A couple of years ago, I compiled all of the Indians’ rankings on ESPN’s Power Rankings, along with our contributions to the comments section.  (We submit comments, but have nothing to do with the rankings themselves).  It was a neat way to get a snap shot of the team’s performance throughout the season, so I thought I’d put it together again this offseason.

Date and Ranking

Overall Won-Loss Record

Comment on the Team

Week 1, March 30 – Ranked #24

0-0

Fans wanted change after last season and the front office gave it to them. After hiring manager Terry Francona, the Indians made some smart moves that brought, among others, Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to the team. Fans who’ve spent countless seasons “waiting ’til next year” can’t be faulted for thinking that “next year” might actually be this year. — Susan Petrone

Week 2, April 8 – Ranked #20

3-3

The Indians defeated both reigning Cy Young winners, getting a combined 11 earned runs and 15 hits off of R.A. Dickey and David Price. The offense was led by Carlos Santana this week, as he hit .500 with a 1.455 OPS, including a 5-for-5 performance Sunday in Tampa. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 3, April 15 – Ranked #21

5-6

The Indians had their first two home games of the season spoiled by the Yankees and the next two spoiled by rainouts. They got back on track with a stellar shutout from Justin Masterson to start off a series against the White Sox and ended up taking two of three in the series. Masterson has pitched 19 shutout innings in a row. — Susan Petrone

Week 4, April 22 – Ranked #26

7-10

The Indians scored 19 runs in Houston on Saturday. In their other five games last week, they scored a combined 15 runs. Indians starters went winless last week, as the bullpen was credited with the win in both of their victories. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 5, April 29 – Ranked #25

9-13

Two rainouts and a travel day gave the Indians a funky schedule, and it showed in their play, as the offense managed to score more than three runs in only one game. Bright spots came from respectable outings by Scott Kazmir and Cory Kluber, which may bode well for the future of the rotation. — Susan Petrone

Week 6, May 6 – Ranked #16

14-14

During their six-game winning streak last week, the Indians outscored their opponents 53-14. They scored six or more runs and tallied 12 or more hits in each game. The pitching staff also had a 2.56 ERA during the streak. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 7, May 13 – Ranked #12

20-15

The Indians swept a four-game series against the A’s and won two of three games against AL Central rival Detroit. The Indians are now tied for first place with the Tigers in the AL Central. — Susan Petrone

Week 8, May 20 – Ranked #7

25-17

The Indians’ 6-0 shutout of the Mariners on Sunday marked the seventh time in 2013 that the Indians have shut out their opponent. They recorded only six shutouts in all of 2012. The Indians also now have defeated seven former Cy Young winners, just 42 games into the season. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 9, May 27 – Ranked #9

27-22

After playing red-hot baseball for the last three weeks, the Tribe cooled off. After completing a four-game sweep of the Mariners, they lost two to Detroit and went 1-3 in Boston. The normally stellar bullpen has been shaky. On the plus side, young starters Zach McAllister and Corey Kluber continue to turn in increasingly solid starts. — Susan Petrone

Week 10, June 3 – Ranked #13

30-26

Just refer to Ubaldo Jimenez as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In seven of his 11 starts this year, he’s allowed just eight total runs — two or fewer in each start. In the other four starts he’s allowed a combined 24 earned runs. Perhaps, Progressive Field brings out the worst in him — he has a 7.53 ERA at home and a 2.32 ERA on the road. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 11, June 10 – Ranked #16

30-32

The Tribe have lost seven in a row. Please don’t talk to us right now. — Susan Petrone

Week 12, June 17 – Ranked #18

34-34

The Indians earned their ninth shutout of the year against Washington on Sunday, leaving them tied for the AL lead in shutouts with Seattle. The Tribe bounced back from their eight-game losing streak by taking two of three from both Texas and Washington. Jason Kipnis led the way over the past seven days, hitting .500/.565/.750. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 13, June 24 – Ranked #16

38-36

The Indians took two out of three from Washington, Kansas City and Minnesota, led by two strong outings for Corey Kluber and timely hitting by Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis. — Susan Petrone

Week 14, July 1 – Ranked #10

44-38

The Indians, who have had their struggles on the road this season, managed to take six of eight games from the Orioles and White Sox on their current road trip. Jason Kipnis completed a torrid June, where he hit .419/.517/.699. Justin Masterson now leads the majors in shutouts with three. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 15, July 8 – Ranked #14

46-42

The Indians continued their streaky brand of play, finishing up a sweep of the White Sox only to struggle against the Royals and Tigers. They managed to snap an overall four-game losing streak and a seven-game losing streak against Detroit on Sunday behind four home runs, two from Michael Brantley. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 16, July 15 – Ranked #12

