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There have been a lot of High-Five's for this Tribe team in 2013

(Chuck Crow, PD photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With this Tribe team, who really knows anything? Or maybe it just me … I can never quite figure out these guys.

At the start of the season, I thought the starting rotation would be a problem. A big, big problem. I thought Trevor Bauer would be in the rotation and that Scott Kazmir would be injured.

I thought Corey Kluber would be in the minors and that Brett Myers would be a mess (at least I got that right). I thought Ubaldo Jimenez would … Wait a minute, who really knows what Ubaldo would do? In spring training, I did write two columns about how I thought "Ubaldo would be better," intentionally being very vague.

I certainly didn't think the Tribe would have a 2.98 ERA over the last 40 games, or that in the last week of August, they would be 71-59.

They've done that with Vinnie Pestano in the minors, free agents Mark Reynolds and Myers not on the active roster and Nick Swisher having one of the worst years of his career.

But they still have their best record since 2007 after going 68-94 last season.

Baseball is fun again

The Tribe has lost at least 93 games in three of the last four years. It's been a bad baseball team for a while. But not now.

I know, they can't beat the Tigers (3-13). They looked very bad against Boston, Tampa Bay and New York (a combined 4-16). But it's the last week in August, and the Indians are six games behind the Tigers, and only 1.5 games out of a wild-card spot.

They may drive you nuts because they are streaky, and they are capable of looking awful. Yet they have nine walk-off victories, and 19 wins in their final at-bat.

It's hard to believe, but the Tribe is fifth in the American League in runs scored. A year ago, they were 13th. Most of all, they are fun to watch … at least most of the time.

Jason Kipnis has said, "This team leads the league in hugs." That may be right, and it's nice to see.

Back from baseball dead

Three weeks ago, the Tribe was in the process of being swept by the Tigers in four games at Progressive Field. Goodbye Central Division. Then they lost two of three to the Angels. So long to the wild card after a 1-6 homestand with a nine-game trip coming up.

At that point, the Tribe was still a very respectable 63-55. But a fan had that sinking feeling. Last August, the team was 5-24. Would it be more of the same?

Well, the Tribe has a 12-11 record this month.

Big trip ahead

It could get ugly. The Tribe has a nine-game stretch against Atlanta, Detroit and Baltimore, the first six on the road.

Right now, scoring runs for the Tribe is harder than trying to extract a wisdom tooth with toothpick. They average only 3.5 runs and are batting .227 this month.

The usually reliable Michael Brantley is batting .212 in August. But he's not the worst. Consider these August averages: Asdrubal Cabrera .192, Jason Giambi 147, Lonnie Chisenhall .132. Jason Kipnis is at .253, followed by Nick Swisher (.231), Carlos Santana (.225) and Michael Bourn (.215). And these guys (Mike Aviles and Yan Gomes are tops at .283) are 12-11 in August?

How? Pitching is a big part. The rotation of Justin Masterson, Zach McAllister, Danny Salazar, Jimenez, Kazmir and Kluber (now injured) has been terrific. The bullpen has been sound. We all knew that Marc Rzepczynski would show up and not give up a run in his first 9.1 innings.

Change that worked

"Change the culture" is one of those corporate mission statements that has drifted into sports. Almost every new regime talks about it. But the Indians succeeded, starting with manager Terry Francona, along with the additions of veterans Drew Stubbs, Matt Albers, Bryan Shaw, Raburn, Aviles, Kazmir, Bourn, Swisher and Giambi.

You can say that more is expected from Bourn and Swisher, given their hefty contracts. And you're right. But remember, these guys replaced the likes of Casey Kotchman, Shelley Duncan and all the rest. At least Bourn and Swisher don't look hopeless at the bat.

And neither are the Indians, who are … guess what? … a playoff contender in late August.