Cleveland%2520Indians

Started from the bottom, now they’re here! For the first time since April 5, the Cleveland Indians reign at the top of the American League Central Division after winning a wild extra inning showdown with the Detroit Tigers, 4-3. With the victory, the Tribe not only takes the three-game series, but move into a tie for first place with the Tigers with a record of 20-15. Jim Berdysz gives his second thoughts on the big win and series win by the Indians...

Say hello to your first place Indians. That's right ladies and gentlemen, after taking two of three from the first place Detroit Tigers, the Cleveland Indians have joined Detroit at the top of the standings in the A.L. Central with a 20-15 record. The Indians are 6-1 since last week's episode of CSI, which matched their 6-1 record the week prior. With Michael Bourn returning, are we finally seeing who this Cleveland Indians team really is, or have they yet to reach their ceiling?

The Indians are rolling as they have won 11 of their last 13 games, and one of the players that has had a big impact to their strong play has been the powerful bat of Mark Reynolds. Tony discusses the impact he has made and what options (if any) the Indians have of resigning him. He also takes a look at how Brett Myers is progressing in his return from injury and how the Indians may reinsert him into the rotation, he catches us all up on some old friends, and more.

It was a nail biter in the heart of Motown Saturday night, as the Tribe snuck by their Central Division rival Detroit Tigers, 7-6. What looked to be an easy win against ace Justin Verlander with Cleveland up 6-1 in the seventh inning, ultimately fell apart late by the Indians bullpen.

In the second week of May one thing is clear, Mark Reynolds was one of the five best acquisitions in baseball this past offseason. Just based on WAR value to date, Reynolds’ 1.3 wins would be worth $6.3 million dollars. More importantly, Reynolds has been one of the best players in baseball through the first month which raises a few questions that should be addressed: how long will this rate of production continue, should the Indians extend him, at what cost, and how will his line look at the end of the season? The IBI's Michael Hattery touches on that as well as a few other topics!

The Indians came into the Motor City riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a sweep against the A’s. They were turning some heads nationwide having won 10 of their last 11 games and leading the league in many statistical categories rocketing them up to one game behind division-leading Detroit. And what happened? Well, the Tigers let the high-flying Tribe know why they are leading the division. The IBI's Jake Dungan provides his second thoughts on the Tigers thumping of the Indians.

Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera both slugged home runs off Cleveland starter Corey Kluber as the Tigers beat the Indians 10-4. After Cleveland held a 1-0 first-inning lead, the Tigers plated three runs in the bottom of the second and never looked back. The game was the first of several matchups on the year between the two clubs, and the Tigers took round one.

The Indians have gone 10-1 in their last 11 games and are now in the thick of the American League Central race. Offense has played a huge role in the hot streak, but pitching has been equally impressive. With the rotation impressing, how do Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar fit into the Indians' 2013 plans? Join the IBI's Steve Orbanek as he looks at the rotation and tackles that question in the latest edition of the weekly IBI staple, Orbiting Cleveland.

All offseason long, Tribe fans heard about that "team up north". Last year the Detroit Tigers were not only the reigning American League Central Division Champions, but won the AL Pennant for the second time in the last seven years. Tonight the Indians and that "team up north" tangle in the first of several Central Division showdowns this weekend, and the IBI's Jim Berdysz preview the important early season series.

It’s been nearly four years since Scott Kazmir last struck out 10 batters in a game. To put that in context, a teenager who was just starting college back then—August 26, 2009, to be exact—could conceivably be preparing for his graduation this weekend. That’s an awful lot of space between two bookends. Andrew Clayman takes a look at Kazmir's resurgence along with whether it is time to jump on board the bandwagon in today's Second Thoughts.

After Wednesday's replay debacle, Cleveland got out there Thursday afternoon and did not leave the game in the umpires' hands. Jason Kipnis, Nick Swisher, and Mark Reynolds hit home runs that needed no review and Scott Kazmir struck out 10 as the Cleveland Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 9-2. With the win, the Indians completed a four-game sweep of the A’s and have now won 10 of their last 11 games. Join Nathan Kemp as he recaps the action.

The IBI's James Keene never wanted instant replay in baseball. When first proposed he felt it would merely cause the game to last longer and possibly not solve anything and the game on Wednesday is what he expected. When MLB announced they were implementing instant replay in 2008 he was thankful they were only using replay for home run calls. And while they umpire crew blew the replay review on Wednesday night, it is here to stay.

On Thursday afternoon the Cleveland Indians announced that outfielder Michael Bourn has been activated from the 15-day disabled list and lefty Scott Barnes has been optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

The Indians got a big break with a reviewed non-home run call not being overturned, and it helped the Indians and closer Chris Perez escape with a 4-3 win, their ninth win in their last ten games. The IBI's Michael Hattery steps in and provides his "second thoughts" on Perez's save, the value of Justin Masterson, the depth of the lineup, and more.

Just when you thought you’ve see it all in Major League Baseball, you really haven’t. Coming into the ballgame winners of seven of their last eight, the Indians stayed red hot on Wednesday, as they won their third straight over the Oakland Athletics 4-3. Another team victory was thanks in large part to more great starting pitching and a little luck. Cleveland benefited from a controversial call in the ninth inning as Chris Perez looked for (and succeeded at getting) the save. Join Jim Berdysz as he recaps all the action, after the jump...

The Indians won a nail-biter on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win over the Athletics at Progressive Field. Behind the strong pitching of Zach McAllister, whom they got from the Yankees for Austin Kearns in July of 2010, and some key plays by Yan Gomes the Indians were able to come away with their eighth win in their last nine games. Did I mention the Indians got McAllister for Kearns? The IBI's Jake Dungan gives his second thoughts on the game...