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CLEVELAND, Ohio – I'm writing this as the tribe opens a series of weekends with the Minnesota Twins.
As Saturday approached, the tribe had a record 86-61 …
Let's stop there …
The Indians, who have been without starters Corey Kluber (fractured arm, lat wound), and Carlos Carrasco (leukemia) for most of the year …
They are now without José Ramirez (hand broken) while closer Brad Hand (arm tired) is resting for the weekend …
There were several other injuries among key players, and it was a team that was 29-30 on June 3rd, pushing them 11 1/2 games behind the Twins in the Central Division …
At this point, I thought the season was over in terms of the playoffs.
But we are in mid-September with Aaron Civale taking the mound for the tribe in this huge series.
Think about it … Aaron Civale.
Think about how Zach Plesac launched a shutout Tuesday night.
Imagine that Shane Bieber is the most valuable player in the all-star game and becomes one of the top players in the big league debut in his first full-league season.
Before the game, I interviewed Rocco Baldelli, the Minnesota coach, about the Indians who remained alongside his team.
"They have a good pitch," so he began his analysis.
The Indians started the season with a rotation of Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, Kluber, Carrasco and Bieber.
On paper, it's great.
But the wounds destroyed those plans. Let's not forget that Clevinger injured his back on his second start of the season and missed two months.
Bauer was 9-8 with a 3.9 E tie when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds at the end of May. He has struggled since and rarely displays his All-Star 2018 form.
HERE ARE CHILDREN
Still, Indians still have excellent pitchers.
Only entrants now include Civale, Plesac and Adam Plutko.
Bieber and the Indians have a combined record of 31-20 with a 3.43 ERA of these four guys … none of them has two full years of experience in the major leagues.
Excellent pitching?
You'd better believe it, and it's scouting, selecting and developing minor leagues that gave the four young players who saved the season.
What do you say about that? Civale and Plesac opened the season to AA Akron class. Has anyone thought to be in the Cleveland rotation before the break of the stars?
HOW YOU FINISH
"You knew that they (the Indians) would not go away," Baldelli said. "They would not stop playing hard."
Since Terry Francona became the manager of the tribe in 2013, the Indians keep the best for last. He has a .601 winning percentage after the star break in the last seven years.
They are 36-23 after the break of the stars this season.
"We tend to start slowly," said Francona. "I would like to have a better answer (why). This year we had injuries and a lack of performance. But once we went there, we were able to escape. "
And continue chasing the Twins in the Central with Tampa Bay and Oakland for two playoff spots.
Part of the reason why Indians tend to end in strength is the hospitality desk and the agricultural department provide help in terms of trades and promotions during the season.
Francona and her team of coaches have created an environment allowing young players to adapt to big leagues.
"If I had to choose (between starting fast or slow), I would be fine at the end," said Francona.
THERE IS MORE
The teams talk about the word "culture" and often it does not seem to mean anything.
But the Indians, with their stable property, their front office and their training staff, tend to be an area free of tragedies. Francona talks about being able to work in a situation of "pure baseball".
Remember when Yasiel Puig hit the ball towards the pitcher, then turned straight to the dugout – you did not bother to run to the first goal?
Before Francona can speak to Puig, Carlos Santana is presented in front of the veteran player. Santana wrapped her arm around Puig and guided the newcomer to the bench.
Francona came and spoke briefly to Puig, but he left quickly, leaving Santana to explain the facts of life with the tribe.
Santana, who has had a career season, has gone from an introvert to Francona's arrival to a discreet but powerful team leader.
It's the culture of a mid-market team that begins its seventh consecutive season of wins – and the fourth in a row – of at least 90 wins.
Meanwhile, the Twins have a season for the ages, setting a Major League record for the circuits of a team.
Before the match, Baldelli had correctly explained how his team "won our place to play significant games in September … we are exactly where we want to be."
And the Indians too, making the last weeks of the season so much fun.
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