QUOTE (The Baconator @ May 24, 2011 -> 01:44 PM)
Three teams have ever started a season 30-15 or better following a year of 90 or more losses. Those three teams are the '51 Sox, '01 Twins, and the Indians this year. Following their hot starts, both the '51 Sox and '01 regressed to their mean- Sox finished 81-73 for 4th in the AL, Twins finished 85-77 for 2nd in the Central.
This is all wrapping up the 'talent discussion' that others have said (that Cleveland is doing this largely with the same team as last year and they are not a team of top prospects like they Rays were)- we all agree the Indians are playing far outside of expectations; if history is any indicator from similar teams, they will come back to earth.
But falling back to Earth can still be good enough for a playoff spot in a terrible division.