to 93 wins. In some ways, it paid off. Blake, death with runners in scoring position, drove in two runs Saturday, and Aaron Boone found his swing.
Sadly, no one else did.
But the Indians lost six of seven and I was hoping Eric would shake things up. Instead, it was the same pressing team that came out. The White Sox, with very little to play for, nonetheless dominated the Indians.
The Indians scored five runs in the final three games. The team lost six of the final seven games by one run.
It was a sad way to end a baseball season.
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So, where do the Indians go from here?
A few thoughts for each player:
1B: Ben Broussard- Let's just say he'd not be my first choice to be the starter next year.
2B: Ronnie Belliard- Certainly pressed in the last week. No matter. Needs to be back.
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Back for another great season. Hopefully his defense improves, because a move to third is at least two years away.
3B: Aaron Boone: Will be back and should be very solid next season, particularly if he doesn't play basketball this winter.
C: Victor Martinez: The MVP. Still, the Indians might want to get a better backup for him.
RF: Casey Blake: If he returns as a starter, it will cause me to question the Indians front office. The sad part about Blake's solid final series is that it might fool the Indians into thinking he's worth keeping.
CF: Grady Sizemore: Possible MVP next season.
LF: Coco Crisp: Best year this year, possible trade bait in the offseason because of the outfielders at AAA. Then again, Crisp shouldn't ever be traded. Forget it.
DH: Travis Hafner: If he could only play first, he'd be an MVP. Like Belliard, a rough final week doesn't obscure his greatness.

SP: Kevin Millwood: Will have a great season in 2006 ... for the Yankees.
SP: CC Sabathia: Pitched like an ace for the final month. Hopefully he avoids past vices and comes back in form.
SP: Jake Westbrook: Not a great season, but an effective one. Same in 2006.
SP: Cliff Lee: Unrattled in the final week. The best is yet to come
SP: Scott Elarton: Solid, although last two starts were sub-par. May not return.
RP: Bob Wickman: My prediction is that Bob has pitched his last Indians game.
RP: Bobby Howry: Return odds also not great.
RP : Fernando Cabrera: Probably a setup man next year.
RP: Arthur Rhodes; Hopefully back.
RP: Scott Sauerbeck: same.