Are you an Indians fan struggling to figure out which games are worth watching this postseason? We’ve already covered the problem of who to root for this month, but if your biggest priority is simply seeing your old hometown heroes chasing glory, here’s a list of each of the seven former Indians players who are on postseason rosters, sorted by team:

Arizona Diamondbacks

No former Indians.

Detroit Tigers

Victor Martinez (Indian from 2002-9). Martinez hit .297/.369/.463 with 103 homers, 518 RBI, and 20.7 fWAR and made three All-Star teams before being traded to the Red Sox in 2009. He’s hit .293/369/.431 in 65 playoff plate appearances.

Jhonny Peralta (2003-10). Peralta hit .264/.329/.422 with 28 homers, 17 steals, and 11.8 fWAR in eight seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Tigers last year. He’s hit .348/.404/.587 in 52 postseason PA’s.

Milwaukee Brewers

No former Indians.

New York Yankees

CC Sabathia (Indian from 2001-8). Sabathia went 106-71 with a 3.83 ERA and 33.6 fWAR in nine seasons with Cleveland (including his 2007 AL Cy Young campaign) before being traded to the Brewers in 2008. He’s 7-4 with a 4.65 ERA in 14 career postseason starts.

Philadelphia Phillies

Cliff Lee (Indian from 2002-9). Lee went 83-48 with a 4.01 ERA and 20.5 fWAR in parts of eight seasons and won the 2008 AL Cy Young with the Tribe before being traded to the Phillies in 2009. He’s 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 career postseason starts.

Ben Francisco (2007-9). Francisco hit .261/.332/.437 with 28 homers, 17 steals, and 2.5 fWAR in parts of three seasons in Cleveland before being traded to Philadelphia along with Lee. He’s struggled in his brief postseason career, hitting .059 in 19 plate appearances.

St. Louis Cardinals

Jake Westbrook (Indian from 2001-10). Westbrook went 69-69 with a 4.29 ERA and 18.4 fWAR in parts of nine seasons with the Indians before being traded to the Yankees last year. He’s 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in three career postseason starts, all with the Indians.

Tampa Bay Rays

Kelly Shoppach (2006-9). Shoppach hit .245/.331/.456 with 59 homers, 180 RBI, and 6.2 fWAR in four seasons of irregular play in Cleveland before being traded to Tampa Bay after the 2009 season. After a big game Friday night, he’s hitting .287/.400/.667 in 25 playoff PA’s.

Texas Rangers

No former Indians.

So who should Cleveland fans be rooting for this October instead? According to one formula, Tribe fans should be pulling for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This week at Beyond the Box Score, I unveiled ROOT (Rootability Of Other Teams), a tchotchke statistic that ranks each playoff team’s likability by taking underdog status, late-season comebacks, and funness (yes, I know that’s not a word) to watch into account, then adjusts the numbers for each fanbase based on rivalries and former players’ presences on their rosters.

Here’s how the numbers shake out for Cleveland fans:

1. Diamondbacks: 22.5
2. Cardinals: 20.0
3. Rays: 16.5
4. Brewers: 15.0
5. Tigers: 14.5
6. Phillies: 9.0
7. Rangers: 9.0
8. Yankees: -7.0

According to this, Indians faithful should be pulling for the Diamondbacks to win it all based on their preseason underdog status and mediocre finish in the 2010 season. If the D-Backs get eliminated, Clevelanders’ backup teams should be the Cardinals (to support Jake Westbrook) and the Rays (based on their late-season comeback).

Looking at the first round, Tribe fans should be rooting for the Diamondbacks over the Brewers; the Cardinals over the Phillies; the Rays over the Rangers; and the Tigers over the Yankees.

To see the full methodology, check out the original post.

Just as the Indians got off to a hot start this year, keeping the Tigers’ potent offense off the board and scoring first. By the middle of the fourth inning, Cleveland had a 3-0 lead, and things were looking good—just as they did in mid-May.

But reality started settling in. Detroit got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, and after six Cleveland’s lead had completely evaporated. Heading into the eighth, the Tribe trailed, 4-3.

Then the Indians looked poised to mount a comeback, as they have been want to do all season. Travis Hafner got the rally started with a one-out double, and two batters later the bases were loaded. But while they managed to tie it up on Jack Hannahan’s sacrifice fly, the Tribe couldn’t take the lead, and Jhonny Peralta’s home run in the bottom of the inning put the game out of reach.

