The Good News/The Bad News…

Things Are Looking Up For The Joes!

Good News…
Joe Girardi was offered the job of managing the New York Yankees.
A-Rod announced prior to game 4 of the World Series that he would be opting out of his Yankees contract.
With these changes, it appears that the Yankees are at least one season away from returning to the playoffs.
Is there a wild card in all of this?
Yes, Barry Bonds! As he leaves San Francisco, filing for free agency yesterday, he will catch on with an American League team as a DH. Who can afford him?...The Yankees!


More Good News…
It was reported that the Dodgers are very interested in Joe Torre to manage the team.
Good for Joe! Good for the Indians as he will be managing in the National League!

Where Ya Goin' With That Bat?

Igor And Franken-Wedge?

Bad News?...
Kinda…The Detroit Tigers picked up Edgar (I beat the Indians in the 1997 World Series) Renteria.
This 5-time All-Star, 2-time Golden Glover, and 3-time Silver Slugger will be a huge addition to the Tigers in their already potent batting order and in the field as their short stop. If the Indians stand pat with their roster, this will ensure that the Tigers will more than contend for the division.
Wild Card?...
Indians manager Eric Wedge was quoted as saying that most of the 2007 Indians team will be back for 2008…Hmmm…In that case, can we count on a playoff choke again or can we find, discover, or uncover a player or two that will make this team finish off an opponent? Think back…up 3 games to 1 over powerhouse Boston, playing game 5 at home with our two top pitchers poised to win the ALCS…in game 5…in game 6…OK, our aces couldn’t get it done, how about game 7…CHOKE! CHOKE!! CHOKE!!!
The Red Sox graciously paid homage to the Indians as their biggest hurdle in the playoff, claiming that coming from behind 3 games to 1 was the turning point in their playoffs. Listening to Tim McCarver, anyone who beat the Red Sox, including the Indians being up 3 games to 1, was a “fluke” as he called it.
Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro (pronounced with a long i, like Eye-gor in “Young Frankenstein”) has got his hands full overcoming “Flukes” and “Chokes” this off season.
Igor, keep the “Good News” coming!

Boston Wins It All!

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox who's masterful sweep of the Colorado Rockies gives them their second World Series Championship in four years!

There is no denying that this is a great team. They should be able to compete at the same level for a few years to come.

That's not to say that they will dominate, not if the rest of the American League can help it.

Enjoy it today because tomorrow, the planning all starts again. Small and medium payroll teams will be looking to their farm systems, the free agent market, and begin trade talks.

Maybe, just maybe a team with less than half of your payroll who has you down 3 games to 1 can find that special player or two to deliver the knockout.

Spring Training is only 115 days away!

Opening day is only 152 days away!

I live for this!

Can't Bear To Watch?

Eric Wedge, manager of the Cleveland Indians apparently has no desire to follow the 2007 World Series. In an interview Thursday in the cold, dark, abandoned bowels of Jacobs Field, the Tribe skipper had this to say:
"I just don't have any desire to watch," he said. "My focus is always going to be on us. I'm starting to look forward to our meetings next week about 2008. I don't think watching [the Series] helps with that."
In a similar announcement, Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally stated that he was no longer going to look at the designs of Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, etc. “What for?” he added, “We are #2 of the big 3, that’s good enough!”
Also, Best Buy Co. CEO Brad Anderson explained that he and his board were no longer going to pay attention to Circuit City, H.H. Gregg, or any other competitors strategies, stating that Best Buy is better off staying focused on what they can control.

"Whaddaya mean ya gotta win 4 in a best of 7?"

On This Date In Baseball History...

On This Date In Baseball History, October 26 …

1995 - Orel Hershiser allows just two runs over eight innings and Jose Mesa survives a two-run home run by Ryan Klesko of the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 win in Game Five of the World Series.

1997 - Edgar Renteria ended one of the most thrilling Game 7s ever, singling with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Florida Marlins their first World Series championship with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. The 5-year-old Marlins became the youngest expansion team to win a championship.

On This Date In Baseball History...

On This Date In Baseball History, October 25th...
1986 - The New York Mets rallied for three runs with two outs in the 10th inning against the Boston Red Sox to win 6-5 and push the World Series to a decisive seventh game. The tie-breaking run scored on Boston first baseman Bill Buckner's error on Mookie Wilson's slow grounder.

