Injuns' Path to the Pennant

Four at KC, three at home against Tampa Bay (and lame duck manager Sweet Lou Piniella), and a season-ending three-gamer with the Chisox. It looks as if that last weekend could be everything: not just determining the division title, but possibly whether either one of these teams enters the playoffs as a wild card or not.

The Chisox have 4 at home against the Twins, then 4 at Detroit. I don't see the Chisox opening up any more ground over the next 8. I foresee no greater than a 1 game lead for the Chisox, and up to a 1 game lead for the Tribe.

Prediction: Tribe takes 6 of 7. Chisox take 4 of 8. They enter the final set in a tie for the division lead. Three game set at The Jake essentially becomes Round 1 of the playoffs.

PS: And to think that the Indians have done this on a $42 million payroll while dismantling a juggernaut. Hey, Ed Wade: if the Tribe can do it, how much longer should we wait while you trot out the likes of David Bell and Mike Lieberthal? Lieby was good once; Bell was never more than serviceable. Now may be the time to trade guys at the top of their bubble, like Abreu and Burrell, and do in Philly what Shapiro has done in Cleveland. Not that I'm holding my breath...