The Stretch Run

Today could be the most important day of the 2007 baseball season for my Cleveland Indians, and they don't even have a game.

It's their first day off in more than three weeks. The Tribe went an incredible 17-6 in 23 games, played in 23 straight days. They get the day off today, then return from a 7-3 road trip with a three-game series beginning tomorrow night at the Jake against the hapless Kansas City Royals.

And in their three games this weekend, they'll be throwing Cy Young candidates C.C. Sabathia (17 wins) and Fausto Carmona (16) on Friday and Saturday, then wrapping things up with Paul Byrd (15) on Sunday. Not a bad way to return from an off-day.

Cleveland, at 85-61 and firmly atop the AL Central, 5.5 games ahead of fading Detroit, plays its next nine games at home, with another off day after the sixth game.

There is one potentially troublesome doubleheader at Seattle on Sept. 26, but a season-ending three-gamer at weak sister Kansas City might lend some rest to an overworked arm or two on the rotation. Then it's onto the playoffs.

I try not to go sports-heavy on PAE, but it's hard not to get excited about another October in which the Indians are playing postseason baseball.

Postseason Predictions?