The 2021 Cleveland Baseball Organization

[sportscoach]

The last straw? What were the first straws? Okay, I'll give anyone a straw for slashing payroll like Jason Voorhees, but we're the third most winningest team in American League history in terms of win percentage, and unless the team is horrendous we usually make the playoffs, where anything can happen.

Fans have been semi-mad for awhile since the Indians have traded a lot of talent over the years... That has made Dolan a cheapskate that doesn't want to pay anyone... People were super pissed that Lindor was traded and they were arguing that Dolan could afford him even at the 30+ Million a season. Some fans are irrational...

Then you have people very unhappy they are changing names and everything like that. I feel like there is too many complain about everything fans anymore...

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

FWIW, I think being upset about the organization getting rid of a name that has been around since 1915 is justifiable, especially since we all grew up with the name.

No team name anywhere near this old and historic has been changed. This isn't like changing the Seattle Pilots to the Seattle Mariners after a year or two.

That being said, I'm a fan of the sport itself and the Cleveland baseball team, no matter what logo they put or don't put on the uniforms or what the name is. The removal of Chief Wahoo didn't bother me at all and I'll survive the loss of the Indians as long as the fanchise doesn't go anywhere.

 

[Kevalier]

Fangraphs has updated their farm system rankings with the Indians landing at 6th overall in the league. They have also updated their top prospect list with the following Indians prospects included:

• Nolan Jones (50)
• George Valera (51)
• Brayan Rocchio (63)
• Tyler Freeman (72)
• Daniel Espino (79)
• Bo Naylor (102)

Pre-Draft Farm System Rankings

Before the amateur draft kicks off, let's check in on the farm system rankings for all 30 teams.

blogs.fangraphs.com

2021 Top Prospects | THE BOARD | FanGraphs

Compreshensive MLB prospect rankings in a sortable, easy-to-read, feature-rich table.

www.fangraphs.com

 

[33Y0]

Fangraphs has updated their farm system rankings with the Indians landing at 6th overall in the league. They have also updated their top prospect list with the following Indians prospects included:

• Nolan Jones (50)
• George Valera (51)
• Brayan Rocchio (63)
• Tyler Freeman (72)
• Daniel Espino (79)
• Bo Naylor (102)

Pre-Draft Farm System Rankings

Before the amateur draft kicks off, let's check in on the farm system rankings for all 30 teams.

blogs.fangraphs.com

2021 Top Prospects | THE BOARD | FanGraphs

Compreshensive MLB prospect rankings in a sortable, easy-to-read, feature-rich table.

www.fangraphs.com

Interesting, they’re a little higher in Rocchio than I am right now, but that’s okay. And I’m a little higher on Freeman than they are.

 

[Steve_424]

Just basing it off social media pal. Some issues I see are:
1. Trading away talent we won’t (can’t) pay.
2. Cutting payroll (like this year)
3. Chief Wahoo removal
4. Indians name removal
Thats a few reasons.

I'll stay away from the name change and Wahoo to avoid this thread getting away from us, but I'll focus on this instead. I hear this a lot from fans and it makes me curious.

What talent did we trade away that you wish you had back (also giving back who we acquired)?

 

[kriegs]

The name change is only the 'last straw' until we are overwhelmingly excited about the new name and the youths end up buying a boatload of merch.

Talk to me about this the day after the name change becomes official...

 

[eChameleon]

FWIW, I think being upset about the organization getting rid of a name that has been around since 1915 is justifiable, especially since we all grew up with the name.

No team name anywhere near this old and historic has been changed. This isn't like changing the Seattle Pilots to the Seattle Mariners after a year or two.

While this is all very true, what if someone has only been a fan of the team for 10 years? Why would they care about a name that's been around since 1915 when they've only been watching said team for 10 years? Now if you can point out to me someone alive from 1915, then yeah, I could see them being upset over the name being changed.

 

[Criznit]

Interesting, they’re a little higher in Rocchio than I am right now, but that’s okay. And I’m a little higher on Freeman than they are.

