Welcome to the bigs, Jason Kipnis

If Vinnie Pestano hadn't given up a two-run homer to Bobby Abreu in the eighth inning yesterday, the Indians would have won 1-0, there would have been no bottom of the ninth, and Jason Kipnis would still be looking for his first major-league hit. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't complain about a 1-0 win, but Kipnis winning the game with a single to right was quite a thrilling moment. I wasn't able to cheer because my wife and I were trying to put my 17-month-old daughter to sleep, but I cheered inwardly.

Now that Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall are both up in the majors to play every day instead of Orlando Cabrera and Jack Hannahan, respectively, the Indians truly have their best possible team on the field (considering injury). They are a game behind Detroit, and there's certainly no guarantee they can overtake the Tigers regardless of who's out there, but Hannahan and O-Cab haven't been doing feces offensively, and the offense has been struggling like crazy. Chisenhall may not be Hannahan's equal with the glove, but he'll surely more than make up for it with his bat, and the same is likely true for Kipnis.