The scoring wasn’t the only part of the game that was analogous to the Indians’ season on the whole. A quick look at the box score from the game reveals another way in which the game summed up the year: the starting lineup.

Of the 10 men whose names manager Manny Acta pencilled into the lineup card (before his first-inning ejection), a full half were not starters for Cleveland on Opening Day. All joined the organization in different ways and for different reasons, but the circumstances that led to their seeing significant time with the Tribe this year tell the story of the Indians’ season.

Starting in left field, Shelley Duncan (along with Austin Kearns and Travis Buck) started getting playing time right out of the gate in 2011 when Grady Sizemore opened the season on the disabled list. It was just the first of many major injuries that plagued the Tribe.

In center was Ezequiel Carrera, another guy who got his first playing time due to an injury (though it wasn’t an outfielder, it was Hafner) and spent the season bouncing between the majors and Triple-A depending on just how injury-depleted the Indians’ outfield was at the time. Both he and Duncan ended up becoming valuable contributors to the team, but neither was supposed to play a major role this year.

Health problems hit the rotation hard, too, as Fausto Carmona, Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin, Alex White, and Mitch Talbot all suffered injuries. One of the replacement arms the Indians turned to was Zach McAllister, who took the mound for Cleveland last night and would have earned his first MLB victory if not for Detroit’s comeback.

But injuries weren’t the only cause of instability in the Cleveland’s lineup. For all the good Orlando Cabrera did in the clubhouse and as Asdrubal Cabrera’s hitting coach, he was below replacement-level on the field, and Cord Phelps and Luis Valbuena didn’t solve the problem. Not until Jason Kipnis—the Tribe’s second baseman for Game No. 162—got the call in July did the Indians find a real solution (though he, too, suffered injuries).

Finally, from the trade contingent, we got Kosuke Fukudome in right field. Yet another outfielder who wasn’t part of Cleveland’s original plans, he and ninth inning pinch-hitter Jim Thome represented the few weeks between when the Tigers took the AL Central lead for good and when the Indians lost hope.

The composition of the lineup, the quick start, the heartbreaking finish—the whole game was emblematic of the Indians’ season.

So begins the wait ’til next year.

There isn’t much at stake in tonight’s game. The Tigers could be playing for home field advantage and an Indians win would bring their season record to .500, but while the latter would be nice and the former could have repercussions for the postseason, neither would have a particularly large impact for Tribe fans.

Moreover, there aren’t too many players on the roster who will be departing this winter. Jim Thome has already taken his curtain call at Progressive Field, and besides Chad Durbin (who, conceivably, could return in 2012) and Kosuke Fukudome the Indians don’t have anyone else filing for free agency after the season.

For many Indians fans, the fact that the game is on is a good enough reason to tune in, let alone the last one of the season. But for those who need more allure, there is ample reason to flip on the radio tonight: it’s the last time you’ll hear Mike Hegan’s voice calling Cleveland games.

Last week, Hegan, 69, announced that he would be retiring from the broadcast booth after the season. He’ll still have some role with the team, but his time as regular analyst on the airwaves will soon be over.

Few outside Cleveland know it, but every Indians fan will tell you that Hegan and Tom Hamilton make one of the best broadcast teams in the country. In addition to simply having great voices, their insight, narrative abilities, and entertaining back-and-forths make listening to a Tribe game one of the highlights of a fan’s day.

Tribe fans: even if you don’t care about the game, even if you’re bored at the end of the season, and even if you’re already waiting for next year, make sure to tune in to the game tonight. Hegan is a class act, a fantastic analyst, and an Indians icon, and even though he’ll still be involved with the organization, his voice will surely be missed.

A couple months ago, it seemed as though this series might end up deciding the AL Central. The Tigers (92-67, 12 GA), however, ended up running away with the division title, thanks largely to their dominance of the Indians down the stretch; the Tribe enters Monday 6-9 against Detroit in the season series, including seven consecutive losses.

As the Indians’ season comes to a close and the Tigers fight for home field advantage in the playoffs, I talked once again to Tigers expert, MotorCityBengals.com‘s John Parent, about Detroit’s offseason plans, the Tigers’ postseason chances, and who he’s afraid of facing in the playoffs.

