Guardians fans should get ready to party like it's 1948

Alot’s happened since Cleveland’s baseball team last won the World Series. Things like the JFK assassination, the moon landing, the rise and fall of disco, the invention of hip-hop, the internet, and smartphones. Heck, their beloved team even changed stadiums and names. But through it all the city’s loyal fans stood by their team hoping every year was the year. 

And since coming oh so close in 2016, the Guardians haven’t fielded a team good enough to get back to the World Series and finish the job. 

Until this year.

With first-year manager Stephen Vogt at the helm, and led by the likes of Jose Ramirez, Stephen Kwan, and Andres Gimenez, the Guardians are one of baseball’s most surprising teams this year. Especially with a pitching staff that many considered shaky at best. Instead, though, Cleveland’s pitching (especially lights-out closer Emmanuel Clase) has helped power them to the American League’s second-best record and a damn good shot at the AL Central title.

And with a playoff spot now clinched, the Guardians can use their last eight games to try and get the best possible seeding.

But when the calendar flips to October and the playoffs get underway, just how dangerous will they be?

Let’s put it this way.

If I’m the rest of the American League…I don’t wanna see Cleveland on my side of the bracket. They may not have the flashiest superstars. Or the most experienced manager. Or even the biggest name players. What the Guardians do have is tons of talent and a knack for coming through in the clutch. And those things are way more valuable in October than just about anything else.

Make no mistake, folks. The Cleveland Guardians are a very good baseball team despite the fact that so many slept on them earlier this year. No one’s sleeping on them now, though. The rest of the American League, and the rest of baseball, has stood up and taken notice of how good the Guardians are. 

And whoever has the misfortune of facing them in the playoffs shouldn’t take them lightly. Because the Guardians are a good, deep, dangerous team with all the pieces in place to make a deep October run. 

Sure, the road won’t be easy. And sure, winning a World Series is no easy task. I mean, there hasn’t been a repeat winner since the 1999 Yankees who went on to three-peat in 2000. 

But if I were a Guardians fan, I’d start thinkin about digging out that champagne I’ve had stashed since 1995. Y’know, just in case they finish the job this time.