Go Rockies!

Why We Couldn't Win One Of The Last Two In Fenway...

The sign below was posted at the entrance to the playing field of Fenway Park from the visitor's clubhouse...

We all know how good the Indians are at following signs!

Important Safety Bulletin

The American Medical Association has announced a new national symbol for choking. Please inform all of the people in your safety department.

Old Symbol

New Symbol

It's good to keep our sense of humor through all of this!

Top Ten Reasons Why The Rockies Must Beat The Red Sox!

As we approach the start of the World Series, here are the top 10 reasons why the Rockies will (really should/need to) beat the Red Sox...

#10 – Sweet Caroline!
What is up with that song? First of all, it’s a Neil Diamond song. Remember Bill Murray’s line as “Bob” in the movie What About Bob?
“There are two kinds of people in this world; those that love Neil Diamond and those that hate Neil Diamond. My ex-wife loved Neil Diamond.”
Did ya ever listen to the lyrics to his songs?
“She got the way to move me, Cherry”…What the #@%! Does that mean?!
“Pack up the babies Grab the old ladies”…Why?!
“Cracklin’ Rosie you store bought woman”…Geez!
In the 60’s, this guy must have overdosed on baby aspirin!

#9 – The Idiots!
Webster’s Dictionary defines Idiots as so;
Id-i-ots – An utterly foolish or senseless person.
Yeah, any team that prides themselves to such an endearing term is quite a group to look up to.

#8 – The New Evil Empire!
Move over, Yankees, you have been replaced by the guys from Fenway Pahk!
From The Grand Moff Francona to Darth Varitek, these guys make my skin crawl! The Indians failed to drive a stake through their heart!

#7 – Fenway Pahk!
The place is falling apart! It survived a date with the wrecking ball and remains one of the smallest fields in the majors. The Green Monster with its manually operated scoreboard, the bullpens added so that "Teddy Ballgame" could hit more home runs, and the smallest foul territory in all of baseball is not quaint; it’s anti-quaint-ed!

#6 – The Accent!
Get in yoh cah and drive past the Gahden to pahk and get some chowda…Get over yourselves!

#5 – You-Kill-Us!
Led by first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, these guys didn’t exactly step out of GQ. Get a razor, some soap, and stop looking like IDIOTS!

#4 – The Red Sox Nation!
Where exactly is it located and where are the boundaries? Not since the Braves and the Cowboys staked their claim to “America’s Team” has any other team had the gall to think anyone outside of Beantown gives a FART about them! We can only hope that they will secede from the Union!

#3 – Payroll!
These guys had the American League Championship bought and paid for with their $143.5M payroll. Let’s see the $54.4M Rockies kick their tails!

#2 – Manny Being Manny!
I hate that term! However, there is no denying Manny as himself; often unenthusiastic, employing a lack of concentration, mental lapses, posing at home plate, etc. Just think what this talented player could have accomplished if he would have ever given a damn and applied himself!

And, the #1 reason why the Rockies will beat the Red Sox is…
Man, these guys beat my Indians and broke my heart. There is no denying that they earned the right to be in the World Series but come on, who wouldn’t love to see the Rockies, at almost one third the Boston payroll, knock off the Red Sox?
Go Rockies!

How Are You Handling This?

If the umpire was any closer to this blown call, he could have made the tag himself...actually, I guess he did!

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.
Believe me, I am by no means yielding to any such notion that this failure was driven by a curse such as The Fumble, The Drive, The Shot, The Catch, The Mesa, Red Right 88, and now, The Collapse.

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.

This team lost to the Boston Red Sox in spite of themselves. The facts are as follows:
They were out-played
They were out-coached
They were out-managed
They choked
Being down in the series 3 games to 1, Boston became the wounded, cornered wild animal. They knew exactly what they had to do, they had done it before, and they did it again. Boston deserves much credit coming from down 2 games to winning the series. These guys just kept coming at our pitchers with great patience and power.

They out-played the Indians.

