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Your 2019 Cleveland Indians

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Nats magic number down to 4 games. It looks like we will avoid Strasburg in the final series and Scherzer is slated for Game 162. Unless the Nats absolutely choke in their upcoming 5 game series vs. Philly, I would think they should have a Wild Card spot secured by next Sunday, meaning we'd avoid Scherzer
 
The great thing about this team is different guys have really stepped up at different times to really help carry the team. Things were pretty ugly right after Jose went down, but Mercado, Puig, and Perez have been fantastic so far in September in picking up the slack.
 
I've always found it to be a lame argument to say that a team is "lacking energy" or "playing without passion" just because they're losing, or not playing as well as you want them to.

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I'm hoping 96 wins gets us in, because I don't think it's realistic to ask for more than 4-2 on this finishing road trip.
I'm hopeful that the Yankees give a shit about getting the top seed in the A.L. They're only a half game back of Houston right now. Would be very nice if they could take both games against the Rays.
 
Jram expected back Tuesday

Edit: just saw it was previously posted. I don't know about total record, but we need to sweep Chicago.
 
I'm hoping 96 wins gets us in, because I don't think it's realistic to ask for more than 4-2 on this finishing road trip.

The 1999 Reds went 96-67 (.589) and didn't reach the playoffs. Going 4-2 and missing the playoffs with no play-in game at 96-66 (.593) will be the best winning percentage to miss the playoffs since the beginning of the single wild card era.
 
They should sweep Chicago. Our 3 strongest pitchers and we don't see Giolito (DL), Reynaldo Lopez, or Ivan Nova

But it's baseball and we have struggled with Chicago this year so
It's also on the road. I'll never put the expectations of a sweep on a road series.
 
You're right that posting on a message board is not the same as saying something to a player's face, but then again, he never said it was. Ultimately I'm still with @The Human Q-Tip's main point that it's silly to say the team was on cruise control last year.

I've always found it to be a lame argument to say that a team is "lacking energy" or "playing without passion" just because they're losing, or not playing as well as you want them to.

This team never plays without passion or energy, but they went 14-14 last September with 91 wins to win the central. Right now they are 13-7 this September with 92 wins and likely will have to come close to winning out to get into the wild card spot. The team is different and the scenarios are way different. To me personally it felt like going into the playoffs it was more of the we got this and they let their guard down while this season they have been fighting all of September and mentally they are ready for the playoffs because of it. Not a knock on the players but they just didn't have that same attitude in my mind at the end of the season as they do now.

I also feel the young guys we have like Plesac have also helped with their attitudes keep this team together. They had to go through so much and I think that has made this unit stronger plus when you have rookies like Plesac who aren't afraid to go after anyone then guys added like Reyes (who from what I can has a big smile and likes to keep things fun) and Puig, who has a ton of passion and attitude as well. This team I feel even with the injuries may be more dangerous than the better rosters we have in 17 and 18 just because of the way the clubhouse is in my mind.
 
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This team never plays without passion or energy, but they went 14-14 last September with 91 wins to win the central. Right now they are 13-7 this September with 92 wins and likely will have to come close to winning out to get into the wild card spot. The team is different and the scenarios are way different. To me personally it felt like going into the playoffs it was more of the we got this and they let their guard down while this season they have been fighting all of September and mentally they are ready for the playoffs because of it. Not a knock on the players but they just didn't have that same attitude in my mind at the end of the season as they do now.

The flip side is that's inherently speculative. We can all have our own beliefs/opinions about how the players felt and acted, but it's really impossible for us to actually know unless a player, coach, or manager comes out and says it. And on the flip side....

In 2013, we had to scratch and claw to make the playoffs, and ended up winning our last 10 games to sneak in as a wild card. That's basically the same scenario you're describing here, and that would be a great indicator that the players were more focused, and less likely to let their guard down.

Instead, we got skunked 4-0 in the wild card game, and knocked out of the playoffs.
 
The flip side is that's inherently speculative. We can all have our own beliefs/opinions about how the players felt and acted, but it's really impossible for us to actually know unless a player, coach, or manager comes out and says it. And on the flip side....

In 2013, we had to scratch and claw to make the playoffs, and ended up winning our last 10 games to sneak in as a wild card. That's basically the same scenario you're describing here, and that would be a great indicator that the players were more focused, and less likely to let their guard down.

Instead, we got skunked 4-0 in the wild card game, and knocked out of the playoffs.

Salazar was the pitcher that game and I am hoping we get Clev as the wild card starter, but we will see.

I don't disagree with you at all, i am not speaking from the clubhouse, I am just speaking from how I felt about the team. This is apart of talking on a forum is speaking ones opinion about the team.

Onto other topics, We have today off then we are supposed to activate JRam on Tuesday so that should be another added boost to the roster!

Also random side note: Cinnamon toast crunch is an amazing cereal, prove me wrong! lol @The Oi
 

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