Cleveland Indians look for robust start in the second half of the season – MLB News
If there was one team in this season that was more or less treated as the underdog, it was the Cleveland Indians. Since the commencement of the season and even prior to that, no one seemed interest in betting on them.
However, as the days went by and the Indians played every game, they outperformed and outrivaled everyone and anyone. They managed to do it despite less favourable views on their consistent victories.
"It's been a lot of fun," Indians’ starter Justin Masterson said. "I think we've probably maybe been higher than a little expected. Not because we weren't that talented, but just because you don't always expect everyone to come together like we have.”
Credit is justifiably given to the Indians’ manager, Manny Acta, who tirelessly went around and made it abundantly clear since the first day that the aim he had was that of winning the games for the team.
Acta is very impressed with the way the team has performed, as he and the Indians are looking for achieving more glory in the days to come.
Cleveland are now standing second in the Central division with 47 wins, trailing by only two wins from the Detroit Tigers who stand first with 49 wins. The Indians show throughout the first-half of the season has won them the 10th position in
the overall ranking.
“It's been tremendous," Masterson said. "The first half has been great. I'm sure people on the outside looking in say, 'Oh, yeah, they started off hot,' but everybody goes through injuries at some point in time.’ That’ll be the true test.'”
The true test shall predictably start from Thursday, July 14, when the Indians take on the Baltimore Orioles. If the recent record is to be looked into, the Orioles have had daunting challenges to surmount, so the Indians seem as the favourites.
For the Indians, taking on the struggling Orioles serves as the single best opportunity to continue their good track. However, there are a few set of issues for Cleveland to tackle.
Matt LaPorta has an ankle injury that has already taken him on the disabled list, Shin-Soo Choo, the right-fielder, has a broken left thumb and Fausto Carmona has struggled to perform what was expected of him.
However, the adversities are to be effectively tackled by the Indians as the players brace themselves for the second half of the MLB regular season. Hardly satisfied with their first-half winning track, the Indians want to do more.
It will now be thoroughly interesting to see how the Indians manage to keep their momentum and build on their confidence. The first game against the Orioles will be their first start in the second-half after an impressive first-half record.
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