WE SURRENDER, say the Indians!!
You see! One year of calling the stadium Progressive Field and this is what happens---it’s like the corporate Gods frowned upon that deal instantly!
The very same Indians who played for the AL Pennant a year ago are now among the worst teams in baseball. And it got worse Monday.
Maybe CC Sabathia (please… no periods after the letters CC, upon his request) knew all along when he cut off contract talks before the season. His ticket out of town was coming soon, and when the season ship sank, CC got the first life boat.
His swap to Milwaukee Monday basically ended the Indians ‘08 season and started the look at ‘09. 2,000 prospects will get a look in Progressive Field over the next few months. Some may actually hit a ball..... some may find the strike zone.... some may just look decent in the home whites. But CC’s departure in no way makes Cleveland better. Not today. Not next year. Not ever.
The Cy Young winner last year had struggled at the start but regained his form by May. Sure, he was morbidly obese (at least a little overweight), but CC was by any measure the bulk of the Tribe pitching staff. That bulk now lives in the land of cheese curds and beer. Yikes!
We all know why CC’s gone… money. Tribe didn’t think they could afford him in free agency, so trade him to a contender to get some value. And maybe one of those 4 prospects will grow into something. Lord knows, they’ll get a chance over the next few months.
But that’s not the end of Cleveland’s future worries. What happened to Travis Hafner? Seriously---is that dude still breathing? He’s a great guy and a baseball diehard, but he’s enduring the slump of all slumps (not like Adam Dunn strikeouts, but not good). Victor Martinez is still hurt, but when playing he’s been miserable. Those are two clutch players in the lineup playing like projects.
The Tribe will build the next few months… which means much more change lies ahead. But the biggest change, quite literally, is already in Milwaukee.
