May 24, 2013

Indians’ Paul Dolan: I Don’t Know What Happened to This Team

August 24, 2012 by 65 Comments

This has been the most difficult stretch we’ve had as owners. At the end of July, we were in the playoffs or on the verge of the playoffs having just beat [Detroit starter Justin] Verlander, then it all fell apart. We have to understand what happened and I’m not going to make judgments on [the future of the front office] right now. But it’s certainly been a very, very difficult stretch for us. [...] In our entire tenure of ownership, we have not seen a contending team deep into the season collapse like this. I don’t really know what’s happened to this team other than we haven’t performed at virtually every level of the game for the last month. [...] It’s going to take more time to assess what we have and what we need and what we’re capable of doing. Hopefully sometime this offseason, we’ll be able to assess and move from there.

– Cleveland Indians CEO Paul Dolan, Thursday, addressing the local media amid his baseball team losing 21 of their last 25 games. Opting to not make a move at the MLB Trade Deadline, the Indians went from first place on June 23 to being 14.5 games back just two months later. Dolan stated that he is “not convinced” that the team standing pat has had any bearing on the team’s collapse. Under the Dolan ownership, which began in 2000, the Indians have reached the playoffs just two times, having won one playoff series.

[Related: Acta Talking Like A Guy Who Wants Out…Can You Blame Him?]

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  • http://twitter.com/PEngle39 Phil Smith

    All the money in the world wouldn’t help if you have a front office that can’t make sound personnel decisions…. Dolan is NOT the problem.

  • http://twitter.com/PEngle39 Phil Smith

    What about Tampa, Oakland, Miami? They’ve all had success with much much less than what Dolan gives the Indians FO. His willingness to stand by his FO is another thing….

  • http://twitter.com/PEngle39 Phil Smith

    According to Keith Law, the MLB chatter says the Indians FO will be in for a significant change but not necessarily mean Antonetti and Shapiro. So things are happening, it just might not be about the heavy hitters yet.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    The Rays draft and develop numerous players especially on the pitching side and haven’t been in the bottom three of drafting for awhile now. But I agree and have been saying the problem is with the people doing the drafting. Unfortunately the problem this year was even bigger and that was the inability of the front office to make nearly a single move that was positive.

  • Steve

    For the moment. And then when Gilbert realizes that he can’t make money on a payroll over $60 million either, then we all go back to being pissed off

  • http://twitter.com/bbo13 B-bo

    They haven’t been bottom three for a while now, but it took them being there for a very long time–unacceptably long for Tribe fans I suspect–before they saw results. Their successes since ’08 have been the result of those many years of being awful.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    I don’t know seems like all of the expansion teams do better then the Indians anymore.

  • Josh

    Winning doesn’t put fans in the seats either as evidenced in both 2007 and 2005. The ownership and FO certainly have their fair share of the blame with this team but Cleveland fans seem to forget how pathetic of a fan base they are.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    LoL who does that leave? They better not fire DiBiasio that guy does an amazing job. He takes the crap he’s given and spins it into gold.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Let me guess your last name is Perez? ;p

  • mgbode

    hey, if the Dolans rea WFNY and are looking at a FO restructure…

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    I’m applying for a position with the Red Sox so maybe we can get something done. I’m sure I could find another Lillibridge and perhaps a Masterson somewhere. If Jerry DiPoto can be a GM anyone can!

  • Wheel

    Disagree. This was an opportunity for Dolan to tell his fanbase that what’s happening is completely unacceptable, and that he is committed to bring a
    World Series to Cleveland. Instead, we get a shell shocked response response from someone who does not seem to be in control.

  • markn95

    C’mon does anyone really believe this anymore? When the San Diego Padres (#28 TV market in the US) sell for $600 million PLUS $200 million in TV money and the Cincinnati Reds (#34 TV market in the US) hand out only the fifth (fifth!) $200 million dollar contract in MLB history to Joey Votto? Cleveland (#17 TV market in the US) can and should support a payroll north of $60 million. A competent owner and front office WOULD make a difference here.

  • mgbode

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_metropolitan_statistical_areas#United_States
    SD has the #17 metro population and a ton of $$$ in that population
    Cinci/Cleveland are about tied at #27/28 (though Cinci doesn’t count Louisville, Lexington, or Indy all of which the Reds get secondary market TV $$ from). The Reds definitely do it right and they are the “team” in that town.
    A better FO would definitely not have left our farm system barren, while completely failing at trades and FA signings the past 2 years. Shapiro handing Antonetti the keys to the GM chair have been nothing but trouble for us so far.

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