"No wagering!"
I was wrong, and Leigh was right, about Cleveland's prospects of success this season. And with the team suffering from last-week jitters, I thought I'd offer them a boost by posting my "public contrition thread" tonight.
In this thread, I vehemently argued with Leigh about the Tribe's ability to compete this season. I was feeling pretty good about my chances, especially since I (barely) won my bet over whether Cleveland would finish above .500 in 2004. Thanks to Cleveland's 80-82 record, Robert Dudek will one day take me to a game in the good seats when the Tribe comes to town. But I was not destined win this year's bet.
The terms of our bet -- whether Cleveland would be within 7 games of the playoffs on September 1 -- look absurdly disfavourable in retrospect. Cleveland's good health, fine play from its young players, and favourable schedule (particularly interleague, in which they faced the Reds and the insipid NL West) has placed them in excellent position to not only contend for, but reach, the post-season. Like I said, I was wrong, and Leigh was right.
I'm obligated to mention the "awesome power of the Cleveland bullpen." Notwithstanding the drug-related suspension of Rafael Betancourt, the rest of the bullpen was superb in Cleveland. The Cleveland bullpen was great. The bomb. In the most Pedro-esque way possible, the Cleveland bullpen was my "daddy."
To complete my responsibilities under our wager, I've donated $30 US to the American Indian College Fund -- a worthy cause. Congratulations to Leigh, and good luck to Cleveland...in keeping either New York, or Boston, out of the playoffs.
If they succeed, this won't feel like such a loss after all.