If you haven't noticed, Cleveland kinda rocks right now.
LeBron James, a shirtless J.R. Smith and the rest of the Cavaliers pulled off a Game Seven victory over Golden State to win the NBA title, ending a 52-year championship drought for the city.
The celebration at Quicken Loans Arena has moved across the street to Progressive Field, where the baseball Indians have stormed to the top of the AL Central standings. Now that the championship seal has been broken, why can't the Indians follow the Cavs' lead?
"It's had a shift in the fans' mindset," righthander Corey Kluber said from San Diego during All-Star week. "There's more of a, 'Why not?' feel from the fans. There's definitely more energy, maybe not a sense of waiting for something to go wrong, but instead of seeing something good happen."
With their smartphones filled with pictures of the Cavaliers' victory parade, the Indians begin the second half with three games at Target Field against the Twins. Although the Indians are 26-11 against division opponents, the Twins have beaten them four out of six games this season.
But the last time the Twins faced Cleveland — three games May 13-15 at Progressive Field — was before their 14-game winning streak that put them 19 games above .500 and seven games ahead in the division on July 1.
"We never really thought a lot about it. We were just playing the game and it just happened," shortstop Francisco Lindor said of the streak. "We were having fun as a team and, the next thing you know, we sweep a series. Then we sweep another series. And then we get 10 games in and everyone is talking about us."
The engine that turns the Cleveland machine is its starting rotation of Kluber, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco. The staff's 3.70 ERA is second lowest in the AL to Toronto's 3.64. The only reason it's that high is because Cody Anderson posted a 7.48 ERA in eight starts while filling in for an injured Carrasco. Kluber's 3.61 ERA is the highest of the staff — and nearly a half-run lower than Ervin Santana's 4.06 ERA that leads Twins starters.
It's a group that has bonded. They all meet in the bullpen every day to watch and support whoever is throwing on the side that day. It makes them accountable and they learn from each other.
For opponents, it means it's going to be tough to beat them in a series.
"You're not going to see teams like that go on four- or five-game losing skids," Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer said, "just because of the quality of starting pitchers they are running out there."
And that is going to make running the Indians down very difficult during the second half. The Tigers trail by 6½ games, with the White Sox and defending World Series champion Royals sitting seven games back.
All three teams are within striking distance of Cleveland, but they all have their flaws. The Royals have been hit with injuries. The White Sox offense is unreliable. The Tigers were 0-11 against Cleveland before finally winning one last week.
And there's this: Cleveland has played .567 ball in the second half over the past three seasons, including 39-34 last season.
"It's kind of one of those deals where every time we play them this next half we are going to have to win every series and make up a lot of ground that way," Hosmer said.
If someone doesn't step up and stop the Indians, they will reach the postseason for the first time since 2013.
"Hopefully the way we played in the second half last year is the same way we approach the game now," Kluber said. "Just because we have a lead at the All-Star break doesn't mean anything to us. We have to play with the same intensity of the last few years when we had to chase people and make up ground."
