A New Spring

My fiancé and I took a winter vacation last week to Niagara Falls, Ontario.  Most of our friends thought we were crazy to go north in the winter time.  When it is February, and there is a polar vortex, it is clearly still winter in the Midwest.  While up there she got to see the falls for the first time.  It was my first time seeing them frozen like they were.  They aren’t actually frozen, but rather they are the pit for all of the ice that has built up along all the Great Lakes that feed into it, so when the ice goes over the falls, it just gets trapped and builds until it looks like the falls are frozen.  Underneath that ice, is the same water moving quickly, and in April, all of that ice that we saw will be gone, and every visitor can see the water flow for the entire summer season.  And starting around November, the ice will slowly return. 

                Our last night there, we went to Skylon Tower for dinner.  We saw the same falls as we did earlier in our trip, except that there was less ice, the water was beginning to seep thru.  As soon as we got back, she put away her winter themed table settings, and full team scrimmages were happening in Arizona and Florida.  It’s spring, and it’s time for a new baseball season.  The country is beginning to thaw, diamonds are being prepped for games, the stadiums are being stocked with souvenirs, and ticket offices are looking for any last minute season ticket holders they can find.  Once the snow melts, spring arrives.  It brings back so many memories from my childhood as an Indians fan, the Albert Belle flex, Kenny Lofton’s steals and climbs up the center field wall, Omar’s bare hands, Jeff Kent’s stache; Charles Nagy’s breaking ball, and more.  It flowed on thru my life into what were down seasons for the Indians, but still memorable moments, Jody Gerut’s sliding catches, Fausto vs. the midges, CC, Pronk, Bob Wickman putting all of us on edge every appearance, Victor’s swing, Cliff Lee’s resurgence and emergence, Grady Sizemore’s dives, and We are All Kipnisses.     

                 Once the snow melts, what will our new memories be?   While the snow covered the ground, we said ‘good-bye’ to Joe Smith, Chris Perez, Matt Albers, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Drew Stubbs.  We welcomed John Axford, Josh Outman, David Murphy, Elliot Johnson, and Shaun Marcum.  What will all these moves mean?  I can’t be certain, but I know one thing is certain, don’t think this is close to the same team that Cleveland fans saw last season.  What were the strengths of last season may not be the strengths this year, who was healthy, may not be healthy this year, and who was injured, may be fully healthy all season.  There isn’t any ‘What if’ or Harlem Shake promos, but instead a letter from Terry Francona to the fans.  Chris Perez’s twitter account is no longer important, but John Axford’s facial hair is.  Ubaldo’s mechanics are irrelevant (until we face Baltimore), but I suddenly care about Shaun Marcum’s rehabilitation. 

                Spring is here, and the Indians are practicing.  The blog is open for comments, and there will plenty of posts from me about whatever the season will hold.  Win or lose, we are all part of the Tribe, and there will be joy, heartache, and most likely a new grey hair or two.  If there wasn’t, would it even really be fun to be a Cleveland Indians fan?   

Roll Tribe (Oh wait…that was last year too…hmmm)

#Windians