Here’s what he had to say:

LEWIE POLLIS: Well, the Tigers won the division in a landslide. Before the season, were you expecting the team to do this well? What were the biggest reasons for Detroit’s success that don’t rhyme with “Vustin Jerlander”?

JOHN PARENT: Before the season began, I had picked the Tigers to miss the playoffs but finish with 88 wins (I had Chicago at 90). I would love to tell you that I foresaw Justin Verlander doing what he did this year, but though I counted him among the best in the league, I didn’t see this season coming. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez have been tremendous, but those two were expected to be. The biggest reasons for Detroit’s success, in my mind, have been the play of Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila.

Peralta made his first all-star team this year and will likely end the year with his first ever .300 season. His power has returned again and he’s played much better defense at short than anyone would have expected (especially Tribe fans). Avila was a huge question mark coming in and most figured that he would eventually lose his everyday job to Martinez. All he’s done is be the best offensive catcher in baseball this year and displayed better than average play behind the dish as well.

LEWIE POLLIS: Getting to the playoffs is one thing, but winning once you’re there is quite another. In series this short luck plays a big role, but some teams are better-equipped for the postseason than others. Are the Tigers built to go deep into the postseason? What’re the odds Detroit takes home the title?

JOHN PARENT: The Tigers have enough offense to out-slug most teams they play. Once you get to October, however, runs are tougher to come by. Anytime you can throw Justin Verlander out there twice in a short series, you have to like your chances. Doug Fister has been a revelation since coming to Detroit as well and he’s ability to slide into the second spot will take some pressure off of Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, as both of them will now slot in against the opposing three and four starters as well. If the Tigers take the lead to the late innings, they are a perfect 81-0 when leading after eight this year. Jose Valverde has been light-out in the ninth all year long and Joaquin Benoit and Phil Coke have more than held their own in set-up roles. The Tigers can go deep into the postseason, and they can do so because their pitching staff is capable of leading the way.

LEWIE POLLIS: The Tigers are just one game behind the Rangers for the No. 2 seed in the AL, so theoretically they could play anyone in the first round—New York, Texas, Boston, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles are all possibilities. Who do you think the Tigers match up best against? Who would you be most afraid of in a five-game series?

JOHN PARENT: Detroit hasn’t played the Yankees or the Red Sox since very early in the season, so I’m not sure how much stock to put into the regular season matchups with either of those two teams. The way the Red Sox have been going, you’d almost have to want to play them right now ahead of the other clubs, but honestly, I like the matchup with the Yankees better. If the Tigers don’t wind up as the two-seed, they’d open in New York and Verlander taking the ball in game one could be a table-setter. CC Sabathia has faced the Tigers an awful lot in his career and hasn’t pitched as well against them lately as he did early on. A big part of that, obviously, is that the Tigers have been a much better team in recent seasons than they were when CC was younger. You’d have to assume that Verlander would be favored in that matchup and I’ll take Detroit’s next three starters over their Yankee counterparts as well. I know New York can rake, but the Tigers have some pretty good hitters as well, and they knocked out the Yankees in the ALDS in 2006, so there is some history there also.

LEWIE POLLIS: What’s the haps for Detroit this winter? Are there any players you’d like to see the team target?

JOHN PARENT: Wow. To be honest, I haven’t spent a ton of time thinking about 2012 as of yet. I figure they’ll allow Brad Penny to walk and give Jacob Turner every chance to win the fifth spot next year. In all likelihood, Wilson Betemit and Delmon Young will also be brought back. The only major question is whether or not the Tigers will pick up the option on Valverde. As good as he’s been, I have trouble thinking they won’t. In truth, I could see this team largely staying intact for next year, but they’ll add a complimentary piece or two to replace Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen.

LEWIE POLLIS: We’ve already seen Detroit’s probable starters (Doug Fister, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello) a combined 12 times this year, so we don’t need scouting reports on them. Instead, tell us about some of exciting young players or prospects whose names Tribe fans will need to know in the next few years.

