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The Plight of the Indians

© Bryan Walker

The Indians are the only American League team since the 1994 strike other than the Yankees to play in the World Series. Their 1995 team went 100-44, which over a 162 game season equals a record of 112 wins and 50 losses. They had a low payroll and low revenues until that season. Teaming with owner Dick Jacobs, GM John Hart built a successful program based on low cost, home-grown talent. As the team got more successful, Hart traded away the farm system (Sean Casey, Danny Graves, Brian Giles, Richie Sexton, etc.)and went to high-priced veterans. Leaving the farm system barren and payroll saddled with over-priced players, Hart jumped ship and went to Texas. New GM Mark Shapiro held out hope of maintaining competition in the AL, in spite of the mess that Hart left.

The following salaries are estimates, but Shapiro got a team that had Wil Cordero at $4 mil and Chuck Finley at $9 mil, both players showing signs of being past an effective level. Add in injured pitchers who may never play well again, Jaret Wright ($4 mil) and Charles Nagy ($7 mil), and you get a team that is over-priced and under-played. Veterans Omar Vizquel, Jim Thome, Robbie Alomar, and Ellis Burks are high-paid but still productive.

Losing free agents Marty Cordova, Kenny Lofton, and Juan Gonzalez, Shapiro held a team that was declining and fast. So he faced two choices: one, dump all veterans and start with prospects; or two, pick up some lost cost free agents and try to compete. He basically chose number two. Although he traded Robbie Alomar for a couple of prospects, he also got Matt Lawton to play right field in the deal. After that he got Ricky Gutierrez, Mark Wohlers and Brady Anderson at somewhat reasonable prices. In Shapiro’s defense, he was almost forced to attempt to compete for financial reasons. The Indians primary source of revenue is attendance. If the fans don’t think that the Indians are trying to compete, pre-season ticket sales are impossible. So Shapiro did what he could with a limited budget. As a matter of fact, if you take what he was trying to do, he did a pretty good job with his gambles. He picked up players who were professional, hard-working, and competent.

It almost worked. The Indians began the season 11-1, and it looked like things would continue. The young pitching was dominant, or at least effective. After that hot start, the wheels fell off. The Indians have dropped below .500 with little chance for recovery. The offense is absolutely anemic. Attendance at Jacobs Field is falling.

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