The chips are down

You realize, of course, that the Indians now tied for the second-best record in the American League (87-62) with Boston?
I try so hard not to get too pumped, try to remind myself that the Indians are 3-10 against the White Sox this season, try to remember that there is still two weeks left for this to all fall apart.
But, let's face it, after a 9-1 homestand, trying to be cool as the Indians start an October-or-bust series with the White Sox in Chicago tonight is like trying to act cool and disinterested around the pretty girl in high school. It makes you a bad actor.
The playoffs are on the doorstep. Somehow, the key is to keep that in the back of your mind without overlooking each day's game. Making the baseball playoffs is kind of like scaling a mountain. Your ultimate goal is the summit, but you can't think about that when there is a 200-foot cliff to scale beforehand.
But I can't help it anymore. I'm swept up. Cool, distant and analytical is out the window. It's becoming late September, the Indians are in the wild-card lead, they are 3 1/2 games out in the division. For the first time in four years, September and October means something in Cleveland besides the first half of another lousy football season.
I admit it now. If the Indians don't make the playoffs, I'll be disappointed.