Half way to where for the Indians and Reds?
Time to look at the standings and see if there's any chance at all, right? Every team in Major League Baseball has now hit that magic "halfway point" in the season. I know what you're thinking -- the All-Star game is still two weeks away, isn't that the halfway point? Not anymore, and not that it matters. By the All-Star game, the Reds will have played 96 games, leaving only 66 on the schedule. Essentially the same for the Tribe, and for the Rays if you're a bandwagonner. So now is really the traditional assessment time, in two weeks any of these teams could have hit a major skid, we know they're capable. Cincinnati and Cleveland are basically the same at 38-45 and 37-45, each good for last place in each Central division. Since we mentioned the Rays, they're playing .605 ball at 49-32 and begin an immensely important home series with second place Boston, who is nipping at their heels. They're in great shape and 12 or so games better than both of the Ohio teams. But is a 12 game differential that important when almost 80 still remain? Ah, that's what makes baseball great.
If the Buckeyes were 3-3 halfway through, we'd be leaving the car running in the garage and taking a nap in it. If the Cavaliers hit the mid-point playing .450, they'd be toast. Blue Jackets at 17-23, it's over -- wait, that would be one of their best halfway records. so we'd have to take it. But baseball really is different. I know many Tribe fans are crying in their beers right now over the 2008 campaign, but it could be worse. Look at the Seattle Mariners (.383 and 17 1/2 back with strong teams ahead). Cleveland just needs a winning streak soon and marginal mediocrity from marginally mediocre teams in Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota. There's lots of time left, fans.
The Reds are really worse off than the Indians at mid-season despite the Dispatch reporting this morning that they are squads heading in opposite directions, with Cleveland the one looking south. I'm a Reds fan but I don't buy it. The Tribe will get Victor Martinez and Travis "Pronk" Hafner back after the break, and the runs will become more numerous. The Reds have no chance of catching the Cubs -- they're two games further back and no one is pitching except Edinson Volquez, and even he is starting to come back to earth. Cleveland, though -- I see a second half push. Just pray for Pronk and don't trade C.C. Sabathia. Oh, and maybe capture some of those magic Rays on the next trip to Tampa. Get plenty of sleep in Seattle, boys, you'll need it.
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