1/27/02

2001 was a different year for Indians fans. Suddenly the entire season became important again, including the early months. We regained the Central Division championship, and lost some of the trendy, fair-weather fans. Now with the loss of the big-name big boppers from the lineup, some fans are wondering if this is the beginning of the end of our era. And probably wondering, if it is the end, will we have to wait another 40 years again? Myself - I'm looking forward to the 2002 season. As I have learned more about baseball (and unfortunately had to watch a lot of the Yankees in postseason play) I have discovered that station-to-station baseball is the most exciting kind of baseball that exists. Wasn't that comeback win over the Mariner's exhilerating? That wasn't accomplished with a dozen home runs. With the team that is falling into place, this is how the new Tribe will have to play - no more reliance on a Manny or a Juan-Gone to save the day. Everyone will have to get the base hits and drive in runs, or there won't be any runs. If they come through, it will be a fun year. Trust me.

By the way, does it seem like John Hart, now with Texas, has issued the following message: "Bring me your tired hitters, your poor pitchers, yearing for a second (or third, or fourth) chance" ???