Cleveland Indians sell nearly 200 season tickets in one day following Edwin Encarnacion deal



CLEVELAND, Ohio - The agreement between the Indians and free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion has caught the interest of the paying public.

The Indians' offices were scheduled to close for the holidays Friday, but when news broke Thursday night that Encarnacion was coming to Cleveland on a three-year, $60 million deal, the team opened its ticket office at Progressive Field. Twelve people worked the phones and by the end of the day they had sold nearly 200 season ticket accounts.

A spokesman said that was a big increase over a normal day in the team's ticket office.

Reaching terms with Encarnacion, one of baseball's top power hitters, follows a season in which the Indians won 94 games to win their first AL Central title since 2007. They went on to beat Boston and Toronto in the postseason to win the pennant before losing the World Series in seven games to the Cubs.

The Indians have had four straight winning seasons, including two postseason appearances, but attendance has been poor. In the last four years the Indians have finished no higher than 27th in attendance among MLB's 30 teams. They finished last in 2014 and 29th in 2013 and 2015.

Going into last season their season ticket base was an estimated 7,500. A team spokesman would not say how much season tickets have increased following the Indians run to Game 7 of the World Series, but said sales "are trending very well and have far exceeded last year's number."

The Indians have not drawn two million fans since 2008. They have not drawn three million since 2001.

In the AL last season, the Indians finished 12th in attendance at 1,591,667. In 2015, they finished 14th and drew 1,388,905.

Pluto - received this information from a top MLB financial guy:

1. There is something called the "players pool." It's cash that goes to the players who take part in the postseason. The Cubs divided up $28 million for winning the Series, the Indians chopped up $18 million.

2. This money comes from 60 percent of the revenue from the first three ALDS games, and the first four ALCS games. The longer the series, the better for the owners. But the Indians wiped out Boston in three games in the first round, and took out Toronto in five games in the ALCS.

3. Obviously, the Indians didn't care about not playing those extra playoff games -- it was their ticket to the World Series. But it's just how the system works.

4. The real money from making the World Series comes from selling merchandise and tickets sales for the next season.

From card games to home runs, Mike Napoli led Cleveland Indians from out front


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It happened on a regular basis in the Indians' clubhouse before batting practice. There at a table sat Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez playing cards.

Napoli, in his 10th year in the big leagues, sitting across the table from Ramirez, working on his second year, made for an interesting pair. It's hard to think of two more different personalities; Napoli, with his buzz cut and lumberjack's beard, and Ramirez with a flaming orange Mohawk.

Ramirez doesn't speak much English, but when he couldn't find Napoli in the locker room, he'd walk around shouting, "Napoliiiii!' with a deck of cards in his hands. It said a lot for Ramirez's confidence and even more about Napoli.

The Indians came to terms on a three-year, $60 million deal with Edwin Encarnacion on Thursday night. When Encarnacion passes his physical sometime after the Christmas and New Year's holidays, he will replace Napoli as the Indians' cleanup hitter.

Napoli's brief, but productive, one-year stay in Cleveland is over, but he will not be easily forgotten.

There were no cliques, no invisible clubhouse barriers with Napoli. He played cards with Ramirez and tended a shrine to Jobu with Jason Kipnis. What mattered to him most was winning.

He let everyone know that early. Last spring in a Cactus League game on March 11, the Indians were getting a perfect game thrown at them by the Rockies. It was 22 up, 22 down when Napoli came to the plate with one out in the eighth inning.

If there was ever a time for a veteran to swing at the first pitch, ground out and go back to a cool place in the dugout that was it. Napoli worked a 12-pitch walk. The next batter doubled and the Indians eventually scored a run. The Indians lost, 6-1, but the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout were gone.

There was a reason manager Terry Francona called him "the heart and soul of our team."

Napoli calmed the waters where Carlos Santana was concerned. When the Indians signed him last January, Santana knew he'd lost his job at first base and was going to DH. Santana pouted in the past about DHing, but Napoli talked to him about playing time. He showed him respect and Santana responded with a career season, hitting 34 homers with 87 RBI.

Santana not only found peace while sharing first base, he went along with Francona's plan to bat leadoff. In the World Series, he started two games in left field. Before the Indians clinched the ALCS by beating Toronto, 3-0, in Game 5, he told Napoli, "The team needs me. I have to do something special."

Napoli told him, "I believe you."

In the third inning, with the Tribe leading, 1-0, thanks to a Napoli double, Santana homered for a 2-0 lead.

It is one thing to lead in the locker room. It is far different to do it on the field where every action is measured. Napoli did that as well, setting career highs with 34 homers, 101 RBI, 150 games played and 557 at-bats. He was the conduit for the top and bottom of the lineup.

With Santana, Kipnis and Francisco Lindor hitting in front of him and Ramirez behind him, the Indians finished second in the AL in runs scored. Napoli came to the plate with one thought - hit the ball as far as he could. He was smart enough to advance a runner or drop a single into right field when needed, but most of the time he was swinging hard just in case he hit something.

Nick Swisher and Brandon Moss didn't like hitting at Progressive Field. They complained about the wind and the 19-foot wall in left field. Napoli simply hit the ball over that wall and deep into the left field bleachers. He hit some of the longest home runs seen in downtown Cleveland since the days of Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle and Mark McGwire dotting the 'I' on the Budweiser sign. Drummer John Adams should have been issued a batting helmet.


