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Odd ball: Indians chase win streak record that includes tie

• By tom withers, ap sports writer
CLEVELAND — Sep 13, 2017, 12:43 AM ET
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The Associated Press
Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Zach McAllister, right, and Francisco Mejia celebrate a 11-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)more +
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As they climb toward baseball history with every win, the streaking Cleveland Indians are chasing a hallowed, 101-year-old record that includes an asterisk.
A major league asterisk.

The 26-game winning string by the 1916 New York Giants includes a tie.

"I think I knew that," Indians closer Cody Allen said.

Not everyone is aware of the peculiarity. And as the Indians, who on Tuesday night became the fourth team since 1900 to win 20 straight, have moved into position to threaten the Giants' revered mark, questions have arisen as to why a team that won 12 consecutive games, played a tie and then ripped off 14 more wins in a row would have the record.

It's simple. It's complicated. It's baseball.

"A tie was never an acceptable result of a baseball game," explained Steve Hirdt, executive vice president at the Elias Sports Bureau, Major League Baseball's official record keeper. "If one happened because of darkness or rain or some certain circumstance, the game was played over.

"Sports fans are used to the nuance in hockey and football of the difference between a winning streak and an unbeaten streak or consecutive games streak without a loss. Baseball
has never had those two different records. They would replay the game until a legitimate won or loss result was achieved."

The 1916 Giants, 1935 Chicago Cubs (21), 2002 Oakland Athletics (20) and 2017 Indians are the only teams in the modern era to post winning streaks of at least 20 games. Cleveland joined the exclusive club when ace and Cy Young Award co-favorite Corey Kluber tossed a five-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.

Now that they're at 20, the Indians have five more home games to pull closer to a record — albeit with its slight abnormality — that has endured.

Perhaps because of confusion over the tie, New York's 26-game streak has been absent from lists on some baseball websites and elsewhere. The omission could be because some databases only recognize wins and losses and when the Giants' 1916 season is calculated, there is an interruption in a streak that is widely known to hardcore baseball fans as the one to beat.

"The Giants' 26-game winning streak has existed since the beginning of time," Hirdt said. "I do not know why certain people are looking at the 21 now and holding that up as the record or alternately trying to parse language so that they can somehow exclude the 26.

"It's the longest winning streak, it's the record for most consecutive wins, etc., because a tie game breaks neither a winning streak or losing streak for a team because it always gets replayed unless the season ends first."

Those streaky New York Giants, guided by irascible manager John McGraw, were in the midst of a 31-game homestand at the Polo Grounds when they won 12 straight before a Sept. 18 game against Pittsburgh — 42-year-old Honus Wagner drove in the Pirates' only run with a sacrifice fly — was called by rain after nine innings and the score tied 1-1.

The Giants came back the following day and, playing their third doubleheader in four days, swept the Pirates. They didn't lose again until Sept. 30, falling 8-3 to the Boston Braves.

Earlier that season, the Giants won 17 straight games — all on the road — to offset a 2-13 start. Despite its tendency to take off on a tear, New York finished 86-66 and in fourth place in an eight-team league won by the Brooklyn Robins.

"Incredible," Hirdt said of the Giants' streakiness. "I guess if they weren't streaking, they weren't interested."

Today, games that are tied when called are suspended and resume at that point. There are instances when games end in ties, as happened to the Cubs last season when a late September game with Pittsburgh ended 1-1 because the teams were not scheduled to meet again.

During their streak, the Indians have been bulldozing teams, outscoring opponents 134-32 during a remarkable run that began on Aug. 24 with a 13-6 win at Boston followed by three straight shutouts at home over Kansas City.

Since then, there's been nothing but Ws, let alone a tie.

But tied games were fairly common a century ago, when doubleheaders often were played in the late afternoon and there were no stadium lights.

While the Indians insist they're not chasing history, often repeating the one-day-at-a-time cliche athletes typically fall back on to explain success, Hirdt, like many baseball fans, is eager to see if Cleveland can topple the Giants' gigantic mark.

"This is the record that I always wanted to see challenged," he said. "People always ask me, 'What record would you like to see broken?' I've always been a team-oriented guy and I tell them I would like to see a consecutive winning streak.

"And here it is."

