Memories Of One Last Indians’ Game

Saturday night, we made our final trek to Progressive Field to watch the Cleveland Indians. Yes, we know the team isn’t going anywhere, and there will major league baseball on the shores of Lake Erie in 2022, but as we headed down to the ballpark, there was a melancholy feeling here.

We thought about the games we attended as a kid, and joked about taking the rapid downtown from West Park before we were able to drive, something we would never let our kids do today. It was no big deal back then.

Our group talked about where we used to park when the new park first opened and attending World Series games in 1995 and 1997, and reminisced about how we couldn’t believe the Indians, who were mediocre as long as we remembered, finally made it to the Series, something that was just a TV show in October.

We were handed rally towels as we entered Progressive Field that said “Let’s Go Tribe”, curious indeed considering the upcoming name change.

We settled into our seats down the left field line, near the “Home Run Porch”, fine seats indeed. Our friends thanked us for the choice, but we didn’t want to sit in the upper deck for this one.

The ballpark wasn’t really enthusiastic when the game began, and there were many at the game from Chicago, doing the weekend thing of seeing the White Sox and the Bears in our town on the same weekend.

However, Jose Ramirez shot some energy into the crowd with a two run HR in the first, and the “Jose, Jose, Jose” chants were heard all around us. After that, it was more about taking in the atmosphere for our last Indians’ game.

A lot of jerseys were worn by fans, many of them bearing the name of “Lindor”, a symbol to us of an ownership that has never connected with the fans, despite putting a winning team on the field for most of the last eight years.

It was also discussed that the ownership trading the beloved “Chief Wahoo” mascot to get the All Star Game in 2019, and probably dealt the name “Indians” to get the state government to pony up some funds to renovate Progressive Field and extend the lease.

The best throwback jersey we saw was a 1970 pinstriped jersey with the shadow lettering and numerals with #48 on it, the number of our first favorite player, Sam McDowell.

We talked about the surveys the organization sends to fans talking about ticket plans, renovations to Progressive Field, etc. and how no one ever hears from the organization about responses. We laughed about the questions, asking essentially, why we go to the ballpark. Our answer: “to watch a baseball game”.

Sometimes it seems like the organization is looking for a secret answer as to why people don’t come down to the place formerly known as “The Jake”. Sometimes, it’s a simple as talking to fans, real baseball fans, to find out what’s missing. That’s what the great Bill Veeck would do.

As for the new name, we all agreed the ownership could’ve handled it better. They could have picked three or four names and had the fans vote on it, including them in the process. Another way the disconnect could have been narrowed.

It could be part of the problem with the new name is the fans feel it was forced upon them. They had no say.

We looked at the giant scoreboard in behind the left field bleachers with sadness, knowing “Indians” would either be gone or replaced with “Guardians” the next time we were at the park.

At the 7th inning stretch, the crowd seemed to increase the volume when the line “root, root, root for the INDIANS” was reached, seeming to say they weren’t happy with the change.

We walked around the ballpark one last time, knowing there will be big league baseball there in 2022, but also aware the park will look different, with the renovations starting this winter.

Again, we understand why the name was changed in our heads, but that doesn’t mean it hurts our hearts as fans. Memories will still be with the Indians, the Tribe, and the Chief. Heck, every spring, stations play Major League and Major League 2, which of course, feature the Cleveland INDIANS!

So, the name isn’t going to go away. Nor will it be ignored.

The elementary school and church we attended as a kid has changed its name too. But not for the people who attended it. We are sure that’s how it will be for Cleveland baseball fans in the future.

Sad, But True. Last Weekend For The Indians.

With yesterday’s rainout, Monday afternoon will be it for the Cleveland “Indians” playing at Progressive Field. When the 2022 season opens, the script of the team’s name will no longer sit atop the huge scoreboard in leftfield.

Whether it is replaced with “Guardians” remains to be seen, and also as everything else with this franchise currently, probably depends on the cost.

We understand many fans are pissed off about the change, and we get that, but it was inevitable, although it seems like the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Braves’ fans can use a native American war cry at their games without people going crazy.

Some people don’t react well to change. It’s understandable, especially when you are in our age bracket, and you spent your entire life with the baseball team in Cleveland being the Indians.

Chief Wahoo was retired a few years ago, and we can remember in our college days wearing a pullover with the iconic logo on it, and a young woman commenting that they liked the “little dude” on the apparel. To this day, our friends still sometimes refer to Wahoo as the “little dude”.

We understand fans attending the last game (which is now Monday) will receive some sort of memento from the team identifying the event as the last contest in the ballpark with the team being called “Indians”. Perhaps that will be valuable in a few decades.

