The Indian is All Smiles

A healthy Travis Hafner is crucial to an
Indians playoff run through the
summer.

The city of Cleveland did not had much reason to be optimistic heading in 2011 sports season, especially with the departure of an icon, Lebron James, who signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat this offseason.

James is a Ohio native and was selected with the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft.

For a city that has not seen a champion be crowned in their town since 1948, when the Cleveland Indians won their second World Series title in franchise history against the Boston Braves in six games, 2011 has suddenly provided hope.

With their 12th inning victory Thursday afternoon in Oakland, the Indians are tied for the best start in franchise history through the team's first 30 games.

Cleveland has surprised many with their unbelievable start and surge to the top of the American League Central, but with their young core it was bound to happen.

Not only do the Indians possess the best record (21-9) in the AL, but tied for the best record in Major League Baseball, with the Philadelphia Phillies.

It all starts on the mound and Cleveland's pitching has been anything short of spectacular to start the year.

Former Boston Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson has started the season undefeated, going 5-0 in his first six starts with a 2.25 earned run average. This is a significant turn around from his 6-13 record in 2010. Another young right-hander is enjoying a fast start for the Tribe.

Josh Tomlin, 26, is 4-1 with a 2.42 ERA in only his second season in the big leagues.

The offense, while being extremely productive, has not had one hitter really stand out, but more of a collective group effort. The Indians currently rank fifth in majors with 151 runs scored and second in batting average, posting a respectable .272.

Six different players have driven in 15 or more runs with two others also reaching double-digits. Superstar Grady Sizemore is not one of those guys, but has chipped in with nine of his own in just 14 games. The 28-year-old Sizemore is coming off micro fracture knee surgery that caused to to miss most the the last season.

Cleveland also calls home to one of the most underrated players in all of baseball, Shin-Soo-Choo. The Korean right fielder has become a five-tool player in his six years with the Indians and will play a major role in the team's future success.

A lot also rides on the health of veteran designated hitter Travis Hafner, who is off to a red hot start, leading the team in average at .353.

Hafner has only played in 269 games the last three seasons due to a variety of different injuries. 'Pronk', as he is known in Cleveland, has seemed regained his devastating power stroke, hitting four long balls in his first 80 at-bats. Hafner had struggled to hit out the ball out of ballpark recently, not reaching the 20 home run plateau since he hit 24 back in 2008.

His career-high came when oddly enough when Indians were last in the postseason, hitting 42 back in 2007.

That season the Indians would finish first in the AL Central, recording 96 victories under then-manager Eric Wedge. Cleveland would come a win away from their first AL Pennant since 1997, taking a commanding three games to one in the ALCS, before losing three straight to the eventual World Series champion Red Sox.

That team has since been dismantled and filled with a plethora of youth.

Two young players acquired to their respective trades following the Indians' postseason collapse seemed to be coming into their own right before our eyes.

Cleveland acquired infielder and former Florida Gator standout Matt LaPorta from the Milwaukee Brewers for former ace C.C. Sabathia prior to the '08 July 31st Trading Deadline. LaPorta looks more comfortable at the plate this season, hitting .273 with four home runs and 16 runs batted in.

Their backstop, Carlos Santana, was acquired around the same time in a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for third baseman Casey Blake and seems to be yet another switch-hitting catcher on the rise. Coming off a broken leg in a home plate collision last August, Santana has not his average rise to where he wants it to be, but the power and timely hitting have become a part of his game. The Santo Domingo native is only batting .196, but has added five home runs, tied for the team lead with shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

One of those came in dramatic fashion with a walk-off grand slam against the division rival Detriot Tigers earlier this year.

With this relatively young group, Cleveland is looking to get back to their winning ways and recapture their magic in the mid-to-late 90s.

During that time the Indians made the postseason five consecutive seasons from 1995-99, appearing in two World Series. They would play in the '95 and '97 Fall Classics, losing them both to the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins, even with one of the most feared lineups throughout baseball.

Manger Manny Acta is looking to recreate that blueprint and put Indians baseball, along with Cleveland sports, back on the map.

The last Cleveland franchise to play for a championship were the 2007 the James-led Cavaliers, who would be swept in the NBA Finals by the San Antonio Spurs. With the Cleveland Browns still in the rebuilding process and yet to win a Super Bowl, the Indians are back as the team of Ohio.

With the death of maybe the most iconic Indian in franchise history, Bob Feller has been and will be honored the rest of the season by the team with a No. 19 patch on their jerseys. The Hall of Famer was a fixture at Indians home games and will be truly missed at Progressive Field.

'Rapid Robert' now holds the best seat in the house and will be smiling along side his beloved Indians.

Make him proud Tribe.