Terry Francona makes his return to Fenway Park tonight in a spirit of triumph. The former Red Sox manager, now with the Cleveland Indians, will bring a first-place club to town for a four-game series. The Tribe is 26-19, and a half-game up on Detroit in the American League Central. Today’s MLB coverage will break down how the Indians are doing it, and ask whether Francona’s triumphant return is just a May thing.
The Cleveland Indians made a surprising run at the AL Central title for much of last year before they were left in the dust by Detroit and ended up 80-82. For all the positive things 2011 brought, the franchise still has three straight losing seasons and hasn’t finished on the plus side of .500 since coming within one win of the American League pennant n 2007. TheSportsNotebook evaluates this year’s Cleveland squad through the prism of the ability to get on base, hit for power, starting pitching and relief pitching.