JOHN PARENT: Turner is the first name you’ll need to know. You won’t see him in this series, but Tribe fans will have plenty of time to grow to hate him over the next several years. Some have him projected as a number one starter down the line and at just 20 years old, he’s made three starts in the majors this year. He’ll get a shot to crack the rotation out of camp next year and even if he only becomes a solid number two, the Tigers will be thrilled to line him up behind Verlander and ahead of Fister for the next few years.

I’d like to tell you there is a pipeline of talent on the way from the minor leagues, but most of the bigger names are at least a couple years away. Nick Castellanos is a stud hitter, but at just 19 years old, it will be awhile on him. They do have some power arms that are ready to contribute more quickly, but you’ll likely see those guys in relief roles.

LEWIE POLLIS: What’s your prediction for the series?

JOHN PARENT: With the Tigers fighting for home field in the playoffs, I expect they’ll do everything they can to win each game in this series. At the same time, Jim Leyland will be sure to get his big boys some rest before Friday. With Fister, Scherzer, and Porcello going in this series, the Tigers should be in every game and I like the moxie they’ve shown in coming from behind late in games. As much as I hate to predict a sweep in any scenario, Cleveland has nothing to pay for and the Tigers are motivated to claim the two-seed. I’ll take the Tigers in all three games this week.

But the bigger news this weekend isn’t about the wild card this year—it’s about the playoffs of the future. The New York Post‘s Joel Sherman reported that both the owners and the MLBPA have “all but agreed upon…adding two wild-card teams” to the playoffs, with a new one-game first round between the two best runner-ups:

One person involved in the talks described that scenario as a done deal and another hedged a little by saying it is likely to play out that way, but nothing will be finalized until an entire CBA is inked.

Both sources said because there would be just a one-game playoff added, the second wild-card team could be installed as early as next year, but the new system will go into effect no later than 2013.

The first thing most would think of in response to this news is the AL East. Ask any New York, Boston, or Tampa Bay fan and they’ll tell you how unfair it is that one of their teams has to stay home in October when they’d likely win (or at least finish a strong second in) any other division. Assuming the Angels don’t make a miraculous comeback, this will be the third time in the last four years that the third-place AL East team would have won the second wild card in the Junior Circuit.

But if history is any indicator, this news matters more to the Indians than you might think.

In 2005, the previously rebuilding Indians broke out and played like one of the best teams in the league. After winning 80 games in 2004, they went 93-69. They finished two games behind the Red Sox in the wild card race and missed the playoffs on the final day. Had the second wild card spot existed then, the Tribe would have made the postseason.

Go back a few years and you’ll find a similar story. In 2000, the Indians’ streak of five consecutive AL Central championships was finally broken when the White Sox surged to win 95 games. Again, they missed out on the postseason on the last day of the season. The Mariners and A’s won out as the three teams competed for two spots; had the proposed rule change been in place then, Cleveland would have been in the playoffs.

We’ll never know for sure, but a similar situation could very well have unfolded in 1994 if it hadn’t been for the strike. When the season ended, the Indians were ahead in the wild card race, but not by much. The Tribe had only 2.5 games on the Orioles and just 3 on the Royals with what should have been 49 games left to play, so their lead was far from secure. Having an extra wild card slot wouldn’t have guaranteed Cleveland a playoff berth, but it would have meant a much bigger safety net.

This isn’t to say this is necessarily a good or bad thing (personally I think it will make the pennant race more exciting, but given how crapshootish the short playoff series are, the more teams make it the less likely the World Series winner is to actually be the best team), and in the next few years the biggest beneficiaries of the changes probably will be in the AL East. But Cleveland fans should remember that, at least twice in the last 17 years, the second wild card would have been the Indians.

This packed weekend (four games in 48 hours) is the penultimate series of the season for the Indians and the final homestand. It’s also the last time we’ll see one of our most familiar foes: the Minnesota Twins.

It’s been an extremely disappointing season for the Twins (60-95, 29.5 GB). The favorites to reclaim the AL Central title before the season, the Twinkies now have the worst record in the American League. Minnesota’s slide is a big part of how the Indians have managed to stick near the top of the division all year.

As the Indians get ready to take one final crack at their familiar foes (they’re 8-6 against them so far this year), I talked again to our very own Joshua Casey to get an expert’s take on the Twins’ collapse, the team’s offseason plans, and Joe Mauer’s future. Here’s what he had to say:

LEWIE POLLIS: The Twins’ dramatic collapse seems to have surprised everyone, given that they were preseason favorites to win the AL Central. Did you have any expectation that this would happen? At what point in the season did you realize it was more than just a slow start?

