October is for Baseball

Wow! Playoff baseball!

I've been a baseball fan since before I can remember, played it my entire life and followed the major leagues as closely as possible. I've been to a ton of games, but until Tuesday, I had never experienced baseball in October.

My friend Eric is a transplanted New Englander, now living close to Cleveland. He got a pair of tickets to game 4 of the Sox/Indians series and I wasn't about to turn that opportunity down. I did, however, feel a tad bit guilty being there. I know a lot of Tribe fans that would have loved to have been there. Like I said before, I cheer for the Indians, but they will always be No. 2 in my heart behind the Reds. I take a great deal of pride in all of Ohio's sporting teams...except the Browns. The Browns aren't really the Browns so they don't count. Whether it's the Bengals, Cavs, Blue Jackets, the Columbus Clippers or the Youngstown Penguins, I always root for Ohio teams. And on Tuesday, I was elated to be a part of the Jacob's Field atmosphere.

Since the building opened in 1994, the Indians are 22-11 at home in the postseason! That's an incredible number and I can see why. What a scene it was to see all the towels waving and people standing. Of course, I cheered for the Indians, but with my good friend suffering through the seven-run fifth inning, I toned it down as to not make him feel bad. I know what its like to be watching your team get embarrassed in living color and I wouldn't want to him to experience it either.

But this Indians team is quite special and if they can finish off the Red Sox, I'd say they have everything in place for a World Series championship. A great combo of young, talented starters and wily veteran starters...a lock-down bullpen...and an incredibly balanced offense. Nine players have at least one homer and three RBIs so far this postseason. That's insanely balanced! The team hits at an unbelievable clip with two outs and runners on and seem to capitalize on every miscue the other team makes. Plus, Kenny Lofton is back and nothing would seem more fitting than him ending his career with an Indians world championship.

I know this isn't much like my other posts, but I was so wired from being part of the "10th Man" tonight, I just had to let it out! Here's hoping that my Reds will be able to experience the same thing next year from Great American Ballpark...but I'm not holding my breath.