Listening to Jim Rome today and they have some local Cleveland radio guys filling in. Figured it was the off-season, so maybe time to get off the schnide and blog on the Tribe. I took a lot of time off for obvious reasons, August was impossible to watch, travel for work, CPA tests, weddings, etc. Once one of these subs for Rome said "You think you got it bad in Oakland, in Indy, in New York, just shut up and look at Cleveland". Truer words never spoken.
To sum up the season, the Indians were in first place as late as June, and then ended barely ahead of the Twins for last place in the AL Central. It was one of the most amazing nose dives I have ever witnessed in any sport, except it mirrored the same nosedive they took the year prior. After a crash landing to end the season, GM Chris Antonetti had seen enough and fired Manny Acta with 8 games left in the season. Sandy Alomar took over and finished the season making us look decent, and only making a few minor changes(Chisenhall batting clean-up). Then they said they would interview Alomar and Terry Francona(formerly a World Series Champion in Boston and Philadelphia), and on the day of the playoffs Terry Francona was named manager of the Indians. For the next 4 years we get to see what Francona can do with a lot smaller payroll, and a pretty bare cupboard in the Indians farm system too. So what now?
First let's make a quick point, I know we as Cleveland sports fans are incredibly loyal, and of course in our hearts we wanted Alomar to get the job(now we are REALLY hoping he returns in some capacity on Francona's staff), but make no bones about it Francona is the right choice. He has the winning pedigree, won't ditch us for a bigger stage(been there, done that), and he is completely removed from the meltdowns of the last two seasons. What can Sandy say that he wasn't saying to the players the last few seasons? I am sure Acta had final say, but I am pretty sure Acta was listening to everybody and doing anything his staff/GM suggested to stop those long losing streaks, and none of them worked. I actually don't think Sandy will be back, I hope he does come back, but I see the Colorado Rockies needing a manager, and he just seems like a fit for them.
Francona is the right move because he commands respect from everyone on the roster. This isn't a guy who managed the Nationals. This guy stole our World Series opportunity away when they came back in the ALCS from down 3-1 when we had Sabathia and a stud rookie named Fausto Carmona(allegedly). This guy will make Cleveland a more attractive place for free agents, believe it or not, people don't want to play in
Cleveland. We don't have sell-outs, we don't spend a lot of money, we don't have a recent history of winning, and to win in Cleveland you have to beat the Tigers and White Sox. Trust me, guys in the majors are there because they welcome challenges and overcome them, however do you think hitters who want to make big paychecks, put up big numbers, are volunteering to face Verlander, Fister, and Peavy on repeat in a cold weather town like Cleveland? Do you think stud pitchers are foaming at the mouth to play in a hitters power park against Migeul Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn, Joe Mauer, Paul Konerko, and #PickAProspectFromKC. Francona gives free agents a reason to come to Cleveland. We aren't going to out spend anybody, but if you are a young guy who is trying to play for that BIG future contract, you want to play for a guy who has a track record of getting the most out of his players, and more importantly a track record of developing young stars.
Those are the facts, and since Lindor isn't ready to debut yet, the Indians are going to be relying on free agents to surround the core of this team. They have money to spend with Hafner, Roberto Hernandez, and
Grady Sizemore finally off of the books. So this off-season is HUGE for the Francona era. You need to surround Choo, Kipnis, Brantley, and A-Cab with somebody who is better than Matt LaPorta, Shelley Duncan, Austin Kearns, Grimmace, and Derek Lowe. Those guys aren't going to cut it. Francona commands respect from free agents. Let's see what happens this off-season. I think the additions in free agency THIS off-season are huge, because if they work and lead to wins, then the fans in Cleveland will come. When the fans come, the money comes, when the money comes the Tribe will spend it. If they spend it properly(i.e KEEP CHOO!), then you could see a contender, and that's what the Indians need to foster a consistent winning ballclub. Right now, with losing records, the fans aren't going to show up unless its fireworks night, and without fans ownership can spend to keep our favorite players. Francona's signing, will help ticket sales early in the season, bet on it.
Francona was the only choice, Alomar is definitely a sentimental choice, but even if he is the best manager ever, we need talent/money, and Alomar can't attract that using his history as a Mets/Indians bench coach and showing players the lovely sights of the Hard Rock Museum. Francona can point to his rings and past players he managed. He will bring a superior staff who also want to learn from him. My guess is Brad Mills will be on staff, and so will Alomar if he misses out on the Rockies job.
So let's congratulate Terry Francona on being the new Indians manager, lets also wish him lots of luck. As a big viewer of the Indians, let me suggest what he should focus on immediately, in closing is a checklist in order that he needs to work on with Chris Antonetti. I may address these all individually in future blogs during the off-season.
1. Starting Pitching-get somebody who has a sub 4.00 ERA PLEASE!
2. Starting Pitching-repeat step 1, 2 is better than 1, and we have none.
3. Grady Sizemore-is he healthy? How little can you spend to find out?
4. First Base-how do we always have the worst offensive first baseman in the AL? In Boston you had Youkilis, V-Mart, David Ortiz, and then Adrian Gonzalez.
5. Lonnie Chisenhall- if he your franchise 3rd baseman why is Jack Hanahan starting opening day there?
6. Shin Soo Choo - How good is he? More importantly, how much are you willing to prevent him from hitting free agency?
7. Left Field - I really liked Russ Canzler, but I only saw him in September
8. Bullpen - If you touch it then this in any way(other than to trade to improve any of the above) then this was the wrong choice as manager
9. Fireworks - Can we have more fireworks days? Because this will increase attendance and thus payroll rises
10. Carlos Santana - Pick a position for him. First base works since it is a need. Catcher does too, but you won't get any solid 1B to come to town if he knows Santana will take his starts every week.
-Grey Beard
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