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.
The Indian pitchers failed to make the necessary and unemotional adjustments when the pitches they were used to getting called strikes all season long were called balls. The balls and strikes were very inconsistent. Television replays showed identical pitches leading to a 1 ball and 1 strike count many times.
However, Boston pitchers made the adjustments.

The Indians were out-coached.

The Indians set a record for most strike outs in a 7 game series. They fell back into familiar habits (post all-Star break) of not protecting the plate with two strikes. I prefer the image of Travis Hafner taking a mighty cut at strike three rather than arguing with the home plate umpire on why he watched that one go by. Why have six umpires if every time a questionable home run is hit, we are subjected to an umpire huddle to determine if the call should be reversed or not. I have to agree with Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro that instant replay is needed for just such occasions. If the game is going to be delayed anyway, why not use technology and receive the correct call?

Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.
Note to Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge; game 7 is game 7…there is no tomorrow!
Terry Francona was prepared to use his entire staff if necessary to win game 7. He didn’t need to because Eric Wedge played the “line-up that got us here” to the hilt. Did Jason Michaels miss the plane to Boston? Is he still sitting in the Greyhound bus station on Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland? Trot Nixon looked ready to pinch hit, we had a need for some lefty punch in this line-up.

We were out-managed.
Having the Red Sox down, 3 games to 1 and letting them win the series shows a lack of ability to put a team away, a lack of killer instinct.

They choked.
Honestly, I thought I would feel much worse.

Well, it’s over, it’s done, it’s time to move on.
Generally, when someone beats me, I like to wish them well by saying, “Go all the way!”
Not the case in this series. The Colorado Rockies represent all that is good in baseball…now.
Here’s hoping the Rockies finish the year winning 25 out of their last 26 games!
As for the Cleveland Indians?
Thanks for a thrilling year.
You are welcome for my extreme dedication which you will continue to have for life.
I never gave up on you, never…even when you were down 3-2 in game 7, I truly believed you could and would win!
The snows of Cleveland will dull the hurt of losing.
One day, soon I fear, knee deep in snow I will long for a Casey Blake or Ryan Garko walk-off home run, a 5 run rally in the 9th inning against the Tigers, a Joe Borowski save that could cause more heart attacks than shoveling snow, and yes, a World Series championship.
Someday….Someday…Someday…

I'll be there, cheering you on once again.

She Sings

Time For Heros

Holding Out For A Hero
By Bonnie Tyler

Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?

Where's the great white Hercules to fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what i need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light

He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

Somewhere after midnight In my wildest fantasies

Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat

It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light

He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

In the mountains neath the heavens above

Out where the lightning strikes the sea

I can swear that there's someone somewhere watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain

and the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night

he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

and gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light

He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life

What happened?

Are images of “The Drive,” “The Shot,” ”The Fumble,” etc. rushing back?
Are you visualizing David Justice hitting a home run for the Braves in the 6th game of the ’95 World Series?
Can you still feel the hurt from Mesa and Nagy letting game 7 of the ’97 World Series go bad?
How about going back to the start of the ’54 World Series for the original “catch” in the Polo Grounds?
Why can’t Cleveland win a championship?
Not since the 1964 Browns has any major Cleveland sports team won a championship, but why?
It would not be sour grapes to mention that the umpiring in this ALCS has been inconsistent at best. How many umpires does it take to call a home run fair or foul?
Why is it that what appears to be two identical pitches make for a 1 and 1 pitch count?
I don’t think anyone would disagree that the umpiring could have been better but the Boston pitching has certainly done a much better job than the Cleveland pitching at making pitch adjustments.
OK, that had to be said.
So why can’t Cleveland win a championship?
Well, they still can. There is a 7th game.
We have come too far and been through too much to give up.
We can still win this!
Jake Westbrook will be pitching for the Tribe and he has truly been the best starter vs. the Red Sox in this ALCS.
Dice K is scheduled to pitch for Boston but word is Josh Beckett will be standing by for relief.
It doesn’t matter. To win this, we must hit no matter who pitches.
Oh, and in case we do not win…
Please don’t have a party in downtown Cleveland like the one for the Cavaliers when they got swept by the Spurs in the NBA finals.
If you keep having parties for losing teams, you will never win a championship.
So it is very difficult to be positive for the 7th game.

