The more I see out of the Indians the more I see in terms of what this team could be next season and beyond. And the more I watch the team play the clearer it becomes that the Ubaldo Jimenez trade was not made for this season, though the Tribe may benefit from it through the end of the year if they get lucky and/or they get hot.
I know the Tribe lost a few heartbreakers on this trip through Boston and Texas but this trip actually improved my outlook on the Indians’ future. They played the upper class of baseball dead even and probably could have/should have come back home with five wins in the bag. But young teams lose games like the Indians lost them in Boston and Texas. Those victories go to the teams with experience who know how to win them and don’ just hope they can win them.
And the way you figure that out and become that team that ultimately wins close games (especially on the road) is to play in them, lose many of them and learn from them.
They micro waved them.
With opening night still more than two weeks away, it is definitely the dog days of summer around the NHL. Most teams have finished up their prospect camps and now are just counting down the days for training camp to begin. Players are working hard on their offseason workout regimens and the last of the free agents are finding homes.
I know it’s been a long time since the Indians were in position to win a division. I also know it’s been a long time since the Indians were able to pluck some premium players out of their minor league system that actually excited Indians fans.