Choo Getting Close to Returning & Playoffs

Good news may be right around the corner for the Cleveland Indians as Shin Soo-Choo is beginning his rehab assignment with Low-A Lake County on Monday night. According to Tony Lastoria at Indiansprospectinsider.com Choo will play rightfield but it is not known if he will play the whole game:

Tony Lastoria: If he does not have any setbacks and shows he is ready, there is a decent chance he could be activated this weekend, though the target date still looks to be August 16th when the Indians start a series in Chicago against the White Sox.

Hopefully, Choo will make amends to the community for a poor choice made earlier this year and return to his 2009-2010 form and lead the Indians to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Prior to the season Choo had some very interesting comments surrounding the 2011 Indians, comments that were mocked by many.  He had this to say to Cleveland Indians Beat Writer Paul Hoynes:


"Playoffs," said Choo. "That's it. Nothing else. . . .That's my goal." "Oh, yeah," said Choo. "We have a good offense, good pitching, too. Most people say we'll be in last place this season. But in baseball you never know. No one thought San Francisco would win the World Series last year."



The quote from Choo reminds me of a quote delivered by Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times during spring training of 2008:

"What's possible? Play in October, that's possible," ace Scott Kazmir said. "That is possible. That's what I got out of Joe Maddon talking to us, and talking to all of my teammates, it's not something that's impossible. We have what it takes to win here." The Rays were coming off a 96 loss season in 2007 and went  on to win 97 games on their way to representing the American League in the 2008 World Series.

The Indians are coming of a 93 loss 2010 season....could their 2011 season end with: