Joe Z thinks that Francona's ideas on bunting would have cost him many little league championships.

If Francona comes out and says that hitting to the "V" is stupid we might need someone to call 911.

Tribe Fest triumphs in inaugural year

Indians hosted Tribe Fest at Progressive Field January 19th and 20th
By Jake Dungan
January 22, 2013
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CLEVELAND – Large crowds and long lines. Usually those two things are associated with stress and frustration, but at the Indians’ debut of their fan fest at Progressive Field, it’s far from being a negative thing. It’s a sign that the city is amped up for baseball again.

The two-day event known as “Tribe Fest” took place this past weekend in downtown Cleveland as fans swarmed the bowels of the ballpark hoping to meet and interact with their favorite players and personalities. The team offered everything from autographs and Q&A sessions with players to tours of the clubhouse all in an action-packed weekend any Tribe fan would enjoy.

Looking back at this time a year ago, fans were partaking in the Indians’ underwhelming winter venture “Snow Days” at the ballpark while wondering if Grady Sizemore would be healthy in the upcoming season or whether Kevin Slowey would make the starting rotation. All ominous precursors of what would ultimately be a disappointing 2012 season.

This winter, however, fans can bask in anticipation of the approaching season following a much more busy and exciting offseason that saw the Tribe acquire noteworthy players such as Nick Swisher, Trevor Bauer, and Mark Reynolds as well as iconic manager Terry Francona. These factors and more all contributed to the newfound positive vibe amongst the fans pouring into Progressive Field for Tribe Fest last weekend.

Whether fans wanted to meet players, tour the clubhouse, hang with Slider the mascot, or even get major league-style haircuts, this event offered them all. The festivities began both days at 12:15 pm with a welcome from the main event stage by radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton, who would remain on stage throughout the afternoon interviewing various players and personnel and taking questions from the audience. The opening festivities also included a flashback with Indians alumni Tito Francona and Jim “Mudcat” Grant.

Twelve Indians players were in attendance at Tribe Fest this weekend. Second baseman Jason Kipnis, relief pitcher Vinnie Pestano, and catcher Carlos Santana were among the players at the ballpark meeting eager fans.

“It’s so exciting. I love being here,” Santana said as he prepared to sign autographs as well as joining his teammates in giving younger fans pointers in the baseball clinics held at the team batting cages both days. Kids 12 years and younger had the opportunity to learn lessons in batting, pitching, and fielding from the pros.

The players weren’t the only ones joining in on the fun.

Indians President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Chris Antonetti were also on hand meeting with fans. They even offered the opportunity of signing an “official” contract with the team as Lifetime Fans. Both Shapiro and Antonetti did Q&A sessions over the course of the two-day event, and among other topics of discussion Shapiro did receive a “Moneyball” question (alright, I admit it was me), which he enjoyed. Suffice it to say, it was clearly a much more tension-free meeting with fans for the GM and president who have dealt with scrutiny and criticism over the last several years up until this offseason, which has been something fans can look back on in a positive light for once.

New Tribe skipper Terry Francona was by far the center of attention over the weekend as he repeatedly voiced hisenthusiasm and excitement about managing the team in the upcoming season.

“It gets us revved up,” Francona told Sportstime Ohio’s Katie Witham when speaking about the event. “We start [spring training] in just three short weeks and this is a great way to kick it off.”

Players also took part in Q&A sessions with fans. Questions ranging from ‘what’s your favorite city to visit during the season?’ to ‘what kind of car would be your dream car?’. And unfortunately for former Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore, it appears that Jason Kipnis has easily won over a large portion of the female fans. The young second baseman drew quite a following from the ladies during the event and even received a marriage proposal during one such Q&A session. All in good fun, of course.

Even players who couldn’t make it to Tribe Fest experienced the excitement of the event. New Indians right fielder Nick Swisher took to Twitter:

“@NickSwisher: Bummed I can't be at #Tribefest I want a full report and pics from you guys! I'll RT my favorites! #RollTribe”

Overall, the team and fans unanimously agree that the debut of Tribe Fest was a major success and give or take a few improvements in organization of the event, should become an annual tradition in the city of Cleveland. Not only is it great for public relations between the team and fans, it also allows the players and staff to gear up for the upcoming season as they prepare for spring training.

Sure, all of the cynical fans can continue to argue and complain about the team’s play, but for that one young child who gets an autographed baseball from their favorite player at an event such as Tribe Fest, this sport holds a lot of magic for them. It would be nice if more of us could sit back from time to time and remember that same magic so many find in this great game of baseball.

Really, this is the first off season "Tribe Fest" type event?

Texas was doing those kinds of things when I worked in Dallas all the back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I went to try to see Julio Franco at one, but he was a last minute no show.

Billy Beane and the Oakland A's have perfected the event to the point it is a tough ticket and shoulder to shoulder for attendees.

