When the Cleveland Indians allowed the Boston Red Sox to come back from a 3-1 deficit to go onto the World Series, all was right with the world. They join a long list of other Cleveland professional teams to choke just shy of greatness.

Before we put the 2007 Cleveland Indians in the same section of failure and no I don’t mean the Dawg Pound, as the teams that suffered from “the Drive,” “the Shot,” “the Fumble,” and the José Mesa debacle, let’s look at how the this year’s letdown differ from those teams.

At the start of the season, no one had many expectations for the Tribe as they were coming off a meager 78-84 season in 2006. The Tribe went through a roller coaster season where they lost two-fifths of their opening day rotation, in the jettisoned Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers. Their best hitter, Travis Hafner, went through a season-long slump.

Despite those two hindrances, which would crush most teams, the Tribe tied the Red Sox for the best record in the regular season. Still think this team is a bust?

This Indians are directly responsible for Joe Torre’s estrangement from the Yankees. Is that failure?

This Indians team features two Cy Young candidates in C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. Manager Eric Wedge is also a leading candidate for Manager of the Year honors. No Indian has won the Cy Young since Gaylord Perry in 1972. And no Cleveland manager has ever won Manager of the Year. Still think this team should go down in infamy?

In “the Drive,” “the Shot,” “the Fumble,” and José Mesa debacle, high expectations magnified the failure, and the teams should have won those games.

The 2007 Indians, on the other hand, had every reason to not even make the playoffs let alone win their division by eight games, take care of the Yankees with ease and to put the Red Sox, possibly the most complete team in baseball, on the ropes.

Yes, it is true this Indians team choked and Cleveland sports fans are again saying “wait till next year.” That statement is valid for once as the 2008 Indians have every starting position player with the exception of Kenny Lofton under contract. The Tribe has an option on Paul Byrd and if they take it that will give the Tribe their top four starters back. Set-up men Rafael Betancort, Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis are also all back along with closer Joe Borowoski, the league leader in saves.

Maybe next year will indeed be the year when Cleveland gets its first taste of a championship in 44 years. But I wouldn’t bet the house on it.