Indians hurdling all obstacles en route to a spot in the Fall Classic

The Indians smashed through every obstacle they encountered since the season began on a frigid April day in Cleveland, and because they did, because this team has rowed the boat in unison from the first day of spring training, they are on their way to the World Series for the first time since 1997.

They wanted to get off to a better start — check. They were 7-14 in April in 2015. They were 10-11 in April this season.

They wanted to play better at home — check. They were 53-28 at home in 2016 after going 3941 at home a year ago. They are 4-0 at Progressive Field in the playoffs.

They wanted more production from the players they added — check. Mike Napoli with his 101 RBI, Rajai Davis with his 43 stolen bases, Andrew Miller with his wicked slider out of the bullpen and Coco Crisp with his leadership added late in the season all helped push the Indians to the postseason.

This is fourth time the Indians have been to the World Series since winning it in 1948. They were swept by the New York Giants in 1954, lost to Atlanta in six games in 1995, and lost in seven to the Florida Marlins in 1997.

The Indians always seem to find a way when those outside the clubhouse think they can’t. It is no wonder rookie pitcher Ryan Merritt

was nearly flawless pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings on Oct. 19 when the Indians clinched the ALCS by beating the Blue Jays, 3-0, in Game 5. He pitched only 11 innings and had only one start in the majors beforehand. He pitched as though he was too naïve to be nervous.

What other team could lose two starting pitchers — three if you want to include Trevor Bauer — and be one of three teams still alive in the 2016 playoffs? Doubters thought the Indians were cooked when injuries ended the season early for Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, but those people weren’t paying close attention.

The Blue Jays hammered 221 home runs in the regular season and eight more in a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers. But they hit against the Indians pitchers as though they were holding

dry strands spaghetti at the plate. The Indians’ four victories were by scores of 2-0, 2-1, 4-2 and 3-0.

Merritt was not part of the ALDS roster. He was added for the ALCS and catcher Chris Gimenez was removed. Merritt wasn’t projected to start when the series began, but Bauer’s untimely accident with a drone forced manager Terry Francona to alter his plans.

Snuffing out Toronto in Game 5 was critical. The Indians would have still led, 3-2, had the series returned to Progressive Field on Oct. 21. But the Tribe did not want to give that momentum to the Blue Jays.

The Indians have won seven of eight in the postseason and still haven’t had one of those games when they burned out the scoreboard lights with their hitting. It was the same in Game 5. But the Indians, once again, had

enough offense to win.

Francisco Lindor — a mere tyke at 3 years old the last time the Indians were in the World Series — scored in the top of the first when Napoli doubled to the wall. The stingy scorekeeper did not give Napoli an RBI because Toronto outfielder Ezequiel Carrera bobbled the ball, but no matter; the Tribe had a 1-0 lead before Merritt threw his first pitch.

To beat the Blue Jays four times with 11 total runs is a testimony to the make-shift rotation and the outstanding bullpen.

Now the Tribe can sit back and watch. The Indians will be underdogs no matter who they face from the National League — just one more obstacle to overcome.