2020 Off-Season Rumors/News

[Juice is Loose]

Trevor Bauer was on Pardon My Take podcast today. About 40 min interview and was pretty entertaining. Talks about the whole Astros scandal. Said he’s heard from 3 different sources throughout the league about the bandage/device. Breaks down what happened with the drone in 16’ and bunch of other stuff.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I'd respect the vocal portion of the fan base that blames ownership, lack of spending, having to move star players because they can't afford them, "lack of big bats and personalities", etc. for lack of attendance infinitely more if they just flat out came out and said once the new ballpark smell fell off with Jacobs/Progressive Field and the Indians went through their rebuild following those 90s teams, I just stopped caring about going to baseball games.

That's far more of a truer reason than a lot of this fan base wants to talk about, considering how "die hard" we've been brainwashed to think we all are as Clevelanders/Cleveland fans. We're die hard for Browns football, a basketball team when it has one of the greatest athletes of all time on it, and apparently a baseball team that needs to be peaking while just opening a new stadium.

 

[CBBI]

We're die hard for Browns football, a basketball team when it has one of the greatest athletes of all time on it, and apparently a baseball team that needs to be peaking while just opening a new stadium.

Not to mention that the Browns literally didn’t exist for four of those early Jacobs Field Indians seasons.

 

[Benway]

I expect the Indians to be sold within a few years. The Dolan heirs will never cooperatively operate that franchise. Somehow, I don't see Gilbert or Haslam as potential buyers. Any recommendations of billionaires with enough need for public attention to buy them, but not enough ego to meddle with their fantastic front office?

 

[Juice is Loose]

I don’t want the Gilbert’s or Haslams anywhere near the Indians. At least the Indians know how to build structure in their front office and keep it. Unlike the other two, where turnover is just another day.

 

[Steve_424]

You see excuses, yet they are reasons as to why.

Good day sir.

But...he just myth-busted them in a short paragraph. Those teams didn't have bigger bats and the current teams have plenty of personality. Where was he wrong?

 

[AZ_]

Its always pleasant watching people confirm the irrational anger Indians fans seem to have for ownership and why they won't show up.

Just completely unreasonable expectations and are dug in on it.

They are the problem.

 

[Benway]

I have a feeling that we're gonna need another Dolan or we're gonna lose this team.

 

[Steve_424]

I'd respect the vocal portion of the fan base that blames ownership, lack of spending, having to move star players because they can't afford them, "lack of big bats and personalities", etc. for lack of attendance infinitely more if they just flat out came out and said once the new ballpark smell fell off with Jacobs/Progressive Field and the Indians went through their rebuild following those 90s teams, I just stopped caring about going to baseball games.

That's far more of a truer reason than a lot of this fan base wants to talk about, considering how "die hard" we've been brainwashed to think we all are as Clevelanders/Cleveland fans. We're die hard for Browns football, a basketball team when it has one of the greatest athletes of all time on it, and apparently a baseball team that needs to be peaking while just opening a new stadium.

What is interesting to me is that TV ratings are pretty high each and every year. That tells me there's a lot of interest in the team that just isn't translating to people going to games enough. I'm not the person that's going to understand that - my wife and I were season ticket holders for 5 years, stopped for a few when our son was born, and have been back to it for what will be our 4th year this season (so 9 years total). We love baseball, so we'll go watch pretty much regardless of the talent on the field.

So why aren't those people going?

Is it the stadium? Maybe, but I still think it's pretty fantastic, they continually update it, and Stadium Journey just named it the top park in baseball.

Is it prices? Maybe...but I personally think it's more affordable than both the Cavs and Browns, especially since you can bring in food/drinks.

Is it not winning enough? They haven't won it all, but they've been pretty damn good for several years now.

Is it a lack of personality on the team? I'd argue Lindor, Ramirez, Clevinger, and Carrasco bring as much as the 90's stars did.

Is it because it's a "Browns Town" and the Browns weren't here before? I'm sure them not being here is part of it, but I've never bought the "Browns Town" narrative - the Indians have just as many passionate fans (as do the Cavaliers, as this site shows).

Is it because of Chief Wahoo? Good lord, I hope not.

So what is it?