The Cleveland fans should not give up.

The Cleveland Indians better not give up, that's not their style.
That will be the measure for whether this team is a champion or not.

The Cleveland (W)edge!

You know, it is one thing to be so nervous that you are upsetting yourself or scared before this big game tonight. It’s another thing to be nervously confident and anticipating a great victory by your own team.
Cleveland fans have got to stop worrying so much!
All you hear on the talk shows, mainly coming from the hosts is how we blew our big chance on Thursday night.
Eric Wedge is right! Thursday is behind us. Today is a new game! (Wow! I didn’t think I would ever take comfort in a Wedge-ism!)
So, who’s upset and scared?
I’ll tell you who is and who should be…Curt Schilling, that’s who!
He was quoted as saying that he is afraid to let his team down with a bad performance and that fear has motivated him to success in the past. He also said that if he does his job, they win…if he doesn’t, they lose. Sounds almost like a Manny-ism, doesn’t it?
So, who’s confident and anticipating this game?
I’ll tell you who and who should be…Fausto Carmona, that’s who!
Fausto said he is nervous but only because he wants to do so well for the team and the fans. He said that all he has to do is pitch well and win the game…plain and simple.
Fausto listens to Victor Martinez. Fausto must pitch his game and make the Boston hitters swing at his pitches…just like Beckett did, just like Jake Westbrook did.
One of the best hitters in the American League paid a high compliment to Fausto. Torii Hunter of the Twins said that he felt like he had a hangover facing Fausto, that his pitches were just filthy.
Keys to a Tribe victory tonight:

• Fausto, pitch your game!
• Fausto, listen to Victor!
• Indians hitters, be selectively aggressive but protect the plate with two strikes!
• Grady, cut loose, play your game, get to Schilling early!
• Asdrubel, gain back that maturity and confidence at the plate that helped the Indians get where they are! You are a spark to this great offense!
• Pronk, be the hitter that you are, no position shifting can defense balls hit against or over the wall!
• Victor, you are the leader, the mainstay of this strong, young team. Lead by example as you have done all year. Battle for every pitch, at the plate or behind it. Appeal anything that looks like the batter took the bat off of his shoulder. Go for any advantage! You are the heart and soul of this team, rally them once again!
• Ryan, unleash the beast…you know it’s time for you to break loose!
• Jhonny, continue your great offensive and defensive approach to the playoffs!
• Kenny, Continue your great playoff contributions. Keep the emotions in check until after the victory…or don’t…either way, this town loves ya! I sure would like to see two things tonight…your second home run as a 2007 Cleveland Indian and one of your famous “chop” swings that you beat out for a timely hit!
• Franklin, you are a fabulous hitter…see the ball big, curve or not and spray it all over the park like you do!
• Casey, you are one of the biggest reasons we are in the ALCS. Your approach, unselfishness, gutsy performances, and never quit attitude have taught this team so much about who they are and what they became as a team. We need you “on fire” tonight!

Boston is a tough team who probably is a little tougher because they are on the ropes, like a cornered wild animal. They have their strengths but the have their weakness too. Exploit them;
Manny being Manny, frustrating Pedroia at the plate, keeping Schilling fearful of this Tribe offense, inside pitches to move these guys off the plate, pitching under the hands of Big Papi and Youkilis, keeping Big Papi and Manny out of the same inning whenever possible, beat the brains in of the bottom third of Boston’s order because they are only batting .174 in the ALCS, be filthy!

Even though there is a possibility of a game 7 tomorrow night, the mindset for tonight for the Indians has to be “Must Win!”
There is no doubt that they can rise to the occasion.
You have to feel confident that, with everything they have been through, with everything they have accomplished, they win tonight.
Thanks to the Cleveland Indians for a fabulous season.
Thanks for what is still ahead to be accomplished.
Prediction;
Cleveland 5
Boston 3
Joe Borowski scares the beans out of us but gets the save!
Believe It!

The One That Got Away...

Well, you can't win them all...or catch them all...or hit them all...or even hit some of them, sometimes.

