Indians season ends-Rays move on.

The heralded fastball of Danny Salazar blazed through the Cleveland night and did what it was supposed to do as Salazar allowed just four hits to the Tampa Bay Rays in his four plus innings.
The problem was that one left the park to Delmon Young and that was all the Rays needed in a 4-0 win in the wild card game in Cleveland.
Salazar would later allow a two run double to Desmond Jennings that looked huge at the time,but in hindsight would not have mattered.
The Indians season ends while Tampa travels to Boston for the ALDS.

Tomorrow will be a HUGE day for us,we will have the Devils season debut,the Pirates debut in the NLDS and the Browns hosting the Bills.
The Browns may wait a day because I will have to move to the road office and will likely miss the second half of the game as we have no NFL Network here...

Smoke Signals

1) I hadn't seem Danny Salazar pitch since he was with High A Carolina last season,but I was still impressed with his live arm.
The Indians are protecting Salazar somewhat (Tommy John surgery),but the arm is legitimate.

2) That said,at this point-Salazar is a 5-6 inning pitcher at best.
It will be interesting to see,if the Tribe takes off the training wheels next season or gives thought down the road towards closing Salazar.

3) Cleveland had their chances against Tampa's young starter,Alex Cobb,but couldn't get the job done.
Cleveland loaded the bases in the fourth but watched Asdrubal Cabrera swing at a low curveball and smack into a double play to end the inning.
Jason Kipnis tapped back to the mound to end the 5th in two runners in scoring position and the beat went on.

4) Alex Cobb gave the Tribe opportunities and wasn't overwhelming,but came up with the key pitch,when he needed it.
The plate patience for the Indians didn't seem to be there in the biggest game of the year...

5) Now the off season begins and the questions begin.
Will the Indians be able to bring back Ubaldo Jimenez and/or Scott Kazmir on the mound?
Is Lonnie Chisenhall the answer at third base and can the Indians afford to give another year of weakening the lineup?
Does Asdrubal Cabrera get traded now or later?
Cleveland has an interesting off-season coming with plenty of questions for a team that won over 90 games.

6) Could the Indians take a step back next season?
They not only could-they should.
Like last season's Orioles,it's tough to repeat a season that sees 30 wins in one run games.
Those things tend to even out...

If I have time later today,I'll have a Devils season preview,if not that will wait until early next week....

Photo Credit:Cleveland Plain Dealer