Rookies gaining experience while enjoying ride By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | September 18th, 2017 + 31 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- While Edwin Encarnacion celebrated on Sunday afternoon, taking in the scene inside Cleveland's loud, plastic-wrapped and soaked clubhouse, rookie Francisco Mejia stood next to the slugger. Mejia looked like the superhero's sidekick, tagging along on this adventure.

A little more than two weeks ago, Mejia and Greg Allen were wearing RubberDucks uniforms with the Indians' Double-A affiliate in Akron. They were called up when the Major League roster expanded for September, and they've been on an historic ride ever since. For two weeks, Mejia and Allen did not experience a loss in the big leagues. Now they were a part of Cleveland's American League Central-clinching party. "My shirt is drenched," said Allen, who won the Eastern League championship with Akron last year. "The champagne is just a little bit sweeter here." The Indians' recent 22-game winning streak -- one that established a new AL record for consecutive wins -- naturally generated a few benefits. The most obvious was the Tribe's rapid rise up the standings, culminating in Sunday's celebration and putting Cleveland in position to fight for baseball's best record down the stretch. Without The Streak, the Indians would not have been able to clinch during this past homestand. Ask anyone inside the Tribe's clubhouse, though, and they will point to another important aspect of the winning streak. For the rookies in the room, that run provided a platform to contribute in a high-pressure environment. With each win, the Cleveland crowds gained momentum along with the team, creating a playoff-like scene in September. It almost served as a trial run for October for the team's younger players. "It just lets them know how loud it is," Indians Josh Tomlin said. "It just kind of goes to show some of the younger guys that are up here in September right now what they have to look forward to hopefully. And to enjoy that moment they're in." The veterans have certainly enjoyed seeing the young players embrace their moments. Yandy Diaz went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits in a win over ace Chris Sale and the Red Sox on Aug. 24, when The Streak began. Erik Gonzalez had two homers on Sept. 7. Rookie Ryan Merritt made spot starts for wins No. 2 and No. 7 during the winning streak. Lefty Tyler Olson (still technically a rookie) is riding a scoreless streak of 24 appearances out of the bullpen. Mejia delivered a key run-scoring single in a win over the White Sox on Sept. 4 and Allen launched his first career home run on Sept. 7 in Chicago. Indians manager Terry Francona joked that Mejia keeps standing near him in the dugout with a bat in his hands during games. As for Allen, he has provided elite speed and defense in center field. "Everyone has been contributing," Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer said. "You've got guys coming up in September that haven't been here a whole lot that are stepping in, being big parts of these wins for us." Bradley Zimmer also played a big role for this year's Tribe, especially in the field. Look no further than his all-out diving robbery of Lorenzo Cain on Aug. 26 as an example. Last week, though, Zimmer fractured a bone in his left hand on a slide into first base. During Sunday's celebration, Zimmer partied with a protective plastic sleeve over his hand and forearm. Next (young) man up. "Whatever it takes to win," Zimmer said as the celebration roared on. "Hopefully we'll be doing this a couple more times here in the next month or so. Until then, I'll just enjoy this and have fun."

Tribe's postgame clinch party a family, fan affair By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | September 17th, 2017 + 5 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- While the party raged inside the Indians' home clubhouse on Sunday afternoon, players found moments to escape to the field. There, their families had their own celebration going, with kids running through the infield grass. Behind Cleveland's home dugout, rows of fans remained, refusing to find the stadium's exits.

This American League Central clinch was savored by the entire city. "It's nice to do it here," Indians ace Corey Kluber said. "Last year, we didn't have a chance to share it with the fans at all, so it's nice. They have been so supportive of us all year. It's nice to share it with them and let them kind of celebrate with us." Sunday's 3-2 win over the Royals was a nine-inning formality leading up to the Tribe's champagne-soaked blowout. Kluber helped hasten the team's trip to the clubhouse coolers with seven brilliant innings, and then he made his way around the locker room looking for teammates to douse with bubbly. Each victim of a sneak Kluber attack was greeted with laughter, and then a celebratory hug. This is the second consecutive division crown for an Indians team that hopes to have more lined up in the years to come. The party did not feel as overwhelming as the ones held throughout the team's run to the World Series a year ago, but this is an experienced team with lofty expectations. This was step one. The goal is to get back to the Fall Classic and bring home the city's first championship since 1948. "This is one of the stepping stones we wanted to get to," said Jason Kipnis, who spoke as champagne dripped from his ski goggles. "But we all know this isn't the end goal." Thanks to the Tribe's recent 22-game winning streak, which established a new AL record for consecutive victories, Cleveland was able to party on the final day of this homestand before flying to the West Coast. Manager Terry Francona thanked the fans in a pregame speech as the division flag was raised, and then he exited early after the win to allow the spotlight to be fixed firmly on his players. While Kipnis talked to reporters in the eye of the postgame storm, reliever Bryan Shaw came over and began pouring more on his teammate's head. This was not champagne or beer, though. It was ice-cold water. Kipnis recoiled and let out a little yelp as Shaw headed off laughing. "That's cold!" Kipnis shouted. "Get out of here!" Relief ace Andrew Miller -- the MVP of the AL Championship Series last season and a critical part of Cleveland's chances again this October -- was stopped at the bottom of the dugout steps before meeting his family on the field. Larry Dolan, the Indians' 86-year-old owner, extended a hand, introduced himself and offered his congratulations. "Thank you for bringing me here," Miller replied with a warm smile. While Kluber met with media, reliever Nick Goody walked by and yelled: "There he is! The king of the north!" Pitcher Danny Salazar had fun running around the room and dumping the contents of champagne bottles down the backs of unsuspecting teammates. Trevor Bauer -- like last season -- wore a GoPro camera on his head to capture the party. On the other side of the room, Jose Ramirez lifted his phone to take a selfie with Jay Bruce. The celebration began with the players in a circle, popping the corks and jumping together while letting out primal shouts. When they spread across the room, Bruce dumped a bottle on Ramirez's head and then pointed to his own head, asking the team's MVP candidate to return the favor. Behind the plastic sheeting protecting the lockers, a "Happy Birthday" banner hung from Ramirez's stall. Chris Antonetti, the Indians' president of baseball operations, could not avoid being sprayed. "I tried to stay dry for awhile, but apparently that wasn't going to happen," Antonetti said, laughing. "It's fun to celebrate. Celebrations like this never get old, regardless of how wet and cold you are." At least at Progressive Field, the players had a little more room. Last year, the parties took place in Detroit, Boston and Toronto, which all have cramped visiting clubhouses. "It doesn't take 25 guys to get to this point. It takes a whole organization," Josh Tomlin said. "It's a whole team effort and a whole city. We're fortunate to have a good group of fans and the support of Cleveland, and that means a lot to us."