The loss of the mascot and the name change has driven more of a wedge in the relationship between the fans and the organization, most notably the Dolan ownership. And despite what many on social media tell you, it is on the franchise to repair that rift. Fans don’t have to buy tickets, it’s not a mandatory thing.

Hopefully, this .500 season is the low point of “retooling” of the roster, and the Guardians can be back in the mix for a post-season berth next season. It is somewhat remarkable the run the organization has been on since Terry Francona was hired prior to the 2013 season. This is the first time since then the franchise has not played meaningful games in September.

Winning is important to fans, but attendance has waned despite good teams. The local television ratings are extremely high, so the front office should be challenged with finding out why people watch on TV, but don’t come to the ballpark. That needs correcting and we don’t think it has anything to do with way the edifice is laid out now.

Speaking on that, the end of this season also is the last time Progressive Field will look the way it does right now. The modernization of the now 27 year old facility will begin this season, although it has not been announced what will be the first step.

Even though the time has come for the franchise’s nickname to go away, it doesn’t mean fans don’t have the right to be melancholy about it. For many of us, the names “Indians” and “the Tribe” were part of growing up, it was synonymous with baseball, summertime, and for our age bracket, a lot of losing.

On March 31, 2022, a new era will start at Progressive Field when the Cleveland Guardians takes the field. New traditions will start, and heck, maybe “the Guards” will be what folks will say when they talk about going to Progressive Field.

Make no mistake, it will be strange not to have the Tribe around anymore.

Tribe Roster Decisions That Don’t Seem Difficult To Us

The last season of the Cleveland Indians is slowly winding down with just a little over two weeks remaining, a total of 18 games.

Of course, some would say the Tribe hitters have already taken the bats home, as they have scored more than three runs in a game just twice in the last 11 games. And in that span, they’ve been one hit and no hit, and were shutout three times.

When the season ends, besides the name of the team changing to Cleveland Guardians (still difficult for us to type), the next piece of business will be who will remain on the 40 man roster.

This front office is well known for their patience, so will they take into account some flashes from some of borderline players on the roster or will they look at an entire body of work, like more than 300 to 400 at bats in the majors.

For us, it wouldn’t be that difficult of the decision, we could release 5-7 players as soon as the 162nd game is played and wouldn’t look back.

First would be the perpetual prospect group, particularly those getting a little old to be considered prospects anymore.

Bradley Zimmer is the first name that comes to mind. Yes, Zimmer has hit some long home runs this year, and that’s impressive, but he’s also fanned 103 times in 290 plate appearances and has a 698 OPS, and will be 29 next season. The only saving grace would be his skill set (great speed, great defense) could be ideal for a 26th man on a roster, but if the brass is thinking he’s an everyday player, they are mistaken.

Oscar Mercado is another of those frustrating players who seem to have a lot of tools, yet aren’t real good baseball players. He will be 27 next season and has good speed and is a good glove, but can’t get on base enough or have any pop in his bat.

The third is this group is Yu Chang, who has received his most playing time in the big leagues this year, and has managed just a 659 OPS. His biggest issue? 199 plate appearances and just nine walks to go with 54 whiffs. He has some power and has played shortstop so he is solid defensively, but if the organization wasn’t going to play him when he was hot, it’s probably best for him to move on.

There are also some guys in the bullpen we believe won’t be kept either. The organization might be inclined to make another non-roster invitee situation for Blake Parker and Bryan Shaw, but we would doubt either stay on the 40 man.

And Nick Wittgren is likely to be looking for a new organization as well. His performance has declined in each of his three seasons here, and has become prone to giving up the long ball. We should also note that Parker, Shaw, and Wittgren are also all over 30 years of age.

Southpaw Alex Young, picked up on waivers from Arizona earlier this season, may join them even though he’s only 28. Having a 7.84 ERA and having really one effective performance (out of ten) doesn’t seem to engender any confidence in him.

The only thing that could be in his favor is if Carl Willis and Reuben Niebla see something in him they believe would unlock a good pitcher.

It will also be interesting to see how the team handles players like Harold Ramirez (we’d keep him), Scott Moss (who has pitched 20 innings since 2019), and Daniel Johnson (they really don’t seem to like him at all).

That’s a lot of players to make decisions on, but do any of them really catch an eye as a potential everyday player in the big leagues?

Again, the Cleveland baseball team (we are transitioning) is known for patience, but for us, it’s time to make a decision on these players.

Tribe Agrees To Lease, On To Other Worries

Last week, the Cleveland Indians (Guardians) announced they have extended their lease for 15 additional years, through the 2038 season, with options to extend in five year increments beyond that time.

