Cleveland Indians

The Indians are not satisfied with where they finished this season, but the organization is undoubtedly pleased at the direction the team appears to be headed. Manager Manny Acta has played an instrumental role in that.

On Thursday, general manager Chris Antonetti opened a season-end sit-down with reporters by expressing his confidence in Acta's leadership and ability to take Cleveland to the next level. Antonetto also announced that the Indians have exercised Acta's club option for the 2013 season.

On Wednesday night, the Tribe wrapped up its 2011 campaign with a 5-4 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland's best player during this roller-coaster ride of a year, swung through a fastball from Detroit closer Jose Valverde for a game-ending strikeout that sent the Indians into the offseason.

Saying that a team finished a season with a winning record has a nice ring to it. Truth be told, the winter months will not be filled with regret for the Indians just because they will walk away from this year without a positive ledger.

Ending with more wins than losses was never the goal.

The Indians acquired Ubaldo Jimenez with the future in mind, but the star pitcher had a chance this season to immediately show his worth. What Cleveland saw over the past two months was a mix of dominance and disaster.

On Monday, Jimenez wrapped up his part in the Tribe's 2011 season, turning in a forgettable outing in a 14-0 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park. On the other side, Detroit's Doug Fister, another midseason addition via trade, fashioned a gem in his final tuneup start before pitching in the postseason.

The Indians wanted to give away a few parting gifts on Sunday afternoon. Prior to facing the Twins, players shook hands with fans as they entered Progessive Field. During the game, manager Manny Acta provided a special moment that those in attendance won't soon forget.

On Thursday night, Kosuke Fukudome wasted little time in showing what he is capable of doing for the Tribe. Two pitches into the first inning, he launched a pitch into the right-field seats for a home run that set the tone for an explosive 11-2 romp over the White Sox at Progressive Field.

The first one landed with a thud, producing an audible "clank." The second one followed moments later, striking with a similar, thunderous thump.

As Chicago's third home run of the eighth inning soared toward the left-field bleachers, the sparse Progressive Field crowd let out a collective groan in anticipation of the oncoming sound of cowhide connecting with metal seating. Instead, this long ball found a walkway tunnel.

It’s not exactly new, but it’s certainly improved, and it helped Fausto Carmona stick around for six innings, long enough for the Indians to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 in the first game of Tuesday’s day-night makeup doubleheader at Progressive Field.

There would be no makeup of this makeup, so the Indians and Mariners had to make do in the pouring rain at Progressive Field on Monday afternoon.

Maintaining the integrity of the 162-game schedule was the primary intent of this makeup date of a game originally scheduled to take place May 14, back when both of these teams still hoped to contend in their respective divisions. It was played, instead, on a day in which September callups lined the benches and very few fans filled the cold and damp seats.

Indians manager Manny Acta described it as his team's own little race. A division title is off the table, so Cleveland has shifted its focus and adjusted its goals. What remains is a push for second place and a winning record.