Kipnis in center is smart risk behind strong staff By Mike Petriello / MLB.com | @mike_petriello | September 18th, 2017 + 18 COMMENTS The Indians can get away with experimenting with longtime second baseman Jason Kipnis in center field for the same reason they got away with putting third baseman-turned-outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall there earlier this year and first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana in left field in the World Series last year: Because their dominant pitching staff allows Terry Francona the flexibility to do so.

That's another way of saying "if there aren't likely to be a large amount of competitive plays hit to a spot, you don't have to worry about defense so much," which mirrors the effect the infield shift has had on baseball's ongoing home run surge. Among many other reasons for more dingers, fewer difficult balls in play due to more and better positioning has allowed power bats like Carlos Correa and Corey Seager to remain at shortstop, where a generation ago they'd likely be third basemen by now. It's the same idea for Cleveland. Kipnis, who last played center field in college and wasn't challenged with a play in his first game there on Sunday, may or may not turn out to be a competent outfielder. (Chisenhall did; other infield conversions, like Hanley Ramirez, worked out less favorably). But with Bradley Zimmer injured and untested rookie Greg Allen (who had only a .701 OPS in Double-A this year) the primary alternative, they can at least afford to take the risk in order to get Kipnis' bat in the lineup while keeping the trio of Jose Ramirez, Giovanny Urshela and Yandy Diaz at second and third. To start with, this is about strikeouts, and Indians are piling them up better than any team in history. The obvious caveat there is that every year is the biggest year these days; the top five strikeout teams this year are also the top five strikeout teams ever. But that's sort of the point; no team has allowed a lower percentage of opponents to put the ball in play. Whomever is standing behind Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and friends is less likely to see a batted ball than most players who have ever played. That doesn't mean the Indians can completely punt on defense, of course, and they haven't. The Tribe's transformation from one of baseball's weakest defensive units in 2013-14 to one of the stronger ones since corresponds well with Francisco Lindor's arrival, and it's been an underrated part of the Indians' ascension to regular title contenders. But we're not talking about defense all over the field, when it comes to Kipnis. We're talking about center field. Thanks in large part to the pitching staff's ability to prevent any type of batted ball, the Indians' center fielders simply haven't had a ton of balls hit their way -- just 357, the sixth lowest in baseball. That's well below the average of 395, and it's a whopping 139 below what Byron Buxton and his Twins teammates have seen in center. We're talking 2.4 plays per game. It's not a lot. Still, we can do better. That number is showing any ball that's theoretically catchable, which is to say a Catch Probability above zero percent, but there's an enormous difference between a ball that's virtually always caught (99 percent Catch Probability) and one that's virtually never caught (one percent). We're not worried about the extremely difficult balls (25 percent Catch Probability or under) that most outfielders can't get. We're not worried about the very easy balls (75 percent Catch Probability or over) that most outfielders, including Kipnis, get pretty easily, like this simple 91 perent grab that Zimmer made against the Royals: Instead, we're most interested in that middle band, the balls with a Catch Probability between 25 percent and 75 percent, which is where outfielders really set themselves apart (or don't). Batted balls to outfielders within that band are turned into outs just under two-thirds of the time. These are the ones that are important to be converted into outs, and as far as center field goes, there just aren't that many in Cleveland.

Cleveland center fielders get relatively few of the competitive opportunities that set fielders apart. That's 28, compared to 60 for Minnesota (which has Buxton) and 52 for Atlanta (which has Ender Inciarte). After the third-place 50 for last-place San Francisco, struggling with Denard Span, you see Kansas City (Lorenzo Cain) and Cincinnati (Billy Hamilton). If you're allowing a lot of competitive plays to center, you basically have to have a plus center fielder. If you're not, it doesn't matter quite so much. (As you can see, the Dodgers are near the bottom, and after Joc Pederson underperformed, they've patched with career infielder Chris Taylor and rookie Alex Verdugo.) We're talking one of these plays every few days, at least for Cleveland's center fielders. "[Kipnis is] going to play a lot of games [in center]," said Francona last week, and you understand why. With Zimmer out, and the infield overloaded, you need a way to get Kipnis back in the lineup, and with this pitching staff, it's lower-risk than it might be for a team like Minnesota. Sure, Cleveland saw some adventures from Tyler Naquin in center last October; there's not zero risk. The Indians didn't get here by being completely traditional, though. So far as risks go, this is a smart one to take.

Scoreless streak wins Kluber AL Player of Week By David Adler / MLB.com | September 18th, 2017 + 3 COMMENTS Corey Kluber continues to be automatic every five days for an Indians team that just went on a historic 22-game win streak, and after two more brilliant outings, the Cleveland ace took home the American League Player of the Week Award on Monday.

