Ready for the home opener, Cleveland style!

The Tribe is coming home. April 4, 2014. The first home game in what promises to be an epic season. This team is preparing to take their rightful place right up there with the 95 and 97 Indians - the only difference here is that this team is going to finish the job. Let's explore why:

Happy 20th Birthday Jake!

The A's are a good team:

Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir both had spectacular games, and Gray is a legitimate ace in the making. Despite this, the Tribe still made Gray work hard enough to chase him from the game after 6 innings and were able to do their damage when it mattered, after a masterful outing by Justin Masterson.

Kluber and Masterson will rebound:

One thing we've learned about Kluber and Masterson is that they're not flukes. They both had rough outings to start the season but they're both excellent at pitching within their means. They both have great control and are able to keep hitters off balance and combine their pitches effectively. They will both continue to improve as the season progresses, as they have done since they came into the majors.

Hitting fundamentals:

Swisher: 4.14 pitches/AB
Aviles: 4.75
Cabrera: 4.23
Brantley: 3.75
Gomes: 4.57
Kipnis: 4.14

Dr. Smooth off to a hot start

These are some outstanding average pitches seen per AB. When a team is being this consistently patient at the plate, you're undoubtedly going to chase starting pitchers out of the game earlier. The more often you do that, the more often you win, period. This consistent approach is what made the Indians one of the best offenses in baseball despite not having any individual hit more than 22 HR or 84 RBI.

The Tribe stranded 8.67 runners on average in the first three games of the season. This places them 23rd in the league. This obviously won't continue considering how many batters they've gotten on base and how patient they've been in their approach at the plate.

Great to see this kid extended

Kipnis was just extended for 6 years:

Extended Kipnis and Gomes as the Indians have done this year not only provides a stable base for many years to come, something this fanbase has seldom enjoyed since the 90s, but it also allows those guys to go out and play loose - the best way a Tito team plays.




The home opener is tomorrow:

Hargrove tossing the first pitch to Alomar, alumni autograph sessions, 70 degrees (ya maybe some rain too but oh well). Who knows what other surprise 90s Indians guests and surprises are in store for the Cleveland faithful tomorrow? Maybe the biggest surprise in store is witnessing the first home game of the first World Series winning season since 1948. Roll Tribe!!