Someone crop me out and use this as a forum header!

It just ain't fair!

Pretty sure he and Jim Lyle will have front row seats for this upcoming season.

Just now read about our loss of J.R. It's hard to believe.

Watching MLB Network going on and on about the Pirates trade of McCutcheon and Gerrit Cole.

They talk about how short a window can be for a smaller market - how they have to really hit on excellent homegrown players, make some great trades and sign them to affordable deals. Hard to do!

Gentlemen meet the Cleveland Indians.

So this team hits gold on homegrown talents Jose Ramirez and Lindor. I mean real gold. Young and cheap and top, top talents.

They hit it big in trades for Kluber and Carrasco and even Bauer - then signed to very affordable deals, embarrasingly cheap in Kluber's (and Ramirez's) case!

Lindor, Ramirez, Kluber, Carrasco - a huge grand slam there. Only Houston (and maybe NY with Judge and Sanchez) can come close to that. Throw in Cody Allen if you like as well.

Then ownership steps up with EE and Andrew Miller. But only because the rest of the roster is relatively inexpensive!

It was the perfect storm there, and great management. With the rotation intact for the near future - young enough and still under control - it bodes well for at least the next couple years (yes, bullpen will have to be addressed this offseason and next).

Just amazing and if you look around the big leagues, the Tribe is truly unique in how they have done this. Hoping Zimmer and Yandy are the next wave.

TFIR is a glass half full fan whereas there are some of us that have been waiting since 1948 to see the WS championship. Thought it would be last season but, in my opinion, they choked.

Everyday baseball in the regular season was awesome for Indians fans including the 22 game streak.

They need to find a way to "finish" in the postseason.

So far, in the off-season, they have done nothing to help them "finish" in the postseason.

Maybe the answers are already on the team.

Hope so.

Rather see them make a move or two rather than cross their fingers and pray.

seagull wrote:TFIR is a glass half full fan whereas there are some of us that have been waiting since 1948 to see the WS championship. Thought it would be last season but, in my opinion, they choked.

Everyday baseball in the regular season was awesome for Indians fans including the 22 game streak.

They need to find a way to "finish" in the postseason.

So far, in the off-season, they have done nothing to help them "finish" in the postseason.

Maybe the answers are already on the team.

Hope so.

Rather see them make a move or two rather than cross their fingers and pray.

Seagull - there are no magic bullets there. The front office can only do one thing. Put a team in position.

OK, game 7 in the 10th inning is the VERY definition if in position.

Oh, and 1997?

Nothing, nothing the front office can do would guarantee either game. Sports are not like that, and I'm sure you realize neither is life.

So they did their job, you are critiquing the wrong thing. Suggestion - critique the baseball Gods. Because after Rajai's homer, which was a miracle enough, it was hardly fair to have lost at that point.

And those are the facts. Nothing half full or empty. Only fortune wins those games, certainly not anything in the control of coaches, managers or front offices.

In the age of instant information and instant gratification, my patience is waning.

Almost 70 years is too long.

I'm running out of years.

I want it now.

And I don't blame you my friend.

None of us want to wait.

But I see all kinds of evidence the guys we have making the decisions share our hunger and are doing their best. Indeed they are among the best in what they do.

A little assistance assistance from the Gods in '97 and 2016 would have helped.

For me personally, I am enjoying watching a quality product on the field. That's because my time is precious and I enjoy running a great team out there.

These guys are a joy.

I turned from an eternal pessimist to optimistic somewhere a couple decades ago; perhaps when the Indians went to the Series twice in the 90s. That was great baseball and not winning the WS was not a disaster from my point of view. Like TFIR I'm startled by the team's ability to stay strongly competitive despite limited resources. I'm happy to have a good team. If they never win the world series in my lifetime, I won't be shattered.

civ ollilavad wrote:I turned from an eternal pessimist to optimistic somewhere a couple decades ago; perhaps when the Indians went to the Series twice in the 90s. That was great baseball and not winning the WS was not a disaster from my point of view. Like TFIR I'm startled by the team's ability to stay strongly competitive despite limited resources. I'm happy to have a good team. If they never win the world series in my lifetime, I won't be shattered.

Absolutely ditto.

I am more interested in enjoying my days watching a great team like we have. I will not box myself in by only being satisfied if I am the last one standing out of 30.

I know all too well how dicey playoffs are.

Hell, in 2016 I wouldn't have bet a penny on the Tribe getting past both Boston and Toronto. They were pretty lucky to do so - but I'll take it.

It's pretty simple - you try to get into the playoffs as often as possible and hope things go your way. If you get to August and it's looking good maybe you add an Andrew Miller, or last year Justin Verlander.

If the Tribe goes into the season as is (and they won't but..):

1. They will still win the division
2. They will likely make a move or moves in season to improve
3. Dying to see how Yandy and Zimmer (and Brantley) pan out this year - that in itself will point a direction for the team

There's almost no way they don't win the division. I hope they do so by playing great not by the other teams playing badly.

When they get to the playoffs, I want them to have the depth to survive an injury and the depth to hit against different types of pitching.

Post season roster can't have any guys like Michael Martinez trying to hit the ball out of the infield in their last AB.

The post season roster can't have two guys coming back from long term stays on the IR like Kipnis and Brantley disrupting the chemistry they had at the end of the regular season.

TFIR and CIV need not apply for a job in GM Seagull's Front Office. Hiring guys who will only be satisfied with winning it all.

Make the Indians Great Again!

Lol, good one. Don't worry, not applying.

But glad Antonetti/Chernoff are running things for my fav team.

As far as how the Tribe plays, want them playing well when it counts. And that Tito guy is pretty good at that.

Not perfect mind you, but one of the best.

The post season roster can't have two guys coming back from long term stays on the IR like Kipnis and Brantley disrupting the chemistry they had at the end of the regular season

Those were bad moves, especially Brantley. Kipnis was one of few non-injured options at the time.

Seagull, was hoping Arizona softened you up ! Must have run in to a cactus !