February 2011

Ready for the opening, Acta? He sure is. Am I? Notes before game

As a Cleveland fan, its’ easy to get down…way down before beginning. Seeing the record of the 2010 Indians at 69-93, the Cavaliers currently with 11 wins with a new coach after the All-Star Break, the Browns with another losing season and a new coach, one can say where is the hope? For the Indians, its a true test of faith and see why its a great time to love the 2011 Cleveland Indians baseball club. This is exactly what Manuel Acta is doing.

Focus on the second half…see how great the team did…build on this is what Acta is preaching. The fan wants all these players to gel and everything to click NOW! Yet, Acta and the rest of the coaching staff, while wanting the team to progress is not pressing. This is Spring Training. Grady is making slow progress. Shin-Soo Choo while hitting for power has slight elbow soreness and will sit out today. This is good. This teaches me a lot as a fan. Be patient! Let them be healthy!

It will be hard to not see Feller out there physically. However, he will be there. I believe this. There will be a video tribute for Feller, a patch worn by the team, and a banner with the words USS Alabama will help begin honoring Mr. Feller. What a wonderful tribute!

There will be battles for the fifth starter, and third base. However, the depth which must develop to make us stronger will be interesting. In baseball, the best thing for this young team is experience. These games will help this team take another step. We as fans must be patient and not be bandwagon fans if we truly wish to see this team be a champion. This is the challenge. Goal: Have a stronger, deeper farm, bench and team!

To review fans (note to self)…be patient….be healthy….be ready….cheer on no matter what! Do not compare this team to others. Accept them for who they are! Hopefully, they compete and win
Good luck Tribe! Train well! Please try to beat the Reds<–ego push "Battle of Ohio"

Indians sign Chad Durbin

 

chad-durbin-19654b04df100636.jpgThe Cleveland Indians reported the signing of Chad Durbin. The report can be found here.

 

0015.jpgThe optimistic point of view says “Oh he appeared in the playoffs last year and can help the bullpen in a setup role. Reports say he is a strong influence in the locker room and a good addition to any team. The Indians young players should benefit to have him on the team. After all, he was 4-1 appearing in 64 games with a 3.80 ERA striking people out 63 times in 68 2/3 innings pitched, almost 1 strikeout per inning. Pretty good since we had the league with the most walks issued in 2010. The goal in 2011, GET PEOPLE OUT! He can’t hurt. GIve him a shot.”

610x.jpgThe pessimist point of view says “Didn’t we have him in 2003-2004? Why bring him back? In his time with Cleveland, he went 5-7 with a 6.75 ERA. In addition he issued 27 walks and 46 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. This is worthy of a major league deal? His best stats are in the National League. The Indians are in the hitting friendly American League. How is this going to help our youth? If anything, he will just make us worse. It will be 2003 all over again and we had 94 losses that year.

I sure hope his addition can bring positive results for the bullpen and help us gain a few more wins to improve the team. Fans including myself would like to see a .500 ballclub this year. I just want us to be able to get out of jams or avoid them altogether this year. I hope Durbin can be motivated to get those incentives and the front office gives him opportunities to earn them. We shall see.

 

Tribe known for being first again: Week 1 2011 in review

 

For the 2011 season, it was a week of firsts, a week of new beginnings. For me, it is a comeback after a long layoff. Inspired by the beginning of the 2011 season, Justine Siegal and the Tribe known for being the first team in something again gave me great hope that something special was going to happen for the Tribe.

The Cleveland baseball club history has prided itself with being innovative and first once again. To read about and observe Justine Siegal throwing batting practice this past week was wonderful yet surprising news. Being first is nothing new for the Cleveland Indians.

The first full-blooded Native American to play in the Major Leagues was Louis Sockalexis for which the team currently was named. Indians was a way to honor him. Andrew Toy who had Native Americans in his family history and who some believe should be credited with being the first Native American who played baseball before Sockalexis also played for Cleveland, the Cleveland Blues.

 

The Cleveland Indians also have the honor of having the first African American League player: Larry Doby whose number has been retired by the club and whose stats earned him the right to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Furthermore, Progressive Field led the way in the green movement in helping the environment by having the first solar-paneled concession stand which debuted back in 2008. you can read about it here. So when one reads the exciting news about Ms. Siegal, one must realize that having the Cleveland Indians trying to break down barriers and be innovative in trying to change the face of Major League Baseball, the organization takes pride in helping open Major League Baseball open its doors to new possibilities. Its takes pride in being progressive. Making progress is what it aims to do, one event at a time.

On a personal note, it is good to be writing again. Inspired by Bartolo Colon, former Cleveland Indians ace pitcher, trying to make a comeback after taking last year off, I figure why not try to start up your blog again. This I shall do. It is good to be contributing to the MLBlogosphere once again. Good luck in making the Yankees and trying to play Major League Baseball once again. Let the exhibition games begin Sunday. Go Tribe2011!

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