Cleveland Indians: What fans can look forward to in 2018

Cleveland Indians fans have had plenty of reasons to be excited over the last two years. With 2018 inching closer, it’s time to look forward to next season.

It was September 29, 2017, the Friday night game of the Cleveland Indians‘ final regular season series against the Chicago White Sox. It wasn’t quite cold out yet, but there was a cool breeze flowing through Progressive Field that turned into a crisp autumn chill as the sun descended.

My fiance and I were sitting in Section 185, Row E, just slightly to the left field side of the pine trees in dead center, about 15 feet back from the wall. I remember sitting there thinking just how herculean an effort it would take for anyone to hit a ball in our vicinity. Jay Bruce (a lefty, mind you) would later prove me wrong as he muscled an impressive two-run shot that landed about 30 feet to our right.

That home run put the Indians up 6-0 in the bottom of the second inning and buried the White Sox in what turned out to be a pretty stress-free game.

What stands out to me the most about that night, however, happened in the ninth. After Bryan Shaw recorded one out against the only batter he faced, Terry Francona exited the dugout and strolled casually out to the mound. Again, I remember thinking that could only mean one thing, except this time I was right.

A few seconds later Andrew Miller walked out of the bullpen in a 10-1 ballgame and before I could even stand to cheer for him, the rest of the crowd erupted into a frenzy that suggested he was coming in to face Jack Parkman. It was the loudest Progressive Field got that night, and the game had been all but over for six innings.

I had enjoyed the entire experience to that point, but as I stood there and watched Miller make his way to the mound, listening to the thousands of fans around me cheering his entrance, I thought to myself: This is what playoff baseball feels like.

Sure, the game was against the left-for-dead White Sox, but the atmosphere inside The Jake that night was something I will never forget. Growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, I had never gotten to feel that.

I hadn’t made the voyage to Cleveland since 2013, but on that day I decided I would make it an annual experience. For 2018, I think I’ll plan for the Tribe’s final home series against the Boston Red Sox.

That, among many other things, is what I’m looking forward to regarding the Indians in 2018. Now, let’s take a look at some of those many other things.