There were consequences. Napoli struck out 194 times and disappeared down the stretch and in the postseason. But the mark of a good player is not only his stat line, but his ability to make teammates better. Would Kipnis, Lindor, Santana and Ramirez have posted career numbers in several categories without Napoli hitting in the middle of the lineup?

From all indications, Encarnacion is Napoli squared. His production over the last five years - an average of 39 homers and 110 RBI per season - is breathtaking. He's hit 310 homers, 239 with Toronto over the last eight years, and has a career OPS+ of 124, with 100 being average.


Leadership in baseball is tricky. Players do it in different ways. But production always comes first. Encarnacion's numbers scream leadership. How he fits in the clubhouse remains to be seen, but from all indications that won't be a problem.

Napoli will find work as well. In 10 seasons, he's been to the postseason eight times. That does not happen by chance.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

Hope 2017 brings all of us and the Tribe MORE!

Remember Jason Stanford, non-drafted free agent lefty, who made it to the majors but then had career-ending injuries? Met his wife yesterday, a lawyer working in the Youngstown-Warren area. She reminded me that Stanford served as high school baseball coach in Howland, Ohio, then YSU baseball coach, then did Indians pregame radio and is now developing a team for a new Youngstown-area junior college.

Stanford was on the TV pre- and postgame shows for a few years, until Jensen Lewis took over.

Some guy on Lets Go Tribe says Brantley injury is worse than expected and he may not play. Management still says he will.

Here is that article:

(I can't copy it all - see the link)

http://www.letsgotribe.com/2016/12/28/1 ... njury-news

Cleveland Indians respond to reports of Michael Brantley’s “horrific” injury
40 comments
It’s what you would expect a social media group to say, but it’s nice to hear them respond directly to the rumors.
by Matt R. Lyons@mattrly Dec 28, 2016, 4:13pm EST


Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Jonah Keri, who apparently hates Christmas, dropped a bomb last week while talking on Toronto 1050. He basically went all Peter Gammons circa the 2015 Winter Meetings on us, claiming that Michael Brantley has a “horrific” injury and there are doubts he may ever be back to normal.

The full clip can be found here around the 7:05 mark, but here’s the important bit:

Let me start with this, I’ve got some sources — if you’re in a fantasy league don’t draft Michael Brantley. That’s my piece of advice to you. I don’t think Michael Brantley is going to be a significant contributor in 2017. I actually have some worries that he might ever be okay. This is a horrific, horrifically bad injury. I never say never, but this is not good [inaudible]. They kind of softened it last year, “oh it turned out to be more serious than it was.” Nah, dude, like there is some problems.

That is potentially huge news, considering a lot of Cleveland Indians fans are hinging their hopes on Brantley returning to solidify a weak outfield next season. And if he cannot fully recover, let alone play in 2017, the Indians have a huge hole to fill this season.

Yesterday, addressing the four-day old post on the Indians subreddit, r/WahoosTipi, the Indians’ reddit team (which they note does not include Chris Antonetti or Mike Chernoff, obviously), did their best to shoot down the rumors instead of letting them spiral out of control like the Gammons bombshell did last season.

Honestly, I would not expect the Indians — through official higher-ups or their social channels — to say anything differently. They’ve put the story out there that Brantley is on track, and there’s no reason to sway from that otherwise unless his shoulder detaches itself from Brantley and rockets itself into the sun. The fact that the Indians even bothered to respond is nice in itself.

It’s still worrying that the reports are out there, though, because the Indians clearly did not know just how extensive this injury was last season when they let him try and play for a handful of games. Get well soon, Michael.

Somebody's pissed we relieved them of Encarnacion. I call bullsh*t

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis surprises young boy with autographed World Series jersey

https://tribevibe.mlblogs.com/cleveland ... .brb9un8ny

OF Rajai Davis to join Oakland on 1-year, $6 million contract
9:46 PM ET

ESPN


The Oakland Athletics said they have agreed to a deal with former Cleveland Indians outfielder Rajai Davis on a contract a source told ESPN's Jim Bowden was for one year and $6 million.

Davis, who revived his career in his first season with Cleveland, was one of the crucial players who helped get the AL champions to the World Series. The 36-year-old led the AL with 43 steals and helped solidify the outfield when All-Star Michael Brantley wasn't able to come back from shoulder surgery.

The deal was earlier reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Davis struggled in the playoffs, but he provided a magical moment in Game 7 of the Series. Davis connected on a two-run homer off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman to tie it 6-6 in the eighth inning before the Indians lost 8-7 in 10 innings. Cleveland failed to win its first World Series title since 1948.

Even though a qualifying offer wasn't extended to Davis, Indians president Chris Antonetti said the team had strong interest in re-signing him. Davis finished the year with 12 homers and 48 RBIs in 454 at-bats.

Too bad about Rajah, he could have helped us this year as well IMHO. On the other hand Diaz has a better chance now.

IF Brantley actually back, and IF Almonte lays off the banned substances we have a full OF without Davis. Could still be hard to find room for Diaz.

Anyone remember Don Schulze, a pretty unsuccessful starter we got from the Cubs along with Joe Carter and Mel Hall for Sutcliffe? Tribe record was 11-20 with a 5.30 ERA. Now age 54, he's promoted to pitching coach for A's AA team in 2017.