They were talking about the Giants streak on Mike & Mike this morning. I too had never heard the part about the tie being scratched and being played from the beginning the next day. This totally changes things and gives legitimacy to their streak. The MLB record is indeed 26, no doubt about it.

Seems to me that a few years ago, MLB decidedto change the rules regarding no hitters. It wiped out the Dean Chance 5 inning no hitter and Harvey Haddix no hitter that wasn't a complete game.
Go figure.

Cleveland Indians reach 2 million in tickets sold for first time since 2008

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

phoynes@cleveland.com

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Nothing says revival in baseball like reaching the 2 million mark in attendance.

The Indians announced Wednesday that they've sold 2 million tickets for the 2017 season for the first time since 2008. After this six game West Coast trip, the AL Central champions return to Progressive Field for their final homestand of the regular season against Minnesota and the White Sox from Sept. 26 through Oct. 1.

The team said that attendance has increased on a per-game basis 30 percent over last year and 42 percent over 2015. The Indians drew 1,591,667 last year and 1,388,905 in 2015.

In 2008, after winning the AL Central in 2007, they drew 2,169,722.

The Indians are hot on TV and the radio as well. SportsTime Ohio's household ratings have increased to 8.23 this year, a 26 percent bump from last year's 6.53 rating.

In September, which including a large part of the team's historic 22-game winning streak and the clinching of a second straight AL Central title, the HH ratings are 11.77, a 50 percent increase over last September.

The Indians on radio are drawing a 6.0 rating, an 18 percent increase over last year's final total of 5.1.

Overall, the Indians rank 23rd in attendance at 1,895,186 this year. They rank 22nd with an average crowd of 25,269.

The Dodgers, Cardinals, Giants and Cubs sit at the top of the attendance standings with 3 million each. The Indians have not draw 3 million fans since 2001. The seating capacity of Progressive Field has been reduced since them from an estimated 42,000 to just over 34,000.

They could use some of those removed seats now that the team is in the playoffs again. Lots of them were removed for more food stands, drink rails and the Corner Bar. But the ones in the upper deck in right field were just replaced with big billboards. I suppose they make more money on them than they would on the seats.

I suppose they make more money on them than they would on the seats.

I'm sure they do! And I guess hot dog prices rise for the playoffs, too?

Plus, they can do this again:

There are extra seats in at Progressive Field. Every other aisle filled in. Seats also added to top rows in upper deck.

how many, do you know?

Well, the attendance for Game 7 of the WS last year was 38,104, and the Home Opener in 2017 was listed as a sellout with 35,002.

Game 5 of the 1997 WS had 44,888 in attendance.

For comparison, here are the capacities for all the MLB ballparks:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... l_stadiums

Cleveland Indians rookies don superhero costumes for flight to Seattle

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Everybody who watched Giovanny Urshela play third base in Anaheim this week was already convinced he is Superman, and now the Cleveland Indians' dazzling young infielder has the costume to prove it.

Tribe rookies and first year players were forced to don superhero costumes Thursday and pose for a photo outside Angels Stadium as part of an annual hazing ritual carried out by veterans during the final road trip of the regular season.

The hazing took place after Cleveland swept the Los Angeles Angels, winning 4-1 in Thursday afternoon's getaway-day game before heading to Seattle.



Traditionally, Tribe veteran players go out and purchase costumes or clothes for the rookies and then steal or hide their gear, forcing the younger players to wear the getups for the plane ride to the final city on the trip.


Besides Urshela as the Man of Steel, players in costume included Tyler Olson as Spider-Man, Francisco Mejia as the Flash, Mike Clevinger as Thor, Ryan Merritt as Iron Man, Greg Allen as Deadpool, Nick Goody as Black Hole, Tyler Naquin as Batman and Erik Gonzalez as Captain America.

Terry Francona on Twins' bottomless lineup and 5 hot takes on the Cleveland Indians
Posted September 27, 2017 at 07:04 PM | Updated September 27, 2017 at 09:33 PM



CLEVELAND, Ohio – In the all or nothing world of offense in MLB, the Twins are different. That has Terry Francona’s attention.

The Twins are in town for a three-game series, the second-to-last series of the regular season. Next week, however, Francona’s Indians could meet the Twins again in the best-of-five AL Division Series.

The Indians clinched the AL Central on Sept. 16. The Twins could clinch the second wild card spot with a win against the Indians on Wednesday night. Their magic number is one.