This all too familiar sight took place again last night on a debated Manny Ramirez long single that Manny took for a home run as he broke into his familiar stroll.As a matter of fact, this is about the only thing that Manny "dug out" last night!
Slip sliding away seemed to be the theme last night as Boston spread out 7 runs on 12 hits. They did however leave 17 on base!
About the only real excitement came when Kenny Lofton dropped his bat on home plate when he apparently looked at what he deemed as ball four. On the next pitch, Kenny flied out and starting pitcher Josh Beckett and Kenny jawed at each other before clearing the benches and being separated.

My money would have been on Kenny, looking like Evander Holyfield trying to regain the crown.
But let's give credit to the Boston Red Sox. They refused to quit and will keep coming back at the Tribe until we take a 4th win. Josh Beckett pitched a great game against us, yielding only 1 run on 5 hits with 11 strike outs and 1 walk.


It wasn't the Tribe's time last night but this Cleveland team will not be denied!
Let's go to Boston and win it all on the pitching of Fausto Carmona and an explosive offense!
Cleveland will take Boston in Game 6...
Believe It!

CLEAR!

Thursday, October 18, 2007, 7:45 PM...
Ring, ring, ring!
"Urgent Care, how may I assist you?"
"I can't feel my heart!"
"Are you in pain?"
"No, actually I feel great, but I can't feel my heart!"
"OK, calm down. Are you able to get up and move around?"
"Oh yes, I just can't feel anything where my heart should be!"
"Alright, describe your symptoms to me and please be specific."
"Well, It's like, nothing...lightness...hollow! What's wrong with me?"
"Is that your television I hear in the background?"
"Actually the TV is on but the sound is turned down...what you hear is the radio."
"Ahh, I think I know what it is now. Are you a Cleveland Indians fan?"
"Yes sir, the biggest and best in the land!"
"Nothing to worry about. Everyone in Cleveland is having a little anxiety attack right before the big game."
"Really?"
Yes, heh heh, Really!"
"Well doc, what should I do?"
"Try to relax, by 11:45 tonight, you will be gushing with feeling and emotion in your entire body."
"So, I got nothing to worry about?"
"No, your heart is fine."
"Thanks doc, but I meant about the Indians."

"The Indians are going to the World Series and they will clinch it tonight."

Click.

Glory Days!

I had a friend was a big baseball player

back in high school

He could throw that speedball by you

Make you look like a fool boy

Saw him the other night at this roadside bar

I was walking in, he was walking out

We went back inside sat down had a few drinks

but all he kept talking about was Glory days well they'll pass you by

Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye

Glory days, glory days

Are you ready?
Are you excited?

Of course you are because...

SOMEDAY IS HERE!
Tonight, at Jacobs Field, our own C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians are going to take us back to Glory Days!
Bask in the moment!
Live the dream!!
The best team in the land will clinch the ALCS tonight…
Believe It!

Sniff...Sniff...Is That Blood I Smell?

It is Wednesday night and all is well in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians have put themselves in an enviable position ahead of the Boston Red Sox, three games to one in the ALCS. Our ace, C.C. Sabathia is ready to go against their ace, Josh Beckett in game #5 in Cleveland tomorrow night.

In the not so distant past, this town would be looking for the cloud over Jacobs Field.

Take solace in the fact that, with a maximum of three games remaining in this playoff series, the Indians only have to win one game to advance to the 2007 World Series.

That means they only have to play .333 over the next 3 games.

Odds heavily favor the Indians chances to advance.

Wait a minute!

This team didn't get where they are with that type of thinking or game plan. On the contrary, they have played every game as if there was no tomorrow...Hitting with 2 outs, walk off hits (and walks), come from behind victories...it all adds up to a team that never quits.

With that said, whadda ya say we clinch our 2007 World Series berth right here in Cleveland tomorrow night?! Save the plane fare and have a big ole par-tay!

Not that I think they need any help but here are just a few Cliches to help finish the job:

• Go for the jugular
• Use your killer instinct
• Cut and run
• Deliver the knockout punch
• Smell blood in the water
• Seal the victory
• Answer the call
• Control your own destiny
• They are in the driver's seat
• Playing for all of the marbles

Whew! That is quite an assembly of over-used terms that may help to get this thing done tomorrow night...in Cleveland!

How are the Red Sox feeling? Let's ask Manny Ramirez!