Kluber threw a five-hit shutout against the Tigers on Tuesday to help the Indians win their 20th straight game, tying the 2002 A's for the American League record. Then, after the Tribe clinched the AL Central title with a Twins loss on Saturday, Kluber punctuated it by beating the Royals on Sunday with seven more scoreless innings. "I think everybody kind of looks up to him because of the way he carries himself and the professional that he is," manager Terry Francona said of Kluber after Tuesday's 2-0 win. "It's hard not to." Kluber, one of the two front-runners for the AL Cy Young Award, along with Boston's Chris Sale, hasn't allowed a run in his past 22 innings. That's the longest active scoreless streak in the Majors after Stephen Strasburg's streak for the Nationals ended at 35 innings on Sunday. Kluber's scoreless run is the longest by a Cleveland pitcher this season. The 31-year-old leads the AL with 17 wins and a 2.35 ERA, and Kluber ranks second with 252 strikeouts. If not for Sale's 287 strikeouts, Kluber would be in position to become the first pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown since Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw in 2011. "It's special," teammate Francisco Lindor said on Tuesday. "He's been doing it all season." For the week, Kluber led the AL in innings pitched and was the only pitcher to make multiple scoreless starts. He ranked second with 17 strikeouts (behind the Astros' Verlander, who had 19), and he did not walk a batter. Kluber was one of three pitchers to throw a shutout, along with the Tigers' Matthew Boyd and the A's Daniel Mengden. It is the fourth career Player of the Week Award for Kluber, and his second this season. He was AL Player of the Week for the period that ended on June 25.

Clevinger, Tribe head west to face Angels By Ben Weinrib / MLB.com | September 17th, 2017 + 203 COMMENTS Fresh off celebrating their second straight American League Central title, the Indians will begin a six-game West Coast road trip against a team they could host in the first round of the postseason.

Currently second in the AL West, the Angels are within striking distance of the second Wild Card spot. With a win in a potential Wild Card Game, they would potentially be slated to face the Indians, who lead their season series, 3-0. Mike Clevinger will get the nod for the Indians, and he's in one of the best stretches of his young career. He has given up just three runs (one earned) over 23 2/3 innings in his past four starts. However, Clevinger faced the Angels once before this year, and he gave up a season-high six runs (five earned) over 4 1/3 innings. Opposing him will be Tyler Skaggs, who is coming off perhaps his best start of the season. Last time out, the 26-year-old lefty held the high- powered Astros scoreless over seven innings with three hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. Three things to know about this game • Both Skaggs and Clevinger use a curveball as one of their top secondary offerings. Skaggs has been great at limiting hard contact on the pitch, as his 82.8-mph average exit velocity on the pitch ranks 18th among 90 qualified pitchers, according to Statcast. Clevinger, however, has an average exit velocity of 89.0 mph against his curveball, which is ninth-worst. • When Clevinger faced the Angels in July, Luis Valbuena and Kole Calhoun both took him deep. However, Clevinger has been able to avoid the long ball lately with none given up in his past four starts and just one multi-homer game in nine starts since facing the Angels. • The Indians' lineup is full of switch-hitters, but Skaggs doesn't have severe platoon splits this season. Righties are hitting .260 and slugging .433 against him, while left-handers are hitting .271 and slugging .390 against him.

Meisel's Mailbox: The Indians' playoff roster, attendance figures and your favorite piece of baseball memorabilia Zack Meisel CLEVELAND — Many have inquired about Jay Bruce’s future, and whether the Indians will make a play to keep him in Cleveland beyond this season. Bruce has quickly developed close bonds with his teammates in a way that mirrors how Mike Napoli worked the clubhouse last year. When Francisco Lindor arrived at the ballpark on Sunday morning, he first shouted, “Bruce! What up, baby?” Then he greeted the rest of the room with, “Good morning, everybody.” When Lindor met with reporters before Sunday’s series finale against the Royals, he praised Bruce for fitting in so quickly and contributing on the field. He finished his response with this line: “I’m looking forward to continuing it for the rest of the season and hopefully a few more.” As he said it, Lindor smiled and looked at his teammate, who was sitting beside him. Bruce will hit the free-agent market this winter. Welcome to another edition of Meisel’s Mailbox, where we cover the pertinent stuff, and also topics about the Indians, other Cleveland sports teams, or anything about life. Submit your questions on Twitter (@ZackMeisel) or via email ([email protected]). Looks like Edwin Encarnacion is getting his attendance bonus — @Yiphobia Indeed, the Indians are closing in on the 2 million mark for home attendance for the first time in nine years. They’ll need to average 17,469 fans per game for their final, six-game homestand to reach the plateau. If they do so, Encarnacion will earn a $150,000 bonus. The Indians have registered 12 sellouts this season, their most in one year since 2001. They rank 22nd in the league in average attendance, and their average crowd is up 28.5 percent over last season. Average attendance rank among league’s 30 teams, per year: 2017: 22nd 2016: 28th 2015: 29th 2014: 29th 2013: 28th 2012: 29th 2011: 24th 2010: 30th And, by the way, for anyone who stopped following along when Encarnacion was mired in a dreadful slump in April and May, the slugger has produced 36 home runs, has drawn 100 walks and his .877 OPS nearly matches his .886 OPS from a year ago. What’s the deadline to have someone on the roster be eligible for the postseason roster? Are Greg Allen or Francisco Mejia eligible? — @EZ_moneys Any member of the organization prior to Sept. 1 is eligible for postseason play, so long as they are added to the 40-man roster. So, both Allen and Mejia are eligible. I’ve always wanted to know: Why does Tom Hamilton take two innings off every game? — @zachatharsis The fourth and fifth innings are when nature calls. Hamilton hands the keys to Jim Rosenhaus, heads to the restroom, grabs a snack and something to drink, and returns to the booth. Calling nine innings of action every day for seven or eight months is taxing, especially when doing the vast majority of the talking. Since he’s a radio broadcaster, Hamilton has to do more describing than, say, Matt Underwood, and he doesn’t have a color commentator at his side. Is it a guarantee that Jason Kipnis is on the 25-man roster for the playoffs? — @Zbaris As long as his balky hamstring cooperates, yes. When opening up to The Athletic about his frustrating