The Indians are 10-7 against the Twins this season. They are 9-1 at Target Field and 1-6 at Progressive Field.

Francona was asked about the Twins having a good lineup from top to bottom.

“There’s really not much of a bottom,” he said. “And in an era when it’s either home run or bust with a lot of strikeouts, a lot of swinging for homers, they’re a lineup that makes a lot of adjustments. You don’t look at every hitter and go, ‘if we throw him here we’re good to go.’

“They cover both sides of the plate. The use the whole field. They’re impressive.”

Francona talked about the improvement of young Twins such as Byron Buxton (.255, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 28 steals), Jorge Polanco (.257, 12, 72, 13 steals), Eduardo Escobar (.252, 20, 69) etc.

“You get to this time of year and sometimes young players get exposed,” said Francona. “Their young guys, Buxton and Polanco, have all gotten better. Escobar, who people thought maybe was a guy you move around (to different positions), has 20 homers. They present a lot of problems to defend because they make adjustments at the plate.”

The Twins, entering Wednesday night, were 30-18 over their last 48 games.



Michael Brantley does light jogging

Michael Brantley (right ankle) did some light running in the outfield Wednesday afternoon and stood in the batter’s box during a simulated game thrown by lefty Kyle Crockett.

“He’s working up to where, Thursday or Friday, he’s going to try to get out there and we’ll see where he’s at and see if he’s able to get in a game and kind of go from there,” said Francona. “He’s definitely building towards that, so we just, we’re trying to give him every chance possible so we can make a good decision. He’ll be included in that."

Brantley has been on the disabled list since Aug. 8 with an injury to the deltoid ligament in his right ankle. He is also suffering from synovitis, an inflammation of the membrane that acts as a cushion between joint spaces in the ankle.

Health must come first for Bradley Zimmer

Center fielder Bradley Zimmer ran the bases Wednesday afternoon after getting the stitches removed from his left hand. Zimmer needed surgery after breaking the hand on a headfirst slide into first base on Sept. 10 against Baltimore.

Zimmer, however, is unlikely to be added to the Tribe’s roster for the ALDS.

“We’re more pointed toward getting him healthy,” said Francona. “And his normal progression, you’re going to see him in a couple weeks start to probably grip a bat, things like that, that’s more important. You never say never, but I don’t think that’s what the goal is right now."

Expectations for Danny Salazar

Danny Salazar started Wednesday night and pitched well against the Twins -- 4.1 innings, one hit, no runs, nine strikeouts and a walk in 64 pitches. Francona was asked before the game what bearing the start would have on Salazar making the ALDS roster.

“We want him to grow each time out,” said Francona. “Whatever decision we make, separate of that, just to see Danny be healthy and moving forward is big. Because we want to get to a point where we can rely on Danny. And for stretches we have.

“But it’s never been for a whole season. Letting him pitch with (good) health is the best first step. We can make decisions after that."


Edwin Encarnacion brings the thunder

The Indians signed Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million free agent contract in January to do exactly what he’s done. He’s been the anchor to the lineup.

Encarnacion entered Wednesday night’s game hitting .258 (139-for-539) with 38 homers, 103 RBI and a .885 OPS. He’s tied for fourth in homers and sixth in RBI in the AL. Encarnacion topped 100 RBI Wednesday night for the fifth time in the last six years.

He is the fourth Indian to have a season with at least 35 homers, 100 RBI and 100 walks. Jim Thome did it five times, while Travis Hafner and Al Rosen did it once.

Encarnacion is one of three active players, according to Elias, to drive in at least 650 runs since 2012. Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera are the others.

In September, Encarnacion is hitting .321 (27-for-84) with seven homers and 25 RBI. In April, he hit .200 (17-for-85) with four homers and nine RBI. Some felt the Indians had made a bad signing.

“Good hitters usually get to their level,” said Francona. “They might do it in unusual ways, but they usually get there. It’s the darndest thing.”

In Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Twins, Encarnacion had three hits and drove in four runs. He hit homer No.38 in the seventh inning. It was his first this season to right field.

Is one 'miraculous at-bat' enough to put Michael Brantley on Cleveland Indians' ALDS roster?

