Expert: Gina McDonough - 6/19/2001

Question
As an avid tribe fan, i wanted to get your take on who poses the biggest threat to us in the division.  Everyone around town talks about catching Minnesota, but i am more worried about last years' champs in the White Sox.  While I know they are 8 games behind us, it seems like just last week we had a 15 game lead on them.  With the new scheduling, I am worried they will seize the underdog role and suprise us.  The twinkies do not scare me at all.  What is your take on this?  Who scares you the most?  When we win the division, will it be Chi-Sox or Twinkies who take the wild-card?

Answer
Hello Joe,

Well, I have to be honest with you -- I am most worried about the Minnesota Twins.  The Sox just can't seem to get it together this year, and I don't feel that they will.  The Twinkies, however, seem to keep pestering us.  Detroit and KC are not even in the picture at this point.  We will stay on top of the ChiSox as long as we don't have any more losing streaks like the one we just broke out of.

If we win the division, then the Twinkies will be the Wild-Card team.  If we don't win the division, I do believe that we will be the Wild-Card team, and it will be the Twinkies who win the division.  I don't see the ChiSox coming in any higher than 3rd.  At best, the ChiSox might give us a short-lived run for the money, but again, I don't think they're going anywhere this year.

Hope my point of view was helpful!  Goooooooo Tribe!!!

Regards,
Gina McDonough
AllExperts Cleveland Indians Expert