2020 Off-Season Rumors/News

[Andrew Scheid]

Sometimes I like to think about what this team could be like if their fanbase spent less time sarcastically spewing tired, anti-ownership bullshit on social media or Indians threads and more time actually supporting the most well-run and respected franchise in the city.

Even though I haven't lived in Cleveland since 2011, I've spent thousands of dollars in tickets, concession fees and merchandise at Tribe games when I return home; I've spent hundreds of dollars in subscription costs to watch them on MLB.TV for nearly a decade; and have spent countless hours watching and listening to their games.

Just because I'm unhappy with austerity measures doesn't mean I haven't supported the team.

I don't need you to tell me how to "support" a team.
Your idea is cultish, which is your prerogative, but I'll pass on adopting that approach to fandom.

 

[AZ_]

Even though I haven't lived in Cleveland since 2011, I've spent thousands of dollars in tickets, concession fees and merchandise at Tribe games when I return home; I've spent hundreds of dollars in subscription costs to watch them on MLB.TV for nearly a decade; and have spent countless hours watching and listening to their games.

Just because I'm unhappy with austerity measures doesn't mean I haven't supported the team.

I don't need you to tell me how to "support" a team.
Your idea is cultish, which is your prerogative, but I'll pass on adopting that approach to fandom.

And I mean, that's great for you.

I'm not trying to attack you personally. But the reality of the situation is Cleveland fans would rather spend their time on terrible, uneducated social media takes about the Dolans not spending on a team nobody comes to see than they do actually going to see a good team.

Their petty bullshit about ownership, in a market of their size and attendance figures that won't move regardless of what they seem to spend, is a shitty way of going about "fandom" for those who live in the Cleveland metro.

Signing Yasiel Puig isn't bringing people through the door, neither was trading for Josh Donaldson in the first place when they did so two years ago.

People are content just mindlessly bitching about ownership and not supporting the team. So you get what you get...



I just wish there was a fan base who actually supported this consistent winner and gave them the attendance and revenue they deserve for building such a well-respected and winning franchise.

 

[bushwick_bill]

Sometimes I like to think about what this team could be like if their fanbase spent less time sarcastically spewing tired, anti-ownership bullshit on social media or Indians threads and more time actually supporting the most well-run and respected franchise in the city.

Sometimes I like to think about what management would do if they could spend more money because fans showed up to the ball park on a consistent basis.

 

[Kiddo]

And I mean, that's great for you.

I'm not trying to attack you personally. But the reality of the situation is Cleveland fans would rather spend their time on terrible, uneducated social media takes about the Dolans not spending on a team nobody comes to see than they do actually going to see a good team.

Their petty bullshit about ownership, in a market of their size and attendance figures that won't move regardless of what they seem to spend, is a shitty way of going about "fandom" for those who live in the Cleveland metro.

Signing Yasiel Puig isn't bringing people through the door, neither was trading for Josh Donaldson in the first place when they did so two years ago.

People are content just mindlessly bitching about ownership and not supporting the team. So you get what you get...



I just wish there was a fan base who actually supported this consistent winner and gave them the attendance and revenue they deserve for building such a well-respected and winning franchise.

Obviously customers aren't buying what the Indians are trying to sell them so maybe change the product?? The Dolans are known to be cheap and until people's minds are changed they won't show up. When you're basically a farm system for the bigger market teams don't expect this to change. Sell the team if you need to.

 

[BMAN]

Obviously customers aren't buying what the Indians are trying to sell them so maybe change the product?? The Dolans are known to be cheap and until people's minds are changed they won't show up. When you're basically a farm system for the bigger market teams don't expect this to change. Sell the team if you need to.

So do you want them to be a shitty team/product then? I’m not following.

 

[AZ_]

Obviously customers aren't buying what the Indians are trying to sell them so maybe change the product?? The Dolans are known to be cheap and until people's minds are changed they won't show up. When you're basically a farm system for the bigger market teams don't expect this to change. Sell the team if you need to.

The problem is the fans, the Indians have won 90+ games in the last four years.

Show.the.fuck.up.


You're going to ignore winning because larger market teams can outspend you when players are due for free agency? No ownership is going to change that....Who cares? They're WINNING.

Nobody, absolutely no other team, has won this consistently with such little support. You want the product to change?

Get over the petty bullshit about not being the Yankees and show the fuck up. Its that simple, change owners to whoever you want, they're going to see the same balance sheet.

 

[Ob1]

The problem is the fans, the Indians have won 90+ games in the last four years.

Show.the.fuck.up.


You're going to ignore winning because larger market teams can outspend you when players are due for free agency? No ownership is going to change that....Who cares? They're WINNING.

