Raise your hand if you had the Indians winning a share of the AL Wild Card.
Ok, I see some of you predicted it.
Keep your hand up if you thought Chris Perez would be out of the closer's role by the end of the season. Still a few hands left, I see.
For all of those hands still up, how many of you thought Ubaldo Jimenez would be the ace of the pitching staff that you were hoping to somehow 'save' for the potential postseason Wild Card game? None?
Simply put, that's baseball. We often hear the old cliche "baseball is a funny game". On the final day of the regular season, that sentiment has never seemed more true. Especially for the Cleveland Indians.
Ubaldo Jimenez is on fire and has been pitching like the guy the Indians traded for in 2011. He and Scott Kazmir, who was pitching in the Independent league last year, have both made a case for MLB comeback player of the year.
Chris Perez is no longer the Indians closer, not because of his fiery comments (his media boycott still stands), but because he flat-out hasn't performed well.
Vinnie Pestano, the former lights-out set-up man, has faded into obscurity and will most likely be left off the postseason roster in favor of Marc Rzepczynski or C.C. Lee.
To top it all off, Justin Masterson-- the Opening Day starter, looks to be Francona's guy to close out games for the foreseeable future.
Funny how this season has played out.
While it might be one of the most improbable, unexpected stories in baseball this season, I can't wait to see how it all plays out-- Especially considering how they got here.
