Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

After playing 65 games in 68 days, including 52 in the past 54 days, you might say the Indians looked a bit tuckered out in losing two of three to the Blue Jays over the weekend. Yes, they looked downright exhausted. Unfortunately, Detroit swept its series from the Red Sox to take a 1-game lead over the Tribe at the All-Star break.

What does this mean? Well, I'd say the Indians still have a lot to prove during the second half of the season. Hardly any national baseball writers or broadcasters believe that Cleveland can beat out Detroit, and I kind of like that. It's much better to sneak up on teams than to have them laying in wait for you.

Instead of coping with a rash of injuries, the Indians are tired, not hurt. In fact, when the second half begins on Friday, the Tribe's starting pitching should be in better shape than it's been all season. Injuries to Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook propelled Fausto Carmona into a starting role, and the 23-year-old righty responded brilliantly. Now, Lee and Westbrook are back and should be ready to finally give the Indians the kind of pitching performances they've come to expect from the two veterans.

Jeremy Sowers is still suffering in the minor leagues and is now 0-3 since his demotion to Buffalo. While that's a disappointment, the Indians don't really need Sowers at this point. So, if he's going to slump, now is the time and Buffalo's the place. Adam Miller is the organization's top pitching prospect, and if anyone from the minors can help the Indians this season, he'll be the guy.

I expect the Tribe to take stock of its bullpen over the next two days and I'll be surprised if Fernando Cabrera is still on the club by Friday. Not since April has the talented righthander been able to get anyone out with the game on the line. He coughed a key run to the Blue Jays over the weekend, and I think it was enough to convince Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge that he just can't help the big-league club. If he had any minor league options left, the kid would have been sent packing weeks ago.

This is a tough one for Cleveland, because Cabrera has a live arm and has had some success -- limited, I'll grant you -- at the big-league level. But he just can't get it done now, and they can't afford to play nursemaid any longer.

It feels as if the Indians are getting serious about making all the moves for a big second-half run, and management has run out of patience with Cabrera. Don't be surprised if the Tribe sends Cabrera and Andy Marte packing. Both, for whatever reasons, seem like underacheivers. Marte will be out of options soon, and he just doesn't seem ready to take over at third on a fulltime basis for Cleveland.

The club can keep Casey Blake there until, say, 2009, when young shortstop Adrubal Cabrera, is ready for the bigs. The kid is currently playing at Akron, where Tribe scouts are drooling over his talents. Eventually, he'll end up in Cleveland, and Jhonny Peralta can move to third base.

I predict the Indians will either trade for a back-of-the-bullpen guy now, or they'll promote Miller and see how he fares for 2-3 weeks. If Miller is hurt or shows he's not ready, they'll trade before the Aug. 31 deadline.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz is: Peter Bavasi never had an ownership stake in the Cleveland Indians.

Today's quiz: How did the Indians acquire Asdrubal Cabrera?

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-- Kevin Cuneo