Doc: Are Indians a model for Reds to follow?

Can the Reds be the Indians?

Simple question, not out of the question.

They’re probably not going to win 21 in a row (and counting). They might not do that by outscoring opponents by 104 runs, which is winning by an average of five runs a night. They might not win 21 straight while trailing in exactly four innings.

This is what the Indians have done and it is remarkable.

It can be repeated. It dents, again, the poor-mouthing heard occasionally from Have Not outposts.

The Indians are not within the evil NY-Chicago-LA axis. Even now, after 21 in a row, they rank 12th in the AL in attendance. They don’t have a local mega-deal when it comes to TV rights. Their payroll has jumped this year, to $124 mil. But it was $96 mil last year when they lost the World Series in seven games, and just $87 mil the year before that. The Reds have had bigger.

Plus, as we shall see, the core of the team is cheap now and will be for a few more years.

In Baseball, front-office smarts mean close to everything. Until money buys brains – or MLB becomes Karl Marx’s 2nd-favorite league, after the NF of L – that will always be so.

Here’s a brief breakdown of where the Indians came from:

Their two best everyday players – SS Francisco Lindor and 3B Jose Ramirez – were home grown. Lindor was a No. 1 pick in 2011, Ramirez was an international signing in ’09. Closer Cody Allen was a 23rd round pick in 2011.

Jason Kipnis (one of the few Indians position players you might have actually heard of) was a No. 2 in 2009. Lonnie Chisenhall was a 1st rounder. Josh Tomlin went in Round 19. And so forth. The Indians have drafted well.

Trades… Their best pitchers came in shrewd trades: Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Miller. Carlos Santana also arrived by trade.

The current Indians have just one FA signing of note. Edwin Encarnacion.

The money: EE leads the way. He’s making $13 mil. The Reds are paying three guys at least that, including $13 mil to Brandon Phillips. Santana is next at $12 mil, and he’s free after this year.

But the guts of the team is cheap and will be for a few years. Ramirez and Lindor are making $1.5 mil… combined. Ramirez is signed through 2023. The most he can earn is $13 mil. Lindor is still a year from arbitration.

Corey Kluber, a Cy winner who could do it again this year, is at $7.5, signed through ’21 to a max of $14 mil. What is Bailey making again?

Carlos Carrasco is at $6.5, with club options in ’19 and ’20, topping out at $9 mil.

Trevor Bauer is at $3.55, with two more arb years to go.

Point is, the Have Nots can overcome. They have to be smart, creative, not risk-averse and very light on their feet. They can’t miss on 1st-round picks, they can’t overspend on starting pitchers who aren’t (1) young or (2) stars.

Plus, did we mention the Indians don’t draw flies, even now? 12th is the AL this year, 13th last year. The Reds outdrew them last year. Embarrassing.

More Remarkable Indians Stuff, from ESPN and SI:

Three of the team’s most recognizable players—Miller, second baseman Jason Kipnis and outfielder Michael Brantley (a 2017 All-Star)—have been on the disabled list for the entirety of the winning streak.

The 21-game winning streak broke the American League record and tied the 1935 Cubs for the longest winning streak in Major League history.

"I went from being in one of the least fun situations in baseball to the most fun." -- Jay Bruce (via @jareddiamond), who was acquired from the Mets on Aug. 9.

Now, then. . .

THE MEN WILL WIN TONIGHT. . . AJ Green will slap a hard single through the Texans’ drawn-in infield and the Bengals will prevail, 4-3 in 10 innings.

We jest. But only a little.

Maybe this game will be a score-a-palooza, but I kinda doubt it. Will the Texans have more points than sacks allowed? They didn’t last week. Will the Bengals? They didn’t last week.

I think Cincinnati wins for the plainest of reasons: It has more good players and it is at home. Houston’s offense isn’t great when healthy. It’s not healthy. Deshaun Watson might be a good player at some point. That point won’t be tonight.

Texans win if Watt, Clowney and Mercilus produce a sack-fumble that results in a TD, a la the Ravens on Sunday. (BTW, is there a better name, I mean in all of NFL history, for a stud LB than Mercilus?) Texans win if AJ McCarron plays any more than a kneel-down.

Bengals win if Tackle 1 and Tackle 2, with some chipping help from the TEs and backs can give Dalton a little time and a little downfield vision. If it’s another tip-a-thon, look out.

I think (hope) we’ll see a little more from Zampese. I think (hope) John Ross will have a presence. I hope we don’t see the 3-headed running back again. If the Bengals win, they’re back on track, regardless of Sunday’s embarrassment. If they lose, I will be dialing up Mick and Mack as soon as practice starts.

Men 13, Texans 12.

NOW THAT I’M MISTER FANTASY FOOTBALL, here are a few takes from ESPN.COM regarding this week. I did manage to dump Danny Woodhead Tuesday and acquire Tarik Cohen. Yay for me. Go, you Charlie Gogolaks.

BLOWHARD-INESS. . .There are some national media “talents’’ whose opinions you can trust. And there is Colin Cowherd. At least the First Take folks know what they’re doing is calculated carnival-barking. Cowherd actually takes himself seriously.

His latest, on A. Dalton:

"Dalton can't make the throws. Never been big. Never had a great arm. Never been mobile. He's like Eli Manning without the talent. He is completely limited. And when facing duress, and a pass rush and forced to throw because you can't run against the Ravens, he just can't do it. It's obvious. ... It's over."

This from someone who in 2010 referred to Joey Votto as “my cabana boy.’’

Self-important schmucks are a dime a dozen in broadcast journalism. They say whatever they like, knowing they’ll never have to face those they criticize. Cowherd sees himself as a big-timer, thus throws big love at those he considers big time. What a phony.

I feel better now.

THINGS AREN’T ECHO-Y IN SOUTH BEND. . . Yeah, I know that’s not a word. But you get the drift.

From sportsoneath.

When is the last time Notre Dame won a game at Notre Dame Stadium against a top-10 opponent?

I'm waiting.

I'm still waiting.

We're talking 2004 against No. 8 Michigan.

That was two coaches before Kelly.

I do wonder what the world would be like if BK had stayed here, where he was king and could have reigned for a few decades. I know that option is fantasy, that coaches are strivers and rarely content. I’d bet if Kelly were still around, UC would be in either the Big 12 or the ACC. I’d bet the Bearcats would be nagging at the top 25 every year. And that plans already would be underway to name the stadium for Kelly. Instead, he’s an 8-win guy in South Bend. Big deal.

HERE’S WHAT IRMA DID TO THE ISLAND GREEN 17TH AT SAWGRASS.

Damned near drowned it.

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Betcha you don’t remember this one, OGs. I’m a sucker for 1-hit wonders. One and dones. This one qualifies. Like lots of 60s-early 70s soul, this one makes you feel good for having listened.