The Cleveland Indians came out swinging starting the 2017 MLB season on a good footing and fans are starting to believe they can successfully defend the 2016 AL Championship title. So far the tribe has scored 25 wins and 23 losses; a run that has pushed the team to 2nd place in the AL Central division. “They are holding their own but if the tribe can turn up the heat and squeeze out a few more impressive wins, the World Series could be in the cards for the second time in a row”, mentioned Victor Bierman III, Ohio lawyer and business expert.

Like any team, the Indians have gone through some really tough times. For example, they had to turn things around to stop a frustrating losing streak. And they did this in style by beating Kansas City Royals 10-1 at Progressive Field to grab the final game of the three-game series. The last time the Cleveland Indians lost more than three games in a row was back in July, 2015. This illustrates how impressive the tribe’s performance has been in recent years. According to Cleveland Indians manager, Terry Francona, the team needs to stay focused in order to play again at the World Series.

Although the Indians did manage to make it to the 2016 World Series for the first time in nearly twenty years, losing to the Cubs was devastating. But Clevelanders are known for dusting themselves off and getting right back in the game. And that’s exactly what the tribe has done. In fact, Francona is looking to leave his mark by winning this year’s World Series for the first time since 1947. The Indians made their intentions clear at the start of the 2017 season when they showed how aggressive they are in free agency by landing one of the biggest prizes on the market; the signing of Edward Encarnación to a 3-year, $60 million contract.

With a healthy rotation and postseason experience, the tribe is expecting to get things done this year. And manager Francona is getting the best out of the likes of Jason Kipnis, Jose Ramirez, Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley, and right-hander Josh Tomlin. The Tribe does not expect this season’s run to be a breeze, but they can take some positives and experience from their loss in last year’s World Series. They also need to absorb all the mounting pressure and pound out a few more impressive wins to score another chance at bringing the Commissioner’s Trophy home to Cleveland.

Image Credit: Doug Chapman