JOSHUA CASEY: At the beginning of the season with Mauer’s injury and all I didn’t really expect the Twins to win the AL Central, but then again I did expect them to at least compete for a playoff spot considering their roster. I think about halfway through the season I just knew that with all the injuries to the roster, the body language the team was giving off during every game, you just knew the season was over. I don’t know if it was something in the clubhouse, between staff and management or just a lack of talent but something was causing this lackluster play. Expect to see a lot of changes this offseason for the Twins.

LEWIE POLLIS: Who are your picks for the Twins’ 2011 MVPs and why?

JOSHUA CASEY: You know, usually each team has someone who played lights out the entire year and it wasn’t good enough to warrant a league MVP vote, but they did play considerably well under the radar so to speak. But in my opinion I don’t think there was anyone that fit that profile for the Twins this season. Every time someone got going this year for the Twins they either got hurt or just hit a huge slump. Especially with the expectations the Twins had this year I just think that no one really deserves a team MVP vote, they all played pretty bad.

LEWIE POLLIS: What should we expect to happen in Minnesota this winter? Will the Twins make any big moves, and if so, will they be buyers or sellers?

JOSHUA CASEY: I think there is going to be a plethora of moves for the Twins this season ,but not the type that fans are going to like. I fully expect Ron Gardenhire gone after this season. I also expect there to be a huge overhaul on the roster with a number of established veterans either released or traded in hopes that this team will be built for the future Management and especially GM Bill Smith want to build this team up to be competitive down the road. Now although this might not be appealing to fans who want a team that can win a World Series right away, if they can just hold out for a few seasons, the Twins might be able to put together a powerhouse of a team that will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

LEWIE POLLIS: At age 27 this should have been Joe Mauer’s peak, but instead it’s been arguably the worst season of his career. Are you concerned that he’s already in his decline? When do you think he’ll move away from catcher, and where would he be moved?

JOSHUA CASEY: I feel that this season Joe has been really hurt by his injuries. First he has to have surgery for a rather odd leg injury, then he comes back and tries to play but his injury is still naggin him so he has to be put back on the disabled list. Then right when it seems like Mauer is coming back from his injury he develops pneumonia and is ruled out for the season.

To say that Mauer has a had an unusual season is a major understatement. I don’t think that he’s really in decline but rather he rished himself back from injury when he should have just taken the entire season off to recover and be healthy for next season. Although I would like to see Mauer moved from catcher to first base so his body could go through a little less of the daily rigors of being a catcher, I do not believe this will happen. The Twins ownership and management alike are not happy with the idea of Mauer playing first base and are determined to keep Mauer at catcher.

LEWIE POLLIS: We’ve seen the Twins’ first three probable starters (Carl Pavano, Scott Diamond, Francisco Liriano) a combined eight times already this year, so we don’t need scouting reports on them. Instead, tell us about a couple young Twins players or prospects whose names Tribe fans should get to know.

JOSHUA CASEY: I think a few names who will be big for the Twins in years to come are the young pitchers that they now have on their roster. Guys like Scott Diamond, who as you mentioned is pitching for the Twins in this upcoming series. Another guy to look out for down the road is the Twins top prospect Kyle Gibson. Although Gibson did have Tommy John surgery he is still fully capable of making a return to the minors and working his way up to the majors, although it may take a few years.

Another pitcher to watch out for next season is RHP Alex Wimmers. His stuff is really underrated at the minor league level and he should be in the bullpen, at the very least, next season if not the starting rotation. The Twins best positional player that is stocked away in the minors is 3B Miguel Sano. Sano has some pretty raw stuff but he is enormously powerful, young and has potential through the roof.

LEWIE POLLIS: What’s your prediction for the series?

JOSHUA CASEY: Indians sweep.

Talbot, 27, had a rough start to the 2011 season, going 2-6 with a 6.33 ERA in 11 outings (to be fair, it was a relatively small sample size and his context-neutral numbers are better) this year for the Indians before he suffered a back injury in July and was sent to Triple-A Columbus upon his recovery. Apparently his time with the Clippers has helped him to improve both his mechanics and his results:

“My ball was really flat when I was here,” Talbot said. “I just worked on getting it downhill again, getting sink instead of run.”

Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh said Talbot reinvented himself with his fastball.

“He gained confidence with his fastball,” Sarbaugh said. “He has plus movement on it, and I think pitching off of that, Mitch found out that it’s a good pitch and gets the hitters to be a little more aggressive, so his secondary pitches became more effective.”

Indeed, his Triple-A numbers are quite good: in 44.1 innings, he’s 4-2 with a 3.15 FIP (his 4.26 ERA is largely a product of a .373 BABIP) with an 8.5 K/9 rate, a 2.0 BB/9 rate, and a 4.2 K/BB ratio. Those stats support the notion that he’s starting to figure things out, and one would expect someone pitching that well in the high minors to at least be a serviceable arm in the majors. Certainly he’s pitched better than you’d think someone with a 6.33 ERA would.

But while the results are promising, we would be wise to temper our optimism about Talbot more than we would most players for one simple reason: we’ve been down this road before.

A vast disparity between his major- and minor-league numbers has plagued Talbot throughout his career. In 227.1 MLB innings, he has an uninspiring 5.19 ERA and a mediocre 1.2 K/BB ratio. Throughout his MiLB career, by contrast, he has a 3.81 ERA and a 2.9 K/BB ratio; if we limit it to his Triple-A experience, his 4.24 ERA isn’t terribly impressive, but the rest of his peripheral numbers (2.8 K/BB ratio) are right in line with what he did in the lower minors.

In fact, his current numbers bear a strong resemblance to those he posted in 2008—the last full season he spent in Triple-A. In 28 starts in the Rays organization, Talbot went 13-9 with a 3.86 ERA (3.03 FIP), 7.9 K/9 rate, 2.0 BB/9 rate, and 4.0 K/BB ratio. He actually had a better year in his age-24 season thanks to a lower home run rate (0.5 HR/9, compared to 0.8 at Triple-A this year and 1.5 in the majors).

But that performance didn’t translate well to the major leagues. He made three disastrous appearances with the Rays that year (11.17 ERA and 2.79 WHIP in 9.1 innings). He didn’t make it back to the bigs until 2010, after he’d been traded to the Indians. He was a serviceable, if underwhelming option for the Tribe (4.41 ERA, 4.98 SIERA), but the dramatic decline in his peripherals (5.0 K/9 rate, 1.3 K/BB ratio) was astounding. He seemed to have completely lost his ability to strike out hitters when he put on an MLB uniform.

So, to summarize: Talbot has a history of underperforming his minor-league numbers, he’s in roughly the same place developmentally that he was three years ago, and the last time he pitched this well in the minors it didn’t lead to anything. That doesn’t mean this time won’t be different—I said something similar about David Huff earlier this year and he’s worked out pretty well—but it should at least give us pause in projecting Talbot to perform signficantly made.

That doesn’t mean we can’t be cautiously optimistic. Talbot’s minor league numbers definitely show signs of improvement (albeit in a small sample size), and if he thinks he’s made progress—combined with the fact that he probably wasn’t really as bad as his 6.33 ERA him look—it’s likely that he has. But while some improvement is definitely plausible, don’t expect Talbot to have completely reinvented himself as a pitcher.

This week, as Community returns for the start of its third season, I decided to mark the occasion by matching each main character from the sitcom to someone on the Cleveland Indians’ roster. Believe it or not, it worked out quite well.

Here are my picks for an alternative cast from the Tribe clubhouse:

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Jeff Winger: Shin-Soo Choo. In his lawyer days, Jeff was living large, and he fell a long way when he got busted for holding a fraudulent degree. Similarly, Choo entered the season as the most popular player in town and the most underrated player in baseball, but is in the midst of arguably the worst season of his career, which he attributes partly to his own legal troubles (his slump started before his DUI, but it’s still been distracting to him).

Choo still has an aura of coolness about him and he’s one of the team’s most recognizable faces, but as of now he’s no longer a star. He’s human, and, like Jeff, it’s now on him to reclaim his place at the top.

Britta Perry: Asdrubal Cabrera. For most of Community‘s first season, Britta’s sole function was being Jeff’s love interest. Last season, though, the nature of their relationship changed and was pushed to the background, and Britta developed an identity beyond being the girl Jeff flirts with. She’s still not my favorite character, but her character becomes more fun to watch the more she becomes multidimensional.

