New role of chasers keeping Indians hungry

It has been 72 years since Cleveland held a parade to celebrate the Indians winning a World Series.

Would you feel cheated if the Indians beat the Dodgers in seven games to win the World Series for the third time — exactly 100 years since they won their first one — and because of the novel coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine announces, “Sorry, Cleveland. No parade this year.”?

We can have a debate whether playing 60 instead of 162 games makes this season legitimate. The champion should be noted by an asterisk since COVID-19 was the root cause of shortening the season. But that should not diminish what the ultimate champion accomplished because that team still must win three games in the divisional series then four in the league championship series and four more times in the World Series.

Keeping the postseason participants at 10 teams, instead of the convoluted plan of including six additional teams to produce more television revenue, helps keep it legitimate.

The Indians were 3030 after 60 games last season — already 10 games behind Minnesota in the AL Central. They were better than the Twins over the last 102 games — 6339 compared to the Twins’ 61-41.

Critics look at the final standings in 2019 and note Minnesota finished eight games better than the Tribe. The Twins improved a lineup that set a Major League record with 307 home runs by adding slugger Josh Donaldson (34 homers last year with the Braves) in free agency. Donaldson also plays third base better than Miguel Sano, who moved from third to first base this season.

The Indians stayed pretty much stagnant in the offseason, signing second baseman Cesar Hernandez to take over second base from Jason Kipnis (Hernandez had 171 hits in 161 games for the Phillies last year compared to Kipnis’ 112 hits in 121 games) and Domingo Santana to DH and play the outfield. The Indians also

Indians » A look at the 2020 roster traded starting pitcher Corey Kluber for outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. and pitcher Emmanuel Clase, who is suspended for all of 2020 for using PEDs.

The Twins clearly did more than the Indians to improve in 2020. Their payroll jumped roughly $25 million to $123,129,833 compared to the Indians increasing $7 million (based on a 25man roster in 2019 and a 26-man roster in 2020) to $90,833,234.

Still, the fact the Indians were the better team over the final 102 games in 2019 despite losing their last five games means the Tribe should not be dismissed.

The Indians won three straight division titles from 2016-18. They do not have much room for error if they are to finish back on top and return to the playoffs. On the other hand, the Twins are trying to defend a division title. They had less pressure as the underdog last season.

The Indians need several things to go their way to keep pace with the Twins, starting, obviously, with a quicker start than last year, when they stumbled through May 12-17 with starting pitchers Corey Kluber (broken arm) and Mike Clevinger (upper back) missing the entire month with injuries.

The Indians need third baseman Jose Ramirez to play as he did in the second half of the season and they need catcher Roberto Perez to repeat last season when he set personal records with 24 home runs and 63 RBI. They need

Franmil Reyes to deliver the power he has in his bat and to play adequate defensively in left field.

The Indians have the right manager for the short season ahead. Terry Francona has expressed a sense of urgency without smothering his players with pressure.

As for that victory parade — if the Indians do stun the baseball world by winning the World Series and DeWine spoils the party, maybe a parade would be the way to welcome the Indians home from spring training in 2021. We’ve waited 72 years. We can wait another six months.

Reach Schudel at JSchudel@News-Herald. com. On Twitter: @jsproinsider