Ohio.com - Hafner delivers victory

Although a win is a win -- and it is nice to still see these guys finiding ways to win games like they did in the beginning of the season up until just before the All-Star break -- but these fundamental mistakes can NOT be made. Just because we're 7 up doesn't mean we can afford them. We MUST WIN every game -- or damn well most of them. Magic number is 18, I believe.

Decent outing for Laffey. I'd rather have him out there than Lee.

Tribe brass have made pretty good calls concerning which players to call up from the minors. With the exception of Nixon, they have pulled players who have not delivered as advertzd. This is the key to their success.

Mark Twain: When I was 18, I knew my father was a complete ass. When I turned 21 I was amazed at how much the old man had learned in 3 years.
Tribe fan: When the Indians were struggling, I knew Wedge was an idiot. When they were 7 games up...

The headling should read "Hafner saves Blakes butt". Casey made a Little League mistake, and you can't make those in the playoffs. Casey Blake is a real ballplayer though & I hope the whole team learns from it. Anyway, the magic appears to be there with the Kittens falling fast.
Great comeback. Go Tribe!

I went to bed last night, Tribe down 5-3, thinking, hey, at least Detriot lost. What a pleasant surprise to find out the Tribe wins in 11. I let the opportunity to watch October baseball in Cleveland slip by me in the 90's but not this year. Repeat after me everyone: THIS YEAR IS NEXT YEAR! Go Tribe!.

It was great to see Travis put the team on his back and deliver like much of last season. He crushed both of those dingers! Goo Fausto let's give you the win you deserve against the guy who was near perfect against us last week.

Borowski is now #5 on the the Indians' All-Time list for saves in a season, with 40. How the Hell does he do it??? See you in October...

First comment out of the box is a complaint. Unreal.

This team has showed over and over again that they don't quit, and that is to be admired. Dare we say they are starting a slight peak heading into October? 90 wins and the division crown is well within reach.

GREAT win last night! This team is really starting to build some confidence, and that is carrying over from series to series. They've won 10 of their last 11, and going for a sweep against the Twins. Gotta win this game today by giving Fausto some support, and then try to win another series against a tough LA team. GO TRIBE!

Travis Hafner was the MVP of last night's game, without a doubt. But, without Adrubal Cabrera's two-out double in the ninth, he might never have come to bat. Cabrera has been absolutely amazing, in my opinion. He fields his position like Robbie Alomar and hits too. He has really been the critical addition to the lineup that has injected both efficiency and energy. It's difficult to understand how the Mariners could have given him up so easily, but I'm very happy that they did.

DawginCbus wrote:

First comment out of the box is a complaint. Unreal.
This team has showed over and over again that they don't quit, and that is to be admired. Dare we say they are starting a slight peak heading into October? 90 wins and the division crown is well within reach.

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Perhaps you should learn how to read. It was NOT a complaint. I have stated on here many times that I am loving the games they are playing. I was also critical of them in their slump after the All-Star break. I have been supporting this team all season long, although I was very close to throwing in the towel on them after the All-Star break.

The facts are they MUST win close to every damn game and can NOT afford to be making basic fundamental mistakes. That's hardly a complaint.

I'm addicted to the Tribe! I was at the game they were down 5-0 in the 8th with CWS. They won 8-5. I never throw in the towel with the Tribe! So glad Travis is hot again!

Twins' telecasters Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven pointed out last night that Rafael Betancourt's slow pace will undoubtedly be challenged by post-season opponents. Their production crew put a timer up on the screen last night, and it was absolutely clear that he was in violation of the rules about pitching pace. I don't want to see this become a problem for the Indians but, unless Betancourt makes some adjustments, it will almost certainly happen.

I can smell it in the air. Hafner's gonna go on one of those tears where he carries the team on his back. This team is getting hot at just the right time. What team is going to want to see Sabathia and Carmona the first two games, and then a Westbrook or Byrd the third game. That's the key. Pitching wins championships!!

ps Go Browns....pleeeeeeease beat those friggin steelers

Tribe Fan wrote:

<quoted text>\
Perhaps you should learn how to read. It was NOT a complaint. I have stated on here many times that I am loving the games they are playing. I was also critical of them in their slump after the All-Star break. I have been supporting this team all season long, although I was very close to throwing in the towel on them after the All-Star break.
The facts are they MUST win close to every damn game and can NOT afford to be making basic fundamental mistakes. That's hardly a complaint.

Whatever. The article clearly states that if they split their remaining games, Detroit would have to go 19-5 and with the way they are pitching it won't happen. Over 162 games, there will be mistakes. Blake has more than held his own defensively at third, and everyone knows he has his limits. You WERE the first post, and started "Although a win is a win..." That is so Cleveland of you.

If Yankees get wildcard, then a good chance Indians and Redsox will meet in the first round. I will be cheering the tribe on at Fenway if that is the case. Tribe is peaking at the right time. All those great pitching performances that were wasted the first month after all-star break are a thing of the past.

Wedge has actually made some very good decisions this last month like moving Blake out of the 2-spot in the order, actually playing small ball a little bit (there has been more sacrifice bunts in the last 3 weeks, then in all the previous games this season), sitting Barfield and playing Cabrera (next years SS), and finally letting Frankie G get most of the starts and sitting Nixon down except for a rare start here and there.

Go tribe, please end Cleveland's 43 year old championship drought (Browns '64)!

Three huge wins this week going into Anaheim. Wow. I try to be a realist when it comes to sports and not let myself get swept away, but after last night's game, it's hard not to dream. I think I'm finally ready to believe this team's going to make the playoffs. What's more, they're going to make some noise once they get there.

Uh, Nixon has been yanked. He's only playing once a week.