Baseball season is so long that it’s difficult to make long-term predictions. At the same, significant and unpredicted developments can’t be disregarded. If you asked most experts who would have baseball’s top record roughly 45 games into the 2011 season, I bet few would have answered the Cleveland Indians. After winning just 69 games last year, that answer seems completely justified.
Think back to October of 2007. The Indians were one of the best teams during that regular season and finished tied with the Boston Red Sox atop the MLB with 96 wins. So it was only fitting that they met in the ALCS. With a 3-1 lead in the series, the Tribe was under control and it appeared the makings of a potential dynasty were in place. People forget that Cliff Lee SAT during that series. Yes, the most coveted pitcher in the last two years – the pitcher who’s (prematurely) being talked about as the greatest postseason hurler of all-time – was passed up in favor of Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd.
No, I did not make a typo. That seriously happened. Josh Beckett dominated Game 1 and the Sox scored 8 runs off of C.C. Sabathia. Then the Indians handily won the next three games, and to Westbrook’s and Byrd’s credit, they actually pitched very well. The Indians held the Sox to just 5 runs combined in Game’s 3 and 4. But the series turned around in Game 5 when Beckett outdueled Sabathia again. Boston would not lose another game that year.
As amazing (and nail-biting) as that series was for a Red Sox fan, as a baseball fan I’m constantly reminded of how good that Indians team was. GMs from all over the league were vying for the players they let go from that team. It’s too bad. Cleveland is a hard luck town. They watched one great squad get dismantled in the 90s. Mark Shapiro came in, made some important trades and draft picks, which led to another great team in 2007. Yet Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia, Victor Martinez are among some of the names of players no longer with the Tribe. Oh yeah, and there was that whole LeBron James “taking my talents to South Beach” thing. Different sport, but damn.
One could easily argue those three guys were destined to play in other parks. But they were all let go in trades, so it would stand to reason the Cleveland brass never thought they could contend with wealthier teams in the free agent market. And in 2007, Fausto Carmona appeared to be the next great dominant pitcher. On top of that, they were able to keep All-Stars Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner, even though both have had subsequent injury problems.
But somehow, people like Mark Shapiro have creative ways – mainly an eye for talent – that keep teams afloat. So it probably seemed insignificant when the Tribe picked up Orlando Cabrera this past offseason, but it appears to be the best move they could have made. This year’s Indians not only have the MLB’s best record, they’ve won a bunch of close games already. But more importantly, they’re winning as a team.
Asdrubal Cabrera leads the team with 34 RBI, but he is one of seven regular players that has 20+ RBI already, including Orlando. Carmona is starting to shape up, but its been Josh Tomlin and Justin Masterson dominating at the front of the rotation. Masterson was acquired from the Red Sox as part of the Victor Martinez trade. You don’t see catchers like Martinez every day, but Masterson (5-2, 2.50 ERA) appears to be worth it. Tomlin (6-1, 2.41 ERA) has been even more impressive, coming off his 12 start debut in 2010. We’ll see how they fare as the season drags on and Tomlin specifically is asked to throw way more innings than he ever has. But for now, losing Sabathia and Lee doesn’t look so bad.
Something tells me that Orlando Cabrera’s presence in the clubhouse has been a positive impact on a roster of relatively young players. In terms of baseball experience, his presence should be invaluable. A long time Montreal Expo, Cabrera was traded to Boston at the deadline in 2004. He won a ring then. His teams have been playoff teams ever since, with the sole exception of the 2006 Angels. He helped the 2008 White Sox back to the playoffs, and after playing 101 games with Athletics in 2009, he was traded at the deadline again to the Minnesota Twins. Yep, they made the playoffs. And last year guess who played shortstop for the breakout Cincinnati Reds?
Some athletes just know how to win, but more importantly, they know how to act like winners, to carry one’s self like a winner. Cabrera’s age and wisdom didn’t stop Shin-Soo Choo from getting a DUI, but there seems to be an attitude shift from a team that lost 93 games a year ago. Choo was one of the few positive notes for the Tribe in 2010 and if he can get back to where he was, it will only further help a team that’s been pounding out hits and runs.
Indians manager Manny Acta was the third base coach for the Expos from 2002-2005, so he and Cabrera go back. They seem to be on the same page. There are not too many cases where a Gold Glove shortstop takes a starting position at 2nd base and you don’t hear about it. That must have had an influence as well. Younger guys should take a lesson from Orlando because how many players with a World Series ring and two Gold Gloves have willingly gave up their position in the hopes of making the team better?
The guy just wants to win and have fun. That’s why I’ve loved Orlando Cabrera since his days in Montreal. It makes perfect sense because the Expos were downright terrible in almost all the seasons he played there. Ever since he was traded, he’s had the opportunity to play with more talented teams, and he hasn’t wasted it. The parameters for the MVP awards in baseball are such that a player has to put up big time offensive numbers to be considered. Cabrera probably won’t do that; he’s never been that type of hitter. But he’s always been clutch because he knows how to win. If the Tribe claim a playoff spot this year, he gets my vote.
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