They also seem to be a little lower on Espino then I expected.

 

[Steve_424]

The name change is only the 'last straw' until we are overwhelmingly excited about the new name and the youths end up buying a boatload of merch.

Talk to me about this the day after the name change becomes official...

I agree - people generally don't like change. I remember when Akron changed from the Aeros to the Rubberducks and people were ripping them - that name change/rebrand ended up being a huge success for them.

My #1 choice is Guardians, but ultimately I will find a way to get behind whatever they choose (although Spiders or Rockers would be hard lol). Ultimately, I just want there to be a baseball team in Cleveland I can take my family to watch.

 

[eChameleon]

Why would anyone that chose to be a fan of a team 10 years ago be interested in changing the name that's been in existence since 1915?

It's not that they're interested in changing the name, it's that they're indifferent about changing the name. If I started rooting for a team recently, and they announce a name change, even if that name has been around for over 100 years, why would I be upset? I don't have 100 years of history with said team, I only have 10.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

AL Central team payrolls:

$130.3M is MLB average.

CWS- $132.2
Twins- $127.3
Royals- $93.2
Tigers- $86M
Tribe(#30 in MLB)- $53M

Even the Rays are at $69M, the only team above .500 with a team
payroll under $80M.

A's and Mariners are the only teams with payroll between $80-$90M with
.500+ records.

Shoestring budget is catching up with Cleveland. Tribe is going to have
a tough time finishing at .500.

Also-The inability to draft/develop decent position
players is an ongoing issue with keeping the
team competitive.

Up till the last week and half the Indians have been one of the better teams in a baseball. They went thought a very tough stretch of team, and when your missing your top 3 starters it is going to get ugly. As we start to get healthy and get our starting pitching back this team is close to a 85-90 win team.

 

[33Y0]

They also seem to be a little lower on Espino then I expected.

Yeah and part of me wonders if maybe that just boils down to experience?

 

[kriegs]

I agree - people generally don't like change. I remember when Akron changed from the Aeros to the Rubberducks and people were ripping them - that name change/rebrand ended up being a huge success for them.

My #1 choice is Guardians, but ultimately I will find a way to get behind whatever they choose (although Spiders or Rockers would be hard lol). Ultimately, I just want there to be a baseball team in Cleveland I can take my family to watch.

Since you brought up the minor league name changes, it kind of ties into my point about the merchandise.

We've seen minor league teams embrace temporary name changes over weekends or specific games in order to sell more merch. Don't be surprised 20 years from now when we're the Cleveland Franks on dollar dog night.

It's here to stay and the city connect jerseys are just the beginning. Might as well embrace it and have fun.

 

[JDailey23]

A stupid name? Almost all sports teams are known by the nickname. When someone asks you, whose your favorite baseball team, you don’t say, the Cleveland Baseball team/club, you say the Indians.
Favorite team, the Browns, Cavs, Indians…
RedSox, Yankees, Angels, Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, Lakers, Bulls, Celtics.

Isn’t the nickname part of the tradition??? I don’t have any affiliation to the city of Cleveland. The Indians just happen to play there. I grew up an Indians fan. Had Indians stuff all over my room as a kid.

So, saying I’m not a “true” fan is bull$hit. The name means more to me than most and that doesn’t make any less a fan than someone who doesn’t care if the team is called....

Mod Edit

Really

I'll stay away from the name change and Wahoo to avoid this thread getting away from us, but I'll focus on this instead. I hear this a lot from fans and it makes me curious.

What talent did we trade away that you wish you had back (also giving back who we acquired)?

Lindor, Bauer, Clevinger, Sabathia, Lee.
Had we not been in contention, Ramirez and Thome probably would have been traded and not just allowed to walk away.

 

[sportscoach]

Do you think "This is problematic/offensive" and "I like the name" carry equal weight?

Because I think implying that they do is really far off base.

Can't wait for this to be over so people can quit their bitching. (Not meant towards you to be clear)

They will bitch at the new name probably cause it wasn't what they wanted... I don't doubt it will happen...