There has been an uproar from Indians’ fans around the city about the name change of the place where the Tribe plays. After 14 years, Jacobs Field has now become Progressive Field. To me, it isn’t a big deal. This is an era of baseball where naming rights are sold, and as that goes, the Indians did it right. First, it is a 16-year commitment, which means the park won’t change names again until 2024. Other teams have had their ballparks change names two or three times in 10-15 years. Two names in 30 years isn’t really so bad, is it?
Also, it was a good chunk of change. An estimated $3.6 million per year goes to the ballclub for the naming rights. That would be enough to get a marginal free agent, or just maybe it could sweeten the offer for the reigning Cy Young Award winner, C.C. Sabathia, to keep him in an Indians uniform for years to come. As long as they win a World Series soon, they can call the stadium anything they want, it just doesn’t matter in the big picture.
Speaking of the big lefty, it was reported on Baseball Prospectus.com that Sabathia really wants to stay in Cleveland, but the Indians offer was short on years, not dollars. I have said this would be the stumbling block from day one. There is no doubt in my mind the Tribe will pony up the dollars to keep C.C., but if he and his agents wanted a Barry Zito type deal in terms of length, seven years, the front office may be inclined to pass. Reportedly, the Cleveland offer was for four years with a club option for a fifth season. Sabathia is said to be thinking long and hard about the deal, since he wants to stay.
It doesn’t appear that GM Mark Shapiro is making a big move to help the team this off-season, since spring training is scheduled to start in about five weeks. Yes, the Tigers and White Sox have made major moves to upgrade their teams, gutting their farm systems in the process. Remember, Detroit has to make up eight games in the standing, and Chicago needs to improve by 24 games. Obviously, the Motor City Kitties are the bigger threat, so why hasn’t the Cleveland front office done anything?
The Indians are banking on their younger players continuing to get better, along with a return to form from Travis Hafner. Remember, most of the Tribe’s everyday players are younger than 27, which according to research is the age that major league players hit their peak. Included in this group would be Grady Sizemore, Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta, Franklin Gutierrez, and Asdrubal Cabrera. Improved offensive numbers from these guys would comes as a shock to no one. And yes, I realize that it is likely that Victor Martinez and Casey Blake will regress a bit in 2008.
On the other hand, except for Miguel Cabrera and Curtis Granderson, the Tigers are made up of players on the wrong side of 30. I would also bet a large amount of money (if I were a betting man) that Magglio Ordonez will not approach the numbers he posted in ’07.
Still, the Indians need to improve their offense somehow to get back to the post season. They are in the middle of the pack in the AL in terms of runs scored. I know you win with pitching, but you need to score runs to get to the playoffs. Hopefully, Shapiro can come up with that big bat before the beginning of spring training. Perhaps, Progressive Park can help in that pursuit.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 