I'm still mad they took away the Club option on the 6 and 10 game packs. If I'm going to drive to Cleveland (from Columbus) every other weekend, I want unlimited food. Even if it is shitty stadium food. It's the principle of it.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

Obviously customers aren't buying what the Indians are trying to sell them so maybe change the product?? The Dolans are known to be cheap and until people's minds are changed they won't show up. When you're basically a farm system for the bigger market teams don't expect this to change. Sell the team if you need to.

What are the Indians trying to 'sell?' One of the most winning teams over the last 4 years? There's no 'selling' going on. No marketing campaign will change the fact that attendance is down simply because the market is not there. Change the product? Well, that would be a complete rebuild, then. That's the only way to 'change' the product.

As for the Dolan's being 'cheap.'

Dolans have had far higher payrolls than Jacobs ever was willing to do, all while Jacobs had record setting attendance. Jacobs was pocketing the profits, Dolans have been spending what the revenue can support.

 

[Urban]

I'm still mad they took away the Club option on the 6 and 10 game packs. If I'm going to drive to Cleveland (from Columbus) every other weekend, I want unlimited food. Even if it is shitty stadium food. It's the principle of it.

I would imagine this is because they likely are very close to selling out the club section via full, half, and quarter season plans.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

I'm still mad they took away the Club option on the 6 and 10 game packs. If I'm going to drive to Cleveland (from Columbus) every other weekend, I want unlimited food. Even if it is shitty stadium food. It's the principle of it.

When fans are not coming, they have to find ways like this to increase revenue.

 

[Huber.]

The problem is the fans, the Indians have won 90+ games in the last four years.

Show.the.fuck.up.


You're going to ignore winning because larger market teams can outspend you when players are due for free agency? No ownership is going to change that....Who cares? They're WINNING.

Nobody, absolutely no other team, has won this consistently with such little support. You want the product to change?

Get over the petty bullshit about not being the Yankees and show the fuck up. Its that simple, change owners to whoever you want, they're going to see the same balance sheet.

Easy for someone to say that when they have free tickets available whenever they want.

 

[Cassity14]

Obviously customers aren't buying what the Indians are trying to sell them so maybe change the product?? The Dolans are known to be cheap and until people's minds are changed they won't show up. When you're basically a farm system for the bigger market teams don't expect this to change. Sell the team if you need to.

The Indians gave out the largest free agent contract in history immediately following the team making the world series, and attendance barely moved.

 

[AllforOne]

You're going to ignore winning because larger market teams can outspend you when players are due for free agency? No ownership is going to change that....Who cares? They're WINNING.

Nobody, absolutely no other team, has won this consistently with such little support. You want the product to change?

I see both sides. I'm more partial towards the "come on, fans, do your job" side. The Indians' attendance, compared to their winning percentage, over the past few seasons is atrocious. And no owner is going to deficit-spend year after year. Expecting them to is unreasonable and foolish.

That said, here's the Indians' payroll by season the past few years:
2015: 77,404,413
2016: 105,971,268
2017: 131,958,928
2018: 142,804,703
2019: 107,693,747
2020: 82,158,334

They've pretty much returned to where they were in 2015 (actually worse, when you factor in salary inflation) ... and at a point where the window is probably as open as it's going to be for a while. If you're supposed to strike when the poker is hot, well, now's the time. Not saying that they need to return to where they were two years ago ... but is this the time to give the payroll a 40%+ haircut? Can we at least get back to the 2016/2019 level?

(And Paul, this time around, can you not toss an "enjoy him while you've got him" quote to the media re: Lindor on the eve of the season?)

 

[AZ_]

Easy for someone to say that when they have free tickets available whenever they want.

Point taken, but its no different here than anywhere else outside of the major markets.

And that's why they have the money to spend, and the Indians don't. You're just sort of reinforcing the point that markets dictate spending.

But the Indians WIN regardless, so this should be a moot point. Cleveland, of all places, should embrace the underdog story.

 

[Kiddo]

What are the Indians trying to 'sell?' One of the most winning teams over the last 4 years? There's no 'selling' going on. No marketing campaign will change the fact that attendance is down simply because the market is not there. Change the product? Well, that would be a complete rebuild, then. That's the only way to 'change' the product.

As for the Dolan's being 'cheap.'

Dolans have had far higher payrolls than Jacobs ever was willing to do, all while Jacobs had record setting attendance. Jacobs was pocketing the profits, Dolans have been spending what the revenue can support.

They're trying to sell a product that's just not good enough. Sure they can win games but come crunch time they don't have the horses needed to finish. Stop with the damn below average platoon bullshit in the outfield! When is the last time they had an above average outfield? It's January 15th and as of now not a single outfield spot is spoken for, you can't keep doing this shit and expect to win. You had a black hole at 2nd base for years and you did nothing! Thats why you get destroyed in the playoffs. The last couple playoff runs they relied on pitching and 2-3 offensive players. When 2 of those struggled the team was toast.