TBOH MLB September Power Ranking

4. CLEVELAND INDIANS

Back at the beginning of the season, our staff here at TBOH was polled on the American League Central Division race. At that time we made the two-time defending AL champions and defending World Series champs, the Kansas City Royals, our favorites to win the crown.

We picked the Detroit Tigers to come in 2nd place, and to be a strong AL Wildcard contender. The Cleveland Indians? Well, the staff picked them to come in 3rd place in a tight race from 3-5 with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins.

So much for that prediction. The Royals have been good, just not good enough, and the Tigers are indeed in 2nd place and battling for an AL Wildcard.

But it is the Tribe who have taken control of the AL Central race. Terry Francona‘s squad is at 79-57, a .581 pace that is the 2nd best in the entire American League, fourth best in all of baseball. That is right where they fall in my current rankings as well.

The Indians are paced by a monster power season from the best free agent signing of last off-season. Mike Napoli didn’t sign with Cleveland until after the new year. He has provided the lineup with 30 homers, 90 RBI, and 82 runs scored while manning the 1st base position well.

2nd baseman Jason Kipnis remains one of the best and most underrated in the game at his position, as does 22-year old shortstop Francisco Lindor, the runner-up in last year’s AL Rookie of the Year race.

DH Carlos Santana remains a strong middle-of-the-order power threat, and rookie Tyler Naquin has banged 14 home runs and scored 44 runs in part-time play.

But the Indians offense doesn’t just beat you with the longball, as many American League teams seem to do. The Tribe also runs, and runs often. Rajai Davis has 35 steals, 3rd baseman Jose Ramirez has 20, and both Kipnis and Lindor are in double-digits.

Another who should add to that speed total is outfielder Coco Crisp, just added in a waiver-deadline deal from the Oakland Athletics.

The Indians can pitch as well. Led by 30-year old righty ace Corey Kluber, the rotation also includes solid righties Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, and Josh Tomlin. Cody Allen as the closer and setup men Dan Otero and Bryan Shaw pace an underrated bullpen.

That word “underrated” can be used to describe this entire Cleveland Indians operation. But this is the fourth straight winning season for Cleveland, and the 3rd out of the last four in which they have been a legit postseason contender.

Perhaps they should get a little more widespread respect from the baseball public. They are certainly demanding that respect in a 2016 season that could last deep into October, bringing more excitement to a town that already is celebrating an NBA Champion.

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