I did get up close with Gaylord Perry at a San Francisco Giants similar event several years ago.

Francona's Attempt to Build Relationships With His New Players Already Paying Dividends
Jan 18, 2013 -- 2:33pm


Photo/USA Today

By: T.J. Zuppe

Cleveland Indians third-baseman Lonnie Chisenhall stood in front of his locker, sporting Tribe apparel and ready to field questions from the assembled media in advance of this weekend’s Tribe Fest events taking place at Progressive Field.

The question on everyone’s mind? What were the players impressions of new Indians manager Terry Francona?

After all, the media could see the energy Francona was looking to bring to his new job. He appeared reinvigorated and ready to get his hands dirty at his new job in Cleveland.

But how would the players react to the relationships Francona was attempting to build? Sure, it sounds good in a blog or in a newspaper, but not everyone reacts the same or appreciates the efforts.

If Chisenhall’s response is any indication, the Indians are well on their way.

“Francona is pretty fired up,“ Chisenhall said with a grin on his face. “The first phone call, he kind of shocked me a little bit but he kind of got me excited a little bit. I said, wow, he’s really pumped up. (It’s about) the way he projects himself. The way he says your name.

“I don’t even remember exactly the things we talked about. But by the time I got off the phone with him I’m like wow, he kind of got me excited. I got the goosebumps a little bit. It was November and I’m like, I’m ready to go.”

Francona left quite an impression on the young third-baseman, now looking to open the season in the Tribe’s lineup at the hot corner. His genuine demeanor is a quality that many players appreciate as he looks to build relationships with his new squad.

After all, that was one of the first things Francona wanted to accomplish - build positive relationships with the players he will be counting on. In that, Francona hopes to create a successful, positive and winning environment.

It appears to already be paying dividends.

“After speaking with Terry, I’m very proud and very happy to be playing for him,” Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano said. “I talked to him on many occasions this off-season through text and certain phone calls so he seems to keep great tabs on his players. It’s refreshing to have that.”

“I’m looking very forward to playing for him.”

One of the players Francona will be counting on to make major strides in his second full season in the big leagues is his second-baseman Jason Kipnis. Count Kipnis as someone impressed and excited by the relationship he is already forming with his new skipper.

“When you have a great relationship with your manager, it helps a lot,” Kipnis said. “When you have someone that you know is fighting for you in the dugout, you’re going to want to fight for them all the more out on the field.

“When you have someone you can look up to, you can ask questions to freely, you can speak easy in front of him and there are no boundaries or something like that, it’s a man to man conversation, it helps a lot. You get a lot more accomplished.”

Just in the short time speaking with a handful of Tribe players, the difference Francona is making in the Indians organization can already be felt. Just like the front-office, the team appears to be jump started by the life Francona has breathed into it.

Of course, those two World Series rings sure help.

“His resume speaks for itself too,” Chisenhall said. “When he talks, he’s going to be the guy you listen to. Because he’s done it before and he knows where you need to go and how you need to get there.”

From the top of the roster, to those competing for spots like right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister, every player seems to appreciate the culture Francona is trying to build.

“He’s won before and he knows what it takes,” McAllister said. “It seems like he has the right personality and the right mentality to get us over the hump a little bit and continue to make us better.”

In the end, will all of the good feelings in January translate to wins in April through October? Impossible to know.

But for now, Francona has got a good head start on changing the feel inside that Indians’ clubhouse for the better.

It is the land of steroids and PEDs.

Oh, I don't know. Might want to ask Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, Conseco, Ramirez, Clemens, and around 500 other major leaguers about that one. Seems to me that the U.S. is the land of sterioids and PEDs and would hold that record by a landslide. I think you should get your facts straight......again

Joe Z thinks that Francona's ideas on bunting would have cost him many little league championships.

The situation will dictate whether or not Francona elects to sacrifice bunt or not (at least I hope so). I don't think he's going to let one of our many .200 batters swing away with the ballgame tied in the ninth inning, runner on first, and no outs (hate to hit into a double play in that situation).

It's pretty easy for Terry Francona to talk. He didn't have to deal with the situations in Boston that he would have had to deal with in Cleveland over the past 10 years. He didn't have to play small ball with the offenses he had at his disposal. I wonder how he would have felt if the shoe were on the other foot and would actually have had to "manufacture" some runs ?!?!? If you get my drift

I think I've made myself quite clear on where I stand on this issue.

You have been very clear. You stand on the wrong side of the issue.

joez wrote:

It is the land of steroids and PEDs.

Oh, I don't know. Might want to ask Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, Conseco, Ramirez, Clemens, and around 500 other major leaguers about that one. Seems to me that the U.S. is the land of sterioids and PEDs and would hold that record by a landslide. I think you should get your facts straight......again

It is a fact that there are more players suspended from countries outside the US then players born inside the US.

Tribe Fan in SC/Cali wrote:Really, this is the first off season "Tribe Fest" type event?

