Bragging rights were on the line in the state of Ohio this weekend as the Reds and Indians squared off in the first three games of the 2011 Ohio Cup at Progressive Field in Cleveland. For once, that actually meant something this year. You see, the Reds-Indians “rivalry” is traditionally a pleasant novelty rather than an intense and heated battle. I live smack dab in the middle of this Battle of I-71 in Columbus and can tell you that the “rivalry” is nothing compared to anything related to Ohio State football or even Browns/Bengals and is little more than an attractive sideshow during the regular season for state bragging rights. It’s a nice caveat to Interleague play, but not dates that are circled on calendars when the MLB schedule comes out like in New York or Chicago. I’ll guarantee you that more people probably know the Illibuck Trophy over the Ohio Cup.
Part of the reason is the lack of success of the two teams in recent years. Not since 2000 have the Reds and Indians had a winning record in the same season. Also, the clubs’ only real history has been in Interleague play. In fact, only once have the two Buckeye ballclubs made the postseason in the same year – 1995. However, this year with the Reds contending in the NL Central once again and the Indians still holding onto the best record in baseball, the Ohio Cup took on some added meaning… which is to say, any meaning at all.
With that added interest and intrigue, it was the home team that swept the Reds out of Cleveland from the lake to the riverfront. It was just another impressive statement for an Indians team that continues to prove the doubters and the skeptics wrong. Consider that when we first examined the Indians a month ago, they had the best record in the bigs and were also leading MLB in run differential. Precisely 32 days later… the Indians still have the best record in the bigs and are also leading MLB in run differential. Going inside their sweep of the Reds, we can clearly see the tools that have carried Cleveland this far, and may see them continue their miraculous season…
Friday – Cleveland 5 Cincinnati 4
-Consider that the two Indians “superstars” – Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore (I use the term superstar loosely here, but those are at least two names that other MLB fans would be aware of outside Lake Erie) had both gone on the DL. Perhaps not a surprise seeing as how they’ve spent more time on the DL in the last few seasons than a Dusty Baker pitching staff. So what does Cleveland do? The same thing they’ve done all season long – the next guy in the batters box simply produces. The series opener was tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th inning. In stepped impressive 23 year old outfield prospect Ezequiel Cabrera, just called up from AAA Columbus. He merely drove in the winning run on a drag bunt in his first major league at bat. Just another day at the office for the 2011 Indians…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2jHjyyAGxl4
Saturday – Cleveland 2 Cincinnati 1
-Reds pitcher Homer Bailey was impressively shutting out the Indians with a 1-0 lead into the 7th inning. Then Travis Buck, ironically enough replacing Hafner at DH, hit his first home run of the season to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead and ultimately a 2-1 win. Buck was only recalled from Columbus on May 16 when Sizemore went to the disabled list. Pitcher Josh Tomlin was the other star of the night. He pitched seven strong to move his record to 6-1 on the season, doubling his career win total. Tomlin is just one of the breakout stars on a Cleveland pitching staff that is Top 5 in MLB in ERA, WHIP, and BAA. Oh, there was one more star of the night – the Cleveland crowd that sold out a non-Opening Day game at Progressive Field for the first time since May 24, 2008.
Sunday – Cleveland 12 Cincinnati 4
-Cleveland’s offense had to take center stage today to complete the sweep. Asdrubal Cabrera went 5-5 with 5 RBIs and hit 2 home runs to pound the Reds into submission. Let me say that again. Asdrubal Cabrera hit 2 home runs. He leads the Indians in nearly every offensive category. Heck, Willie “Mays” Hayes had better odds of doing that before the season (yes, I’m contractually obligated to make one Major League reference in every Indians post). This is the same Asdrubal Cabrera that has had home run totals the previous four seasons of 3, 6, 6, and 3. He now has 9 through 43 games. Coming into this season, his HR per at-bat ratio was 1 in 78.6 ABs. This season it is 1 in 20.2 ABs – Cabrera has almost quadrupled his home run rate. Who does he think he is, Jose Bautista? The fascinating part is that Cabrera’s SLG% (.475) hasn’t had a meteoric rise, he’s only about 40 points above his career high in 2009. However, he’s turning what were doubles and triples into homers. In his career, Cabrera hit 5 doubles and triples for 1 home run. This year, he’s hit 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 9 home runs. Two months of these kind of power numbers begin the transition from fluky small sample size to All-Star shortstop.
So there you have it. Is there an explanation for Josh Tomlin, Ezequiel Cabrera, and Asdrubal Cabrera leading a sweep of the defending NL Central champs? Of course not. Then again, the Indians have defied explanation all season long. Indians fans should certainly enjoy the ride while it lasts, but it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