season and uncertain future last week, Kipnis stressed that a sterling postseason could overshadow his rocky last few months. Remember, he posted an .893 OPS in the World Series, with a pair of home runs and an unforgettable dash to the plate on a wild pitch. How he’ll fare in center field remains a mystery, but perhaps he can offer some reminders that his bat is still capable of playoff production. If you could one historical artifact from the history of baseball (i.e. a jersey, bat, specific ball, etc.), what would it be? — @Brownbags99 I love this question. I’m a baseball memorabilia nerd (and aspiring collector). At first, a few answers popped into my head: *The ball Bobby Thomson hit for “The Shot Heard ‘Round The World” in 1951 *The bat Babe Ruth used to supposedly call his shot in the 1932 World Series *Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run ball in 1998 (I was a kid captivated by the home-run race of ’98) Then, some Cleveland-centric ones came to mind: *One of Omar Vizquel’s gloves *The ball from Rajai Davis’ home run in Game 7 (the team has no idea what happened to it) *One of Albert Belle’s corked bats One item I wouldn’t save: Jason Giambi’s golden thong. I'd love to hear others' answers to this question. Feel free to post yours in the comments or via Twitter or email. (Side note: I’ll have much more on Indians/Cleveland memorabilia coming shortly after the end of the baseball season. Stay tuned.) Who will be on the Indians’ ALDS pitching staff? There are 14+ quality options, I feel, and Tito carried 11 pitchers last year. — @WalkTalk1 Let’s start with the no-brainers: Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer will likely start the first three games of the series. Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, Joe Smith and Bryan Shaw will anchor the bullpen. That leaves four spots for Mike Clevinger, Josh Tomlin, Danny Salazar, Dan Otero, Nick Goody, Zach McAllister and Tyler Olson. It’s safe to assume that Ryan Merritt, Shawn Armstrong, Craig Breslow, Kyle Crockett and Shawn Morimando (will they ever let that poor soul appear in a game?) will be watching from the sideline. Olson seems to have earned Terry Francona’s trust, so I’d toss him in as a lock. It’s hard to envision the roster not including Clevinger. That leaves two openings for Tomlin, Salazar, Otero, Goody and McAllister. McAllister’s overall numbers, at first glance, look decent: 2.73 ERA, strong strikeout rate, decent walk and hit rates. Francona tested him out in high-leverage situations twice in early August and he faltered on both occasions. Since, he has pitched in games with these final scores: 8-1, 9- 3, 7-4, 9-1, 12-0, 9-4, 11-1, 9-4, 11-0, 8-4. That could be an indication that he isn’t destined for the playoff roster. The other two battles — Tomlin vs. Salazar and Otero vs. Goody — seem like toss-ups to me. I'll guess Salazar and Goody get the nod, but I could see any combination of the four.

A look back at a teenage Francisco Lindor with the same mindset as today; Corey Kluber wins AL Player of Week; ALDS ticket info By Ryan Lewis CLEVELAND: Chris Antonetti was just trying to say congratulations. Instead, he received an insight into the type of mindset that now fuels one of the game’s best players and one of the faces of the Indians’ franchise. It was 2013, and he was texting a 19-year-old Francisco Lindor, who was selected to ’s Futures Game. It was a simple message from Antonetti, at the time the Indians’ general manager and now the club’s president of baseball operations, to the franchise’s top prospect. Lindor acknowledged it, but in the same proverbial breath noted what was still in the forefront of his mind, even several seasons away from the big leagues. “I sent him a text message saying, ‘Way to go. Congratulations on making the Futures Game,’” Antonetti said Sunday morning, one day after the Indians clinched their second consecutive American League Central title. “[Lindor] said, ‘Hey, it’s great, I appreciate the accomplishment, but I am focused on getting better every single day, because I someday want to get to Cleveland and help us win championships.’ This is a 19- year-old in High-A saying that.” Fast forward four years, and that sentiment hasn’t changed. Lindor in that time has blossomed into one of the best players in the game today and potentially the face of the franchise. Few players in the league boast a more complete package of talent and marketability. As the club streaked to 22 consecutive wins, Lindor, along with manager Terry Francona and several other players, were adamant that they weren’t getting caught up in the streak itself. For Lindor, that message was extended to even the celebration in the clubhouse for the back-to- back division crowns. What he talks about, rather, is the one game the Indians didn’t win in 2016. Just as he indicated in that text message with Antonetti four years ago. “It’s still not done,” Lindor said. “We had a lot of ups and downs early in the season. But the guys battled back to playing at their highest level and trying to do our thing. We’re here to play the last game of the year. That’s our goal.” Lindor has already secured a 30-home run, 40-double season one year after winning a Platinum Glove in the American League. He’s a Most Valuable Player candidate. He’s a two-time All-Star. He doesn’t turn 24 until November, and he’s under club control through the 2021 season. There’s a lot for the Indians’ front office to like. What has stood out the most, Antonetti says, is Lindor wanting to always raise his own bar. “I think one of the things that has always stood out about Frankie is his determination to continue to get better as a player and be part of a winning team,” Antonetti said. “That mindset, Frankie has always had. He’s always thinking about how do I put in work today to get better and be a better player tomorrow. I think what we’ve seen this year is there’s really not a facet of the game in which he doesn’t contribute. Offensively, defensively, getting on base, extra-base hits, all of those things, he’s able to impact the game in so many ways. I think that’s a direct reflection of his mindset and commitment to be great.” Kluber honored Indians ace Corey Kluber might have overtaken Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale as the favorite for the American League Cy Young Award. He has also earned his second Player of the Week nod this season. Last week, Kluber didn’t allow a run and struck out 17 batters in 16 innings. Those two starts have become a part of a 22-inning scoreless streak. Kluber has a 17-4 record, 2.35 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 191 ⅔ innings despite missing roughly a month of the season with lower back tightness. Earlier this season, he was also named the AL’s Pitcher of the Month in June and August. ALDS tickets Single-game tickets for the American League Division Series will go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 29 on indians.com, the club announced. Those who purchase 2018 season tickets can also unlock pre-sale access to potential ALCS and World Series tickets. A note for those who might seek other ways of buying tickets: The Indians announced that they have reached an exclusive agreement with StubHub. Any fan who re-sells or purchases Indians postseason tickets on a secondary site other than StubHub could be subject to their tickets being revoked or having the bar codes canceled. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 09.19.2017 2017 playoff tickets go on sale to the public Friday, Sep. 29 By Joe Noga, CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tickets for the Cleveland Indians' potential American League Division Series games at Progressive Field go on sale to the public online only beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sep. 29 at indians.com. For potential 2017 postseason sellouts, fans are encouraged to used StubHub as a secondary market to get the most secure purchase experience, the club said. American League Division Series schedule Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 5 Game 2: Friday, Oct. 6 Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 8 Game 4: Monday, Oct. 9 Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 11 If the playoffs started today, the Indians would host the AL Wildcard winner in games 1, 2 and potentially game 5 of the Division Series. According to the team's exclusive agreement with StubHub: "Any fan who re-sells Indians Postseason tickets on a secondary site other than StubHub - and the fan who purchases those tickets - are subject to have their tickets revoked or the tickets' bar codes canceled." Fans can guarantee priority access to later round playoff games by purchasing season tickets for 2018, the club said. Fans who place a deposit, select seats and either pay in full or are on an approved payment plan will have access to potential 2017 ALCS and World Series pre- sales before the general public. The club did not disclose ticket prices for the Division Series, however face value ticket costs for the 2016 ALDS games could give fans a rough estimate of what they might expect to pay this year. ALDStickes2016.pngTicket prices for last season's AL Division Series vs. Boston.Via indians.com Tickets for the 2016 series ranged from $225 for seats in the old visitor's bullpen and $210 for Infield Club seats to $53 for upper box and upper reserved as well as $24 for standing room only. Lower reserve seats went for $110 and mezzanine seats were $71. Lower Bleacher seats sold for $65, while lower box seats were $125. All prices above included a nominal processing fee. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017 Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber earns American League Player of the Week honors By Joe Noga, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber has been selected American League Player of the Week for the week ending Sep. 17. It's the second time Kluber has won the award, also claiming the honor for the week ending June 25. Kluber made two starts and pitched the Indians to two wins in both outings, including a complete game shutout against Detroit and 17 strikeouts combined. Kluber (17-4, 2.35 ) beat out Toronto's Josh Donaldson, Houston's Justin Verlander and Minnesota's Eddie Rosario for the award. In Sunday's outing against Kansas City, Kluber held the Royals scoreless across seven innings, allowing three hits and striking out nine. The nine strikeouts made Kluber one of three Indians pitchers with multiple 250-strikeout seasons in his career, joining Sam McDowell and Bob Feller. Tuesday's complete game shutout against the Tigers included eight strikeouts while allowing just five hits. Kluber did not walk a batter in either start. Kluber is the third Cleveland pitcher in the last 65 years to notch at least 16 wins across their first 20 decisions in a season, joining Cliff Lee (2005, 08) and Charles Nagy (1996). Kluber, an American League All-Star for the second time in his career, was named AL Pitcher of the Month in both June and August, becoming the only major league player to earn the honor twice in 2017. As a prize for winning the award, Kluber will recieve a watch courtesy of Rockwell. Arizona outfielder J.D. Martinez earned the award in the National League, marking the fourth time he has received the honor this season. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017 Do Cleveland Indians need to win it all after The Streak? -- Bill Livingston By Bill Livingston, CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do the Cleveland Indians need to win the 2017 World Series now or the season is a failure? As much as fans thrilled to the 22-game winning streak and even came out to the ballpark to watch its later stages, will it mean a thing without that ring? Jim Thome designed T-shirts for in 1998, on the heels of a loss in the seventh game of the 1997 World Series in extra innings, that read: "It don't mean a thing till we get the ring." They didn't. A stunning list of "almosts" The New York Yankees, who faced their own pressure to validate a stunning 114-48 season, won the ring in 1998, beating the Indians in the American League Championship Series. The 2001 Seattle Mariners are barely remembered outside the Pacific Northwest, despite a record 116-46 season. They squeaked by the Indians in the divisional playoffs, then lost to the Yankees. In 2007, the unbeaten New England Patriots were beaten in the Super Bowl. The 2015 Golden State Warriors posted an unmatched 73-9 record, but that was not enough to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in a riveting seven-game NBA Finals. And the 1954 Indians' 111 victories were followed by none in the World Series. Great players who never won it all The metric for greatness seems to be rings these days, although baseball is full of tremendous players -- start with Ted Williams and Ty Cobb -- who never won a World Series. Individual greatness is one thing, team greatness is another. Even the swaggering Indians of the 1990s are remembered more for style than true greatness. It is unfair, but that is the way it is. The "Dubs" As easy as it is to dislike Steph Curry's prancing and preening and Draymond Green's mouthiness and cheap shots, the Golden State Warriors had to deal with the monumental disappointment of 2016. The Warriors won in 2015 against an injury-riddled Cavs team. They won again in 2017 because they had enough assets to clear cap space and sign Kevin Durant, a former league Most Valuable Player. (Editor's note: dates here have been corrected. Thank you.) With smart drafting and player acquisition, they resemble the Indians. Curry, for example, was drafted seventh, Klay Thompson 11th, Green 35th. The Cavaliers rose on lottery luck as much as anything. The Indians resurgence While three first-rounders (Francisco Lindor, Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall), and Jason Kipnis went in the second round, Josh Tomlin (19th) and Cody Allen (23rd) were fabulous late