In an interview this afternoon, Manny was asked to comment on if the Bosox were in a panic mode. Here is what Manny had to say:

"Why panic?" Ramirez said. "If we don't do it, we'll come back next year and try again. If it doesn't happen, who cares? There's always next year. It's not the end of the world."

Well, if that's not blood in the water...!

Thanks, Manny!

It's Tribe Time Now!

Come on Tribe, gotta make it happen...tomorrow night!

The Cleveland Indians will win game #5 of the 2007 ALCS...

Believe It!

All Eyes Are On The ALCS!

How big was Casey Blake's home run to lead off the bottom of the 5th inning? Casey ignited a 7-run charge and added the final RBI of the inning with a single in his second at bat of the same inning! This was a little different from Saturday night when he led off the 7-run 11th inning with a strike out and ended the same inning with a strike out. This team has a different hero step up every night!

Paul Byrd pitched 5 scoreless innings until he tired in the top of the 6th inning. This was classic Byrd as he allowed 2 runs on 6 hits with 4 strike outs and no walks...Outstanding!

Jhonny Peralta continues his torrid post season attack with a 3-run home run in the 7-run 5th inning! Jhonny is batting .406 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs in this post season!

Victor Martinez and Johnny Peralta celebrate Peralta's 3-run home run in the 5th inning!

Congratulations to Kenny Lofton as his stolen base in the 5th inning makes him the all-time leader in post season steals with 34!

Manny being Manny!

The magic is back but it is different than before...better...more magical!

This team never quits, never gives up, and refuses to be awed by any opponent. The enthusiasm and team work being displayed are paying huge dividends to this exciting group, as well as their fans and a city that are all bracing for a chance to win it all!

Call it magic, call it whatever you want but more importantly...

Believe It!

No Dice!!!!

The Cleveland Indians got to Daisuke Matsuzaka of Boston early and put him out of the game in the 5th inning.

I guess you could say "We rolled the Dice!"

Cleveland outfielder Kenny Lofton hit his first home run ( a 2-run shot) as a 2007 Cleveland Indian and it put the Indians ahead for good tonight in game 3 of the ALCS.

"Ken-ny, Ken-ny, Ken-ny" came out for the curtain call and the fans stood for "The Mayor Of Cleveland!"

Jake Westbrook was able to keep the Red Sox off of the scoreboard through 6 innings with some outstanding defense that turned 3 double plays. The Indians are doing their part to be the Kardiac Kids of baseball. However, the bullpen came through again as Jensen Lewis, Raphael Betancourt, and Joe Borowski combined for two and a third innings of scoreless baseball.

Are you lovin' the 4-5-3 double play?!

The shift for Big Papi putting Peralta on the right side has produced 2 of these unusual double plays!

The fans truly were the 10th man, cheering wildly from start to finish, waving their "It's Tribe Time Now" towels, and letting home plate umpire Brian Gorman know just what they thought of his strike zone, or lack thereof.

Now the "experts" are starting to take notice of the Cleveland Indians.

We are beginning to get the media respect that we deserve.

Although this game was highly stressful, I am ready for more...tomorrow night!

I want it all, I want it this year!

The Cleveland Indians are going to the 2007 World Series...Believe It!

Wahoo In The Playoff? Time To Protest!

The following story appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Sunday, October 14, 2007.

http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/1192361573104520.xml&coll=2

