Clip Show: Keeping an Eye on the Tribe’s AAA Squad – 7/14/09
July 14, 2009NBA Free Agency: Cavs to Work Out Sean May
July 14, 2009
With the Washington Nationals sitting at 26-61 at the All-Star break, they have decided to cut ties with their head coach Manny Acta. In doing so, the front office has penned an offical letter to the fans of the Nationals.
In said letter, there were a lot of details pertaining to certain players on the Nationals roster. However, the main point of the letter is definitely one that can translate up to Cleveland as things aren’t all that different from a baseball standpoint.
No one is more dissatisfied in the first half of the 2009 Washington Nationals season than we are. Like you, we had hoped that some of our younger players would have matured faster, and that the addition of some of our new veterans would have significantly improved our record from a season ago. Our hope was that a solid club leadership would emerge on and off the field, and that some intangible combinations would begin to click, resulting in many winning streaks. […]
We know we have a way to go, but the end result will be all the richer for the early days we’ve spent together at Nationals Park. We are getting better. We want you to be with us as the pieces of the puzzle come together. Your support is powerful to the Nationals and baseball in Washington. Thank you for your continuing patience and your commitment to a shared dream.
I realize that things have been a lot worse for Nationals fans. They have endured quite a bit of losing since their inception and we were a game away from the World Series only two years ago.
But, with that said…
Where’s our letter? Where’s our assurance that this front office recognizes that there is a problem and actually plans on doing something about it? From the inability to consistently draft quality players to giving your prospects a chance to shine given the lack of meaningful baseball left for the year, there is an organizational issue that needs to be addressed. Our ace starting pitcher cannot wait to leave. Our shortstop-turned-third baseman looks more disinterested each night out. The occasional right fielder is a catcher by trade who now plays first base. Is there no end?
Sure, this letter will not magically put up a winning season. But admitting your short-comings to your fan base – instead of giving them the company line and hoping they buy it – goes a long way.
Admission is the first step towards recovery…
9 Comments
a letter from the dolans would mean nothing to me.
I think the letter would go something like…
“Dear Tribe fans,
Screw you, I do what I want.
With love,
Larry”
Scott, I’m not sure I could agree more with this. When you get to the root of the problem, the Dolans are the main cause because they show no leadership and no accountability.
They still seem to think that Clevelanders will pay for a crappy product, but we can’t do it. The least they can do is admit that the front office is a joke and the product they’re selling is in major need of an overhaul.
Craig objects to your sullying of the phrase “the company line”.
“Today, we announced that manager Manny Acta is being replaced on an interim basis by Jim Riggleman, veteran manager, and currently the Nats bench coach. Both the Ownership and the entire Washington Nationals organization have the highest respect for Manny Acta and the role he has played in the short history of the Nationals. However, it is our belief that a fresh attitude and approach is necessary as we set out to improve our performance for the remainder of the year. We want to send a strong message to our clubhouse and our fans that the status quo is unacceptable. We believe that more is expected of everyone in the organization.”
Apparently, the status quo is acceptable to the Indians.
Honestly for the Nationals I’d rather them not send out a letter telling me that they think Jim Riggleman can get more out of their team than Manny Acta… because in truth the Nationals are far worse off than we are
Yeah DP because as we all know The Company Line Rocks! <--- shameless plug
Here’s your letter:
No changes will be made this season, coach Wedge will remain. We have full confidence and trust in Mark Shapiro and his team.
Larry & Paulie
Dolan doesn’t think outside the box. It’s comfy in there. Larry’s just happy to be an MLB owner.
People forget that he tried to buy the Reds before the Indians, and the Browns before that. The NFL told him that he didn’t have enough money, the Reds told him to pound sand, but Jacobs got the nitwit bidding against himself and sold him when he got him bidding far more than it was worth.
Dial your expectations for Dolan down to zero. He’ll go only as far as Shapiro gets him, and it seems like we’ve hit that limit.