End came too soon

What will you remember most about the Indians’ 2017 season — the 22-game winning streak, winning 102 games or the Yankees knocking the Tribe out of the playoffs in the ALDS?

The ending overshadowed everything that went so well before everything went so wrong, in my opinion. Suddenly, Corey Kluber couldn’t get anybody out. The bats of Francisco Lindor (.111 batting average), Jose Ramirez (.100) and Jason Kipnis (.182) went ice cold. They combined for four RBI in 60 at-bats, and Lindor delivered all those on a grand slam with one swing of the bat in Game 2.

Baseball is such a long grind, starting with spring training in mid-February; to end the season the way the Indians did is like slamming on the brakes at 100 MPH.

“Nobody wanted the season to be over,” Indians manager Terry Francona said in his postgame news conference on Oct. 11. “It doesn’t wind down. It comes to a crashing halt. And nobody, myself included, was ready for it to be over.

“We won together and we lost together (in 2017). It was an honor to go through this year with these guys, and there are times it hurt, like tonight. But it’s quite a group, and I feel like a better person for going through the year with these guys.”

Since the season ended, the Indians lost first baseman Carlos Santana (Phillies), relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (Rockies) and relief pitcher Joe Smith (Astros). They signed first baseman Yonder Alonso.

Outfielder Jay Bruce, acquired in a trade with the Mets on Aug. 9, is still a free agent, but the chances of re-signing him are slim; team president Chris Antonetti said Alonso will probably be the Tribe’s only big free agency signing.

On the plus side, center fielder Bradley Zimmer, unavailable for the playoffs because of a broken hand, will be back. The Indians are hopeful Michael Brantley can finally stay healthy. A shoulder injury ruined 2016 and an ankle injury (precipitating the Bruce trade) sabotaged an All-Star season for Brantley in 2017.

The window could close on the Indians after the 2018 season. Relief pitchers Andrew Miller and Zach McAllister, plus closer Cody Allen, will all be free agents next November.

DAVID TURBEN — THE NEWS-HERALD Corey Kluber, shown during Game 5 of the ALDS between the Indians and Yankees, did not look like an ace for the Indians during the playoffs.