How’d Cleveland last this long before slipping?

Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty ImagesMidway through watching Cleveland grind out the second miserable game in an ugly mid-week series against what was supposed to be one of the teams challenging for a division title the other day, I came to a couple of stark realizations.

First, just how miserable to watch the team had become. There’s something to be said for watching a hilariously bad team or one that is prone to epic collapses. It’s one of the reasons the Mets have such a remarkable, romantic past — they’re just so good at doing things poorly. Heck, the Mariners get great documentaries made about them, and they consistently disappoint.

Cleveland is neither excitingly bad nor a huge let-down.…