OK, crazy thought(s):

What if the Indians’ surprisingly successful start isn’t just one of the many inexplicable occurrences throughout a lengthy 162-game major league baseball season?

What if a team coming off consecutive 90-loss seasons and employing one of the big leagues’ smallest payrolls and youngest rosters really can contend in the Central Division?

What if the Indians’ suspect rotation led by fragile ace Fausto Carmona isn’t the liability most assumed it would be?

What if Carmona is en route to returning to his Cy Young form in 2007?

What if Justin Masterson, who has been dominant en route to a 3-0 record and 1.33 ERA in three outings, can be an effective starting pitcher and isn’t better served pitching out of the bullpen?

What if the rest of the rotation — Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin and Mitch Talbot — continues to give the Indians’ quality efforts?

What if Travis Hafner, who has already hit three home runs this season, is finally past all his shoulder problems and is once again one of the American League’s most feared hitters?

What if Grady Sizemore returns from microfracture surgery on his left knee and is even close to the Sizemore of old, the one that was a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award-winning center fielder?

What if Sizemore’s replacement in center and atop the order, Michael Brantley, continues to turn the corner in his development, shifts to left and somewhere else in the order and gives the Indians another offensive weapon?

What if Matt LaPorta, who has shown flashes to start the season, finally lives up to his advanced billing as a slugging run producer?

What if veteran Orlando Cabrera is rejuvenated by a position change and becomes one of the league’s best second baseman?

What if the Indians’ bullpen, which is filled with inexperienced pitchers and unproven veterans, winds up being one of the more stingier relief corps in baseball?

What if left-handed setup man Tony Sipp continues to pitch like a closer in the eighth inning, and the other lefty in the bullpen, Rafael Perez, continues to pitch like a top-shelf setup man whenever he takes the mound?

What if closer Chris Perez is as dominant in the role on a full-time basis as he was last year as a replacement for Kerry Wood?

What if long time minor league relievers Vinnie Pestano and Justin Germano pitch well enough to stay in the majors for a full season?

What if the Indians continue to get quality performances from their bench players like they have from Adam Everett, Lou Marson and Shelley Duncan?

What if unheralded Jack Hannahan continues to play third base like Brooks Robinson and hits like he did during spring training?

What if the defensive-minded Marson, who is 4-for-10 in three games, has figured out how to hit on the big league level and gives the Indians a double threat at backup catcher?

What if the Indians are able to avoid major injuries to key players throughout the season?

What if fans start showing up at Progressive Field because the Indians are winning again and the team draws some real incentive from playing at home other than watching the hot dog race from the dugout in between innings?

What if all this happens and the Indians get the production they are expected to get from offensive catalysts Shin-Soo Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana?

What if Manny Acta, who has never enjoyed a winning season in four years as a manager, continues to push all the right buttons in his second season in Cleveland?

What if the Indians are for real?

I know, crazy thought(s).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

CLEVELAND — Grady Sizemore was at Progressive Field on Saturday. He wasn’t activated from the disabled list, but that is expected to come soon — real soon.

Manager Manny Acta said Sizemore, who is bidding to return from microfracture surgery on his left knee, will be examined today in Cleveland. If he receives medical clearance, Sizemore could be activated as early as Monday.

“We’re going to have to gauge how he is physically, but he’ll be activated soon,” Acta said of Sizemore, who worked out prior to the Indians’ second game of the series with Baltimore.

Asked if he could rule out Sizemore returning for the series opener at Kansas City on Monday, Acta said, “I can’t rule out anything. I don’t know when it will be, but it will be soon.”

Sizemore has been sidelined since May 16 of last year, playing in his first exhibition game March 20 and playing center field for the first time March 22. He has been on a minor league rehab assignment for five games — batting .353 (6-for-17) with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs for Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron.

Sizemore predicted he would be ready to return before May and told reporters Saturday that he was prepared to meet that deadline now. He expects the Indians to continue to take a cautious path with him.

“I think they’ll be very very careful,” Sizemore said. “I don’t imagine I’m going to go out there and play seven games in seven days the first week. I don’t see them throwing me out there for six or seven days in a row. I think they’re going to take it easy on me.”

Acta would not say where Sizemore would bat in the order, but he is expected to replace Michael Brantley in the leadoff spot. Brantley has been filling in for Sizemore in center and will shift to left field upon Sizemore’s return.

“It’s tough, because the team is swinging real well right now,” Sizemore said. “Manny knows I’m good with whatever, whether it’s leadoff or anywhere else. They’re going to sit down and figure out what’s best for the team.”

Wherever Sizemore ends up batting, Acta expects is a boost from the addition of the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner.

“Regardless of what type of lineup you have,” Acta said, “when you add Grady Sizemore to any lineup, any team in America, you’re adding to it. Is that an understatement?”

When Sizemore is activated, the Indians will have to make a corresponding move, dropping a player from their current 25-man roster. The most likely to go is outfielder Travis Buck, who still has minor league options.

Starting blocks

The Indians’ fast start to the season has caught many by surprise, but Acta saw it coming, even from a team that went 69-93 and struggled to stay out of the Central Division cellar last year.

“This is not a fluke, because we’ve played 2 1/2 months of good baseball,” Acta said. “That’s what we did in the second half of last season. We’ve just added on to that this year. So, that’s why it’s not surprising to me.”

The Indians went 35-39 in the second half last year, accounting for the third-best record in the division.

Bucking up

A new bat was big for Buck.

The struggling outfielder, who entered Saturday hitting just .136 (3-for-22) in seven games, switched to some new lumber and it paid off with a 3-for-4 performance in an 8-3 victory over the Orioles.

In the midst of Buck’s first three-hit game since 2009 was an RBI double in the Indians’ decisive four-run third inning.

Minor details

Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, who was one of the Indians’ most productive players at big league training camp, is off to a slow start for Columbus. Entering Saturday, Cleveland’s top prospect was batting just .235 (8-for-34) in nine games. He had displayed the power he showed this spring, with six of his eight hits going for extra bases. … Left fielder Tim Fedroff went 2-for-4 with his first homer in Akron’s 9-5 loss to Reading on Friday. Fedroff, a seventh-round draft pick in 2008, entered Saturday hitting .375 (9-for-24) in seven games. … Bo Greenwell went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI Friday in advanced Class A Kinston’s 5-3 loss to Winston-Salem. Greenwell, the son of former big league outfielder Mike Greenwell, was hitting .391 (9-for-23) with a homer and three RBIs in six games through Friday.

Roundin’ third

Shin-Soo Choo is picking up steam at the plate. He hit his second homer Saturday and has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, batting .345 (10-for-29) over the span. … Orlando Cabrera snapped an 0-for-16 skid with an RBI single in the third inning. … Today, 1:05, Channel 3/STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Carmona (0-2, 6.11) vs. Bergesen (0-1, 3.18).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.