For the Cleveland Indians, it was clear from very early on this Major League Baseball season that the best thing they did was to sign Terry Francona as their manager. The mix of personalities and superstars was completely rendered null and void thanks to the mastery of Francona’s simple managing style. That showed more down the stretch run than it did all season long as he continues to find ways to pull the most effort out of every single player on his roster.
They now find themselves waiting on their opponent in the wildcard playoff game on Monday night. That also means that they might have only one game in this 2013 postseason but I seriously doubt even losing that wildcard playoff game would make this seem like a failure of a season. These guys lost over 90 games last season and have won over 90 this season and nearly won the American League Central in the process.
In case you last checked the A.L. Central weeks ago because you were focused on the wildcard race, the Indians finished exactly one game behind the Detroit Tigers for their division. You don’t think this team is on fire right now? Their fire doesn’t look like some other teams because nothing seems to come easily to them.
Still good things are coming to them no matter how they get there. Wherever these guys exit the postseason this year, if they do at all, it is already an overwhelming success of a year. I would be shocked to my core if they didn’t play even better next year.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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