finds. Stick' em up trades -- Corey Kluber for Jake Westbrook, Carlos Santana for Casey Blake, Mike Clevinger for Vinnie Pestano -- enhanced the roster even more. Then Edwin Encarnacion, the plum of the free agent market, sort of fell to the Tribe by default. Injuries and repeating greatness Maybe this is the season when the Indians get the injury break with Michael Brantley, Kipnis and Andrew Miller that the Cubs got with Kyle Schwarber in the World Series. Maybe the incredible dominance of the 22-game streak, when the Indians won by an average of five runs per game, will enable them to manhandle the postseason, too. They say, though, that momentum in baseball is the next day's starter. This makes Tribe fans smile. Pitching In baseball, the long grind demands consistency and daily professionalism, virtues reflected most in the 14 straight division titles won by Atlanta. Pitching is the bedrock of performance. Alas, the Braves won by one World Series. Against the Indians. Cleveland had the best pitching in the 22-game streak, by every single starter, since Pedro Martinez was at his finest. Two "almosts," in World Series 20 years apart. Sixty-nine years of waiting. One championship, and fans here will live off it forever. The Indians might never have a better chance than now. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017 Cleveland Indians fans should appreciate these moments -- Terry Pluto By Terry Pluto CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's two AL Central Division titles in a row. It's five consecutive winning seasons, three trips to the playoffs. It's Cleveland Indians baseball ... right now. "You should celebrate success because it's really difficult in all pro sports," Tribe president Chris Antonetti said at a press conference Sunday. Cleveland fans know that as much as any group in the country. That's why this is a special time, especially if you bleed Wahoo red, white and blue. The Indians 22-game winning streak was historic. Then they lost on Friday night... And came back to win the next two games, clinching the Central Division. So the new streak is 24-of-25 games. Tribe general manager Mike Chernott and Antonetti stress The Streak leading to the Central title is "a necessary first step." The big goal is to return to the World Series -- and win it this time. Just so you know, the Indians have never been in back-to-back World Series. In fact, here are the appearances: 1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997 and 2016. So let's not take any of this for granted. SO MANY SURPRISES "This is a big organizational accomplishment," said Chernoff. Owner Paul Dolan deserves credit for raising the Tribe payroll from $95 million to about $130 million. That's still under the Major League average of $145 million. The Indians continue to do more with less. They have to be smarter, work harder and take some risks. A little luck helps, too. Chernoff and Antonetti were talking about Jose Ramirez. They both had been insisting Ramirez would become a good hitter. They based that on Ramirez consistently hitting .300 with other impressive numbers in the minors. But did they know Ramirez would emerge as an MVP candidate in 2017? "We have enough humility to know that we don't know everything," said Antonetti. "We also don't want to limit what players can do in the future." The Tribe had no idea Corey Kluber would emerge as a Cy Young Award winner when they traded for him in 2011. He wasn't even on Baseball America's list of the top 30 prospects ... in the San Diego Padres farm system! Chernoff and Antonetti talked about Kluber being sent back to the minor leagues four different times before he finally came to stay in April of 2013. Then he won the Cy Young Award in 2014. He should win it again this year. Francisco Lindor hit only 27 homers combined in his first two seasons (2015-16). This year, he's a 30-homer man at the age of 23. Who knew that was coming. SMART DECISIONS The Indians have made far more good decisions than poor ones. As Antonetti mentioned, most of their players come from within the system. Either they were signed and developed by the Indians, or they came in small trades then spent time in the minor league system preparing to come to Cleveland. Chernoff made an excellent point about players acquired at mid-season being able to immediately fit into the culture of the team. The two most recent examples are Andrew Miller and Jay Bruce. Another is Edwin Encarnacion. He was the biggest free agent signing in team history. He started slow. But since August 1, he has 15 HR and 34 RBI. "Players are made to feel comfortable and put in position to succeed," said Chernoff. "That's a credit to Tito (Francona) and the team's leadership. Antonetti said the Indians have been developing for years. A key date was 2013, Francona's first season as manager and Mickey Callaway being promoted to pitching coach. I believe August 7, 2015 was another major moment. That was when Antonetti and Chernoff traded injured and expensive veterans Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to Atlanta. The Indians were 49-59 on that date. They finished the 2015 season 32-21. Then they won the Central title the next two years. The trade allowed for a next wave of younger players such as Lonnie Chisenhall, Lindor and Ramirez to emerge. The front office and Francona also met with veterans Corey Kluber, Jason Kipnis, Yan Gomes, Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley -- challenging them to take over as leaders. No one with the Indians is taking victory laps or acting as if the job is done. "But we have shown during the winning streak and over the last few years that we can overcome obstacles and challenges," said Antonetti. "Tito sets the tone." That's true, but it really has been a team effort -- top to bottom. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017 Couple's bond over Cleveland Indians endures through grief By Marc Bona, CLEVELAND, Ohio - Baseball has a way of ingratiating itself into the hearts of its fans, into our memories. For Nancy Richison, it's a constant reminder of the most special person in her life, her late husband. Nancy Richison and Marty Rozenman of Columbus were tied by the game, specifically the Indians. The game was there for Marty, who listened on the radio as a kid, who watched and lived and breathed Indians baseball, who attended Tribe Caravans in Columbus with Nancy, who kept his hope alive during the time he was ill. "The thing about Marty is so unlike any fan," Richison said. "I think it didn't matter if they won or loss. His motto was 'let's play two.' If he just got to watch the game, that was enough, if they play their hearts out." Nancy quickly saw how important the game was to her husband, and it became important to both of them. And this year, no game was more important than one on a Saturday night in late August. Earlier this year, Richison had penned her thoughts in a column for Columbus Monthly about the bond she and her husband shared of the Indians. News