Tribe Offseason Thread

^^^^^ TY

And that sucks.

We all know it’s true. It’s just shitty to hear from the owner. And, more to the point of he isn’t spending the proper amount now to win. When else is Cleveland going to EVER have 3 guy in the rotation who could win the CYA, and baseball as a whole would say “yeah, that makes sense” or 2 guys who could do the same on the MVP side? 

Yet this guys gets us to 15th in Payroll for ONE YEAR! Then scraps it and startsbthe rebuild while trying to still “win now”. GTFO. I’m not saying I expect to pay (overpay?) players in Cleveland, but I do expect to go all in during the 3-5 year windows that pop up every 10-15 years or so.

We put up with the small market shit and are realists about it because we know it’s how it works. And, it HAS WORKED. Twice now the Tribe has been a top team in the AL after rebuilds. But neither time have they don’t what’s necessary to get over the hump. Trading stars and getting prospects and building a complete team with young firepower is great. But trading for a bullpen arm isn’t getting it done. Trading your whole team after 1 contract didn’t work out (even though I truly think Edwin healthy in 2017 results in a title) is not getting it done. 

That said, the attendance is a joke for how good they have been the last 3 years.

posted by Laley23

We all know it’s true. It’s just shitty to hear from the owner. And, more to the point of he isn’t spending the proper amount now to win. When else is Cleveland going to EVER have 3 guy in the rotation who could win the CYA, and baseball as a whole would say “yeah, that makes sense” or 2 guys who could do the same on the MVP side? 

Yet this guys gets us to 15th in Payroll for ONE YEAR! Then scraps it and startsbthe rebuild while trying to still “win now”. GTFO. I’m not saying I expect to pay (overpay?) players in Cleveland, but I do expect to go all in during the 3-5 year windows that pop up every 10-15 years or so.

We put up with the small market shit and are realists about it because we know it’s how it works. And, it HAS WORKED. Twice now the Tribe has been a top team in the AL after rebuilds. But neither time have they don’t what’s necessary to get over the hump. Trading stars and getting prospects and building a complete team with young firepower is great. But trading for a bullpen arm isn’t getting it done. Trading your whole team after 1 contract didn’t work out (even though I truly think Edwin healthy in 2017 results in a title) is not getting it done. 

Pretty much my thoughts. That window is still (barely) open so it's not time to go into rebuild mode. Love the Tribe but after seeing the off season moves (or lack of) I have to say this is the least enthused I've been going into a season in a while.

posted by Laley23

That said, the attendance is a joke for how good they have been the last 3 years.

I think you're being nice--it's pathetic (and yes, I attend between 6-8 games a year from my home in Toledo, so I'm allowed to say this)

Saw an article where Paul Dolan said when the Indians give a $300 million contract everyone else will be giving a Billion dollar contract. Then when asked about Lindor he said "enjoy him now" or something to that effect.

So is he definitely the worst owner in the MLB or just probably the worst owner in the MLB?

posted by kizer permanente

Saw an article where Paul Dolan said when the Indians give a $300 million contract everyone else will be giving a Billion dollar contract. Then when asked about Lindor he said "enjoy him now" or something to that effect.

So is he definitely the worst owner in the MLB or just probably the worst owner in the MLB?

Yeah the last 10 or so posts were directed at that. 

posted by Laley23

Yeah the last 10 or so posts were directed at that. 

 

Sorry. Im dumb lol. 

But to address that ... we ask why attendance is what it is. Well that’s simple. The Dolans. They alienated the fan base after the Golden years of Dick Jacobs. You don’t maintain a fan base when you pinch pennies. You don’t go from rebuild to rebuild and maintain a fan base. Say what you will about Gilbert, but he gives Frankie $350mil. 

posted by kizer permanente

But to address that ... we ask why attendance is what it is. Well that’s simple. The Dolans. They alienated the fan base after the Golden years of Dick Jacobs. You don’t maintain a fan base when you pinch pennies. You don’t go from rebuild to rebuild and maintain a fan base. Say what you will about Gilbert, but he gives Frankie $350mil. 

Its easy to give a max when you have to spend a certain amount, and when said player cant get more elsewhere. 

And we are going to go rebuild to rebuild. We always have and always will. But when you are at the top of the rebuild you need to go all in, which is where my issues lie. I dont have a problem with Dolan not shelling out a top 5-10 payroll every year. But I think the last 2 years and this one we shouldve been close to 10. Then rebuild again and slash. 

As for attendance, I don't buy it. That's a cop out. If my teams are good, and the Tribe has been, I am going to a few games a year. If they are bad, like the Browns have always been, I still tried to make 1 of the 8 home games (though a lot tougher when they are Sundays and I lived in NC)...still managed it 3 of the 5 years. I'm in Chicago now, and will get to 5+ Tribe games this year, probably closer to 10. Prices at the park are beyond fair, the team is loaded and is a WS contender. No reason to not even come close to sell-outs on the weekends. 

posted by Laley23

Its easy to give a max when you have to spend a certain amount, and when said player cant get more elsewhere. 

And we are going to go rebuild to rebuild. We always have and always will. But when you are at the top of the rebuild you need to go all in, which is where my issues lie. I dont have a problem with Dolan not shelling out a top 5-10 payroll every year. But I think the last 2 years and this one we shouldve been close to 10. Then rebuild again and slash. 

As for attendance, I don't buy it. That's a cop out. If my teams are good, and the Tribe has been, I am going to a few games a year. If they are bad, like the Browns have always been, I still tried to make 1 of the 8 home games (though a lot tougher when they are Sundays and I lived in NC)...still managed it 3 of the 5 years. I'm in Chicago now, and will get to 5+ Tribe games this year, probably closer to 10. Prices at the park are beyond fair, the team is loaded and is a WS contender. No reason to not even come close to sell-outs on the weekends. 

 

 

Baseball does need to change how owners spend and should have a long time ago. Everyone criticized Steinbrenner but the reality is if every  owner was like Steinbrenner baseball would be a lot more popular today. In this day and age of tv contracts, I feel the game is hurting itself with owners like the Dolans. If you don’t have pockets like a Dan Gilbert, you shouldn’t have a team.

I also disagree that we still have a WS window though. That closed in 16 when we should have won. We’re just lucky we’re in a shit division. Boston is head and shoulders above us. New York is above us. Houston is above us. We’re not beating any of them in a series. 

We were the best team in baseball in 2017. Kluber and EE injuries in the last part of the season killed them.

Last year we lose Bauer (I know he came back for game 3). Anytime you make the playoffs, you have a shot. Especially with pitching who can shut down an offense for 3-4 games. The window, for that reason alone, is open. Despite only being the 4th best team in the AL...and not that close to 3rd.

Lindor suffers a setback, messing up his ankle.

posted by BR1986FB

Lindor suffers a setback, messing up his ankle.

Link? Haven't been on twitter and didn't see anything

Indians.com has a story on it. 

Freak injury running the bases at Akron AA game.  Mild to moderate left ankle sprain. 

:-(