We were concerned about the extension because of all of the other news surrounding the baseball team over the past few seasons, namely the slashing (note, we didn’t use the word cutting) of the club’s payroll for players, and the departure of minority owner John Sherman, who purchased the Kansas City Royals.

We also found the lack of marketing by the team puzzling over the past few years. It was greeted by many fans as a sign the team would not be staying in Cleveland past the end of the current lease in 2023.

The fact ownership didn’t understand this is par for the course, as they are extremely tone deaf to what the fans want.

As part of the deal, the county and state governments are contributing to renovations and the modernization of Progressive Field, which is now 27 years old, which is hard to believe. And hopefully, one of the renovations is changing the eyesore in the right field upper deck.

Funny how the name change was announced and the government ponied up some money, right?

Seemingly each time the Cleveland payroll is mentioned, a corresponding comment is made by the team, and the supporters of the ownership, about the attendance, which has dropped since 2017’s 2.05 million figure to 1.74 million the last time fans were allowed in the ballpark at full capacity for a full season.

Keep in mind, that 2019 is a higher figure than in any year between 2012-16. So, depending on your perspective, more people are coming to games over the past ten years.

Perhaps one problem the team has is in conjunction with having the second lowest payroll in the sport this season, according to ticketiq.com they have the seventh highest average ticket price. We weren’t a business major in college, but we think it is safe to say if people aren’t buying your product, one reason could be that your price is too high.

Surely, they should realize getting 28,000 people at $40.00 per ticket is better than getting 20,000 paying $50.00 to get in, no?

We have said this many times over the past few years, but there is plenty of interest in northeast Ohio’s major league baseball team, the television ratings show that. However, fans don’t seem to want to go to Progressive Field.

If it were our team, we would be doing research to find out why.

Could be ticket prices or it could be the dynamic seating concept, or it could be things like closing the concession stands after the first game of a twi-night doubleheader, closing souvenir stands right after the game concludes, or having problems getting people inside the park?

How many times do you see a Sunday afternoon crowd trying to get in through the gates while the game in starting? Do they think these people also arrive late at movies so they can deliberately miss the first few minutes?

The good news is the Indians/Guardians will be playing on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario through 2038. Hopefully, the World Series drought hasn’t reached 90 years by then.

Next Year, Go Guardians!

Last Friday, the announcement finally came.

After the Major League Baseball season concludes, the Cleveland Indians will no longer exist, and the team will now be known as the Cleveland Guardians.

We understand this is difficult to accept for a great many fans of the team, folks that thought of the name “Indians” not as a racial slur, but rather the name of their favorite baseball team. There was no malice on the part of most of those people, it was a name they grew up with, the team they cherished as they aged.

These are different times though, and the name was no longer appropriate. The moniker will still be part of the history of the franchise though, and the memories of the players who were Cleveland Indians will always be part of the supporters of the team.

The negative reaction from fans at Progressive Field, booing when the Tom Hanks narrated video was played, could be because of the change or it could also be a reaction to the ownership that made the change. There is no doubt about the disconnect that exists being the public and the Dolan ownership, and frankly, we don’t know if that can ever be repaired.

As for the new name, it’s kind of generic to us. When the new name was announced, it was noted that Guardians reflect the pride, resiliency, and loyalty of people in northeast Ohio. Does it? We don’t know, but we do know it could have been handled better.

Why not make the fans part of the process? Why not pick four or five choices and let the ticket buying public vote on the new name?

That it wasn’t tells us perhaps it was going to be Guardians all along, there was no extensive research done.

As we said, we wouldn’t have went with anything Rock ‘n’ Roll themed either, that has become the only thing our area has become identified with recently, but why not an homage to the past by going with Blues, Blue Sox, or Grays, or even Commodores, since we sit on Lake Erie.

We would have even preferred Spiders, the old National League team name from the late 1800’s, to Guardians.

It also didn’t help that the logo unveiled on Friday looks like a grade school art project. We are sure the team paid a great deal of money to some consultant from out of town to design it, but that can still be changed, and we bet it will be sooner than later.

It could be that even if the current ownership announced the coolest nickname that has ever been chosen, it would be met with negativity. That’s where the majority of this fan base is with the Dolan family. There is a huge disconnect.

Perhaps there isn’t room for a Bill Veeck anymore in today’s game, but we think fans want the owner to be invested in the team, and not just monetarily. They want them to hurt when the team loses, and celebrate when they win.

Instead, they are too corporate. We get that they have to be, but it would be alright to act like you identify with what the fans are going through.

The name change was inevitable, and people who still don’t understand why it had to change aren’t being honest with themselves. As usual though for this ownership, it could have been handled better.

So, Guardians it is. If you are a true fan, this will not make you give that up. And don’t hold the name change against the ownership either. It was a matter of time.