Cleveland Indians Roughed Up By The Press

Over the past two weeks I have read two articles from prominent news organizations–the Cleveland Plain Dealer and ESPN.com–each unabashedly attacking the legitimacy of the Cleveland Indians Baseball Organization. I confess myself confused and generally a bit angry. The articles pointed out that the Indians ownership aren’t spending money on major league players and are somehow perpetuating the failed state of Cleveland as a city. I can’t argue the first point; Cleveland has spent roughly just under $1.5 million on major league contracts to this point in the off-season. But, as a follow up article from the Plain Dealer did eventually point out, the Indians have spent over twice the suggested league monies toward player development and armature players. Contrary to the Plain Dealer I do not see this as a weakness or a sign of ownership slacking off, thereby insulting its fan base.

Now let’s be clear, I grew up with the Indians as an annual powerhouse. I watched Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, and Jim Thome inspire millions of fans for over a decade. Attendance was never a problem and I found that I had to rely on somewhat disreputable scalpers in order to get into Jacobs Field. In fact, given these facts it is little wonder how Dick Jacobs, previous owner of the Indians, was able to put together a team budget upwards of $90 million. The Indians were a beacon of hope and pride for the city of Cleveland.

But those days, if one reads the Plain Dealer and ESPN.com, are apparently history. It’s as if a decade of winning–with only two losing seasons in over fifteen years–count for nothing. At this point I would like to note that before 1996, the Yankees were a mere shell of themselves and Toronto was ahead of the Red Sox–yes a Canadian team actually destroyed American teams, I know it’s hard to remember.

Even with their attendance at its peak during the mid 1990s, the Indians were still considered a middle market baseball team. They relied on a core of players they signed to long contracts at a young age and clever veteran signings. This model has not changed. But the perception of sports writers have.

It’s the lack if attendance and the crumbling Cleveland economy that has dropped the Indians to a low-income ball club. The Indians do not own their own sports station and cannot afford to build a stadium with gold statues out in front of its gates like the Yankees. It was never in the cards. What Cleveland provided was hope and genuine fun for a city that relied mostly on the Drew Carey show before 1994 for amusement. And they can still provide that. There is nothing more inspiring than watching young players rise and captivate the nation with pure enthusiasm.

But the Indians need help. The players need to produce, that is clear. Ticket prices need to go down, and ownership has to become clever when it comes to crafting park events. All indicators are that the youngest roster in baseball is on the verge of success, especially with the return of Grady Sizemore and Carlos Santana. Mark Shapiro, team president and former GM has created ticket packages designed to fit the current state of the Cleveland economy, making the Indians a cheap and enjoyable alternative to watching television and pouting at home about the loss of LeBron James. And in case people missed it, the Indians recently completed a month-long Snow Days activity where they turned Jacob’s Field into a winter park.

This should be enough. Fans should see this and smile, realizing that the Indians are a positive force in the community and worthwhile watching. Sadly, it is not. The Indians cannot afford the negative publicity that the Plain Dealer and ESPN.com seem so intent on leveling on them. Cleveland’s lifeblood is its attendance. I find it hard to believe that these sports columnists don’t realize this.

So what’s with the negative campaign? I realize that with the success of Boston and New York, Cleveland’s rebuildig process looks uninspiring. But why not focus on the general trend of economic disparity in Baseball as opposed to targeting specific teams?

The simple truth is that the sports writers are doing the Indians and the city of Cleveland a great disservice. They are the ones uninspiring the fans and dragging a hardworking sports franchise down.  I for one an boycotting the Plain Dealer. I read ESPN for news but not the columns; they haven’t earned the right to my attention.

I hope Indians fan read this and begin to think twice about their baseball team. I equally wish that the sports writers read it though I know that’s a long shot. What should ring loud and clear is that the Indians are not a failed franchise and the city of Cleveland is more than what it has been made out to be.

And hopefully the fans will realize this too and begin to champion their team and themselves.