Friday morning’s announcement Keith Foulke started the phones ringing on the local sports talk shows. Once again, we heard all of the problems fans have with the Tribe, "The Dolans are cheap", "They can’t sign big ticket free agents", etc. The fans went into full blast "woe is us" mode. On the first day of spring training!
Ease up! I understand that our patience is running thin. Forty three years without a title will do that to a city. However, let’s not jump of the bridge yet either. When the Indians signed Foulke, they said he would compete for the closer’s role. The former Boston reliever did not save one game with the Red Sox last season. Not one! Yet, the fans acted like the guy who retired on Friday was the man who recorded the last out of the 2004 World Series. There was every chance in the world that Foulke would have been the set up, or even started the season on the disabled list.
That’s what we do in this city. We overreact. Heck, there are fans hoping the Cavaliers sign 41 year old Scottie Pippen, because he could be the missing piece for the wine and gold. Pippen hasn’t played an NBA game in over two years. He might be able to provide some insights to LeBron about playing for a championship team, but he wouldn’t contribute much on the court. But, that doesn’t stop people from waxing nostalgic about the Pippen who played second fiddle to Michael Jordan for the Bulls.
Most national pundits said the Tribe had a great off season. They had a horrible bullpen in 2006, and GM Mark Shapiro addressed the problem by signing four veteran relievers. I’m Shapiro hoped all of them would have ERA’s under 2, but realistically the GM figured if two of them pitched well, the bullpen would be much improved. As of signing hurlers coming off injuries, the Indians did the same thing before the 2004 season with a guy named Bob Howry, the same guy Tribe critics pine for when talking about the relief corps. You can’t have it both ways.
Cavs’ fans talk about any former star who may come available, without thinking about whether or not the guy can still play, or would he fit in with the team’s philosophy. Chris Webber got released? We should get him. Eddie Jones is available? We have to have him. These comments are made because these guys used to be good. If they could still play at a high level, I’m pretty sure they would not have been cut loose. Basketball is a sport where team chemistry is very important. Remember the Lakers of the late sixties that had three of the all time greats on their team (Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor), but couldn’t win a title. Danny Ferry has to look at this, the fans don’t.
There is no doubt Cleveland is starved for a sports championship. Maybe even desperate. However, this is no reason to lose all sense of realities about each sport. Mariano Rivera didn’t retire from the Indians the other day, a righty who didn’t save one game last season did. Let’s not pretend the Indians season is over because Keith Foulke is gone. Remember that Bobby Jenks didn’t start the 2005 season for the White Sox, but he was the ace of their bullpen in the World Series.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 