If you want to see a real baseball town in Ohio, go to Cincinnati. Today was a weekday noon start for the Reds, and yet they drew 32,640 (77.1% full.) I expect to see 6 or 7,000 when I go to the noon game in Cleveland tomorrow.

J.R. I don't find article you posted "comforting." I think it just means that it is extraordinarily unlikely that the Indians would play in any other Cleveland-area ballpark during next 10/15/20 years. I am sure that if the team were sold and moved, the "lease contract" would get fixed or greased or something.

As someone who didn't grow up in NE Ohio and who hasn't lived there in over 30 years, it might seem that I might not care whether or not they got moved, but I have to admit that it would perturb me. That probably has more to do with me being a stodgy old traditionalist.

Indians have built a very nice ball club that will be together for a few years for the most part and we have some real prospects in kids like Bauer, Carrasco, Lindor and the pitcher in Akron (Sanchez?). We have the 5th pick in the draft coming up and only Masterson is a key piece that isn't signed beyond next year. Lots to like even for sea!

Baseball is alive and well in Cleveland for the foreseeable future. Just let's rusty's babbling go in one ear and out the other. Folks like joe and sea know more about baseball than rusty ever will, pessimistic or not

As everyone here knows, Frank has never been wrong about anything.

Happy times here in the Forum while the Tribe has won 9 of 10. I can't wait to see what's posted when there's things to complain about.

Indians activate Michael Bourn from DL send LHP Scott Barnes back to AAA.

Great to see the opposite-field power from Kipnis!

I mentioned Reynolds. The other acquisition I like a lot is Drew Stubbs. Also a pleasant surprise. I especially like the idea of batting him ninth in the lineup. It's paid off with some nice dividends so far. His speed and defense is a big plus.

I've always "whined" about the weak and inept bench strength we've had to deal with in the past. I think this year's bench is one of the best we've had here in many moons. Can't win the big ones with a weak bench. Weak benches have always been a complaint of mine over the years. The pieces are in place to compete to the end. I still have a good feeling about 90 wins. I also have a good feeling about a wild card invite this year.

In keeping with the spirit, it's nice to know that we have adequate depth in Columbus if we need it.

What a difference a manager makes. As we've seen in the past, you can put an all-star team together and not win unless you mold those pieces properly. Francona has done a good job molding those pieces so far. We're are off to a good start, I don't expect the failures of the past two years to 3-pete. Francona will not let that happen.

So! I think we have a lot of reasons for optimism this year.

Great time to be an Ohio sports fan:

Buckeyes will start the season favored to play in the last BCS Championship game.

Indians are a much improved team and think about this
- Masterson is now an Ace. Sign him for the Big $$$
- Bauer is the real deal and will be in the rotation by years end for good.
- Kazmir is a lottery ticket sign him to a $$$ extension, take the risk!
- MacAlister and Carasco/Salazar are solid back of the rotation guys
- Draft a pitcher #1 next month.
- We have a ROTATION folks
-Lindor is the best prospect in all of baseball
-Trade/Dump Caberera, Reynolds, Perez, Smith, Myers, Albers that saves $30M!!!
-Lineup is intact for atleast 3 more years
- Best indians run in a decade coming NOW!

Browns are a Flacco quality QB from being a playoff team and Flacco isn't that great!
-Soft schedule a capable coaching will get the Browns back in the discussion this year
-Weedon or 2014 draft pick will put the Browns in the playoff discussion starting in 2014
-AFC North heavy weights Balt and Pitts on the decline and Bengals over rated
-Browns defense is going to be good IF they can stop the run
-Love the analytical approach of Banner and his team
-Very worried about Haslem legal troubles, huge financial drain at a minimum!

Cavs are on the way back starting this season

-Very good back court in place
-AV (healthy) and Thompson is a nice front court
-Fix the SF with an All Star quality player and this is a good team
-Porter ??? How good is he? I still think we sign Oden risk/reward Zeller a backup at best
-LaBron isn't coming back to Cleveland so forget about it!
-Still gotta like the Cavs future...

Every team has better times ahead!

Space Station to Earth......Anyone Home ?

fkreutz wrote:Great time to be an Ohio sports fan:

Buckeyes will start the season favored to play in the last BCS Championship game.

Indians are a much improved team and think about this
- Masterson is now an Ace. Sign him for the Big $$$
- Bauer is the real deal and will be in the rotation by years end for good.
- Kazmir is a lottery ticket sign him to a $$$ extension, take the risk!
- MacAlister and Carasco/Salazar are solid back of the rotation guys
- Draft a pitcher #1 next month.
- We have a ROTATION folks
-Lindor is the best prospect in all of baseball
-Trade/Dump Caberera, Reynolds, Perez, Smith, Myers, Albers that saves $30M!!!
-Lineup is intact for atleast 3 more years
- Best indians run in a decade coming NOW!

Browns are a Flacco quality QB from being a playoff team and Flacco isn't that great!
-Soft schedule a capable coaching will get the Browns back in the discussion this year
-Weedon or 2014 draft pick will put the Browns in the playoff discussion starting in 2014
-AFC North heavy weights Balt and Pitts on the decline and Bengals over rated
-Browns defense is going to be good IF they can stop the run
-Love the analytical approach of Banner and his team
-Very worried about Haslem legal troubles, huge financial drain at a minimum!

Cavs are on the way back starting this season

-Very good back court in place
-AV (healthy) and Thompson is a nice front court
-Fix the SF with an All Star quality player and this is a good team
-Porter ??? How good is he? I still think we sign Oden risk/reward Zeller a backup at best
-LaBron isn't coming back to Cleveland so forget about it!
-Still gotta like the Cavs future...

Every team has better times ahead!

kreutz needs help.

Nah, he's just a "cockeyed optimist."

VT'er wrote:J.R. I don't find article you posted "comforting." I think it just means that it is extraordinarily unlikely that the Indians would play in any other Cleveland-area ballpark during next 10/15/20 years. I am sure that if the team were sold and moved, the "lease contract" would get fixed or greased or something.

As someone who didn't grow up in NE Ohio and who hasn't lived there in over 30 years, it might seem that I might not care whether or not they got moved, but I have to admit that it would perturb me. That probably has more to do with me being a stodgy old traditionalist.

Sit down, John. Sit down, John. For God sakes John, sit down!

(someone open up a window)

(He plays the violin....he tucks it right under his chin)

If I write a post about Selig, or about Tribe front office &/or ownership, will you sing to me about molasses, rum, and slaves?