Bruce BostwickHow the Tribe can reclaim its fan base
December 8th 2009 18:33
Once upon a time the Tribe could sell out games but now that does not seem to be the case. During the 1990s spell, not only did they get a new stadium at the time, but also had a product people believed in. It was a sense of change for the fans that they had players they could root for and not have to be worry for sometime on getting rid of them but then it all changed. The Dolans would buy the team and it would open up a perception whether they deserve it or not of being called cheap.
The main thought on that is because they cannot get behind the team because as soon as the players get really good, they are traded away for prospects. If those prospects develop well, they are traded for more prospects. Granted, this isn't the only team but the focus is going to be on the Indians.
They are in a division where it is winnable every single season. At one point, they were the dominate team and it was basically their division to lose. However, that has changed especially in this decade. Since having the Dolans and their GM Mark Shapiro, the Indians have only made the playoffs once with Shapiro and once before hand. It is a wonder why John Hart left and probably figured it was going to be this way but that's just a guess but without knowing why he left, it really is difficult to figure that out.
As a fan, it is discouraging to see your own players constantly traded and you have no reason to believe in this team. This is a system that probably will never be fixed and something that probably baseball wants. The players union seems to be content with this thought. In fact, they probably encourage it more often than not but that's something of another blog for another day.
The Indians have to find a way and the only way to do it is to keep players that are doing well. If they cannot afford to do so, they either need to think about selling the team or considering going for some investors. If they can go for that, it might help them and become a benefit.
Shapiro really isn't liked that well. What he did when it comes to trading Victor Martinez, it could be equal but not certain when Frank Lane traded Rocky Calavito and thus the legend of the curse had begun. Mark Shapiro really has to seek a redemption to get the people to think he's doing a good job. His job as the GM of the Indians has been mediocre. Out of 8 seasons, only 2 seasons were winning and that is not good. It would be one thing if it had been in the AL East considering it would be in a division with the Red Sox and the Yankees. The AL Central is winnable so that was no excuse when it comes to picking players.
Of course, the players have to step up too and the manager has to be respected. If there isn't that, then quite frankly it will not matter.
The main thought on that is because they cannot get behind the team because as soon as the players get really good, they are traded away for prospects. If those prospects develop well, they are traded for more prospects. Granted, this isn't the only team but the focus is going to be on the Indians.
They are in a division where it is winnable every single season. At one point, they were the dominate team and it was basically their division to lose. However, that has changed especially in this decade. Since having the Dolans and their GM Mark Shapiro, the Indians have only made the playoffs once with Shapiro and once before hand. It is a wonder why John Hart left and probably figured it was going to be this way but that's just a guess but without knowing why he left, it really is difficult to figure that out.
As a fan, it is discouraging to see your own players constantly traded and you have no reason to believe in this team. This is a system that probably will never be fixed and something that probably baseball wants. The players union seems to be content with this thought. In fact, they probably encourage it more often than not but that's something of another blog for another day.
The Indians have to find a way and the only way to do it is to keep players that are doing well. If they cannot afford to do so, they either need to think about selling the team or considering going for some investors. If they can go for that, it might help them and become a benefit.
Shapiro really isn't liked that well. What he did when it comes to trading Victor Martinez, it could be equal but not certain when Frank Lane traded Rocky Calavito and thus the legend of the curse had begun. Mark Shapiro really has to seek a redemption to get the people to think he's doing a good job. His job as the GM of the Indians has been mediocre. Out of 8 seasons, only 2 seasons were winning and that is not good. It would be one thing if it had been in the AL East considering it would be in a division with the Red Sox and the Yankees. The AL Central is winnable so that was no excuse when it comes to picking players.
Of course, the players have to step up too and the manager has to be respected. If there isn't that, then quite frankly it will not matter.
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