of Richison's magazine piece spread, finding its way to Jesse Rathner in the Indians' Service Excellence department. After a bit of phone tag, the two connected. It became clear, Rathner said, that the team meant a lot to Marty. It was equally important to do something that would remain a valuable memory for Nancy. "We all collectively said 'we need to do something really special,' " Rathner said. They thought of a picture frame, but that didn't seem right. Then an idea for a jersey - a special one - came up. The Indians invited Nancy and her children, Laurel Rozenman, 23, and Henry Rozenman, 20, to a game. It turned out to be Aug. 26. Indians fans will recognize it as the third game of the historic winning streak, a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Nancy Richison knows it for another reason. "It was the August 26 game. The reason I know that so well - the 27th is the anniversary of my husband's death. The way the timing worked out is incredible," said Richison, who said she had been wanting to get to a game this season but hadn't been able to before then. The folks in the fan-service center, who scour the stadium to greet fans, are used to seeing memories take shape. Veterans attending with their families, wide-eyed young children at their first game, other moments. This one, though, stood out. "(Fan ambassador) Nicolette Kunath motioned 10 or 12 of the ambassadors," Richison said. "They said 'We all read your story and we wanted to do something extra for you.' She pulled out a jersey and it had my last name and pointed to the number. It had '90' - 'the year you were married.' "I lost it. It was such an emotional moment." The visit wasn't lost on Richison, who said the team "went above and beyond" in welcoming her family. It was a remembrance of a tender time with her husband, who suffered from Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, one of the many ugly-sounding, multi-syllabic forms of cancer. At the time of his death, he was considered the youngest person ever diagnosed with the disease, his obituary read. In 2010, he spent weeks in intensive care. "We had the TV on, and I would either sit with him and watch the game, or even if he was sleeping I'd turn the TV to the Indians game because I knew that would make us happy," she said. "Even when he was in a coma, hearing Rick Manning's voice, that would be enough for him, that things would be OK. "We would sit there and hold hands and watch the games. He was on a ventilator and could not speak. "He wrote 'I'm better when you're here.' And I told him 'So am I.' " Marty died Aug. 27, 2010. He was 56. "The whole thing was, August 27 is such a hard time for me and my kids," she said. "Now we have a place to go to celebrate his love." The husband-and-wife team also were writers. Marty wrote for The Other Paper, an alternative publication in Columbus. Nancy, a free-lance writer who works for the city of Dublin, has a photo of her husband interviewing former Indians pitcher Steve Olin. In their time together, they took trips to Cleveland to see the Indians, a team that was "interwoven through our lifetime," she said. They go together, her love of baseball and memories of Marty. As Richison says, "It's so much more than a game." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017 Will Danny Salazar be the Cleveland Indians' fourth starter in the ALDS? By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Indians announced Monday that Danny Salazar will start against the Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium. Manager Terry Francona said he wanted to slip a sixth starter into the rotation to make sure that the regulars got some rest in the last 12 games of the season before the start of the AL Division Series on Oct. 5. In a way, Salazar is filling space, breaking the routine of the best rotation in the American League so its members can catch their breath and rest their arms before on the onslaught of October. But for Salazar it will be his most important start of the season. The ALDS is a best-of-five arrangement, which should require the Indians to use four starters. Corey Kluber will start Game 1 on Oct. 5 followed by Carlos Carrasco or Trevor Bauer in Games 2 and 3, respectively. Should the Indians maintain home-field advantage, they could flip-flop Carrasco and Bauer. Carrasco is 10-2 with a 2.71 ERA on the road this season, while Bauer is 9-4 with a 4.08 ERA at Progressive Field. Or maybe the Indians won't try to overthink it and just go with what's worked all year. No matter what course they take, their first three starters have all won at least 16 games to date. It's the first time the Indians have had three 16-game winners in a single season since 1956 when Bob Lemon, Early Wynn and Herb Score won 20 games each. The Indians, should they maintain home-field advantage, would play Games 1, 2 and 5, if needed, at Progressive Field. That leaves Salazar in an interesting position after what can only be called a disappointing season. Should he pitch well Thursday, he could get another start before the end of the regular season and be in line to pitch Game 4 of the ALDS on Oct. 9, if necessary. Danny Salazar on pitching out of the bullpen He has made three appearances since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 5. None of them has drawn a pop from the crowd. Salazar had a miserable start against the White Sox on Sept. 5, lasting just two-thirds of an inning and allowing four runs. It was the worst performance by a starter during the Tribe's 22-game winning streak. He's made two relief appearances since. He threw two scoreless innings against the Tigers on Sept. 11 and a scoreless inning against the Royals on Friday. Salazar has been on the disabled list twice this season with right shoulder and elbow problems. Last year he missed most of the postseason with a right forearm problem. No matter what role Salazar is auditioning for - a spot in the rotation or bullpen - the Indians have options this time around. Not just options, but quality options. Mike Clevinger (10-5, 3.21), Josh Tomlin (9-9, 5.04) and Ryan Merritt (2-0, 1.74) will all be available depending on how the ALDS roster is set. They don't throw 98 mph like Salazar, but they are consistent, reliable and at the moment healthy. What a difference a year makes. Last year the Indians went into the postseason without Carrasco (broken right hand) or Salazar. Bauer made one start against Boston in the ALDS before running afoul of a drone propeller just before the ALCS against Toronto. The rotation depth they have now is an embarrassment of riches compared to last season. Clevinger, who starts Tuesday night against the Angels, has had a breakout season. He's 4-0 and has allowed one earned run in his last four starts. He's struck out 28 and walked six. The long-haired Clevinger is a 6-3 with a 2.56 ERA on the road this year. Overall, righties are hitting .177 and lefties .262 against him. Tomlin and Kluber helped pitch the Indians to Game 7 of the World Series