 

[BimboColesHair]

What is interesting to me is that TV ratings are pretty high each and every year. That tells me there's a lot of interest in the team that just isn't translating to people going to games enough. I'm not the person that's going to understand that - my wife and I were season ticket holders for 5 years, stopped for a few when our son was born, and have been back to it for what will be our 4th year this season (so 9 years total). We love baseball, so we'll go watch pretty much regardless of the talent on the field.

So why aren't those people going?

Is it the stadium? Maybe, but I still think it's pretty fantastic, they continually update it, and Stadium Journey just named it the top park in baseball.

Is it prices? Maybe...but I personally think it's more affordable than both the Cavs and Browns, especially since you can bring in food/drinks.

Is it not winning enough? They haven't won it all, but they've been pretty damn good for several years now.

Is it a lack of personality on the team? I'd argue Lindor, Ramirez, Clevinger, and Carrasco bring as much as the 90's stars did.

Is it because it's a "Browns Town" and the Browns weren't here before? I'm sure them not being here is part of it, but I've never bought the "Browns Town" narrative - the Indians have just as many passionate fans (as do the Cavaliers, as this site shows).

Is it because of Chief Wahoo? Good lord, I hope not.

So what is it?

Gone over it enough, but its a lot of problems.

The only one consistently and vocally talked about is ownership/lack of spending though, or so it seems, which is stupid. And part of the fan base and certain media types will scapegoat the Dolan's until the Dolan's are gone, then when the problems continue under new ownership, the excuses will change again. Why I hate the Dolan conversation. When the time comes and they sell, it will literally change nothing about the in person drawing power.

Fan base and city isn't talking about the actual issues at hand, which is more of a combination of lack of public transportation/ease of entry to and from the surrounding suburbs and fans lack of will to travel into Cleveland because of that 81 times a year. That to me is the biggest issue. Helps explain the TV rating numbers too.

Baseball as a whole just isn't worth the hassle it is to get to downtown Cleveland from the places most people live in surrounding Cleveland. And that is a baseball wide issue, not just a Cleveland issue. Until that changes, or an influx of people move back into the city, literally nothing will change their attendance figures. Has nothing to do with ownership, or spending, or winning, or "big bats and personalities". But unfortunately a very vocal portion of our fan base is adamant its about the owners, and once they're gone the sellout streak will start again.

Why I will again say that I will respect someone saying they just don't want to come to games because it's not worth it for them infinitely more than someone saying "Dolanz r cheeeeep, won't give them a dime of my money".

And the Browns draw well for the whole experience. It's far more worth it to only have to come in to the city 8 times, spend the hours leading up to the game bar hopping or tailgating (which has been the biggest draw for Browns games for the last 2 decades, not the actual product on the field), and making a full day out of it that doesn't just consist of the game itself.

 

[Huber.]

I have a feeling that we're gonna need another Dolan or we're gonna lose this team.

To what city?

 

[Urban]

To what city?

Rob Manfred has mentioned I believe Vegas, Nashville, Portland, and Charlotte as potential US cities for expansion. As well as Vancouver and Montreal

With that said, I would assume the Dolans would have a stipulation that any buyer must keep the team in Cleveland for X amount of years

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

The absolute best case scenario re:a new owner was John Sherman. When he suddenly left, I don't really have much hope that a billionaire will willingly attach itself to the Indians and continue their good structure.

(I'd rather the Dolan's run it and run it with a barebones payroll instead of a billionaire roll in and ruin what they have going)

 

[macbdog]

If Mark Cuban bought the Cleveland Indians, they would become the Dallas Indians at the first available opportunity.

You seem to think that there's this unlimited supply of billionaires out there who (1) want to buy a professional baseball team and (2) keep it in Cleveland. There isn't. I'm sure you could find some who clear hurdle (1); it's (2) that's the kicker.

Not to nitpick, but the Texas Rangers play 19 minutes down the freeway from downtown Dallas.

 

[Benway]

I just don't see a Lakers-like scenario in which the Dolan heirs derive their income from baseball operations; I see them finding a buyer and cashing in. Certainly they will lead with a remain-in-Cleveland clause, but for how long will they agree to taking a discount on the price? In my view, complaining about the Dolans is destined to be a short-lived hobby!