Cleveland's American Indian leaders renew Chief Wahoo protest. Sunday, October 14, 2007
Robert L. Smith
Plain Dealer Reporter
Leaders in Cleveland's American Indian community are excited that the city's baseball team has returned to the playoffs, but they are loath to see someone else making a comeback:
Chief Wahoo, the Indians' grinning, red-faced mascot.
The once-fading emblem is suddenly everywhere, they say, clearing a path for other Wild West stereotypes.
“War bonnets. Face paint. Feathers galore. It's really being thrown in our faces right now," said Chris Begay, a Cleveland-area Navajo and chairman of a local indigenous-rights group called the Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance.
The group plans to sponsor demonstrations before the Monday and Tuesday night games at Jacobs Field.
Protesters will again press team officials to change the team name and mascot but also will beseech fans not to return to the days of war whoops and tomahawk chops.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Many of us can sympathize with the reasoning behind the protest of the team mascot but you have to question the timing of the protest. Is it because the team is in the playoffs? Wasn’t Chief Wahoo bothersome to this group prior to making the playoffs or is it the national exposure of this team being in the playoffs that brings out the protesters?
We need to first examine a little history.
It was once believed that the team name “Indians” was in honor of an American Indian that played for the team in the late 1800’s. Louis Francis “Chief” Sockalexis was believed to be the first American Indian to play in major league baseball. (That fact is a topic of some debate.) He played for the Cleveland Spiders from 1897 to 1899. Some newspaper accounts point to the naming of the team in his honor. Further research fails to verify that fact 100% as the local newspapers asked fans to name the team in 1915. It is believed that the sports writers selected “Indians” from the entries from their fans and readers. It is entirely possible that those entries were to honor Sockalexis but this cannot be proven.
The original caricatures depict a profile of an Indian chief in full headdress. They first appeared as the logos in the early 1930’s.
From 1946 to 1950, the version that is considered the most repulsive to the American Indians was created and used.
In 1950, the current version was created and has been in place since then.
Most Clevelanders love their Chief Wahoo and do not mean it to be anything derogatory. But are they being insensitive?
What if the logo was to change again to something more complimentary?
Would the team name “Indians” still be suitable if the logo was "acceptable?"
What if we changed the name of the team to the Cleveland Americans?
Would Americans be offended if the caricature resembled Jed Clampett?
Instead of war whoops we could cheer “Wee Doggies!”
Or, the mascot could be a pampered business person in a suit with an I-pod and portable computer who is talking very loudly into an I-phone through a Bluetooth.
Have you watched Jeopardy recently? Lately they have been featuring young students as contestants on the show. These children are pre-high school aged. It is scary what they do not know of the history of this country. Sitting and watching the show, you cannot help but wonder what traditions and cultures will be forgotten because either they aren’t being taught or they aren’t being retained for whatever reason. From American Geography to American History, simple questions are either answered incorrectly or there is no answer attempted!
So, if the impetus of the protests are driven by an offensive caricature to the American Indian and not by the timing of the national publicity of the playoffs, then we need to make a change.
I suggest a change to the Cleveland Americans, seriously. The mascot or logo could be a blending of hundreds of faces from this country; service men and women, business people, contractors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, waiters and waitresses, etc. In one hand could be a symbol of hard work, the other hand could be reaching out to aid someone or some other country. And yes, make it a caricature because this country has a great sense of humor and is not too proud to laugh at itself.
When you go to the game, be tolerant of the Chief Wahoo protesters, possibly sympathetic.

Oh, and Go Cleveland Team!

For A Good Time…

For a good time, call 216-420-HITS!

Yes, there are a handful of tickets left for all 3 games this week as the Tribe hosts the Red Sox at the "Jake" on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Also, another way to purchase tickets directly from season ticket holders is called “Tribe Ticket Marketplace.”

There is nothing like the crowd at Jacobs Field, especially during the playoffs! You can be sure that the crowd on hand for Monday night's game will be rockin'! Be apart of it as the Indians continue their quest for the 2007 World Series...Believe It!

This just in...George Steinbrenner has just turned over control of the New York Yankees to his sons, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. The decision was based on the elder Steinbrenner's declining health. See the link below...
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgoWVMPjhNYtXRnamL1obi0RvLYF?slug=txyankeessteinbrenner&prov=st&type=lgns

How you feelin' today?

Game 2 of the ALCS was fantastic! From start to finish, it kept you on the edge of your seat from 8:21 PM until well after 1:00 AM this morning! Indians fans had to be stressed until the top of the 11th inning. I had nothing to drink other than water and apple cider and today I feel like I drank a bottle of Jack Daniels!

When Mastny put away the top three Boston hitters in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Tribe began to score 7 runs in the top of the 11th, I was certainly relieved. I thought, "No game Sunday night, I can relax!" Well, I don't know about you, but I am ready for another Indians-Red Sox game right now!
Monday night can't come soon enough!
Go Tribe! The fans will be behind you, louder than ever!
Jake Westbrook will have the game of his career and the Indians will go up, 2 games to 1...
Believe It!