CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are these the new "Glory Days" for the Tribe?

I thought about that when Jim Thome was in town over the weekend to celebrate his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

There were several of his Tribe teammates from the 1990s in attendance, the biggest names being Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Sandy Alomar and Omar Vizquel.

The best of Thome's Tribe teams were from 1995-2001.

They went to the World Series twice.

They made the playoffs every year except 2000.

They also were great theater, starring sluggers such as Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Eddie Murray and David Justice.

So many other outstanding stars passed through town during those years: Robbie Alomar, Travis Fryman, Dennis Martinez, Charles Nagy, Matt Williams, Orel Hershiser -- you probably can add a few names of your own.

Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer Jim Thome poses with teammates.

WHAT ABOUT NOW?

As the Indians play a fun, four-game series in Boston this week, I started thinking about this edition of the Tribe.

Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez are such terrific all-around baseball players, they would fit in with those teams for the 1990s.

I'm not sure those teams had anyone who could match the complete game being played by Jose Ramirez and Lindor. That includes power, average, defense and base running.

And give them extra credit for charisma.



Robbie Alomar had those types of seasons. From 1999-2001, he batted .323 (.920 OPS), averaging 21 HR, 103 RBI and 35 stolen bases for the Tribe. He also was a terrific defensive second baseman.



It would have been hard for Michael Brantley to break into the starting outfield of Belle, Lofton and Manny Ramirez. But when Belle left for the White Sox after the 1996 season, Brantley would have been yet another All-Star who'd belong in that outfield.



The Indians of the 1990s had more All-Stars among position players, more power at the plate. It's doubtful any Tribe team will duplicate the 1995 model (100-44 record) for sheer muscle at the bat.





Jim Thome waves to the fans during the 1995 World Series.

ANOTHER GLORY DAYS?

Tribe radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton and I labeled the era of those great Tribe teams as "The Glory Days" when

.

It was a unique period in Tribe history, one not likely to be repeated, because the team also moved into a new stadium as they became a winner.

But the current Indians have far better pitching than those Glory Days teams.

They had no one to match two-time Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber. In the last two seasons, Trevor Bauer has pitched better than any Tribe starter in that era. Carlos Carrasco would be a match for Charles Nagy.

The current front office of Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff along with owner Paul Dolan have put together their own Central Division powerhouse.

The "Glory Days" teams of John Hart, Dan O'Dowd and Mike Hargrove won six Central Division titles -- even if all those men were not around for the entire run. They built the foundation for that era of baseball.

But four times they won 91 or fewer games between 1995-2001. Like these Indians, they often benefited from being in a weaker Central Division.

The Indians went into Monday's game at Boston's Fenway Park with a 71-52 record. After the All-Star break, they were 19-9.

They seem likely to win at least 90 games, and probably more with 39 left to play.

This will be the Tribe's third consecutive Central Division title.

It will be the fourth time since 2013 (and the hiring of Manager Terry Francona) they have made the playoffs.

And it's very likely they will be favored to win the 2019 Central Division title.

More Glory Days? Maybe.

Certainly, these are fun days if you are a Tribe fan.