last year. Tomlin missed time this year with a strained left hamstring, but he's 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in three starts since being activated. In his last seven starts, Tomlin is 5-0. Merritt stepped into the Tribe's rotation in Game 5 of the ALCS last year when there was no one else. He threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings as the Indians beat the Blue Jays to clinch the pennant. The left-hander has made four starts this season, but if the Indians draw the Yankees in the ALDS, would he get some consideration for a start? On Aug. 30, he held the Yankees to one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017 Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels series preview, pitching matchups By Paul Hoynes, ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Here's a look at the three-game series between the Indians and Angels that starts Tuesday night. Where: Angel Stadium, Tuesday through Thursday. TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7. Pitching matchups: RHP Mike Clevinger (10-5, 3.21) vs. LHP Tyler Skaggs (2-5, 4.37) Tuesday at 10:07 p.m.; RHP Josh Tomlin (9-9, 5.04) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-14, 5.11) Wednesday at 10:07 p.m. and Danny Salazar (5-6, 4.52) vs. RHP Parker Bridwell (8-2, 3.71) on Thursday at 4:07 p.m. Series: The Indians are 3-0 against the Angels this season. The Angels lead, 325-311, overall. Team updates: The Indians, who clinched the AL Central on Saturday night, have won 24 of their last 25 games. They are 17-1 in September. The Tribe swept a three-game series from the Angels in July. They outscored them, 23-12. The Angels are still in the wild-card race. They were off Monday, but trailed the Twins by two games for the second wild-card spot. They've won three of their last five games, but have lost six of their last 10. Luis Valbuena, former Tribe infielder, is hitting .417 (5-for-12) with two homers and five RBI against his old team this year. Injuries: Indians -LF Michael Brantley (right ankle), LHP Boone Logan (left lat) and RHP Cody Anderson (right elbow) are on the disabled list. OF Bradley Zimmer (broken left hand) is out. 2B Jose Ramirez (left hamstring) is day to day. Angels - RHP Andrew Bailey (right shoulder), 3B Yunel Escobar (right oblique), 1B Jefry Marte (left foot), RHP Alex Meyer (right shoulder), RHP J.C. Ramirez (right elbow), RHP Matt Shoemaker (right forearm), RHP Huston Street (right groin, right rotator cuff) and RHP Nick Topeano (right elbow) are on the disabled list. 2B Brandon Phillips (back) and LHP Andrew Heaney (left shoulder) are day to day. Next: The Indians open a three-game series against Seattle at Safeco Field on Friday night. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.19.2017

Cleveland Indians juggernaut rolls into Anaheim after historic streak By J.P. Hoornstra | PUBLISHED: September 18, 2017 at 5:37 pm | UPDATED: September 18, 2017 at 5:51 PM In July, a reporter asked Angels manager Mike Scioscia to comment on the success of the Dodgers, who were in the midst of winning 14 of 15 games. Scioscia obliged the question, but quickly noted that he and his players were focused on their own fate. Hopefully their focus hasn’t wavered. The Cleveland Indians roll into Anaheim this week having recently won 22 consecutive games, an American League record. There’s a strong case for calling it the longest, most dominant regular-season streak ever in Major League Baseball. Cleveland trailed at the end of only eight innings during the 199 innings it played. Once, the Indians won in their final at-bat. Mostly they won by grappling teams into submission early, leaving no room for a reversal. They outscored opponents, 142-37. The streak began on Aug. 24 and ended Friday. For the Indians’ rookies who were summoned when rosters expanded in September, a 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals marked the first time they ever tasted defeat in the major leagues. Cleveland beat Kansas City on Saturday and Sunday, beginning a new streak. After Sunday’s win, the team wasted several bottles of champagne in celebration of an AL Central title. Through one prism, the Indians’ rise is a story of successful drafting and developing, and signing homegrown players to team-friendly contracts. Their $139 million payroll ranks 19th in baseball according to Spotrac. Infielder Jose Ramirez, an MVP candidate at age 24, is signed through 2021 at a total cost of $26 million. Pitcher Corey Kluber will make $7.5 million this year – more if he captures his second career Cy Young Award. Other key contributors include young (read: inexpensive) talents such as Francisco Lindor (23), Mike Clevinger (26) and Bradley Zimmer (24). The success of Clevinger, who starts Tuesday opposite Tyler Skaggs, is a case of what might have been for the Angels. Clevinger had a 5.37 ERA at Class-A Inland Empire when the Angels traded him to Cleveland for Vinnie Pestano in August 2014. He was 23 years old at the time, three years removed from hearing his name called in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. Pestano, a left-handed relief specialist, was perfectly serviceable for an Angels team en route to its only division title this decade. He was charged with one run in 12 relief appearances after the trade. But within a year, Pestano was outrighted off the Angels’ 40-man roster. He hasn’t appeared in a major league game since. Meanwhile, Clevinger became a bona fide prospect. The right-hander breezed through the Indians’ system and debuted in 2016. This year he’s 10-6 with a 3.21 ERA. During the streak, he was 4-0 with a 0.38 ERA. Clevinger has made 30 major league starts; all other pitchers drafted by the Angels this decade have made 20 starts combined. To call Clevinger part of the best rotation in baseball history is accurate by one metric. No team’s starting pitchers have struck out more batters per nine innings than the Indians, at 10.01. (To be fair, this statistic has been skewed by the era. The top five team-seasons ever are all from this year.) The Angels will miss former UCLA standout Trevor Bauer (16-9) in the three-game series. Erstwhile reliever Danny Salazar will start Thursday’s game instead, while Bauer and the rest of the starting rotation will receive an extra day of rest. Is this merely a playoff-bound team choosing to rest its regulars, or a possible bit of strategy? Therein lies the important subplot to this series. If the Angels manage to qualify for the playoffs, win the wild-card game, and advance to the American League Division Series, a trip to Cleveland could easily follow. The Indians lead the Houston Astros by a game and a half in the race for the AL’s best record. The team with the second-best record is all but certain to play the winner of the AL East: the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees. With The Streak in the rear-view mirror, you don’t have to squint to see Angels-Indians as a postseason preview. LA Daily News LOADED: 09.19.2017