Posted on Sunday 12 March 2006 by Bob @ 9:33 am
The Cleveland Indians and GM Mark Shapiro are changing the way players look at the organization. After recently signing Jhonny Peralta to a long term deal, Indians players are talking about Cleveland and not about how much money they will make. Shapiro and Eric Wedge have always stressed how essential it is to evaluate talent and character. The signings of Travis Hafner, C.C. Sabathia and Victor Martinez show that they are signing team players and quality talent.
Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore, both young rising stars in major league baseball, have openly expressed their desire to stay in Cleveland and play for this organization. Shapiro has been doing a great job of communicating with players and has a good name around the baseball world. If team president Paul Dolan does the right thing, the Indians could lock up a core of talent that may be better than the Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle and Omar Vizquel days. The next couple weeks may be pretty exciting for the future of Indians baseball.
Many people have bashed Dolan relentlessly for not spending money this off season. He and Shapiro got killed for the Coco trade. Now it is time to give him some credit for signing the key guys that make up the core of this franchise that will allow us to be competitive for years to come.
I still maintain that the Dolan and Shaprio regime has been upfront with us fans from day one. They have stuck to their plan, and always seem to make wise decisions for the good of this franchise. Just because our payroll can’t be $150 million a year doesn’t mean that Dolan is cheap.
I hope that we give them their just dues when deserved, not just unrelenting bashing when we decide they should “spend more money” for the likes of injury ridden Garciaparra or an aging Trevor Hoffmann to a multi year deal.