rusty2 wrote:and why ballplayers refuse to sign with the Indians.
Because it is in Cleveland.
I still say a good front office presentation should be able to overcome that objection, if indeed it is one.
The players only have 81 games a season in Cleveland, plus whatever off season time they spend in Ohio facilities instead of in Arizona. Most of those 81 games are when the weather and social opportunities are fine in Northeastern Ohio.
81 games are just a nick in the 365 days of the year.
Even at MLB minimum they have spare bucks to jet off for more fun stuff on weekends in the off season if they happen to be in Cleveland and not Arizona.
I HATED living in the Chicago suburbs for two years in my career, but negotiated a nice deal to go there and spent nary a weekend there while it was my "work place."
Since we've confirmed today that Chris Antonetti only leaves his family three times a year to travel with "His Team," and we can guess Mark Shapiro leaves his family for "His Team" even less, I don't think they have a strong feeling for overcoming "the Cleveland objection"...if there is one....... with an effective close.
Coffee is for closers.