Indians @ Twins, 8/5/07

I tried to post this yesterday, but Blogger was having some problems:

My dad actually called me today during the 9th inning, echoing a sentiment expressed many times: "Who are these guys?"

Because we can't, as Cleveland fans, believe that our team might actually be this good. Clearly, someone has replaced them.

Of course, he also echoed another sentiment that's been making the rounds: "This could be the biggest collapse in baseball."

Because that thought is never far from our minds. I keep looking at the magic number. I keep trying to figure out what a safe number of wins would be (counting a safe number of Detroit losses).

The Boston press are beginning to pick apart C.C., something the Cleveland press won't do to Beckett because that would require them to assume that an Indian is legitimately in the running for some kind of award, and Clevelanders assume nothing aside from the worst.

For the sake of argument, though, it should be pointed out that C.C., while he has one fewer win and has given up the most hits in the league, has a lower ERA, more innings pitched, more complete games, more shut outs, and more strikeouts. If it were a two horse race, I think it would be hard to argue against Sabathia.

IF it were a two horse race. I'm not sold on that. Dan Haren still has an ERA under 3, as does Kelvim Escobar, who also has 15 wins and 3 complete games. In fact, I don't understand why Escobar isn't right up there, as he's given up fewer home runs and overall hits than Sabathia or Beckett. For that matter, John Lackey's numbers are comparable to Beckett's and with his win today, Fausto has to be back in the conversation.

Honestly, the fabled 20 game winner might get the eventual edge.