As Tuesday afternoon rolled in, the rain rolled down on the city of Cleveland. As I attempted to brave the elements on a quick walk from Euclid Avenue to Quicken Loans Arena, I came across a few too many locals who had been surprised by the downpour, opting to run with their forearms over their heads as if someone was casting for extras in the November Rain video. Crossing over Prospect, making my way to Huron, I crossed paths with Indians president Mark Shapiro, manager Terry Francona and three other (who I am assuming to be) employees of the Cleveland Indians as the group was likely en route to a mid-day lunch, exchanging brief pleasantries with all as to not belabor the fact that we were all on our way to a destination and that it was in fact raning buckets of water by the second.

It would be at this exact time that John Farrell was introduced as the man who would spurn the Toronto Blue Jays to join Francona’s former team, the Boston Red Sox, amidst much jubilation in the New England area, and a fair share of angst just on the other side of the border. Somewhere in between rests Shapiro and Francona, entering a relative world of unknowns — arbitration, free agency, winter meetings, pitchforks and torches being what they are. Also existing somewhere in the middle of this emotional scale was Mike Holmgren who was, with this rain continuing to fall, preparing to bid farewell to the city of Cleveland; the very city which Holmgren was to turn into a winner.

Instead, Holmgren, having seemingly been forced into executive retirement following the transfer of Cleveland Browns ownership to Jimmy Haslam III, leaves behind an overall record of 10-29 and a freighter of what-if’s that would make the Goodtime III look like a dinghy.

[Read more...]