Similarly, Cabrera has become a much better player in 2011 because he has added a new aspect to his game: power. Until this year, he was a decent contact hitter with good speed and a flashy, yet subpar glove. His 22 homers, 83 RBI, and .660 Power Factor are career highs, and they’re the reason for his 3.5 fWAR. In his case as well as Britta’s, further developments have had great results.

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Abed Nadir: Carlos Santana. He’s awkward, he’s nerdy, and he constantly gives off the vibe that he’s completely out of place. But one of Abed’s most defining characteristics—displayed most notably (but not exclusively) during an experiment designed to test the “Duncan principle”—is his unwavering patience.

That’s something he shares with Santana. As a rookie last year, he walked 37 times in 192 trips to the plate for an insane walk rate of 19 percent; for his career, the 25-year-old has a 16 percent BB rate. If Abed were a baseball player, you can bet he’d be the same way.

Troy Barnes: Grady Sizemore. This was by far the easiest connection to make. In high school, Troy was a jock and a ladies’ man, and he seemed destined for greatness on the gridiron. He wound up at Greendale because an injury derailed his football career, and by Season 2 he had completely ditched his jock persona to join Abed in his nerdy adventures (usually the best part of the show).

The parallels with Sizemore are obvious. After being highly hyped as a prospect, he showed tremendous talent in his first few years in the big leagues. He suffered through injuries in 2009 and hasn’t been the same since. Despite these huge similarities, he and Troy have a couple minor differences: Grady hasn’t lost his appeal to his female fans, and unlike Troy the change in his approach (i.e., his greatly diminished plate discipline) isn’t a good thing.

Annie Edison: Lonnie Chisenhall. As far as I can tell, Chisenhall doesn’t share any of Annie’s trademark quirks (neuroticism, showiness, major insecurity), but in a very basic way, they match up: both are young and tremendously talented; both got off to shaky starts; and both have very promising careers ahead of them. I’m looking forward to watching both as they grow up.

Jason Miller-US PRESSWIRE

Shirley Bennett: Justin Masterson. We’ve all heard the story of when Jack Hannahan wanted to get home for the birth of his son—Hannahan couldn’t afford the private jet he needed to make it in time, and Masterson passed the hat around the Indians clubhouse to raise the money he needed.

Masterson might not share Shirley’s condescension or what Abed called her “thinly veiled rage issues,” but he’s definitely got her good heart and kind and caring nature.

Fun fact: Yvonne Nicole Brown is from Cleveland!

Pierce Hawthorne: Travis Hafner. The oldest of the bunch and a man who made millions in his prime—the shoe fits for both Pierce and Pronk. And while neither gets around quite as well as he used to (they both seem to be injury-prone), they both still come through when it counts, be it Hafner with a clutch home run or Pierce seducing the Spanish teacher to convince her to make her final easier.

Hafner doesn’t share Pierce’s racism or ego or occasional downright villainry, but aside from Pronk simply being a much better person there are a lot of similarities here.

Ben Chang: Ubaldo Jimenez. Just as the Jimenez trade seemed to come completely out of the blue for the Indians, Chang was a teacher who suddenly became one of the study group’s peers. Just as Tribe fans were upset by losing Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, Chang’s addition to the clique wasn’t popular, and at times Jimenez’ poor outings and Chang’s antics have angered fans and other characters. But for better or worse—from the fans’ perspective, I’d say “better” in both cases—Jimenez is now a key part of Cleveland’s rotation and Chang is a member of the study group.

Eric P. Mull-US PRESSWIRE

Alex “Star-Burns” Osbourne: Chris Perez. There aren’t any personality similarities here. They just both have dramatic facial hair.

Today, the Chicago White Sox (74-78, 14.5 GB) come to town for a tightly packed three-day, four-game series at Progressive Field. Many expected the Pale Hose to win (or at least be serious contenders in) the AL Central this year, but thanks to a slow start and some key players’ season-long struggles, they’re in third place and looking up at the surprising Indians.