Texas was doing those kinds of things when I worked in Dallas all the back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I went to try to see Julio Franco at one, but he was a last minute no show.

Billy Beane and the Oakland A's have perfected the event to the point it is a tough ticket and shoulder to shoulder for attendees.

I did get up close with Gaylord Perry at a San Francisco Giants similar event several years ago.

The Indians had them for two or three years in the mid-90s. I attended a couple at the CSU convention center, and enjoyed talking with Hart and Hargrove, and attending the discussions featuring the sportswriters and the announcers. When they discontinued them, I asked Bob DiBiasio why, and he told me it was a charity event, and they were losing money. They did continue the press tours, but those only had a few players, the manager, and Tom Hamilton or other announcer. And the last couple years, they had "meet and greet" events at local malls, with activities at kids, and a chance for autographs from some players.

It is a fact that there are more players suspended from countries outside the US then players born inside the US.

Fact is, only because MLB has no balls to suspend all the players that used. Latin countries do not have unions to protect their players as they do here. Imagine! Half of every team's starting lineups in MLB on suspension?!?!!? You are comparing apples to oranges.

Have you considered the high profile players that have been suspended from the Latin countries compared to the likes of Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGuire, Ramirez............?!?!?!!?

The players you mentioned that were suspended will probably never reach the major league level. Hell, I'd be willing to guess that 95% of those suspended players may never reach the AA level.

Let's keep these things in perspective.

Just in the short time speaking with a handful of Tribe players, the difference Francona is making in the Indians organization can already be felt. Just like the front-office, the team appears to be jump started by the life Francona has breathed into it.

It sounds like he is different than the managers we've had in recent memory, at least. I think it will play better with younger players than with veterans, but we have a lot of young players. It remains to be seen how it will work if we have a prolonged losing streak. And of course the bottom line is TALENT, not enthusiasm.

Sorry, JOE and KENM:

While Travis Hafner and Jim Thome are options for Tribe at DH, Manny Ramirez is not, report says

By Glenn Moore, cleveland.com
on January 23, 2013 at 1:07 PM, updated January 23, 2013 at 1:17 PM Print


There's a lot of buzz about what the Cleveland Indians will do to fill their designated hitter spot in the lineup. And they may be calling on a former Indian to fill the void.

The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto first reported on January 6 that the Indians would be looking at Travis Hafner, Jim Thome and Luke Scott as possible candidates.

Pluto mentions the best choice might be Scott, who hit .283 after the All-Star break last season in 344 at-bats.

"The best choice may Scott, who is 35. He was coming off shoulder surgery last season and got off to an awful start with Tampa Bay. He batted .229 (.734 OPS) with 14 homers and 55 RBI in 344 at-bats. He did hit .283 (.845 OPS) after the All-Star break. He can play a little first base. But he's terrible (.149 in 2012) against left-handed pitching."

Thome could be a realistic option for the Tribe. He returned to Cleveland as a member of the Tribe in 2011, hitting .296 in 71 at-bats and smacking three home runs.

"Part of me wants the Tribe to bring back Thome once more. He batted .252 (.786 OPS) with eight homers and 25 RBI in 163 at-bats for the Phillies and Orioles last season. He angered his cranky back by trying to play first base for the first time since 2007 (when he played first for one game). After being traded to the Orioles, Thome batted .257 (.744 OPS) with three homers and 10 RBI in 115 plate appearances, with 40 strikeouts. Obviously, the tank is close to empty."

Pluto hopes the Tribe passes on Hafner, who has had too many injuries and "bad karma with fans with all the frustration over his big contract and the injuries".

Hafner had a .228 batting average with 12 home runs, 34 RBI in 2012. He has spent the last 10 years with the Indians.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com wrote today about the possibility of Thome and Hafner returning to Cleveland, but he also mentions an old name. Manny Ramirez.

Heyman did say, according to his sources, that the Indians are not considering a possible reunion with Ramirez.

"But Ramirez, who is aiming for a comeback, is not on the Indians' radar. He was hot in the playoffs for Aguilas in the Dominican winter league but has a hill to climb. He didn't play in thje majors last season after spending spring training with the A's and had only 17 at-bats in 2011 with the Rays."

Heyman also lists free-agent hitters Aubrey Huff, Carlos Lee, Jason Giambi, Juan Rivera, Johnny Damon and Casey Kotchman. Grady Sizemore is also on the list, but won't be ready for the start of the season.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-h ... -not-manny

Who would you like to see come back to the Indians to be their designated hitter?
Which ex-Indians star should return to be DH?

Jim Thome 31.16% (354 votes)


Manny Ramirez 18.49% (210 votes)


Travis Hafner 5.9% (67 votes)


Grady Sizemore 6.87% (78 votes)


None of the above 38% (427 votes)



Total Votes: 1,136

Either sign someone who is NOT injury prone or over the hill, or go with DH by committee.