So, Tampa would have to win 3 games while the other two teams only have to win 2? That's fine by me but doesn't make entire sense.
No, Tampa would have to win 2 games as well. Just like us and Texas.
The only key difference is that both us and Tampa have
3 opportunities to win 2 games, while Texas, being team C designation, has to win 2 of 2.
In my opinion if we can't win the 1st Wild Card outright, I'd prefer this 3-way tie scenario as the next best option. I think we'd play better in a series, and we are also guaranteed a home game (and possibly more than 1).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Note that for wildcard game the postseason roster is set for just that game. If Indians win and go to ALDS, then they can reset it.</p>— Tony Lastoria (@TonyIBI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyIBI/statuses/383593755594350593">September 27, 2013</a></blockquote>
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I didn't realize this. Thankfully we can play matchups heavily and not worry too much.
Yeah. When it comes down to it, going 25-men down I think we are deeper than both the Rays and Texas.
The best thing about this Indians team is that we are VERY balanced in what we can throw at you. In both offense and pitching. We're not built like traditional teams where we rely on any one guy to come through for us.
On the offensive side, we have 3 switch hitters in the everyday lineup that have power potential, speed in Bourn and Stubbs, a legitimate all-around threat in Kipnis, and a guy who always seems to get clutch hits in Michael Brantley.
Thrown in an unexpected stud in Yan Gomes, and situational left-handed and right-handed bats like Giambi and Raburn respectively...and odds are
someone is gonna find a way to come through on a given night.
The starting pitching has been nothing short of excellent after the All-Star break, with Ubaldo, Salazar, and even Kazmir on select starts looking dominant. Can you believe we've had this much starting pitching success with our ace starter injured?! That's nothing short of impressive...few other teams would be able to withstand that. And now we have Masterson back as an extra weapon in case any of our guys falter.
In the back end of the bullpen, we've got Brian Shaw, Cody Allen and Joe Smith, and over this last month they've been as good collectively as anyone could have hoped for. Scrabble was a great lights-out pickup as a lefty specialist, and Albers and even Carrasco have been decent in mid/long relief.
To sum up, the individual parts aren't necessarily playoff-caliber...but the team as a whole is. That's my analysis of this team.
So let's just get to the playoffs. Good things can happen.