We’ve seen much of the White Sox before (the Indians are 5-9 against them on the season), but in case you’re looking for more information, I talked again to SouthSideShowdown.com‘s Travis Miller, who was kind enough to offer his thoughts on Chicago’s offseason plans, the White Sox’ ability to contend in the future, and the length of Adam Dunn’s leash. Here’s what he had to say:

LEWIE POLLIS: The White Sox are currently on pace to finish four games under .500 after many had predicted them to win the AL Central. Were you disappointed, or is this about what you’d expected? What went wrong?

TRAVIS MILLER: I was very disappointed to see the White Sox underperform like this. I had them contending for an American League championship, but I also had John Danks as my dark horse for the Cy Young, so my credibility is right up there with Bob Nightengale’s (reported that Cubs GM Jim Hendry would be retained in 2012…three weeks after Hendry was notified he’d be fired…AWKWARD!).

The main beef I have with this year’s team lies strictly on the bats of Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham. Beckham is still a kid and Rios has almost certainly been playing hurt, but I can’t figure out what went wrong with Dunn. I have my theories, but the numbers tell the story – .165/11/41. If he even slashes .225/30/75, which is still a down year for him, that equals countless more White Sox victories. I’m not saying they’d have kept pace with the Tigers, who are playing unreal September baseball, but things would be a lot different on the south side.

LEWIE POLLIS: How do you expect the White Sox to perform in 2012? In 2013? Is it rebuilding time, or can the White Sox compete for another few years?

TRAVIS MILLER: The glass is always half-full with me. Chris Sale will be in the starting rotation, Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza could be everyday players, and the return for Carlos Quentin, who will almost certainly be traded, should still be high. Brent Morel and Beckham need to improve offensively, but I also have a sneaking suspicion that Dunn and Rios will be back to normal next year. Expectations will be much lower and I think this team will surprise some people.

LEWIE POLLIS: The White Sox did some pretty big spending last winter. What should we expect to happen on the South Side this offseason?

TRAVIS MILLER: As I already mentioned, Carlos Quentin will probably be traded – that should be the big move the White Sox make. I’m still on the fence on whether or not Mark Buehrle should be retained. I think everyone would be better off if he just signs with St. Louis and both parties make a clean break. That will open up the rotation spot for Sale so the team doesn’t have to trade Gavin Floyd or let Phil Humber walk. Juan Pierre also becomes a free agent. If he isn’t re-signed, that opens things up for De Aza to lead off and play center and Rios can move to right. De Aza is Willie Mays in CF compared to Rios.

LEWIE POLLIS: We’re coming to the end of the line on his first season in Chicago, and Adam Dunn is currently at -2.7 fWAR. If you were in charge, what would you do with Dunn? At what point do the Sox simply cut bait?

TRAVIS MILLER: He and the White Sox will put this season behind them. Fans, not so much, but that doesn’t become a problem until his first strikeout in 2012. Because Dunn is who he is, he’s got to get a chance next season, but on a much shorter leash. If his power is non-existent and he’s around the Mendoza line by the end of May, it’s time to take action. No waiting around until September next year.

LEWIE POLLIS: Who’s taking the mound for the White Sox this week, and what should Tribe fans look for from them?

TRAVIS MILLER: The Sox throw Gavin Floyd (12-11, 4.42 ERA) in game 1 on Tuesday and Dylan Axelrod (0-0, 2.25) in game 2. You’ve already seen plenty of Floyd this season (2-0, 2.42 in 4 starts), but Axelrod should be interesting to watch. He’s got a nasty slider and was in line for his first career win against the Tigers (6 IP, 8 Ks, 2 ER) but a bullpen meltdown screwed him in the 9th. Great story, too. He’s been featured several times on Seedlings to Stars this year because he’s stormed through the minors to get this opportunity after being left for dead a couple years back.

Mark Buehrle (11-9, 3.74) throws on Wednesday – he’s been lit up for 20 runs and 33 hits in his last three starts (15 1/3 IP). Phil Humber (9-8, 3.59) will pitch the series finale on Thursday. His success hinges completely on his sinker. If it’s not sinking, the Indians can feast. You’ll know early.

LEWIE POLLIS: What’s your prediction for the series?

TRAVIS MILLER: It just seems as though every team in Major League Baseball cares about the game more than the White Sox do. The Indians will take three out of four. I just hope the one the Sox win is Axelrod’s start. He earned that win in his last start.