The Cleveland Indians put together an amazing run the second half of the 2016 season which propelled them to win their first division crown since the 2007 season.
On June 19th, the Cleveland Cavs won the 2016 NBA Championship and on the diamond that day the Indians won their third straight game to improve to 38-30. But the Cavs title somehow turned into the turning point in the Tribe’s season, as they would win 11 straight games (14 overall) and on July 1st, they were 49-30, with a seven game lead over the Kansas City Royals, the defending World Series Champs.
After a 22-6 month of June, they came back down to earth a bit and finished July at .500 (12-12), but a 16-14 August, 16-11 September and 2-0 October propelled the team to a 94-67 finish and a World Series berth. Their only downfall was an unexpected rain delay in the top of the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series against the Chicago which shifted the momentum to the Cubs.
In the end, was it one bat that could have put them over the top? and if so, will the signing of Edwin Encarnacion make a difference? Well it doesn’t hurt.
Encarnacion, 33, has been a potent bat in the American League since 2010 averaging 33 home runs and 93 home runs. In 2016, he played in 160 games, and batted .263, with 99 runs, 34 doubles, 42 home runs and 127 RBIs (tied for 1st).
The 3-time All-Star has put together an amazing run the past five seasons and is joining the Tribe at the perfect time of his career, with both looking for that elusive title.
After losing to the Royals 4-2 in the 2015 ALCS, Encarnacion and his Blue Jays battled with the Indians in five heart wrenching games, but once again fell as the Tribe won the 2016 ALCS 4-1.
What is the old saying, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them.’
