Cleveland Indians: A sweep for Tito could ignite the team

The Cleveland Indians are rallying together in honor of manager Terry Francona, and a sweep this weekend could kickstart this team heading into the break.

Let me preface this article by saying I don’t believe in jinxes. That being said, I’m predicting the Cleveland Indians sweep the Detroit Tigers this weekend.

Momentum is a term often tossed around in professional sports, but it is tough to project such an idea onto a baseball team that has to play 162 games in a season. Indians fans have already seen this team finish off hot streaks by bottoming out, only to pick up the play soon thereafter.

The Indians head into tonight’s game fresh off an 11-2 demolition of the Detroit Tigers last night, but something else is the driving force tonight besides momentum. It’s motivation.

Terry Francona had successful surgery and is recovering at home, but that doesn’t mean his team is satisfied. Playing for the ill coach is an old trope that dates back to the days of winning one for the Gipper and calming down Lou Brown while he is making his heart race in the hospital.

Related: Francona’s health is more important than any game

Anyone who has played competitive sports on a team missing its coach or a teammate due to an illness knows how much of a rallying point that can be, regardless of the severity of the illness.

The Indians entered the season with plenty of motivation. The team lost the World Series in one of the most heartbreaking ways possible in 2016, but Francona’s absence provides the first real moment of this season when the team can come together as whole and have a concrete reason to give it their all. Winning the World Series is plenty of motivation, but it is hard to continually focus on that goal throughout the entirety of the 162 game season.

Back to tonight, the Indians now know Francona is recovering and can continue the inspired play seen last night. Justin Verlander is also on the mound, which has been a good sign for the Indians this season.

A sweep over the Tigers heading into the break could help give this team the spark that has been missing all season, and set up a second half where the Indians have a chance to run the table atop the American League Central.

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As they say, “Win two for Tito!”