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

phoynes@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the fifth inning of Saturday night's game at Progressive Field, the batting cage located up the runaway behind the Indians' dugout grew silent. The sound of bat against ball stopped and all eyes turned to the televisions in the room.

Michael Brantley was coming to the plate for the first time in a big-league game since grounding out in the fourth inning on Aug. 8 against the Colorado Rockies. Brantley, activated from the disabled list before the game, was pinch-hitting for Giovanny Urshela.

The sellout crowd of 33,173 gave Brantley a standing ovation as he walked slowly toward the plate to face White Sox rookie right-hander Carson Fulmer. Brantley made a slight nod to the crowd, breathed deeply and stepped into the box.

Then he was just Michael Brantley again. The questions about his injured right ankle were gone. There was only the smooth left-handed swing. The tap of the bat on the back shoulder as a timing device. And the concentration.

Here's how the 10-pitch at-bat went, according to baseball savant.com: Four-seam fastball, 92 mph, called strike; cut fastball, 88 mph, foul; four-seam fastball, 92 mph, foul; cut fastball 86 mph, ball; cut fastball 88 mph, foul; change up 87 mph, ball (count 2-2); curveball, 81 mph, foul; four-seam fastball, 93 mph, foul, four-seam fastball, 93 mph, foul, cut fastball, 89 mph, single to right field.

Yan Gomes went from first to third on Brantley's single, his first hit since he homered on Aug. 6 against the Yankees. Francisco Lindor, the next batter, scored Gomes with a grounder to second for the Indians only run in a 2-1 loss.
Terry Francona on Michael Brantley's miraculous at-bat

The Indians (101-60) secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs before Saturday's game when Houston lost to Boston. Then there was Brantley's hit during the game so despite the loss the vibes were good.

"How about that," said manager Terry Francona when asked about Brantley's hit. "That was unbelievable. That was so much. . .I don't know if fun's the right word, but to watch his at-bat. . .Q (Matt Quatraro, assistant hitting coach) said, because we have a lot of guys right now, they go up in the cage and hit between innings, and Q said every single guy up there stopped and watched the entire at-bat.

"It just was a phenomenal at bat. His level of concentration. . .and then to fire a hit in there. That was really something."

In the dugout, the front rail was crowded with Brantley's teammates as well. Gomes was on first base for the at bat.

"That was really exciting," said Gomes. "He makes it look easy, man. The guy has been away for seven weeks and then comes out, gets a nice hit and battles. He was on every pitch. It's really good to see him. I know he's busted his tail to play in a game."


The question, of course, is can Brantley help enough to make the 25-man roster for the ALDS? He missed last year's postseason run to Game 7 of the World Series. Could he be on the outside looking in again?

Jason Kipnis resides in the same corner of the Indians locker room as Brantley. He's been on the disabled list three times this year; Brantley twice. Kipnis, to get back into the postseason picture, had to move from second base to center field. He knows what Brantley has been dealing with.

"I think we're very excited to have him back, hopefully, and with us," said Kipnis. "We know how he dealt with it last year, had to miss it and we know that's been looming in his head that he might have to miss it again this year. So to see him maybe creep back in just in time, I think is exciting, not only for us, but for him."

Francona, talking before Saturday's game, did not sound as optimistic about Brantley's postseason chances as he did afterward. He said he'd talk to Brantley on Sunday about playing in the regular season finale and perhaps beyond that.

Brantley has been sprinting in the outfield almost daily since Tuesday. Francona did not replace him with a pinch-runner when he reached first base on Saturday night. He let him go down to second base on Lindor's RBI grounder.

"I thought he was moving really well," said Francona. "Again, I know that he's had limited time to run. But all things considered, it seems almost miraculous to me that he's able to have the kind of at bat he had. We'll see how he shows up on Sunday."

The Indians have had a lot of good things come their way this season. A 22-game winning streak, MVP performances from Jose Ramirez and Lindor, a second possible Cy Young award for Corey Kluber along with great seasons from fellow starters Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer. Would it be too much to ask for one more thing?

We play nearly the entire season without Michael Brantley.

How did that work out?

Don't mess with what's working.

If he had a month to get back in the lineup....fine.

No experiments one day before the playoffs start.

Come to ST healthy next year, Mike.

If they don't include him in the first round of playoffs, I think they can still add him for the later ones?
Why not have him continue to rehab and see how he holds up?