51-44

After losing three of four to the Tigers, the Indians stormed back to take five of six from the Blue Jays and Royals heading into the All-Star break. The Indians’ pitching staff earned their 11th and 12th shutouts of the season, and closer Chris Perez has six saves in nine appearances with a 1.00 ERA since returning from the DL on June 28. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 17, July 22 – Ranked #12

52-46

The Indians entered the second half with great starting pitching from Scott Kazmir, Corey Kluber and Justin Masterson. Unfortunately, the offense (and defense) didn’t come through in the first two of a three-game series against the Twins, wasting Kazmir’s and Kluber’s strong starts. Masterson flirted with a no-hitter in the win Sunday. — Susan Petrone

Week 18, July 29 – Ranked #12

56-48

After a rough road trip, which saw the Indians make nine errors in six games, they swept the Rangers and shut them out in two of three games. Michael Bourn has been on fire since the All-Star break — he’s hitting .296 with a .962 OPS, two home runs and 10 RBIs. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 19, August 5 – Ranked #9

62-49

The Indians started the week by completing a sweep of the Rangers and finished by winning their first road series since June, clinching it with their 15th shutout of the year on Sunday. They’ve won nine of their last 10 games and take that momentum into a crucial four-game homestand against the division-leading Tigers. Prospect Danny Salazar has been tapped to start the third game of the series. — Susan Petrone

Week 20, August 12 – Ranked #13

63-55

After the Indians went 1-7 last week, including a four-game sweep by the Tigers, it brought back terrible memories of August 2012, when the Indians went 5-24. Some of the highlights from the miserable week include a blown save, an anemic offense and the Indians pitching debut of Ryan Raburn. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 21, August 19 – Ranked #13

66-58

The Indians had a glass half-full/glass half-empty kind of week. On the half-full side, Ubaldo Jimenez allowed only one hit in a strong start against Oakland, Asdrubal Cabrera broke an 0-for-20 hitting slump, and they went 4-3 this week. On the half-empty side, Scott Kazmir’s comeback has stalled due to a dead arm, Corey Kluber has a sprained finger, and the offense continues to be inconsistent. — Susan Petrone

Week 22, August 26 – Ranked #11

71-59

After sweeping the Angels and taking two of three from Minnesota last week, the Indians enter their most important stretch of the season. They take on Atlanta, Detroit and Baltimore over the next 10 days, as they sit just a game and a half back from the second wild-card spot. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 23, September 2 – Ranked #13

72-64

After getting swept by the Braves and in danger of a sweep by the Tigers, the Indians managed to end the week on a high note with a win. Mike Aviles’ first career grand slam saved a strong start by rookie pitcher Danny Salazar. — Susan Petrone

Week 24, September 9 – Ranked #12

76-66

If the Indians hope to maintain their push for the second AL wild card, they will need production from their slumping hitters in the final 20 games. Since the All-Star break, Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting just .201/.247/.317 and Michael Bourn is hitting .219/.295/.309. In September, Cabrera is hitting .056, Bourn .174, and Drew Stubbs .176. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 25, September 16 – Ranked #10

81-68

The Indians dropped two of three to the Royals but got back on track to sweep the White Sox and move within a half-game of an AL wild-card spot. Ubaldo Jimenez has quietly become the pitcher the Tribe traded for two seasons ago, winning two games this past week, with a 1.57 ERA over the last 28 days. Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate as well in Sunday’s game. — Susan Petrone

Week 26, September 23 – Ranked #10

86-70

The Indians beat the Astros on Sunday to finish their sixth four-game sweep, the most four-game sweeps they’ve had in a season since 1954. The last time any team completed six in one season was 1961, when the Yankees did so. Two players who’ve struggled at times this season led the way offensively last week — Nick Swisher hit .421/.520/.474 and Asdrubal Cabrera hit .364/.417/.500. — Stephanie Liscio

Week 27, September 30 – Ranked #8

92-70

The Indians ended the regular season in style, winning their last 10 games to secure home-field advantage in the AL wild-card game. Ubaldo Jimenez struck out 13 in Game 162, tying a career best. Tribe fans are cautiously celebrating their team’s first postseason appearance since 2007. — Susan Petrone

2 Comments

  • Gvl Steve says:

    Let’s talk about John Axford. Cle.com is blowing up over it and I want to hear what someone reasonably intelligent has to say.

  • Stephanie Liscio says:

    I’m working on something that I should have up this afternoon. Curse the Indians for making a signing during a crazy week for me! 😉